Locking mechanism component for a motor vehicle lock

Abstract

The invention relates to a locking mechanism component, in particular a catch, for a motor vehicle lock for retaining and securing a closing member in a closed position of a door or hatch of a motor vehicle, comprising at least one first punched metal sheet and one second punched metal sheet, wherein the punched metal sheets are connected to each other in a non-detachable manner and the first punched metal sheet, compared to the second punched metal sheet, has a different punched metal sheet material and/or a greater punched metal sheet thickness, wherein the first punched metal sheet and the second punched metal sheet have at least partially or predominantly an identical outer contour and/or are disposed stacked one above the other in such a way that sections with an identical outer contour are disposed flush with each other on the outside. The invention further relates to a production method. A locking mechanism component with a great strength and longevity can be provided with a smaller production expenditure.

Claims

1. A locking mechanism component for a motor vehicle lock, the locking mechanism component being configured for retaining and securing a closing member in a closed position of a door or hatch of a motor vehicle, the locking mechanism component comprising: at least one first punched metal sheet; and one second punched metal sheet, wherein the punched metal sheets are connected to each other in a non-detachable manner and the first punched metal sheet, compared to the second punched metal sheet, has a different punched metal sheet material and/or a greater punched metal sheet thickness, wherein the first punched metal sheet and the second punched metal sheet have at least partially an identical outer contour and are disposed stacked one above the other wherein sections of the first and second punched metal sheets with the identical outer contour are disposed flush with each other to define an outer surface of the locking mechanism component, wherein one of the first punched metal sheet and the second punched metal sheet include a protrusion bent out from a plane thereof, wherein the protrusion is configured for load-bearing for a force-transmitting component of the motor vehicle lock, the protrusion being bent orthogonally to the plane.

2. The locking mechanism component according to claim 1, wherein each identical outer contour is identical in a punched metal sheet plane of the first punched metal sheet and of the second punched metal sheet.

3. The locking mechanism component according to claim 1, wherein the first and second punched metal sheets are connected to each other by at least two bolts and/or rivets.

4. The locking mechanism according to claim 3, wherein the first and second punched metal sheets are connected to each other by three bolts and/or rivets.

5. The locking mechanism component according to claim 1, wherein the first and second punched metal sheets are at least partially overmolded with plastic to form an outer casing around the first and second punched metal sheets.

6. The locking mechanism component according to claim 1, wherein the at least one first punched metal sheet includes two punched metal sheets, wherein one of the two punched metal sheets directly lies on the other one of the two punched metal sheets, wherein the second punched metal sheet is a different type of metal sheet and is disposed stacked on the two punched metal sheets.

7. The locking mechanism according to claim 6, wherein the two punched metal sheets of the same type each have a same thickness that is greater than a thickness of the second punched metal sheet.

8. The locking mechanism component according to claim 1, wherein the first punched metal sheet is arranged as a lowermost punched metal sheet and the second punched metal sheet is disposed as an uppermost punched metal sheet.

9. The locking mechanism component according to claim 1, wherein at least one surface region of the first and second punched metal sheets in the locking mechanism component can come directly into contact with at least one of another locking mechanism part, a latch when in a preliminary latching position, and the latch when in a main latching position.

10. The locking mechanism component according to claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism is a catch.

11. The locking mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion is bent out from the plane of the second punched metal sheet.

12. The locking mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the second punched metal sheet has a thickness that is less than a thickness of the first punched metal sheet.

13. The locking mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the first punched metal sheet and the second punched metal sheet are formed of different metal materials.

14. The locking mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the first punched metal sheet and the second punched metal sheet have at least one of a different alloy composition and a different heat treatment.

15. The locking mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the second punched metal sheet is formed of a material that is configured for greater deformation as compared with a material of the first punched metal sheet.

16. The locking mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the sections of the first and second punched metal sheets with the identical outer contour are aligned at a peripheral edge of the locking mechanism.

17. A method for producing a locking mechanism component for a motor vehicle lock, the locking mechanism component being configured for retaining and securing a closing member in a closed position of a door or hatch of a motor vehicle, the method comprising: punching out at least one first punched metal sheet and one second punched metal sheet, which have a different punched metal sheet material and/or a different punched metal sheet thickness; bending out a protrusion of the second punched metal sheet orthogonally to a plane of the second punched metal sheet, wherein the protrusion is configured for load-bearing for a force-transmitting component of the motor vehicle lock; using a jig to position the first and second punched metal sheets in a stacked arrangement one above the other in such a way that sections with an identical outer contour are disposed flush with one another on an outside of the locking mechanism component; connecting the first and second punched metal sheets to each other in a non-detachable manner with at least one bolt with a press fit and/or with a rivet; inserting the stacked and connected first and second punched metal sheets are into an injection mold in which the first and second punched metal sheets are overmolded with plastic.

Description

(1) Exemplary embodiments of the invention will be explained below in more detail with reference to Figures. Features of the exemplary embodiment can be combined individually or in a plurality with the subject matter for which protection is sought.

(2) In the drawing:

(3) FIG. 1: shows a locking mechanism component in the form of a catch of a motor vehicle lock.

(4) FIG. 1 shows as a locking mechanism component 1 a catch for a motor vehicle lock, comprising a fork-shaped inlet slot into which the locking bolt, which is not shown, of a vehicle door or hatch enters when the door or hatch is locked.

(5) The locking mechanism component 1 or catch comprises three punched metal sheets 3, 4, 5, wherein the lowermost punched metal sheet 3 and the middle punched metal sheet 4 are punched metal sheets 3, 4 of the type of the first punched metal sheet 3, 4. A punched metal sheet 5 of the type of the second punched metal sheet 5 is arranged stacked thereupon. The punched metal sheets 3, 4, 5 are connected to each other in a non-detachable manner and surrounded by or overmolded with an outer casing 6.

(6) Because the lower two punched metal sheets 3, 4 have a greater punched metal sheet thickness than the upper punched metal sheet 5 and are additionally hardened, the catch can be produced with only three punched metal sheets 3, 4, 5, obtaining a particularly high strength and yet a particularly great designing freedom. Due to the small punched metal sheet thickness, the upper punched metal sheet 5 allows for a particularly easy forming process. A protrusion 7 with a particularly high mechanical load-bearing capacity can thus be produced by bending in a direction orthogonal to the plane 2 of the punched metal sheet without additionally affecting the strength of the catch. Functional members with a low mechanical load are additionally formed in the outer casing 6.

(7) In order to reduce the wear, three surface regions 9 are not enveloped by the outer casing 6 so that a direct contact between the punched metal sheets 3, 4, 5 and the force-transmitting locking mechanisms parts, such as a pawl, in the preliminary latching position or the main latching position can be made possible.

(8) The punched metal sheets 3, 4, 5 are connected to each other in a non-detachable manner by at least two rivets 8. With the exception of the protrusion or the region of the protrusion, the punched metal sheets 3, 4, 5 in this case have an identical outer contour and, accordingly, are arranged stacked on one another in such a way that sections with an identical outer contour are disposed flush with one another on the outside.

(9) In particular, the locking mechanism component 1 has an opening 10 in order to pass a bolt therethrough, for example, which, preferably enveloped by the outer casing 6, can serve as a counter support for a torsion spring.

(10) For producing the locking mechanism component 1, at least one first punched metal sheet 3, 4 and one second punched metal sheet 5, which has a different punched metal sheet material and/or a different punched metal sheet thickness, are punched out.

(11) Then, a protrusion 7 of the second punched metal sheet 5 is bent out from a plane 2 of the punched metal sheet.

(12) A heat treatment may then follow, which, due to the metal sheet thickness, which is reduced compared with the overall thickness of the subsequent locking mechanism component 1, can by carried out particularly easily, quickly and with little effort.

(13) Using a jig, the punched metal sheets 3, 4, 5, in particular using an opening 10 orthogonal to the plane 2 of the punched metal sheet, can be positioned stacked one above the other in such a way that sections with an identical outer contour are disposed flush with one another on the outside. The non-detachable connection of the punched metal sheets 3, 4, 5 to each other follows, in particular with at least one bolt with a press fit and/or with rivets 8.

(14) Finally, the stacked and connected punched metal sheets are inserted into an injection mold and overmolded with plastic.