LATCHING DEVICE FOR AUTOMOTIVE APPLICATIONS

Abstract

The object of the invention is a latching device (1) for a backrest of a motor vehicle, with a locking mechanism (4) fundamentally comprising a catch (5) and at least one pawl, whereby the catch (5) is pivotable and is accommodated in the latching device (1) to accommodate a latch holder (6) and whereby the locking mechanism (4) can be transferred at least into a main ratchet position, and preferably into a pre-ratchet position and a main ratchet position, by means of the latch holder (6), a latch housing (10), whereby the latch housing (10) has at least an integrated recess (13, 14, 15) and whereby the recess (13, 14,15) is formed as a damping means (11) for the latch holder (6) in the main ratchet position and whereby the integrated damping means (11) has a cooperating section (17), whereby the cooperating section (17) has a supportive effect on the damping means (11).

Claims

1. A latching device for automotive applications, in particular a backrest latch for the bolting and unbolting of seat backrests in motor vehicles, the latching device comprising: a locking mechanism including a catch and at least one pawl, wherein the catch is pivotable and is disposed in the latching device to accommodate a latch holder, wherein the locking mechanism can be transferred at least into a main ratchet position, optionally into a pre-ratchet position, and a main ratchet position, by the latch holder, a latch housing, wherein the latch housing has at least an integrated recess and wherein the recess is formed as a damper for the latch holder in the main ratchet position, and wherein the integrated damper has a cooperating section, whereby the cooperating section has a supportive effect on the damper.

2. The latching device according to claim 1, wherein the latch housing has an infeed section for the latch holder, and that the in-feed section has a fundamentally angular, in particular a rectangular end section.

3. The latching device according to claim 2, wherein the recesses extend fundamentally parallel to the end section of the in-feed section of the latch holder.

4. The latching device according to claim 2, wherein the recess is fundamentally rectangular.

5. The latching device according to claim 2, wherein at least a bulge of the latch housing extends into the recess in the direction of the latch holder.

6. The latching device according to claim 2, wherein the bulge is arranged fundamentally centrally in the recess.

7. The latching device according to claim 6, wherein the bulge is fundamentally wave-shaped.

8. The latching device according to claim 2, wherein two or more recesses are formed in the latch housing.

9. The latching device according to claim 2, wherein the recesses can be arranged fundamentally parallel to one another in the latch housing.

10. The latching device according to claim 2, wherein the recesses have an identical cross-sectional shape.

Description

[0028] The following are shown:

[0029] FIG. 1 a three-dimensional view of a backrest latch in the area of the recess of the latch housing and in this embodiment on the basic module of the backrest latch, and

[0030] FIG. 2 a detailed view of the backrest latch in the end section of the recess of the latch housing, with recesses illustrated in detail.

[0031] A latching device 1 is reproduced in a three-dimensional illustration in FIG. 1. The latching device 1 is a backrest latch for a rear seat backrest of a motor vehicle. The latching device can be attached to the backrest itself or to the chassis and interacts with a non-illustrated latch holder which is arranged on the chassis or the backrest to interact with the latching device 1. The latching device 1 comprises two components in this embodiment and encompasses a basic module 2 and an unbolting module 3. An electrical unbolting device for the latching device is preferably arranged in the unbolting module 3. In turn, the basic module 2 accommodates the locking mechanism 4, whereby the locking mechanism 4 is illustrated in the main ratchet position, i.e. the catch 5 is in the main ratchet position in which the locking bolt 6 is held by the catch 5, whereby the backrest of the motor vehicle can be held in its position, as more clearly apparent from FIG. 2.

[0032] Furthermore, the basic module 2 shows two bearing axes 7, 8 for the locking mechanism 4 and a damping means 11 formed according to the invention in the infeed section 9 of the latch holder into the latch housing 10.

[0033] The damping means 11 is reproduced in an enlarged view in FIG. 2, whereby FIG. 2 shows the end section 12 of the infeed section 9, the catch 5, the latch holder 6 and the three recesses 13, 14, 15 formed in this embodiment. The latch holder 6 unilaterally engages with the catch 5 and engages on the opposite side with the material bridge 16.

[0034] When the latch holder is guided into the infeed section 9 of the latching device 1 the latch holder 6 goes into an overstroke position, i.e. the latch holder 6 is moved into the latching device 1 illustrated in the main ratchet position in FIG. 2 and engages with the material bridge 16. The latch holder 6 is decelerated hereby, having a positive impact on acoustics. If the material bridge 16 is deformed to the extent that the material bridge 16 is deformed into the recess 15, the material bridge 16 thus engages with the wave-shaped bulge 17.

[0035] To enable the material bridge 16 to engage with the bulge 17 in the recess 15, the distance D between the material bridge and the bulge 17 must be overcome. After overcoming the distance D, of 0.3 mm for example, the bulge 17 realizes its bracing effect so that safe damping of the latch holder 6 is enabled. As illustrated in the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 2, the latch holder acts along an infeed line E, whereby an approximately central adjacency of the latch holder 6 to the material bridge 16 can be attained, and whereby simultaneously a central bracing of the material bridge 16 can occur by means of the bulge 17. The further recesses 13, 14 enable the latch housing 10 to elastically deform and permanent stability is guaranteed.

[0036] As is clearly apparent in FIG. 2 furthermore, the recesses 13, 14, 15 are arranged parallel to one another and have a fundamentally rectangular shape. The rounded corners of the rectangles advantageously transmit the forces initiated into the latch housing 10 by means of the latch holder in a permanently elastic manner, whereby the connection points 18 enable safe guidance of the lines of force into the latch housing 10.

[0037] Due to the construction of the damping means 11 according to the invention a damping means 11 can be provided by means of the latch housing 10 without the necessity for further aids for movement damping of the latch holder. This simplifies the construction of the latching device and provides a cost-effective option for movement damping and acoustic optimization. In particular, the specific formation of bulges in the area of the recesses can provide temperature stability, even in extreme situations.

REFERENCE SIGN LIST

[0038] 1 Latching device [0039] 2 Basic module [0040] 3 Unbolting module [0041] 4 Locking mechanism [0042] 5 Catch [0043] 6 Latch holder [0044] 7, 8 Bearing axes [0045] 9 Infeed section [0046] 10 Latch housing [0047] 11 Damping means [0048] 12 End section [0049] 13, 14, 15 Recesses [0050] 16 Material bridge [0051] 17 Bulge [0052] 18 Connection point [0053] D Distance [0054] E Infeed line