LATCHING DEVICE FOR AUTOMOTIVE APPLICATIONS

Abstract

The object of the invention is a latching device (1) for a backrest latch of a motor vehicle for the bolting and unbolting of seat backrests, with a locking mechanism (6) having as essential components a catch (7) and at least one pawl (8), and with an unbolting element (18) for the locking mechanism (6) which can be acted on manually and/or mechanically, whereby the unbolting element (18) is a component of an exchangeable unbolting module (2) and whereby the unbolting module (2) forms a latch housing (5) together with a basic module (3) accommodating the locking mechanism (6), whereby the unbolting element (18) is formed as a multifunctional element (18) and whereby at least a switching and/or attenuation function can be executed by means of the multifunctional element (18).

Claims

1. A latching device for automotive applications, in particular a backrest latch to bolt and unbolt seat backrests in motor vehicles, with the latching device comprising: a locking mechanism having a catch, at least one pawl, and an unbolting element for the locking mechanism, which unbolting element can be acted on manually and/or mechanically, wherein the unbolting element is a component of an exchangeable unbolting module and the unbolting module forms a latch housing together with a basic module accommodating the locking mechanism, and wherein the unbolting element is formed as a multifunctional element and at least a switching and/or attenuating function can be executed by the multifunctional element.

2. The latching device according to claim 1, wherein the multi-functional element is pivotably accommodated in the unbolting module and has a continuously segment-shaped surface area.

3. The latching device according to claim 1, wherein the multifunctional element has at least one contour formed on the surface area, whereby the contour can be engaged with a switching means.

4. The latching device according to claim 3, wherein the contour can be formed as a radial elevation on the surface area.

5. The latching device according to claim 1, wherein the multifunctional element has at least a further contour area, whereby an attenuating element can be formed by the further contour area.

6. The latching device according to claim 1, wherein the further contour area can be formed as a radial elevation on the surface area.

7. The latching device according to claim 1, wherein the radial extension can be engaged with the latch housing.

8. The latching device according to claim 1, wherein the extension can be formed in multiple components, preferably two components.

9. The latching device according to claim 1, wherein the extension can be formed as a fork shape, whereby a thickening can be formed in the area of the fork-shaped extension, so that in stoppage of the fork-shaped extension to the latch housing the thickening becomes adjacent with a further section of the fork-shaped extension.

10. The latching device according to claim 1, wherein the multifunctional element can be formed as a single component.

Description

[0029] The following are shown:

[0030] FIG. 1 a lateral view of a latch housing of a latching device for automotive applications, in particular of a backrest latch, consisting of an unbolting module and a basic module,

[0031] FIG. 2 a detailed view of the multifunctional element in a three-dimensional view and detached from the latching device, and

[0032] FIG. 3 a further detailed view of an embodiment of an attenuating element as a single-component extension of the multifunctional element.

[0033] A latching device 1 consisting of an unbolting module 2 and a basic module 3, is depicted in FIG. 1 in a lateral view. The unbolting module 2 and the basic module 3 are detachably connected to one another by means of a screw connection 4 and together form the latch housing 5.

[0034] The basic module contains the locking mechanism 6 consisting of a catch 7 and a pawl 8 engaging with the catch 7. In this embodiment, the pawl 8 is maintained in the shown main ratchet position of the locking mechanism 6 by means of a ratchet lever 9. The pawl 8 cannot be moved out of the locking engagement with the catch 7 due to stress by the catch 7. The catch 7 is pivotably accommodated around an axis 10 in the basic module 3 and engages with a latch holder 11. The pawl 8 and the ratchet lever 9 are respectively also pivotably maintained around an axis in the basic module 3 and can be pre-tensioned in one direction by means of spring elements.

[0035] In this embodiment, the unbolting module 2 is depicted as an electrical unbolting module 2. A pinion shaft is operated by means of an electrical drive 14 which drives a wormgear 15 in this exemplary embodiment. The wormgear 15 engages in turn with a gearwheel 16, whereby the gearwheel engages into a gearwheel segment 17. The gearwheel segment in turn drives a multifunctional element 18, whereby the unbolting element or multifunctional element 18 can be driven in the direction of the arrow P.

[0036] In addition, a switching means 19 is shown in FIG. 1 which is also accommodated in the unbolting module 2.

[0037] In the case of assembly of the unbolting module 2 with the basic module 3 to form the latch housing 5 the multifunctional element 18 engages directly with an operating pin 20 into the ratchet lever 9. A further operating pin 21 can be engaged with an arm 22 of the pawl 8. The multifunctional element 20 is rotatably accommodated around an axis 23 in the unbolting module 2.

[0038] Starting from a main ratchet position of the locking mechanism 6, as illustrated in FIG. 1, an operator can operate the electrical drive 14, whereby the operating chain is moved by the wormgear 15, the gearwheel 16, the gearwheel segment 17 and the multifunctional element 18, in the direction of the arrow P. In the case of a movement of the multifunctional element 18, the ratchet lever 9 is pivoted in an anti-clockwise direction, whereby the operating pin 20 pivots the ratchet lever. The ratchet lever 9 disengages with the pawl 8 in the process. Due to the pre-cut in the locking mechanism 2 the pawl 8 can now be moved out of the engagement area with the catch 7 or by means of the operating pin 21 in the engagement with the arm 22 moved out of the engagement area with the catch 7. The catch 7 is released and can release the latch holder 11. The backrest latch 1 is now opened so that a back seat bench backrest can be folded over, for example.

[0039] For further illustration of the functions of the multifunctional element 18, reference is made to FIG. 2. The same components are furnished with the same reference numerals. The multifunctional element 18 is reproduced in FIG. 2, detached from the unbolting module 2 or the housing of the unbolting module 2. The unbolting element 18 in turn is located in the starting position, as depicted in FIG. 1. The multifunctional element 18 has a radial elevation 24 which can be engaged with the switching means 19 during movement of the multi-functional element 18 in the clockwise direction. In addition, a fork-shaped extension 25 is molded on the multifunctional element 18 as a single component. The fork-shaped extension 25 engages with an axis 26 of the gearwheel 16. The axis 26 forms a stop contour for the fork-shaped extension 25. The fork-shaped extension can be formed elastically at least in places, so that an attenuating function can be attained by means of the fork-shaped extension 25.

[0040] A fork-shaped extension 25 is reproduced in FIG. 3 in an enlarged illustration and is reproduced as an alternative embodiment. It must be apparent that the fork ends 27, 28 have a fundamentally identical thickness. The fork end 28 also has a thickening 29, whereby the thickening 29 is oriented in the direction of the second fork end 27. If the multifunctional element 18 now releases the locking mechanism 6 due to a manual and/or electrical operation of the multi-functional element 18, the first fork end 28 thus engages with a contour or edge 30 of the latch housing 5, whereby a force F is generated which produces elastic deformation of the fork end 28. The multifunctional element 18 is gently and quietly decelerated by deformation of the fork end 28. The multifunctional element 18 is decelerated until the thickening 29 engages against the second fork end 27, whereby an end position of the multifunctional element 18 can be defined.

[0041] As is clearly apparent from the Figures and in particular FIGS. 2 and 3, the multifunctional element has a large number of functions which range from unsecuring to unlocking and switching on to attenuating. The multifunctionality of the unbolting element 18 enables considerable reduction of the required components of the latching device 1 and simultaneously enables compact construction of the latch 1.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0042] 1 Latching device, backrest latch [0043] 2 Unbolting module [0044] 3 Basic module [0045] 4 Screw connection [0046] 5 Latch housing [0047] 6 Locking mechanism [0048] 7 Catch [0049] 8 Pawl [0050] 9 Ratchet lever [0051] 10, 12, 13, [0052] 23, 26 Axis [0053] 11 Latch holder [0054] 14 Electrical drive [0055] 15 Worm [0056] 16 Gearwheel [0057] 17 Gearwheel segment [0058] 18 Multifunctional element, unbolting element [0059] 19 Switching means [0060] 20, 21 Operating pin [0061] 22 Arm [0062] 24 Radial extension [0063] 25 Fork-shaped extension [0064] 27, 28 Fork ends [0065] 29 Thickening [0066] 30 Edge [0067] P Arrow [0068] F Force