Lock

• US 10,682,932 B2
• Filed: 07/12/2016
• Issued: 06/16/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Witte Automotive GmbH
• Original Assignee: Witte Automotive GmbH
• Inventors: Mosch, Gerhard
• Primary Examiner(s): Lugo, Carlos
• Application Number:
  US15/207,785
• Publication Number:
  US 20170015219A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,435 Days
• Field of Search: 292DIG 4, 292216
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/366 characterised by the locking device
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 292/04 Automatic release latches
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 292/51 Bolt guides
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1047 Closure

Abstract

The invention relates to a lock comprising a housing, a rotary latch rotatably supported in the housing, a pawl for the rotary latch and an immobilization element for locking the pawl in an unblocking position and for pressing the rotary latch to a locking hoop received therein in a closed state of the lock, wherein the immobilization element is only guided in a predefined direction of movement along a round path by a guide topology.

Claims

1. A lock configured for a backrest of a motor vehicle comprising:

a housing,

a rotary latch rotatably supported in the housing,

a pawl for locking the rotary latch, and

an immobilization element for locking the pawl in an unblocking position which is a position in which the pawl does not lock the rotary latch,

wherein the immobilization element is driven by the rotary latch and is only guided in a predefined direction of movement along a round path by a guide topology,

wherein the immobilization element comprises an engagement feature and the rotary latch has an entrainer for entraining the engagement feature when the rotary latch is moved from a closed position toward an open position, and

wherein the guide topology includes a blocking element, the blocking element configured to prevent the immobilization element from moving against the predefined direction of movement along the guide topology.

2. The lock in accordance with claim 1, wherein the engagement feature is a first pin.

3. The lock in accordance with claim 2, wherein the guide topology is formed in the housing and receives a second pin provided at the immobilization element.

4. The lock in accordance with claim 3, wherein a first passage section of the guide topology is configured to guide the second pin on the opening of the rotary latch from a first position in which the immobilization element is not in engagement with the pawl into a second position in which the immobilization element and the pawl are in engagement and the pawl is held in the unblocking position;

wherein a second passage section of the guide topology is configured to guide the second pin on the closing of the rotary latch from the second position into a third position in which the immobilization element and the pawl again move out of engagement and the rotary latch is blocked by the pawl;

wherein the second passage section of the guide topology is furthermore configured to guide the second pin after the blocking of the rotary latch at the third position by the pawl from the third position into a fourth position in which the immobilization element is released in order to be able to be moved back into the first position; and

wherein a third passage section of the guide topology is configured to guide the second pin from the fourth position back into the first position, with the immobilization element being moved from the fourth position into the first position.

5. The lock in accordance with claim 4, wherein the second passage section of the guide topology is furthermore configured to guide the second pin after the blocking of the rotary latch at the third position by the pawl from the third position into the fourth position in which the immobilization element is released in order to be able to be moved back into the first position by a spring.

6. The lock in accordance with claim 4, wherein the third passage section of the guide topology is configured to guide the second pin from the fourth position back into the first position, with the immobilization element being moved from the fourth position into the first position by a spring.

7. A lock in accordance with claim 4, wherein the first, second and fourth positions are corners of a substantially triangular round path.

8. The lock in accordance with claim 3, wherein the guide topology comprises an inner guide surface and an outer guide surface which together form a guide passage for the second pin, and with the guide passage defining the round path.

9. The lock in accordance with claim 1, wherein the round path at least approximately describes a triangle.

10. The lock in accordance with claim 3, wherein the immobilization element comprises a first pin and the rotary latch has an entrainer for entraining the first pin, wherein the first pin and the second pin extend from opposite sides of the immobilization element.

11. The lock in accordance with claim 3, wherein the blocking element is configured to prevent the second pin from being able to move against the predefined direction of movement.

12. The lock in accordance with claim 11, wherein the blocking element is a ramp.

13. The lock in accordance with claim 11, wherein the second pin of the immobilization element is resiliently supported and/or the blocking element is flexible.

16. The lock in accordance with claim 1, wherein the immobilization element is formed in one piece and/or has a second arm, with the second arm being guided by a boundary at a housing side.

14. A lock configured for a backrest of a motor vehicle comprising:

a housing comprising a guide abutment configured to limit movement of an immobilization element and to guide the movement of the immobilization element,

a rotary latch rotatably supported in the housing,

a pawl for locking the rotary latch, and

the immobilization element for locking the pawl in an unblocking position which is a position in which the pawl does not lock the rotary latch,

wherein the immobilization element is driven by the rotary latch and is only guided in a predefined direction of movement along a round path by a guide topology, and

wherein the guide topology includes a blocking element, the blocking element configured to prevent the immobilization element from moving against the predefined direction of movement along the guide topology.

15. A lock configured for a backrest of a motor vehicle comprising:

a housing,

a rotary latch rotatably supported in the housing,

a pawl for locking the rotary latch,

a spring, with the spring abutting both the rotary latch and an immobilization element and being pre-biased by a rotation of the rotary latch into the closed position, and

the immobilization element for locking the pawl in an unblocking position which is a position in which the pawl does not lock the rotary latch,

wherein the immobilization element is driven by the rotary latch and is only guided in a predefined direction of movement along a round path by a guide topology, and

wherein the guide topology includes a blocking element, the blocking element configured to prevent the immobilization element from moving against the predefined direction of movement along the guide topology.