Motor vehicle lock with microswitch

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10519699-B2
Application number	US-201515307928-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 30, 2015
Priority date	Apr 30, 2014
Publication date	Dec 31, 2019
Grant date	Dec 31, 2019

Abstract

The invention relates to a lock having a locking mechanism comprising a rotary latch and a pawl for locking the rotary latch in a locked position of the lock. An identification device for identifying a position of a moving component of the lock is provided. The identification device comprises a spring which is fitted to the component. The spring opens or closes an electrical circuit when the component and the spring which is connected to said component are moved. In this way, positions of the locking mechanism can be reliably determined, without having to worry about fatigue of the spring and associated problems.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A latch comprising:
a locking mechanism having a catch and a moving component that is movable between an unratcheted position and a ratcheted position for latching of the catch in a closed position of the latch,
a detection device for detection of a position of the moving component of the latch, wherein the detection device includes a first spring attached to the moving component, and a second spring, and
an electrical power circuit, wherein the first spring and the second spring are connected to the electrical power circuit, wherein the first spring is moveable with the moving component to disconnect and connect to the second spring by disengaging and engaging the second spring, respectively, to open and close the electrical power circuit, respectively, when the moving component is moved between the unratcheted position and the ratcheted position,
wherein the first spring of the detection device, in a closed state of the electrical power circuit, abuts the second spring in a pre-tensioned state.

2. The latch according to claim 1 , wherein the moving component is a pawl or a blocking lever.

3. The latch according to claim 1 , wherein the first spring of the detection device is held by an axis of the moving component.

4. The latch according to claim 1 , wherein the first spring of the detection device is held by one or several bridges of the moving component.

5. The latch according to claim 1 , wherein in a latched state of the locking mechanism, the electrical power circuit is open.

6. The latch according to claim 1 , wherein a closure aid is activated by closing the electrical power circuit which is capable of moving the locking mechanism from a pre-ratchet position into a main ratchet position.

7. The latch according to claim 1 , wherein one of the first spring and the second spring is attached to the catch.

8. The latch according to claim 1 , wherein the electrical power circuit includes a power source to which both the first spring and the second spring are connected.

9. The latch according to claim 8 , wherein the power source is a direct current source.

10. The latch according to claim 4 , wherein the one or several bridges of the moving component are angular or bent.

11. The latch according to claim 4 , wherein the one or several bridges of the moving component are arranged on a face surface of the moving component.

12. The latch according to claim 4 , wherein the first spring has spring legs that engageable with the one or several bridges of the moving component.

13. The latch according to claim 12 , wherein the first spring has a first set of spring legs that are engageable with the one or several bridges of the moving component and another spring leg that is connectable with the second spring.

14. The latch according to claim 1 , wherein the second spring is detached relative to the catch and the moving component.

15. A latch comprising:
a locking mechanism having a catch and a moving component that is movable between an unratcheted position and a ratcheted position for latching of the catch in a closed position of the latch,
a detection device for detection of a position of the moving component of the latch, wherein the detection device includes a first spring attached to the moving component, and a second spring, wherein the first spring of the detection device is held by an axis of the moving component, and
an electrical power circuit, wherein the first spring and the second spring are connected to the electrical power circuit, wherein the first spring is moveable with the moving component to disconnect and connect to the second spring by disengaging and engaging the second spring, respectively, to open and close the electrical power circuit, respectively, when the moving component is moved between the unratcheted position and the ratcheted position.

16. A latch comprising:
a locking mechanism having a catch and a moving component that is movable between an unratcheted position and a ratcheted position for latching of the catch in a closed position of the latch,
a detection device for detection of a position of the moving component of the latch, wherein the detection device includes a first spring attached to the moving component, and a second spring, wherein one of the first spring and the second spring is attached to the catch, and
an electrical power circuit, wherein the first spring and the second spring are connected to the electrical power circuit, wherein the first spring is moveable with the moving component to disconnect and connect to the second spring by disengaging and engaging the second spring, respectively, to open and close the electrical power circuit, respectively, when the moving component is moved between the unratcheted position and the ratcheted position.

Assignees

• Kiekert Ag

Inventors

• Handke Armin
• Koubek Milan

Classifications

• E05B81/66

  the bolt position, i.e. the latching status · CPC title

• E05B2015/0444

  Springs additionally fulfilling an electric function · CPC title

• E05B85/26 Primary

  Cooperation between bolts and detents · CPC title

• E05B15/04

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

• E05B81/64 Primary

  Monitoring or sensing, e.g. by using switches or sensors · CPC title