Automobile latch

The automotive latch incorporates a two-stroke door handle operation with a clutch mechanism to enable manual opening in case of electric drive failure, ensuring reliable operation and preventing collisions.

JP2025522037APending Publication Date: 2025-07-10KIEKERT AG
View PDF 0 Cites 0 Cited by

Patent Information

Application Number
JP2025501328
Authority / Receiving Office
JP · JP
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
Priority Date
2022-07-11
Filing Date
2023-06-05
Publication Date
2025-07-10

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing automotive latches with electric drives can malfunction, preventing the door or flap from being opened in case of a defect or low battery, requiring additional equipment for manual operation.

Method used

A two-stroke operation of the door handle is implemented to manually open the latch, allowing manual operation independent of the electric drive, with a clutch mechanism ensuring the operating lever chain is interrupted during electric opening to prevent collisions.

Benefits of technology

Ensures the door can be manually opened via a two-stroke operation even if the electric drive fails, maintaining functionality without additional unlocking steps and preventing mechanical collisions.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

Smart Images

  • Figure 2025522037000001_ABST
    Figure 2025522037000001_ABST
Patent Text Reader

Abstract

The present invention relates to an automotive latch, in particular an automotive door latch, comprising a locking mechanism (1, 2) substantially comprising a catching part (1) and a pawl (2). An operating lever chain (3, 4, 5, 6, 7) is also provided, which is associated with a door handle (7) and an electric drive (9, 10, 11). The present invention also relates to a fixing unit (5, 6, 12, 13), wherein the electric drive (9, 10, 11) acts on both the locking mechanism (1, 2) for the purpose of electric release and on the fixing unit (5, 6, 12, 13), and during electric release acts at least temporarily on both the locking mechanism (1, 2) and the fixing unit (5, 6, 12, 13). According to the invention, the locking mechanism (1, 2) can be released via a two-stroke movement of the door handle (7) in addition to the electric drive (9, 10, 11), and the two-stroke movement is deactivated during electric release.
Need to check novelty before this filing date? Find Prior Art

Description

Technical Field

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to an automotive latch, particularly an automotive door latch, comprising a locking mechanism substantially consisting of a catching part and a pawl, and further comprising an operating lever chain having an associated door handle and an electric drive, and a fixing unit, wherein the electric drive operates on both the locking mechanism for electric release and the fixing unit, and acts on the latter (fixing unit) at least temporarily during electric release.

[0002]

[0002] The automotive latch is preferably an automotive door latch, but the aforementioned automotive latch does not necessarily have to be related to or used in an automotive door. In principle, other applications inside or on the vehicle are conceivable, for example in combination with a flap of the vehicle. In such automotive latches, particularly automotive door latches, it is always the aim to equip the frequently used electric drive with as many functions as possible. This may be due to the fact that electric drives are typically constructed in a cost-effective manner.

[0003]

[0003] For example, the prior art according to WO 2019 / 076399 is such that the electric drive comprises a drive element that operates directly or indirectly on the locking mechanism. Furthermore, the drive element interacts with at least one further element in a position-dependent manner, and the further element is a connecting element of a mechanically implemented operating lever chain. Thereby, a compact, cost-effective and functional structure is already provided.

[0004]

[0004] In a further prior art according to WO 2021 / 115537, it is possible to lock and unlock or release the locking mechanism with the aid of a drive unit or an electric drive. The locking unit is typically used to prevent the locking mechanism from being manually released. Thereby, an automotive latch with a simplified structure and a small number of components is provided. Furthermore, a cost-effective and structurally simple solution is achieved.

[0005]

[0005] In the prior art according to the unpublished patent application DE102021128868 used to form a genus, the procedure is such that a non-fixed fixing unit is at least temporarily fixed by a control member that interacts with an electric drive device. This is done in the opening direction of the electric drive device. In the reverse opening direction of the drive device, the fixing unit is moved to either a fixed position or a non-fixed position.

[0006]

[0006] The entire prior art considered previously is basically proven in itself. This is especially because a fixing unit that takes at least temporarily a "fixed" position during an electrical or electric opening ensures that the door handle does not act on the locking mechanism. As a result, there is no collision or malfunction between the electric drive device and the operating lever chain, and no damaging functional positions of the operating lever mechanism or the operating lever chain are observed.

[0007]

[0007] However, problems can occur with known procedures if there is a defect or malfunction in the electric drive device. In such a case, the associated vehicle door or flap cannot be opened, or can only be opened with additional equipment. The present invention generally aims to improve this.

[0008]

[0008] The present invention is based on the technical problem of further developing such a vehicle latch, especially a vehicle door latch, so that an emergency operation is also possible, and in particular, the manual opening of the associated door or flap is made available.

[0009]

[0009] To solve this technical problem, a general vehicle latch within the scope of the present invention, especially a vehicle door latch, can release a locking mechanism by a two-stroke operation of a door handle in addition to an electric drive device, and the two-stroke operation is characterized by being stopped or disabled during an electrical or electric opening.

[0010]

[0010] According to the present invention, the described automotive latch, particularly an automotive door latch, can typically be opened electrically, generally meaning by an electric motor or electrically. This is ensured by an electric drive that acts directly or indirectly on a pawl as part of the locking mechanism. Thereby, the pawl is lifted from the ratchet engagement with the catching part. The catching part is usually spring-assisted to open and releases a previously trapped locking pin. The associated automotive door can then be opened.

[0011]

[0011] If the electric drive has a defect, the associated battery voltage is too low, or the electric drive fails in connection with an accident, the automotive latch according to the present invention can also be opened manually. This is done by a two-stroke operation of the door handle even if the electric drive is faulty. This two-stroke operation is typically performed in the sense of a so-called "override". This means that no additional unlocking of the associated automotive latch is generally required. Rather, during the first stroke of the door handle, a clutch or clutch element is closed, and as a result, during a further second stroke of the door handle, an operating lever chain that is also thereby closed can act via the closed clutch element such that the pawl is lifted again from the ratchet engagement with the catching part. Thereby, the locking mechanism can be manually opened independently of the electric drive.

[0012]

[0012] In this context, the two-stroke operation ensures, for example, that an accidental and in some cases unintended action on the door handle does not directly lead to the opening of the door. Rather, the manual door opening requires an intentional and double operation in the sense of a two-stroke operation.

[0013]

[0013] For example, in order to ensure that the action on an electric or electric - operated door handle during opening does not cause a collision between, on the one hand, an operating lever chain having a door handle at its end and, on the other hand, an electric drive device or a locking mechanism actuated thereby, according to the present invention, it is further provided that the two - stroke operation is stopped during electric opening. This means that the door handle can always be actuated during the electric opening process without releasing the locking mechanism at this point. This is because the two - stroke operation cannot be realized during the electric opening process. The fact that the fixing unit is typically in a "fixed" state during electric or electric - operated opening also contributes to this. As a result, the operating lever chain is also interrupted, and the aforementioned clutch element cannot move to a state where the operating lever chain is closed.

[0014]

[0014] In this way, a mechanical collision between, on the one hand, an operating lever chain and, on the other hand, an electric drive device and a locking mechanism actuated thereby is, in principle and from the start, avoided. At the same time, a fixing unit that is typically "fixed" and only temporarily "non - fixed" ensures that the operating lever chain is interrupted during electric opening, and further, in the sense of the two - stroke operation for closing the operating lever chain to release the locking mechanism, instead, the two - stroke operation is designed so that the door handle can be actuated, thus ensuring proper functionality. All of this is achieved with a functionally reliable, simple, and cost - effective structure. These are the main advantages.

[0015]

[0015] According to a preferred embodiment, a connecting element of at least two parts is arranged between the electric drive device and the door handle. In most cases, the clutch element of at least two parts consists of a first clutch lever of the clutch element and a second clutch lever of the clutch element. The first clutch lever of the clutch element is usually directly or indirectly connected to the door handle. When indirectly connected to the door handle, the first clutch lever and the associated door handle can be articulated to each other, for example. However, in most cases, a rigid or flexible connecting means is provided between the first clutch lever and the door handle. The flexible connecting element is usually a Bowden cable. Thereby, the first clutch lever in question is indirectly connected to the door handle. In contrast, a further second clutch lever of the clutch element is connected to a transmission lever that interacts with the electric drive device.

[0016]

[0016] The present invention proposes two basic procedures for connecting two clutch levers. In a first variant, both clutch levers are connected or interact with each other via a control contour that moves along a guide track. The control contour can be provided on the second clutch lever connected to the transmission lever.

[0017]

[0017] In a further second variant, the present invention proposes that both clutch levers interact with each other via an additional third clutch lever. This third clutch lever is usually articulated to the second clutch lever.

[0018]

[0018] Since the second clutch lever of the clutch element is actuated by a transmission lever that interacts with the electric drive device, the design is also such that the transmission lever comprises at least a first and a second transmission contour. The first transmission contour is designed to act on the second clutch lever. On the other hand, the second transmission contour of the transmission lever is actuated by a control member. The control member interacts with the electric drive device, as will be explained in more detail below with reference to the description of the drawings.

[0019]

[0019] In the context of the present invention, the connecting element (of two parts) arranged between the electric drive device and the door handle not only functions as a fixing unit, but also constitutes its components. At the same time, it can be used to set the two-stroke operation of the door handle to be effective and ineffective, and to engage and disengage.

[0020]

[0020] In that case, the electric drive device is still suitable and usually has a return spring acting on one side. This return spring ensures that the electric drive device is returned to the starting position with the help of the return spring, especially when the electric drive device reverses after an electric opening process. Finally, it has been found to be particularly suitable when the operating lever chain is designed as an inner operating lever chain and the door handle is designed as an inner door handle. In this way, the vehicle latch according to the present invention can be regularly opened both from the inside and the outside electrically or by means of an electric motor. Mechanical redundancy is typically preferably achieved only via internal operation. Of course, alternatively, it is also within the scope of the present invention to achieve mechanical redundancy via external operation. Mechanical redundancy via internal and external operations is also possible. However, in all these cases, this requires the aforementioned two-stroke operation of the door handle in question.

[0021]

[0021] In this way, the overall procedure is such that the action on the door handle or additionally provided outer door handle for electric opening first and foremost generally corresponds to a switch assigned to the door handle or outer door handle or generally actuated sensor as usual. The sensor operation corresponds to the electric drive device starting and lifting the pawl from the ratchet engagement with the catching part during the process of electric opening. During this process, the fixing unit is at least temporarily actuated during electric opening and generally returns to its original position after electric opening.

[0022]

[0022] When the fixing unit is in the "unfixed" functional state before the electric release, the fixing unit is moved to the "fixed" position at least temporarily during the electric release, which corresponds to the interrupted operating lever chain. This means that any action on the door handle during the electric release is excluded. When the electric release process is completed, the fixing unit returns to its original functional position "unfixed" in relation to having been temporarily in the "fixed" position.

[0023]

[0023] After the electric release, the electric drive device is usually reversed. During the reversal, any engaged clutch or any closed state of the clutch elements related to the operation of the door handle is released. As a result, the two-stroke operation of the door handle is designed so that the locking mechanism cannot be manually released.

[0024]

[0024] When the electric release process is completed, the electric drive device is reversed. The fixing unit is returned to the "unfixed" starting position described by way of example. When the electric release process is completed, the connecting element is closed so that the locking mechanism can be released by the two-stroke operation of the door handle.

[0025]

[0025] The return spring assigned to the electric drive device ensures that the electric drive device reverses beyond the starting position and returns towards the starting position. The electric drive device returns to this starting position here. If the electric drive device fails at this starting position, the locking mechanism can be manually released using the above-described two-stroke operation of the door handle. This functions regardless of the position of the fixing unit, whether the fixing unit is in the "unfixed" or "fixed" state. This is because in the two-stroke operation, the fixing unit is skipped so to speak by "override". These are the main advantages.

[0026]

[0026] The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the drawings which show only one exemplary embodiment.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0027]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Figure 12

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0028]

[0027] The figure shows an automotive latch having a locking mechanism 1, 2 consisting of a catching part 1 and a pawl 2. The locking mechanism 1, 2 is shown in its entirety only in FIG. 1. Further, operating lever chains 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 are implemented, which, according to an exemplary embodiment, are designed as internal operating lever chains 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. Further, a release lever 8 can be seen, which is used for the electrical or electromechanical release of the pawl 2.

[0029] According to an exemplary embodiment, the operating lever chain 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 is composed of an operating lever or an internal operating lever 3 and a door handle 7 acting on the operating lever or the internal operating lever 3. According to an exemplary embodiment, the door handle 7 is an internal door handle 7. Furthermore, the operating lever chain 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 includes a first clutch lever 4 and a second clutch lever 5. Within the framework of the variant according to FIGS. 1-8, a further third clutch lever 6 is realized and provided, but this is not included in the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 8-12.

[0030]

[0029] Both variants commonly have electric drive devices 9, 10, 11. According to an exemplary embodiment, the electric drive devices 9, 10, 11 include an electric motor 9, and with the help of the electric motor 9, the worm wheel 10 can be rotated. Furthermore, an operating contour 11 can be seen on the worm wheel 10, which, in the context of the exemplary embodiment, as will be explained in more detail below, acts on the release lever 8 and functions to ensure the electrical or electric release of the entire locking mechanism 1, 2.

[0031]

[0030] A further basic structure also includes fixed units 5, 6. According to the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 1-8, the fixed units 5, 6 consist of a second clutch lever 5 and a third clutch lever 6. In the variant of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 9-12, the function of the third clutch lever 6 is ultimately implemented by a control contour 12, which can be moved along a fixed guide track 13. Therefore, in this case, the second clutch lever 5 and the control contour 12 on the fixed guide track 13 take over the alternative functions of the fixed units 5, 6 and the corresponding 12, 13 respectively.

[0032]

[0031] The overall design is such that the electric drive devices 9, 10, 11 operate with both the locking mechanisms 1, 2 for electrical release and the fixed units 5, 6, 12, 13, and act on at least the problematic fixed units 5, 6, 12, 13 at least temporarily during the electrical or electric release.

[0033]

[0032] According to the present invention, it is particularly important that the locking mechanisms 1, 2 can be released by means of a two-stroke movement of the door handle 7 in addition to the electric drive devices 9, 10, 11. This two-stroke movement is stopped or deactivated during the electric release. In fact, the two-stroke movement of the door handle 7 starts from the basic position as shown in FIG. 1 and, when the door handle 7 is actuated, causes the operating lever or the internal operating lever 3 to pivot counterclockwise about its axis, thereby causing the first clutch lever 4 in the right-hand part of FIG. 1 to move downward.

[0034]

[0033] For this purpose, the first clutch lever 4 of the clutch elements 4, 5, 6 is indirectly connected to the door handle 7 according to an exemplary embodiment. According to the exemplary embodiment, the indirect connection is effected via a Bowden cable, with the aid of which the door handle 7 acts on the first clutch lever 4. However, in principle, the door handle 7 could also be connected directly to the first clutch lever 4, but this is not shown.

[0035]

[0034] Since the fixing units 5, 6 are child-proof locks according to an exemplary embodiment, the locking mechanisms 1, 2 can be released by means of a second stroke of the door handle or the inner door handle 7 if the fixing units 5, 6 are not in the "fixed" or "child-proof lock on" state shown in FIG. 1. However, this presupposes that the fixing units 5, 6 in the "fixed" or "child-proof lock on" position in FIG. 1 assume a "non-fixed" or "child-proof lock off" position. The functional state shown in FIG. 8 corresponds to this.

[0036]

[0035] In the "unfixed" positions of the fixing units 5, 6, since the third clutch lever 6 is pivoted clockwise about its axis during the transition from FIG. 1 to FIG. 8, the first clutch lever 4 can engage with the pawl 2 with its release contour 4a during the first stroke of the door handle 7. Here, the second stroke of the door handle 7 corresponds to the pawl 2 being pivoted clockwise via the release contour 4a in the central view of FIG. 1, thereby releasing the catching part 1. This can be seen in an equivalent manner in the transition from FIG. 1 to FIG. 2, but in FIG. 2, an electric release process is shown instead of the manual release process of the locking mechanisms 1, 2.

[0037]

[0036] The operating mode is as follows. As already explained, the vehicle latch according to the present invention is in its basic position of FIG. 1. The same applies to the electric drive devices 9, 10, 11 or the worm wheel 10. The two-stroke operation is always engaged or possible. The third clutch lever 6 ensures that when the door handle 7 is actuated, the release contour 4a moves beyond the pawl 2 and cannot act on the pawl 2, so that the fixing units 5, 6 are in their "fixed" functional positions.

[0038]

[0037] During the transition from Figure 1 to Figure 2, an electric or electro - mechanical release process can be traced. This corresponds to the fact that an outer door handle (not explicitly shown in the exemplary embodiment) acts on a sensor or switch, and the sensor or switch is queried with the help of a control unit (not shown). The sensor operation causes the control unit to act on the electric motor 9. As a result, during the transition from the central view of Figure 1 to the central view of Figure 2, the electric motor 9 acts on the worm wheel 10 in the counter - clockwise direction. Consequently, the operating contour 11 moves against the release lever 8 at the front of the worm wheel 10, and through the release lever 8, it ensures that the pawl 2 pivots clockwise during the transition from Figure 1 to Figure 2. Here, the clockwise movement of the pawl 2 corresponds to the pawl 2 moving away from the ratchet with the catching part 1 in the closed state of the locking mechanism 1, 2 shown in Figure 1. As a result, the catching part 1 is spring - assisted and released in the sense of a clockwise swivel movement around its axis, releasing the previously trapped lock pin. The corresponding door can be opened.

[0039]

[0038] When the door handle 7 is actuated during the described electric release process, as shown in Figure 3, this causes the first clutch lever 4 to move downward. At the same time, the fixing units 5, 6 take at least temporarily a "non - fixed" functional position from the "fixed" position as shown in Figure 1. This can be due to the fact that the counter - clockwise rotation of the worm wheel 10 for the electric release involves a counter - clockwise swivel movement of the transmission lever 14 during the transition from Figure 1 through Figure 2 to Figure 3. For this purpose, the transmission lever 14 is provided with a first transmission contour 14a and a second transmission contour 14b. The first transmission contour 14a acts on the second clutch lever 5.

[0040]

[0039] Actually, the counterclockwise movement of the transmission lever 14 related to the electric release process of the locking mechanisms 1, 2 during the transition from FIG. 1 through FIG. 2 to FIG. 3 corresponds to the upward movement of the second clutch lever 5, and as a result, in this way, the third clutch lever 6 articulated to the second clutch lever 5 pivots in the clockwise direction around its axis. Thereby, according to an exemplary embodiment, on the one hand, the first clutch lever 4 connected to the door handle 7 and on the other hand articulated to the operating lever 3 or the internal operating lever 3 can be pivoted or moved in the direction of the pawl 2 with its release contour 4a. However, since the first clutch lever 4 is not guided by the third clutch lever 6, the two-stroke operation is stopped as a whole. This means that the release contour 4a of the first clutch lever 4 cannot interact with the pawl 2 and cannot lift the pawl 2 out of engagement with the catching part 1.

[0041]

[0040] When further moving from FIG. 3 to FIG. 4, the worm wheel 10 is reversed in this transition. This is because in FIG. 3, the pawl 2 is lifted out of engagement with the catching part 1 by the electric motor, and the desired electric release occurs. In this connection, the electric drive devices 9, 10, 11 are reversed here. This corresponds to the clockwise swivel movement of the worm wheel 10 during the transition from FIG. 3 to FIG. 4. At the same time, the operating contour 11 moves away from the release lever 8. The fixed units 5, 6 are in their temporary position "non-fixed" or "child-proof lock-off", as also shown in FIG. 8, and are actually temporary. The two-stroke operation is also stopped during the electric release process, so the locking mechanisms 1, 2 cannot be operated manually on the locking mechanisms 1, 2 by acting on the door handle 7 during this electric or electric-driven release process. Therefore, this remains unaffected.

[0042]

[0041] In the transition from FIG. 4 to FIG. 5 and further to FIG. 6, it can be seen that the worm wheel 10 is reversed beyond its starting position as shown in the representation of FIG. 1. As a result, the return spring 15, which is assigned to the worm wheel 10 and is only shown at this point, is tensioned, which, in connection with FIG. 6, ensures that the worm wheel 10 is returned to its starting position as shown in the representation of FIG. 1. At the same time, during the transition from FIG. 5 to FIG. 6, the fixed units 5, 6 return to their original position “fixed” or “childproof lock-on”. This corresponds to the fact that, as can also be seen from the representation of FIG. 7, the third clutch lever 6 can interact with the first clutch lever 4. As a result, the first clutch lever 4 cannot move in the direction of the pawl 2 with its release contour 4a, and as a result, it cannot interact with the pawl 2 either, nor can it lift the pawl 2 out of its engagement with the catching part 1. This is only possible by overriding the fixed units 5, 6 or the third clutch lever 6.

[0043]

[0042] As already explained, the transmission lever 14 comprises at least a first transmission contour 14a and a second transmission contour 14b. The first transmission contour 14a acts on the second clutch lever 5, and the second transmission contour 14b is acted upon by the control member 16. The control member 16 is designed with a plurality of arms for this purpose and is acted upon by a further contour, which is not explicitly shown, on the rear side of the worm wheel 10 of the electric drive devices 9, 10, 11.

[0044]

[0043] FIGS. 9 - 12 show a modified embodiment. The transmission lever 14 and the control member 16 operating on the transmission lever 14 can be recognized. The transmission lever 14 cooperates with the first transmission contour 14a on the second clutch lever 5. The second clutch lever 5 comprises a control contour 12, which can interact with the fixed guide track 13 or can move along the guide track 13.

[0045]

[0044] Figure 9 shows the fixing units 12, 13 in the "fixed" state thus formed. Further, in this case, a two-stroke operation is engaged. Figure 10 shows again the "fixed" state of the fixing units 12, 13, here with a two-stroke operation. In both cases, the fixing units 12, 13 ensure that when the operating lever 3 is actuated using the door handle 7, the pawl 2 cannot be lifted out of the ratchet engagement with the catching part 1 as a whole.

[0046]

[0045] On the other hand, as shown in the representations of Figures 11 and 12, when the fixing units 12, 13 are stopped or in the "unfixed" or "child-proof lock-off" state, the first clutch lever 4 can act on the pawl 2 via the operating lever 3 when the door handle 7 is actuated to lift the pawl 2 out of the ratchet engagement with the catching part 1. In this case, the second clutch lever 5 leans towards the side of the first clutch lever 4. As a result, during the first stroke of the door handle 7 (in relation to the electric release process), the first clutch lever 4 can fold up as a whole with respect to the pawl 2, and as a result, during the second stroke of the door handle 7, the pawl 2 is finally lifted out of the engagement with the catching part 1, and the locking mechanisms 1, 2 are released manually.

Explanation of reference signs

[0047] 1 Catching part 2 Pawl 1, 2 Locking mechanisms 3 Operating lever or internal operating lever 4 First clutch lever 4a Release profile 5 Second clutch lever 6 Third clutch lever 7 Door handle 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 Operating lever chain 8 Release lever 9 Electric motor 10 Worm wheel 11 Operating profile 9, 10, 11 Electric drive device 12 Control contour 13 Guide track 5,6;12,13 Fixed unit 14 Transmission lever 14a First transmission contour 14b Second transmission contour 15 Return spring 16 Control member

Claims

1. An automotive latch, in particular an automotive door latch, having a locking mechanism (1, 2) consisting essentially of a catching part (1) and a pawl (2), further comprising an operating lever chain (3, 4, 5, 6, 7) having an associated door handle (7) and an electric drive (9, 10, 11), and a fixed unit (5, 6, 12, 13), wherein the electric drive (9, 10, 11) operates on both the locking mechanism (1, 2) for electric release and the fixed unit (5, 6, 12, 13), and acts on the fixed unit (5, 6, 12, 13) at least temporarily during electric release, in an automotive latch, wherein the locking mechanism (1, 2) can additionally be released by a two-stroke operation of the door handle (7), and the two-stroke operation is stopped during electric release, characterized in that it is an automotive latch.

2. The automotive latch according to claim 1, characterized in that at least two-part clutch elements (4, 5, 6) are arranged between the electric drive (9, 10, 11) and the door handle (7).

3. The automotive latch according to claim 2, characterized in that a first clutch lever (4) of the clutch elements (4, 5, 6) is directly or indirectly connected to the door handle (7).

4. The automotive latch according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that a second clutch lever (5) of the clutch elements (4, 5, 6) is connected to a transmission lever (14) that interacts with the electric drive (9, 10).

5. The automotive latch according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that both clutch levers (4, 5) interact with each other via a control contour (12) movable along a guide track (13).

6. The automotive latch according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that both clutch levers (4, 5) interact with each other via a further third clutch lever (6).

7. The automotive latch according to any one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the transmission lever (14) comprises at least a first transmission contour (14a) and a further second transmission contour (14b), the first transmission contour (14a) acts on the second clutch lever (5), and the second transmission contour (14b) is acted on by a control member (16).

8. The motor drive (9, 10, 11) interacts with the control member (16), characterized in that the motor vehicle latch according to claim 7.

9. The motor drive (9, 10, 11) comprises a return spring (15) acting on one side, characterized in that the motor vehicle latch according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. The operating lever chain (3, 4, 5, 6, 7) is designed as an inner operating lever chain (3, 4, 5, 6, 7), and the door handle (7) is designed as an inner door handle (7), characterized in that the motor vehicle latch according to any one of claims 1 to 9.