Lock unit having a multi-pawl locking mechanism

• US 9,151,092 B2
• Filed: 11/05/2009
• Issued: 10/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kiekert AG (Lingyun Industrial Corporation Limited)
• Original Assignee: Kiekert AG (Lingyun Industrial Corporation Limited)
• Inventors: Scholz, Michael, Dragon, Marek
• Primary Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, MARK A
• Application Number:
  US13/119,960
• Publication Number:
  US 20110210565A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,161 Days
• Field of Search: 292/200, 292/216, 292/201, 292/DIG.23
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 85/26 Cooperation between bolts and detents
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/108 Lever

Abstract

A lock unit (1) comprising at least one catch (2), a first pawl (3) with a pawl rotation axis (4), and a blocking lever (5), wherein in a locked state of the lock unit (1), the catch (2) transfers a moment of rotation onto the first pawl (3) and the first pawl (3) is held in place by means of the blocking lever (5), wherein a second pawl (6) is pivotably arranged on the pawl rotation axis (4) and is engageable with the blocking lever (5) and the catch (2), and the first pawl (3) has a curved first blocking surface (12) for the primary position (13) of the catch (2).

Claims

1. A lock unit comprising at least one catch, a first pawl with a pawl rotation axis, and a blocking lever, wherein in a locked state of the lock unit, said catch transfers a moment of rotation onto said first pawl and said first pawl is held in place by means of said blocking lever, and

a second pawl that is pivotably arranged on said pawl rotation axis, wherein the second pawl engages said blocking lever to trigger opening of the lock unit;

and the second pawl engages said catch at a first position to prevent inadvertent opening of the catch as the catch moves between an open state and the locked state,

and said first pawl has a convex curved first blocking surface for engaging a primary position of the catch to prevent movement of the catch when the lock unit is in the locked state.

2. The lock unit of claim 1, further comprising a reset element and wherein said blocking lever comprises:

at least a first actuating arm that engages said first pawl, a second actuating arm that enages said second pawl, and a cantilever arm that engages at least the reset element.

3. The lock unit of claim 2, wherein said blocking lever has a pivot axis, with respect to which said cantilever arm is disposed opposite to said first actuating arm and said second actuating arm.

4. The lock unit of claim 3, wherein said blocking lever with said cantilever arm contacts said reset element only at certain times.

5. The lock unit of claim 4, wherein said first pawl has said first blocking surface for said primary position of said catch and a stop surface for said blocking lever, wherein said first blocking surface and said stop surface are distanced differently from the pawl pivot axis.

6. The lock unit of claim 4, wherein said first pawl neighboring said stop surface for said blocking lever has a recess for said first actuating arm.

7. The lock unit of claim 3, wherein said first pawl has said first blocking surface for said primary position of said catch and a stop surface for said blocking lever, wherein said first blocking surface and said stop surface are distanced differently from the pawl pivot axis.

8. The lock unit of claim 7, wherein said first pawl neighboring said stop surface for said blocking lever has a recess for said first actuating arm.

9. The lock unit of claim 3, wherein said first pawl neighboring said stop surface for said blocking lever has a recess for said first actuating arm.

10. The lock unit of claim 2, wherein said blocking lever with said cantilever arm contacts said reset element only at certain times.

11. The lock unit of claim 10, wherein said first pawl has said first blocking surface for said primary position of said catch and a stop surface for said blocking lever, wherein said first blocking surface and said stop surface are distanced differently from the pawl pivot axis.

12. The lock unit of claim 11, wherein said first pawl neighboring said stop surface for said blocking lever has a recess for said first actuating arm.

13. The lock unit of claim 10, wherein said first pawl neighboring said stop surface for said blocking lever has a recess for said first actuating arm.

14. The lock unit of claim 2, wherein said first pawl has said first blocking surface for said primary position of said catch and a stop surface for said blocking lever, wherein said first blocking surface and said stop surface are distanced differently from the pawl pivot axis.

15. The lock unit of claim 14, wherein said first pawl neighboring said stop surface for said blocking lever has a recess for said first actuating arm.

16. The lock unit of claim 2, wherein said first pawl neighboring said stop surface for said blocking lever has a recess for said first actuating arm.

17. The lock unit of claim 1, wherein said first pawl has said first blocking surface for said primary position of said catch and a stop surface for said blocking lever, wherein said first blocking surface and said stop surface are distanced differently from the pawl pivot axis.

18. The lock unit of claim 17, wherein said first pawl neighboring said stop surface for said blocking lever has a recess for said first actuating arm.

19. The lock unit of claim 1, wherein said first pawl neighboring said stop surface for said blocking lever has a recess for said first actuating arm.

20. A motor vehicle comprising at least a lock unit of claim 1.