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JP-2026514259-A - Automotive locks, especially car door locks

JP2026514259AJP 2026514259 AJP2026514259 AJP 2026514259AJP-2026514259-A

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 by comprising 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). [Selection Diagram] Figure 1

Inventors

  • クレイチ， マーティン

Assignees

  • キーケルト アクツィーエンゲゼルシャフト

Dates

Publication Date
20260507
Application Date
20240404
Priority Date
20230504

Claims (10)

  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 mounting portion (11) for 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 vehicle lock according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the operating lever (8) is designed as an internal operating lever, particularly as an emergency operating device/emergency lock release device.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an automobile lock, more particularly to an automobile door lock, and more preferably to an automobile rear door lock, comprising a locking mechanism generally composed of a rotating latch and a claw as locking elements, and further comprising an operating lever chain device for acting on the locking mechanism, wherein at least one operating lever of the operating lever chain device and/or a locking element of the locking mechanism has a releaseable mounting portion for, for example, a handle or an electric drive device, and further comprises a spring. [0002] Automotive locks, particularly automotive door locks, in the form of rear door locks as described above are known from DE 10 2011 114 148 A1. In this case, the locking claw is actuated by a coil spring. Furthermore, a Bowden cable is detachably connected to the claw. This allows the claw to be moved to the open position via the connected Bowden cable, thereby releasing the rotary latch. This type of procedure is advantageous, for example, in rear door locks, i.e., automotive rear door locks, and is suitable, for example, for opening the rear door of the vehicle from inside the cargo area. [0003] In fact, this type of rear door lock typically includes an external handle and an electric drive for closing. With the help of the electric drive, the rear door lock, i.e., the car rear door lock, can be moved from the pre-engaged position to the pre-ratchet position after being manually reached. This is generally known. [0004] To open such a rear door lock of an automobile from the inside, an inner handle is provided, for example, in connection with emergency opening or emergency unlocking. This inner 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, thereby allowing the rear door lock to be (emergency) opened or (emergency) unlocked by the handle. [0005] Naturally, the present invention also encompasses conventional automotive locks, particularly 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, particularly 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 directly actuate a locking element, such as a claw, using the handle or electric drive and connecting means, and lift it from engagement with the rotary latch. [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 and/or the operating lever is attached to the lever 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] This is because the effect of the spring becomes significant after a certain period of operation, i.e., when fatigue or stretching occurs in the Bowden cable as a connecting means. For example, a malfunction in the emergency unlocking or emergency opening handle of a vehicle's rear door is not observed during normal operation, but 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. [0008] Therefore, the present invention is based on the technical problem of further improving such automotive locks, particularly automotive door locks, and ensuring the complete functionality of the spring without being hindered by the installation or removal of the mounting part for the connecting means, or in general, its handling. [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] In contrast to the prior art realized and implemented in practical applications, the closed spring eye on the operating lever and/or locking element ensures that the spring end engaging with the spring eye does not acciden