Lock holder for automobile locking device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a locking device for motor vehicles, in particular a lock for a motor vehicle, preferably a lock holder for a lock for a motor vehicle door. In its basic form, the lock holder comprises a base plate (1) and a shackle (2) standing thereon. The shackle (2) has at least two bolts (2a, 2b) and a connecting piece (2c) connecting the two bolts (2a, 2b) at the top. In addition, an additional reinforcing plate (3) is provided, through which the two bolts (2a, 2b) pass and which is arranged on at least a part of the surface of the base plate (1). According to the invention, the reinforcing plate (3) extends over a bead (1a) of the base plate connecting the two bolts (2a, 2b).

Description

[Technical field]

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to a locking device for an automobile vehicle having a base plate and a shackle erected thereon, in particular a lock holder for an automobile lock, preferably an automobile door lock, the shackle having at least two bolts and a connecting piece connecting the two bolts on the upper side, and further comprising a reinforcing plate through which the two bolts pass and which is arranged on at least a part of the surface of the base plate.

[0002]

[0002] A lock holder for a vehicle locking device is typically installed on the vehicle body side, for example connected to the B-pillar or C-pillar of the vehicle body. Generally, a locking mechanism consisting of a catch and a claw as part of the vehicle locking device interacts with the lock holder in question and is placed for this purpose on the door or hatch side. In principle, a vehicle locking device can also be designed as a seat lock. In this case, the locking mechanism is located on the vehicle seat and the lock holder is connected to the vehicle body or boom.

[0003]

[0003] In particular in the case of car locks, preferably car door locks, the car locking device, in particular the locking mechanism together with the lock holder, must absorb considerable tearing forces in connection with a crash scenario. Indeed, in the event of a crash, the locking mechanism surrounding the lock holder or the claw-equipped catch prevents the associated car door from springing open in the event of an accident, thus providing optimal protection for the interior occupants. At the same time, this procedure ensures that safety devices, such as, for example, side airbags, impact protection devices, etc., placed on the car door in question, are effective.

[0004]

[0004] For this reason, the design of both the locking mechanism, consisting of the catch and the claw, and the lock holder is particularly important in terms of safety. This is expressed, for example, by the fact that high-strength steels are predominantly used as materials at present. In addition, there are many approaches in the prior art to prevent the shackle from being torn off from the base plate in such lock holders, especially in the case of a crash.

[0005]

[0005] For example, the general prior art according to DE 601 14 107 T2 sets out that an additional plate is provided which partially covers the lock holder disclosed therein. This plate prevents the lock holder from moving in the Ox direction, i.e. in the direction of the two bolts. Finally, the aim here is to simplify the installation and positioning of the corresponding lock plate of the lock.

[0006]

[0006] Another lock holder is disclosed in DE 10 2018 125 535 A1, but does not have an additional reinforcing plate. EP 2 562 339 B1 relates to a wedge device in a lock holder which interacts with a spring.

[0007]

[0007] Although the prior art is in principle clear, there is still room for further improvement. As the weight of motor vehicles and therefore of motor vehicle doors and vehicle hatches increases, in the event of an accident or collision, it is expected that the tearing forces acting on the body-side lock holders will also increase, which can be explained by the inertial forces acting on the door or hatch in question. Attempts have been made to take this into account by using new materials, but this increases the cost of such lock holders. The present invention as a whole seeks to improve this. Summary of the Invention

[0008]

[0008] The present invention is based on the technical problem of further developing such a lock holder for motor vehicle locking devices, taking into account a structurally simple and functional form, so that a further increase in the absorbable tear force is realized.

[0009]

[0009] In order to solve this technical problem, the general lock holder for a locking device for an automobile of the present invention is characterized in that a reinforcing plate extends over the bead of a base plate which connects two bolts to each other.

[0010]

[0010] In this connection, it has been found to be particularly effective if the bead connects the two bolts of the shackle to each other and curves upwards towards the shackle on the opposite side of the base plate. In addition, the design is usually such that the reinforcing plate is formed in a T-shape as seen from above, with a T-shaped connecting piece connecting the two bolts and a front T-leg. The T-shaped connecting piece and the T-leg of the reinforcing plate typically have a total length that corresponds to the maximum length of the bead. This means that the total length of the reinforcing plate, consisting of the T-leg and the T-shaped connecting piece, corresponds to the maximum value of the total length of the bead.

[0011]

[0011] Thus, the design is such that, first of all, the bead connects the two bolts to each other. The invention is based on the knowledge that the tearing force acting on the lock holder generally acts on the lock holder or on the shackle of the lock holder in a plane spanned by the two bolts. As a result, when the bolts are torn off, one or both bolts are sheared off or torn off from the base plate that holds them. This is usually the case for the rear bolts of the lock holder when viewed from the front. The invention is based on the knowledge that the front bolts are generally surrounded by a catch when viewed from the front, and when a tearing force is applied, the rear bolts, which are not surrounded by a catch, are subjected to high tensile forces, which in tearing cause the bolts to shear off or simply to be torn off from the base plate.

[0012]

[0012] In order to set the forces required for this to the maximum, if possible, or to increase them compared to the prior art, the invention essentially relies on two aspects. Firstly, the bead connecting the two bolts to each other provides additional stiffness of the base plate and also the connection between the two bolts and the bond between the bolt and the base plate. In addition, the additional reinforcing plate provided according to the invention additionally strengthens this connection area between the two bolts. This can be due to the fact that the tearing forces acting on the lock holder generally act along the plane connecting the two bolts. According to the invention, the bead and the reinforcing plate interact exactly in the direction of this plane as the connection between the two bolts, and in this way the tearing forces absorbed by the lock holder according to the invention can be significantly increased compared to the prior art. These are the main advantages.

[0013]

[0013] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the design is such that the front T-leg of the reinforcing plate has an arm which overlaps with the bead on the base plate. The two arms are each formed at an angle when viewed from the front. In practice, the two angled arms generally have, on the one hand, a plate connection piece connected to the reinforcing plate and, on the other hand, a bead connection piece adapted to the material thickness of the bead and connected at an angle to the plate connection piece. It has proven to be particularly advantageous if the bead connection piece is connected at a right angle to the plate connection piece. In addition, the two bead connection pieces generally have a distance adapted to the width of the bead.

[0014]

[0014] This allows the reinforcing plate to be perfectly connected to the bead to which it connects the two bolts. The two bead connecting pieces ensure that the reinforcing plate is centered relative to the bead. This is further strengthened by the fact that the two bolts pass through the reinforcing plate.

[0015]

[0015] In addition, the advantageous T-shaped design of the reinforcing plate allows it to be manufactured easily and cost-effectively. The reinforcing plate can usually be manufactured by a combined punching / bending process. The punching process defines both the T-leg and the T-connecting piece. After that, the bead connecting piece only needs to be bent at a right angle to the plate connecting piece. This requires an additional bending process. However, in principle, the punching and bending processes can be carried out in one go, which keeps the manufacturing costs of the T-shaped reinforcing plate of the invention low.

[0016]

[0016] The same applies when hardened steel or high-strength steel is used as the material for the reinforcing plate, such as the base plate, bolt, or lock mechanism of the lock holder.

[0017]

[0017] As a further advantageous embodiment, the invention recommends that the two bead connecting pieces and the bead are each axially symmetrical in comparison with a plane of symmetry passing through the two bolts of the shackle. As already explained at the beginning, tearing forces typically act along this plane of symmetry on the lock holder according to the invention. The symmetrical design ensures that these tearing forces are optimally and uniformly absorbed by the lock holder.

[0018] From the point of view of manufacture, it has proven to be effective if the two bolts of the shackle to which the reinforcing plate is attached are or are fixed in the corresponding shackle openings of the base plate. The bolts of the shackle can be fixed to the base plate, for example, by riveting the ends of the respective bolts to the base plate. Alternatively or additionally, the bolts can also be welded to the base plate. The two bead connection pieces advantageously have a distance from each other that is adapted to the width of the bead, so that no tilting of the reinforcing plate is observed when a tearing force is applied, but rather, the tearing force acting on the lock holder in the event of a collision usually acts on the lock holder in or along this plane, so that the reinforcing plate performs its original function, i.e., of reinforcing and strengthening the lock holder in the direction of the plane connecting the two bolts.

[0019]

[0019] The result is a lock holder that can absorb even greater tearing forces compared to the prior art, especially in the event of an accident or collision. All this is achieved by using an additional reinforcing plate that can be cheaply manufactured and combined with the bolts and base plate of the shackle. These are the main advantages. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0020]

[0020] The invention will now be explained in more detail with the aid of drawings which show exemplary embodiments only. [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a lock holder according to the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a detailed view of the lock holder according to the present invention.

[0021] Detailed Description

[0022]

[0022] The drawings show a motor vehicle locking device, in particular a lock holder for a motor vehicle lock. In particular, a lock holder for a motor vehicle door lock. For this purpose, the motor vehicle door lock in question is usually installed in or on the motor vehicle door (not shown), while the lock holder is placed on the body side. In its basic form, the lock holder can be seen to comprise a base plate 1 and a shackle 2 standing on it.

[0023]

[0023] The shackle 2 has at least two bolts 2a, 2b. The two bolts 2a, 2b are divided into a front bolt 2a and a rear bolt 2b. The front bolt 2a is usually surrounded by a catch portion (not shown) as a part of the locking mechanism of the automobile locking device. The two bolts 2a, 2b are connected to each other at the upper side with the help of a connecting piece 2c. According to this embodiment, the two bolts 2a, 2b and the connecting piece 2c are integrally formed.

[0024]

[0024] Also realized is an additional reinforcing plate 3 through which the two bolts 2a, 2b extend. The reinforcing plate 3 rests on at least a part of the surface of the base plate 1 of the lock holder and covers part or all of the surface of the base plate 1. According to the invention, the reinforcing plate 3 is designed to extend above the bead 1a of the base plate 1, which connects the two bolts 2a, 2b. The bead 1a of the base plate 1 extends in the direction of the two bolts 2a, 2b over the entire length of the base plate 1 between the two fastening openings 4, with the help of which the base plate 1 is fixed to the body. The two bolts 2a, 2b are connected by the bead 1a of the base plate 1.

[0025] 1 and 2, it can be seen that the reinforcing plate 3 is T-shaped when viewed from above. The reinforcing plate 3 consists of a T-shaped connecting piece 3a that connects the two bolts 2a, 2b, and a front T-shaped leg 3b. The T-shaped leg 3b is connected at a right angle to the T-shaped connecting piece 3a. It can also be seen that the two bolts 2a, 2b are essentially connected to each other with the help of the T-shaped connecting piece 3a.

[0026]

[0026] The total length of the T-shaped connecting piece 3a and the T-shaped leg 3b corresponds at most to the length of the bead 1a. This means that the length of the bead 1a on the base plate 1 is slightly longer than the total length of the T-shaped connecting piece 3a including the front T-shaped leg 3b.

[0027]

[0027] The front T-shaped leg 3b is equipped with two arms 5 that straddle the bead 1a on the base plate 1. When viewed from the front, the two arms 5 are at an angle to each other. Each of the two arms 5 is composed of a plate connection piece 5a connected to the reinforcing plate 3 and a bead connection piece 5b that is connected at an angle to the plate connection piece 5a and matches the material thickness S of the bead 1a. This means that the length of the bead connection piece 5b corresponds approximately to the material thickness S of the bead 1a, as can be seen particularly from the detailed view in Figure 2.

[0028]

[0028] The bead connection piece 5b of the arm 5 is connected at right angles to the plate connection piece 5a. In addition, the two bead connection pieces 5b are designed such that the distance between them is adapted to the width B of the bead 1a. This ensures that the bead 1a is accommodated widely between the two bead connection pieces 5b, and the reinforcing plate 3 is centered relative to the bead 1a by the two arms 5 and two arms 5 on the reinforcing plate 3. This is further strengthened by the fact that the two bolts 2a, 2b pass through corresponding openings in the reinforcing plate 3.

[0029]

[0029] The two bead connecting pieces 5b and the bead 1a are axially symmetrical relative to an axis or plane of symmetry A passing through the two bolts 2a, 2b of the shackle 2, respectively. The same applies to the reinforcing plate 3 and the base plate 1 of the lock holder. This symmetrical design ensures that tearing forces acting on the lock holder in the direction of this plane of symmetry A are absorbed symmetrically and introduced into the body via screws or other fastening means passing through the fastening openings 4. At the same time, this design ensures that in particular the rear bolt 2b is not torn off from the base plate 1 in the event of a tearing force acting on the lock holder.

[0030]

[0030] The reinforcing plate 3 can be manufactured as a composite stamped and bent part made of common high-strength steel. In addition, the two bolts 2a, 2b of the shackle to which the reinforcing plate 3 is attached are usually designed to engage and be secured to corresponding shackle openings (not shown) in the base plate 1. In fact, according to an exemplary embodiment, these shackle openings are placed in the bead 1 and are therefore further strengthened by the bead 1. Conventional fastening methods can be used to connect the respective bolts 2a, 2b in the shackle openings to the base plate, for example, the bolts 2a, 2b can be riveted and / or welded to the base plate 1. [Explanation of symbols]

[0031] Base plate 1, Bead 1a, Shackle 2, Bolts 2a, 2b, Connection piece 2c, Reinforcement plate 3, T-shaped connection piece 3a, T-shaped leg 3b, Fixed opening 4, Arm 5, Plate connection piece 5a, Bead connection piece 5b, Symmetry plane A, Width B, Material thickness S.

Claims

1. A locking device for a motor vehicle, in particular a lock holder for a motor vehicle lock, preferably a lock for a motor vehicle door, comprising a base plate (1), a shackle (2) standing on the base plate, and a reinforcing plate, The lock holder is characterized in that the shackle (2) has at least two bolts (2a, 2b) and a connecting piece (2c) on the upper side that connects the two bolts (2a, 2b), the reinforcing plate is disposed on at least a portion of the surface of the base plate (1) through which the two bolts (2a, 2b) pass, and the reinforcing plate (3) extends above a bead (1a) of the base plate (1) that connects the two bolts (2a, 2b) to each other.

2. 2. Lock holder according to claim 1, characterized in that the bead (1a) connects the two bolts (2a, 2b) to each other.

3. 3. The lock holder according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing plate (3) is T-shaped when viewed in a plan view, the T-shaped connecting piece (3a) connecting the two bolts (2a, 2b) and a front T-shaped leg portion (3b).

4. 4. A lock holder according to claim 3, characterized in that the total length of said T-shaped connecting piece (3a) and said T-shaped leg portion (3b) is equal to or less than the total length of said bead (1a).

5. 5. A lock holder according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the front T-leg (3b) has two arms (5) extending above a bead (1a) on the base plate (1).

6. The lock holder according to claim 5, characterized in that, when viewed from the front, the two arms (5) are formed at an angle to a plate connection piece (5a) connected to the reinforcing plate (3) and a bead connection piece (5b) connected at an angle to the plate connection piece (5a) adapted to the material thickness (S) of the bead (1a).

7. 7. Lock holder according to claim 6, characterized in that the bead connection piece (5b) is connected at right angles to the plate connection piece (5a).

8. 8. A lock holder according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the two bead connecting pieces (5b) have a spacing adapted to the width (B) of the bead (1a).

9. The lock holder according to any one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the two bead connection pieces (5b) and the bead (1a) are axially symmetrical with respect to a plane of symmetry (A) passing through the two bolts (2a, 2b) of the shackle (2).

10. A lock holder according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the two bolts (2a, 2b) of the shackle (2) with the reinforcing plate (3) are fixed in the associated shackle opening of the base plate (1), for example by riveting and / or welding.

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