Closing mechanism for a motor vehicle lock

Abstract

The invention relates to a closing device for a motor vehicle lock, and in particular a motor vehicle door lock. This device has an electromechanical closing drive (12) and a lever chain (6, 7) that can be actuated at least partially by this drive. Furthermore, a closing pawl (8) following the lever chain (6, 7) is provided for driving a rotary latch (1) as part of a locking mechanism (1, 2) consisting of the rotary latch (1) and the locking pawl (2). To interrupt the closing movement of the rotary latch (1), an actuating lever (6) of the lever chain (6, 7) is actuated. The actuating lever (6) releases the rotary latch (1) relative to the lever chain (6, 7) and lifts the locking pawl (2) from its engagement with the rotary latch (1). According to the invention, the actuating lever (6) pivots the locking latch (8) away from its engagement with the rotary latch (1) to release the rotary latch (1).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a closing device for a motor vehicle lock, in particular a motor vehicle door lock, with an electromotive closing drive and a lever chain which can be acted upon at least partially thereby, and with a closing pawl following the lever chain for driving a rotary latch as a component of a locking mechanism comprising a rotary latch and a pawl, wherein in order to interrupt a closing movement of the rotary latch, an actuating lever of the lever chain is acted upon, which releases the rotary latch with respect to the lever chain and lifts the pawl from its latching engagement with the rotary latch.

[0002] Closing devices for vehicle locks are used on tailgates and, increasingly, on side doors to securely move them, for example, from a manually engaged pre-locking position to a main locking position. This requires the owner to first manually move the corresponding door leaf into the desired pre-locking position. A sensor detecting the pre-locking position then activates the electric closing drive, which ensures that the door leaf is retracted into the body or aligned with it. This is convenient and has proven effective.

[0003] Such closing devices pose a problem in that, during the closing process described above, clothing or, even worse, a user's finger, for example, can be trapped and crushed in the gap. For this purpose, the prior art, for example, according to DE 10 2021 100 462 A1, which originates from the applicant, interrupts the closing movement of the rotary latch.

[0004] For this purpose, the drive pawl upstream of the lever chain in the known device is equipped with a separation point that can be closed or opened as required. The drive pawl, however, remains engaged with the rotary latch. The separation point is implemented in the form of a coupling element that can be actuated by an ejector lever. This is intended to provide a flexible interruption of the closing movement.

[0005] However, with the known device, on the one hand, the drive pawl remains engaged with the rotary latch, and on the other hand, the locking pawl also remains in contact with the rotary latch or is engaged with it. This is disadvantageous with regard to the smooth and rapid opening of the locking mechanism in conjunction with the interruption of the closing movement, as snagging or functional impairment cannot be ruled out.

[0006] For this reason, the generic prior art according to DE 199 33 371 A1 proceeds in such a way that an operating lever is displaced in connection with an emergency release. This is achieved by a handle that can be designed, for example, as a tailgate handle. The displacement of the operating lever ensures, on the one hand, that the locking pawl is unlocked or lifted from its engagement with the rotary latch, and, on the other hand, that a toggle lever as a component of the lever chain is buckled via an actuating cam. In this way, an eccentric element at the end of the lever chain is moved out of the pivoting path of the closing pawl. This results in the rotary latch being completely released and, in the example described, the tailgate springs open under the pressure of a rubber seal and an associated spring that acts on the rotary latch.

[0007] This allows for a safe interruption of the rotary latch's closing movement because the lever chain is interrupted at the transition to the closing pawl, and at the same time, the pawl is lifted from its engagement with the rotary latch. However, with the known device according to DE 199 33 371 A1, this results in an overall complex and extensive structure. In addition to the lever chain in conjunction with the electromotive closing drive, there is also a separate release mechanism equipped with the operating lever to lift the pawl from its engagement and simultaneously pivot the toggle lever at the end of the lever chain away from the closing pawl, thus ensuring an interruption in this area.

[0008] Such a protruding design is not only disadvantageous with regard to general efforts to minimize costs, but also contradicts the further requirements for the most compact design possible for both the closing device and the associated motor vehicle lock. Furthermore, the known teaching can hardly be reasonably combined with an additional conceivable electric motor opening drive. In fact, such electric motor opening drives are increasingly being used today because they eliminate the need for, for example, an outside door handle and the associated lever chain, and the motor vehicle door can therefore be designed with particularly good aerodynamics. The invention aims to remedy this situation.

[0009] The invention is based on the technical problem of further developing such a closing device for a motor vehicle lock in such a way that, while taking into account a compact and functionally reliable design, it is possible to additionally implement an electric motor opening drive.

[0010] To solve this technical problem, the invention proposes, in a generic closing device, that the actuating lever pivots the closing pawl away from its engagement with the rotary latch to release the rotary latch.

[0011] In contrast to the generic prior art according to DE 199 33 371 A1, the operating lever initially ensures that the closing pawl, which engages with the rotary latch during the closing process, is pivoted away from its corresponding engagement. Since the operating lever simultaneously lifts the pawl from its engagement with the rotary latch, this ensures that the rotary latch is immediately freed from all mechanical interference, interrupting its closing movement, and can swing open with spring support. The corresponding spring forces are applied, for example, by a rubber seal surrounding the associated vehicle door and / or an opening spring associated with the rotary latch.

[0012] Furthermore, since the operating lever is designed as a component of the lever chain, which is actuated by the electromotive closing drive, with the closing pawl following the lever chain, an additional and separate unlocking aid is unnecessary compared to the state of the art. Instead, this function is performed by the operating lever in question as a component of the lever chain in conjunction with the electromotive closing drive. This reduces the technological and design complexity and promotes a compact design. At the same time, it also makes it possible to additionally provide and implement an electromotive opening drive, which can be used to actuate the operating lever. This represents the key advantages.

[0013] In principle, it is possible for the operating lever to be actuated manually and / or by an electric motor. This means that the operating lever, as a component of the lever chain, can be driven and actuated both manually and by an electric motor. Furthermore, simultaneous manual and electric motor actuation is conceivable in principle and is encompassed by the invention.

[0014] The invention is based on the finding that the actuating lever in question lifts the pawl from its engagement with the rotary latch, which is necessary for the electric opening function. If a locking mechanism needs to be opened during a closing movement for emergency opening or emergency release, the actuating lever in question, which is actuated by an electric motor, also ensures that the closing pawl is pivoted or swung away from its engagement with the rotary latch. This makes it clear that the actuating lever, as part of the lever chain of the closing drive, can be advantageously equipped with an electric motor-driven opening drive. This is achieved while taking into account a functionally reliable, compact, and low-cost design.

[0015] In fact, the electric motor-driven opening drive, which is generally optional, is advantageously equipped with an output worm gear with an eccentric cam for actuating the operating lever. The operating lever can be pivoted via the eccentric cam on the output worm gear. The pivoting movement of the operating lever corresponds either to an electric opening process during normal operation or to an emergency release or emergency opening in conjunction with a closing movement of the rotary latch. In both cases, the pivoting movement of the operating lever, with the aid of the electric motor-driven opening drive, generally occurs in the same direction or in the same actuation direction.

[0016] For this purpose, the operating lever is usually and advantageously mounted on the same axis as the locking pawl. A toggle lever assembly, or a drive lever as a component of the toggle lever assembly, is also mounted on the same axis as the operating lever and the locking pawl. The other component of the toggle lever assembly is the closing pawl, which is advantageously mounted rotatably on the drive lever for this purpose.

[0017] The drive lever initiates the required closing movement in the rotary latch. For this purpose, the drive lever is equipped with a connecting element at its end opposite the common axis with the pawl and the operating lever for coupling to the electric closing drive. This connecting element can be an elastic connecting element, such as a Bowden cable.

[0018] The toggle lever assembly, consisting of the closing pawl and the drive lever, with the closing pawl being rotatably mounted on the drive lever, can assume a starting position and a closing position, as well as intermediate positions between these two. The starting position corresponds to both levers—the closing pawl and the drive lever—assuming a folded position.

[0019] From this folded initial position, the electromotive closing drive ensures that the toggle lever assembly can be moved into a fully extended closed position. In this closed position, the closing pawl engages with its end opposite the axis on the drive lever into a recess in the rotary latch. In this fully extended closed position, the toggle lever assembly rotates around the common axis with the operating lever and the pawl—initiated by the electromotive closing drive—to ensure that the rotary latch is closed.

[0020] This usually occurs starting from a pre-locking position, which can be sensed by sensors and transmitted to a control unit. Upon receiving a corresponding signal or upon reaching the pre-locking position, the control unit ensures that the electromotive closing drive is actuated, which in turn moves the toggle lever assembly from the folded initial position to the extended closed position. From there, it continues to actuate the rotary latch in a closing direction until the locking mechanism consisting of the rotary latch and pawl has reached the main locking position from the pre-locking position.

[0021] The main locking position is also usually sensed by a sensor and transmitted to the previously mentioned control unit. This then ensures that the electromotive closing drive is reset, and as a result, the toggle lever assembly returns to its folded initial position. At the same time, the closing pawl leaves the recess in the rotary latch. The locking mechanism can then be opened manually or electromotively using the operating lever. The pivoting movement of the lever ensures that the pawl, which has engaged the rotary latch in the main locking position, is pivoted away from the rotary latch, allowing the rotary latch to open with spring assistance.

[0022] However, if a potential pinching situation occurs during the closing movement described above, or if the closing movement needs to be interrupted and an associated vehicle door opened, the operating lever in question, as part of the lever chain of the closing drive, ensures that the locking pawl is lifted and the drive pawl is pivoted away from its engagement with the rotary latch. As a result, the rotary latch can open with spring support. At least one spring advantageously assigned to the toggle lever arrangement, which acts in the direction of the folded initial position, now ensures, in this open state of the locking mechanism following the described emergency release or emergency opening, that the toggle lever arrangement (re)assumes and can also assume its folded initial position.

[0023] For this purpose, the closing latch is advantageously equipped with a stop edge. The stop edge is actuated to release the rotary latch using an actuating pin on the actuating lever. This means that the interaction between the actuating pin on the actuating lever and the stop edge on the closing latch ensures that, in conjunction with the emergency release or emergency opening, the pivoted actuating lever can pivot the closing latch away from its engagement with the rotary latch.

[0024] According to the invention, this stop edge on the closing latch now has a further, and indeed dual, functionality. This is because the stop edge, in conjunction with at least one stationary guide pin, ensures that the toggle lever assembly is safely returned to its folded initial position following an (interrupted) closing operation. This is ensured by the spring acting on the toggle lever assembly, in conjunction with the stop edge on the closing latch and the stationary guide pin.

[0025] The guide pin in question is generally connected to a lock housing or is a component of this lock housing. In fact, the locking mechanism, including the electric closing drive and optional opening drive, is usually mounted on or inside a lock case (made of metal), which is closed and protected from environmental influences by the lock housing (made of plastic). The fixed guide pin is provided on the lock housing or is an integral part of this plastic component.

[0026] The result is a compact and reliable closing device with minimal effort, which can also be advantageously combined with an electric motor-driven opening drive. This is all achieved by using an operating lever as part of the closing drive's lever chain, which not only lifts the pawl from its engagement with the rotary latch, but also pivots the closing pawl away from its engagement with the rotary latch to release the rotary latch. All of this is advantageously achieved with the electric motor of the opening drive, but can also be done manually or mechanically. These are the key advantages.

[0027] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing which merely represents an exemplary embodiment; in the drawings: Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 the closing device according to the invention in conjunction with the associated motor vehicle lock in different views in an overview, Fig. 3A to 3G different functional positions of the closing device and Fig. 4A to 4C the process of emergency opening or emergency release.

[0028] The figures show a closing device for a motor vehicle lock. The motor vehicle lock is reduced in this context to its essential components for the invention and initially has a locking mechanism 1, 2 consisting of a rotary latch 1 and a pawl 2. The pawl 2 is best seen in the Fig. 3B and Fig. 3C. The rotary latch 1 is mounted around an axis 3 in a lock case 4. The axis 3 is provided by a bearing pin anchored in the lock case 4. The pawl 2 is also mounted in the lock case 4, specifically around a further axis 5 spaced from the axis 3, which is again provided by an associated bearing pin anchored in the lock case 4. An actuating lever 6 is realized with the same axis as the axis or rotational axis 5 of the pawl 2. Also mounted with the same axis as the pawl 2 is a toggle lever arrangement 7, 8 or a drive lever 7 in conjunction with a closing pawl 8. For this purpose, the closing pawl 8 is mounted on the drive lever 7 so as to be rotatable about an axis 9. The drive lever 7, in turn, is mounted so as to be rotatable about the axis 5, i.e., coaxial with the pawl 2 and the actuating lever 6.

[0029] The further basic structure also includes an optional electric motor-driven opening drive 10, 11. The electric motor-driven opening drive 10, 11 is equipped with a driven pulley 10 and an eccentric 11 arranged thereon. For this purpose, the driven pulley 10 is rotated by an electric motor (not explicitly shown).

[0030] Of particular importance is an electromotive closing drive 12, which is only indicated by an arrow in the figures. In fact, the electromotive closing drive 12 acts on the drive lever 7 at its end opposite the axis or rotation axis 5. For this purpose, a preferably elastic connecting means (not explicitly shown) may act on the drive lever 7. The connecting means may be a Bowden cable, which performs the corresponding pulling movements according to the arrow in the Fig. 1 on the drive lever 7. For this purpose, the Bowden cable or connecting means is connected to an electric motor (not shown).

[0031] The electromotive closing drive 12 serves to at least partially actuate a lever chain 6, 7. In fact, the electromotive closing drive 12 actuates the drive lever 7, which moves the closing pawl 8 following the lever chain 6, 7 in a closing direction to drive the rotary latch 1 as a component of the locking mechanism 1, 2. The additional actuating lever 6, as a component of the lever chain 6, 7, is not actuated by the electromotive closing drive 12, but by the electromotive opening drive 10, 11.

[0032] Based on the example and the illustrations according to the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 shows that the operating lever 6 and the eccentric 11 are arranged on the driven pulley 10 in a top level. The driven pulley 10 is located in a lower level. In addition, the already mentioned toggle lever arrangement 7, 8 consisting of the drive lever 7 and the closing pawl 8 is located. The locking mechanism 1, 2 is arranged in a further lower level. This allows the operating lever 6 to act upon a stop edge 8a on the closing pawl 8 with an operating pin 6a, as will be explained in more detail below. In addition, with the help of the eccentric 11, the operating lever 6 can be moved in the Fig. 1 in the clockwise direction about its axis 5. The actuating lever 6 is pretensioned in the direction of the eccentric 11 by means of a spring (not shown), so that the actuating lever 6 follows and can follow both clockwise and counterclockwise movements of the driven pulley 10 in contact with the eccentric 11.

[0033] The basic structure then includes one or more stationary guide pins 13. The guide pins 13 are designed according to the embodiment as components of a lock housing, which is made of plastic and Fig. 1 in the usual way and protects it from environmental influences. Finally, a spring 14 is provided which acts on the drive lever 7 or the toggle lever arrangement 7, 8, as well as a further spring 15 which acts on the closing pawl 8. The two springs 14, 15 ultimately ensure that the toggle lever arrangement 7, 8 is moved in the direction of its exemplary position shown in the Fig. 1, Fig. 2 and Fig. 3A shown folded initial position. On the other hand, if the toggle lever arrangement 7, 8 takes its folded closed position as shown, for example, in the Fig. 3C, this happens against the force of the two springs 14, 15.

[0034] In the Fig. 3A-3G now shows a closing process in normal operation, ie without interruption of the closing movement of the rotary latch 1. In this context, the Fig. 3A the pre-locking position of the locking mechanism 1, 2. This may be detected by a sensor in a control unit (not shown). This control unit ensures that, following the pre-locking position, the electromotive closing drive 12 is actuated as shown in the Fig. 1 and pulls the drive lever 7 in the direction of the arrow.

[0035] As a result, the drive lever 7 is rotated around the axis 5 common to the pawl 2 during the transition from the Fig. 3A to Fig. 3B is pivoted clockwise. This clockwise movement of the drive lever 7 causes the closing pawl 8 to spread out—assisted by the spring 15—and allows a bevel 8b on the closing pawl 8 to retract into a recess 1a of the rotary latch 1.

[0036] During the further transition from the Fig. 3B to Fig. 3C, an angle of the toggle lever arrangement 7, 8 or the angle enclosed between the drive lever 7 and the closing pawl 8 increases and the toggle lever arrangement 7, 8 increasingly moves into its folded-out closed position. At the same time, the continued pivoting movement of the drive lever 7 around the axis 5 in a clockwise direction, caused by the electric motor closing drive 12, ensures that the rotary latch 1 in the Fig. 3B and Fig. 3C is pivoted counterclockwise around its axis 3. As a result, a locking bolt 16 caught by the rotary latch 1 is released during the transition from the pre-locking position of the Fig. 3A about the Fig. 3B up to the position of the Fig. 3C is increasingly moved “to the right according to the arrow” in the embodiment, so that a motor vehicle door connected to the locking bolt 16 and not shown is also moved to the right following the direction of the arrow and is transferred towards the motor vehicle body and “closed”.

[0037] When transitioning from the Fig. 3C to Fig. 3D, the pawl 2 has now engaged the main detent of the rotary latch 1, and the locking mechanism 1, 2 is consequently in the main detent position. The closing pawl 8, with its bevel 8b, leaves the recess 1a in the rotary latch. This may be assisted by appropriate spring forces. During this process, the closing pawl 8 moves against the stationary stop 13 connected to the lock housing. This can be attributed to the fact that when the locking mechanism 1, 2 reaches the main detent position, a sensor reports the assumption of the main detent position to the control unit (not shown), which then reverses the closing drive 12.

[0038] This is accompanied by a reversing movement of the drive lever 7, which, starting from the folded-out closing position of the toggle lever arrangement 7, 8 in the illustration, moves according to the Fig. 3C during the transition to Fig. 3D moves counterclockwise around the axis 5. At the same time, the closing pawl 8 slides with its stop edge 8a along the stationary pin or housing pin 13.

[0039] This in the direction of the folded starting position of the Fig. 3A movement of the toggle lever arrangement 7, 8 is maintained for as long as and during the transition from the Fig. 3D to Fig. 3E until the stop edge 8a on the closing latch 8 is released from the stop 13. Now the functional position is after the Fig. 3E is reached. With further progressive folding movement of the toggle lever arrangement 7, 8 in the transition from the Fig. 3E to Fig. 3F and finally to Fig. 3G, the drive pawl 7 continues to move counterclockwise around its axis 5. The closing pawl 8 follows this movement because it rests against a further stop 13. Only when the closing pawl 8 comes into the influence range of the spring 15, the stop edge 8a on the closing pawl 8 in conjunction with the further stop 13 ensures that, with simultaneous counterclockwise rotation of the drive lever 7, the folded initial position corresponding to the illustration in the Fig. 3A when transitioning from the Fig. 3G in this position after the Fig. 3A is reached (again). This completes the closing process in normal operation and the toggle lever arrangement 7, 8 is in its folded initial position according to the Fig. 3A. The locking mechanism 1, 2 is in the main detent position. From this position, the locking mechanism 1, 2 can be opened using the opening drive 10, 11 or manually by pivoting the operating lever 6 clockwise around its axis 5, which is shared with the pawl 2, in the main detent position, so that the pawl 2 is pivoted away from its locking engagement with the rotary latch 1. The rotary latch 1 then opens with spring support and releases the previously trapped locking bolt 16.

[0040] In the Fig. 4A to 4C now show an interruption of the previously described closing movement of the rotary latch 1. The closing movement initially begins in the initial position or pre-locking position as shown in the Fig. 1. Starting from this, the closing drive 12, which is in the pre-locking position, acts on the toggle lever arrangement 7, 8 in such a way that it moves from its folded initial position into the Fig. 1 and Fig. 3A into the unfolded closed position according to the Fig. 3C. The functional position after the Fig. However, 3C is not achieved in this case. This is shown by the Fig. 4A, which corresponds to a position of the toggle lever arrangement 7, 8 between the illustration in the Fig. 3B and the Fig. 3C. In this intermediate position, the closing movement of the rotary latch 1 is interrupted.

[0041] This interruption was initiated by the opening drive 10, 11 being actuated. At the same time, the closing drive 12 was stopped. This may have been caused by a handle, for example, operated by an operator. The handle actuates a sensor or switch, whose signal is detected by the control unit and converted into a movement of the electromotive opening drive 10, 11. This is shown by the Fig. 4A.

[0042] It can be seen that the opening movement of the electromotive opening drive 10, 11 corresponds to the fact that the driven disk 10, starting from the basic position in the Fig. 1 has been pivoted counterclockwise. As a result, the eccentric 11 connected to the output disk 10 increasingly acts on one end of the actuating lever 6. As a result, the actuating lever 6 is pivoted clockwise about its axis 5.

[0043] This means that when transitioning from the Fig. 4A to Fig. 4B the actuating pin 6a connected to the actuating lever 6 acts on the drive pawl 8 or moves against the stop edge 8a on the drive pawl 8. As a result, the drive pawl 8 or its bevel 8a is pivoted away from the recess 1a of the rotary latch 1. This means that the closing pawl 8 is also pivoted away from its engagement with the rotary latch 1, and the engagement between the closing pawl 8 and the rotary latch 1 is released.

[0044] At the same time, the operating lever 6 ensures, during the described pivoting movement in a clockwise direction around the axis 5 common to the pawl 2, that the pawl 2 is lifted from its engagement with the rotary latch 1. This allows the rotary latch to be moved during the transition from the functional position in the Fig. 4B to Fig. 4C pivots clockwise around its axis 3. The previously trapped locking bolt 16 is released.

[0045] Following the open state of the locking mechanism 1, 2 during the described emergency opening or emergency release, the electromotive opening drive 10, 11 is reversed. This corresponds to a clockwise rotation of the driven pulley 10 until the Fig. 1 is reached again. At the same time, the spring 14, 15 acting on the toggle lever arrangement 7, 8 ensures that the folded initial position is maintained as shown in the Fig. 1 is (re)occupied. In this process, comparable to the previously described sequence of figures of the Fig. 3D, Fig. 3E, Fig. 3F and Fig.3G, in turn, causes the stop edge 8a on the closing pawl 8 to slide along the stationary stop 13 or the two stationary stops 13 until the bevel 8a has passed the stop 13 and the closing pawl 8 is moved toward the drive lever 7. In conjunction with an interaction between the second stop 13 and the said stop edge 8a, the folded initial position of the toggle lever arrangement 7, 8 is then ultimately assumed again with spring support, comparable to the sequence of figures 3F, 3G, and 3A. List of reference symbols 1, 2 locking mechanisms 1 rotary latch 1a recess 2 pawls 3 axis 4 lock cases 5 axis 6 operating levers 6a Actuating pin 7, 8 Knee lever arrangement 7 drive levers 8 Closing latch 8a Stop edge 8b chamfer 9 Axis 10, 11 Opening drive 10 Output pulley 11 eccentric 12 Closing drive 13 guide pins 14, 15 springs 16 locking bolts 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 2021 100 462 A1

[0003] DE 199 33 371 A1 [0006, 0007, 0011]

Claims

[1] Closing device for a motor vehicle lock, in particular a motor vehicle door lock, with an electromotive closing drive (12) and a lever chain (6, 7) which can be acted upon at least partially thereby, and with a closing pawl (8) following the lever chain (6, 7) for driving a rotary latch (1) as a component of a locking mechanism (1, 2) comprising a rotary latch (1) and a pawl (2), wherein in order to interrupt a closing movement of the rotary latch (1), an actuating lever (6) of the lever chain (6, 7) is acted upon, which releases the rotary latch (1) with respect to the lever chain (6, 7) and lifts the pawl (2) from its engagement with the rotary latch (1), characterized by that the operating lever (6) swings the closing pawl (8) away from its engagement with the rotary latch (1) to release the rotary latch (1). [2] Device according to claim 1, characterized by that the operating lever (6) is actuated manually and / or by an electric motor. [3] Device according to claim 2, characterized by that an electromotive opening drive (10, 11) is provided for actuating the actuating lever (6). [4] Device according to claim 3, characterized by that the opening drive (10, 11) has a driven pulley (10) with an eccentric (11) for acting on the actuating lever (6). [5] Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by that the closing pawl (8) is rotatably mounted on a drive lever (7). [6] Device according to claim 5, characterized by that the closing pawl (8) and the drive lever (7) together define a toggle lever arrangement (7, 8) which can be transferred from a folded initial position into an unfolded closed position by means of the closing drive (12). [7] Device according to claim 6, characterized by that the toggle lever arrangement (7, 8) is assigned at least one spring (14, 15) which acts in the direction of a folded initial position. [8] Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by that the closing latch (8) has a stop edge (8a). [9] Device according to claim 8, characterized by that the stop edge (8a) is acted upon by means of an actuating pin (6a) on the actuating lever (6) to release the rotary latch (1). [10] Device according to claim 8 or 9, characterized by that the stop edge (8a) interacts with at least one stationary guide pin (13) to assume the folded initial position of the toggle lever arrangement (7, 8) following a closing process.

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