Motor vehicle door lock

Abstract

The invention relates to a motor vehicle door lock, comprising a lock housing (1) and at least one lever (2) that is arranged in the lock (1) and projects through an opening (4) at least partially out of the lock (1), wherein the lever (2) is formed as a pivot lever (2) which is movable along the opening (4) and mounted in the interior and/or on the lock housing (1) and the opening (4) is equipped with at least one seal (6) that, for the most part, closes an opening gap (5).

Claims

1. A motor vehicle door lock comprising a lock housing that defines an opening, and at least one lever that is arranged in the lock housing and projects at least partially out of the lock housing through the opening, wherein the at least one lever is formed as a pivot lever which is moveable along the opening and mounted in an interior and/or on the lock housing, wherein the housing has at least one opening rim that defines the opening, wherein the opening includes at least one gap formed between the at least one lever and the at least one opening rim, wherein the opening is equipped with at least one seal fixed to the at least one opening rim so as to at least partially close the at least one gap between the at least one lever and the at least one opening rim; and wherein the at least one seal comprises two seals, the at least one opening rim comprises two opposing longitudinal edges, and the at least one gap comprises two gaps, wherein each seal is fixed to a corresponding one of the longitudinal edges and extends into a corresponding one of the gaps perpendicularly to the at least one lever so as to accommodate the at least one lever centrally between them.

2. The motor vehicle door lock according to claim 1, wherein the at least one seal is designed as a foil injection moulded to the at least one opening rim.

3. The motor vehicle door lock according to claim 1, wherein the opening is predominantly rectangular with the at least one opening rim forming an open rectangle.

4. The motor vehicle door lock according to claim 1, wherein the lock housing and the at least one seal are made of the same material.

5. The motor vehicle door lock according to claim 1, wherein at least in an area of the opening the lock housing and the at least one seal are made of plastic.

6. The motor vehicle door lock according to claim 1, wherein the lock housing and the at least one seal are made of a different plastics.

7. The motor vehicle door lock according to claim 6, wherein the lock housing is made of a thermoplastic material and the at least one seal is made of an elastomer.

8. The motor vehicle door lock according to claim 1, wherein the lock housing and the at least one seal are produced in a single production process.

9. The motor vehicle door lock according to claim 1, wherein the at least one seal defines an opening slit equal to or thinner than a material thickness of the at least one lever.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows a section of a motor vehicle door lock with a lock housing and a respective opening and

(2) FIG. 2 shows a schematic enlarged section through FIG. 1 in the area of the opening.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(3) The figures show a motor vehicle door lock containing a lock housing 1 and at least a lever 2 arranged in a lock housing 1. The lever 2 is an external locking lever 2, designed as a pivot lever 2, although the invention is not restricted to this. The pivot lever 2 is mounted inside or on the lock housing 1. The pivot lever 2 actually contains a rotation axis 3, defined by a pin inserted in the lock housing 1, on which the pivot lever 2 is swivel mounted.

(4) In the shown example, the lever or the pivot lever 2 in form of the external locking lever 2 is mechanically connected to a locking cylinder although the invention is not restricted to this. Closing movements on this locking cylinder correspond to the pivot lever 2 carrying out pivoting movements around the rotation axis 3 as shown by the double arrow on the pivot lever 2 indicated in FIG. 1. During this process, the lever or pivot lever 2 moves along an opening 4, through which the lever 2 projects out of the lock housing 1. In the example, an actuating rodnot shownextending from the closing cylinder outside of the lock housing 1 is actually connected to said pivot lever 2.

(5) The opening 4 in the lock housing 1 describes an associated opening gap 5, which according to the invention contains a seal 6 sealing most of the opening gap 5. It is apparent that the embodiment contains two opposing seals 6 accommodating the lever or pivot lever 2 mainly at their centre. Together the two seals 6 form an opening slit 7, completely filled by the lever or pivot lever 2 in the shown example (see FIG. 2).

(6) The figures also show an opening rim 8 or longitudinal edges of the opening rim 8 to which the seals 6 are connected. The opening 4 is predominantly rectangular with the opening rim 8 being designed as an open rectangle. One seal 6 is in each case connected to the opposing longitudinal edges of the opening rim 8.

(7) The seal 6 is in each case a foil seal injection moulded onto the opening rim 8. The foil seal 6 actually has a material thickness s, which in most cases is a fraction of the material thickness t of the lock housing 1 in the area of the opening rim 8. In the embodiment:

(8) t=1 . . . 5 s, in particular t=1 . . . 3 s.

(9) Naturally also other sizes are feasible. The lock housing 1 and the seal or the seals 6 can be made of the same material. In the shown example, the lock housing 1 and the seals 6 are, however, made of different materials.

(10) At this point, different plastic is in fact used for lock housing 1 on one hand and seals 6 on the other hand. Whilst the lock housing 1 is predominantly made from thermoplastic, an elastomer is used for the seals. The lock housing 1 including the seals 6 is typically produced in a single production process. This can be achieved using a so-called two-component injection moulding process. Using this process, the seal 6 can be directly injection moulded to the opening rim 8 or the lock housing 1. The elastomer nature of the seals 6 ensures that the respective seal 6 can, where required, rest flexibly against pivot lever 2 which can be moved to and fro the opening 4.

(11) The example embodiment shows in fact an opening slit 7 between two opposing seals 6 essentially corresponding to the material thickness of the pivot lever 2 (see FIG. 2). This means that the respective front edges of the seals 6 abut against pivot lever 2. It is, however, also possible to make one or also both opposing seals 6 wider or longer, so that seal 6 is notas shownarranged edge to edge with the pivot lever 2, but is purposely deformed in the area of the surface of the pivot lever 2.

(12) In principle it is even possible to work without any opening slit 7. In this case, the upper edges or folding edges of the seals 6 abut or even overlap. In this arrangement, the pivot lever 2 projecting through opening 4 causes a deformation of one or both seals 6. The two seals 6 ensure in any case that the obligatory opening 4 is fully or nearly fully closed, so that according to the invention any ingress of humidity, dirt, dust, etc. in the lock housing is reliably prevented.