Locking device for securing a flap as well as vehicle

Abstract

The present invention relates to a locking device (1) for securing a flap, in particular a door or a hood, of a vehicle, comprising a base part (2), a rotary latch (3) rotatably mounted on the base part (2) between a closed position (4) and an open position (5), the rotary latch (3) having a spring (6) that tensions the rotary latch (3) in its open position (5), and a locking bolt (7) for locking the rotary latch (3) in its closed position (4). In its closed position (4), the rotary latch (3) can interact with a locking bar (12) of the flap to lock the flap. Furthermore, in its open position (5), the rotary latch (3) can release the locking bar (12) to unlock the flap. It is essential that the locking device (1) has a damping element (13) which dampens an opening rotational movement (14) of the rotary latch (3), in which the rotary latch (3) is rotated from the closed position (4) to the open position (5).The invention relates in particular to a vehicle comprising at least one such locking device (1) and at least one flap comprising a locking bar (12).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a locking device for securing a flap, in particular a door or a hood, of a vehicle according to the preamble of claim 1. The invention also relates in particular to a vehicle having at least one locking device according to claim 1.

[0002] A locking device of the type mentioned above is described in DE 10 2009 059 838 A1. It comprises a lock which is at least partially arranged in a frame and which includes a rotating rotary latch which can interact with a striker to bring the lock into a closed state in which it is secured against opening. The rotary latch has a mouth-like recess and, in an area of ​​the recess in which the striker first comes into contact with the rotary latch when the lock is brought into the closed state, a damping element. This can dampen noises generated when the striker first makes contact with the rotary latch. A disadvantage of this, however, is that when the lock is opened, the rotary latch strikes a base part of the locking device, creating a relatively loud banging noise (vibration) that is quite disturbing for the user.

[0003] The object of the invention is therefore to provide an improved or at least a different embodiment of a locking device for securing a hatch. In particular, a vehicle with such a locking device is to be provided.

[0004] In the present invention, this object is achieved in particular by the subject matter of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claims and the description.

[0005] The invention has recognized that the aforementioned banging noise (vibration) can be eliminated by means of a damping element that specifically dampens an opening rotational movement of the rotary latch from the closed position to the open position.

[0006] For this purpose, a locking device for securing a flap, in particular a door or a hood, of a vehicle is proposed, which has a base part that can be arranged, for example, on a vehicle body of the vehicle or can be realized from the same, a rotary latch mounted on the base part so that it can be rotated between a closed position and an open position, which has a spring, in particular a torsion or leg spring, that tensions the rotary latch into its open position, and a locking bolt for locking the rotary latch in its closed position. In its closed position, the rotary latch can interact with a locking bracket of the flap to lock the flap. Furthermore, the rotary latch can release the locking bracket in its open position to unlock the flap.It is essential for the invention discussed here that the lock device has a damping element which dampens an opening rotational movement of the rotary latch, in which the rotary latch is rotated from the closed position into the open position.

[0007] This provides an advantageous locking device that can be operated with particularly low noise and vibration. Until now, the opening of a vehicle's flap, particularly a door or hood, was accompanied by a relatively loud banging noise (vibration) that was quite disturbing to the user. The cause of the banging noise (vibration) was identified as the forceful impact of the spring-loaded rotary latch of the locking device on a base part of the locking device when the flap was unlocked. The proposed damping element can now dampen the relatively rapid opening rotational movement of the rotary latch due to the spring preload, during which the rotary latch is rotated from the closed position into the open position when the locking bolt has released the rotary latch's locking in its closed position.By dampening the opening rotation, the impact of the rotary latch on the base part can be prevented or at least reduced, thus preventing the creation of an annoying “bang” (vibration).

[0008] The invention understands a flap to be a vehicle flap, in particular a door of a vehicle, a bonnet of a vehicle, a fuel tank flap of the vehicle, a charging socket flap of the vehicle or any other flap of the vehicle.

[0009] It is advantageous for the damping element to be arranged between the base part and the rotary latch and to be fixed to the base part and / or the rotary latch. With this arrangement of the damping element, the opening rotation of the rotary latch can be dampened particularly efficiently, and the absorbed forces can be transferred to the base part.

[0010] Furthermore, it can be provided that the rotary latch has three finger-like projections, wherein a first projection and a second projection immediately adjacent to the first projection define a mouth-like receptacle for the locking bracket between them, and wherein the damping element is arranged between the base part and a third projection and is fixed to the base part and / or the third projection. It can be provided that the third projection is arranged on a side of the rotary latch opposite the first projection and the second projection. It can also be expedient if the third projection forms a rotation stop for the damping element, wherein the damping element is supported in contact with the rotation stop, in particular exclusively during the opening rotational movement. The damping element is supported in contact with the rotation stop in particular permanently, i.e. in every phase of a rotational movement of the rotary latch.This allows the rotary movement, especially the opening rotary movement, of the rotary latch to be efficiently dampened.

[0011] It is expedient for the damping element to be implemented as a damper cylinder. The damper cylinder can be provided with a damped piston and a piston receptacle fixed to the base part, in which the piston is guided for longitudinal movement. It can be expedient for the rotary latch to have three finger-like projections, with a first projection and a second projection defining a mouth-like receptacle for the striker between them, and a third projection forming a rotation stop for the piston of the damper cylinder. The piston of the damper cylinder can be supported in contact with the rotation stop, in particular exclusively, during the opening rotational movement of the rotary latch.If the damper cylinder is a self-resetting damper element, the piston of the damper cylinder can be supported in contact with the rotation stop both during the opening rotation of the rotary latch and during the closing rotation of the rotary latch, in which the rotary latch is rotated from the open position back to the closed position. The proposed damper cylinder is lightweight and can be produced cost-effectively. Furthermore, the piston holder of the damper cylinder for guiding the piston can be fixed to the base part using simple means; for example, it can be screwed, clamped, welded, or glued to the base part.

[0012] Furthermore, it can be provided that the damping element is a self-resetting damper element, in particular by means of a spring or the like. This allows the damper element, once it has dampened the opening rotation of the rotary latch after unlocking and opening the flap and has stopped in an end position, to automatically return to its original position when the flap is closed and locked again. In particular, the piston of the damper cylinder explained above can be designed to be self-resetting, for example, by incorporating a compression spring between the piston and the piston receptacle.

[0013] Furthermore, the damping element can be realized by an elastic body with damping material properties. The elastic body could, for example, be realized by a rubber body or the like. This provides another damping element that can be provided very cost-effectively, is lightweight, and is easy to install.

[0014] According to a further basic idea of ​​the invention, an advantageous vehicle is provided which has at least one locking device with at least one of the features described above and at least one flap having a locking bracket.

[0015] In summary, the present invention expediently relates to a locking device for securing a flap, in particular a door or a hood, of a vehicle, comprising a base part, a rotary latch mounted on the base part so as to be rotatably adjustable between a closed position and an open position, which rotary latch has a spring which tensions the rotary latch into its open position, and a locking bar for locking the rotary latch in its closed position. In this case, the rotary latch, in its closed position, can interact with a locking bracket of the flap to lock the flap. Furthermore, in its open position, the rotary latch can release the locking bracket to unlock the flap. It is essential that the locking device has a damping element which dampens an opening rotational movement of the rotary latch, during which the rotary latch is rotated from the closed position into the open position.The invention relates in particular to a vehicle having at least one such locking device and at least one flap having a locking bracket.

[0016] Further important features and advantages of the invention emerge from the subclaims, from the drawings and from the associated description of the figures based on the drawings.

[0017] It is understood that the features mentioned above and those to be explained below can be used not only in the combination specified in each case, but also in other combinations or on their own, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0018] Preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and are explained in more detail in the following description, wherein the same reference numerals refer to the same or similar or functionally identical components.

[0019] Showing schematically: Fig. 1 in a plan view a locking device according to a preferred embodiment, wherein the rotary latch of the locking device is in its closed position secured by the locking bolt and interacts with a locking bracket of a flap so that the flap is locked, Fig. 2 the locking device Fig. 1, whereby in this case the locking bolt is turned and the rotary latch is released, Fig. 3 the locking device Fig. 2, wherein the rotary latch is rotated from its closed position to its open position during the opening rotational movement and the opening rotational movement of the rotary latch is damped by means of the said damping element and finally Fig. 4 the locking device Fig. 3, whereby the rotary latch is actuated into its open position and the striker is released so that the flap is unlocked.

[0020] The Fig. 1-4 show a locking device, designated in its entirety by 1, which is designed to secure a non-illustrated flap, in particular a door or hood, of a vehicle. The flap is pivotably mounted on a vehicle body and can, for example, be opened or closed. The closed flap can be secured by means of the locking device 1, namely, selectively locked or unlocked.

[0021] For this purpose, the locking device 1 has a base part 2, which is arranged, for example, on the vehicle body or formed by the same. A rotary latch 3 is arranged on the base part 2, and a locking bar 7 is arranged horizontally and directly adjacent to it. The rotary latch 3 and the locking bar 7 are each rotatably mounted on the base part 2 via a bearing point 23, 24.

[0022] As a result, the rotary latch 3 can be moved back and forth in a rotary latch rotational movement 26 about the first bearing point 24 between a closed position 4, in which the rotary latch 3 can interact with a locking bracket 12 of the flap to lock the said closed flap, and an open position 5, in which the rotary latch 3 releases the locking bracket 12 to unlock the flap again. In this case, a partial movement of the rotary latch 3, in which the rotary latch 3 is rotated from the closed position 4 to the open position 5, is referred to as the opening rotational movement 14, which in this case rotates clockwise. Furthermore, a partial movement of the rotary latch 3, in which the rotary latch 3 is rotated from the open position 5 to the closed position 4, is referred to as the closing rotational movement, which in this case rotates counterclockwise.Likewise, the locking bolt 7 can be adjusted counterclockwise in a locking bolt rotational movement 27 around the second bearing point 23.

[0023] The rotary latch 3 and the locking bar 7, or their bearing points 23, 24, are set at such a distance from one another that the rotary latch 3 interacts with the locking bar 7, and the rotary latch 3 can be selectively locked in its closed position 4 or released into the opening rotary movement 14 using the locking bar 7. The rotary latch 3 has a spring 6, which is exemplary implemented as a torsion or leg spring. The spring 6 is supported on the base part 2 on the one hand and on the rotary latch 3 on the other, and is configured such that the spring 6 acts in the direction of the open position 5. As a result, the rotary latch 3 is always tensioned with force into its open position 5. In other words, the spring 6 ensures that the rotary latch 3, when the locking by the locking bolt 7 is released, moves automatically from the closed position 4 into the open position 5 as part of the opening rotational movement 14.

[0024] Since then, the opening rotary movement 14 of the rotary latch 3, i.e., the unlocking and opening of the flap, was accompanied by a relatively loud, quite disturbing popping noise (vibration) for the user. The cause of the popping noise (vibration) was identified as the forceful impact of the spring-loaded rotary latch 3 of the locking device 1 on the base part 2 of the locking device 1. To overcome this disadvantage, the present invention proposes that the locking device 1 have a damping element 13, which is exemplary implemented as a damper cylinder 20 and by means of which the opening rotary movement 14 of the rotary latch 3 is dampened. This successfully prevents the rotary latch 3 from striking the base part 2 or at least mitigates it to such an extent that the generation of a disturbing "pop" (vibration) is prevented.

[0025] The damper cylinder 20 has a damped piston 21 and a piston receptacle 22 fixed to the base part 2, in which the piston 21 is guided for longitudinal movement. Furthermore, the rotary latch 3 in this case has three finger-like projections 15, 16, 18. A first projection 15 and a second projection 16, immediately adjacent to the first projection 15, define between them a mouth-like receptacle 17 for the locking bracket 12. The third projection 18, which is arranged on a side of the rotary latch 3 opposite the first projection 15 and the second projection 16, forms, by way of example, a rotation stop 19 for the damping element 13 or the damper cylinder 20, wherein the piston 21 is supported in contact with the rotation stop 19, in particular exclusively, during the opening rotational movement 14 of the rotary latch 3. The damper cylinder 20 is arranged between the base part 2 and the rotation stop 19 and is fixed to the base part 2.

[0026] In Fig. 1, the rotary latch 3 of the locking device 1 is in its closed position 4 secured by the locking bolt 7, wherein the locking bracket 12 of the flap engages in the mouth-like receptacle 17 of the rotary latch 3 and interacts with the rotary latch 3 such that the locking bracket 12 is held on the rotary latch 3. This means that the flap is closed and locked to the locking device 1. The piston 21 of the damper cylinder 20 is set in an initial position and supported by contact with the rotation stop 19.

[0027] Furthermore, you can Fig. 2 recognize that, contrary to Fig. 1, the locking bolt 7 is now rotated to the left as part of the locking bolt rotation 27, thereby releasing the rotary latch 3, i.e., the locking is removed. This allows the rotary latch 3, which has been tensioned into the open position 5 by the spring 6, to be moved from the closed position 4 to the open position 5. The striker 12 is initially still held in the mouth-like receptacle 17 of the rotary latch 3.

[0028] In Fig. 3, the rotary latch 3 is shown in the opening rotational movement 14, so to speak, whereby it assumes neither the closed position 4 nor the open position 5. Furthermore, the opening rotational movement 14 of the rotary latch 3 is specifically damped or delayed by means of the proposed damping element 13 or the damper cylinder 20. In this process, the piston 21 of the damper cylinder 20 is gradually moved out of its initial position by means of the rotary stop 19, and the kinetic energy of the rotary latch 3 is absorbed by the damper cylinder 20.

[0029] Last shows Fig. 4 the rotary latch 3 in its final open position 5. The striker 12 is thereby released, whereby it is pulled out of the locking device 1 in the direction of an extension direction 28, so that the flap is unlocked and can be opened. The piston 21 of the damper cylinder 20 is now moved into an end position, from which it can automatically return to the starting position when the rotary latch 3 is rotated from the open position 5 back to the closed position 4. This is achieved in this case by a self-resetting property of the piston 21, for example, an incorporated compression spring. QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 10 2009 059 838 A1

[0002]

Claims

[1] Locking device (1) for securing a flap, in particular a door or a bonnet, of a vehicle, - with a base part (2), - with a rotary latch (3) mounted on the base part (2) so as to be rotatably adjustable between a closed position (4) and an open position (5), which has a spring (6) tensioning the rotary latch (3) into its open position (5), - with a locking bolt (7) to lock the rotary latch (3) in its closed position (4), - wherein the rotary latch (3) in its closed position (4) can cooperate with a locking bracket (12) of the flap in order to lock the flap, - wherein the rotary latch (3) in its open position (5) can release the locking bracket (12) in order to unlock the flap, characterized by , - a damping element (13) which dampens an opening rotational movement (14) of the rotary latch (3), in which the rotary latch (3) is rotated from the closed position (4) into the open position (5). [2] Lock device (1) according to claim 1, characterized by , that - the damping element (13) is arranged between the base part (2) and the rotary latch (3) and is fixed to the base part (2) and / or the rotary latch (3). [3] Lock device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by , that - the rotary latch (3) has three finger-like projections (15, 16, 18), wherein a first projection (15) and a second projection (16) immediately adjacent to the first projection (15) define between them a mouth-like receptacle (17) for the locking bracket (12), - wherein the damping element (13) is arranged between the base part (2) and a third projection (18) and is fixed to the base part (2) and / or the third projection (18). [4] Lock device (1) according to claim 3, characterized by , that - the third projection (18) is arranged on a side of the rotary latch (3) opposite to the first projection (15) and the second projection (16). [5] Lock device (1) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized by , that - the third projection (18) forms a rotation stop (19) for the damping element (13), - wherein the damping element (13) is supported in contact with the rotation stop (19). [6] Lock device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that - the damping element (13) is realized by a damper cylinder (20). [7] Lock device (1) according to claim 6, characterized by , that - the damper cylinder (20) has a damped movable piston (21) and a piston receptacle (22) fixed to the base part (2), in which the piston (21) is guided so as to be longitudinally movable. [8] Lock device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that - the damping element (13) is a self-resetting damping element (13). [9] Lock device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that - the damping element (13) is realized by an elastic body with damping material properties. [10] Vehicle comprising at least one locking device (1) according to one of the preceding claims and at least one flap having a locking bracket (12).

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