EP1126108B1 - Retention element for vehicle lock, its manufacturing method and lock comprising such a retention element - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to the retention members for lock of motor vehicle, and more particularly a bolt and a ratchet for such lock.

A first retention member is thus formed by the bolt which is fork type which usually equips the door, backrest, tailgate and hood of a motor vehicle. The bolt cooperates with a second organ retention constituted by the ratchet.

To better situate the invention, a conventional bolt will first be described the example of a folder lock bolt schematically illustrated in FIGS. 3. Figures 1 and 2 further show the cooperation of the bolt with a ratchet classic and a strike. Other elements of the lock will not be described in detail since they do not fall within the scope of the present invention.

The bolt 1 is constituted by a steel plate cut in a manner to present the general shape of a fork. It is pivotally mounted on an axis of pivoting carried by the housing of the lock, so as to be able to rotate between a closed position and an open position thereof.

The fork is defined by a notch 2 which in the position shown in FIG. 1 receives and retains a striker connected to an element of body of the vehicle. The strike is usually made of a plate U-shaped metal body, one of whose branches is attached to a body vehicle, and a pin 3 connecting the free ends of the two to each other Only the striker pin is shown in Figures 1 and 2.

For the retention of the pin 3 of the striker, the bolt 1 cooperates with a ratchet 4 which is also constituted by a steel plate cut so as to to form a lever.

The bolt is locked in the closed position (see Figure 1) using ratchet 4 which is pivotally mounted in the housing of the lock, around a articulation at one end of the pawl. To obtain this lock, the bolt is provided with a locking member constituted by a tail 5 connected to the end of one of the branches of the fork and extending in the plane thereof towards the rear, substantially perpendicular to this branch. The length of the tail is adapted so that the bolt always remains in contact with the song of the ratchet, both in the open position and in the closed position.

In the closed position, a front flange 5 'of the tail 5 is in stop in a notch 6 constituting the locking member of the pawl 4 and is constantly urged towards the pawl by a return spring 7 mounted coaxially on the axis la of the bolt, one end of which bears on a leg 8 which makes perpendicularly projecting from the plane of the bolt and the other on the housing of the lock. The bolt assembly is at the same time urged by this return spring 7 towards the open position of the lock, and in addition by the reaction of the door seal which in closed state is compressed.

The pawl 4 is also biased towards the tail 5 of the bolt by a return spring 9 mounted coaxially on the axis 4a of the pawl of which one of ends bears against a pin 10 of the pawl and the other on the housing.

To unlock the tail 5 of the bolt 1 of its catch with the notch 6 of the ratchet 4, it suffices to rotate the ratchet downwards in FIG. 1, which is obtained using a lever (not shown) cooperating with a pin 11 disposed by the free end of the pawl. The tail then leaves the notch 6 by sliding on the edge of the ratchet and the bolt 1 is automatically pivoted by the return spring 7 to the open position and stay in this position so that the bolt loosens its grip around the pawn 3 of the striker and thus to fold the folder. In the case of a backrest, this one is frequently composed of two parts having a width of approximately 2/3 of the file respectively 1/3 of it, and each of the two parts is provided with a lock. Sometimes the backrest extends almost the entire width of the interior of the vehicle, two locks are provided and therefore must be operated at the same time to free the folder.

To reduce the noise during the operation of the lock, the bolt is generally overmolded by a plastic material which forms a sheath 12 around the as shown in Figures 1 and 2. Some parts of the bolt are stripped, in particular the bottom of the notch and the tail 5 which cooperates with the notch 6 of the pawl 4, and a part 13 at the front of the bolt to prevent the bursting of plastic overmolding of the bolt if the user closes the door or the liftgate or the backrest when the bolt is in position closed. Such a break-up would be likely to cause friction of the bolt on adjacent elements and should be avoided.

To withstand the forces in case of violent impact, the bolt and the ratchet are made of a resistant material such as steel. FIG. 3 shows in this respect a bolt having a thickness a (see FIG. 3) that is relatively large for firstly withstanding the forces acting in the longitudinal plane of the bolt and that are likely to cause it to break, and secondly with the lateral forces acting in a plane. transverse and which by a deformation of the counterplate on which is fixed the bolt may cause the escape of the bolt from its grip with the pawl. What is said with reference to the bolt also applies to the ratchet which is fixed to the same counterplate.

As an indication, the thickness a must be at least 5 mm so that the bolt can withstand the break, while it must be 6 mm to prevent escape from the ratchet under the effect of forces transverse. Of course, we have to choose the largest thickness even if it leads to an increase in weight. These thicknesses are of the same order of magnitude for the pawl.

Due to a constraint imposed by the cutting tool, the width b (see Figure 3) of the wall around the bolt hinge hole on its pivot axis must be at least 1.5 x a . This value of 1.5 times the material thickness is a usual value that depends on the geometry and complexity of the part.

• 60 G dans le sens longitudinal ;
• 60 G dans le sens transversal ;
• 60 G dans le sens vertical.

Moreover, the bolt is generally not calibrated inertia, unlike the ratchet that is by its spring. As a general rule, a lock must withstand the following forces of inertia:

• 60 G in the longitudinal direction;
• 60 G in the transverse direction;
• 60 G in the vertical direction.

To manufacture a bolt or ratchet having a thickness of the order of 6 mm, it is essential to use a multi-section passes with different punches. This requires an important machine tool and complex and there is also a risk of poor continuity in the lines of cut, which creates projections on which the ratchet can hang on the bolt. he For this reason, it is important to check each part and correct it if necessary. is, which leads to additional operations.

GB 2 048 365 discloses a lock for a vehicle automobile. This lock comprises an elastic buffer fixed on the bolt. This buffer reduces the metal noises caused by the friction of the bolt and ratchet when operating the lock.

However, this elastic buffer has only an insulating function sound. It does not participate in the thickness of the bolt to resist its rupture and its deformation. Thus, it does not in any way reduce the costs of manufacture of the bolt.

Furthermore, document GB 2 185 059 discloses a window lock or of door in the field of the building. This lock comprises a central unit and two secondary units and connected to the central unit by two bars. This lock comprises a barrel, a latch, an opening / closing bolt and a bolt of conviction. The locking bolt is formed of several plates. This solution facilitates the realization of the bolt.

Also known in the prior art patent FR 2472651 which discloses a retention member for a motor vehicle door lock. The device comprises a fork-shaped bolt constituted by two flanges between which is clamped a hard elastomer flange, rotatably mounted around a axis in a housing fixed on the door which cooperates with a strike in form of axis fixed on the amount of the door, the striker coming, at the closing, to engage in the fork by rotating the bolt that is locked in at least one position by a pawl cooperating with a snap cam integral with the rotation of the bolt, the unlocking opening being obtained by rotation of the ratchet to disengage it from the detent cam.

The object of the invention is to provide a retention member less expensive to manufacture.

The invention also relates to a manufacturing method of a retention organ with the advantages associated with that organ of retention.

The invention furthermore relates to a lock provided with less such a retention member.

An object of the invention is a retention member for motor vehicle lock, comprising a locking means adapted to cooperate with a locking means of a second retention member in order to hold a strike when the lock is in a closed position. The organ of retention is formed by at least two superimposed retention member elements and connected to each other by an overmolded sheath so that said member retention has a determined thickness to withstand, in the event of impact, a part in its break and secondly in its deformation. At least one of the elements retention member having spacing means disposed on its face turned towards an adjacent retention member element so as to create a interstice between the retention member elements that can be filled with material overmoulding.

• lesdits moyens d'écartement comportent des bossages disposés régulièrement espacés sur un des éléments d'organe de rétention ;
• les éléments d'organe de rétention sont reliés l'un à l'autre par soudage ;
• les éléments d'organe de rétention sont reliés l'un à l'autre par collage ;
• les éléments d'organe de rétention sont au nombre de deux ;
• les éléments d'organe de rétention présentent un profil périphérique sensiblement identique ;
• l'organe de rétention est un pêne ;
• caractérisé par le fait que l'organe de rétention est un cliquet.

The retention member may further comprise one or more of the following features:

• said spacing means comprise bosses regularly spaced apart on one of the retention member elements;
• the retention member elements are connected to each other by welding;
• the retention member elements are connected to each other by gluing;
• the retention member elements are two in number;
• the retention member elements have a substantially identical peripheral profile;
• the retention member is a bolt;
• characterized in that the retention member is a pawl.

Another object of the invention is a method of manufacturing a retention member as defined above, characterized in that each element retention member is manufactured in a single cutting operation, and in that at least two retention member elements are connected to one another by a sheath surmoullée.

Yet another object is a motor vehicle lock, characterized in that it comprises at least one retention member as defined above, cooperating with a second restraint member in a position of locking a strike.

• les figures 1 et 2 sont des vues schématiques en perspective montrant un pêne classique coopérant avec un cliquet classique, ces éléments étant déjà décrits dans l'introduction de la présente demande ;
• la figure 3 est une vue schématique en perspective d'un pêne classique déjà décrit ;
• la figure 4 est une vue schématique en perspective de deux éléments de pêne qui ne font pas partie de l'invention ;
• la figure 5 est une vue schématique en perspective illustrant les deux éléments de pêne de la figure 4 surmoulés par un élément formant gaine ;
• la figure 6 est une vue schématique en perspective d'un élément de pêne pourvu de bossages selon un autre mode de réalisation de l'invention ;
• la figure 7 est une vue schématique en perspective de l'élément de pêne de la figure 6 assemblé à un autre élément de pêne ;
• la figure 8 est une vue schématique en perspective des deux éléments de pêne surmoulés par un élément formant gaine ; et
• la figure 9 est une vue analogue à celle de la figure 7 et qui montre un cliquet selon l'invention.

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to several non-limiting examples of a bolt and a ratchet for a motor vehicle backrest, with reference to the appended figures in which:

• Figures 1 and 2 are schematic perspective views showing a conventional bolt cooperating with a conventional ratchet, these elements being already described in the introduction of the present application;
• Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of a conventional bolt already described;
• Figure 4 is a schematic perspective view of two bolt elements that are not part of the invention;
• Figure 5 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the two bolt members of Figure 4 overmolded by a sheath member;
• Figure 6 is a schematic perspective view of a bolt element provided with bosses according to another embodiment of the invention;
• Figure 7 is a schematic perspective view of the bolt member of Figure 6 assembled with another bolt member;
• Figure 8 is a schematic perspective view of the two bolt elements overmolded by a sheath member; and
• Figure 9 is a view similar to that of Figure 7 and showing a pawl according to the invention.

In the following description, elements similar to those already described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 will bear the same reference signs.

FIG. 4 shows a retention member which does not form part of the invention, in the form of a bolt whose thickness a is obtained by two retention member elements in the form of bolt elements 1A and 1B presenting an identical profile and an identical shape, these bolt elements being superimposed on one another to form an assembly 1 'constituting the bolt itself.

The two bolt elements 1A, 1B are attached to each other suitably, for example by welding or gluing.

Figure 5 shows two bolt elements 1A, 1B which are connected to one another by an overmold constituting a sheath 12. Thus, the bonding operation by welding or bonding can thanks this arrangement be removed since the sheath alone is sufficient to connect the two elements together in a very firm way.

In the latter case, the bolt presents stripped parts to same places (2, 5, 13) as the conventional bolt described with reference to FIGS. 2. The sheath is also provided with a support lug 8 for a return spring (not shown in the figure). The sheath 12 also has four notches 12a at the hole of passage of the axis of pivoting of the bolt, for centering in the mold, by four complementary lugs.

The bolt elements 1A, 1B making it possible to obtain together the optimum thickness a , are preferably two in number, but may of course comprise three or more elements which in this case constitute a laminated bolt.

The invention will first be described in detail with the example of the constitution of a bolt, while the same principle also applies to the ratchet. However, to avoid repetitions, variants will only be described with reference to the bolt.

Figures 6 and 7 show a retention member in which spacing means are arranged between two juxtaposed bolt elements 1A, 1B.

In the illustrated example, these spacing means are constituted by bosses 14 regularly arranged on one of the large faces of the bolt member 1A. During assembly, these bosses 14 are directed towards the other juxtaposed bolt member 1B so that a gap 15 is created between these two elements. In the case where the total thickness has sheath, for example corresponds to 6 mm, the gap may have a thickness of about 1 mm.

In the case where the bolt is composed of more than three elements of bolt, two bolt elements provided with bosses as illustrated in FIGS. can be arranged on either side of a bolt element devoid of boss.

Figure 8 shows the bolt members 1A, 1B of Figure 7 kept apart from each other by the bosses and connected to each other by means of overmolded material which forms a sheath 12 around the elements. Of the material overmoulded also fills the gap 15 between the two bolt elements of so that a set of bolt 1 'without cell is obtained, which is advantageous for the rigidity of the room.

This embodiment is particularly advantageous since in addition to reducing the weight of the entire bolt. Consequently, he allows the use of a bolt return spring with reduced dimensions and therefore cheaper to manufacture.

Finally, FIG. 9 shows a retention member in the form a ratchet manufactured in a similar manner to that shown in Figure 7. This ratchet is composed of two elements of retention element 4A, 4B in the form of elements ratchet having a substantially identical peripheral profile. One of the ratchet elements (4A) carries on one of its faces means of spacing under boss shape 14, while the other ratchet member is on its rotated face outwardly a pin 10 and an axis 11.

As in the example of the bolt, these ratchet elements 4A, 4B are connected together by overmolding.

Due to the fact that the thickness has retention members is composed by the thicknesses of each element of retention member 1A, 1B, respectively 4A, 4B and a gap between two juxtaposed elements, the invention allows the manufacture of each element. retention member in a single cutting operation.

Thus, there is no longer a need for a complex machine tool with several different punches and the cost price of the bolts according to the invention is found greatly reduced. Since the retention member according to the invention comprises an overmoulding, no assembly operation proper is not necessary.

The cost of manufacturing any motor vehicle lock comprising a retention member according to the invention is also reduced.

Claims (10)

1. Retention system for automobile vehicle lock, including locking means able to cooperate with locking means on a second retention system in order to hold a strike-plate when the lock is in a closed position, said retention system comprising at least two parts (1A, 1B), wherein said two parts (1A, 1B) of said retention system are superposed and connected to each other by an overmolded casing (12) in such a manner that said retention system presents a predetermined thickness (a) to resist both its breakage and its deformation in the event of a shock, at least one of the parts (1A) of the retention system (1A, 1B) carrying spacing means (14) mounted on its side facing an adjacent retention system part (1B) in such a manner as to create an interstice (15) between said retention system parts that can be filled with overmolding material.
2. Retention system according to claim 1, wherein said spacing means include bosses (14) regularly spaced on one (1A) of said retention system parts (1A, 1B).
3. Retention system according to claim 1, wherein said retention system parts (1A, 1B) are connected to each other by welding.
4. Retention system according to claim 1, wherein said retention system parts (1A, 1B) are connected to each other by gluing.
5. Retention system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said retention system parts (1A, 1B) are two in number.
6. Retention system according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein said retention system parts (1A, 1B) have a substantially identical peripheral profile.
7. Retention system according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein said retention system is a bolt.
8. Retention system according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein said retention system is a pawl.
9. Fabrication process of a retention system according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein each retention system part (1A, 1B) is manufactured by a single cutting operation, and wherein at least two retention system parts are connected to each other by an overmolded casing.
10. Automobile vehicle lock, characterized in that it includes at least one retention system according to any of claims 1 to 8, cooperating with another retention system (4) when a strike-plate (3) is in locked position.

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