EP0507647B1 - Lock for the hood of a motor vehicle comprising means for self-centerung - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a lock for a vehicle, in particular for a hood of the type comprising a movable part or bolt which can be secured to said hood to be movable in an opening or closing movement thereof, and a fixed or strike part which can be secured to a the vehicle body, the bolt being constituted by a fork rotating about an axis integral with a support element intended to be fixed to said hood and having lateral slopes to facilitate the entry of this support element in a strike box bearing integrally a nail arranged perpendicular to the plane of the fork support element and capable of being overlapped, during a translational movement, by a longitudinal notch of said fork support element in a direction of insertion, until the latter rotates in rotation to secure said striker nail by hooking.

Of course, this type of lock is also intended for closing a vehicle tailgate.

In known locks of this type, a major drawback lies in the fact that it is difficult to obtain a correct immobilization of the cover when closing, in a transverse direction due to the mounting tolerances which, taken together, can cause such a shift. transverse, of the order of several millimeters, between the striker axis and the bolt axis, making closing difficult or even impossible.

French patent application FR-A-2 633 654 proposes to remedy this drawback by arranging in the strike housing a pair of wedge-shaped pads capable of sliding longitudinally against springs, by a push of the fork-holder element forming a bolt, when the cover is closed.

These pads are mounted in the strike box, projecting and, depending on the eccentricity of the bolt relative to the strike, are biased more or less in longitudinal sliding, thus allowing the correction of any play on one side or the other according to the offset and the transverse blocking of said bolt relative to the housing.

This device is not only complex and expensive because it requires the implementation of several parts to be assembled together, but moreover if there is a lateral offset between the bolt and the keeper, this will result in a more or less pronounced depression. one of the two sliding corners thus creating an asymmetry of lateral holding; in fact, this behavior is directly linked to the spring pressure force exerted on each of the corners and to the angle of the contact surface between the latter and the fork-carrying element.

The object of the present invention is to remedy these drawbacks and to this end relates to a lock for a vehicle, in particular for a hood of the type comprising a movable part or bolt which can be secured to said hood so as to be movable in an opening or closing movement thereof. and a fixed part or keeper integral with an element of the vehicle body, the bolt being constituted by a fork rotating about an axis integral with a support element intended to be fixed to said hood and having lateral slopes to facilitate the entry of this support element into a keeper box integrally carrying a nail arranged perpendicular to the plane of the fork support element and capable of being overlapped during a translational movement, by a longitudinal indentation of said fork support element in a direction of insertion, until the latter rocks in rotation in order to join said keeper nail by hooking, characterized in that the keeper housing comprises means of self-centering with respect to the fork support element when '' an initial adjustment or compensation for the possible eccentricity of these two elements between them during use, constituted by fixed buffers disposed opposite each of the opposite ends of the strike box and elastically deformable in the direction transverse thereof to the passage of the rotating fork support element.

In this way, the aforementioned drawbacks are solved by giving the lock greater reliability since it is simpler in design, this with a lower energy consumption during the engagement.

• la figure 1 est une vue de dessus d'un boîtier de gâche d'une serrure selon l'invention, montrant schématiquement le positionnement d'un élément support de pêne, correspondant pour partie avant accouplement et pour partie après accouplement dudit pêne,
• la figure 2 est une vue en coupe selon la ligne II-II de la figure 1 montrant également schématiquement le positionnement d'un élément support de pêne avant et après accouplement de celui-ci dans un boîtier de gâche, d'une serrure selon l'invention, et
• la figure 3 est une vue de côté d'un boîtier de gâche selon la figure 2.

Other details and advantages of the invention will appear during the description which follows, given by way of example with reference to the appended drawing in which:

• FIG. 1 is a top view of a striker housing of a lock according to the invention, schematically showing the positioning of a bolt support element, corresponding partly before coupling and partly after coupling of said bolt,
• Figure 2 is a sectional view along line II-II of Figure 1 also schematically showing the positioning of a bolt support element before and after coupling thereof in a strike housing, a lock according to l invention, and
• FIG. 3 is a side view of a strike box according to FIG. 2.

The lock 1 designated as a whole and shown in the figures, comprises a support element 2 fixed to the tailgate of the rear hood of a vehicle not shown, by means of a stirrup 3, from the middle of which extends in cantilever downwards said support element 2 on which a latch constituted is disposed, in this type of lock, by a rotating fork 4 capable of rotating in operation on an axis 0 integral with the support element 2 of the fork 4. In known manner, the support element 2 has lateral slopes 2a, 2b facilitating its introduction in a housing 5 of a keeper 6 integrally carrying a nail 7 arranged perpendicular to the plane of the support element 2 of fork 4 and capable of being overlapped, during a translational movement, by a longitudinal notch 8 of said support element 2 in a direction of insertion, until the fork 4, carried by the element 2, rocks in rotation about the axis 0 to join said nail 7 of striker 6 by hooking.

Just as the support element 2 of the rotary fork 4 is integral with the cover constituting a movable part during an opening or closing movement, the keeper box 5 6 is mounted integrally on the vehicle body (not shown), on the edge of a luggage compartment for example, on which the hood abuts when it is closed.

As shown in a particularly clear manner in FIG. 2, the keeper box 5 is secured to a fixing plate 9 comprising three slots 10 traversed during assembly by screws (not shown) capable of being screwed into corresponding threaded holes ( not shown) of an internal rear wall of the vehicle boot.

The keeper box 5 is defined by a parallelepiped volume open at its upper part to allow the introduction of the support element 2 of fork 4 and whose rectangular section is delimited by two lateral flanks 5a, 5b and two end walls 5c, 5d. The lateral flanks 5a, 5b are crossed perpendicularly by the nail 7 fixed in overhang on the fixing plate 9 of the housing 5.

According to the invention, the strike box 6 comprises means of self-centering with respect to the support element 2 of the fork 4 during an initial adjustment or compensation for the possible eccentricity of these two elements 2, 6 between them in use.

These means consist of fixed buffers 11, 12 arranged opposite each other respectively on each of the opposite end walls 5c, 5d of the housing 5.

These stops 11, 12 are identical and are obtained during a single operation of molding a plastic material.

Each of the buffers 11, 12 is constituted, in the present embodiment, by a hollow element substantially forming a U whose free ends of the branches 11a 11b, 12a 12b are directed in a direction opposite to that of introduction of the element support 2 of fork 4, the branches 11b and 12b facing the axis XX ′ of the lock 1 being elastically deformable relative to the others, respectively 11a, 12a fixed on the internal end walls 5c and 5d of the housing 5.

Such elastic stops 11, 12 could be sufficient for them to fulfill their role as mentioned above, but in order to reinforce their elastic quality and their reliability over time the branches 11a, 11b and 12a, 12b of each stopper 11, 12 are combined two by two near their free end by cylindrical rubber elements added respectively 13, 14, acting freely and held in place by elastic clamping between each pair of branches 11a, 11b or 12a, 12b in housing parts 13a, 14a formed respectively at said ends of the branches 11a, 11b or 12a, 12b and forming part of a cylinder , corresponding to the rubber elements to be clamped.

Each of the buffers 11 or 12 comprises removable fixing means cooperating with the internal end walls 5c, 5d of the keeper box 5 and which are constituted by a lug 15 or 16 provided with a head 17 or 18 and produced at the lower part of each fixed branch 11a or 12a of each stopper 11, 12. An anchoring spoiler 19 or 20 is also produced at the upper part of said fixed branch 11a or 12a. The mounting of each stopper 11 or 12 is carried out by introducing said lug 15 or 16 by its head 17 or 18 to the enlarged upper part of a buttonhole-shaped opening 21 or 22 formed in the internal lateral end wall 5c or 5d of the keeper box 5 5, then brought to its lower part by sliding the head 17 or 18 behind a narrowed part of said buttonhole 21, 22 until the spoiler 19 or 20 snaps resiliently to the part upper light 21 or 22.

In order to facilitate the introduction of the support element 2 of the rotating fork 4 into the keeper 6 by its lateral slopes 2a 2b, corresponding inclined inlet slopes 23, 24 are respectively provided at the free ends of the deformable branches 11b, 12b elastically of each stopper 11, 12, turned towards the axis XX ′ of the lock. Each of the slopes 23, 24 is extended by faces 25, 26 parallel to said axis XX ′ of the lock 1. The slopes 2a, 2b of the support element 2 are capable of cooperating with the slopes 23, 24 of the stops 11, 12 when the cover is closed.

The assembly of the lock 1 described above is as follows.

Of course, the keeper 6 and the rotary fork assembly 4 disposed on its support 2 are mounted separately respectively on the edge of the trunk of the vehicle and on the hood along approximately the same axis XX ′, so as to subsequently allow a trajectory of the support element 2, substantially parallel to its notch 8 to ensure its progressive insertion into the housing 5 of strike plate 6.

Initially, during assembly, said housing 6 is held in position by screws (not shown) passing through the slots 10, oblong in the transverse direction, but these screws are not permanently tightened in order to allow adjustment in translation of the housing 5. In Indeed, the lights 10 allow a lateral movement of the latter, of the order of 10 mm for example, caused precisely by the reciprocal contacting of the slopes 2a of the support element 2 of the fork 4 and the slopes 23, 24 of each elastic stopper 11, 12, ensuring in this way self-centering of said keeper box 5 relative to said support element 2, after which the screws are definitively blocked to immobilize the keeper 6.

During operation, eccentricities of the component parts of the lock 1 can occur between them, due to variations in geometry of the vehicle body over time or to an unbalanced force exerted on the hood. The system according to the invention makes it possible to compensate for these offsets by virtue of the transverse elastic deformation of the bumpers, capable of being more or less compressed by means of the rubber cylinders 13, 14 also playing a vibration-absorbing role contributing to a reduction in the noise level of the entire vehicle.

It can also be noted that the contact between the stops 11, 12 and the fields 2c, 2d of the support element 2, after insertion into the keeper 6, takes place by means of parallel surfaces, respectively 2c, 2d and 25 , 26, which makes it possible not to have an increase in force as a function of a variation in penetration of the support element 2 of fork 4 in the housing 5 of keeper 6.

The only variations in the engagement force being due to the only geometric width dispersions of the element 2 and of the housing 5 which are controlled by the invention.

As an exemplary embodiment, the hardness of the rubber cylinders 13, 14 is 80 SH and the admissible crushing value is of the order of 1 millimeter.

Thus, a compression of 0.3 to 0.8 mm ensures excellent rigidity.

Also by way of example, the slopes 2a, 2b of the support element 2 of the fork 4 form an angle α1 of 27 ° 30 with the axis XX ′ and the entry slopes 23, 24 of the stops 11, 12 of the strike 6 form an angle α of 30 ° with the same axis. The draft thus formed of 2 ° 30 facilitates the coming into contact of the elements present.

Claims (6)

1. A lock (1) for a vehicle, in particular for an engine bonnet, of the type comprising a movable member, or bolt, which can be joined to said engine bonnet in order to be movable in movements to open or close the engine bonnet, and comprising a fixed member, or latch catch (6), which can be joined to an element of the vehicle body, the bolt being constituted by a fork (4) which revolves about an axis (10) integral with a support element (2) intended to be fixed to said engine bonnet and having lateral slopes (2a, 2b) to facilitate the support element entering a casing (5) of the latch catch (6) to which is fixed a stud (7) which is disposed perpendicularly to the plane of the support element (2) of the fork (4) and which is capable of being overlapped, during a translatory movement, by a longitudinal notch (8) in said support element (2) of the fork (4) in a direction of insertion until this latter swingingly rotates to become hooked onto said stud (7) of the latch catch (6), characterised in that the casing (5) of the latch catch (6) comprises means for self-centering itself in relation to the support element (2) of the fork (4) when an initial adjustment or compensation is made for any eccentricity of the two elements (2, 6) in relation to each other during use, the self-centering means being constituted by fixed buffer (11, 12) disposed so that they face each of the oppositely disposed ends (5c, 5d) of the casing (5) of the latch catch (6) and being elastically deformable in the transverse direction of the latch catch during passage of the support element (2) of the revolving fork (4).
2. A lock according to Claim 1, characteriscd in that each buffer (11, 12) is constituted by a substantially "U"-shaped hollow element, the free ends of the limbs (11a, 11b; 12a, 12b) of which are oriented in a direction opposite to that in which the support element (2) of the fork (4) is introduced, one of said limbs (11b, 12b) which is turned towards the axis (XX') of the lock being elastically deformable in relation to the other which is fixed on an inner end wall (5c, 5d) of the casing (5) of the latch catch (6).
3. A lock according to Claim 2, characterised in that the limbs (11a, 11b; 12a, 12b) of each buffer (11, 12) are joined in pairs close to their free ends by means of a cylindrical rubber element which is connected (13, 14) thereto and which acts freely and is held in place in the receiving portions (13a, 14a) formed at said ends of the limbs (11a, 11b; 12a 12b) and being inscribed into a corresponding cylinder.
4. A lock according to Claim 2, characterised in that each buffer (11, 12) comprises removable fixing means which cooperate with the inner end walls (5c, 5d) of the casing (5) of the latch (6), the fixing means being constituted by a projection (15, 16) with a head (17, 18) which is formed at the bottom part of the fixed limb (11a, 12a) of said buffer (11, 12) and by an anchoring beak (19, 20) which is formed at the top part of the limb, the head (17, 18) of said projection (15, 16) being introduced at the upper widened region of a buttonhole-shaped opening (21, 22) provided in the inner side end wall (5c, 5d) of the casing (5) for the latch catch (6), and then at its bottom part its head (17, 18) is brought to slide behind a narrowed part of said buttonhole (21, 22) until the beak (19, 20) snaps elastically at the upper part of the opening (21, 22).
5. A lock according to one of Claims 2 to 4, characterised in that the elastically deformable limbs (11b, 12b) of each buffer (11, 12) which are turned towards the axis (XX') of the lock (1), each comprise at their free end, an inclined entrance slope (23, 24) which is extended by a face (25, 26) parallel to said axis (XX') of the lock (1), the entrance slope (23, 24) being capable of cooperating, on closing, with the corresponding lateral entrance slopes (2a, 2b) of the support element (2) of the fork (4).
6. A lock according to one of Claims 2 to 5, characterised in that the buffers (11, 12) are identical and are obtained through one single moulding operation.

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