Motor vehicle lock

US12473757B2 · US · B2

Patent metadata
FieldValue
Publication numberUS-12473757-B2
Application numberUS-202218287719-A
CountryUS
Kind codeB2
Filing dateApr 22, 2022
Priority dateApr 23, 2021
Publication dateNov 18, 2025
Grant dateNov 18, 2025

How to read this patent

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  1. Title

    What the patent document calls the invention.

  2. Abstract

    A short plain-language summary of the technical disclosure.

  3. Assignees and inventors

    Who owns or filed the patent and who is credited as inventor.

  4. Key dates

    Filing, priority, publication, and grant dates set the timeline.

  5. First independent claim

    The legal scope of protection — read this for what is actually claimed.

  6. CPC / IPC classifications

    Technology tags used to group this patent with similar filings.

  7. Citations and related patents

    Prior art links and similar publications in this corpus.

Abstract

Official abstract text for this publication.

A motor vehicle lock for a flap of a motor vehicle. The motor vehicle lock is equipped with a lock catch for engaging with a closing part in a holding manner and a pawl which is paired with the lock catch and which locks an opening of the lock catch in the lowered position and releases the lock catch in a raised position, wherein the motor vehicle lock has an electric closing drive and a control assembly, wherein the control assembly actuates the closing drive in a closing routine so as to move the lock catch in the closing direction from a starting position. The control assembly actuates the closing drive in the closing routine so as to move the lock catch from the starting position into a delay position in order to carry out a delay action and then move the lock catch into the main closing position.

First claim

Opening claim text (preview).

The invention claimed is: 1 . A motor vehicle lock for a flap of a motor vehicle, wherein the motor vehicle lock is equipped with a lock catch for engaging with a closing part in a holding manner and a pawl, which is assigned to the lock catch and which locks an opening of the lock catch in a lowered position and releases the lock catch in a raised position, wherein the motor vehicle lock has an electric closing drive and a control assembly, wherein the control assembly activates the closing drive in a closing routine so as to move the lock catch in a closing direction from a starting position into a main closing position, wherein the control assembly activates the closing drive in the closing routine so as to move the lock catch from the starting position into at least one delay position in order to carry out at least one delay action and then move the lock catch into the main closing position, wherein, in the at least one delay action, the control assembly activates the closing drive so as to move the lock catch counter to the closing direction, wherein the at least one delay position is provided between the starting position and the main closing position. 2 . The motor vehicle lock as claimed in claim 1 , wherein in the at least one delay action, an activation by the control assembly is absent for a predetermined time period. 3 . The motor vehicle lock as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least one delay position comprises a plurality of delay positions and the at least one delay action comprises a plurality of delay actions, corresponding to the plurality of delay positions, and wherein the control assembly activates the closing drive in the closing routine so as to move the lock catch successively into the plurality of delay positions in order to carry out the corresponding delay actions. 4 . The motor vehicle lock as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the control assembly in the closing routine initiates the output of a warning signal. 5 . A method for operating a motor vehicle lock for a flap of a motor vehicle, wherein the motor vehicle lock is equipped with a lock catch for engaging with a closing part in a holding manner and a pawl, which is assigned to the lock catch and which locks an opening of the lock catch in a lowered position and releases the lock catch in a raised position, wherein the motor vehicle lock has an electric closing drive and a control assembly, wherein the closing drive is activated by the control assembly in a closing routine so as to move the lock catch in a closing direction from a starting position into a main closing position, wherein the closing drive is activated by the control assembly in the closing routine so as to move the lock catch from the starting position into a delay position in order to carry out a delay action and then move the lock catch into the main closing position, wherein, in the at least one delay action, the control assembly activates the closing drive so as to move the lock catch counter to the closing direction, wherein the at least one delay position is provided between the starting position and the main closing position. 6 . The motor vehicle lock as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the starting position is a pre-closing position. 7 . The motor vehicle lock as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the control assembly in the closing routine with the movement of the lock catch into the at least one delay position and/or with the at least one delay action, initiates the output of a warning signal. 8 . The motor vehicle lock as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the control assembly initiates the output of the warning signal via an optical and/or an acoustic warning device assigned to the motor vehicle lock. 9 . The motor vehicle lock as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the control assembly initiates the output of the warning signal via an optical and/or an acoustic warning device assigned to the motor vehicle lock. 10 . The method for operating a motor vehicle lock as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the starting position is a pre-closing position.

Assignees

Inventors

Classifications

  • to effect movement of a bolt or bolts (E05B81/20 takes precedence) · CPC title

  • for assisting final closing or for initiating opening · CPC title

  • E05B81/21Primary

    with means preventing or detecting pinching of objects or body parts · CPC title

  • operating on locking elements for locking or unlocking action · CPC title

  • Illuminating devices on or for locks or keys; {Transparent or translucent lock parts; Indicator lights} · CPC title

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Frequently asked questions

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What does patent US12473757B2 cover?
A motor vehicle lock for a flap of a motor vehicle. The motor vehicle lock is equipped with a lock catch for engaging with a closing part in a holding manner and a pawl which is paired with the lock catch and which locks an opening of the lock catch in the lowered position and releases the lock catch in a raised position, wherein the motor vehicle lock has an electric closing drive and a contro…
Who is the assignee on this patent?
Brose Fahrzeugteile Gmbh Se & Co Kg Bamberg, Brose Fahrzeugteile Se & Co Kg Bamberg
What technology area does this patent fall under?
Primary CPC classification E05B81/21. Mapped technology areas include Fixed Constructions.
When was this patent published?
Publication date Tue Nov 18 2025 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) (B2). Legal status and post-grant events are not shown on this page.
What related patents are in patentsdb?
We list 9 related publications on this page (citations in our corpus or others sharing the same primary CPC).