Lock device for open-close body of vehicle

Abstract

To provide a lock device for open-and-close bodies of vehicles, with which adjustment of a target load is easy while securing strength of a damper to which a fork swinging to a latch position comes to contact, and can inhibit deformation or crack from being caused in the housing and parts inside the housing.SOLUTION: A housing 90 comprises a base plate 91 and a guide base 93. The base plate 91 comprises: a base wall part 91A; and a side wall part 91B that is erected on the base wall part 91A facing a side surface part 930 of the guide base 93. The side wall part 91B comprises a load-bearing surface 98 that receives an impact load applied in a first direction F to the damper 94A when a fork 10 and the damper 94A come to contact each other. Between the load-bearing surface 98 and the back surface of the damper 94A, there is a damper-receiving part 933 that is made of a high-stiffness body with rigidity higher than that of the elastic body constituting the damper 94A. A damper-holding part 96, which holds the damper 94A in the guide base 93, is configured to have the impact load transferred to the load-bearing surface 98 via the damper-receiving part 933.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a locking device for a vehicle opening / closing body. [Background technology]

[0002] A vehicle door locking device, which is an example of a conventional locking device for a vehicle opening / closing body, is disclosed in Patent Document 1. This locking device includes a housing, a fork, a pole, and a damper.

[0003] The housing is provided in a back door that is provided on a vehicle body so as to be able to open and close. The housing has an entrance through which a striker fixed to the vehicle body enters.

[0004] The fork is provided in the housing. The fork swings between a latched position where the striker is engaged within the entrance and an unlatched position where the striker is not engaged within the entrance. The fork swings toward the latched position by being pushed by the striker moving toward the back of the entrance.

[0005] The pawl is mounted to the housing and is movable between a blocking position that blocks the forks from swinging to the unlatched position and an unblocking position that allows the forks to swing to the unlatched position.

[0006] The damper is provided in the housing. The damper has a leg portion made of an elastic body and a high-rigidity portion having a higher rigidity than the elastic body. The leg portion has a first abutment surface against which the fork, which swings to the latch position, abuts before reaching the latch position. The high-rigidity portion has a second abutment surface against which the fork abuts when it passes the latch position and reaches an overstroke position.

[0007] In this locking device, the fork that swings to the latched position elastically abuts against a first abutment surface of the leg just before reaching the latched position. Then, when the fork passes the latched position and reaches the overstroke position, it abuts against a second abutment surface of the high rigidity portion. In this way, in this locking device, the leg reduces the sound that is generated when the fork reaches the latched position, and the high rigidity portion absorbs the impact of the fork's overstroke. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] US Patent Application Publication No. 2015 / 0191947 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0009] However, in the above conventional locking device, the legs are made of leaf springs made of bent thin plates. Therefore, it is not necessarily easy to adjust the target load by selecting the material of the leaf spring or adjusting the degree of bending. In addition, there is a concern that the legs may crack due to the impact load when the fork and the legs come into contact, which may cause deformation or cracking of the housing.

[0010] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned conventional situation, and has as its object to provide a locking device for a vehicle opening / closing body that can easily adjust the target load while ensuring the strength of the damper against which the fork that swings to the latch position abuts, and that can suppress deformation and cracking of the housing and the parts within the housing. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] The locking device for a vehicle opening / closing body of the present invention includes a housing provided on one of a vehicle body and an opening / closing body that is openably and closably mounted on the vehicle body, the housing having an entrance through which a striker fixed to the other of the vehicle body and the opening / closing body enters; a fork provided in the housing, the fork pivoting about a pivot axis between a latched position at which the striker is engaged within the entrance and an unlatched position at which the striker is not engaged within the entrance; a pawl provided on the housing, the pawl being displaceable between a blocking position that blocks the fork from swinging to the unlatched position and an unblocking position that allows the fork to swing to the unlatched position; a damper provided in the housing and made of an elastic body against which the fork swinging to the latch position abuts, The housing includes a base plate and a guide base. the base plate has a base wall portion in which the inlet is formed together with the guide base, and a side wall portion that is erected on the base wall portion, faces a side surface of the guide base, and extends parallel to the oscillation axis, the side wall portion has a load receiving surface that receives an impact load applied to the damper in a first direction when the fork and the damper come into contact with each other, a damper receiving portion made of a high-rigidity body having a higher rigidity than the elastic body is interposed between the load receiving surface and a back surface of the damper facing the load receiving surface, the guide base has a damper holding portion that holds the damper, The damper holding portion is configured to transmit the impact load to the load receiving surface via the damper receiving portion.

[0012] In the locking device for a vehicle opening / closing body of the present invention, for example, the fork pushed by the striker moving toward the back of the entrance swings toward the latch position. At this time, when the fork swinging to the latch position abuts against the damper, an impact load is applied to the damper in a first direction, but the impact load is received by the load receiving surface of the side wall portion of the base plate.

[0013] Here, a damper receiving portion made of a high-rigidity body having a higher rigidity than the elastic body constituting the damper is interposed between the load receiving surface and the back surface of the damper facing the load receiving surface. Therefore, the impact load generated when the fork contacts the damper can be supported by the load receiving surface of the side wall portion of the base plate via the damper receiving portion. As a result, it is possible to prevent the impact load from acting on parts of the side wall portion of the base plate other than the load receiving surface and on components inside the housing.

[0014] The damper holder of the guide base transmits the impact load applied to the damper when the fork and the damper come into contact with each other to the load receiving surface via the damper holder, thereby preventing the impact load applied to the damper when the fork comes into contact with the damper from acting on the damper holder, thereby preventing deformation or cracking of the guide base.

[0015] In addition, the damper receiving portion is separate from the damper and the side wall portion that receive the impact load. Therefore, for example, by adjusting the volume ratio between the damper receiving portion and the damper, it is easy to make the damper have a target load, and it is easy to suppress the inconvenience caused by the target load being too high or too low. If the target load is too high and the damper is too hard, the closing performance of the opening and closing body becomes poor, and if the target load is too low and the damper is too soft, the vibration of the opening and closing body in the closed state cannot be suppressed, which may cause abnormal noise.

[0016] Furthermore, by configuring the damper receiving part and the damper from two parts made of different materials, the degree of freedom in selecting the damper material is also increased, making it easier to select and use a material whose characteristics are less likely to change due to temperature changes at low temperatures, such as a softer material. Also, if there is a high degree of freedom in selecting the damper material, it is easier to ensure the strength of the damper itself.

[0017] Therefore, the locking device for a vehicle opening / closing body of the present invention makes it easy to adjust the target load while ensuring the strength of the damper against which the fork swinging to the latch position abuts, and can suppress deformation and cracking of the housing and parts within the housing.

[0018] The guide base preferably has a guide base main body provided with a damper holding portion, a pair of arms extending in a direction intersecting the first direction, and a damper receiving portion. One end of each arm is connected to the damper receiving portion, and the other end of each arm is connected to the guide base main body, and the guide base main body, the damper receiving portion, and the pair of arms are preferably integrally molded from resin. Also, a gap is preferably provided between the load receiving surface and a back surface of the damper receiving portion facing the load receiving surface, which allows the damper receiving portion to move in the first direction together with the damper with bending deformation of the pair of arms when the fork and the damper come into contact with each other.

[0019] In this case, when the fork and the damper come into contact with each other, the pair of arms are deflected and deformed, and the damper receiving part moves in the first direction together with the damper. This allows the shock load applied to the damper when the fork and the damper come into contact to be released. In addition, since the damper receiving part and the guide base main body are integrated, the number of parts can be reduced and the assembly process can be simplified compared to when the damper receiving part and the guide base main body are separate parts.

[0020] The damper preferably has a pair of outer side surfaces extending in parallel along the first direction. The damper holding portion preferably has a pair of inner side surfaces and a plurality of protrusions protruding from each inner side surface. Each inner side surface of the damper holding portion preferably extends in parallel to and faces each outer side surface of the damper with a gap therebetween. Each protrusion preferably abuts against each outer side surface of the damper that faces each inner side surface of the damper holding portion. The protrusions are preferably disposed at intervals from each other in the first direction.

[0021] In this case, since a gap is provided between the outer surface of the damper and the inner surface of the damper holding portion, an impact load is unlikely to act from the damper to the damper holding portion. Also, when the damper moves in the first direction relative to the damper holding portion, the posture of the damper is likely to be maintained by the multiple protrusions provided at intervals in the first direction. Therefore, when the fork abuts against the damper, the damper is likely to move in the first direction relative to the damper holding portion. This also makes it unlikely that an impact load will act from the damper to the damper holding portion. As a result, deformation or cracking of the guide base can be further suppressed.

[0022] Preferably, the forks are arranged to abut against the damper as or before they reach the latched position.

[0023] In this case, the fork always comes into contact with the damper when the fork reaches the latched position, which makes it possible to prevent the fork from wobbling at the latched position, thereby suppressing vibration of the opening / closing body in the closed state.

[0024] The load bearing surface preferably extends in a direction perpendicular to the first direction.

[0025] In this case, the impact load generated when the fork swinging to the latch position abuts against the damper is received by the load receiving surface extending in a direction perpendicular to the first direction. Therefore, the impact load acting on the damper can be more reliably supported by the load receiving surface of the side wall of the base plate via the damper receiving portion. As a result, it is possible to further prevent the impact load from acting on parts of the housing and on parts other than the load receiving surface of the side wall of the base plate.

[0026] It is preferable that the fork has a contact portion that contacts the damper and an engagement portion that engages with the pawl at the blocking position. It is also preferable that the outermost portion of the contact portion and the outermost portion of the engagement portion have the same radius from the pivot axis of the fork.

[0027] In this case, the engagement portion of the fork engages with the pawl, blocking the fork from swinging to the unlatched position and holding the fork in the latched position. The outermost portion of the contact portion and the outermost portion of the engagement portion have the same radius from the pivot axis of the fork, and the contact portion and the engagement portion are in the same position in the radial direction. This makes it possible to ensure the strength of the fork while also making the fork smaller. Effect of the Invention

[0028] The locking device for a vehicle opening / closing body of the present invention makes it easy to adjust the target load while ensuring the strength of the damper against which the fork swinging to the latch position abuts, and can suppress deformation and cracking of the housing and parts within the housing. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0029] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a side view of a locking device for a vehicle opening / closing body according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the locking device for the opening / closing body for a vehicle according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the locking device for the vehicle opening / closing body of the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an output gear of the actuator and a locking device main body with the back plate removed. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing the main components of the lock device main body. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a bottom view showing the locking device main body with the base plate of the housing removed. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the relative relationships of the main components of the lock device body. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view of a guide base in a housing. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating how an impact load from a fork acts on the load-receiving surface of the side wall portion of the base plate and on the first damper. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a side wall portion having a load receiving surface of the base plate, a guide base having a damper holding portion and a damper receiving portion, and a first damper. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the first damper. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing the positional relationship between the first damper, the fork having the contact portion and the engagement portion, and the pole. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating the operation of the fork and the pole. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram illustrating the operation of the fork and the pole. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram illustrating the operation of the fork and the pole. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram illustrating the operation of the fork and the pole. [Figure 17] FIG. 17 is a bottom view showing a locking device main body with a base plate in a housing removed, according to the second embodiment of the locking device for an opening-closing body for a vehicle. [Figure 18] FIG. 18 is a partial perspective view of a guide base in a housing of a lock device for an opening-closing body for a vehicle according to a second embodiment. [Figure 19] FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a spacer serving as a damper receiving portion in a lock device for an opening-closing body for a vehicle according to the second embodiment. [Figure 20] FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram showing the positional relationship between a side wall portion having a load receiving surface in a base plate, a spacer, and a guide base in a lock device for a vehicle opening / closing body according to a second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0030] Hereinafter, first and second embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0031] Example 1 As shown in Fig. 1, a locking device 1 of the first embodiment is an example of a specific aspect of a locking device for a vehicle opening / closing body of the present invention. The locking device 1 is used in a tailgate 8 that is provided in an openable and closable manner on a vehicle body 9 of a vehicle such as a passenger car. The tailgate 8 is an example of an "opening / closing body" of the present invention.

[0032] The front-rear and up-down directions of the vehicle are as shown in Fig. 1. The left-right direction of the vehicle is a direction perpendicular to the front-rear and up-down directions, with the front side of the paper in Fig. 1 being the right side of the vehicle and the back side of the paper in Fig. 1 being the left side of the vehicle. All directions shown in Fig. 3 and subsequent figures are shown corresponding to Fig. 1.

[0033] As shown in Fig. 1, the tailgate 8 closes a rear opening 9H of a vehicle body 9. Although not shown, the upper end of the tailgate 8 is swingably supported on the upper edge of the rear opening 9H. The tailgate 8 opens the rear opening 9H by swinging its lower end toward the rear and upward of the vehicle.

[0034] The locking device 1 is provided at the lower end of the tailgate 8. When the tailgate 8 closes the rear opening 9H, the locking device 1 takes the position shown in Fig. 1. A striker 7 is fixed to the lower edge of the rear opening 9H of the vehicle body 9.

[0035] In the following description of the configuration of the locking device 1, the posture of the locking device 1 shown in FIG. 1 is used as a reference for the front-rear, up-down, and left-right directions.

[0036] 2, the locking device 1 is electrically connected to a control unit C1 provided in a vehicle body 9. A power source B1, a tailgate opening operation detection unit S1, and the like are connected to the control unit C1. The tailgate opening operation detection unit S1 detects an opening operation of a door knob or a remote control switch performed by a user to enable opening of the tailgate 8, and transmits a detection signal to the control unit C1.

[0037] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the locking device 1 includes a locking device main body 5 and an actuator 6. The ...

[0038] The locking device main body 5 has a housing 90 shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 etc., a back plate 95 shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, and a first support shaft 11 and a second support shaft 22 shown in FIGS.

[0039] The housing 90 has a base plate 91 shown in FIGS. 1, 3 to 5, 9 and 10, and a guide base 93 shown in FIGS.

[0040] Moreover, the locking device main body 5 has a fork 10 shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, a pole 20 shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, and an operating lever 30 shown in FIGS.

[0041] Furthermore, the lock device main body 5 has a first microswitch SW1 and a second microswitch SW2 shown in Figures 2 and 4, a first detection lever 71 shown in Figures 4 to 7, and a second detection lever 72 shown in Figures 4, 5, and 7.

[0042] The actuator 6 has an actuator case 61 shown in Figures 1 and 3, an actuator cover 69 shown in Figures 1 and 3, a connector 65 shown in Figure 3, a drive source M1 shown in Figure 2, and a drive train 50 shown in Figure 4.

[0043] The locking device 1 includes an open / close mechanism 3 that includes an operating lever 30 of a locking device main body 5, and a drive source M1 and a drive train 50 of an actuator 6.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 5, the base plate 91 and the back plate 95 are each formed by punching and bending a steel plate having a predetermined strength.

[0045] The base plate 91 has a flat plate portion 91A, a pair of side wall portions 91B, and a pair of mounting portions 91 C. The flat plate portion 91A is an example of the “base wall portion” in the present invention.

[0046] The flat plate portion 91A has a generally rectangular flat plate shape, extends generally horizontally in the left-right direction, and extends forward so as to slope downward. An entrance 97 is formed in the flat plate portion 91A, which is deeply recessed rearward from its front end edge.

[0047] One side wall portion 91B located on the left side is erected on the flat plate portion 91A and has a left side wall 911 and a left front wall 912. The left side wall 911 is bent upward and extends from the left end edge of the flat plate portion 91A and extends in the front-rear direction. This left side wall 911 faces a left side surface 930 (see FIG. 6) of the guide base 93 and extends parallel to a first axis X1 described later. The left front wall 912 is bent upward and extends from a portion located to the left of the entrance 97 at the front end edge of the flat plate portion 91A and extends in the left-right direction to connect with the front end of the left side wall 911.

[0048] The other side wall portion 91B located on the right has a right side wall 921 and a right front wall 922. The right side wall 921 is bent upward and extends from the right edge of the flat plate portion 91A and extends in the front-rear direction. The right front wall 922 is bent upward and extends from a portion located to the right of the entrance 97 at the front edge of the flat plate portion 91A and extends in the left-right direction to connect with the front end of the right side wall 921.

[0049] The pair of mounting portions 91C are bent and extend from the rear upper ends of the pair of side wall portions 91B in the left-right direction so as to move away from each other.

[0050] 1, the pair of mounting portions 91C are used to fasten the locking device 1 to the lower end of the tailgate 8. When the locking device 1 moves in conjunction with the closing or opening of the tailgate 8, the striker 7 fixed to the vehicle body 9 enters or leaves the entrance 97 relatively.

[0051] 5, the back plate 95 has a generally flat plate shape, and is disposed above the flat plate portion 91A of the base plate 91. The back plate 95 is formed with a notch that matches the entrance 97, an opening for avoiding interference with other components, fastening holes, and the like.

[0052] 4, 6, and 8 to 10, the guide base 93 is a resin molded product manufactured by injection molding of a thermoplastic resin or the like. The guide base 93 is formed with a notch that matches the entrance 97, an opening for avoiding interference with other components, a recess for holding other components, a fastening hole, etc. The guide base 93 is sandwiched between the flat plate portion 91A of the base plate 91 and the back plate 95.

[0053] 5, the first support shaft 11 is a multi-stage steel cylinder centered on a first axis X1 perpendicular to the flat plate portion 91A of the base plate 91. The first support shaft 11 is located to the left of a portion of the flat plate portion 91A of the base plate 91 that is located at the rear of the entrance 97. The second support shaft 22 is a multi-stage steel cylinder centered on a second axis X2 perpendicular to the flat plate portion 91A of the base plate 91. The second support shaft 22 is located to the right of a portion of the flat plate portion 91A of the base plate 91 that is located midway through the entrance 97.

[0054] The lower end of the first support shaft 11 is fixed by crimping to the flat plate portion 91A, and the upper end of the first support shaft 11 is fixed by crimping to the back plate 95. Similarly, the lower end of the second support shaft 22 is fixed by crimping to the flat plate portion 91A, and the upper end of the second support shaft 22 is fixed by crimping to the back plate 95. In this way, the base plate 91, the back plate 95, and the guide base 93 are integrated together.

[0055] As shown in Fig. 6 and Figs. 8 to 10, the guide base 93 has a damper holding portion 96. The first damper 94A is held by the damper holding portion 96. The damper holding portion 96 holds the first damper 94A so that an impact load applied to the first damper 94A when the fork 10 and the first damper 94A come into contact with each other is transmitted to a load receiving surface 98, which will be described later, via the damper receiving portion 933. The first damper 94A is disposed between the lower surface of the guide base 93 and the upper surface of the flat plate portion 91A of the base plate 91. The first damper 94A is an example of the "damper" in the present invention.

[0056] As shown in Fig. 11, the first damper 94A has a generally rectangular shape with a large thickness in the vertical direction. The first damper 94A has a maximum thickness T that is greater than the thickness of the fork 10. The first damper 94A is made of an elastic body such as rubber or elastomer. The first damper 94A has a damper main body 941 and an engagement protrusion 942 that protrudes leftward from the left end surface of the damper main body 941.

[0057] As described below, the fork 10 swings around the first axis X1 and comes into contact with the first damper 94A. As shown in Fig. 9, when a contact portion 18 of the fork 10, described below, comes into contact with the first damper 94A, an impact load is applied in the tangential direction of the swing locus L of the contact portion 18. The input direction of the impact load applied to the first damper 94A when the fork 10 comes into contact with the first damper 94A is appropriately referred to as the "input direction F". The input direction F is an example of the "first direction" in the present invention.

[0058] The damper main body 941 has a tip curved surface 943 with a small curvature, a pair of front and rear outer sides 944 extending parallel to the input direction F, and an upper surface 945 and a lower surface 946 extending parallel to the input direction F. The tip curved surface 943 has a curved surface extending in the front-rear direction in a circular arc shape convex to the right. The abutment portion 18 of the fork 10 abuts against this tip curved surface 943. The damper main body 941 also has an up-down tapered surface 947 whose thickness in the up-down direction gradually decreases toward the tip curved surface 943 at the right end, and a front-rear tapered surface 948 whose width W in the front-rear direction gradually decreases toward the tip curved surface 943 at the right end.

[0059] The engaging protrusion 942 has a thickness equal to the maximum thickness T of the damper main body 941. The engaging protrusion 942 has a narrowed portion 949 at the boundary with the damper main body 941, where the width W in the front-rear direction is reduced.

[0060] As shown in FIG. 8, a cavity 93A is formed to the left of the damper holding portion 96 in the guide base 93, and the left side of the damper holding portion 96 is open. That is, the first damper 94A held by the damper holding portion 96 is movable in the input direction F toward the cavity 93A on the left side.

[0061] The damper holding portion 96 has a pair of inner surfaces 961 and a plurality of protrusions 962. In this embodiment, two protrusions 962 are provided on each inner surface 961. The two protrusions 962 are arranged at intervals in the input direction F within the range in the left-right direction of the damper main body portion 941 of the first damper 94A.

[0062] As shown in FIG. 10, each inner surface 961 in the damper holding portion 96 extends parallel to and faces each outer surface 944 of the first damper 94A with a gap G1 provided therebetween. That is, as shown in FIG. 9, the width W in the front-rear direction (the maximum width W of the damper main body portion 941) of the first damper 94A is smaller than the distance D between the two inner surfaces 961 (W < D). The height of the inner surface 961 is substantially equal to the maximum thickness T of the first damper 94A. Each protrusion 962 has a substantially semi-circular cross-section and extends over the entire height direction of the inner surface 961.

[0063] Each of the protrusions 962 on each of the inner surfaces 961 abuts against each of the outer surfaces 944 of the first damper 94A that face each of the inner surfaces 961 of the damper holding portion 96. In detail, the amount of protrusion 962 protruding from the inner surface 961 is slightly larger than the gap G1 between the inner surface 961 of the damper holding portion 96 and the outer surface 944 of the first damper 94A, and therefore, the tip of the protrusion 962 abuts against the outer surface 944 of the first damper 94A with elastic deformation of the first damper 94A. The abutment between each of the protrusions 962 and the outer surface 944 of the first damper 94A does not prevent the first damper 94A from moving in the input direction F of the impact load due to the impact load when the fork 10 abuts against the first damper 94A relative to the damper holding portion 96. That is, the damper holding portion 96 allows the first damper 94A to move in the input direction F of the impact load applied to the first damper 94A when the fork 10 and the first damper 94A come into contact with each other.

[0064] The guide base 93 has a guide base main body 931 provided with a damper holding portion 96, a pair of arms 932 extending in a direction perpendicular to the input direction F, and a damper receiving portion 933. The damper receiving portion 933 is disposed in the hollow portion 93A. One end of each arm 932 is connected to both sides of the damper receiving portion 933 in the front-rear direction. The other end of each arm 932 is connected to the guide base main body 931. That is, the guide base main body 931, the pair of arms 932, and the damper receiving portion 933 are integrally molded from resin, and the damper receiving portion 933 is made of resin having higher rigidity than the rubber, elastomer, or the like that constitutes the first damper 94A.

[0065] The damper receiving portion 933 has an engagement recess 934. The engagement recess 934 has an inner surface shape corresponding to the outer surface shape of the engagement protrusion 942 of the first damper 94A, and the engagement recess 934 and the engagement protrusion 942 are engaged with each other. The damper receiving portion 933 has a thickness approximately equal to the maximum thickness T of the first damper 94A.

[0066] Two bottomed recesses 935 are formed on the upper side at the base of the left end of the damper receiving portion 933. The recesses 935 facilitate flexural deformation of the damper receiving portion 933 itself. In addition, two protrusions 936 that protrude slightly from the left end surface 937 are formed on the left end surface 937, which is the back surface of the damper receiving portion 933. Each protrusion 936 has a rectangular shape that is longer in the up-down direction than in the front-to-rear direction.

[0067] 9 and 10, a left end surface 937, which is the back surface of the damper receiving portion 933, and the left end surfaces of the pair of arms 932 face the left side wall 911 of the side wall portion 91B of the base plate 91. That is, the surface of the left side wall 911 facing the damper receiving portion 933 is the load receiving surface 98. A gap slightly larger than the protruding amount of the protruding portion 936 protruding from the left end surface 937 of the damper receiving portion 933 is formed between the load receiving surface 98 and the left end surface 937 of the damper receiving portion 933 and the left end surfaces of the pair of arms 932. That is, a small gap G2 is formed between the load receiving surface 98 and the protruding portion 936 protruding from the left end surface 937 of the damper receiving portion 933. When the fork 10 comes into contact with the first damper 94A, this gap G2 allows the first damper 94A and the damper receiving portion 933 to move in the input direction F with elastic deformation of the pair of arms 932. Two protrusions 936 protruding from a left end face 937 of the damper receiving portion 933 come into even contact with the load receiving surface 98, so that the impact load is transmitted from the damper receiving portion 933 to the load receiving surface 98 quickly and without bias.

[0068] As shown in Fig. 6, a second damper 94B and a third damper 94C are held on the lower surface side of the guide base 93. A rectangular column protrusion 24 (described later) of the pole 20 can abut against the second damper 94B when the pole 20 swings from the unblocked position to the blocked position shown in Fig. 6. The striker 7 entering the back side of the entrance 97 can abut against the third damper 94C.

[0069] As shown in FIG. 5, fork 10 is made of a thick steel plate with notches, projections, and the like formed on the outer periphery, a shaft hole 10H penetrating through the thickness direction, and most of the steel plate is covered with resin.

[0070] The fork 10 is supported by the first support shaft 11 so as to be swingable about a first axis X1 with a lower portion of the first support shaft 11 being inserted into the shaft hole 10H. The first axis X1 is an example of a "swing axis" according to the present invention.

[0071] As shown in FIG. 6, when the first swing direction R1 is the counterclockwise direction around the first axis X1, the fork 10 is biased by a torsion coil spring (not shown) to swing around the first axis X1 in a second swing direction R2 that is opposite to the first swing direction R1.

[0072] 5 to 7, a portion of the fork 10 located on the entrance 97 side branches into a rear convex portion 10A and a front convex portion 10B. The striker 7 that enters the entrance 97 is accommodated in a recess 10C formed between the rear convex portion 10A and the front convex portion 10B.

[0073] A latch surface 12A, a half latch surface 12B, and a passive surface 13 are formed on the outer periphery of the fork 10. The latch surface 12A, the half latch surface 12B, and the passive surface 13 are each a steel plate portion of the fork 10 that is not covered with resin.

[0074] The latch surface 12A is located at the tip of the rear convex portion 10A. More specifically, the tip portion of the rear convex portion 10A of the fork 10 serves as the engagement portion 14, and the surface of the engagement portion 14 facing downstream in the second swing direction R2 serves as the latch surface 12A.

[0075] The half latch surface 12B is a surface facing downstream in the second pivot direction R2 of a first step portion 15 that protrudes in a stepped manner radially outward from the first axis X1 at a position away from the latch surface 12A in the first pivot direction R1.

[0076] The passive surface 13 is a surface facing upstream in the first swing direction R1 of a second step portion 16 that protrudes radially outward from the first axis X1 at a position opposite the latch surface 12A across the first axis X1.

[0077] As shown in FIGS. 13 to 16, the fork 10 swings about a first axis X1 in a first swing direction R1 and a second swing direction R2 to swing between a latched position, a half-latched position, and an unlatched position.

[0078] 14 and 15, the latch position of the fork 10 is a position where the striker 7 can be engaged at the back side of the entrance 97. A stopper surface 20A of the pole 20, which will be described later, can abut against a latch surface 12A of the fork 10 in the latch position.

[0079] 13 and 16, the unlatched position of the fork 10 is a position where the striker 7 is not engaged within the entrance 97. The stopper surface 20A cannot come into contact with the latch surface 12A and the half latch surface 12B of the fork 10 in the unlatched position.

[0080] Although not shown in the drawings, the half-latched position of the fork 10 is a position between the latched position and the unlatched position, and is a position where the striker 7 can be engaged in the middle of the entrance 97. The stopper surface 20A can abut against the half-latch surface 12B of the fork 10 in the half-latched position.

[0081] As shown in Figs. 5 to 7 and 12, an extension 17 is formed on the outer periphery of the fork 10. The extension 17 extends in a substantially arc shape in the first swing direction R1 at a position away from the half latch surface 12B in the first swing direction R1. The extension 17 extends in a substantially arc shape around the first axis X1 from the first step 15 toward the first swing direction R1. The tip of the extension 17 is a contact portion 18 that contacts the first damper 94A when the fork 10 swings from the unlatched position shown in Fig. 6 to the latched position and reaches the latched position shown in Fig. 12 or immediately before reaching the latched position. The extension 17 can contact a first contact portion 71A of the first detection lever 71, which will be described later. The entire extension 17 including the contact portion 18 is covered with resin.

[0082] As shown in Figs. 5 to 7, pole 20 is made of a thick steel plate having projections and recesses formed on the outer periphery, a shaft hole 20H penetrating in the thickness direction, and most of the steel plate is covered with resin.

[0083] The pole 20 is supported by the second support shaft 22 so as to be swingable about the second axis X2 by inserting the second support shaft 22 into the shaft hole 20H. The pole 20 is biased by a torsion coil spring (not shown) so as to swing about the second axis X2 in the pole biasing direction D2.

[0084] A stopper surface 20A is formed in a portion of the pole 20 that is spaced rearward from the shaft hole 20H and located near the back side of the entrance 97. The stopper surface 20A protrudes toward the rear convex portion 10A of the fork 10 and faces upstream in the second swing direction R2. The stopper surface 20A is a steel plate portion of the pole 20 that is not covered with resin.

[0085] As shown in FIGS. 13 to 16, the pole 20 swings about the second axis X2 in the pole biasing direction D2 and in the direction opposite to the pole biasing direction D2, thereby swinging between a blocking position and an unblocking position.

[0086] The pawl 20 in the blocking position is engageable with the engaging portion 14 of the fork 10. The blocking position of the pawl 20 is a position in which the stopper surface 20A abuts against the latch surface 12A of the fork 10, or faces the latch surface 12A from downstream in the second swing direction R2 so as to be able to abut against the latch surface 12A, as shown in Figures 14 and 15, thereby blocking the fork 10 from swinging to the unlatched position shown in Figure 13 etc. With the fork 10 in the latched position and the pawl 20 in the blocking position, the tailgate 8 is held in a completely closed state.

[0087] Although not shown in the drawings, the position where the stopper surface 20A abuts against the half latch surface 12B of the fork 10 or faces the half latch surface 12B from downstream in the second swing direction R2 so as to be able to abut against it is also the blocking position of the pawl 20. With the fork 10 in the half latch position and the pawl 20 in the blocking position, the tailgate 8 is held in a substantially closed state.

[0088] As shown in Figures 13 and 16, the unblocked position of the pawl 20 is a position in which the stopper surface 20A is separated radially outward from the latch surface 12A and the half latch surface 12B of the fork 10 about the first axis X1 and is unable to abut against the latch surface 12A and the half latch surface 12B, thereby allowing the fork 10 to swing to the unlatched position shown in Figure 13, etc.

[0089] 5 to 7, a rectangular columnar protrusion 24 and a passive portion 23 are formed on the resin portion of the pole 20. The rectangular columnar protrusion 24 comes into contact with the second damper 94B when the pole 20 swings to the blocking position. The passive portion 23 can come into contact with a second acting portion 49 of the operating lever 30, which will be described later.

[0090] 12, the outermost portion of the engaging portion 14 of the fork 10, the outermost portion of the first step portion 15 of the fork 10, and the outermost portion of the extending portion 17 of the fork 10 have the same radius r from the first axis X1, which is the pivot axis of the fork 10. In other words, the outermost portion of the abutting portion 18 of the fork 10 and the outermost portion of the engaging portion 14 that engages with the pawl 20 in the blocking position have the same radius r from the first axis X1.

[0091] 4 to 7, the operating lever 30, together with the fork 10 and the pole 20, is located between the base plate 91 and the back plate 95. The operating lever 30 has an operating lever body 31 and a cam 40. The operating lever body 31 and the cam 40 are fastened together by a screw 30B.

[0092] The operating lever body 31 is made by stamping and bending a steel plate, and is located above the fork 10. The operating lever body 31 is supported by a first support shaft 11 so as to be swingable about a first axis X1. In other words, the operating lever 30 is swingably supported by the housing 90 coaxially with the fork 10 by the first support shaft 11. The operating lever 30 can swing in a first swing direction R1 and a second swing direction R2 independently of the fork 10.

[0093] The operating lever body 31 has a first action portion 39 and a sector gear 35 .

[0094] The first acting portion 39 abuts against the passive surface 13 of the fork 10 when the operating lever 30 swings in the first swing direction R1, causing the fork 10 to swing from the half-latched position or a position slightly before the half-latched position to the latched position.

[0095] As shown in FIG. 4, the sector gear 35 meshes with an output gear 55 of the drive train 50 .

[0096] The cam 40 is a resin molded product, and is located below the operating lever body 31. The cam 40 has a second action portion 49 and a sliding contact surface .

[0097] The second acting portion 49 comes into contact with the passive portion 23 of the pole 20 when the operating lever 30 swings in the second swing direction R2, and causes the pole 20 to swing from the blocking position to the unblocking position.

[0098] The sliding contact surface 42 is located below the sector gear 35 and the second action portion 49, and is in sliding contact with a second sliding contact portion 72A of the second detection lever 72, which will be described later.

[0099] The first microswitch SW1 and the second microswitch SW2 are each connected to a plurality of connector terminals arranged in the connector 65 via a wire harness WH1 (see FIG. 3).

[0100] The first microswitch SW1 and the second microswitch SW2 are two-circuit type microswitches each having a movable protrusion 83, a first circuit, and a second circuit. The first circuit is switched between a connected state and a disconnected state by a first stroke amount of the movable protrusion 83. The second circuit is switched between a connected state and a disconnected state by a second stroke amount that is larger than the first stroke amount of the movable protrusion 83.

[0101] 4 to 7, the first detection lever 71 is a resin molded product, and is located on the lower surface side and rear end side of the guide base 93. The first detection lever 71 is swingable around the third axis X3 between the movable protrusion 83 of the first microswitch SW1 and the extension portion 17 of the fork 10. The first detection lever 71 is biased by a compression coil spring 71S so as to swing in the counterclockwise direction in FIG.

[0102] The first detection lever 71 has a first contact portion 71A and a first sliding contact portion 71B. As shown in Fig. 7, the first contact portion 71A faces the extension portion 17 of the fork 10 so as to be able to come into contact with it from the downstream side in the first swing direction R1. As shown in Fig. 4, the first sliding contact portion 71B is located on the upper surface side of the guide base 93, and comes into sliding contact with the movable protrusion 83 of the first microswitch SW1.

[0103] The first detection lever 71 transmits the swinging of the fork 10 to the movable protrusion 83 of the first microswitch SW1 by the first contact portion 71A and the first sliding contact portion 71B. The first microswitch SW1 detects via the first detection lever 71 that the fork 10 is in any one of the latched position, the half-latched position, and the unlatched position.

[0104] 4, 5 and 7, the second detection lever 72 is a resin molded product, and is located on the upper surface side and rear end side of the guide base 93. The second detection lever 72 is supported by the guide base 93, and is capable of swinging around the fourth axis X4 between the movable protrusion 83 of the second microswitch SW2 and the sliding surface 42 of the cam 40 of the operating lever 30.

[0105] The second detection lever 72 has a second sliding contact portion 72A and a second abutting portion 72B. As shown in Fig. 4, the second sliding contact portion 72A is in sliding contact with the sliding surface 42 of the cam 40 of the actuating lever 30. As shown in Fig. 4, the second abutting portion 72B is in contact with the movable protrusion 83 of the second microswitch SW2.

[0106] The second detection lever 72 transmits the swing of the operating lever 30 to the movable protrusion 83 of the second microswitch SW2 by the second sliding contact portion 72A and the second abutting portion 72B.

[0107] The actuating lever 30 swings about the first axis X1 in a first swing direction R1 and a second swing direction R2 to an original position, a first actuating end position, and a second actuating end position. The first actuating end position of the actuating lever 30 is a limit position when the actuating lever 30 swings from the original position in the first swing direction R1. The second actuating end position of the actuating lever 30 is a limit position when the actuating lever 30 swings from the original position in the second swing direction R2.

[0108] The second microswitch SW2 detects, via the second detection lever 72, whether or not the operating lever 30 is in the origin position, whether or not the operating lever 30 is in one of the first and second operating end positions, or whether or not the operating lever 30 is in one of a position between the origin position and the first operating end position, or a position between the origin position and the second operating end position.

[0109] When the operating lever 30 is displaced to the origin position, the first operating end position, and the second operating end position, the first acting portion 39 of the operating lever main body 31 and the passive surface 13 of the fork 10 abut or separate, the second acting portion 49 of the cam 40 and the passive portion 23 of the pole 20 abut or separate, the abutment position between the sliding surface 42 of the cam 40 and the second sliding portion 72A of the second detection lever 72 displaces, and the latch surface 12A of the fork 10 and the stopper surface 20A of the pole 20 abut or separate.

[0110] As shown in FIG. 3, the actuator case 61 and the actuator cover 69 are resin molded products, and are fastened together by a plurality of screws 69B, and are also fastened together to the lock device body 5 by a plurality of screws 61B.

[0111] The actuator case 61 and the front portion of the actuator cover 69 are placed on top of a portion of the locking device main body 5 that is located rearward of the entrance 97. The rear portions of the actuator case 61 and the actuator cover 69 are located rearward of the rear end of the locking device main body 5, extend leftward beyond the locking device main body 5, and hold the connector 65 in between.

[0112] Although not shown in the figure, various connector terminals for power supply, etc. are arranged inside the connector 65. Furthermore, the driving source M1 is housed inside the actuator case 61 and the actuator cover 69. The driving source M1 is an electric motor. Inside the connector 65, a power supply connector connected to two terminals of the driving source M1 is connected to a wire harness (not shown), thereby electrically connecting the driving source M1 and the control unit C1 as shown in FIG.

[0113] The drive source M1 is powered under the control of the control unit C1, and the polarity of the power supply is appropriately switched to rotate forward and backward to generate a drive force.

[0114] The first microswitch SW1 transmits a detection signal relating to the position of the fork 10 to the control unit C1. The second microswitch SW2 transmits a detection signal relating to the operating lever 30 to the control unit C1.

[0115] The control unit C1 determines whether the fork 10 is in any one of the latched position, the half-latched position, and the unlatched position based on the detection signal of the first microswitch SW1.

[0116] Based on the detection signal of the second microswitch SW2 and by referring to the detection signal of the first microswitch SW1 and the control history of the driving source M1, the control unit C1 determines that the operating lever 30 is in one of the following positions: the origin position, the first operating end position, the second operating end position, a position between the origin position and the first operating end position, and a position between the origin position and the second operating end position.

[0117] The drive train 50 includes a worm gear, a worm wheel, and a transmission gear (not shown), and an output gear 55 (see FIG. 4).

[0118] The drive train 50 transmits the driving force from the drive source M1 rotating in the forward direction to the sector gear 35 of the operating lever 30 via the output gear 55 and the like, causing the operating lever 30 to swing in the first swing direction R1. The operating lever 30 transmits the driving force to the fork 10 by the first acting portion 39 of the operating lever body 31, causing the fork 10 to move to the latch position.

[0119] On the other hand, the drive train 50 transmits the driving force from the drive source M1, which rotates in the reverse direction, to the sector gear 35 of the operating lever 30 via the output gear 55 and the like, causing the operating lever 30 to swing in the second swing direction R2. The operating lever 30 transmits the driving force to the pawl 20 by the second acting portion 49 of the cam 40, causing the pawl 20 to move to the unblocked position.

[0120] The open-close mechanism 3 configured as described above is configured so that when the first acting portion 39 of the operating lever body 31 acts on the passive surface 13 of the fork 10, the fork 10 is swung from the half-latch position or a position slightly before the half-latch position to the latched position, while when the second acting portion 49 of the cam 40 acts on the passive portion 23 of the pole 20, the pole 20 is swung to the unblocked position.

[0121] The control unit C1 determines the state of the locking device 1 based on the detection signals of the first microswitch SW1 and the second microswitch SW2, and controls the open-close mechanism 3 to cause the locking device 1 to perform an operation to completely close the tailgate 8 or to cause the locking device 1 to perform an operation to make the tailgate 8 openable.

[0122] 13, when the tailgate 8 is in the open state, in the locking device 1, the fork 10 is in the unlatched position and the pawl 20 is in the unblocked position. Although not shown in the figure, the operating lever 30 is in the original position. At this time, the control unit C1 determines that the tailgate 8 is in the open state based on the detection signals of the first microswitch SW1 and the second microswitch SW2, etc.

[0123] When the user performs an operation to close the tailgate 8 that is in an open state, the striker 7 enters the entrance 97. The striker 7 pushes the rear convex portion 10A of the fork 10, causing the fork 10 to swing in the first swing direction R1. The control unit C1 then determines that the tailgate 8 is almost closed, and causes the drive source M1 to rotate forward. As a result, the drive train 50 swings the operating lever 30 from the origin position in the first swing direction R1, causing the first acting portion 39 of the operating lever body 31 to come into contact with the passive surface 13 of the fork 10, and causing the fork 10 to swing from the half-latched position or a position slightly before the half-latched position to the latched position shown in FIG. 14.

[0124] When the fork 10 reaches the latched position, the contact portion 18 of the fork 10 comes into contact with the first damper 94A. In more detail, the contact portion 18 of the fork 10 comes into contact with the first damper 94A not when the fork 10 overruns as shown in Fig. 14, but when the fork 10 swings from the unlatched position and reaches the latched position or just before that.

[0125] When the operating lever 30 reaches the first operating end position, the stopper surface 20A of the pawl 20 swung to the blocking position faces and can abut against the latch surface 12A of the fork 10 in the latch position from downstream in the second swing direction R2.

[0126] When the control unit C1 determines that the actuating lever 30 has reached the first actuating end position and the fork 10 has reached the latch position and overrun, it causes the drive source M1 to rotate in the reverse direction, causing the drive train 50 to swing the actuating lever 30 from the first actuating end position in the second swing direction R2.

[0127] When the operating lever 30 swings from the first operating end position to the origin position, the control unit C1 determines that the tailgate 8 has been completely closed, and stops the drive source M1. As the operating lever 30 swings from the first operating end position to the origin position, the fork 10 swings in the second swing direction R2 by a torsion coil spring (not shown), as shown in Fig. 15, and the latch surface 12A comes into contact with the stopper surface 20A of the pawl 20. In this way, the tailgate 8 is held in a completely closed state by the operation of the open-close mechanism 3.

[0128] When the user performs an opening operation on the tailgate 8, the tailgate opening operation detection unit S1 transmits the information to the control unit C1. The control unit C1 then determines that an opening operation on the tailgate 8 has been performed, and rotates the drive source M1 in the reverse direction. As a result, the drive train 50 swings the operating lever 30 from the origin position in the second swing direction R2, causing the second action portion 49 of the cam 40 to abut against the passive portion 23 of the pawl 20, and swings the pawl 20 from the blocking position to the unblocking position. As shown in FIG. 16, the stopper surface 20A of the pawl 20 is separated from the latch surface 12A of the fork 10 in the radially outward direction of the first axis X1 and cannot abut against the latch surface 12A.

[0129] As a result, the fork 10 is swung in the second swing direction R2 by the torsion coil spring (not shown) and displaced from the latched position to the unlatched position, so that the fork 10 does not engage the striker 7 within the entrance 97. The control unit C1 determines that the fork 10 has reached the unlatched position and is no longer engaging the striker 7 within the entrance 97.

[0130] When the operating lever 30 reaches the second operating end position, the control unit C1 rotates the drive source M1 in the forward direction, so that the drive train 50 swings the operating lever 30 from the second operating end position in the first swing direction R1.

[0131] When the operating lever 30 swings to the home position, the control unit C1 determines that the tailgate 8 can be opened, and stops the driving source M1. Thus, the tailgate 8 is released from the held state by the operation of the open / close mechanism 3, and can be opened.

[0132] In the locking device 1 of the first embodiment, when closing the tailgate 8 in an open state, the tailgate 8 may be held in a closed state only by the user's manual closing operation on the tailgate 8, without the operation of the open-close mechanism 3. In this case, the fork 10 is pressed and swung in the first swing direction R1 by the striker 7 in response to the user's manual closing operation on the tailgate 8. As a result, the fork 10 is swung from the unlatched position shown in FIG. 13 to the latched position shown in FIG. 14 or 15.

[0133] At this time, when the abutment portion 18 of the fork 10 swinging to the latch position abuts against the tip curved surface 943 of the first damper 94A, an impact load is applied to the first damper 94A, as shown in Fig. 9. The impact load applied to the first damper 94A is received by the load receiving surface 98 of the side wall portion 91B of the base plate 91.

[0134] Here, a damper receiving portion 933 made of a resin having higher rigidity than the rubber, elastomer, etc. constituting the first damper 94A is interposed between the load receiving surface 98 and the left end surface, which is the back surface of the first damper 94A facing the load receiving surface 98. Therefore, the impact load generated when the fork 10 contacts the first damper 94A can be supported by the load receiving surface 98 of the side wall portion 91B of the base plate 91 via the damper receiving portion 933. As a result, it is possible to suppress the impact load from acting on parts of the base plate 91 other than the load receiving surface 98 of the side wall portion 91B and on components inside the housing 90.

[0135] In the guide base 93, the left side of the damper holding portion 96, which is the traveling side of the input direction F of the impact load, is a hollow portion 93A, and the left side of the damper holding portion 96 is open. Therefore, the first damper 94A held by the damper holding portion 96 is movable in the input direction F relative to the damper holding portion 96, and the damper holding portion 96 of the guide base 93 transmits the impact load applied to the first damper 94A when the fork 10 abuts on it to the load receiving surface 98 along the input direction F via the damper receiving portion 933. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the impact load applied to the first damper 94A when the fork 10 abuts on it from acting on the damper holding portion 96 from the first damper 94A. As a result, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of deformation or cracking in the guide base 93.

[0136] In addition, the damper receiving portion 933 is separate from the first damper 94A that receives the impact load and the side wall portion 91B of the base plate 91. For this reason, for example, by adjusting the volume ratio between the damper receiving portion 933 and the first damper 94A, it becomes easy to set the first damper 94A to a target load, and it is easy to suppress inconveniences caused by a target load that is too high or too low. If the target load is too high and the first damper 94A becomes too hard, the closing performance of the tailgate 8 becomes poor, and if the target load is too low and the first damper 94A becomes too soft, the vibration of the tailgate 8 in the closed state cannot be suppressed, which may cause abnormal noise.

[0137] Furthermore, by configuring the damper receiving portion 933 and the first damper 94A from two parts made of different materials, the degree of freedom in selecting the material of the first damper 94A is also increased, and it becomes easy to select and use a material whose characteristics are less likely to change due to temperature changes at low temperatures, such as a softer material. Also, if the degree of freedom in selecting the material of the first damper 94A is high, it is easy to ensure the strength of the first damper 94A itself.

[0138] Therefore, the locking device 1 of the first embodiment makes it easy to adjust the target load while ensuring the strength of the first damper 94A against which the fork 10 abuts when swinging to the latched position, and also makes it possible to suppress deformation and cracking of the housing 90 and the components within the housing 90.

[0139] In addition, in the base plate 91 of this locking device 1, the flat portion 91A and the left side wall 911 having the load-receiving surface 98 are integrally formed by punching and bending a steel plate having a predetermined strength, so that deformation of the load-receiving surface 98 itself can be easily suppressed.

[0140] Furthermore, in the guide base 93 of the lock device 1, the guide base main body 931 provided with the damper holding portion 96, the pair of arms 932 extending in a direction perpendicular to the input direction F of the impact load, and the damper receiving portion 933 are integrally formed of resin. A gap G2 is provided between the load receiving surface 98 of the left side wall 911 of the base plate 91 and the protruding portion 936 protruding from the left end surface 937, which is the back surface of the damper receiving portion 933 facing the load receiving surface 98. With this configuration, when the fork 10 abuts against the first damper 94A, the pair of arms 932 are deflected and the damper receiving portion 933 moves together with the first damper 94A in the input direction F of the impact load. This allows the impact load applied to the first damper 94A when the fork 10 abuts against it to be released. Furthermore, since the damper receiving portion 933 is integrated with the guide base main body 931, the number of parts can be reduced and the assembly process can be simplified compared to when the damper receiving portion 933 and the guide base main body 931 are separate parts.

[0141] In addition, in this locking device 1, a gap G1 is provided between each outer side surface 944 of the first damper 94A and each inner side surface 961 of the damper holding portion 96. With this configuration, it is difficult for an impact load to act from the first damper 94A to the damper holding portion 96. And, two protrusions 962 are protrudingly provided on each inner side surface 961, which are in contact with each outer side surface 944 and are arranged at an interval from each other in the input direction F. With this configuration, when the first damper 94A moves in the input direction F relative to the damper holding portion 96, the posture of the first damper 94A is easily maintained by the two protrusions 962. Therefore, the first damper 94A easily moves in the input direction F relative to the damper holding portion 96. This also makes it difficult for an impact load to act from the first damper 94A to the damper holding portion 96. As a result, it is possible to further suppress the occurrence of deformation or cracking in the guide base 93.

[0142] Furthermore, in this locking device 1, when the fork 10 reaches or immediately before it reaches the latched position, the abutment portion 18 of the fork 10 abuts against the tip curved surface 943 of the first damper 94A. With this configuration, when the fork 10 swings from the unlatched position to reach the latched position, the abutment portion 18 of the fork 10 always abuts against the tip curved surface 943 of the first damper 94A. This makes it possible to prevent the fork 10 from rattling at the latched position, which means that vibration of the tailgate 8 in the closed state can be suppressed.

[0143] Furthermore, in this locking device 1, the load receiving surface 98 of the left side wall 911 extends in a direction perpendicular to the input direction F of the impact load. Therefore, the impact load generated when the fork 10 contacts the first damper 94A can be more reliably supported by the load receiving surface 98 of the left side wall 911 of the base plate 91. As a result, the impact load can be further prevented from acting on parts of the base plate 91 other than the load receiving surface 98 of the left side wall 911 and on components inside the housing.

[0144] Furthermore, in this locking device 1, the fork 10 has an abutment portion 18 that abuts against the first damper 94A and an engagement portion 14 that engages with the pawl 20 in the blocking position. The outermost portion of the abutment portion 18 and the outermost portion of the engagement portion 14 have the same radius r from the first axis X1, which is the swing axis of the fork 10. With this configuration, the engagement portion 14 of the fork 10 engages with the pawl 20 and the latch surface 12A abuts against the stopper surface 20A, blocking the fork 10 from swinging to the unlatched position and holding the fork 10 in the latched position. The abutment portion 18 and the engagement portion 14 have the same radius r from the first axis X1, and the abutment portion 18 and the engagement portion 14 are in the same position in the radial direction. This allows both ensuring the strength of the fork 10 and reducing the size of the fork 10.

[0145] Example 2 As shown in FIGS. 17 to 20, the locking device of the second embodiment employs a guide base 100 instead of the guide base 93 in the locking device 1 of the first embodiment.

[0146] The guide base body 110 of the guide base 100 has a damper holding portion 96 similar to that of the lock device 1 of the first embodiment. A spacer 120 is held at the left end portion of the damper holding portion 96. The spacer 120 is an example of the "damper receiving portion" of the present invention.

[0147] As shown in FIGS. 18 and 20, the guide base body 110 has a lower wall surface 111 that is lower than the vertical height of the inner surface 961, and a pair of front and rear vertical wall surfaces 112.

[0148] The bottom wall surface 111 is provided at the left end of the damper holding portion 96, and extends in the front-rear direction. The front and rear ends of the bottom wall surface 111 are connected to the front and rear inner surfaces 961, respectively. The vertical height of the bottom wall surface 111 is approximately 1 / 5 to 1 / 4 of the height of the inner surface 961.

[0149] Each vertical wall surface 112 is connected to the left end of each inner surface 961. The front vertical wall surface 112 extends forward from the left end of the front inner surface 961. The rear vertical wall surface 112 extends rearward from the left end of the rear inner surface 961. The lower end of each vertical wall surface 112 in the up-down direction is set to the same height as the lower end of the inner surface 961. In the left-right direction, the lower wall surface 111 and each vertical wall surface 112 are located on approximately the same plane.

[0150] 19 and 20, the spacer 120 has a spacer main body 121 and a spacer side portion 122. The spacer 120 has the spacer main body 121 and the spacer side portion 122 integrally formed by injection molding or the like of a resin having higher rigidity than the rubber, elastomer, or the like constituting the first damper 94A.

[0151] The spacer body 121 has an engaging recess 934 that can be engaged with the engaging protrusion 942 of the first damper 94A in a concave-convex manner, similar to the damper receiving portion 933 in the locking device 1 of the first embodiment. In the vertical direction, the spacer body 121 has a thickness (height) that is approximately equal to the maximum thickness T of the first damper 94A, and has a thickness that is greater than the thickness of the spacer side portion 122. In the vertical direction, an upper end portion 121A and a lower end portion 121B of the spacer body 121 extend upward and downward, respectively, beyond the spacer side portion 122.

[0152] The spacer side portion 122 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, is longer in the front-rear direction than the spacer main body portion 121, and is thinner in the up-down direction than the spacer main body portion 121. In the front-rear direction, a front end portion 122A and a rear end portion 122B of the spacer side portion 122 extend forward and rearward, respectively, beyond the spacer main body portion 121.

[0153] 17 and 20, the spacer main body 121 is disposed at the left end of the damper holding portion 96. The spacer side portion 122 is disposed to the left of the vertical wall surface 112.

[0154] In the left-right direction, the upper end 121A of the spacer main body 121 faces the bottom wall surface 111. In the left-right direction, the front end 122A and the rear end 122B of the spacer side portion 122 face the front vertical wall surface 112 and the rear vertical wall surface 112, respectively. In the left-right direction, the left end surfaces of the upper end 121A and the lower end 121B of the spacer main body 121 are located a predetermined amount to the right of the right end surfaces of the front end 122A and the rear end 122B of the spacer side portion 122, and the predetermined amount is slightly larger than a gap G2 described later. In the left-right direction, the left end surfaces of the upper end portion 121A and the lower end portion 121B of the spacer main body portion 121 are located to the right of the bottom wall surface 111, and the right end surfaces of the front end portion 122A and the rear end portion 122B of the spacer side portion 122 abut against the front vertical wall surface 112 and the rear vertical wall surface 112 from the left.

[0155] A left end surface 123 of a spacer side portion 122, which is the back surface of the spacer 120, faces a load receiving surface 98 of a left side wall 911, which is the side wall portion 91B of the base plate 91. A gap G2 is formed between this load receiving surface 98 and the left end surface 123 of the spacer side portion 122. This gap G2 allows the spacer 120 to move in the input direction F together with the first damper 94A when the fork 10 abuts against the first damper 94A.

[0156] In the locking device of the second embodiment, a spacer 120 is interposed between the load receiving surface 98 and the back surface of the first damper 94A facing the load receiving surface 98. Therefore, the damper holding portion 96 of the guide base 93 transmits the impact load generated when the fork 10 abuts against the first damper 94A to the load receiving surface 98 via the spacer 120. Then, the impact load generated when the fork 10 abuts against the first damper 94A can be supported by the load receiving surface 98 of the side wall portion 91B of the base plate 91 via the spacer 120.

[0157] Other configurations and functions and effects of the locking device of the second embodiment are similar to those of the locking device 1 of the first embodiment, and therefore description thereof will be omitted.

[0158] In the above, the present invention has been described based on Examples 1 and 2. However, the present invention is not limited to the above Examples 1 and 2, and it goes without saying that the present invention can be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0159] In the first and second embodiments, the locking device 1 is provided on the tailgate 8 and the striker 7 is provided on the vehicle body 9, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, the present invention also includes a configuration in which the locking device is provided on the vehicle body and the striker is provided on the opening / closing body.

[0160] In the first and second embodiments, the pole 20 swings between the blocking position and the unblocking position, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, the pole may move linearly between the blocking position and the unblocking position.

[0161] In the first embodiment, a gap G2 is provided between the load receiving surface 98 and the protruding portion 936 protruding from the left end surface 937 of the damper receiving portion 933 facing the load receiving surface 98, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, the load receiving surface 98 and the protruding portion 936 may be abutted against each other without providing the gap G2, or the load receiving surface 98 and the left end surface 937 of the damper receiving portion 933 may be abutted against each other without providing the protruding portion 936. Similarly, in the second embodiment, a gap G2 is provided between the load receiving surface 98 and the left end surface 123 of the spacer side portion 122, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, the load receiving surface 98 and the left end surface 123 of the spacer side portion 122 may be abutted against each other without providing the gap G2. Even in these cases, the damper retaining portion 96 of the guide base 93 transmits the impact load applied to the first damper 94A when the fork 10 contacts it to the load-receiving surface 98 of the base plate 91, thereby preventing the impact load from acting on the guide base 93.

[0162] In the first and second embodiments, two protrusions 962 are provided on each of the pair of front and rear inner sides 961 of the damper holding portion 96, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, a gap G1 may be provided only between one of the front and rear inner sides 961 and the outer side 944 of the first damper 94A facing the inner side 961, and one or two protrusions 962 may be provided on the inner side 961, or one protrusion 962 may be provided on each of the pair of front and rear inner sides 961.

[0163] In the first and second embodiments, a pair of arms 932 are provided, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration, and only one arm may be provided.

[0164] In the first and second embodiments, the locking device 1 is used in the tailgate 8, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, the locking device of the present invention may be used in a swing or slide side door, a trunk lid, etc. provided on the side of a vehicle. [Industrial Applicability]

[0165] The present invention can be used in vehicles such as automobiles and industrial vehicles. [Explanation of symbols]

[0166] 1...Locking device 9…Body 8...Tailgate (opening and closing body) 7. Striker 90…Housing 97...Entrance X1…1st axis center (oscillation axis center) 10…Fork 20…Paul 94A…First damper (damper) 91…Base plate 93, 100…Guide base 96…Damper retaining part 91A...Flat plate part (base wall part) 91B...Side wall part 98…Load bearing surface 933…Damper receiving part 931, 110...Guide base body 932...Arm 944…Outer surface 961…Inner surface 962…Protrusion 120...Spacer (damper receiving part)

Claims

1. a housing provided on one of a vehicle body and an opening / closing body that is openably and closably provided on the vehicle body, the housing having an entrance through which a striker fixed to the other of the vehicle body and the opening / closing body enters; a fork provided in the housing, the fork pivoting about a pivot axis between a latched position at which the striker is engaged within the entrance and an unlatched position at which the striker is not engaged within the entrance; a pawl provided on the housing, the pawl being displaceable between a blocking position that blocks the fork from swinging to the unlatched position and an unblocking position that allows the fork to swing to the unlatched position; a damper provided in the housing and made of an elastic body against which the fork swinging to the latch position abuts, The housing includes a base plate and a guide base. the base plate has a base wall portion in which the inlet is formed together with the guide base, and a side wall portion that is erected on the base wall portion, faces a side surface of the guide base, and extends parallel to the oscillation axis, the side wall portion has a load receiving surface that receives an impact load applied to the damper in a first direction when the fork and the damper come into contact with each other, a damper receiving portion made of a high-rigidity body having a higher rigidity than the elastic body is interposed between the load receiving surface and a back surface of the damper facing the load receiving surface, the guide base has a damper holding portion that holds the damper, The locking device for a vehicle opening / closing body, wherein the damper holding portion is configured to transmit the impact load to the load receiving surface via the damper receiving portion.

2. the guide base includes a guide base main body provided with the damper holding portion, a pair of arms extending in a direction intersecting the first direction, and the damper receiving portion, one end of each of the arms is connected to the damper receiving portion, and the other end of each of the arms is connected to the guide base body, and the guide base body, the damper receiving portion, and the pair of arms are integrally molded from resin, 2. The locking device for a vehicle opening / closing body according to claim 1, wherein a gap is provided between the load receiving surface and a back surface of the damper receiving portion opposite the load receiving surface, the gap allowing the damper receiving portion to move in the first direction together with the damper with bending deformation of the pair of arms when the fork and the damper abut.

3. The damper has a pair of outer surfaces extending parallel to each other along the first direction, The damper holding portion has a pair of inner side surfaces extending parallel to and facing each of the outer side surfaces with a gap therebetween, and a plurality of protrusions protruding from each of the inner side surfaces and abutting each of the outer side surfaces facing each of the inner side surfaces, 2. The locking device for a vehicle opening / closing body according to claim 1, wherein the projections are arranged at intervals from each other in the first direction.

4. 3. The locking device for a vehicle opening / closing body according to claim 1, wherein the fork is configured to abut against the damper when or before the fork reaches the latch position.

5. 3. The locking device for a vehicle opening / closing body according to claim 1, wherein the load receiving surface extends in a direction perpendicular to the first direction.

6. The fork has an abutment portion that abuts against the damper and an engagement portion that engages with the pawl when the pawl is in the blocking position, 3. The locking device for a vehicle opening / closing body according to claim 1, wherein the outermost peripheral portion of the abutting portion and the outermost peripheral portion of the engaging portion have the same radius from the pivot axis.

Images