Magnetic locking device and associated locking assembly

Abstract

The invention relates to a locking device (12) comprising: - a support (20), defining an inner cavity (34); the support comprising an opening (38) leading to the inner cavity; and - a catch (22) which is rotatable relative to the support, about an axis of rotation (47), between a blocked position and an unblocked position. The locking device further comprises a biasing member (24) secured to the support. The catch (22) and the biasing member (24) respectively comprise a first (52) and a second (70) magnetic element, capable of exerting magnetic repulsion on one another. A first magnetic repulsion force exerted on the catch (22) in the blocked position is lower than a second magnetic repulsion force exerted on the catch (22) in the unblocked position.

Description

[0001] TITLE: Magnetic locking device and associated locking assembly

[0002] The present invention relates to a locking device, of the type comprising: a support, defining an internal cavity; said support comprising an opening leading to said internal cavity; and a latch, movable in rotation relative to the support, around an axis of rotation, between a locked position and an unlocked position.

[0003] The invention is particularly applicable to magnetic locking devices, enabling the reversible joining of two structural parts. Such a locking device is described, for example, in document EP2024590.

[0004] However, such a locking device operates via a gravity-locking mechanism. Installing such a locking device in a facility, such as a vehicle interior, requires specific spatial orientation.

[0005] The present invention aims to provide an improved device compared to known devices. To this end, the invention relates to a locking device of the aforementioned type, further comprising an actuation member, integral with the support; and such that the latch and the actuation member respectively comprise a first and a second magnetic element, capable of exerting a magnetic repulsion or attraction force on each other; a first magnetic repulsion force exerted by the actuation member on the latch in the locked position being less than a second magnetic repulsion force exerted by said actuation member on said latch in the unlocked position; or a first magnetic attraction force exerted by the actuation member on the latch in the locked position being greater than a second magnetic attraction force exerted by said actuation member on said latch in the unlocked position.

[0006] According to other advantageous aspects of the invention, the locking device comprises one or more of the following features, taken individually or in all technically possible combinations:

[0007] - the first and second magnetic elements are capable of exerting a magnetic repulsive force on each other; and the first magnetic repulsive force exerted by the actuating member on the latch in the locked position is less than the second magnetic repulsive force exerted by said actuating member on said latch in the unlocked position;

[0008] - the first and second magnetic elements are respectively a first and a second dipole magnets, extending respectively along a first axis and along a second axis; and a first angle between the first and second axes in the locked position of the latch is greater than a second angle between the first and second axes in the unlocked position of said latch;

[0009] - the first and second axes are essentially coplanar;

[0010] - the latch includes a locking nose, such that in the locked position of the latch, the locking nose is disposed in the internal cavity of the support; and in the unlocked position of the latch, the locking nose is disposed away from said internal cavity;

[0011] - the support has a first and a second rotation stops; and the latch has a counter-stop, so that: the latch is movable in rotation relative to the support between a first and a second angular positions, in which the counter-stop is in contact respectively with the first and second rotation stops; each of the locked and unlocked positions is included between the first and second angular positions; and whatever the position of the latch between said first and second angular positions, the first and second magnetic elements exert a magnetic repulsion on each other.

[0012] The invention further relates to a locking assembly comprising: a locking device as described above; and an assembly element, movable relative to the support between a dissociated configuration and an assembled configuration, such that in the assembled configuration, the assembly element passes through the opening of the support and is at least partially disposed in the internal cavity of said support; the locking assembly being configured such that the latch in the blocked position locks the assembly element in the assembled configuration.

[0013] According to other advantageous aspects of the invention, the locking assembly comprises one or more of the following features, taken individually or in all technically possible combinations:

[0014] - the assembly element has a notch; and in the assembled configuration of the assembly element and in the locked position of the latch, the locking nose of the latch is inserted into the notch, so as to lock the assembly element in the assembled position;

[0015] - the assembly element has an end; and the latch has an insertion surface, such that, during a movement of the assembly element from the dissociated configuration to the assembled configuration, the end of the assembly element cooperates with said insertion surface to move the latch away from the locked position;

[0016] - the locking assembly further includes a magnetic device, movable relative to the locking device between a close position and a distant position; the locking assembly being configured so that, in the close position, the magnetic device exerts on the first magnetic element a third magnetic attraction force, greater than the second magnetic repulsion force, so as to move the latch from the locked position to the unlocked position;

[0017] - the magnetic device includes a dipole magnet.

[0018] The invention will become clearer upon reading the following description, given solely by way of non-limiting example, and made with reference to the drawings in which:

[0019] [Fig. 1] [Fig. 2] Figures 1 and 2 schematically represent a locking assembly according to an embodiment of the invention, respectively in a first and second stable configurations;

[0020] [Fig. 3] [Fig. 4] Figures 3 and 4 schematically represent the locking set of Figures 1 and 2, respectively in a first and second intermediate configurations;

[0021] [Fig. 5] Figure 5 schematically represents a locking set according to another embodiment in the first stable configuration.

[0022] Figures 1 to 4 represent a locking assembly 10 according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0023] The locking assembly 10 comprises: a locking device 12; an assembly member 14; and a magnetic device 16, visible in figures 1 and 4.

[0024] The locking device 12 includes: a support 20; a latch 22; and a squeezing member 24.

[0025] The support 20 comprises: walls 30, 32; and at least one internal cavity 34 defined by said walls. Preferably, the walls 30, 32 are made of a diamagnetic material, such as a plastic material.

[0026] The internal cavity 34 has an elongated shape, extending along an insertion axis 36. The walls 30, 32 defining the internal cavity 34 are parallel to said insertion axis 36.

[0027] In the following description, we consider an orthonormal basis (X, Y, Z) associated with the support 20. The Z direction is parallel to the insertion axis 36.

[0028] The support 20 includes a first opening 38, forming a first end of the internal cavity 34 along the insertion axis 36. In the embodiment shown, the support 20 further includes a second opening 40, forming a second end of the internal cavity 34 along the insertion axis 36.

[0029] In the embodiment shown, the support 20 further comprises: a rotation zone 42; and first 44 and second 46 rotation stops. The rotation zone 42 is suitable for forming a rotation axis 47 for the latch 22, as described below. The rotation axis 47 is offset from the insertion axis 36 along the X direction.

[0030] Preferably, the rotation axis 47 is perpendicular to the insertion axis 38. In the embodiment shown, the rotation axis 47 is parallel to the Y direction.

[0031] In the embodiment shown, the rotation zone 42 comprises two flanges 48 separated from each other along the axis of rotation 47. Each of the two flanges 48 is adjacent to one 30 of the walls delimiting the internal cavity 34. Said wall 30 comprises a cutout 49 connecting the internal cavity 34 and the space between the two flanges 48.

[0032] The first 44 and second 46 rotation stops are understood to be relative to the axis of rotation 47. Said first 44 and second 46 rotation stops are arranged opposite each other and separated by an angle of rotation α, preferably between 60° and 180°. In the embodiment shown, the angle of rotation α is approximately 135°.

[0033] In the embodiment shown, the first 44 and second 46 rotation stops are materialized by the flanges 48 of the rotation zone 42.

[0034] The latch 22 comprises a latch body 50 and a first magnetic element 52. In the embodiment shown, the latch 22 further comprises a lug 54.

[0035] The latch body 50 is mounted on the rotation zone 42 of the support 20 and is movable in rotation relative to said support around the axis of rotation 47. More precisely, the latch body 50 is disposed between the flanges 48 of the rotation zone 42.

[0036] The latch body 50 has an outer surface 56, substantially parallel to the axis of rotation 47 and disposed around said axis of rotation. The outer surface 56 has a locking nose 58.

[0037] More specifically, the blocking nose 58 comprises: an end 60; an insertion surface 62; and a blocking surface 64.

[0038] The end 60 preferably has a curved shape around an axis parallel to the axis of rotation 47. The insertion surface 62 and the locking surface 64 extend on either side of the end 60. The insertion surface 62 is, for example, extended by an actuating surface 65 forming a flat in the circumference of the body 50 of the latch 22. The insertion surface 62 and the actuating surface 65 together form a cam surface that guides the rotation of the latch 22 between its different positions, as will be described later.

[0039] The first magnetic element 52 is integral with the latch body 50. In the embodiment shown, the first magnetic element 52 is housed within the latch body 50. Preferably, the first magnetic element 52 is a permanent magnet. In the embodiment shown, the first magnetic element 52 is a dipole magnet, arranged along a first magnet axis 66. More precisely, the poles of the first magnetic element 52 are aligned along the first magnet axis 66.

[0040] The lug 54 is integral with the latch body 50 and preferably forms an axial projection relative to said latch body 50. In other words, the lug 54 extends in projection along the Y axis of the latch body 50 so as to extend between the first and second stops 44, 46, which are themselves offset along the Y axis relative to the latch body 50 22.

[0041] The lug 54 is separated from the locking nose 58 by a non-zero angle with respect to the axis of rotation 47. In the embodiment shown, the lug 54 and the locking nose 58 are substantially arranged on either side of the axis of rotation 47.

[0042] The latch 22 is movable in rotation relative to the support 20, between a first and a second angular positions along the axis of rotation 47. In the first and in the second angular positions of the latch 22, the lug 54 of said latch is in contact, respectively with the first 44 and with the second 46 rotation stops of the support 20.

[0043] In the first angular position of the latch 22, as seen in Figure 1, the locking nose 58 of said latch passes through the cutout 49 of the wall 30 and protrudes into the internal cavity 34 of the support 20.

[0044] In the second angular position of the latch 22, as seen in Figure 4, the locking nose 58 is away from the internal cavity 34 of the support 20.

[0045] The stress member 24 is integral with the support 20. In the embodiment shown, the stress member 24 is housed in the support 20; and the internal cavity 34 is disposed between the stress member 24 and the rotation zone 42 in the direction X.

[0046] The excitation member 24 comprises a second magnetic element 70. Preferably, the second magnetic element 70 is a permanent magnet. In the embodiment shown, the second magnetic element 70 is a dipole magnet, arranged along a second magnet axis 72. More precisely, the poles of the second magnetic element 70 are aligned along the second magnet axis 72.

[0047] Preferably, the first 66 and second 72 axes are substantially coplanar. In the embodiment shown, the second magnet axis 72 is parallel to the X direction.

[0048] The locking device 12 is configured so that the first 52 and second 70 magnetic elements exert a magnetic repulsion on each other. More precisely, regardless of the position of the latch 22 between the first and second angular positions, the poles of the first 52 and second 70 magnetic elements closest to each other are poles of the same polarity.

[0049] Furthermore, the locking device 12 is configured so that the magnetic repulsion between the first 52 and second 70 magnetic elements is weaker in the first angular position of the latch than in the second angular position. In other words, as will be detailed later, an angle between 0° and 90°, formed between the first 66 and second 72 magnet axes, is greater in the first angular position of the latch than in the second angular position.

[0050] In particular, the magnetic repulsion between the first 52 and second 70 magnetic elements is minimal in the first angular position of the latch 22.

[0051] In the following description, we will consider a repulsive force F exerted by the second magnetic element 70, parallel to the second magnet axis 72.

[0052] The assembly member 14 comprises an assembly element 74 and an end piece 76.

[0053] The assembly element 74 is substantially straight and extends along an assembly axis 80, between a first 82 and a second end. The first end 82 preferably has a tapered shape.

[0054] The assembly element 74 has a lateral notch 84 extending substantially parallel to the assembly axis 80. One axial end of the notch 84 is formed by a chamfered surface 86, located near the first end 82 of the assembly element. The chamfered surface 86 is substantially flat and inclined with respect to the assembly axis 80.

[0055] The end piece 76 is integral with the second end of the assembly element 74.

[0056] In the embodiment shown, the end piece 76 comprises a first 88 and a second 89 plate that are substantially flat and perpendicular to each other. The first plate 88 is integral with the assembly element 74, and the second plate 89 is substantially parallel to said assembly element. The assembly element 74 and the first 88 and second 89 plates form a U-shaped profile defining a recess 90. In an embodiment not shown, the first plate 88 or the second plate 89 has a 2.5-dimensional or three-dimensional shape.

[0057] The assembly member 14 is movable relative to the locking device 12 between a disassembled and an assembled configuration of the assembly 10. The disassembled configuration is shown in Figure 1, and the assembled configuration is shown in Figures 2 to 4. In the assembled configuration of the assembly 10, the assembly element 74 passes through the first opening 38 of the support 20 and is at least partially disposed in the internal cavity 34 of said support. In the embodiment shown, in the assembled configuration of the assembly 10, the insertion axis 36 and the assembly axis 80 coincide, and the assembly element 74 passes through each of the first 38 and second 40 openings forming the ends of the internal cavity 34.

[0058] Furthermore, in said assembled configuration, the notch 84 of the assembly element 74 is at least partially disposed in the internal cavity 34. In particular, the chamfered surface 86 of the notch 84 is disposed in the internal cavity 34.

[0059] Furthermore, in the assembled configuration, the first plate 88 of the end piece 76 is in contact with, or at a predetermined distance from, the first opening 38 of the support. In addition, the latch 22 and the rotation zone 42 of the support are received in the housing 90 formed by the assembly member 14. In other words, in the assembled configuration, the latch 22 is invisible from outside the locking assembly 10.

[0060] In the assembled configuration of set 10, the latch 22 is mobile in rotation relative to the support 20, in particular between a blocked position, visible in figure 2, and an unlocked position, visible in figure 3.

[0061] In the blocked position of Figure 2, or locking position, the locking nose 58 of the latch is disposed in the internal cavity 34 of the support and in the notch 84 of the assembly element 74. More specifically, in the locking position, the locking surface 64 of the locking nose 58 is in contact with the chamfered surface 86 of the notch 84.

[0062] Furthermore, the locking position is close to the first angular position of the latch 22. More precisely, in the locking position of the latch, the lug 54 of said latch is close to the first rotation stop 44. Preferably, there is a non-zero angle between the locking position and the first angular position of the latch 22.

[0063] Furthermore, in the locked position, the first 66 and second 72 magnet axes form a first magnet angle p between 0° and 90°. The repulsive force F, exerted by the second magnetic element 70, has a first component parallel to the first magnet axis 66, forming a first magnetic repulsive force Fi.

[0064] In the unlocked position shown in Figure 3, or intermediate insertion position, the locking nose 58 of the latch is angularly offset from the internal cavity 34 of the support and the notch 84 of the assembly element 74. Furthermore, the intermediate insertion position is closer to the second angular position of the latch 22 than the locked position. There is a non-zero angle between the intermediate insertion position and the second angular position of the latch 22.

[0065] Furthermore, in the intermediate insertion position, the first 66 and second 72 magnet axes form a second magnet angle θ, between 0° and 90°. The repulsive force F, exerted by the second magnetic element 70, has a second component parallel to the first magnet axis 66, forming a second magnetic repulsive force F2. This second force F2 has a greater magnitude than the first force F1.

[0066] The magnetic device 16, visible in Figures 1 and 4, comprises a permanent magnet. In the embodiment shown, the magnetic device 16 is a dipole magnet. According to an alternative embodiment, the magnetic device comprises a permanent magnet inserted into a tool.

[0067] The magnetic device 16 is movable relative to the locking device 12 between a close position, visible in Figure 4, and a distant position, visible in Figure 1. In the close position, the magnetic device 16 exerts a magnetic attraction force F3 on the first magnetic element 52. In absolute value, the magnetic attraction force F3 is greater than the second magnetic repulsion force F2.

[0068] Furthermore, the force F3 is greater than the magnetic repulsion force exerted by the second magnetic element 70 on the first magnetic element 52 in the second angular position of the latch. In particular, as shown in Figure 4, the magnetic device 16 in the close position is capable of moving the latch 22 into the second angular position, in which the lug 54 is in contact with the second rotation stop 46.

[0069] As can be seen in Figure 4, in the assembled configuration of the set 10, the latch 22 in the second angular position is at a distance from the chamfered surface 86 of the notch 84 of the assembly element 74. The latch 22 is then in a so-called unlocked position.

[0070] An operating method for the locking assembly 10 will now be described.

[0071] Consider an initial state of assembly 10, shown in Figure 1, in which the assembly member 14 is in a dissociated configuration with respect to the locking device 12, and the magnetic device 16 is in a distant position with respect to the locking device 12. In the initial state, the latch 22 of the locking device 12 is in the first angular position, which minimizes the magnetic repulsion between the first 52 and second 70 magnetic elements. Consider a first step of the process, or locking step.

[0072] In the first step, the magnetic device 16 is held in a position away from the locking device 12. The first end 82 of the assembly element 74 is inserted into the first opening 38 of the support 20 and into the internal cavity 34. Said first end 82 is then moved towards the second opening 40, the insertion axis 36 and the assembly axis 80 being substantially coincident.

[0073] During such a movement, the first end 82 of the assembly element 74 comes into contact with the insertion surface 62 of the locking nose 58 of the latch 22. Under the action of the moving assembly element 74, the insertion surface 62 slides into contact with the first end 82, causing the latch 22 to pivot towards the second angular position. More precisely, the lug 54 moves away from the first rotation stop 44. Consequently, the magnetic repulsion experienced by the first magnetic element 52 increases to the value F2.

[0074] With the locking nose 58 of the latch 22 away from the internal cavity 34, the assembly element 74 continues its movement, sliding against the end 60 of said locking nose 58. Preferably, the first end 82 of the assembly element 74 passes through the second opening 40 of the support 20 and emerges out of the internal cavity 34, as seen in Figure 3.

[0075] When the chamfered surface 86 of the notch 84 aligns axially with the end 60 of the locking nose 58, the magnetic repulsion causes the latch 22 to pivot in the opposite direction, towards the first angular position. The locking surface 64 of the locking nose 58 then bears against the chamfered surface 86 of the notch 84, locking the latch 22 in the locked position. The magnetic repulsion experienced by the first magnetic element 52 is thus reduced to the value F1.

[0076] In the locked position of the latch 22, contact with the chamfered surface 86 of the notch 84 prevents the assembly element 74 from moving in translation. This assembly element cannot be removed from the internal cavity 34 of the support 20. The latch 22 in the locked position thus locks the assembly 10 in its assembled configuration. A second step of the process, or unlocking step, is then considered.

[0077] In the second step, the magnetic device 16 is positioned closer to the locking device 12. Under the influence of the magnetic attraction force F3, the latch 22 pivots from the locking position to the intermediate insertion position. In the embodiment shown in Figure 4, the latch continues its pivoting to the second angular position, i.e., to the unlocking position. Consequently, the locking nose 58 moves away angularly from the chamfered surface 86 of the notch 84. The assembly element 74 is thus no longer blocked in translation. As the locking nose 58 moves away, the actuating surface 65 engages in the internal cavity 34 opposite the chamfered surface 86, as shown in Figure 4.

[0078] The assembly element 74 is then extracted from the internal cavity 34 of the support 20, and the magnetic device 16 is then moved away from the locking device 12. The magnetic repulsion between the first 52 and second 70 magnetic elements causes the latch 22 to pivot to the first angular position, minimizing said repulsion. This return of the latch 22 to the first angular position is, for example, assisted by the action of the chamfered surface 86 on the actuating surface 65 of the latch 22 during the extraction of the assembly element 74 from the internal cavity 34.

[0079] The initial state of assembly 10, described previously, is thus restored. Stop and counter-stop elements ensure a stable position for the assembly, as shown in Figure 1.

[0080] According to another embodiment shown in Fig. 5, the first and second rotation stops 44, 46 of the support 20 and the counter-stop 54 of the latch 22 described previously are eliminated, thus simplifying the structure of the support 20. The locking and unlocking steps are then modified, as will be described later.

[0081] According to this embodiment, the assembly member 14 further comprises at least one additional tab 92 (shown in dashed lines in Fig. 5) acting on the latch 22 during the insertion of the assembly element 74 into the internal cavity 34 before the first end 82 of the assembly element 74 acts on the insertion surface 62 of the locking nose 58 of the latch 22, as described previously. For this purpose, the additional tab 92 has a length, measured along the assembly axis 80, greater than the distance between the first end 82 and the second end of the assembly element 74 and is arranged to cooperate with an actuating element 94 (shown in dashed lines in Fig. 5) provided on the latch 22 when the assembly member 14 is moved from the disassembled configuration to the assembled configuration, as will be described later.The additional leg 92 extends, for example, along the assembly element 74 and is adjacent to this assembly element 74 in the Y direction. According to one embodiment, the assembly member 14 comprises two additional legs 92 extending on either side of the assembly element 74 in the Y direction.

[0082] The actuating element 94 extends outward from the latch body 50 in the Y direction so as to be aligned with the additional tab 92 when the assembly member 14 is moved from the disassembled configuration to the assembled configuration. In one embodiment, the latch 22 comprises two actuating elements 94 extending on either side of the latch body 50 in the Y direction so that each is aligned with one of the additional tabs 92 of the assembly member 14 when the assembly member 14 is moved from the disassembled configuration to the assembled configuration. In other words, the additional leg(s) 92 and the actuation element(s) 94 extend along the Y direction in place of the first and second stops 44, 46 and the lug 54. Due to the absence of a stop, it is also understood that the latch 22 is free to rotate 360° around its axis of rotation.

[0083] A method for operating the locking assembly 10 according to this alternative embodiment will now be described.

[0084] In the dissociated configuration, the assembly member 14 is separated from the locking device 12 and the latch 22 is in a first angular position shown in Figure 5, in which the opposite poles of the first magnetic element 52 and the second magnetic element 70 extend opposite each other so that the latch 22 is immobilized against rotation in this first angular position by the magnetic attraction force exerted between the first and second magnetic elements 52, 70. In the first angular position, the actuating element(s) 94 extend substantially perpendicular to the insertion axis 36 and the locking nose 58 of the latch 22 is separated from the internal cavity 34.

[0085] During the locking step, the assembly member 14 is positioned opposite the locking device so as to align the assembly axis 80 and the insertion axis 36 and is moved to engage the assembly element 74 in the internal cavity 34. Before or during this engagement, the additional tab 92 presses on the actuating element 94, causing the latch 22 to rotate, bringing the locking nose 58 closer to the internal cavity 34 and separating the first magnetic element 54 from the second magnetic element. The engagement continues until the first end 82 of the assembly element 74 comes into contact with the insertion surface 62 of the locking nose 58 of the latch 22.

[0086] The rest of the locking step then proceeds as described previously for the other embodiment and will not be described again.

[0087] For unlocking, the magnetic device 16 is placed in a position close to the locking device 12 so as to disengage the locking nose 58 from the notch 84 and thus unlock the assembly element 74, as described previously.

[0088] The difference between this embodiment and the one described previously is that the return to the first angular position of the latch 22 is achieved by continuing the rotation of the latch 22 in the same direction until the magnetic attraction between the first and second magnetic elements 52, 70 ensures that the latch 22 is held in the first angular position. In other words, the latch 22 makes a complete rotation between the initial dissociated position and its return to this dissociated position after unlocking.In other words, according to this other embodiment, the locking and unlocking always take place in the same direction of rotation of the latch 22 (corresponding to the counter-clockwise direction according to the example in Figure 5) with the exception of the rotation of the latch 22 during which the locking nose 58 engages in the notch 84 which takes place in the opposite direction (corresponding to the clockwise direction according to the example in Figure 5).

[0089] In one embodiment of the invention, the locking device 12 is assembled into an interior vehicle component, such as a dashboard, door panel, or center console. The assembly member 14 is, for example, an aesthetic part, such as a decorative strip, which is assembled with the interior vehicle component. Alternatively, the assembly member is a functional vehicle component, such as a screen.

[0090] Such a locking assembly, which does not involve any gravity-based locking / unlocking mechanism, can be oriented in a non-constraining manner. Furthermore, it provides a method of fixing that is invisible from the outside of the assembly, allowing unlocking without dismantling surrounding parts.

[0091] The description was given for magnets operating in magnetic repulsion. Magnets operating in attraction can also be considered without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

DEMANDS 1. Locking device (12), comprising: - a support (20), defining an internal cavity (34); said support comprising an opening (38) leading to said internal cavity; and - a latch (22), movable in rotation relative to the support, around an axis of rotation (47), between a locked position and an unlocked position; the locking device being characterized in that it further comprises a excitation member (24), integral with the support; and in that the latch (22) and the excitation member (24) comprise respectively a first (52) and a second (70) magnetic elements, capable of exerting on each other a magnetic repulsion or attraction force, a first magnetic repulsion force (Fi) exerted by the excitation member (24) on the latch (22) in the locked position being less than a second magnetic repulsion force (F2) exerted by said excitation member (24) on said latch (22) in the unlocked position;or a first magnetic attraction force exerted by the actuation member (24) on the latch (22) in the locked position being greater than a second magnetic attraction force exerted by said actuation member (24) on said latch (22) in the unlocked position.; 2. Locking device according to claim 1, wherein: the first (52) and second (70) magnetic elements are respectively a first and a second dipole magnets, extending respectively along a first axis (66) and along a second axis (72); and a first angle (P) between the first and second axes in the locked position of the latch is greater than a second angle (y) between the first and second axes in the unlocked position of said latch.

3. Locking device according to claim 2, wherein the first (66) and second (72) axes are substantially coplanar.

4. Locking device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the latch (22) comprises a locking nose (58), such that in the locked position of the latch, the locking nose is disposed in the internal cavity (34) of the support (20); and in the unlocked position of the latch, the locking nose is disposed away from said internal cavity.

5. Locking device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support (20) has a first (44) and a second (46) rotation stops; and the latch has a counter-stop (54), such that: the latch (22) is rotationally movable relative to the support between a first and a second angular positions, in which the counter-stop (54) is in contact respectively with the first (44) and the second (46) rotation stops; each of the locked and unlocked positions is between the first and second angular positions; and whatever the position of the latch between said first and second angular positions, the first (52) and second (70) magnetic elements exert a magnetic repulsion on each other.

6. Locking assembly (10) comprising: a locking device (12) according to any one of the preceding claims; and an assembly element (14, 74), movable relative to the support between a dissociated configuration and an assembled configuration, such that in the assembled configuration, the assembly element passes through the opening (38) of the support and is at least partially disposed in the internal cavity (34) of said support; the locking assembly being configured such that the latch (22) in the blocked position locks the assembly element (74) in the assembled configuration.

7. Locking assembly according to claim 6 taken in combination with claim 4, wherein: the assembly element (14, 74) has a notch (84); and in the assembled configuration of the assembly element and in the locked position of the latch (22), the locking nose (58) of the latch is inserted into the notch (84), so as to lock the assembly element in the assembled position.

8. Locking assembly according to claim 7, wherein: the assembly element has an end (82); and the latch (22) has an insertion surface (62), such that, during a movement of the assembly element from the dissociated configuration to the assembled configuration, the end (82) of the assembly element cooperates with said insertion surface (62) to move the latch away from the locked position.

9. Locking assembly according to any one of claims 6 to 8, further comprising a magnetic device (16), movable relative to the locking device between a close position and a distant position; the locking assembly being configured such that, in the close position, the magnetic device exerts a third force (F3) on the first magnetic element magnetic attraction, greater than the second magnetic repulsion force (F2), so as to move the latch (22) from the blocked position to the unlocked position.

10. Locking assembly according to claim 9, wherein the magnetic device (16) comprises a dipole magnet.

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