阅读说明：本技术 机动车锁 (Motor vehicle lock ) 是由 O·因南 H·施弗尔 M·舒尔茨 P·赛格尼 于 2019-10-17 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明涉及一种机动车锁,特别是机动车门锁,其具有锁定装置(1、2、3),该锁定装置主要包括转动锁叉(1)和锁定爪(2、3)。此外,设置有布置在两个锁定装置构件(1、2；1、3；2、3)之间的接合区域中的锁定元件(5),该锁定元件以基本上在锁定装置平面(E)中可摆动的方式支承在转动锁叉(1)和/或锁定爪(2、3)上。根据本发明,锁定元件(5)具有相对于锁定装置平面(E)向外突出的导向突起部(6),用于附加的轴向和/或周向的引导。(The invention relates to a motor vehicle lock, in particular a motor vehicle door lock, having a locking device (1, 2, 3) which essentially comprises a rotary catch (1) and a pawl (2, 3). Furthermore, a locking element (5) is provided, which is arranged in the region of the joint between the two locking means components (1, 2; 1, 3; 2, 3) and which is mounted on the rotary latch fork (1) and/or the locking pawl (2, 3) in a manner pivotable essentially in a locking means plane (E). According to the invention, the locking element (5) has a guide projection (6) which projects outwards with respect to the locking device plane (E) for additional axial and/or circumferential guidance.)

1. A motor vehicle lock, in particular a motor vehicle door lock, having a locking device (1, 2, 3) which essentially comprises a rotary catch (1) and a pawl (2, 3), and having a locking element (5) which is arranged in the region of the joint between two locking device components (1, 2; 1, 3; 2, 3) and which is mounted on the rotary catch (1) and/or the pawl (2, 3) in a manner pivotable essentially in a locking device plane (E),

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the locking element (5) has a guide projection (6) which projects outwards with respect to the locking device plane (E) for additional axial and/or circumferential guidance.

2. Motor vehicle lock according to claim 1, characterized in that the guide projection (6) is formed in one piece with the locking element (5), for example as a pressed structure.

3. Motor vehicle lock according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the guide projection (6) is designed as an additional element, for example as a separate through-pin and/or as an integral part of the housing of the locking element (5).

4. Motor vehicle lock according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the guide projection (6) engages into a notch (8) of the locking device member (1, 2, 3) supporting it.

5. Motor vehicle lock according to claim 4, characterized in that the indentation (8) is provided in the outer casing (9) of the locking device member (1, 2, 3).

6. Motor vehicle lock according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the guide projection (6) engages into a notch (10) of a housing (7) for receiving the locking device (1, 2, 3).

7. Motor vehicle lock according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the guide projection (6) bears against a housing (7) for receiving the locking device (1, 2, 3).

8. Motor vehicle lock according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the locking element (5) has an extension (5 a).

9. Motor vehicle lock according to claim 8, characterized in that the extension (5a) is designed as an end stop interacting with the locking pawl (2, 3).

10. Motor vehicle lock according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the extension (5a) is designed as an opening lever for the locking element (5).

11. Motor vehicle lock according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that a stop (11) for the locking element (5) is provided on the housing (7).

12. Motor vehicle lock according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the locking element (5) and/or the locking pawl (2, 3) have a reinforcement in the region of the mutual contact surfaces.

13. Motor vehicle lock according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that an additional pre-locking pawl (2) and/or comfort pawl (2) is provided in addition to the locking pawls (2, 3).

14. Motor vehicle lock according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the locking pawl (2, 3) and/or the locking element (5) are equipped with a countersink.

15. Motor vehicle lock according to any of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that a locking element (5) is provided in the casing (9) of the locking device member (1, 2, 3) supporting the locking element (5), wherein the locking element has an additional load contact (13) for contact with the core and optionally an intermediate damping element (14).

Technical Field

The invention relates to a motor vehicle lock, in particular a motor vehicle door lock, having a locking device which essentially comprises a rotary latch and a pawl, and having a locking element which is arranged in the region of engagement between the rotary latch and the pawl or, in general, between two locking device components and which is mounted on the rotary latch and/or the pawl in a manner such that it can pivot substantially/predominantly in the plane of the locking device.

Background

Motor vehicle locks are locks in or on motor vehicles, for example motor vehicle door locks, but also motor vehicle covers, motor vehicle tailgate locks, motor vehicle tank locks, locks for seat locking devices, charge locking devices, etc. Due to the acoustic optimization in and on motor vehicles which has been carried out over the years, increasing demands are being made on the noise properties of motor vehicle locks. At the same time, improvement of comfort is important. The engagement region between the rotary latch fork and the locking pawl as two locking means components has a decisive influence on both the acoustic and the tactile properties and the operating comfort. In principle, however, the engagement region can also be such an engagement region between two locking claws in a multi-claw lock, for example between a so-called comfort claw and a locking claw.

For this reason, solutions have been proposed in the prior art to improve the surface properties of the engagement region between the rotary latch fork and the locking pawl or between two locking pawls. For this purpose, WO 2016/146110 a1 of the applicant works with flexible damping elements as structural elements of the locking device member. For this purpose, the outer sleeve of the locking device component has a groove for receiving the metal base body and additionally a flexible damping element is inserted into the outer sleeve. In fact, the flexible cushioning element may be locked together with the casing, for example. In this way, a simple structure and low-cost manufacturing are observed.

Another prior art technique according to WO 2014/090216 a2 describes a motor vehicle lock in which contours for the puzzle pieces are embossed in the joining region when the individual locking device pieces are pressed. The puzzle pieces are inserted into the contour in a positionally fixed manner by means of easily sliding or low-friction edge surfaces. This has a positive effect when the rotary latch fork and the locking pawl rub against one another in the region of engagement. The contour for the jigsaw component can be arranged in the main locking region of the rotary locking fork.

In another motor vehicle lock of the applicant, the locking element is pivotably received in the rotary latch in the region of the engagement between the rotary latch and the locking pawl. The possible pivoting of the locking element is thereby largely carried out in the plane of the locking device and thus in the plane of the rotary latch fork and the pawl. In this way, a structurally simple solution and a cost-effective variant are provided, so that such a motor vehicle lock can be easily opened and at the same time is used for low-noise operation. This has proven to be reliable in principle.

From the prior art of this type according to DE 112012002272T 5, a motor vehicle lock is known in its entirety, which has a primary pawl, which is rotatably mounted in a secondary rotary catch. In addition, a secondary locking pawl is realized. The primary locking pawl may retain the rotary lock fork in the lock pin locking position. Furthermore, a rotary latch release position is achieved in which the main latching pawl allows the rotary latch to be moved out of the latching position of the latching pin. The primary locking pawl essentially assumes the function of the locking element already mentioned above.

However, the prior art also allows an optimization in which the guidance of the locking element is improved. Since the solutions mentioned up to now in practice lead to the problem that the detent element can be skewed and/or moved out of the plane of the locking device in the region of the engagement in the interaction between the locking pawl and the rotary catch. Where the invention as a whole will remedy.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the invention is to further develop such a motor vehicle lock, and in particular a motor vehicle door lock, such that the guidance of the locking element is improved while taking into account a simple and at the same time low-noise solution.

In order to solve this problem, within the scope of the invention, a motor vehicle lock of this type is characterized in that the locking element has a guide projection which projects outwards with respect to the plane of the locking device for additional axial and/or circumferential (circular arc direction) guidance.

Within the scope of the invention, the guidance of the locking element between the rotary latch and the pawl or in the region of engagement between two pawls and thus in the region of engagement between two locking device components is firstly improved. The locking element ensures that the locking device can be opened particularly easily and silently, as it were and without modification.

The locking element which is mounted pivotably on the rotary latch fork or, for example, in the comfort pawl essentially in the plane of the locking device ensures that: the pawl and the rotary catch or the comfort pawl and the pawl can be rolled over one another in the torque transmission without any problem and with low noise. According to the invention, the additional provision of an outwardly projecting guide projection on the locking element ensures that: the locking element cannot leave the rotation plane or the locking plane and cannot tilt. More precisely, the guide projection projecting outwards with respect to the plane of the locking device ensures that: additional axial and/or circumferential guidance of the locking element is obtained. The rolling process between the pawl and the rotary latch or between the comfort pawl and the pawl is thereby further improved. Thus, the functional reliability is increased and a further improvement in the magnitude of the noise values is achieved compared to the prior art. This is a major advantage of the present invention.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the guide projection is formed in one piece with the locking element, for example as a stamped-out structure. The guide projection can thereby be integrated particularly simply into the production process of the locking element. This is because the locking element is typically a stamped member made of steel and the stamping process may be combined with the coining process to form the guide projection.

Alternatively, however, the guide projection can also be designed as an additional element. In this case, the guide protrusion may be a plastic member or a separate member made of other materials. For example, the guide projection can be designed as a component of a housing of the locking element made of plastic. Furthermore, it is also possible to design the guide projection as a through pin, for example. For this purpose, the through-pin is inserted, for example, into a recess in the locking element.

In order to achieve the desired additional axial and/or circumferential guidance by means of the guide projection in this way, it has proven to be reliable if the guide projection engages into a recess of the rotary catch or, as a rule, into a recess of the locking means component supporting the guide projection. Additional circumferential guidance of the locking element can be achieved and implemented in this way if the guide projection is designed, for example, as a through-pin and the indentation is not limited to an arc-shaped design. The recess in the rotary catch may be provided in the outer sleeve of the rotary catch. If, in the case of a multi-claw locking device, the locking element is mounted pivotably in the comfort claw, the recess is correspondingly located in the outer sleeve of the comfort claw.

The outer casing of the rotary lock fork or comfort pawl is typically a plastic casing that is usually inherent and provided for improved noise cancellation. In this way, the recess for the guide projection can be realized and implemented particularly simply and with a clear aim. In this case, it is also possible to design and implement the locking element and the rotary latch (pawl) such that they are inserted together into the injection mold. In the case of injection molding of the covering rotary latch (comfort claw), the recess for the through-pin, for example, can then be defined directly as a guide projection in the outer sleeve of the rotary latch (comfort claw).

Then, if the locking element is also received in a groove formed by the jacket of the rotary latch fork (comfort claw), the locking element not only substantially obtains the required pivotable support in the plane of the locking device during the injection molding process, but at the same time is guided circumferentially in a recess in the jacket of the rotary latch fork by means of the guide projection. This can be implemented particularly simply and cost-effectively in terms of construction.

In principle, however, it is also possible to produce the locking element on the one hand and the rotary catch (claw) on the other hand separately from the outer sleeve and then to fit them together, for example by inserting a through-pin into a recess of the locking element which is held in a groove in the outer sleeve of the rotary catch (claw).

In addition to the above-described exemplary engagement of the guide projection in the recess of the outer sleeve of the rotary latch (comfort pawl) for guiding the locking element in the circumferential direction relative to the rotary latch (comfort pawl), there is basically another possibility: the locking element is additionally axially guided. Outwardly projecting guide projections are also used for this purpose. Indeed, the guide projection may engage into a notch of the housing for this purpose. The housing typically receives the locking device therein. By means of the recess in the housing, the guide projection can be guided not only axially but also circumferentially. The same applies, of course, to locking elements which are mounted pivotably on the rotary latch fork in the plane of the locking device.

Alternatively, however, it is also possible for the guide projection to rest simply in a gripping manner on the housing accommodating the locking device. In this way, the guide projection obtains the additional axial guidance desired according to the invention by bearing against the housing. It is of course also possible to combine the two additional measures with one another. In any case, the locking element, which is pivotably mounted on the rotary latch (comfort claw), is additionally secured, that is to say with respect to the rotary latch (comfort claw) receiving the locking element and/or the housing. This additional fixing ensures axial support of the locking element, for example, relative to the housing receiving the locking device.

Alternatively or additionally, however, the locking element can also achieve a supplementary circumferential guidance. This circumferential guidance can in turn take place relative to the housing. However, the circumferential guidance of the locking element is usually carried out and is achieved in that a guide projection on the locking element engages in a recess of the rotary catch (comfort claw).

The invention proceeds from the recognition that the locking element, which is mounted pivotably on the rotary latch fork, moves together with the rotary latch fork, so that an additional circumferential guidance of the locking element on the rotary latch fork (comfort pawl) providing the pivot bearing can be advantageously achieved. This circumferential guidance can be realized and carried out particularly simply by the interaction between the guide projection on the locking element on the one hand and the recess in the outer sleeve of the rotary catch (comfort claw) on the other hand.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of independent significance, the locking element can be provided with an extension. The extension can be designed as an end stop which interacts with the locking pawl. In this case, the extension therefore assumes the function of an end stop or in general a stop, i.e. limits the possible pivoting of the locking element relative to the rotary locking fork. For this purpose, the extension interacts with the locking pawl.

Alternatively or additionally, however, the extension can also be designed as an opening lever for the locking element. In this case, the extension serves as an opening lever which acts on the locking element and supports/assists, for example, the opening function of the locking pawl relative to the rotary catch. For this purpose, the release lever can act, for example, on the relevant extension or on an opening lever provided in this way, which release lever itself is in turn manually and/or mechanically loaded.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, a stop for the locking element can additionally be realized in order to limit the pivoting thereof. In this case, the stop does not necessarily have to be an extension of the end stop and the locking element, which extension has already been mentioned above. Rather, the stop is advantageously formed on the housing which receives the locking device. The invention is based on the recognition that the locking device is typically mounted in a metal lock case, which is in turn closed by means of a lock cover or lock housing made of plastic. This makes it possible to realize possible additional structures on or in the housing, such as notches or stops for the guide projections, without any problem, in particular integrated into the plastic injection molding process which is otherwise required for the housing.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, the locking element and/or the locking pawl have a reinforcement in the region of the mutual contact surfaces. Such a reinforcement ensures that the contact area or contact surface on the locking pawl and on the locking element is reinforced if necessary. The invention proceeds from the finding that in the locking position (pre-locking position and/or main locking position) of the locking device, the locking pawl rests against a locking element, which is in turn pivotably mounted on a rotary latch (comfort pawl). The opening movement of the locking pawl is thus converted into a pivoting movement of the locking element relative to the rotary catch (comfort pawl). In order to keep the wear in this region of the mutual contact surfaces between the locking element and the locking pawl as low as possible, a corresponding reinforcement can be provided in the region of the mutual contact surfaces. In addition or alternatively, a surface with a particularly low coefficient of friction has proven to be advantageous here.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, the locking device, which essentially comprises a rotary catch and a pawl, is not a single locking device with a rotary catch and a pawl. Rather, additional pre-latching pawls and/or comfort pawls may be provided in addition to the latching pawls. In this case, the locking device is designed as a multi-claw locking device or as a multiple locking device. In this respect, the invention proposes that the locking element be pivotably mounted, as is conventional, in the rotary latch fork or the comfort pawl. In this case, however, the interaction with the pawl is typically only carried out in the main locking position, whereas the interaction of the pre-pawl with the rotary catch is effected and carried out by means of a pre-locking bolt additionally provided on the rotary catch, as this is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing.

However, it is also possible for the rotary catch to interact with the comfort claws. In this case, the locking element is pivotably mounted in the comfort claw. The comfort claw then interacts with the locking claw together with the locking element which is pivotably received thereon or therein.

Furthermore and according to another advantageous embodiment, the locking pawl and/or the locking element can be equipped with a counter recess (Hinterschnitt). Within the scope of the invention, such a countersink of the locking pawl indicates that the force vector directed from the locking element to the locking pawl does not pass through the axis of the locking pawl but rather generates a moment which closes the locking pawl. Conversely, the locking pawl can also apply a force vector to the locking element, which force vector does not pass through the axis of the locking element, but rather applies a closing torque to the locking element for closing purposes, i.e., applies a closing torque to the locking element. The locking element is then equipped with a countersink.

Finally, the locking element is usually arranged in the outer casing of the associated locking device component or of the rotary catch or comfort claw, wherein the locking element has an additional load contact with respect to the core (Kern) of the locking device component and optionally an intermediate damping element. In this way, a metallic contact between the locking element and the associated locking device component (rotary catch or comfort claw) is only observed under load, so that the pivoting of the locking element relative to the locking device component is guided solely by the outer sleeve, and can therefore be carried out particularly noiselessly. Only when a large load is applied does metallic or load-bearing contact of the locking element with the core of the locking device component occur, so that in this case large forces can be transmitted.

The damping element, which is optionally arranged between the locking element and the locking device component (rotary latch or comfort pawl) supporting the locking element, additionally ensures particularly low-noise operation. The damping element may be an elastic groove (Federtasche) formed in the housing.

A motor vehicle lock is thus provided which provides a particularly functionally reliable operation and enables the locking element to be supported in a noise-optimized manner relative to the locking means component which receives the locking element. This is achieved by using a solution which is structurally simple and optimized with regard to the manufacturing technique. This is a major advantage of the present invention.

Drawings

The invention is explained in detail below on the basis of the figures which show only one embodiment; the figures show that:

figures 1A and 1B show schematically and in side view a motor vehicle lock according to the invention reduced to essential components,

figures 2A and 2B also show a variant embodiment in a perspective side view,

figures 3A, 3B and 3C also show another variant in a perspective side view,

figure 4 shows a fourth embodiment variant with an additional pre-locking pawl,

fig. 5A, 5B, 5C show another embodiment with an extension on the locking element, which is in a different functional position,

figure 6 shows a further sixth embodiment variant,

fig. 7 shows another embodiment of the invention, with an extension on the locking element,

fig. 8A and 8B show two variants, with a countersink on the locking pawl (fig. 8A) and a countersink on the locking element (fig. 8B),

FIG. 9 shows another ninth embodiment of the invention, an

Fig. 10 shows a tenth embodiment variant according to the invention.

Detailed Description

In the figures, a motor vehicle lock is shown, which is not limited to a motor vehicle door lock. The motor vehicle lock or motor vehicle door lock has a locking device 1, 2, 3, which in the variants according to fig. 1A, 1B to 3A, 3B, 3C and 5A, 5B, 5C and 7 to 10 is a single locking device 1, 2 with a rotary catch 1 and a pawl 2. In the variant according to fig. 4 and 6, a multi-claw or multiple-claw lock 1, 2, 3 with one rotary latch 1 and two locking claws 2, 3 is used.

In practice, the multi-claw locking device 1, 2, 3 operates with a rotary latch 1, a first locking claw 2 designed as a pre-locking claw and a second locking claw 3, corresponding to the representation according to fig. 4. The first locking pawl 2 interacts with a pre-locking bolt 4 on the rotary catch 1. The second locking pawl 3 interacts with the rotary catch 1 or a locking element 5 described in more detail below only in the main locking position, which is not shown here.

In the multi-jaw locking device 1, 2, 3 according to fig. 6, a rotary latch 1, a first locking jaw 2 designed as a comfort jaw and a second locking jaw 3 are realized. In this case, the first locking claw 2 interacts with the locking claw 3 via a locking element 5 which is mounted in the first locking claw 2 or on the first locking claw 2. Typically, each lock device member 1, 2, 3 is made of steel. However, it is also possible to produce the individual locking device components 1, 2, 3 from a zinc casting or from plastic, for example the second locking claw 3 in the multi-claw locking device 1, 2, 3 according to fig. 6. Likewise, the locking element 5, which is described in more detail below, can be made of zinc casting or plastic.

All principally shown variants of the locking devices 1, 2, 3 are distinguished by a locking element 5, which locking element 5 is arranged in the single locking device 1, 2 in the engagement region between the rotary latch 1 and the pawl 2 or in the multi-pawl locking device 1, 2, 3 according to fig. 4 in the engagement region between the rotary latch 1 and the pawl 3. In the multi-jaw locking device 1, 2, 3 according to fig. 6, the locking element 5 is arranged there between the comfort jaw 2 and the locking jaw 3. Thus, in general, the locking element 5 is located between the two locking device components 1 and 2; 1 and 3 or 2 and 3.

For this purpose, the relevant locking element 5 is supported on the locking device component 1 or 2 receiving it. The respective locking device component 1 or 2 described in the context of the exemplary embodiments according to fig. 1A, 1B to 5A, 5B, 5C and 7 to 10 is a rotary latch 1. In contrast, in the multi-claw locking device 1, 2, 3 according to fig. 6, the locking element 5 is supported as the locking device component 2 in the first locking claw 2 or on the first locking claw 2. Furthermore, the locking element 5 is essentially/predominantly pivotable in a locking device plane E, i.e. a plane which is/is spanned by the respective locking device 1, 2 or locking device 1, 2, 3.

According to the invention, the locking element 5 is now additionally equipped with a guide projection 6 which projects outwards with respect to the locking device plane E. The guide projections 6 serve for additional axial and/or circumferential guidance of the locking element 5, as will be explained in more detail below. In fig. 1A, 1B and 3A, 3B, 3C, the outwardly projecting design of the guide projection 6 relative to the locking device plane E is most clearly seen in the respective side views of the locking devices 1, 2, 3.

The guide projection 6 can in principle be formed in one piece with the locking element 5, for example as a pressed construction. This is illustrated in fig. 1A and 1B. It can be seen here that the locking element 5 is provided, in a side view, partially in cross section, with a guide projection 6 or a press structure which projects outwards with respect to the locking device plane E. The locking element 5 can thus be arranged in this example case on the housing 7 which receives the locking device 1, 2, 3. According to this embodiment, the housing 7 is a lock housing 7 for closing a lock case, not shown in detail, for supporting the locking device 1, 2, 3. In any case, as can be seen from a side view, partially in the section according to fig. 1B, a stamped-out structure or guide projection 6 is formed on one side of the locking element 5, so that the locking element 5 can bear on one side against the housing 7 or the lock housing 7, in such a way that the desired axial guidance in the axial direction a, i.e. in the direction of the defined axis or rotational axis a, relative to the associated locking device component 1, 2 for supporting the locking element 5 is supported.

Instead of the pressed structure for realizing the guide projection 6 according to the variant of fig. 1A, 1B, the material of the guide projection 6 can also be a different material than the material for realizing the locking element 5. The guide projection 6 can be realized, for example, as an injection-molded part of the plastic jacket of the locking element 5, which in the same way projects outwards with respect to the locking device plane E. In an alternative embodiment, the guide projection 6 can also be designed as a separate component which is connected to the locking element 5 by means of a clamping or press fit. Combinations of the above are of course also contemplated. Fig. 2A and 2B show a variant of the guide projection 6. In this case, the guide projection 6 is a through-pin which is guided in the cutout 8 of the rotary latch fork 1 in the present example. For this purpose, a through pin can be inserted into an indentation in the locking element 5. The recess 8 of the rotary latch fork 1 is realized and arranged in a jacket 9 of the rotary latch fork 1, which is made of plastic, for example.

In order to produce the variant according to fig. 2A, 2B, the rotary latch fork 1 and the locking element 5 can be inserted together into a molding tool. The jacket 9 serves firstly to pivotably mount the locking element 5 on the rotary latch 1 by means of the groove formed in this way for receiving the locking element 5, for which purpose the rotary latch 1 is equipped with a mounting point 1a, which can be seen in particular in fig. 8A and 8B and is designed as a recess. The outer sleeve 9 made of plastic is used, in cooperation with the recess or bearing point 1a in the rotary latch 1, to pivotably mount the locking element 5 on the rotary latch 1 in this example case.

Due to the interaction between the through-pin or guide projection 6 and the recess 8, a circumferential guidance of the locking element 5 is additionally also achieved and implemented. For this purpose, the recess 8 is formed in an arc shape, so that the projection 6 follows the arc-shaped recess 8 during pivoting relative to its bearing point 1a in the rotary latch fork 1, or the through-pin 6 is guided in the recess 8 along an arc. The desired circumferential guidance of the locking element 5 is thereby additionally achieved. Additionally, the wall delimiting the notch 8 forms an end stop for the through-going pin 8.

In the embodiment variant according to fig. 3, provision is made for the guide projection 6, which is there and is likewise designed as a pin or a through-pin, to be inserted into the recess 10 in the housing or lock housing 7. In this case, the guide projection 6 is also guided by interaction with a recess 10 in the housing or lock housing 7. This can again take place in the circumferential direction and/or in the axial direction, similarly to what has been described in detail above. In principle, however, the guide projection 6 can also rest flat against the housing 7 or the lock housing 7 receiving the locking device 1, 2, 3, as described above with reference to the embodiment variants in fig. 1a, 1B.

Within the scope of the fifth embodiment variant according to fig. 5, it can be seen that the locking element 5 has an extension 5 a. In this case, within the scope of this variant, the locking element 5 is again mounted in or on the rotary latch 1 in the region of the bearing point 1a or the associated recess. The extension 5a on the locking element 5 now ensures that, in this case in cooperation with the locking pawl 2, an end stop for the locking element 5 is realized and implemented in this way. This can be seen when comparing different functional positions according to fig. 5.

In fact, the closed state of the individual locking devices 1, 2 in this case is shown in the left-hand illustration according to fig. 5A. In this closed state, the locking element 5 rests with a contact surface 5b on the rotary latch fork 1. If, starting from the closed state shown in the left-hand side view according to fig. 5A, the pawl 2 is opened electrically or manually by, for example, moving it away from the rotary latch fork 1 by means of a release lever, this corresponds to: the locking pawl 2 rotates in a counterclockwise direction about its axis. As a result, the locking element 5 is also moved relative to its support 1a on the rotary latch fork 1 with the abutment surface 5B away from the rotary latch fork 1 until the extension 5a on the locking element 5 abuts on the locking pawl 2, as is shown in the functional diagrams according to fig. 5B, 5C. In this case, the extension 5a thus serves as an end stop for the interaction with the locking pawl 2 during the opening of the locking device 1, 2.

As an alternative to this, the extension 5a on the locking element 5 can also serve as an opening lever for the locking element 5 and be designed as depicted diagrammatically in the exemplary embodiment according to fig. 7. The opening process of the locking device 1, 2 is then assisted by a force applied, for example, in the direction of the arrow shown of the extension 5a of the locking element 5. In this case, the locking element 5 is in fact equipped with two extensions 5a, namely an extension 5a serving as an end stop on the pawl-side end of the locking element 5 and another extension 5a serving as an opening lever for the locking element 5 on the opposite end of the locking element 5. In any case, the locking element 5 can be used in this way by means of an opening lever or extension 5a to assist the opening process of the locking device 1, 2 in the example case. For this purpose, the release lever already mentioned above not only ensures that the locking pawl 2 is moved away from the rotary latch fork 1 by pivoting in the counterclockwise direction, but additionally assists the opening process in that the release lever (or another lever) acts on the extension 5a in the direction of the force shown in fig. 7 and ensures that the locking element 5 is pivoted in the clockwise direction relative to its bearing point 1a on the rotary latch fork 1.

A similar stop 11 or end stop for limiting the pivoting of the locking element 5 and an alternative to the extension 5a are also shown in the embodiment variant according to fig. 3B. Since there is a stop 11 provided and shown, which is formed in or on the housing or lock housing 7. The stop 11 also ensures that in this example case a possible pivoting of the locking element 5 relative to the rotary catch 1 supporting it is limited.

Fig. 9 shows a further variant of a single locking device 1, 2 with a rotary fork 1 and a pawl 2, so that the locking element 5 or pawl 2 mounted on the rotary fork 1 in the bearing point 1a has a reinforcement 12 in the region of the respective contact surfaces. The embodiment according to fig. 9 is designed such that both the locking element 5 and the locking pawl 2 have an associated reinforcement 12 in the region of the mutually abutting surfaces. The reinforcement 12 may be a welded-on sheet or a sheet made of, for example, steel. In addition, it is advantageous here to work with a particularly friction-optimized surface in order to design the opening process of the locking device 1, 2 as force-saving and low-noise as possible.

In the exemplary embodiment according to fig. 8A and 8B, the countersink is now additionally also shown. Fig. 8A shows a countersink on the locking pawl 2, while in the variant according to fig. 8B the countersink on the locking element 5 is shown and marked in the individual locking devices 1, 2 shown there in each case. In both cases, the locking element 5 is again mounted pivotably in the locking plane E on the rotary latch fork 1, to be precise in the mounting position 1 a.

The locking pawl 2 countersink shown in fig. 8A means: in the region of the contact surfaces between the locking element 5 and the locking pawl 2, the locking pawl 2 is acted upon by a force vector starting from the axis a of the locking element 5, which extends below the connecting line between the two axes of rotation, so that the locking pawl 2 is acted upon by the closing torque in the direction of the locking element 5. In contrast, in the counter-recess of the locking element 5 according to fig. 8B, the locking pawl 2 is designed such that it acts on the locking element 5 with a force vector directed below the axis a of the locking element 5, which in this case causes the locking element 5 to bear with its bearing surface 5B against the rotary catch 1 or presses the locking element 5 against the rotary catch 1.

Finally, a further and particularly acoustically advantageous variant is shown in a further exemplary embodiment according to fig. 10. In fact, it can be seen here that the locking element 5, which is still mounted in the rotary latch fork 1 or on the rotary latch fork 1, has the load contact 13 shown in fig. 10 only when the locking element 5 is loaded with a significant force in the direction of the rotary latch fork 1. In fact, this then results in the metal locking element 5 coming into contact with the likewise metal core of the rotary catch 1. Otherwise, the outer sleeve 9 of the rotary latch fork 1 for supporting the locking element 5 ensures that no such metal contact is visible in normal operation, but rather the locking element 5 is supported only inside the groove formed in the outer sleeve 9 and relative to the bearing point 1 a.

Additionally, in this exemplary embodiment, an elastic groove 14 can also be seen, which is formed in the jacket 9 or on the jacket 9 of the rotary latch fork 1. The spring groove 14 ensures a low-noise end stop of the locking element 5. Furthermore, the spring groove 14 provides play-free support of the locking element 5 even without force transmission on the locking pawl 2 side.

List of reference numerals:

locking device 1, 2, 3

Rotary lock fork 1

Support 1a

Support part 1a

Locking device component 1, 2, 3

Locking device component 2

Multi-claw locking device/multi-locking device 1, 2, 3

Single locking device 1, 2

Pre-locking pawl 2

Comfort claw 2

Locking pawl 2

Locking claws 2, 3

Pre-locking bolt 4

Locking element 5

Extension 5a

Contact surface 5b

Guide projection 6

Housing 7

Lock housing 7

Notch 8

Through pin 8

Outer sleeve 9

Notch 10

Stop 11

Reinforcing part 12

Load contact portion 13

Elastic groove 14

Axial direction A

Axis A

Plane E of the locking device