LOCKING DEVICE FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE CANOPY WITH CAMS TO SECURE THE OVERTOTAL POSITION

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a locking device for a convertible top of a motor vehicle, wherein the convertible top can be brought into a closed position covering the vehicle interior and a stowed position releasing this vehicle interior, comprising a locking handle which, when actuated, unlocks or locks a locking hook. State of the art

[0002] A locking device is used for manually locking or unlocking a convertible top that can be opened, either manually or by motor, into an open or closed position.

[0003] Known locking devices in the prior art often require a relatively large force to lock and unlock. It should be noted that the lock creates very tight tension on the convertible top and its cover, and therefore the mechanism is designed to withstand the forces exerted by the lock.

[0004] German patent application DE 10 2015 202 186 B3 discloses a locking device for the convertible top of a motor vehicle, comprising a locking handle which, when actuated, unlocks or locks a locking hook, wherein the locking handle and an actuating lever are engaged via a cam track and a first engagement element, wherein the locking handle is rotatable about a first axis of rotation, the actuating lever is rotatable about a second axis of rotation, and the locking hook is non-rotatably connected to the actuating lever at the second axis of rotation, wherein the first engagement element and the cam track are designed such that, when the locking handle is rotated about the first axis of rotation, the first engagement element is guided along the cam track in the direction of a mechanical stop, and upon reaching the mechanical stop, the actuating lever is rotated about the second axis of rotation.so that the unlocking of the locking hook is delayed when the locking handle is operated.

[0005] EP 0 301 193 B1 shows a closure for a convertible top with an operating lever mounted about a first transverse axis, and a pivotable closure element, wherein the operating lever rotatably interacts with the closure element via at least one steering lever on the one hand with a guide track provided on the bearing block and on the other hand with a transverse bolt, a second transverse axis with a spring-loaded locking pawl, wherein a detent lug engages in this.

[0006] The locking hook has one degree of freedom and can rotate around the hook guide. In this case, the lock opens immediately as soon as the locking pawl is pressed.

[0007] DE 10 2009 009 595 B4 discloses a locking system for the convertible top of a vehicle, comprising a roof element that can be attached to a cowl of the vehicle, a locking hook mounted on the roof element, and a hook receptacle arranged on the cowl. Furthermore, the locking system has a detent hook on the roof element that is associated with the locking hook and can be engaged with a detent receptacle provided on the cowl. The locking hook has a stop element that, when the locking hook is adjusted, can be engaged with a stop surface of the detent hook. The detent hook is rotatable relative to the locking hook.

[0008] DE 37 25 431 A1 and DE 196 02 185 C1 disclose a closure for a vehicle convertible top. These comprise a convertible top-side bearing block with an operating lever mounted about a transverse axis and a pivotable closure element that interacts with a body-side receptacle.

[0009] The object of the invention is to design a locking device which includes a further additional safeguard against unintentional opening of the lock. Description of the invention

[0010] The problem is solved by a locking device with the features of claim 1, more precisely by a locking device for a movable roof element of a vehicle, comprising a pivotably mounted locking hook which, in the locked position, locks the movable roof element to a receptacle of a roof frame of the motor vehicle in the closed position, an actuating handle which, for actuating the locking hook, is coupled to the locking hook via a steering lever kinematic and pivotably connected to the movable roof element via a bolt, and a pawl for securing the locking device against unintentional opening in a first open position in which the locking hook is still engaged with a roof frame, wherein the pawl is pivotably mounted on the actuating handle via a pivot axis, and an over-center kinematic for securing the locking device against unintentional opening.wherein this includes at least one cam formed on the locking hook which, during an opening movement of the locking hook, strikes against the bolt and prevents further opening movement.

[0011] This achieves a double safeguard against unintentional opening of the locking device according to the invention.

[0012] It is advantageous that the locking hook has an elongated base from which a hook point extends at one end and two cheeks extend at the other end, with cams being attached to both sides of the cheeks. These cams extend beyond the base of the locking hook in the region of their upper boundary and form a cam contact surface as a stop for the bolt. The cam contact surfaces ensure that the bolt is in the over-center position.

[0013] Advantageously, in one embodiment the cams are integral, i.e. formed in one piece with the cheeks of the locking hook.

[0014] The cam contact surface runs diagonally from the upper boundary towards a cam foot. Description of the characters

[0015] It shows: Figure 1: a perspective view of a locking device; Figure 2: the locking device of the Figure 1 without housing, Figure 3 the locking device in the closed and locked state, Figure 4 the locking device in the unlocking position in a first step, Figure 5 pulling the operating handle as a second step when opening the locking device, Figure 6 the locking device in the fully open position, Figure 7 a locking device in a double-locked state, Figure 8 the locking device according to the Figure 7in another state, Figure 9 the locking device according to the invention with two safety devices; and Figure 10 the locking hook of the locking device according to the invention as a single part in a perspective view.

[0016] In Figure 1 Figure 1 shows a locking device 1 housed in a casing 2. The casing 2 has various openings through which an operating handle 3, a locking hook 4, and part of a pawl 8 protrude.

[0017] Figure 2Figure 1 shows the key components of the locking device 1 without the housing 2. The locking hook 4 has an upwardly angled, hook-shaped end 41 at its front end. The locking hook 4 has two parallel, spaced-apart opposing cheeks 4c, which extend upwards from a base 40 of the locking hook 4. The base extends longitudinally in the x-direction. The cheeks 4c have opposing bores 4b in the y-direction, which serve to receive a first bearing pin 9b. Furthermore, each cheek 4c has an upwardly angled, slot-shaped cam guide 4a, which serves to receive a hook guide 7 of the locking hook 4.

[0018] The actuating handle 3 extends from the housing 2 in the x-direction opposite to the locking hook 4 and is mounted on the housing 2 by a spring-loaded bolt 6. The preload is generated by a spring 10, which is supported by the bolt 6. A pawl 8 is installed within a central recess of the actuating handle 3 and is mounted on the actuating handle 3 by a second bearing bolt 9a. The pawl 8 has a hook-shaped design at its first end region 8a. The opposite second end region 8b serves as the actuating area.

[0019] Furthermore, the locking device comprises angled steering levers 9 arranged on both sides. The steering levers are connected to the bearing bolts 9a and 9b via end bearing bores. Thus, the steering levers 9 extend from the bearing bolts 9b of the locking hook 4 to the bearing bolts 9a on the operating handle 3 and couple these bearing points.

[0020] Figure 3 Figure 1 shows the locking device 1 in the closed and locked state, with a conventional vehicle coordinate system shown.

[0021] The x-axis runs along the vehicle's longitudinal axis and points in the direction of travel, the y-axis runs along the vehicle's transverse axis, and the z-axis runs along the vehicle's vertical axis and points upwards. The description of the invention uses the directions listed above without limiting the invention to specific vehicle directions.

[0022] The upwardly angled, hook-shaped end section 41 of the locking hook 4 engages positively with a receptacle 12 in the roof frame when the convertible top is locked. The hook-shaped end section 41 passes through a rectangular opening in the roof frame. Further locking in the locked position is achieved by the pawl 8, whose hook-shaped first end section 8a extends outwards through an opening 2a in the housing 2 and whose pawl tip rests against the outer surface of the housing 2.

[0023] Figure 4Figure 1 shows the state in which the locking device is unlocked. To unlock the locking device 1, the locking pawl 8 must first be pressed upwards at the actuating area, as indicated by the arrow. This rotates the locking pawl 8 around the pivot pin 9a against the actuating handle 3. The hook-shaped end section 8a pivots inwards / downwards through the opening 2a of the housing 2 into the housing 2. In this state, the actuating handle 3 is not moved.

[0024] In Figure 5Figure 1 shows the state that results from actuating the operating handle 3 in the direction of the downward arrow. The operating handle 3 rotates around the bolt 6, engaging the pawl 8 and the steering lever 9. The hook-shaped end 8a of the pawl 8 lies within the housing 2. Via the steering lever 9, the locking hook 4 moves around the bearing bolt 9b. The locking hook 4 is positively guided in its movement by the cam guide (cam 4 / hook guide 7).

[0025] Figure 6 shows the locking device 1 in the fully open position.

[0026] The Figures 7 to 8 show the behavior of the described locking device 1 without the invention. Figure 9 shows the double locking mechanism of the inventive locking device 1 against unintentional opening.

[0027] In Figure 7The diagram illustrates the situation when a tensile force 21 is applied to the locking hook 4. The lock then moves with the closing force 20 in a direction that assists the locking process. A connecting line 13 from the axis of rotation of bearing pin 9a to the axis of rotation of pin 6 is shown schematically. A connecting line 14 from the axis of rotation of bearing pin 9a to the axis of rotation of bearing pin 9b is also shown.

[0028] Both axes of rotation of bearing bolts 9a and 9b lie above the axis of rotation of bolt 6, resulting in an over-center position. Connecting line 14 lies above connecting line 13.

[0029] Figure 8This shows the situation that can lead to problems when implementing the locking device 1 according to the prior art. The locking hook 4 has one degree of freedom and can rotate about the hook guide 7. It can be seen that the bearing pin 9b for the locking hook 4 lies below the pin 6 and the over-center position has been eliminated. The connecting line 14 lies below the connecting line 13. An opening force 22 occurs opposite to the closing force.

[0030] In this case, the locking device 1 opens immediately as soon as the locking pawl 8 is actuated. Therefore, in the situation shown, the prior art locking device 1 only has a safeguard against unintentional opening.

[0031] This is where the inventive solution for the locking device 1 comes into play. For this purpose, as in the Figure 10As shown, the locking hook 4 is structurally supplemented by cams 15 on cheeks 4c. The cams 15 form wings that connect to the bores 4b. The cams 15 further form a cam tip 15b and a cam contact surface 15a. The cams 15 have a cam base 15c, which is connected to a base surface 40 of the locking hook 4. Both the cheeks 4c and the cams 15 extend perpendicular to the base surface 40 in the z-direction. The hook-shaped end region 41 also extends approximately in the z-direction.

[0032] The cam tip 15b has an extent E in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and is designed such that it exceeds the longitudinal extent L of the base 40 of the locking hook 4 in the x-direction.

[0033] The cams 15 can also be manufactured integrally, i.e. as one piece with the locking hook 4.

[0034] In addition, it is also possible to work with only one cam 15 on a cheek 4c of the locking hook 4.

[0035] Figure 9 Figure 1 shows the behavior of the locking hook 4 with the cam design 15 according to the invention. By attaching the cams 15, the locking hook 4 can only move as far as the bolt 6 when a tensile force 21 is applied, and then rests on the bolt 6 (viewed from above) via the cam contact surface 15a. Further pivoting of the locking hook 4 is prevented in this situation, thus ensuring that the locking mechanism is engaged.

[0036] The locking hook 4 remains in the roof frame via its hook-shaped end region 41. This ensures that the hook is always in an over-center position and that the assembly has a closing moment with a closing force 20. The solution according to the invention thus achieves double protection against unintentional opening.

[0037] The basic structure of the locking device 1 corresponds to the structure described for Figures 1-6; the only difference is the... Figures 9 and 10 described design of the locking hook 4 with cam 15 and cam contact surface 15a. Reference sign

[0038] 1 Locking device 2 Housing, 2a Opening 3 Operating handle 4 Locking hook 4a Cam, 4b Bore 5 Buffer 6 Bolt 7 Hook guide 8 Locking pawl 9 Steering lever 9a, 9b Bearing bolt 10 Spring 11 Pivot bolt 12 Receptacle 13 Connecting line pivot point 9a to bolt 6 14 Connecting line pivot point 9a to pivot point 9b 15 Cam 15a Cam contact surface 15b Cam tip 15c Cam base 20 Closing force 21 Pulling force 22 Opening force 40 Base area 41 Hook-shaped end area

Claims

1. Closure device (1) for a movable roof element of a vehicle, having a pivotably mounted locking hook (4) which, in the locked situation, locks the movable roof element in the closed position at a recess (12) of a roof frame of the motor vehicle, having an actuating handle (3) which, for the purpose of actuating the locking hook (4), couples to the locking hook (4) via a link-lever mechanism with a link lever (9) and is connected pivotably to the movable roof element via a pin (6), and having a pawl (8) for securing the closure device (1) against unwanted opening in a first open position, in which the (4) locking hook still engages with the roof frame, wherein the pawl (8) is mounted pivotably on the actuating handle (3) via a pivot axis of a bearing pin (9a), and a beyond-dead-centre kinematic mechanism for securing the closure device against unwanted opening, wherein the beyond-dead-centre kinematic mechanism comprises at least one cam (15) which is formed on the locking hook (4) and which, during an opening movement of the locking hook (4), abuts against the pin (6) and prevents a further opening movement and a release of the locking of the locking hook (4).

2. Closure device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the locking hook (4) has a base surface (40) with a longitudinal extent from which a hook-like end region (41) and two side walls (4c) arranged on the oppositely situated end region of the base surface (40) extend upwards in the vehicle direction (z direction), wherein, in the region or to the side walls (4c), there are attached, on one side or on both sides, cams (15) which, in the region of their upper boundary, extend beyond the base surface (40) of the locking hook by an extent (E) and form a cam abutment surface (15a) as a stop of the bolt (6).

3. Closure device according to Claim 2, characterized in that the at least one cam (15) is formed in one piece with the side walls of the locking hook (4).

4. Closure device according to Claim 2, characterized in that the cam abutment surface (15a) extends obliquely from the upper boundary in the direction of a cam foot (15c).

5. Closure device (1) according to Claim 2, characterized in that, in the y direction, the side walls (4c) are designed with oppositely aligned bores (4b) which serve for receiving a bearing pin (9b).

6. Closure device (1) according to Claim 2 or 5, characterized in that each side wall (4c) has an obliquently upwardly formed slot-like sliding-block guide (4a) which serves for receiving a hook guide (7) and for positively guided movement of the locking hook (4).

7. Closure device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bearing pin (9a) of the pawl (8) is coupled to the bearing pin (9b) of the locking hook (4) via the link lever (9).