Vehicle hatch locking and ventilation device

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle hatch locking and ventilation device. This device comprises a spacer and a locking element. The locking element has a first locking section and a second locking section.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to vehicle hatches. In particular, the present invention relates to a vehicle hatch locking and venting device (hereinafter also "vehicle hatch device").

[0002] Vehicle hatches are traditionally used in vehicle construction when a (re-)sealable access to the vehicle interior is required. Vehicle hatches can be installed in any position within the vehicle, e.g., as a roof hatch or side hatch. Roof hatches, in particular, are often fitted with a transparent insert such as plastic or glass to allow light into the vehicle interior, for example, in recreational vehicles. Some vehicle hatches have a built-in ventilation function, but others do not.

[0003] Generic vehicle hatches without a ventilation function comprise at least one movable frame or part and at least one fixed frame or part. The fixed frame or part is usually connected to or built into a vehicle. The movable frame can usually be moved from a closed position to an open position. This movement is usually a pivoting movement. The movable frame is usually connected to the at least one fixed frame with at least one lock. In a locked position, the lock in the closed position of the movable frame prevents the vehicle hatch from being opened, especially from the outside. The lock usually tensions or pulls the movable frame into at least one seal which is arranged between the movable frame and the fixed frame in order to ensure a tight seal between the frames in the closed position.Such closures are usually at least two-part, with one (locking) part connected to each frame. One part usually has a tensioning mechanism (e.g., a toggle lever) and engages with the other part on the other frame.

[0004] It has been found that in attempted break-ins, burglars often use the roof hatches to gain access. For this reason, the hatches are closed and locked when the vehicle is parked unattended. However, this means that no ventilation can take place through the hatches, causing the temperature inside the vehicle to rise to uncomfortably high levels, especially in warm climates. Furthermore, the hatches cannot be left open even a crack while driving, as they could be blown open uncontrollably by the wind.

[0005] The present application therefore aims to provide a vehicle hatch locking and ventilation device that allows ventilation in the locked state. This object is achieved by the appended independent claim.

[0006] According to one aspect of the present application, a vehicle hatch locking and ventilation device comprises a spacer for insertion and a locking body. The locking body has a first locking portion and a second locking portion. The spacer is intended and suitable for being inserted between a movable frame and a fixed frame of a vehicle hatch when the vehicle hatch device is in use. The spacer separates the movable frame and the fixed frame by an amount determined by the dimensions (e.g., height) of the spacer. The locking portions or the locking body extend (locking extension), so to speak, a closure present on the vehicle hatch with its usually two parts (see above).Thus, when the vehicle hatch device is inserted, a ventilation gap can be created between the movable frame and the fixed frame, while simultaneously locking the vehicle hatch, since the two locking parts of the vehicle hatch, which are attached to the two frames, can engage with the locking body. The clamping force of the locking mechanism is determined by the distance between the active surfaces of the locking sections. The locking sections can be adjustable in terms of the distance (between their active surfaces) from one another to set the clamping force.

[0007] According to a further aspect of the present application, the spacer of a vehicle hatch device is mounted on the locking body or is integral with it. This can have the advantage of resulting in a compact component that can, for example, be conveniently stored on a vehicle hatch when the vehicle hatch device is not in use.

[0008] According to a further aspect of the present application, the locking body of a vehicle hatch device is adjustably mounted to the spacer. This can be achieved, for example, via elongated holes or other design features that allow movement before, for example, tightening with screws. Thus, the position of the spacer relative to the locking body can be adjusted, preventing, for example, damage to seals or the vehicle hatch in general and / or the vehicle hatch device. This can have the advantage of increasing the durability of the vehicle hatch device.

[0009] According to a further aspect of the present application, the first locking portion and the second locking portion are complementary. This means that the two locking portions could complement or engage each other (if they were not arranged on one part). This can have the advantage of reducing the complexity of the component and increasing reliability.

[0010] According to a further aspect of the present application, the spacer has at least one padding in order not to damage a surface on which it is placed or which is brought into contact with it.

[0011] According to a further aspect of the present application, one of the locking sections of the vehicle hatch device is designed as a bottle cap opener. This can have the advantage that the respective locking section can fulfill a dual function. Typically, a type of tab and / or a type of hook is used for the locking sections. Both shapes can be adapted to fulfill their primary function, namely locking, and the secondary function, namely opening a bottle cap.

[0012] According to a further aspect of the present application, the spacer of a vehicle hatch device comprises a sealing recess. The sealing recess is intended to keep stress (e.g., pressure load) in the area of ​​the spacer away from a seal when the vehicle hatch device is in use, and in particular when the vehicle hatch is locked. In other words, the sealing recess prevents a seal from being damaged by relatively localized stress compared to normal stress (full-surface contact between the frames). This can have the advantage of increasing the longevity of a vehicle hatch used with the vehicle hatch device.

[0013] According to a further aspect of the present application, the height of the spacer of a vehicle hatch device is adjustable. This can be achieved, for example, by a two-part or multi-part spacer. Adjusting the (two) parts of the spacer relative to each other adjusts the height of the spacer. The adjustment can be made using screws, and adjustment markings can be provided on the parts of the spacer to facilitate consistent adjustment. This can have the advantage that the vehicle hatch device can be adjusted to different conditions on a vehicle hatch, and the size of the opening gap can also be adjusted.

[0014] According to a further aspect of the present application, a vehicle hatch assembly comprises a vehicle hatch and a vehicle hatch device according to any one of the above aspects, wherein the vehicle hatch device does not exert any stress on a vehicle hatch seal when the vehicle hatch is inserted into the vehicle hatch and locked. This can have the advantage of increasing the longevity of a vehicle hatch used with the vehicle hatch device.

[0015] For a better understanding of the invention, it is explained in more detail with reference to the following figure. It shows a highly simplified, schematic perspective view of a vehicle hatch device.

[0016] By way of introduction, it should be noted that the position information chosen in the description, such as top, bottom, side, etc., refers to the figure directly described and depicted, and if the position changes, these position information must be transferred accordingly to the new position.

[0017] Fig. Figure 1 shows a schematic, perspective view of a vehicle hatch locking and ventilation device or vehicle hatch device 10 in a position in which it would also be inserted or placed into a horizontally arranged vehicle hatch (e.g., roof hatch) of a vehicle standing on a horizontal plane. The vehicle hatch device 10 comprises a spacer 11 and a locking body 12 connected thereto. The spacer 11 and the locking body 12 can be connected integrally or adjustably (not shown). If the spacer 11 and the locking body 12 are adjustably connected (e.g., by means of screws and elongated holes), a position of the spacer 11 relative to the locking body 12 can be adjusted in a use state (not shown) of the vehicle hatch device 10 (see above). The height of the spacer 11 can be adjustable (indicated by the double arrow in Fig. 1). This can be achieved, for example, by a two-part spacer 11.

[0018] The locking body 12 comprises a first locking section 13 and a second locking section 14. Here, the first locking section 13 is shaped as a tab and the second locking section 14 as a hook. The two locking sections are thus complementary, as they could fundamentally engage with each other. Furthermore, the tab of the first locking section 13 is shaped like a crown cap opener. The height of the spacer 11 determines the gap by which the vehicle hatch is open. The distance between the active surfaces (here hook and tab) of the first locking section 13 and the second locking section 14 determines the clamping force of a closure. The distance between the first locking section 13 and the second locking section 14 can be adjustable in their distance from one another (not shown).

[0019] The vehicle hatch device 10 can be designed such that it can be inserted into a vehicle hatch in a use state without a load being applied to a seal of the vehicle hatch when at least one closure of the vehicle hatch is locked. This basically depends on the design of the hatch and the vehicle hatch device and their coordination. In principle, a (tensioning) force applied to the vehicle hatch device by the closure of the hatch is not (even partially) introduced via the vehicle hatch seal into one of the hatch frames, but directly into the frames. This can be achieved, for example, by a sealing recess in the spacer (not shown) in which the vehicle hatch seal is arranged when the vehicle hatch device is in a use state in the vehicle hatch.

[0020] It is also possible to attach the locking body to a part of a closure, e.g., the tab, and place the spacer between the frames. This allows the existing hook on one of the frames to be reused, and the locking extension is achieved by the locking body attached to the tab (not shown).

[0021] It should be noted at this point that the invention is not limited to the specifically illustrated embodiment, but that variations based on the teaching of technical action by means of the objective invention are within the skill of the person skilled in this technical field.

[0022] The scope of protection is determined by the claims. However, the description and drawings must be used to interpret the claims. Individual features or combinations of features from the various embodiments shown and described may represent independent inventive solutions. The problem underlying these independent inventive solutions can be derived from the description.

[0023] For the sake of clarity, it should finally be pointed out that, in order to better understand the structure, some elements have been shown out of scale and / or enlarged and / or reduced in size. List of reference symbols 10 Vehicle hatch locking and ventilation device or vehicle hatch device 11 spacers 12 locking bodies 13 first locking section 14 second locking section

Claims

[1] Vehicle hatch locking and ventilation device (10) comprising a spacer (11) for insertion and a locking body (12), wherein the locking body has a first locking portion (13) and a second locking portion (14). [2] Vehicle hatch device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the spacer (11) is mounted to the locking body (12). [3] Vehicle hatch device (10) according to claim 2, wherein the spacer (11) is adjustably mounted to the locking body (12). [4] Vehicle hatch device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first locking portion (13) and the second locking portion (14) are complementary. [5] Vehicle hatch device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein one of the spacers (11) has at least one padding. [6] Vehicle hatch device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the spacer (11) comprises a sealing recess. [7] Vehicle hatch device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first locking portion (13) and the second locking portion (14) are adjustable in their distance from one another. [8] Vehicle hatch device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the spacer (11) is adjustable in height. [9] Vehicle hatch device (10) according to claim 8, wherein the spacer (11) has adjustment markings. [10] A vehicle hatch assembly comprising a vehicle hatch and a vehicle hatch device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the vehicle hatch device does not exert any load on a vehicle hatch seal when the vehicle hatch is inserted into the vehicle hatch and locked.

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