EP3363975B1 - Latch-type closing device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a closing device of the rotary latch type. In particular, the present invention relates to a new type of rotary latch closure that can be used, among other things, for closing the doors and doors of vehicles.

Rotary latches are used today in particular for doors and panels for heavy equipment in vehicles. They combine the solidity and security of a rotary action with the practicality of a push-to-close system. This type of latch works invisibly, tolerates misalignment when closing, easily engages with little closing force and keeps the door or panel hermetically closed.

Doors and panels fitted with these latches can be closed by a simple push, the locking being effected without any additional operation. The invisible latches are mounted inside a frame to hide the locking points for aesthetic or security purposes.

These devices are commonly used in the doors of all motor vehicles, be they automotive, construction or agricultural, anywhere in the world and provide full satisfaction. However, there is a permanent need to improve the qualities of these closing devices, in particular in terms of solidity, security and aesthetics.

Currently, such a closure device can be integrated into a door or swing body intended to be opened and closed regularly. A rotary latch is mounted on a plate with which elements mounted in rotation abut in the open and / or closed position. However, in a concern for constant miniaturization which occupies this industry, this assembly implies a minimal dimension which poses problem. Indeed, this miniaturization comes up against minimal dimensions imposed by the resistance of the parts.

The document US 4703961 describes a rotary latch which has a U-shaped plate which acts as a stop, with the interposition of a damper

The document US 2005/206172 discloses another rotary latch which has a rigid U-shaped case which serves as a stop for a latch.

The document DE 10 2009 037037 relates to a device for closing a vehicle door which has a stop device provided with a safety device. The device described comprises a plate which forms a stop at the level in particular of a recess produced in the plate.

The present invention has been produced in relation to the prior art described above, the aim of the present invention being to obtain a closing device of the rotary latch type of a smaller dimension which can be used easily and reliably, in particular for cars.

• un loquet présentant un logement ouvert apte à recevoir un organe de fermeture et monté en rotation autour d'un premier axe de rotation entre une position ouverte et une position fermée,
• un cliquet de blocage monté en rotation autour d'un second axe de rotation parallèle au premier axe de rotation et définissant ainsi un plan (P) et coopérant avec le loquet de manière à le maintenir verrouillé dans la position fermée dudit loquet,

ledit loquet et ledit cliquet de blocage étant chacun précontraint par des moyens de rappel, la force de rappel exercée par ledit moyen du loquet ramenant ledit loquet dans la position ouverte,
la force de rappel exercée par ledit moyen de rappel dudit cliquet de blocage étant dans le sens inverse de celle exercée par le moyen de rappel dudit loquet.To solve the problem, the present invention provides a closure device comprising:

• a latch having an open housing capable of receiving a closure member and mounted in rotation about a first axis of rotation between an open position and a closed position,
• a locking pawl mounted in rotation about a second axis of rotation parallel to the first axis of rotation and thus defining a plane (P) and cooperating with the latch so as to keep it locked in the closed position of said latch,

said latch and said locking pawl being each prestressed by return means, the return force exerted by said latch means bringing said latch back into the open position,
the return force exerted by said return means of said locking pawl being in the opposite direction to that exerted by the return means of said latch.

According to the present invention, the latch has a main closing notch and an opening stop distinct from the main closing notch; the locking pawl includes a closing stop and a locking stop; in the closed position, the main latch for closing the latch is placed on a second side of the plane (P) and cooperates with the closing stop carried by the locking pawl and also placed on the second side of the plane (P ), and, in the open position, the latch opening stop notch is placed on the first side of the plane (P) and cooperates with the blocking stop also located on the first side of the plane (P).

The present invention therefore allows very simple operation with only a latch and a pawl. The devices of the prior art have a plate (or a casing or a chassis) on which the latch or the pawl abuts either in the open position or in the closed position. By presenting stop members directly on the latch and the pawl, the present device overcomes the need to present a plate. The inventor has found that by designing a closing device of the rotary latch type without plate, it was possible to considerably reduce the size of said device. As a result, the inventor was able to overcome the constraints thickness of the plate and resistance thereof. In addition, the closing and blocking stops make it possible to make the parts mounted in rotation of the rotary latch self-locking in order to limit their movements and the moving parts are thus less subject to wear.

Advantageously, said latch also has a secondary closure stop notch placed on a second side of the plane (P) and the device has a semi-closed configuration, between the open position and the closed position where said secondary stop notch cooperates with the closing stop of the locking pawl.

Thus, the latch which engages by simple pressure, can be closed in two stages. During a first pressure, the secondary stop notch is engaged with the closing stop which allows the user to release the pressure without the door or the leaf reopening. Thereafter, the user will be able to exert a new pressure in order to completely close the door or the leaf by engaging the main stop notch with the closing stop.

In a particular embodiment, the latch has a return stop and when said latch is in the closed position, said return stop is placed on the first side of the plane (P) and comes into contact with the blocking stop when the notch main closing stop cooperates with the closing stop.

In this way, the latch and the pawl have different contact areas when the latch is in the closed position and when the latch is in the open position. The additional resistance provided by the contact between the return stop and the blocking stop allows better retention of the pawl in its position. Thus, the door or the leaf are locked in the closed position with even greater security.

In a particular embodiment, said locking pawl rotates by an angle less than π / 6 rad or 30 degrees between the open position and the closed position.

In this way, the locking pawl is subjected to little mechanical stress. Indeed, the low rotation performed by this moving part makes it possible to preserve it from wear over the long term. This stop disappears during the rotation of the locking pawl, for example during the opening command, in a concentric movement limiting the effort and the amplitude required.

In another embodiment, the closing stop of said locking pawl is extended by a concave curved surface and where the latch has a surface convex curved the two curved surfaces sliding against each other when the latch moves from the closed position to the open position. Said concave surface having a radius of curvature adapted as a function of the external radius of curvature of said pawl in order to obtain, in a configuration of mutual engagement, an extended contact area.

In this way, the latch is accompanied during the transition from the closed position to the open position. Furthermore, the latch and the pawl will thus have contact areas when the latch is locked in the open position. This therefore makes it possible, on the one hand, to accompany the opening movement of the door or of the leaf so that this opening does not take place too suddenly. On the other hand, these contact zones offer great resistance if the user were to exert a force in the direction of opening on the door or the leaf when said door or said leaf is already in its maximum opening position. .

In a particular embodiment, said blocking pawl has a blocking notch placed on the first side of the plane (P) and is able to lock the return stop when a force is exerted on the latch by bringing it beyond from its closed position.

Placed after the blocking stop, the blocking notch makes it possible to block the position of the latch when the user continues to exert pressure on the latch when the latter is already in the closed position. This locking notch makes it possible advantageously to offer the closing device resistance to wear, in particular when the user is, for example, slamming the door or the leaf.

In a particular embodiment, the means for returning the latch and the locking pawl are torsion springs.

Torsion springs form excellent return means, perfectly suited to the operation of this type of device. Indeed, their high resistance and their low wear over time allow their use in this type of rotary latch.

Finally, the invention also relates to a side panel which has a closure device according to the invention and where the latch and the locking pawl are screwed onto said side panel by screws having pins adapted to a bore made on the latch and the pawl .

Advantageously, the latch and the locking pawl are screwed onto said drop side in a space free from any other external abutment means.

• la figure 1 représente une vue de face éclatée d'un loquet et d'un cliquet de blocage,
• La figure 2 représente le cliquet de blocage et le loquet de la figure 1 engagés en position ouverte,
• La figure 3 représente le cliquet de blocage et le loquet des figures précédentes engagés en position fermée,
• La figure 4 représente le cliquet de blocage et le loquet des figures 1-3 engagés en position semi-fermée,
• La figure 5 représente en perspective le cliquet de blocage et le loquet des figures précédentes engagés en position fermée avec un organe de fermeture, montés dans une feuillure de ridelle de véhicule,
• La figure 6 représente en vue de face le cliquet de blocage et le loquet engagés au-delà de la position fermée lorsqu'une force est exercée sur le loquet, opposée à la force de rappel dudit loquet et lorsqu'une force est exercée sur le cliquet de blocage, opposée à la force de rappel dudit cliquet, par exemple quand la commande d'ouverture est actionnée et la ridelle repoussée.

Other aspects, aims and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following description of an embodiment of the invention, given by way of non-limiting example. The invention will also be better understood with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

• the figure 1 represents an exploded front view of a latch and a locking pawl,
• The figure 2 represents the locking pawl and latch of the figure 1 engaged in the open position,
• The figure 3 represents the locking pawl and the latch of the preceding figures engaged in the closed position,
• The figure 4 represents the locking pawl and latch figures 1-3 engaged in semi-closed position,
• The figure 5 shows in perspective the locking pawl and the latch of the preceding figures engaged in the closed position with a closing member, mounted in a rebate of the vehicle side wall,
• The figure 6 represents in front view the locking pawl and the latch engaged beyond the closed position when a force is exerted on the latch, opposite to the restoring force of said latch and when a force is exerted on the locking pawl , opposite the restoring force of said pawl, for example when the opening control is actuated and the drop side pushed back.

The figures illustrate a device which can be used, for example and without this being limiting, for closing a drop side 400 of a motor vehicle.

Said device comprises a latch 100 and a pawl 200 fixed in the thickness of the side wall 400 while a closing member 300 is fixed on a frame or a frame not shown (cf. figure 5 ).

The latch 100 is in the form of a part rotatably mounted around a first axis of rotation (A) between an open position and a closed position, the part being mounted transversely to its axis of rotation (A) . The latch has two transverse faces and a peripheral surface. The latch has on one part of its peripheral surface an open housing 110. Said housing is configured so as to be able to receive said closure member 300. In contrast to the open housing 110, the peripheral surface is presented as a cam on which are arranged surface portions forming stops which will be described below.

The locking pawl 200 has an overall shape similar to that of the latch, also with two transverse faces and a peripheral surface. A first part of the peripheral surface of the pawl corresponds to the peripheral surface of a disc arc, for example of a half-disc, while a part of this peripheral surface opposite this first part has surface portions forming stops which will be described below. This locking pawl 200 is mounted in rotation about a second axis of rotation (B) parallel to the first axis of rotation (A). These two axes of rotation thus define a plane (P).

The latch 100 and the locking pawl 200 are made of steel but may be made of another metal or alloy, in particular patented steel, galvanized or zinc aluminum, stainless steels, copper alloys. The latch 100 and the locking pawl 200 may also be made of any other material offering mechanical resistance properties adapted to the solidity of the device and to safety, such as for example plastics or composites if their characteristics allow it.

The latch 100 and the locking pawl 200 are each mounted in rotation respectively on a first screw 510 and a second screw 520.

The first and second screws 510, 520 each have a pin on which is mounted each time the latch and the pawl, the latch and the pawl having a bore of diameter adapted to the corresponding pin. Each of the screws 510, 520 respectively has a first and a second head 511, 521, the diameter of which is greater than the diameter of the trunnions of the said screws 510, 520. The side panel 400 has two orifice holes adapted, tapped in which the screws are suitable to be screwed in order to fix the latch 100 and the locking pawl 200 by making them cooperate. The heads 511, 521 of the first and second screws prevent the escape of the latch 100 or of the locking pawl 200 and the pins allow them to rotate around their axis of rotation.

To facilitate the rotational movement, a socket can be placed between the latch and the screw and between the ratchet and the screw. This socket is then intended to facilitate the rotation of the latch 100 and the locking pawl 200 respectively around the first and the second screw. Alternatively, this sleeve may be replaced by other known means to facilitate rotation about an axis such as, for example, a ball bearing.

The screws and intermediate parts are made of steel but may consist of a other metal or alloy, in particular galvanized steel or aluminum zinc, stainless steels, copper alloys. Like the latch 100 and the locking pawl 200, they may also be made of the same material or of different materials offering mechanical resistance properties adapted to the solidity of the device and to maintaining the closure.

Said latch 100 and said locking pawl 200 are each constrained by elastic return means, for example return springs which can be of the torsion spring type in a preferred embodiment. It will subsequently be assumed that there are two torsion springs (not shown), one associated with the latch 100 and the other with the locking pawl 200.

The restoring force exerted by the first torsion spring prestresses said latch 100 to its open position.

The return force exerted by said second torsion spring on the locking pawl 200 is then in the opposite direction to that exerted by the latch return means 100. These torsion springs restore a torque exerted by the winding of a metal wire ending in two free ends on each side of the winding. These torsion springs are mounted on the screws which carry the latch and the locking pawl. The shaping of the ends can be adapted according to the mounting.

The latch 100 has a main closing stop notch 101, a secondary closing stop notch 103 and an opening stop notch 102.

The locking pawl 200 comprises a closing stop 201, a locking stop 202 and a locking notch 203.

The stops are constituted by substantially radial indentations on the surfaces of the body of the latch and of the pawl while the notches are formed by indentations on these same surfaces capable of interacting with the stops.

The latch 100 also has a return stop 104. When the latch 100 is in the closed position, said return stop 104 is placed on the first side of the plane (P). The return stop 104 then comes into contact with the blocking stop 202 of the blocking pawl 200 at the same time as the main closing stop notch 101 cooperates with the closing stop 201.

The closing stop 201 of said locking pawl 200 is extended by a concave curved surface 205. The latch 100 has a convex curved surface 105. The two curved surfaces 105, 205 being configured to slide against one another when the latch 100 passes from the closed position to the open position.

The device also has on the locking pawl 200 a locking notch 203 placed on the first side of the plane (P) and capable of coming to lock the return stop 104 when a force is exerted on the latch 100 by bringing it beyond from its closed position. The locking pawl 200 is itself reciprocally limited by this same stop to remain in its sector of cooperation with the latch 100.

• En position ouverte (figure 2), le cran d'arrêt d'ouverture 102 du loquet 100 est placé du premier côté du plan (P). Ledit cran d'arrêt d'ouverture 102 coopère alors avec la butée de blocage 202 du cliquet de blocage 200 se trouvant elle aussi du premier côté du plan (P), en glissant sur les surface incurvée 105 et 205.
• En position fermée (figure 3), le cran d'arrêt principal de fermeture 101 du loquet 100 est placé d'un second côté du plan (P). Ledit cran d'arrêt principal de fermeture 101 coopère alors avec la butée de fermeture 201 portée par le cliquet de blocage 200 et placée elle aussi du second côté du plan (P)
• En position semi-fermée (figure 4), entre la position ouverte et la position fermée, où ledit loquet 100 présente un cran d'arrêt secondaire de fermeture 103 placé d'un second coté du plan (P). Ledit cran d'arrêt secondaire de fermeture 103 coopère alors avec la butée de fermeture 201 du cliquet de blocage 200.
• Au-delà de la position fermée (figure 6), ledit cran d'arrêt principal de fermeture 101 est alors désengagé de la butée de fermeture 201 portée par le cliquet de blocage 200. La butée de retour 104 du loquet 100 et le cran de blocage 203 du cliquet de blocage 200, tous deux placés dans le premier côté du plan (P), viennent coopérer pour verrouiller le dispositif et maintenir le cliquet de blocage 200 dans son secteur de coopération avec le loquet 100.

Thus constituted, the device can have four different configurations:

• In the open position ( figure 2 ), the opening stop notch 102 of the latch 100 is placed on the first side of the plane (P). Said opening stop notch 102 then cooperates with the locking stop 202 of the locking pawl 200 also being on the first side of the plane (P), by sliding on the curved surface 105 and 205.
• In the closed position ( figure 3 ), the main locking catch 101 of the latch 100 is placed on a second side of the plane (P). Said main closing catch 101 then cooperates with the closing stop 201 carried by the locking pawl 200 and also placed on the second side of the plane (P)
• In semi-closed position ( figure 4 ), between the open position and the closed position, where said latch 100 has a secondary closing stop notch 103 placed on a second side of the plane (P). Said secondary closing stop notch 103 then cooperates with the closing stop 201 of the locking pawl 200.
• Beyond the closed position ( figure 6 ), said main closing stop notch 101 is then disengaged from the closing stop 201 carried by the locking pawl 200. The return stop 104 of the latch 100 and the locking notch 203 of the locking pawl 200, both placed in the first side of the plane (P), come to cooperate to lock the device and maintain the locking pawl 200 in its sector of cooperation with the latch 100.

By integrating the stops and notches mentioned above directly on the latch and on the pawl on each side of the plane (P), it was possible to overcome the presence of a plate. The pawl and latch give the amplitude of the possible rotational movement of the latch. The stops and notches make it possible, by their interactions, to define the open, closed, semi-closed positions as well as to define the amplitude of possible rotation movement of the latch.

Such a device according to the invention offers the possibility of using a rotary latch as a closure device in particular for doors (such as doors or drop sides for example) of motor vehicles. This device, considerably reduced in size and lightened by the absence of platinum, can be inserted in doors of a much thinner thickness.

Furthermore, a closure device according to the invention also makes it possible to offer simplified mounting and better wear resistance thanks to the small amplitude of the rotational movement of its elements. In addition, the latch and the pawl are less subject to wear than in a conventional device where they come up against the plate repeatedly.

The proposed solution is a two-part system while the equivalent systems known from the prior art comprise at least three systems. It shows how the two parties cooperate to achieve mutual blocking at the contact points (104, 203).

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the preferred embodiment described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawing but also relates to all variant embodiments within the reach of those skilled in the art within the scope of the claims below.

Claims (9)

1. Closing device comprising:

   - a latch (100) having an open recess (110) capable of receiving a closing member (300) and mounted such that it rotates about a first rotational axis (A) between an open position and a closed position,

   - a locking pawl (200) mounted such that it rotates about a second rotational axis (B) parallel to the first rotational axis and thus defining a plane (P), and engaging with the latch (100) so as to maintain same locked in the closed position of said latch,

   wherein said latch (100) and said locking pawl (200) are each prestressed by return means, the return force exerted by said means of the latch (100) returning said latch into the open position,
   wherein the return force exerted by said return means of said locking pawl (200) is in the opposite direction to that exerted by the return means of said latch (100), characterised in that
   the latch (100) has a main closing stop notch (101) and an opening stop notch (102) separate from the main closing stop notch,
   in that the locking pawl (200) includes a closing abutment (201) and a locking abutment (202),
   in that, in the closed position, the main closing stop notch (101) of the latch (100) is placed on a second side of the plane (P) and engages with the closing abutment (201) supported by the locking pawl and which is also placed on the second side of the plane (P), and
   in that, in the open position, the opening stop notch (102) of the latch is placed on the first side of the plane (P) and engages with the locking abutment (202) also placed on the first side of the plane (P).
2. Device according to the preceding claim, characterised in that the latch (100) has a secondary closing stop notch (103) placed on a second side of the plane (P), and in that the device has a half-closed configuration, between the open position and the closed position, where said secondary stop notch (103) engages with the closing abutment of the locking pawl (202).
3. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the latch (100) has a return abutment (104) and when said latch (100) is in the closed position, said return abutment (104) is placed on the first side of the plane (P) and comes into contact with the locking abutment (202) when the main closing stop notch (101) engages with the closing abutment (201).
4. Device according to claim 3, characterised in that said locking pawl (200) has a locking notch (203) placed on the first side of the plane (P) and capable of locking the return abutment (104) of said latch (200) when a force is exerted on the latch (100) bringing it beyond the closed position thereof.
5. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that said locking pawl (200) undergoes a rotation about an angle of less than π/6 rad between the open position and the closed position.
6. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the closing abutment (201) of said locking pawl (200) is extended by a concave curved surface (205) and in that the latch (100) has a convex curved surface (105), the two curved surfaces sliding against one another during the passage of the latch (100) from the closed position into the open position.
7. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the return means of the latch (100) and of the locking pawl (200) are torsion springs.
8. Tailboard (400) characterised in that it has a closing device according to one of claims 1 to 7 and in that the latch (100) and the locking pawl (200) are screwed onto said tailboard (400) by screws (511 and 521) having necks adapted to a bore made on the latch (100) and the pawl (200).
9. Tailboard (400) according to the preceding claim, characterised in that the latch (100) and the locking pawl (200) are screwed onto said tailboard (400) in a space free from any other external abutment means.

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