A locking device, such as a door or window, for opening a vehicle component of a motor vehicle.

Abstract

A locking device (2) for an opening (4) of a vehicle component (6) of a motor vehicle (8) comprising at least one planar housing body (10), comprising at least one planar locking element (12) which is movable relative to the housing body (10) and which can be transferred from a first functional position, in which a section of the opening (4) covered by the locking element (12) and the housing body (10) is at its maximum, to a second functional position, in which the section of the opening (4) covered by the locking element (12) and the housing body (10) is reduced with respect to the first functional position and the locking element (12) and the housing body (10) – viewed transversely to the transfer direction (14) – overlap each other at least partially, and comprising at least one locking unit (16),by which at least the housing body (10) can be fixed in at least a first working position and by which the housing body (10) can be released for manual or automatic transfer into a second working position, which is spaced apart from the first working position, wherein the housing body (10) comprises at least one recess (28) on the side facing the at least one locking body (12), in which the locking body (12) can be arranged at least almost completely in the second functional position, characterized by at least two locking bodies (12) and by at least two recesses (28), wherein the locking bodies (12) and the recesses (28) are each arranged on opposite sides of the housing body (10) and wherein each recess (28) is assigned a locking body (12).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a locking device for an opening of a vehicle component of a motor vehicle, such as a side panel or tailgate, comprising at least one planar housing body, at least one planar locking element which is movable relative to the housing body and which can be moved from a first functional position in which a section of the opening covered by the locking element and the housing body is at its maximum, to a second functional position in which the section of the opening covered by the locking element and the housing body is reduced with respect to the first functional position and the locking element and the housing body overlap each other at least partially when viewed transversely to the direction of movement, and comprising at least one locking unit by which at least the housing body can be locked in at least a first working position and by which the housing body can be moved manually or automatically into a second working position.which is spaced apart from the first working position, is releaseable, wherein the housing body on the side facing the at least one locking body includes at least one recess in which the locking body can be arranged at least almost entirely in the second functional position.

[0002] Tailgates that can be pivoted upwards or downwards about a pivot point are known from the prior art. To reduce the pivoting radius, split tailgates are known, which, for example, have an upper and a lower flap section, each pivotable about a horizontal axis, or have a left and right flap section, each pivotable about a vertical axis.

[0003] Furthermore, there are known locking devices designed as windows which, as a one-piece component, close an opening in a vehicle door or vehicle wall and can be moved manually or automatically by an actuator into a position in which the opening is released.

[0004] A generic locking device is known from US 5 921 611 A.

[0005] The object of the invention is to propose a locking device which offers a simple and cost-effective alternative in relation to the prior art.

[0006] This problem is solved by a aforementioned locking device, such as a door or window, which has at least two locking bodies and at least two recesses, wherein the locking bodies and the recesses are each arranged on opposite sides of the housing body and wherein each recess is assigned a locking body.

[0007] Because the locking device comprises a housing body and a locking body that overlaps the housing body at least partially relative to the housing body and in the second functional position, a suitable alternative for closing and releasing an opening of a vehicle component is provided.

[0008] The locking device can be, for example, a door or a window. If the locking device is a door, it can completely close the opening of the vehicle component in the first functional position of the locking element and in the first working position of the housing. By moving the locking element relative to the housing from the first functional position to the second functional position, the opening of the vehicle component can be at least partially released and used as a loading and / or unloading opening, or for entering and / or exiting the vehicle.

[0009] The same applies if the locking device includes a window, in particular a side or rear window of the motor vehicle.

[0010] By providing at least two locking elements, the section of the opening covered by the locking elements and the housing body in the first functional position of the locking elements is enlarged.

[0011] The locking device can be designed to be compact because the housing body includes at least one recess on the side facing the at least one locking body, in which the locking body can be arranged at least almost entirely in the second functional position.

[0012] The recess can, for example, be designed to correspond to, and in particular complement, the locking body. The recess can be open transversely to the direction of travel. In this case, the locking body projects transversely to the direction of travel beyond the housing body. Furthermore, it is conceivable that the recess is only open in the direction of travel and that, in the second functional position, the locking body is at least substantially entirely surrounded within a cavity formed by the housing body.

[0013] It proves advantageous if the fixing unit is designed mechanically, pneumatically, hydraulically and / or electrically and includes a mechanical or electromagnetic locking element that engages in a mechanical receiving means to form a rear grip transverse to the transfer direction in order to fix the housing body in the working position or interacts with an electromagnetic receiving means.

[0014] If the locking element is mechanically designed, the mechanical receiving element can, for example, include a recess extending transversely to the direction of travel. In this case, the mechanical locking element can engage with the mechanical receiving element, at least in the first working position of the housing body, to form a rear grip transversely to the direction of travel. If the locking element is electromagnetically designed, the receiving element can also be electromagnetically designed. In this case, the locking element and the receiving element can be coil-like and interact with each other through electromagnetic interaction. Furthermore, it is conceivable that one of the two elements includes a permanent magnet.

[0015] To facilitate the operation of the locking device, an embodiment of the locking device comprises at least one actuator unit by which the housing body can be automatically moved from the first working position to the second working position and back, and / or by which the at least one locking body can be moved from the first functional position to the second functional position.

[0016] In a further development of the latter embodiment, it proves advantageous if the actuator unit comprises the locking unit by which the housing body can be moved from the first working position to the second working position and back, and can be locked therein, and / or if the actuator unit has at least one mechanically, pneumatically, hydraulically and / or electrically operable actuator by which the at least one locking body can be moved from the first functional position to the second functional position, by which the locking body can be locked in the second functional position, and / or by which the housing body can be indirectly moved from the first working position to the second working position and back, and locked therein.

[0017] In such a case, it is conceivable, for example, that the housing body can be moved from the first working position to the second working position and back again by the locking unit and locked in place. Furthermore, the locking device can simply lock the housing body in the first working position and release it for movement to the second working position. The housing body can also be moved from the first working position to the second working position by the at least one actuator of the actuator unit, which allows the locking body to be moved from the first to the second working position.In such a case, it is conceivable, for example, that the locking body is first moved from the first functional position to the second functional position within the housing body, and that subsequently, by further moving the actuator, the system consisting of the locking body and the housing body can be moved from the first working position to the second working position and back, and locked in place.

[0018] To increase the stability of the locking device, in one embodiment of the locking device at least one guide device is provided which limits the opening of the vehicle component at least on one side, through which the at least one housing body and / or the at least one locking body can be moved.

[0019] The guide mechanism can be designed, for example, as a trolley or a rail.

[0020] In order to make the locking device more compact, a further development of the latter embodiment provides that the actuator unit includes the guide device.

[0021] In such a case, at least one locking element and at least one receiving means of the fixing unit and / or at least one actuator are formed in or on the guide device.

[0022] In the second operating position of the locking mechanism, the locking body and the housing body can be arranged in contact with each other. The locking mechanism can thus be positioned either flush against an outer surface of the housing body or spaced apart from it.

[0023] In further training, it proves advantageous if the at least one recess transverse to the transfer direction comprises a cross-section that corresponds to, in particular complements to, the cross-section of the closure body.

[0024] In such a case, the locking element can be arranged in a form-fitting manner within the housing body.

[0025] To facilitate the transfer of the locking body from the second functional position to the first functional position, it proves advantageous if the locking device includes at least one clamping means by which the at least one locking body is pre-tensioned into the first functional position.

[0026] In principle, the clamping device can be positioned at any location. However, to ensure a compact design of the locking mechanism, it is advantageous if the clamping device can be, or is, positioned in at least one recess of the housing body.

[0027] The locking device comprises several locking bodies. In such cases, at least two actuators are also provided, with each actuator assigned to one locking body.

[0028] In order to make the locking device compact, a further development of the latter embodiment provides that the housing body has a thickness transverse to the transfer direction that is greater than the sum of the thicknesses of the two locking bodies and that the at least two recesses are spaced apart from each other transversely to the transfer direction.

[0029] Furthermore, it is conceivable that the housing body has an extension in the transfer direction that corresponds to the sum of the extensions of the two locking bodies, and that the two recesses are aligned with each other with respect to the transfer direction. In such a case, the housing body can be designed with a small thickness.

[0030] The closure device may, for example, include a window or a door. In such a case, it proves advantageous if the housing body and / or at least one of the closure elements comprises a transparent and / or translucent material, in particular glass or plastic.

[0031] If the locking device includes a window, for example, the housing body and locking element can be made of a translucent and transparent material, particularly glass or plastic. Furthermore, the housing body and / or locking element can be made of an opaque material if, for example, the locking device forms a door. Hybrid forms are also conceivable, namely that the housing body or the locking element comprises a transparent and / or translucent material, and the locking element or housing body comprises an opaque material. This opaque material can, for example, be a plastic, a carbon fiber composite, and / or a metal.

[0032] The second working position can be located in an area of ​​the opening where the housing body at least partially covers the opening. To maximize the opening's clearance, it is advantageous if the second working position encompasses an area of ​​the vehicle component that is arranged without overlap with the opening.

[0033] The direction of the transfer can be arbitrary. In such a case, it is conceivable that the transfer from the first functional position to the second functional position and back, and / or from the first working position to the second working position and back, involves a movement along the transverse axis, longitudinal axis, or vertical axis of the vehicle.

[0034] Further features, details and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the attached patent claims.

[0035] The drawing shows: Fig. 1 A perspective front view of a locking device with one housing body in the first working position and with two locking bodies, each in the first functional position; Fig. 2 A sectional side view of the locking device according to Fig. 1; Fig. 3 A perspective front view of the locking device with the housing body in the first working position and with the two locking bodies, each in the second functional position; Fig. 4 A sectional side view of the locking device according to Fig. 3; Fig. 5 A perspective front view of the locking device with the housing body in the second working position and with the two locking bodies, each in the second functional position; Fig. 6 A sectional side view of the locking device according to Fig. 5; Fig. 7 A perspective front view of the locking device with the housing body in a further second working position and with the two locking bodies, each in the second functional position; Fig. 8 A sectional side view of the locking device according to Fig. 7.

[0036] The figures show an embodiment of a locking device, designated overall by reference numeral 2, for an opening 4 of a vehicle component 6 of a motor vehicle 8. In the figures, the locking device 2 comprises a rear assembly of the motor vehicle 8.

[0037] The locking device 2 comprises a housing body 10 and two planar locking bodies 12, each of which is movable relative to the housing body 10. The locking bodies 12 are distinguished from a first functional position ( Fig. 1 and Fig. 2), in which a section of the opening 4 covered by the locking body 12 and the housing body 10 is at its maximum, into a second functional position ( Fig. 3 to 8) can be transferred in which the section of the opening 4 covered by the locking elements 12 and the housing body 10 is reduced with respect to the first functional position. In the second functional position, the locking elements 12 and the housing body 10 overlap each other transversely to the transfer direction 14.

[0038] Furthermore, the locking device 2 comprises at least one locking unit 16 by which at least the housing body 10 can be locked in a first working position ( Fig. 1 to 4) and by which the housing body 10 can be manually or automatically transferred into a second working position ( Fig. 5 to 8), which is spaced away from the first work position, can be released.

[0039] In the embodiment shown in the figures, the fixing unit 16 comprises an electromagnetically controllable locking element 18, which can engage in a receiving means 20 in the housing body 10 corresponding to the locking element 18 in order to form a rear grip transverse to the transfer direction 14.

[0040] Furthermore, the locking device 2 comprises an actuator unit 22 by which the housing body 10 can be automatically moved from the first working position to the second working position and back, and / or by which the at least one locking body 12 can be moved from the first functional position to the second functional position. For this purpose, the actuator unit 22 comprises actuators 24 that move the locking bodies 12.

[0041] To increase the stability of the locking device 2, the locking device 2 comprises a guide device 26 that limits the opening 4 of the vehicle component 6 at least on one side, through which the at least one housing body 10 and / or the at least one locking body 12 can be moved. In the embodiment shown in the figures, the actuator unit 22 comprises the guide device 26.

[0042] In order to make the locking device 2 compact, the housing body 10 in the embodiment shown in the figures comprises two recesses 28 which are designed to correspond, in particular complement, with respect to the locking bodies 12.

[0043] To pre-tension the locking elements 12 into the first functional position, the locking device comprises 2 clamping means 30 which are arranged in the recesses 28.

[0044] The Fig. 1 and Fig. Figure 2 shows the locking device 2 in a first working position of the housing body 10 and the locking elements 12 each in their first functional position. This means that the opening 4 of the vehicle component 6 of the motor vehicle 8 is completely covered by the locking device 2. The locking device 2 is secured by the locking unit 16, which, by means of the locking element 18 and the receiving means 20, secures the housing body 10 in the first working position.

[0045] The Fig. 3 and Fig. Figure 4 shows the locking device 2 with the housing body 10 in the first working position. The two locking elements 12 are moved into the recesses 28 of the housing body 10 by the actuators 24 and fixed there in the second operating position. The interior of the vehicle 8 is thus accessible from the outside above and below the housing body 10 through the exposed opening 4.

[0046] The Fig. 5 and Fig. Figures 6, 7, and 8 show the housing body 10 in a second working position, wherein the two locking elements 12 are secured in the recesses 28 in the housing body 10 by the actuators 24 in the second functional position. In the arrangement according to the Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 The housing body 10 is located in an upper area of ​​the opening 4 relative to the motor vehicle 8 and partially obscures it. The lower area of ​​the opening 4 is accessible from the outside and allows loading and unloading of the vehicle interior of the motor vehicle 8 from the outside.

[0047] The Fig. 7 and Fig. Figure 8 shows an embodiment according to the exemplary embodiment. Fig. 5 and Fig. 6. Similar arrangement of the housing body 10 in the second working position. In the Fig. 7 and Fig.8 is the second working position in an area of ​​the vehicle component 6 arranged without overlap with the opening 4. In this arrangement, neither the housing body 10 nor any of the closing bodies 12 obstruct the opening 4, thus ensuring maximum external accessibility.

[0048] The features of the invention disclosed in the foregoing description, in the claims and in the drawing may be essential in the realization of the invention in its various embodiments, both individually and in any combination, within the scope of the claims. Reference symbol list 2 Locking device 4 Opening 6 Vehicle component 8 Motor vehicle 10 Housing bodies 12 locking bodies 14 Crossing direction 16 fixing unit 18 bar elements 20 recording devices 22 actuator unit 24 actuator 26 Guide system 28 recess 30 clamping devices

Claims

[1] A locking device (2) for an opening (4) of a vehicle component (6) of a motor vehicle (8) comprising at least one planar housing body (10), comprising at least one planar locking element (12) which is movable relative to the housing body (10) and which can be moved from a first functional position in which a section of the opening (4) covered by the locking element (12) and the housing body (10) is at its maximum, to a second functional position in which the section of the opening (4) covered by the locking element (12) and the housing body (10) is reduced with respect to the first functional position and the locking element (12) and the housing body (10) overlap each other at least partially when viewed transversely to the direction of movement (14), and comprising at least one locking unit (16),by which at least the housing body (10) can be fixed in at least a first working position and by which the housing body (10) can be released for manual or automatic transfer into a second working position, which is spaced apart from the first working position, wherein the housing body (10) comprises at least one recess (28) on the side facing the at least one locking body (12), in which the locking body (12) can be arranged at least almost entirely in the second functional position, characterized by at least two locking bodies (12) and at least two recesses (28), wherein the locking bodies (12) and the recesses (28) are arranged on opposite sides of the housing body (10) and wherein each recess (28) is assigned a locking body (12). [2] Locking device (2) according to claim 1, characterized by, that the fixing unit (16) is designed mechanically, pneumatically, hydraulically and / or electrically and comprises a mechanical or electromagnetic locking element (18) which engages in a mechanical receiving means (20) to form a rear grip transverse to the transfer direction (14) in order to fix the housing body (10) in the working position or interacts with an electromagnetic receiving means (20). [3] Locking device (2) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by at least one actuator unit (22) by which the housing body (10) can be automatically moved from the first working position to the second working position and back, and / or by which the at least one closure body (12) can be moved from the first functional position to the second functional position. [4] Locking unit (2) according to claim 3, characterized by, that the actuator unit (22) comprises the locking unit by which the housing body (10) can be moved from the first working position to the second working position and back and can be locked therein, and / or that the actuator unit (22) has at least one mechanically, pneumatically, hydraulically and / or electrically operable actuator (24) by which the at least one locking body (12) can be moved from the first functional position to the second functional position, by which the locking body (12) can be locked in the second functional position, and / or by which the housing body (10) can be indirectly moved from the first working position to the second working position and back and locked therein. [5] Locking device (2) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized byat least one guide device (26) limiting the opening (4) of the vehicle component (6) at least on one side, through which the at least one housing body (10) and / or the at least one closure body (12) can be guided and moved. [6] Locking device (2) according to one of claims 3 or 4, characterized by , that the actuator unit (22) includes the control unit (26). [7] Locking device (2) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the at least one recess (28) transverse to the transfer direction (14) comprises a cross-section which corresponds to, in particular complements to, the cross-section of the closure body (12). [8] Locking device (2) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized by at least one clamping device (30) by which the at least one locking body (12) is pre-tensioned into the first functional position. [9] Locking device (2) according to claim 8, characterized by , that the clamping device (30) can be arranged or is arranged in the at least one recess (28) of the housing body (10). [10] Locking device (2) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the housing body (10) has a thickness transverse to the transfer direction (14) which is greater than the sum of the thicknesses of the two closure bodies (12) and that the at least two recesses (28) are spaced apart from each other transversely to the transfer direction (14). [11] Locking device (2) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the housing body (10) and / or at least one of the closure bodies (12) comprises a transparent and / or translucent material, in particular glass or plastic. [12] Locking device (2) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the second working position comprises an area of ​​the vehicle component (6) arranged without overlap with the opening (4). [13] Locking device (2) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the transfer from the first functional position to the second functional position and back and / or from the first working position to the second working position and back includes a movement along the transverse axis, longitudinal axis or vertical axis of the motor vehicle (8).

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