Device comprising a momentary contact switch for actuating a lock on a door or hinged lid, in particular, for a vehicle

• US 20030172695A1
• Filed: 02/26/2003
• Published: 09/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Huf Hulsbeck & Furst GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: Huf Hulsbeck & Furst GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Buschmann, Gerd
• Granted Patent: US 6,761,052 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 70/361
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 13/105 the handle being a pushbutton E05B13/103 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 29/0006 Other locks than cylinder locks with plate tumblers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 292/37 Push button operators
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7582 Sliding plug
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7599 Transverse of plug
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7616 Including sidebar
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7757 Push or pull key operation

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (10.1) comprising a momentary contact switch (11) as well as a lock cylinder (20) having tumblers (21, 21′), which are transferred between a blocked position and an unblocked position by means of a key (22). In the blocked position, said tumblers (21, 21′) interact with a blocking edge (30), which is released only in the unblocked position. The traveling motion (12) of the momentary contact switch (11) is transferred to the entry element (40) of the lock only in the unblocked position. In order to obtain a simple and yet reliable device (10.1), the invention provides that the lock cylinder (20) is arranged in a manner that prevents it from twisting, and the blocking edge (30) is made such that it can transversally move (35) in relation to the tumblers (21, 21′). This transversal motion (35) is caused by the traveling motion (12) of the momentary contact switch (11). The blocked position of the tumblers (21, 21′) prevents the transversal motion (35) of the blocking edge (30). The traveling motion (12) of the momentary contact switch (11) is then only transferred to the lock when the transversal motion (35) of the blocking edge (30) is possible.

Claims

1. Device (10.1-10.6) with an axially toggling push button (11) for actuating a lock on a door or flap, especially for a vehicle,

with a lock cylinder (20), which has radially movable tumblers (21) in an axial arrangement (23) and to which a key (22) is assigned;

where the tumblers (21) are normally in a blocking position (21.1), in which the tumblers (22) project out of the lock cylinder (20);

but where the insertion of the key (22) into the lock cylinder (20) causes the tumblers (21) to move into the lock cylinder (20), so that they are then in their release position (21.2); and

with a blocking edge (30), located on the side, next to the projecting tumblers (21), which edge cooperates with the tumblers (21) only in the blocking position (21.1), but not in the release position (21.2), and

where the toggling movement (12) of the push button (11) can be transferred to an input element (40) of the lock only when the tumblers (20) are in their release position (21.2), characterized in that

the lock cylinder is mounted so that it cannot rotate;

in that

the blocking edge (30) can move transversely (35) relative to the axial arrangement (23) of the tumblers (21);

in that

the transverse movement (35) proceeds from the toggling movement (12) of the push button (11);

in that

when the tumblers (21) are in their blocking position (21.1), they prevent the transverse movement (35) of the blocking edge (30) but allow such movement when they are in their release position (21.2); and

in that

the toggling movement (12) of the push button (11) is transmitted to the input element (40) of the lock only during the simultaneous transverse movement (35) of the blocking edge (30).

2. Device (10.1, 10.4) according to claim 1, characterized in that the blocking edge (30) is on a pivoting element (31), which is pivotably supported (33) and thus able to pivot with respect to the axial plane (23).

3. Device (10.2, 10.3) according to claim 1, characterized in that the blocking edge (30) is on a thrust element (32), which is guided in a distance-variable manner (24.1, 24.2) with respect to the axial plane (23).

4. Device (10.2, 10.3) according to claim 3, characterized in that, upon actuation (12) of the push button (11), the thrust element (32) moves at least to a certain extent both parallel (36) and transversely (35) to the axial plane (23).

5. Device (10.1, 10.2, 10.4, 10.5) according to one of claims 1-4, characterized in that the lock cylinder (20) is installed in the push button (11) and forms with it a common toggling (12) actuating unit (15).

6. Device (10.3) according to one of claims 1-4, characterized in that the lock cylinder (20) is seated on a stationary carrier (16) independently of the push button (11) and does not move in concert with the toggling movement (12).

7. Device (10.3) according to claim 6, characterized in that the axial guidance (17) of the push button (11) and the mounting of the lock cylinder (20) are both accomplished in the same carrier (16).

8. Device (10.1-10.6) according to one of claims 1-7, characterized in that the lock cylinder (20) is noncircular (29) and is mounted nonrotatably on the carrier (16) or on the push button (11).

9. Device (10.1) according to one of claims 1-8, characterized in that the tumblers emerge (28, 28′

) from the lock cylinder (20) on diametrically opposing sides in two rows (21, 21′

);

in that

the pivoting element (31) or thrust element (32) has a C-shaped profile (37) and a pair of blocking edges (30, 30′

) on the ends (38, 38′

) of its two sidepieces; and

in that

upon actuation (12) of the push button (11) or of the actuating unit (15), these two blocking edges (30, 30′

) scan the two rows (21, 21′

) of tumblers to see if they are in their completely released position (21.1).

10. Device (10.1-10.6) according to one of claims 1-9, characterized in that the push button (11) or the actuating unit (15) is spring-loaded (19) by a restoring force (18) and is held in a defined rest position (11.1) by end stops (43, 44).

According to the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 1-3b:

11. Device (10.1) according to one of claims 1-10, characterized in that the pivoting element (31) is pivotably supported (33) on the push button (11) or on the actuating unit (15).

12. Device (10.1) according to claim 11, characterized in that the pivoting element (31) is nonrotatably connected to a working arm (45), which transmits the pivoting movement (46) to the input element (40) of the lock.

13. Device (10.1) according to claim 11 or claim 12, characterized in that a spring (19) holds the pivoting element (31) in a rest position (30.1),

where the blocking edge (30) or the blocking edges (30, 30′

) assume a position essentially parallel to an axial plane (23) passing through the lock cylinder.

14. Device (10.1) according to claim 13, characterized in that both the rest position (30.1) of the pivoting element (31) and the restoring force (18) acting on the push button (11) or on the actuating unit (15) are produced by the same spring (19).

15. Device (10.1) according to one of claims 11-14, characterized in that, in the rest position (30.1), the thrust element (32) or its working arm (45) is supported (47) on a stationary projection (27);

in that

if at least one of the tumblers (21, 21′

) of the lock cylinder (20) is still in its blocking position (21.1), forcible actuations (12) of the push button (11) or of the actuating unit (15) are absorbed by this support (47, 27); and

in that

the pivoting movement (35, 46) of the pivoting element (31) or of its working arm (45) occurring in the release position (21.2) of the tumblers (21, 21′

) is directed away from this projection (27).

16. Device (10.1) according to claim 15, characterized in that the support point (47) on the pivoting element (31) or on the working arm (45) has a predetermined breaking point (48), which breaks during the course of forcible actuations (12).

According to the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 4a-5:

17. Device (10.2, 10.3) according to one of claims 1-10, characterized in that the transverse movement (35) of the thrust element (32) is produced by a link guide (50) extending at an angle to the actuation direction (12);

in that

the link guide (50) consists of two complementary link parts (51, 52), namely, a guide part (52) and a slide part (51), which fit into each other; and

in that

the one link part (51) is stationary, whereas the other link part (52) is able to toggle (27) along with the thrust element (32).

18. Device (10.2, 10.3) according to claim 17, characterized in that not only the thrust element (32) but also a control slide (34) are guided (13) on the push button (11) so that they can move (12) together with it;

in that

limited by end stops (49), a transverse load (39) which determines a maximum distance (59) acts between the thrust element (32) and the control slide (34);

in that

the concomitantly toggling link part (52) is seated on the control slide (34), its movement being limited by the one end of the link (53), which acts as a stop;

in that

upon actuation (12) of the push button (11) during the starting phase (61), the thrust element (32) continues to move transversely (35) under the action of the transverse load (39) and the link guide (40) of the control slide (34) until the end (53) of the link acts as a stop; and

in that

during the remaining phase (62) of the toggling movement (12), the thrust element (32) moves exclusively in a direction parallel (36) to the axial plane (23) of the lock cylinder (20) and transfers this axial movement (36) to the input element (40) of the lock.

19. Device (10.2, 10.3) according to claim 17 or claim 18, characterized in that the thrust element (32) has an axial contact point (55), to which an opposing contact point (56) on a transfer lever (57) is assigned;

and in that

the transfer lever (57) is pivotably supported (63) in a permanent position upline of the input element (40) of the lock.

20. Device according to claims 18 and 19, characterized in that the transfer lever (57) has a free space (64) next to its opposing contact point (55);

and in that

this free space (64) is aligned with the contact point (55) of the thrust element (32) when the push button (11) is in its rest position (11.1).

21. Device (10.2, 10.3) according to claim 20, characterized in that, when the tumblers (21) are in the blocking position (21.1), the axial alignment of the contact point (55) of the thrust element (32) with the free space (64) of the transfer lever (57) allows a freedom of travel which renders the actuation (12) of the push button (11) or of the actuating unit(15) ineffective.

According to the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 6a-8:

22. Device (10.4, 10.5) according to one of claims 1-10, characterized in that the pivoting element (31) is hinged to a transfer lever (57), which is supported (63) in a permanent position upline of the input element (40) of the lock;

in that

the pivoting element has guide means (60), which hold the pivoting element (32) pivoted (73) against the tumblers (21) during the starting phase (71) of the toggling movement (12) of the push button (11) or the actuating unit (15) only until all the tumblers (21) have been scanned by the blocking edge (30); and

in that

during the remaining phase (72) of the overall toggling movement (70), the guide means (60) ensure that the further movement (74) of the pivoting element (31) is essentially axial and parallel to itself.

23. Device (10.4, 10.5) according to claim 22, characterized in that the guide means (60) consist of a control pin (65), which moves along with the push button (11) or the actuating unit (15), and a profiled pin guide (66) on the pivoting element (31);

in that

the pin guide (66) consists of a control curve (67), a driver shoulder (68), and a free-travel section (69) for the control pin (65);

in that

the control curve (67) cooperates with the control pin (65) during the starting phase (71) of the overall toggling movement (70) to pivot the pivoting element (32) until the driver shoulder (68) is axially aligned with the control pin (65), and during the remaining phase (72) of the actuation (12) of the push button (11) or of the actuating unit (15) transmits to the pivoting element (31); and

in that

when the push button (11) or the actuating unit (15) is in the rest position (11.1), the control pin (65) is axially aligned with the free-travel section piece (69), where an actuation (12) of the push button (11) or of the actuating unit (15) while the tumblers (21) are in the blocking position (21.1) has no effect on the pivoting element (31).

24. Device (10.4, 10.5) according to claim 22 or claim 23, characterized in that an elastic force (75) acts on the pivoting element (31), which force tries to push the blocking edge (30) of the pivoting element (31) against the tumblers (21) when they are in their blocking position (21.1).

25. Device (10.4) according to one of claims 22-24, characterized in that the profiled pin guide (66) consists of an opening (77) in the pivoting element (31).

26. Device (10.5) according to one of claims 22-23, characterized in that the profiled pin guide (66) consists of a groove (78) in the pivot element (31).

According to the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 9 and 10:

27. Device (10.6) according to one of claims 1-26, characterized in that a hinged cover (80) is located in front of the end surface of the lock cylinder (20);

and in that

the hinged cover (80) can swing (83) back and forth between a covering position (80.1) and an open position (80.2) with respect to a channel opening (26) serving to allow the insertion (14) of the key (22) into a key channel (25) of the lock cylinder (20).

28. Device (10.6) according to claim 27, characterized in that a blocking lever (85) is hinged (82) to the push button (11) or actuating unit (15);

in that

the hinged cover (80) has a cam (84), which pivots (86) the blocking lever (85) between two positions (85.1, 85.2),

namely, an effective blocking position (85.1) when the cover (80) is in the open position (80.2), where the blocking lever (85) engages with a stationary blocking shoulder (87) and thus prevents a levering movement (12) of the push button (11) or actuating unit (15); and

an unblocking position (85.2), in which the blocking lever (85) is disengaged from the blocking shoulder (87) and allows a toggling movement (12) of the push button (11) or actuating unit (15).

29. Device (10.6) according to claim 28, characterized in that, when the hinged cover (80) is in its covering position (80.1), it extends over the exposed end of the inserted key (22) and forms a contact surface (58) for the actuation (12) of the push button (11) or actuating unit (15).

30. Device (10.6) according to claim 28 or claim 29, characterized in that the blocking lever (85) is subjected to the force of a restoring spring (88) acting in the direction of the effective blocking position (85.1), that is, to a force which tries to engage the lever with the blocking shoulder (87) assigned to it.

31. Device (10.6) according to one of claims 27-30, characterized in that the hinged cover (80) is held in its covering position (80.1) by latching means (89).