E-LATCH HAVING A MAGNETIC SNAP ASSEMBLY

• US 20130160538A1
• Filed: 12/21/2012
• Published: 06/27/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Closures SpA (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Closures SpA (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Taurasi, I, Marco
• Granted Patent: US 9,046,439 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/117.01
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 11/02 by first expanding and then shrinking or vice versa, e.g. by using pressure fluids; by making force fits
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/14 operating on bolt detents, e.g. for unlatching the bolt
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/34 of geared transmissions
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/64 Monitoring or sensing, e.g. by using switches or sensors
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/90 Manual override in case of power failure
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 17/00 Testing of vehicles testing fluid tightness G01M3/00; testing elastic properties of bodies or chassis, e.g. torsion-testing, G01M5/00; testing alignment of vehicle headlight devices G01M11/06; testing of engines G01M15/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49876 by snap fit

Abstract

A system for detecting the operative condition of a latch for a door of a motor-vehicle, comprises a magnetic field generating element adapted to generate a magnetic field which is associated to the operative condition of latch; a support which defines a housing for magnetic field generating element; and a sensor magnetically coupled with magnetic field generating element and adapted to sense said magnetic field. The generating element is snap-fitted to said housing.

Claims

1. A system for detecting the operative condition of a latch for a door of a motor-vehicle, the system comprising:

a magnetic field generating element adapted to generate a magnetic field which is associated to the operative condition of said latch;

a support which defines a housing for said magnetic field generating element; and

a sensor magnetically coupled with said magnetic field generating element and adapted to sense said magnetic field, wherein said generating element is snap-fitted to said housing.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said housing defines a cavity which extends about an axis (B), and wherein said housing comprising at least one retaining element which extends into said cavity, said retaining element is elastically deformable when said generating element is inserted inside said cavity and elastically returns to snap-lock said generating element inside said cavity.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said cavity is bounded by an inner surface with respect to said axis (B), said inner surface being elastically deformable for allowing the insertion of said generating element, and wherein said cavity includes an insertion stretch adapted to allow the insertion of said generating element and inside which said retaining element is arranged, and a seat inside which said generating element is snap-locked by said retaining element.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein said retaining element is tapered proceeding according to an insertion direction of said generating element inside said cavity.

5. The system according to claim 1 wherein said housing comprises a tubular first wall which extends about said axis (B) which bounds a first open end of said seat, and a second wall transverse to said axis (B) and which closes said seat on the opposite side of said open end of said seat.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said housing defines at least one through passage for allowing the air contained into said seat to escape during the insertion of said generating element, and wherein said passage is defined by either said first wall or said second wall or both said first wall and said second wall.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said first wall is bounded by an outer surface on the opposite side of said seat, and wherein said outer surface comprises at least one relief adapted to allow the deformation of said second wall during the insertion of said generating element.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said relief extends parallel to said axis (B) of said seat.

9. The system claim 7, wherein at least part of said relief defines said passage.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said support may assume different operative positions associated with respective operative conditions of said latch.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein either said generating element is a permanent magnet and said magnetic field sensor comprises a printed circuit board, or wherein said generating element is a permanent magnet and said magnetic field sensor comprises a printed circuit board.

12. The system of claim 1, characterized in that said sensor is a Hall sensor.

13. A latch for a door of a motor-vehicle, the latch comprising:

said system according to claim 1;

a supporting body to which is fitted one of said generating element and said magnetic field sensor; and

a closure assembly comprising a movable element to which is fitted the other one of said generating element and magnetic field sensor.

14. A method for assembling a system for detecting the operative condition of a latch for a door of a motor vehicle;

said system comprising;

a magnetic field generating element adapted to generate a magnetic field which is associated to the operative condition of said latch;

a support which defines a housing for said magnetic field generating element; and

a sensor magnetically coupled with said magnetic field generating element and adapted to sense said magnetic field, wherein said generating element to said housing.

15. The method of claim 14, comprising the steps of:

inserting said generating element inside an insertion stretch of a cavity defined by said housing;

elastically spacing apart from an axis (B) of said cavity at least one retaining element, when said generating element is inserted inside said insertion stretch; and

snap-locking said generating element inside a seat of said cavity upon said retaining element elastically returning to a substantially un-deformed condition.