Automotive locks, especially car door locks

Abstract

The present invention relates to an automobile lock, more particularly to an automobile door lock, and more preferably to an automobile rear door lock (1). The lock is formed with a locking mechanism (3, 4) which is generally composed of a rotating latch (3) and a claw portion (4) as locking elements (3, 4). Furthermore, an operating lever chain device (8, 9) is provided for acting on the locking mechanism (3, 4). At least one operating lever (8) of the operating lever chain device (8, 9) and / or the locking element (3, 4) of the locking mechanism (3, 4) has, for example, a releaseable mounting portion (11) for connection to a handle (6) or a connecting means (7) for connection to an electric drive device, and further a spring (13). According to the present invention, one end of the spring (13) engages in a retaining manner with a closed spring eye (12) of the operating lever (8) and / or the locking element (1, 2).

Description

Technical Field

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to a lock for an automobile, particularly a lock for an automobile door, preferably a lock for a rear door of an automobile, and includes a lock mechanism generally composed of a rotary latch and a claw as lock elements, and further includes an operating lever linkage device for acting on the lock mechanism. At least one operating lever of the operating lever linkage device and / or the lock element of the lock mechanism has a releasable attachment portion for connecting to, for example, a handle or an electric drive device, and further includes a spring.

[0002]

[0002] The lock for an automobile, particularly a lock for an automobile door, in the form of a lock for a rear door as described above is known from DE 10 2011 114 148 A1. In this case, the claw for the lock is actuated by a coil spring. Further, a Bowden cable is detachably connected to the claw. Thereby, the claw can be moved to the open position via the connected Bowden cable to release the rotary latch. This kind of procedure is advantageous, for example, in a lock for a rear door, that is, a lock for a rear door of an automobile, and is suitable for opening the rear door of the relevant automobile from the inside of the luggage compartment.

[0003]

[0003] In fact, this kind of lock for a rear door usually includes an external handle and an electric drive device for closing. With the help of the electric drive device, the lock for the rear door, that is, the lock for the rear door of the automobile, can be moved to the pre-latch position after manually reaching the pre-engagement position. This is generally known.

[0004]

[0004] To open such a rear door lock of an automobile from the inside, an inside handle is provided, for example, in connection with emergency opening or emergency unlocking, and the inside handle may be concealed, but in any case it is at a certain distance from the rear door lock. This gap is bridged by a connecting means, so that the rear door lock can be opened (emergently) or unlocked (emergently) by the handle.

[0005]

[0005] Naturally, the present invention also encompasses conventional automotive locks, in particular automotive door locks for, for example, side doors of automobiles. In this case, a spring-driven internal and / or external operating lever may also be used, and further having a mounting portion for connecting means, in particular flexible connecting means. Any gap between the handle and the automotive lock is bridged by the connecting means. In principle, the connecting means may be actuated using an electric drive instead of a handle, and then the unlocking or opening of the vehicle lock may be provided by mechanical or electric means. Furthermore, it is also possible to actuate a locking element, such as a claw, directly using the handle or electric drive and connecting means, and lift it from engagement with the rotary latch.

[0006]

[0006] The mounting of the means for connecting the locking element and / or the operating lever is often done when the automotive lock is incorporated into the corresponding vehicle door, which today is usually done on the assembly line of an automobile factory. The handle may be pre-installed. A common problem in this assembly process is that when the means for connecting the locking element is attached to the operating lever and / or the locking element, the spring acting on the lever or the locking element may be damaged or, worse, dislodged. Such spring failures often only become apparent after many years of use, after the cover has been assembled and installed.

[0007]

[0007] This is because the effect of the spring actually becomes significant after a certain period of operation, i.e., when fatigue or stretching occurs in the Bowden cable as a means of connection. For example, a malfunction in the emergency unlocking or emergency opening handle of a vehicle's rear door is not observed during normal operation and only becomes apparent when attempting to open the rear door from the inside in an emergency. Otherwise, such a rear door is usually unlocked electrically and then opened by the external handle. Therefore, the internal handle and its associated operating lever are used only in emergencies. This must be avoided, i.e., malfunctions must not occur in emergencies. [Overview of the Initiative]

[0008]

[0008] Accordingly, the present invention is based on the technical problem of further improving such automotive locks, in particular automotive door locks, to ensure the full functionality of the spring, which is not hindered by the installation or removal of the mounting part for the connecting means, or in general, by its handling.

[0009]

[0009] To solve this technical problem, a general automobile lock, particularly an automobile door lock, is characterized in that a spring engages at one end with a closed spring eye of the operating lever and / or locking element in a retaining manner.

[0010]

[0010] In contrast to the prior art realized and implemented in practice, the closed spring eye on the operating lever and / or locking element ensures that the spring end engaging with the spring eye does not accidentally detach from the operating lever and / or locking element, or become detached for any other reason, for example, when assembling the connecting means with a releasable mounting portion. This also prevents damage to the spring. Rather, the closed spring eye ensures that the assembly operation of the connecting means does not reach the spring end engaged with the spring eye, and as a result, the malfunctions due to spring detachment that were previously seen do not occur in practice. These are the main advantages.

[0011]

[0011] According to an advantageous embodiment, the spring is designed as a return spring. That is, after being actuated by a handle or electric drive in the embodiment, the spring ensures that the actuating lever or locking element returns to its initial non-actuated position. For this purpose, the spring is usually designed as a bipedal spring having a fixed leg connected to the lock housing and a free leg that engages with a spring eye. The fixed leg and free leg of the bipedal spring are coupled to each other via a coil section.

[0012]

[0012] In a more advantageous embodiment, the coil section of the bipedal spring is mounted on a pin. This facilitates the assembly of the spring. This is important because the spring and the actuating lever or locking element typically protrude at least partially from the locking housing so that the aforementioned assembly process can be carried out on the factory floor of an automobile factory.

[0013]

[0013] That is, both the spring eye of the operating lever and / or locking element and the mounting portion for the connecting means are typically oriented to be located outside the lock housing, thereby allowing the connecting means to be mounted without obstruction. This makes it easy and practical to attach the spring to the corresponding operating lever and / or locking element, even if the lock housing is already installed.

[0014]

[0014] The coil section connecting the fixed and free legs of the bipedal spring is attached to the pin for easy installation of the bipedal spring. An axial stop is provided on the pin, extending throughout the coil section, to ensure that the bipedal spring and / or coil section are held in place on the pin during this process. This axial stop is typically located on the head side of the pin. In addition, in this regard, it has been found to be particularly advantageous to design the pin as a component of the lock housing.

[0015]

[0015] In fact, the lock housing, or at least the lock cover of the lock housing, is generally made of plastic or as a plastic injection molded part. This allows the pin to be molded directly and automatically as an integral part of the plastic housing. The same applies to the axial stop.

[0016]

[0016] The spring is folded back at the end that engages with the spring eye so that the spring is properly secured to the spring eye. Often, the present invention employs a modification in which the end of the spring that engages with the spring eye is folded back into a U-shape. This ensures that the end of the spring that engages with the spring eye, i.e., the bipedal spring, is held securely and in a non-dislodgement state within the spring eye. This is true even when pressure is applied to the folded spring end when the connecting means is attached to the mounting part of the operating lever and / or locking element.

[0017]

[0017] The releasable attachment for the aforementioned connecting means is typically designed as a hook eyelet for a Bowden cable or coupling rod. For this purpose, for example, one end of the core of a Bowden cable is provided with a hook that is inserted into the hook eyelet for a releasable coupling. Similarly, a coupling rod may also be provided with a corresponding hook for engaging with the hook eyelet.

[0018]

[0018] The hook eyelet and spring eye are typically formed on the operating lever arm of the operating lever and / or locking element. At least a portion of the operating lever arm is located outside the lock housing. This allows the spring and connecting means to be installed even when the automotive lock is installed.

[0019]

[0019] The operating lever is generally an internal operating lever. Internal operating levers are typically used for emergency lock release or emergency opening. Of course, this is just one embodiment and should not be interpreted restrictively. Such emergency lock release or emergency opening is particularly recommended when the automotive lock is a lock for the rear door of an automobile, as has already been explained in the introduction. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0020] The present invention will be described in further detail below with reference to the drawings showing a single embodiment. [Figure 1] Figure 1 shows a basic schematic diagram of an automobile lock. [Figure 2] Figure 2 shows the car lock shown in Figure 1 with the lock housing removed. [Figure 3] Figure 3 shows the object in Figure 2 from a different viewpoint.

[0021] Detailed description of the invention

[0022]

[0021] The drawings show an automobile lock, in particular an automobile door lock. Specifically, the automobile lock is an automobile rear door lock, i.e., rear door lock 1. This can be attached to the edge of the rear door of an automobile (not shown). According to the embodiment, the rear door lock 1 has a lock plate 2, which is for rotatably mounting lock mechanisms 3 and 4, which are in particular shown in Figures 2 and 3 and are generally composed of a rotating latch 3 and a claw portion 4. Lock mechanisms 3 and 4 hold the lock bolt, i.e., the latch holder 5, shown in Figures 2 and 3 in a non-detachable state. This corresponds to the main ratchet position of lock mechanisms 3 and 4 shown in Figures 2 and 3.

[0023]

[0022] In addition to the main ratchet position, the locking mechanisms 3 and 4 can also take on a pre-ratchet position. In this state, a closing drive mechanism (not explicitly shown) that normally acts on the rotary latch 3 causes the rotary latch 3 to rotate counterclockwise from the pre-ratchet position as shown in Figure 2, until the claw portion 4 engages with the main ratchet shown in Figure 2 and the main ratchet position is defined. This locks the lock bolt, i.e., the latch holder 5, and locks the corresponding rear door of the vehicle.

[0024]

[0023] In the embodiment, the locking, i.e., the aforementioned closing process, is generally performed electro-mechanically using a closing drive device, so the rear door of an automobile usually does not have an inner handle. In contrast, an outer handle is installed. Instead of an inner handle, an emergency operation handle is often used. This is of course one example and is applied to the rear door lock (1) shown in the figure. In the case of a side door lock of an automobile, the inner handle and the outer handle are usually installed independently of each other.

[0025]

[0024] In any case, a handle 6 is implicitly recognized in the drawings, which may be designed as an inner handle 6. Connection means 7 is provided to transmit the force acting on this inner handle to the operating lever 8 shown in the figure as part of the operating lever linkage 8, 9. The connection means 7 may be a coupling rod.

[0026]

[0025] According to the illustrated embodiment, the connection means 7 is designed to be flexible, specifically a Bowden cable, i.e., a cable pull. With the help of the handle 6 and the connection means 7, the operating lever 8 designed as a pivot lever that can pivot around the axis 10 can perform a clockwise movement as shown in FIG. 2.

[0027]

[0026] Due to this clockwise movement of the operating lever 8, the release lever 9 coaxially mounted, which is another component of the operating lever linkage 8, 9, also pivots clockwise as shown in FIG. 3. As a result, the claw portion 4 is disengaged from the engagement with the rotary latch 3, and the rotary latch 3 can pivot clockwise by a spring force, contrary to the counterclockwise closing movement shown in FIG. 2. Thereby, the lock bolt and / or the latch holder 5 is released, and the corresponding rear door can swing in the opening direction.

[0028]

[0027] The connecting means 7 is connected to the actuating lever 8 via a releasable mounting part 11. According to the embodiment, this releasable mounting part 11 for the connecting means 7 is here embodied as a hook eyelet 11 for the Bowden cable 7. In fact, for this purpose, the Bowden cable 7 has a core that can move back and forth within the sheath, and a corresponding hook is equipped at the end of the core facing the lever, and this hook engages with the hook eyelet 11. The releasable attachment of the Bowden cable is usually carried out in the assembly process following the assembly of the illustrated automotive lock and handle 6.

[0029]

[0028] That is, in the case of the embodiment, after the rear door lock 1 is installed on the rear door, the connecting means 7 is releasably coupled to the hook eyelet 11. To enable this, the corresponding hook eyelet 11 and the closed spring eye 12 according to the invention are both placed outside the lock housings 2, 14, which can be particularly confirmed in FIG. 1. The lock housings 2, 14 consist on the one hand of a metal lock case, i.e., a lock plate 2, for mounting the lock mechanisms 3, 4, and on the other hand of a resin lock cover 14.

[0030]

[0029] The actuating lever 8 is preloaded by a spring 13. In the embodiment, the spring 13 is a return spring and acts on the actuating lever 8 in a direction opposite to the direction of action of the actuating lever 8 for releasing the lock mechanisms 3, 4, and thus in the counterclockwise direction in the embodiment, because the release of the lock mechanisms 3, 4 corresponds to a clockwise rotation around the axis 10 of the actuating lever 8 (see the arrow in FIG. 2). For this reason, according to the embodiment, the spring 13 is not only a return spring but is specifically designed as a two-legged spring with a fixed leg 13a, a free leg 13b, and a coil section 13c intervening between them.

[0031]

[0030] The fixed leg 13a of the bipedal spring 13 is connected to the lock housing 2, 14, in particular to the lock cover 14. In contrast, the free leg 13b of the bipedal spring 13 engages with the closed spring eye 12 on the aforementioned operating lever 8. This ensures that the spring 13 engages with the spring eye 12 of the operating lever 8 at one end, specifically the end of the free leg 13b.

[0032]

[0031] The bipedal spring 13 is installed by setting its coil section 13c on a pin 15. This pin 15 is located on the lock housing 2, 14, and in particular on the lock cover 14, and according to the embodiment, it is an integral part of the lock cover 14. Furthermore, the pin 15 has an axial stopper 15a at its head end. This ensures that the coil section 13c of the spring 13 is held on the pin 15 in a practically non-detachable state, so that it does not come off, for example, due to axial movement along the pin 15.

[0033]

[0032] It can be seen that the end of the spring 13 that engages with the spring eye 12 is folded back. Specifically, the end of the spring 13 is folded back in a U shape. This U-shaped folded end is found on the free leg 13b of the bipedal spring 13. By designing the end of the free leg 13b of the bipedal spring 13 in a U shape, it is ensured that the free leg 13b of the bipedal spring 13, and by extension the entire bipedal spring 13, is held in place within the spring eye 12 in a non-detachable state.

[0034]

[0033] It can be seen that the spring eye 12 is designed in an arc shape overall. This arc shape of the spring eye 12 takes into account the fact that when the operating lever 8 is actuated by the handle 6 via the intermediate connecting means 7, it performs a clockwise pivoting motion around the axis 10, as shown in Figure 2, in order to release the locking mechanisms 3 and 4. This allows the U-shaped folded end of the free leg 13b of the bipedal spring 13 to move along the arc, particularly the concave spring eye 12, during the pivoting motion, and ensures that the spring force required to return the operating lever 8 is exerted counterclockwise on the operating lever 8 via the free leg 13b.

[0035]

[0034] As already described, the operating lever 8 may be an internal operating lever, and in particular may be capable of emergency operation / emergency unlocking of the automobile lock, specifically the rear door lock 1. For this purpose, the handle 6 may be located behind or inside the rear door panel (not shown). Of course, this is applied as one embodiment, because instead of the handle 6, an electric drive device may be used in this position to act on the connecting means 7 and, by extension, the operating lever 8. [Explanation of symbols]

[0036] 1... Rear door lock, 2… Lock plate, 3, 4... Locking mechanism, 5... Lock bolt, latch holder, 6... Handle, inside handle, 7…Means of connection, 8...Operating lever, 8, 9... Actuating lever chain device, 10...axis, 11... Mounting part, hook eyelet, 12... Spring eye, 13... Spring, 13a...fixed leg, 13b...free leg, 13c... Coil section, 14... Rock cover, 15...pin, 15a...Axial stop.

Claims

1. Automotive locks, particularly locks for automobile doors, Preferably, a lock for a rear door of an automobile (1), having a locking mechanism (3, 4) comprising locking elements (3, 4) generally composed of a rotating latch (3) and a claw portion (4), further having an operating lever chain device (8, 9) for acting on the locking mechanism (3, 4), wherein at least one operating lever (8) of the operating lever chain device (8, 9) and / or the locking elements (1, 2) of the locking mechanism (1, 2) have a releaseable mounting portion (11) for, for example, a handle (6) or a connecting means (7) for connecting to an electric drive device, and further a spring (13), and one end of the spring (13) engages in a retaining state with a closed spring eye (12) of the operating lever (8) and / or the locking element (1, 2).

2. The automobile lock according to claim 1, characterized in that the spring (13) is designed as a return spring.

3. The automobile lock according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the spring (13) is designed as a bipedal spring (13) having a fixed leg (13a) connected to the lock housing (2, 14) and a free leg (13b) that engages with the spring eye (12).

4. The automobile lock according to claim 3, characterized in that the coil section (13c) of the bipedal spring (13) is attached to the pin (15).

5. The automobile lock according to claim 4, characterized in that the pin (15) has an axial stop portion (15a) that protrudes beyond the coil section (13c).

6. The automobile lock according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the spring (13) is folded back at the end that engages with the spring eye (12).

7. The automobile lock according to claim 6, characterized in that the end of the spring (13) is folded back in a U-shape.

8. The automotive lock according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the releasable attachment portion (11) to the connecting means (7) is designed as a hook eyelet (11) for a Bowden cable or coupling rod.

9. The automobile lock according to claim 8, characterized in that the hook eyelet (11) and the spring eye (12) are provided on the operating lever arm of the operating lever (8).

10. The automobile lock according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the operating lever (8) is designed as an internal operating lever, and in particular as an emergency operating device / emergency lock release device.

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