LATCH

A latch for coupling of a first component to a second component, the latch having a base body which includes a first bearing, a second bearing and a third bearing, the latch having a lever which is mounted pivotably on the first bearing about a first pivot axis between a locking position and an unlocking position, the latch having a locking which is mounted pivotably on the second bearing and which includes a spring-loaded locking part, which locking part rests on the lever in order to transmit a predetermined braking force to the lever in the locking position of the lever, the latch further including a release lever which is mounted movably on the third bearing between a blocking position for blocking the locking in the locking position and a release position for releasing the locking from the locking position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a latch for temporary, releasable coupling of a first component to a second component.

Latches are used, for example, in aircraft construction to releasably lock movable fairing parts to supporting elements or fixed fairing parts in the aircraft cabin, in particular to make areas which are covered by the movable fairing parts accessible for maintenance or repair purposes. Since pressure variations may occur within the aircraft cabin during an operation of an aircraft, there is a need for some movable fairing parts to form an interlock with a support element or a fixed fairing part in such a way that an automatic opening movement for the movable fairing part is enabled in case of an occurrence of pressure differences between the area covered by the movable fairing part and an area adjacent thereto.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The task of the invention is to provide a latch which realizes a simplified design while maintaining the known functional scope.

This task is solved for a latch which is designed for temporary, releasable coupling of a first component to a second component, with the following features:

The latch has a base body which is designed to be fixed to a first component and which comprises a first bearing, a second bearing and a third bearing. Furthermore, the latch has a lever which can be pivoted on the first bearing about a first pivot axis between a locking position to lock a second component and an unlocking position to unlock the second component. The latch having a locking which is mounted movably on the second bearing and which has a resiliently supported, in particular a spring-loaded, locking part which, in a locking position of the locking, is designed to bear against the lever in order to transmit a predetermined braking force to the lever in the locking position of the lever. In addition, the latch has a release lever which is mounted movably, in particular pivotably, on the third bearing, which is designed in a blocking position for blocking the locking in the locking position and in a release position for releasing the locking from the locking position.

The main function of the latch is the releasable coupling of the first component to the second component, wherein the first component is connected to the second component via at least one articulated connection, such as a hinge. The first component is used in the manner of a door or maintenance flap for closing a recess in the second component, wherein the latch and the hinge are arranged on opposite sides of the first component. The latch is used to hold the first component in a closed position, in which the recess in the second component is closed. Furthermore, the latch enables manual actuation, preferably without tools, by an operator. For this purpose, it is provided that the operator exerts an operating force, in particular a manual force, on the release lever in order to transfer the release lever from the blocking position to a release position by a swivel movement. This removes the blocking of the locking so that the locking can be moved from the locking position to a release position. In the release position of the locking, an operative connection between the spring-elastically supported locking part of the locking and the lever is cancelled, so that the locking does not exert any braking force on the lever and the lever can be moved from the locking position into the release position either by an actuating movement of an operator or by a spring. In this release position, a relative movement, in particular a swivel movement about the hinge is enabled between the first component and the second component.

In addition, the latch enables automatic decoupling of the first component from the second component. For the automatic decoupling it is assumed that there is a force acting on the first component which exceeds a predefined maximum holding force of the latch. For example the first component and the second component are used to separate a first space from a second space and. Due to a pressure difference between the first space and the second space, a compressive force acts on the first component that is above a predetermined force level. In this case, the latch ensures that the coupling between the first component and the second component is cancelled due to the predetermined and limited braking force transmitted by the locking to the lever. In this situation a torque acts on the lever due to the coupling of the first component with the second component, which torque exceeds a braking torque determined by the braking force exerted on the lever by the locking. If a compressive force or overpressure is acting on the first component, a pivoting movement of the lever from the locking position to the unlocking position takes place. In this situation no movement of the locking and/or the release lever is being required. Rather, it is sufficient if either a frictional force exerted by the elastically supported locking part on the lever is overcome or if a positive coupling present with respect to the pivoting movement of the lever between the locking part and the lever in the locking position is cancelled by a relative movement of the locking part with respect to the lever.

It is expedient if the locking comprises a locking housing which is received movably, preferably linearly movably and/or pivotably about a second pivot axis, on the second bearing. The locking housing may be designed as a bearing journal. A recess is formed in the locking housing for receiving a spring, which recess is aligned transversely with respect to the second pivot axis and is arranged at a distance from the second pivot axis. The locking part projects with a locking region beyond an outer surface of the locking housing. The pivotable mounting of the locking housing on the second bearing ensures a cost-effective provision of the relative mobility for the locking.

Preferably the second bearing is designed as a bearing journal which is fixed to the base body and which passes through a corresponding recess, in particular a circular cylindrical bore, in the locking housing. The locking housing has a recess in which a spring and a locking part are accommodated. The task of the spring, which is accommodated with an internal preload in the locking housing, is to exert a spring force on the locking part so that the locking part can be held in a preferred position relative to the locking housing within a predetermined force interval. The force interval determined by the spring for the locking part depends on the braking force to be exerted by the locking part on the lever. On the one hand, this braking force depends on the predefined conditions under which it should be possible for the lever to be released automatically without the locking and the release lever being actuated for this purpose.

On the other hand, the braking force depends on the way in which a power transmission from the locking part to the lever is provided. For example, a force transmission can be provided exclusively by friction, so that the braking force transmitted from the locking part to the lever depends on a material pairing of the locking part and the lever and a friction coefficient dependent thereon, as well as on a normal force transmitted from the locking part to the lever in a normal direction.

Alternatively, a combined frictional and positive-locking force transmission can be provided, in which the locking part engages in a recess in the lever, so that a pivoting movement of the lever relative to the locking part requires both an overcoming of the frictional forces as well as a displacement of the locking part against the internal pretension of the spring. Such a combined frictional and positive force transmission between the locking part and the lever has the advantage that a significant component of the braking force can be determined by influencing the geometry of the locking part, which is in direct contact with the lever, in particular with a recess formed in the lever. In contrast, the influence of the frictional forces between the locking part and the lever can be kept significantly lower, which allows a more precise tuning of the release behaviour for the latch.

Preferably, it is provided that the locking region engages in a correspondingly formed recess in the lever, which is formed in a lever end face of the lever, wherein a surface normal of the lever end face is aligned transversely to the first pivot axis. By adapting the geometry of the recess in the lever to the geometry of the locking part that is in contact with the lever in the locking position of the locking and the locking position of the lever, an advantageous definition of the braking force to be transmitted from the locking part to the lever in the locking position of the locking and the locking position of the lever is possible within a narrow tolerance band. Preferably a geometry of the locking part which is received in the recess in the lever and a geometry of the recess in the lever are geometrically similar, in particular identical. Preferably, it is provided that an adjustment of the braking force is made by a variation of the internal preload of the spring pressing the locking member against the lever.

In one embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the release lever is mounted on the third bearing such that it can pivot about a third pivot axis and has a third end face whose surface normal is aligned transversely with respect to the third pivot axis, the third end face being designed, in the blocking position, for bearing against a protrusion of the locking which has a greatest extent aligned parallel to the third pivot axis, in order to prevent a movement, preferably a linear movement, particularly preferably a pivoting movement of the locking, out of the locking position. The task of the release lever is to allow a pivoting movement of the locking out of the locking position, provided this is effectuated by an operator by initiating a release movement on the release lever.

The pivotable mounting of the release lever on the base body by means of the third bearing can ensure a cost-effective realization of the relative mobility between the release lever and the base body. With regard to the locking of the locking in the locking position, which is to be ensured by the release lever in the absence of an operating force of an operator, it is advantageous if a third end face of the release lever is aligned in such a way that a force which is transmitted by the locking to the release lever does not lead to an undesired displacement of the release lever from the locking position. For this purpose, it is provided that a surface normal of the third end face is aligned transversely to the third pivot axis. This design ensures that when a force is applied to the third end face, in particular in the direction of the surface normal of the third end face, no undesirable torque is generated on the release lever, thus avoiding an equally undesirable deflection of the release lever from the blocking position. In order to ensure such a force introduction for the release lever, which is aligned parallel to the surface normal of the third end face, it is additionally to be provided that a first end face of the locking, which in the locking position of the locking and the blocking position of the release lever is aligned opposite the third end face of the release lever in such a way that even when a torque is introduced onto the locking, a force resulting from this torque acts on the third end face of the release lever, which is aligned coaxially with the surface normal of the third end face.

Advantageously, a projection of the third end face onto a projection plane which is oriented transversely to a surface normal of the third end face intersects with the third pivot axis. In particular the surface normal of the third end face intersects with the third pivot axis. Preferably, the third end face is formed as a planar rectangle, so that a projection (meaning an optical or mathematical projection) of the third end face onto a projection plane oriented at a right angle, i.e. transversely, to the surface normal is also formed as a rectangle. Accordingly, this rectangle surrounds or comprises the third pivot axis, the length of which is infinite, at least in mathematical terms, so that for this case the formulation is chosen that the projection of the third end face intersects the third pivot axis. It is particularly advantageous if the surface normal of the third end face intersects the third pivot axis. Preferably, in this context, it is assumed that the surface normal starts from a center point or center of gravity of the third end face. In the case of a curved third end face, a resulting surface normal can be determined, which can be defined, for example, on the basis of a surface center of gravity and a weight-force vector emanating from this surface center of gravity.

In a further development of the invention, it is provided that the locking housing is arranged between the second pivot axis and the third pivot axis in such a way that a pivoting movement of the locking between the locking position and a release position and a pivoting movement of the release lever between the blocking position and the release position are oriented in a first pivoting direction, and that the lever is arranged in such a way that a pivoting movement of the lever from the locking position into the unlocking position takes place in a second pivoting direction which is oriented opposite to the first pivoting direction. Preferably, it is provided that the locking and the release lever are adapted to one another in such a way that, when the release lever is actuated in the form of a pivoting movement about the third pivot axis, a pivoting movement of the locking in the same direction about the second pivot axis takes place. In particular both a pivot angle for the locking and a pivot angle for the release lever are chosen within an angular interval of less than 20 degrees.

Furthermore, it can be provided that geometries of the locking and the release lever are adapted to each other in such a way that a mutual pivoting angle limitation for the pivoting movements of the locking and the release lever is ensured. It is particularly advantageous if the third end face of the release lever rests against a corresponding surface section of the locking in the release position of the locking and the release lever, whereby the desired pivoting angle limitation for the pivoting movements of the latch and the release lever is achieved.

Advantageously, the first pivot axis, the second pivot axis and the third pivot axis are aligned parallel to each other.

In a further embodiment of the invention, it is provided that a spring is associated with the release lever and the locking, which spring is designed for introducing torques directed in opposite directions onto the release lever and the locking and/or that a spring is associated with the lever, which spring is designed for providing a torque directed into the release position onto the lever. Preferably, it is provided that a spring associated with the release lever and the locking exerts a spring force or a torque on the release lever which results in the release lever being biased into the blocking position while the locking is biased into the release position. Accordingly, a deflection of the release lever from the blocking position into a release position, as can be caused by the application of force by a user, leads to an automatic pivoting movement of the locking from the locking position into the release position. This cancels the transmission of the braking force from the locking, in particular from the locking part, to the lever. The lever is preferably connected to a spring that is preloaded in such a way that the lever is transferred from the locking position to the release position while reducing the internal preload of the spring.

It is expedient if, in the locking position, the lever rests with a first end region on a housing section of the locking housing and/or that, in the release position of the release lever, the protrusion of the locking rests against a support surface arranged adjacent to the third end face of the release lever. This design of the lever and of the locking housing ensures that after a manual release of the latch, in which both the lever is pivoted out of the locking position into the unlocking position and the release lever and the locking are pivoted in the same direction, a pivoting movement of the lever in the direction of the locking position also causes a corresponding, in particular opposite, pivoting movement of the locking out of the release position into the locking position.

Preferably, the lever and the locking are adapted to each other in such a way that when the lever is pivoted from the unlocking position into the locking position, for which purpose a force application to the lever is required anyway in order to increase the internal pretension of the spring, a force transmission to the locking takes place, whereby the locking can also be transferred from the unlocking position into the locking position while increasing the internal pretension of the spring.

It is particularly advantageous if, in the course of the pivoting movement of the locking into the locking position, the release lever also assumes the blocking position relative to the locking due to the internal pretension of the associated spring without any further action on the part of the user. In such an embodiment of the latch, a single actuating movement is sufficient to move both the coupling between the first component and the second component and the transfer of the movable components: lever, locking and release lever of the locking into the respective functional position, in which the desires coupling between the first component and the second component is maintained until either a manual release or an automated release of the latch occurs.

Preferably, it is provided that the lever is displaceable from the locking position to the unlocking position without requiring a movement of the locking from the locking position and without requiring a movement of the release lever from the blocking position if the braking force which is exerted by the resiliently supported locking member is overcome. To perform this function, the elastically supported locking part is provided, which, depending on a design of the lever, provides either a braking force which is transmitted as a frictional force or is transmitted by a combination of a frictional force and a deformation force for the spring of the locking occurring due to the form-fitting coupling between the locking part and the lever when the lever is deflected from the locking position into the unlocking position.

It is particularly preferred that the lever is formed in one piece, so that there is no separation between a section of the lever provided for contact with the second component and a section of the lever provided for actuation by an operator. The counterholder arranged at the end of the lever and intended for direct contact with the second component is not included in this definition, since the counterholder is preferably intended to permit a variable positioning relative to the lever in order to permit adjustment of the latch.

In an alternative embodiment of the latch, it is provided that the locking housing is mounted on the base body so as to be linearly movable and that a spring, which is supported on the base body, is designed to provide a spring force aligned in the direction of the release lever. When the release lever is moved from the locking position to the release position, a linear movement of the locking housing is thus enabled, whereby the locking region of the locking is moved away from the lever in such a way that the lever can be pivoted out of the locking position by an operator without any major effort. This results in a relaxation of the spring which is supported on the base body, whereby it is preferably provided that the spring also has an internal pretension in the release position in order to ensure a defined positioning for the locking.

In a further development of the latch, it is provided that a first control surface is formed on the locking housing and that a second control surface is formed on the lever, which first control surface and second control surface are designed for initiating a compressive movement on the spring when the lever is transferred from the release position to the locking position. Due to the interaction between the first control surface and the second control surface, the locking housing undergoes a linear movement against the spring force of the spring when the lever is transferred from the release position to the locking position and is thus transferred back to its locking position. This ensures particularly convenient actuation of the latch.

Preferably, it is provided that the first control surface is circular-cylindrical and a center axis of the first control surface is aligned parallel to the center axis of the first bearing, and that the second control surface is formed as a plane or as a section of a cylindrical lateral surface. Exemplarily, the first control surface is formed by a bolt connected to the locking and having a central axis oriented parallel to the central axis of the first bearing. Particularly preferably, this bolt is fixed to an extension arm which is extended along a linear axis of movement of the locking and in the direction of the first bearing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The latch1shown inFIGS. 1 to 6in different states serves for the temporary, releasable coupling of a first component21to a second component22. Exemplarily, the first component21may be a door or maintenance hatch which may pivotally act on a (or is hinged with a) second component22such as a wall section in a building or an interior panel in an aircraft. A total of three different states are distinguished for the latch1.

The first state can be described by the first component21being coupled to the second component22with the aid of the latch1, so that, for example, a pivoting movement of the first component21relative to the second component22is prevented.

The second state can be described in that the latch1is brought, for example during maintenance work, intentionally by manual intervention of a user into a preferred position not shown in more detail, in which a pivoting movement of the first component21relative to the second component22is enabled.

In the third state, a pivoting movement of the first component21with respect to the second component22takes place, wherein the latch1releases a locking condition between the first component21and the second component22without an interaction of a user.

By way of example, it can be provided that such a release takes place in the event that a pressure difference between a first space and a second space, which are separated from one another by the first component21and the second component22, exceeds a predefined threshold value, and thus a pressure force occurring in a pivoting direction for the first component21is greater than a maximum locking force of the latch1.

According to the perspective view ofFIG. 1, the latch1comprises a base body2to which a lever3, a locking4and a release lever5are attached.

For the following description of the latch1, reference is made to the Cartesian coordinate system used inFIGS. 1 to 6with an X-axis extending along the longest extent of the latch1, a Y-axis angled 90 degrees thereto, and a Z-axis angled 90 degrees to both the X-axis and the Y-axis.

By way of example, it is provided that the base body2has a U-shaped profiling in a cross-sectional plane not shown, which is spanned by the Y-axis and the Z-axis. This U-shaped profiling of the base body2is formed by a first side wall6, which forms a first U-leg, a second side wall7, which forms a second U-leg, and a connecting section8, the connecting section8being aligned transversely to the first side wall6and to the second side wall7, respectively. It is further provided that the first side wall6and the second side wall7are each aligned parallel to each other.

In a basic position of the latch1, as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, the lever3, the locking4and the release lever5are accommodated on the base body2in such a way that an upper side10of the lever3, an upper side11of the locking4and an upper side12of the release lever5are arranged in a common plane which is arranged parallel to a plane (not shown) which comprises the Y axis and the Z-axis and which is aligned parallel to a U-shaped end face15of the base body2.

By way of example, the latch1is designed to be mounted on a plate-shaped first component21which is not shown, the first component21being provided for this purpose with a slot-shaped recess which corresponds to a geometry of the U-shaped end face15of the base body2. Accordingly, when the latch1is mounted on the first component21, the respective fastening tongues16,17,18and19projecting from the first side wall6and the second wall7come into flat contact with a rear side, which is not shown, of the first component21and enable the latch1to be fixed to the first component21by means of screws to be screwed through the respective fastening holes20.

As can be seen from the sectional views ofFIGS. 2 to 6, the lever3comprises a first lever section25extending with its greatest extension along the X axis and a second lever section26connected integrally to the first lever section25and profiled in an L-shape. A connecting region27between the first lever section25and the second lever section26is penetrated by a first recess28, formed as a circular cylindrical bore, in which a first bearing pin29is accommodated, which extends between the first side wall6and the second side wall7and which, together with the first recess28, forms a first bearing30. The first bearing30enables a pivoting movement of the lever3relative to the base body2about a first pivot axis44. Due to the arrangement and geometric configuration of the lever3and the locking4, the lever3, starting from the locking position as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, can exclusively perform a pivoting movement along an arcuate pivoting path31which is oriented in a clockwise direction according toFIGS. 2 to 6.

During the pivoting movement of the lever3from the locking position according toFIG. 2to an unlocking position as shown inFIGS. 4 and 6, a counterholder32which is arranged at the end of the second lever section26leaves a locking position, which can be seen inFIG. 2, with the second component22. Thus a transmission of force between the first component21and the second component22is cancelled and a pivoting movement of the first component21with the latch1attached thereto can be carried out with respect to the second component22. Purely by way of example, it is provided that the counterholder32is screwed with a screw portion33into a threaded hole34of the second lever section26, whereby an adjustment of the counterholder32relative to the second component22can be performed. To secure a position of the counterholder32on the second lever section26, a lock nut35is provided which can be screwed onto the screw section33of the counterholder32and can be supported on the second lever section26.

A detent protrusion36is formed on the first lever section25at an end region of the first lever section25remote from the second lever section26. This detent protrusion36extends from an underside37of the lever3remote parallel to the upper side10of the lever3along the Z axis and has a lever end face38whose surface normal39is formed at an acute angle to the X axis and transversely to a first pivot axis44of the first bearing30. The lever end face38is provided with a recess41formed in the shape of a spherical section, which is formed to receive a locking member50.

A spring42is associated with the lever3, which spring42is designed to provide a spring force directed in the direction of the arcuate pivot path31and which spring42is supported with a first end on the underside37of the lever3and with a second end on a connecting web13extending between the first side wall6and the second side wall7.

The latch4comprises a locking housing48which is formed like a sleeve with a quadratic profiled cross-section, wherein a sleeve axis49of the locking housing48is aligned parallel to the X-axis in the representation ofFIG. 2and the quadratic profiling, which is not shown, would be visible in a cross-sectional plane comprising the Y-axis and the Z-axis. A recess50of the locking housing48accommodates a support spring51, in particular a helical spring, and a locking part52and a support part53. The locking part52comprises a sleeve section54having a circular cross-section and extending along the sleeve axis49. The support spring51is received partially in the sleeve section54. On an end face55of the sleeve section54facing away from the support spring51, there is arranged a hemispheric formed locking region56, which projects along the X axis in the direction of the lever3and which passes through an end wall57provided at the end of the sleeve section54. The locking region56is thereby designed to be received in the recess41of the lever3. At an end region of the recess50in the locking housing48facing away from the end wall57, the support part53is screwed with an external thread58into an internal thread59of the locking housing48and thus enables axial support of the support spring51.

The locking housing48has a bearing protrusion60projecting in the Z-direction, which bearing protrusion60is penetrated by a second recess61formed as a circular cylindrical bore. A second bearing pin62is accommodated in the second recess61, which second bearing pin62extends between the first side wall6and the second side wall7and, together with the second recess61, forms a second bearing63for pivotally supporting the locking4relative to the base body2, wherein a pivoting movement of the locking4relative to the base body2takes place about a second pivot axis45. According toFIG. 2the bearing protrusion60is formed on a lower side of the locking housing48and a locking protrusion64is formed on an upper side of the locking housing48. A maximum extension of the locking protrusion64extends along the Y-axis and has a stair-like profiling with a first end face65and a second end face66according toFIG. 2. It is provided that the first end face65and the second end face66are each flat and are aligned parallel to one another.

Furthermore, the first end face65and the second end face66are arranged offset with respect to each other both with respect to the X-axis and with respect to the Z-axis. A surface normal67of the first end face65is aligned parallel to the X axis. Furthermore the surface normal67of the first end face65is aligned transversely to a third bearing pin72, which extends between the first side wall6and the second side wall7for a pivotable mounting of the release lever5and which determines a third pivot axis about which the release lever5can be pivoted relative to the base body2. Preferably, it is provided that the surface normal67of the first end face65intersects the third bearing pin72. In particular the surface normal67intersects the third pivot axis determined by the third bearing pin72. The release lever5is formed substantially as a plane-parallel plate and is penetrated by a third recess71which serves to receive the third bearing pin72. It is further provided that the release lever5has a third end face70, the surface normal73of which intersects the third bearing bolt72. The third bearing bolt72, together with the third recess71, forms the third bearing74.

A spring79is associated with the locking4and with the release lever5, which spring79introduces a spring force to the locking4, which results in a torque for the locking4about the second bearing63. According toFIGS. 2 to 6this torque is oriented counterclockwise. Furthermore, the spring force of the spring79acting on the release lever5results in a torque about the third bearing74, this torque being oriented clockwise. As a result of these two opposing torques, the first end face65of the locking protrusion64and the third end face70of the release lever5are pressed against each other. The force effect between the first end face65and the third end face70is essentially aligned parallel to the X axis, so that there is no unwanted torque on the release lever5. In addition, the release lever5rests with an underside77adjacent to the third end face70, preferably aligned at an acute angle to the X axis, on a horizontal surface69aligned parallel to the X axis and arranged between the first end face65and the second end face66, thereby also ensuring support of the torque of the spring79acting on the release lever5.

According toFIG. 2, the latch1assumes a locking position in which a coupling of the first component21with the second component22is ensured by means of the latch1, which corresponds to the first state described above. A decoupling of the first component21from the second component22can take place in two different ways.

According to a first way of decoupling a manual intervention by an operator (not shown) takes place. The operator exerts an operating force75, shown schematically inFIG. 2, on the release lever5in such a way that the release lever5is transferred from the blocking position according toFIG. 2along an arcuate swivel path76aligned concentrically with the third bearing pin72into a release position, as shown inFIG. 3. This pivoting movement of the release lever5enables a pivoting movement of the locking4about the second bearing pin62wherein this pivoting movement is oriented in the same direction as the pivoting movement of the release lever5and is caused by the spring79. The pivoting movement of the locking4ends as soon as the first end face65of the locking4comes into contact with a fourth end face78of the release lever5, which is formed offset parallel to the third end face70on the release lever5. Due to the pivoting movement of the locking4, a form-fitting operative connection between the locking protrusion64and the lever3is cancelled, so that the lever2is transferred from the locking position as shown inFIG. 2to the unlocking position as shown inFIG. 4due to the internal bias of the spring42.

In the case of a desired coupling of the first component21to the second component22using the latch1an operator (not shown) applies a force to the lever3such that the latter is moved from the unlocked position as shown inFIG. 4and in the direction opposite to the direction of the arrow for the arcuate pivoting path31in the direction of the locked position, therewith increasing the internal pretension of the spring42. Finally the underside37of the lever3comes into contact with the locking housing48, so that if sufficient force is applied to the lever3, a pivoting movement of the locking4about the second bearing63is also performed. In this case, an increase in the internal preload for the spring79takes place. Furthermore, this enables a movement of the release lever5from the release position according toFIGS. 3 and 4into the blocking position according toFIG. 2, so that at the end of this coupling process the initial situation shown inFIG. 2is again achieved.

According to a second way of decoupling, force effects are present between the first component21and the second component22which result in a force being applied in a negative direction along the Z-axis to the counterholder32, this causes a torque to act in a clockwise direction around the first bearing30. This torque is countered by a braking torque caused by the frictional and positive operative connection between the locking protrusion64and the recess41in the lever3and furthermore caused by the internal pretension of the support spring51.

In the following description of the second embodiment of a latch81illustrated inFIGS. 7 to 10, components which are identical or at least functionally identical to components of the first embodiment of the latch1are provided with the same reference signs and are not described again.

The latch81differs from the latch1in that the locking84is mounted on the base body82so as to be linearly movable and is subjected to a spring force by a spring86, which is supported on an extension arm87associated with the locking84and on a support pin88. For this purpose, it is provided that a central axis89of the spring86is aligned parallel to a movement axis90of the locking84and assumes a compressed position with internal spring tension in the rest position of the latch81, as shown inFIG. 7. The axis of movement90of the locking84is determined by an elongated hole91in the base body82and a guide pin93received on the locking housing92and engaging in the elongated hole91. Here, the elongated hole91serves as a slotted guide for the guide pin93. If necessary, it can be provided that the locking housing92engages with a further guide bolt (not shown) in a further elongated hole in the base body82(also not shown) in order to ensure a clear restriction of the mobility for the locking housing92to a single linear degree of freedom of movement.

Preferably, it is provided that the extension arm87, which extends from the locking housing92in the direction of the first bearing30and which is equipped at an end region94with a bore95for receiving the spring86, in the rest position according toFIG. 7surrounds the locking protrusion96of the lever83in a frame-like manner and thus defines a receiving region97. In the receiving region97, a control pin98is provided which is aligned transversely to the plane of representation ofFIG. 7and is arranged parallel to the first bearing30, is connected to the cantilever87and has a circular-cylindrical outer surface99which can be referred to as the first control surface.

A surface100is formed on the detent protrusion96opposite the control pin98and facing away from the locking part52, which surface100is also referred to as the second control surface and is provided for contacting the outer surface99of the control pin98.

The function of the control pin98and the surface100is to enable a defined displacement of the locking84when performing a pivoting movement of the lever83from the unlocked position according toFIG. 8to the locked position according toFIG. 7, without a user having to access the locking84for this purpose. Rather, the interaction of the surface100with the outer surface99causes a displacement motion for the control pin98from the lever83so that it is linearly displaced to the locking position under compression of the spring86, thereby ensuring the locking of the lever83. In the course of this linear displacement of the locking84, the release lever5is also transferred to the locking position by the action of the spring79.

With regard to an overpressure-induced release of the latch81, there are no significant differences compared to the latch1. As in the case of the latch1, the locking84remains in its locking position when a triggering torque defined by interaction between the locking84and the lever83is exceeded. Only the locking part52is linearly displaced for a short time due to the action of the overpressure-induced torque on the lever83, so that the positive connection between the locking part52and the lever83is cancelled. As soon as this is the case, the lever83can be pivoted into the open position as shown inFIG. 10without any further resistance to movement, thereby releasing the component to be locked.