Motor vehicle door lock

Abstract

The object of the invention is a motor vehicle door lock, comprising a lock case (1) connected to a motor vehicle door (5, 6, 7) and a lock housing (2) connected to the lock case (1). In addition, a fastening element (11) for additional fixing of the lock housing (2) on the motor vehicle door (5, 6, 7), is provided. According to the invention, the fastening element (11) is designed so as to be removable both from the lock case (1) and the lug (11) coupling with the lock housing (2).

Claims

1. A motor vehicle door latch comprising: a latch case connected to a motor vehicle door and configured to accommodate a locking mechanism; a latch housing connected to the latch case; and a fixing element for additional fixing of the latch housing to the motor vehicle door, wherein the fixing element is detachably formed as a connectable bracket with the latch case and also the latch housing, wherein the bracket has a lengthwise extension that extends from a first end of the bracket at which the bracket is detachably connected to the latch case separately from the latch housing, along the latch housing, to an edge of the latch housing at which an opposite end of the bracket is detachably connected to the latch housing separately from the latch case, and wherein the first end of the bracket is attached to a side wall of the latch case on which the locking mechanism is mounted and which is attached to the motor vehicle door, the bracket extending perpendicular to the side wall of the latch case, wherein the bracket is configured to receive a fastener that secures the bracket to an internal door panel of the motor vehicle door, therefore, securing the latch housing to the internal door panel of the motor vehicle door, and wherein a sealing element is positioned between the latch housing and the internal door panel of the motor vehicle door to ensure that a space between them is sealed externally.

2. The motor vehicle door latch according to claim 1, wherein the latch housing includes a housing base and a web, both defining a pocket configured to receive the opposite end of the bracket, so that the housing base and web straddle the bracket.

3. The motor vehicle door latch according to claim 1, wherein the bracket is configured as a rectangle.

4. The motor vehicle door latch according to claim 1, wherein the bracket is inserted into the latch case with its latch case side end.

5. The motor vehicle door latch according to claim 4, wherein the bracket on the latch case side end has a pin which engages into a pin mounting on the latch case.

6. The motor vehicle door latch according to claim 2, wherein the bracket reaches behind the housing web with a latch housing side end.

7. The motor vehicle door latch according to claim 2, wherein the bracket on the latch housing side end has a chamfer which reaches behind the housing web.

8. The motor vehicle door latch according to claim 1, wherein the bracket is connected to the motor vehicle door on a latch housing side end.

9. The motor vehicle door latch according to claim 1, wherein the bracket is connected to the latch housing at a central piece of the bracket in addition to the opposite end of the bracket.

10. The motor vehicle door latch according to claim 1, wherein the latch case is L-shaped with the side wall of the latch case being a locking mechanism leg for anchoring to a front surface of the motor vehicle door, the latch case further including a lateral leg.

11. The motor vehicle door latch according to claim 1, wherein the first end of the bracket is arranged in an area close to a front surface of the motor vehicle door.

12. The motor vehicle door latch according to claim 2, wherein the end of the bracket is defined by a chamfer that is received in the pocket between the housing base and the web.

13. The motor vehicle door latch according to claim 1, wherein the opposite end of the bracket that is detachably connected to the latch housing is attached to the motor vehicle door.

14. A motor vehicle door latch comprising: a latch case connected to a motor vehicle door and configured to accommodate a locking mechanism; a latch housing connected to the latch case; and a fixing element for additional fixing of the latch housing to the motor vehicle door, wherein the fixing element is detachably formed as a connectable bracket with the latch case and also the latch housing separably from the latch case, wherein the connectable bracket is detachably connected to each of the latch case and the latch housing, wherein the bracket has a lengthwise extension that extends from a first end of the bracket at which the bracket is detachably connected to the latch case separately from the latch housing, along the latch housing, to an edge of the latch housing at which an opposite end of the bracket is detachably connected to the latch housing separately from the latch case, and wherein the latch housing includes a housing base and a web, both defining a pocket configured to receive an end of the bracket, so that the housing base and web straddle the bracket, wherein the bracket is configured to receive a fastener that secures the bracket to an internal door panel of the motor vehicle door, therefore, securing the latch housing to the internal door panel of the motor vehicle door, and wherein a sealing element is positioned between the latch housing and the internal door panel of the motor vehicle door to ensure that a space between them is sealed externally.

Description

(1) The invention is explained in further detail hereafter on the basis of a drawing which only constitutes an exemplary embodiment. The following are shown:

(2) FIG. 1 a motor vehicle door which is equipped with the motor vehicle door latch according to the invention,

(3) FIG. 2 a view on the object according to FIG. 1 from direction X,

(4) FIG. 3 a cut through FIG. 2 along line A-A and

(5) FIG. 4 a cut through FIG. 2 along line B-B.

(6) In the figures, a motor vehicle door latch is illustrated which in its fundamental construction according to FIG. 1 comprises a latch case 1 and an associated latch housing 2. While the latch case 1 is made of metal and in particular a high-strength steel, the latch housing 2 is usually a molded plastic component which can be manufactured, for example, by plastic injection molding.

(7) The latch case 1 is L-shaped according to FIGS. 1 and 2. In fact, the latch case 1 comprises a locking mechanism leg 1a and a lateral leg 1b. The locking mechanism leg 1a accommodates a locking mechanism 3, 4 depicted in FIG. 2 which fundamentally comprises a catch 3 and an interacting pawl 4.

(8) The latch case 1 or its locking mechanism leg 1a for accommodation of the locking mechanism 3, 4 is connected to a front surface 5 of a motor vehicle door 5, 6, 7 or anchored with this front surface 5. In fact, the relevant motor vehicle door 5, 6, 7 according to FIG. 1 comprises an external panel 6 and an internal panel 7 at a distance. The external panel 6 and the internal panel 7 are separated from one another by the front surface or front side 5 which are respectively largely vertical in comparison. In the closed state of the motor vehicle door 5, 6, 7 the front surface or front side 5 is consequently not visible in a recess 8 of a motor vehicle chassis illustrated in FIG. 1. The recess 8 is a door opening 8.

(9) On the edge of the door opening 8 on a B-pillar 9 there, a solely illustrated latch holder 10 is anchored with the motor vehicle chassis. The latch holder 10 interacts with the aid of its locking bolt with the locking mechanism 3, 4 of the motor vehicle door latch in order to maintain the motor vehicle door 5, 6, 7 in the closed state.

(10) On the basis of the view from direction X of the motor vehicle door latch according to FIG. 2, it is apparent that in addition to the two fundamental structural elements of the motor vehicle door latch, namely the latch case 1 and the latch housing 2 connected to the latch case 1, initially a fixing element 11 is provided for and executed. With the aid of this fixing element 11 the latch housing 2 is complementarily fixed on the motor vehicle door 5, 6, 7. According to the invention, the fixing element 11 is a bracket 11 which is configured and executed independently of the latch case 1 and the latch housing 2.

(11) In fact, the bracket 11 is detachably connected or connectable both to the latch case 1 and also to the latch housing 2. The relevant bracket 11 straddles an area close to the front surface in its lengthwise extension illustrated in FIG. 2 of the latch case 1 fixed on the motor vehicle door 5, 6, 7 to the latch housing 2. For this purpose, the bracket 11 possesses a pin 11a at its latch case side end and is inserted into the latch case 1, in the exemplary embodiment the locking mechanism leg 1a with this pin 11a. For this purpose, the latch case 1 may have a relevant pin mounting 12 illustrated in FIG. 2. The pin mounting 12 can be formed in or on the latch case 1, more accurately in or on the locking mechanism leg 1a. However, it is also possible to work with a pin mounting 12 connected to the latch case 1.

(12) In contrast, the bracket 11 is equipped with a chamfer 11 on the latch housing side end. On the basis of FIG. 4, it is apparent that the chamfer 11 reaches behind a housing web 13 as part of the housing 2. Furthermore, the latch housing side end or the chamfer 11b of the bracket 11 may engage into a pouch 19 in the housing 2 which is illustrated in FIG. 4, but does not absolutely need to be executed.

(13) The bracket 11 configured as a rectangle in the exemplary embodiment consequently extends from the area of the latch case 1 fixed to the motor vehicle door 5, 6, 7 close to the front surface 1 and the pin there 11a to its latch housing side end with the chamfer 11b. i.e. the bracket 11 mainly straddles the latch housing 2 with regard to its entire width or height, as illustrated in FIG. 2. The latch housing 2 is thus stiffened with the aid of the bracket 11, especially in the case of an accident.

(14) For this purpose, the bracket 11 is additionally connected to its latch housing side end on the motor vehicle door 5, 6, 7. In fact, at the latch housing side end of the bracket 11 a boring 14 is apparent in which a screw 15 illustrated in FIG. 4 may engage which simultaneously reaches through a pertaining opening in the internal door panel 7. In addition, in the central piece of the bracket 11 between the pin 11a and the chamfer 11b two openings 16 are apparent which are reached through by pins 17 illustrated in FIG. 4. The bracket 11 is connected to the latch housing 2 with the aid of the pins 17. The latch housing 2 thus experiences optimum reinforcement with the aid of the bracket 11. A circumferential seal 18 on the surface of the latch housing 2 turned towards the internal door panel 7 ensures that the latch housing 2 is sealed compared to the relevant internal door panel 7.

(15) To mount the illustrated motor vehicle door latch the bracket 11 is initially detachably inserted into the latch case 1a or the pin mounting 12 with the pin 11a. The latch housing 2 is then connected to the latch case 1. At the same time, the nose or chamfer 11b of the bracket 11 reaches behind the fixing web 13 of the latch housing 2. Hereby, the relevant chamfer 11b may simultaneously engage into the pouch 19 illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 in the latch housing 2. Finally, the bracket 11 is generally firmly connected to the latch housing 2 with the aid of the pins 17.

(16) To fix the completed motor vehicle door latch on the motor vehicle door 5, 6, 7 the latch case 1 is initially screwed on the front side or front surface 5. Finally, the fixing leg 11 is connected to the internal door panel 7 in which the screw 15 engages into the relevant opening 14 in the bracket 11. In this process, the circumferential seal 18 on the latch housing 2 ensures that the intermediate space apparent in particular between the latch housing 2 and the relevant internal door panel 7 is sealed externally in FIGS. 3 and 4.

(17) It is apparent that the bracket 11 extends in an extension of the lateral leg 1b of the latch case 1. Furthermore, the bracket 11 mainly runs vertically to the locking mechanism leg 1a. The bracket 11 thus follows the greatest expansion of the latch housing 2 and can optimally stiffen this.