Motor vehicle lock arrangement

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10132106-B2
Application number	US-201314418382-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 26, 2013
Priority date	Jul 31, 2012
Publication date	Nov 20, 2018
Grant date	Nov 20, 2018

Abstract

A motor vehicle lock arrangement having a motor vehicle lock, wherein the motor vehicle lock has the locking elements of lock latch and pawl, wherein the lock latch is0 adjustable into an open position, into a main locked position and optionally into a pre-locked position, wherein the pawl is adjustable into a lowered position in which it retains the lock latch in a locked position, and into a raised position in which it is disengaged from the lock latch, wherein provision is made of an actuating lever for raising the pawl, wherein a switchable clutch arrangement is arranged between the actuating lever and the pawl, via which clutch arrangement a drive connection between the actuating lever and the pawl is establishable in the engaged state, and in the disengaged state the drive connection between the actuating lever and the pawl is severable.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A motor vehicle lock arrangement comprising a motor vehicle lock, the motor vehicle lock comprising a lock latch, a pawl, an actuating lever for raising the pawl, and a switchable clutch arrangement arranged between the actuating lever and the pawl;
wherein the lock latch is adjustable into an open position, into a main locked position, and optionally into a pre-locked position;
wherein the pawl is adjustable into a lowered position in which the pawl retains the lock latch in the main locked position, and into a raised position in which the pawl is disengaged from the lock latch;
wherein the switchable clutch arrangement comprises an engaged state that enables a drive connection between the actuating lever and the pawl, and a disengaged state that severs the drive connection between the actuating lever and the pawl;
wherein the actuating lever comprises an unactuated state;
wherein, with the clutch arrangement in the engaged state, adjustment of the actuating lever into the unactuated state disengages the clutch arrangement;
wherein, with the clutch arrangement in the disengaged state, adjustment of the actuating lever into the unactuated state leaves the clutch arrangement in the disengaged state;
wherein the actuating lever in the unactuated state bars engagement of the clutch arrangement; and
wherein the actuating lever enables engagement of the clutch arrangement only in the course of actuation of the actuating lever out of the unactuated state.

2. The motor vehicle lock arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein, in the course of the actuation of the actuating lever, the clutch arrangement is engageable, such that the pawl is raisable during normal operation.

3. The motor vehicle lock arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein actuation of the actuating lever at an actuating speed which is greater than a predetermined limit speed results in the actuating lever executing an idle stroke on account of delayed engagement of the clutch arrangement.

4. The motor vehicle lock arrangement according claim 1 , wherein the actuation of the actuating lever comprises a releasing stroke which is associated with enabling engagement of the clutch arrangement, and an activating stroke which is associated, with the clutch arrangement in the engaged state, with raising of the pawl.

5. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 4 , wherein when the actuating lever is actuated at an actuating speed which is greater than a predetermined limit speed, a time required to execute the releasing stroke is less than a time required for engagement of the clutch arrangement, resulting in the actuating lever executing an idle stroke.

6. The motor vehicle lock arrangement according to claim 4 , wherein the activating stoke immediately follows the releasing stroke.

7. The motor vehicle lock arrangement according claim 1 , wherein the clutch arrangement is a constituent part of a lock mechanism which can be brought into at least one locking state in which the clutch arrangement is disengaged, and at least one unlocking state in which the clutch arrangement is engaged.

8. The motor vehicle lock arrangement according claim 7 , wherein the lock mechanism comprises a central locking lever which can be brought into a locking position and into an unlocking position;
wherein, in the locking position, the central locking lever disengages the clutch arrangement; and
wherein, in the unlocking position, the central locking lever enables engagement of the clutch arrangement.

9. The motor vehicle lock arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the actuating lever interacts with the clutch arrangement via a transmission arrangement.

10. The motor vehicle lock arrangement according to claim 9 , wherein the transmission arrangement is configured as a step-up arrangement such that a movement input on an actuating-lever side of the transmission arrangement is converted into a larger output movement.

11. The motor vehicle lock arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the actuating lever is coupled to the clutch arrangement via a pivotable transmission lever.

12. The motor vehicle lock arrangement according claim 11 , further comprising a stop with which the transmission lever comes into engagement when the actuating lever is adjusted into its unactuated state, thereby disengaging the clutch arrangement and barring engagement of the clutch arrangement.

13. The motor vehicle lock arrangement according to claim 11 , wherein the transmission lever comprises a stop-side lever arm and a, clutch-side lever arm.

14. The motor vehicle lock arrangement according to claim 11 , wherein the transmission lever is formed from a wire or strip that is bendable in a spring-elastic manner.

15. The motor vehicle lock arrangement according to claim 11 , wherein the transmission lever is articulated in a pivotable manner on the actuating lever.

16. The motor vehicle lock arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the clutch arrangement comprises an adjustable clutch element which is adjustable into an engagement position corresponding to the engaged state and into a disengagement position corresponding to the disengaged state.

17. The motor vehicle lock arrangement according to claim 16 , wherein the clutch element is configured as a wire or strip that is bendable in a spring-elastic manner and is bendable between the engagement position and the disengagement position.

18. The motor vehicle lock arrangement according to claim 1 , further comprising a door handle, wherein the actuating lever is a constituent part of the door handle and/or is accommodated in the door handle.

19. A motor vehicle lock comprising a lock latch, a pawl, an actuating lever for raising the pawl, and a switchable clutch arrangement arranged between the actuating lever and the pawl;
wherein the lock latch is adjustable into an open position, into a main locked position, and optionally into a pre-locked position;
wherein the pawl is adjustable into a lowered position in which the pawl retains the lock latch in a locked position, and into a raised position in which the pawl is disengaged from the lock latch;
wherein the switchable clutch arrangement comprises an engaged state that enables a drive connection between the actuating lever and the pawl, and a disengaged state that severs the drive connection between the actuating lever and the pawl;
wherein the actuating lever comprises an unactuated state;
wherein, with the clutch arrangement in the engaged state, adjustment of the actuating lever into the unactuated state disengages the clutch arrangement;
wherein, with the clutch arrangement in the disengaged state, adjustment of the actuating lever into the unactuated state leaves the clutch arrangement in the disengaged state;
wherein the actuating lever in the unactuated state bars engagement of the clutch arrangement; and
wherein the actuating lever enables engagement of the clutch arrangement only in the course of actuation of the actuating lever out of the unactuated state.

20. A door handle for raising a pawl of a motor vehicle lock, wherein the motor vehicle lock comprises the pawl and a lock latch, and the door handle comprises an actuating lever for raising the pawl and a switchable clutch arrangement arranged between the actuating lever and the pawl;
wherein the lock latch is adjustable into an open position, into a main locked position, and optionally into a pre-locked position;
wherein the pawl is adjustable into a lowered position in which the pawl retains the l

Assignees

• Brose Schliesssysteme Gmbh
• Brose Schliesssysteme Gmbh

Inventors

• Rosales David

Classifications

• E05C3/16

  with operating handle or equivalent member moving otherwise than rigidly with the latch {(E05C3/122 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• E05B77/12

  Automatic locking or unlocking at the moment of collision · CPC title

• E05B15/04

  Spring arrangements in locks {(E05B3/065, E05B15/101, E05B15/143, E05C19/06 take precedence)} · CPC title

• E05B77/06 Primary

  by means of inertial forces · CPC title

• E05C3/22

  the bolt being spring controlled · CPC title