Latching device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11247595-B2
Application number	US-201716301198-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 12, 2017
Priority date	May 13, 2016
Publication date	Feb 15, 2022
Grant date	Feb 15, 2022

Abstract

A latching device for automotive applications, in particular a backrest latch for the bolting and unbolting of seat backrests in motor vehicles, with a locking mechanism fundamentally comprising a catch and at least one pawl, and with a manually and/or mechanically impingeable unbolting element for the locking mechanism, wherein the unbolting element is a component of an exchangeable unbolting module which defines a latch casing together with a basic module incorporating the locking mechanism is proposed. A latching device where only the unbolting module is adapted to the specific purpose of use is provided, considerably reducing manufacturing, installation and warehousing costs.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A latching device for bolting and unbolting seat backrests in motor vehicles, the latching device comprising:
a latch casing that includes a basic module and an exchangeable unbolting module;
the basic module including a locking mechanism having a catch, and at least one pawl;
the exchangeable unbolting module being detachably connectable to the basic module and including a manually and/or mechanically impingeable unbolting element;
wherein, when the unbolting module and the basic module are in a connected state, the at least one pawl of the basic module contacts the unbolting module,
wherein the at least one pawl comprises a latching pawl and a securing pawl that are mechanically disconnected, wherein a gap is present between the latching pawl and the securing pawl when the latching device is in the latching position.

2. The latching device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the unbolting module and the basic module are detachably connectable by a detachable plug connection or a screw connection.

3. The latching device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the unbolting module is connectable to the basic module on a head side of the basic module.

4. The latching device in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising a drive unit for the mechanically impingeable unbolting element, with the drive unit including at least one electromotor and an output element interacting with the unbolting element.

5. The latching device in accordance with claim 4 , wherein the output element includes a cam impinging the unbolting element.

6. The latching device in accordance with claim 4 , wherein the drive unit includes a gear shaft engageable by an output shaft of the electromotor.

7. The latching device in accordance with claim 6 , wherein the gear shaft is engageable with the output shaft of the electromotor and the output element of the drive unit, the gear shaft being formed as a double gear shaft.

8. The latching device in accordance with claim 6 , wherein the gear shaft and the output element are pivotable around parallel axes.

9. The latching device in accordance with claim 6 , wherein the electromotor and an output shaft of the electromotor is mainly arranged transversely to a longitudinal extension of the gear shaft.

10. The latching device in accordance with claim 4 , wherein the drive unit is returnable to a basic position after an unbolting process of the latching device.

11. The latching device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the latch casing includes a first casing that houses the basic module and a second casing that houses the unbolting module, the latch casing being modular.

12. The latching device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the manually and/or mechanically impingeable unbolting element is motorized.

13. A latching device for bolting and unbolting seat backrests in motor vehicles, the latching device comprising:
a latch casing that includes a basic module and an exchangeable unbolting module;
the basic module including a locking mechanism having a catch, and at least one pawl;
the exchangeable unbolting module being detachably connectable to the basic module and including a manually and/or mechanically impingeable unbolting element;
wherein, when the unbolting module and the basic module are in a connected state, the at least one pawl of the basic module contacts the unbolting module, and
wherein the latching device includes a drive unit for the manually and/or mechanically impingeable unbolting element, with the drive unit including at least one electromotor and an output element interacting with the unbolting element, wherein the drive unit includes a gear shaft engageable by an output shaft of the at least one electromotor.

Assignees

• Kiekert Ag

Inventors

• Dey John
• Mullins Pat
• Zhuang Jim

Classifications

• B60N2/366

  characterised by the locking device · CPC title

• E05B81/34

  of geared transmissions · CPC title

• E05B81/14

  operating on bolt detents, e.g. for unlatching the bolt · CPC title

• E05B81/06

  using rotary motors · CPC title

• B60N2/933 Primary

  rotatable · CPC title