Rotary-latch lock

• US 6,997,488 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2003
• Issued: 02/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Witte-Velbert GmbH & Company KG (Witte Automotive GmbH)
• Original Assignee: Witte-Velbert GmbH & Company KG (Witte Automotive GmbH)
• Inventors: Rückert, Edvard, Kürten, Ralf
• Primary Examiner(s): Glessner, Brian E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BOSWELL, CHRISTOPHER J
• Application Number:
  US10/670,759
• Publication Number:
  US 20040232706A1
• Time in Patent Office: 874 Days
• Field of Search: 292/201, 292/210, 292/216, 292/DIG.22, 292/DIG.65, 292/144, 292/341.16
• US Class Current: 292/201
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0016 with linearly reciprocating motion
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0023 Nuts or nut-like elements moving along a driven threaded axle
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0031 of the elastic type
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0012 with rotary electromotors actuators with rotary electromotors per se H02K7/06, H02K23/68
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/14 operating on bolt detents, e.g. for unlatching the bolt
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/15 with means preventing the detent to return to its latching position before the bolt has moved to the unlatched position
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/25 Actuators mounted separately from the lock and controlling the lock functions through mechanical connections
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/40 Nuts or nut-like elements moving along a driven threaded axle
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 292/22 Inertia operated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1047 Closure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1082 Motor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1092 Swinging catch
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/699 Motor controlled

Abstract

The invention relates to a rotary-latch lock (1) having a rotary latch (6) which is retained in a locked position by a catch (9), and having an actuating member (19) which can be displaced by an electric motor from a starting position into an actuating position and is intended for pivoting the catch (9) into a release position, in which the rotary latch (6) can pivot into an open position. In order to optimize the functioning of the rotary-latch lock, the invention proposes to provide a release member (24) which by means of the rotary latch (6), as the latter rotates into the open position, releases the actuating member (19) for the catch (9) for return displacement into the starting position.

Claims

1. A rotary-latch lock (1) having a rotary latch (6) which is retained in a locked position by a catch (9), and having an actuating member (19) which can be displaced by an electric motor from a starting position into an actuating position and serves for pivoting the catch (9) into a release position, the release position of the catch (9) enabling the rotary latch (6) to pivot into an open position, wherein a release member (24) is operative by means of the rotary latch (6), as the latter rotates into the open position, to release the actuating member (19) for the catch (9) for return displacement into the starting position;

and wherein the actuating member 19 comprises a worm helix (22) engaging with the release member (24) during an unlocking of the latch (6), the release member (24) displacing the worm helix along a shaft (15) during a rotation of the shaft by the motor for driving the catch (9) into the release position, wherein rotation of the latch into the open position disengages the release member (24) from the worm helix allowing the worm helix to be displaced back by spring force to the start position.

2. The rotary-latch lock as claimed in claim 1, wherein the actuating member (19) can be displaced from the starting position into the actuating position counter to the restoring force of a spring (20).

3. The rotary-latch lock as claimed in claim 2, wherein the actuating member (19) is an axially displaceable worm which is arranged in a non-rotatable manner on the shaft (15) which is driven in rotation by a motor, a protrusion (23) of the release member (24) engaging in the worm helix (22).

4. The rotary-latch lock as claimed in claim 3, wherein the spring (20) is a helical compression spring which is seated on the shaft (15).

5. The rotary-latch lock as claimed in claim 3, wherein the shaft (15) engages through the fork interior (14) of a fork-like end (13) of the catch (9), said end forming the disengaging section.

6. The rotary-latch lock as claimed in claim 3, wherein the protrusion (23) is assigned to one lever arm (26) and another lever arm (27), of the release member (24), and follows the rotary latch (6), in contact therewith.

7. The rotary-latch lock as claimed in claim 3, wherein the shaft (15) runs up against a block when the release position of the catch (9) is reached.

8. The rotary-latch lock as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a stop (30) which is assigned in a rotationally fixed manner to the shaft (15), and strikes against a mating stop (31) when the release position of the catch (9) is reached.

9. The rotary-latch lock as claimed in claim 8, wherein the stop (30) is a radial protrusion and the mating stop (31) is assigned to the disengaging section.

10. The rotary-latch lock as claimed in claim 8, wherein the stop (30) is at an end of the shaft (15).

11. The rotary-latch lock as claimed in claim 1, wherein the actuating member (19) acts on a disengaging section of a catch arrangement.

12. The rotary-latch lock as claimed in claim 1, wherein the release member (24) is a lever which can be pivoted about a lock-housing-mounted pin (25).

13. The rotary-latch lock as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a disengaging protrusion (28) which projects radially from the rotary latch (6) and is intended for another lever arm (27) of the release member (24).