Abstract:
A pivotable vehicle component is usable as a load or pass-through in a vehicle seat and include a pivotable latch which prevents the pivotable component from being unlatched from a force being applied by luggage (or other objects) during rapid decelerations such as in a crash.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS 
     This Application is a National Phase application of PCT/EP2005/052636 entitled, “VEHICLE COMPONENT AND METHOD FOR SECURING A PIVOTABLE COMPONENT AGAINST OPENING IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH” filed on Jun. 8, 2005 which published under PCT Article 21(2)2 on Jun. 22, 2006 as WO 2006/063871 A1 in the German language, which claims priority to German patent application DE102004028846.1 filed Jun. 16, 2004, the entire disclosures of which, including the specification and drawings, are expressly incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure relates to a vehicle component, preferably a backrest of a seat, which includes a pivotable component, preferably a through-load hatch with a lock. 
     To increase the loading volume, the passenger compartment and the luggage compartment in vehicles are frequently separated by pivotable walls, seats or by through-load hatches, so that the passenger compartment may be used at least partially as a luggage compartment. Through-load hatches, in particular, have the advantage that long objects such as skis may be loaded into a passenger vehicle without a seat having to be folded down. To help ensure that, in the event of an accident, at least when walls, seats or through-load hatches are folded up, no luggage penetrates the passenger compartment or the through-load hatch does not spring open, it is best to ensure that the through-load hatches do not open by means of the forces acting on the walls, seats or the through-load hatch. 
     Thus, it would be desirable to provide an inexpensive vehicle component which may be easily produced and assembled, which does not open in the event of an accident. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one embodiment, a vehicle component includes a pivotable component with a lock, the lock comprising a detent hook which, when operational, may be rotated about a first rotational axis from a locked position into an unlocked position, the unlocked pivotable component being able to be folded about a second rotational axis in an opening direction from a substantially vertical resting position into a substantially horizontal loading position, the first rotational axis being displaced in relation to the pivotable component and/or the detent hook being displaced in relation to the first rotational axis from an operating position into a crash position, when the pivotable component is in the locked resting position and by means of a force acting in the opening direction of the pivotable component, so that the detent hook preferably cooperates in a reversible manner with the pivotable component such that said component may not be unlocked. 
     The displacement of the rotational axis, according to one exemplary embodiment, in relation to the pivotable component and/or the displacement of the detent hook in relation to the rotational axis, ensures that the pivotable component may not be unlocked and therefore no luggage is able to penetrate the passenger compartment by means of the pivotable component, when the pivotable component is located in the locked resting position. In one embodiment, the detent hook cooperates in a reversible manner with the pivotable component in the event of an unintended incident such that the component is not able to be unlocked, which allows the vehicle component to be reused without repair costs, if the vehicle component has not been damaged during the incident. 
     According to one embodiment, the first rotational axis may be displaced in relation to the pivotable component, and/or the detent hook may be displaced in relation to the first rotational axis, from an operating position into a crash position. Preferably, one of the pivotable component and the detent hook may comprise a recess, preferably a slot, particularly preferably an elongated hole, by means of which the first rotational axis may be displaced in a controlled manner in relation to the pivotable component and/or the detent hook may be displaced in a controlled manner in relation to the first rotational axis. The recess guides the rotational axis and/or the detent hook in the event of a crash into the preferred crash position, so that it is no longer possible to unlock the pivotable component. 
     In one exemplary embodiment, the lock comprises a locking part which is fixedly connected to the vehicle component, the detent hook, when operational and in the resting position of the pivotable component, cooperating with the locking part and preventing folding of the pivotable component and the pivotable component being able to be unlocked by rotating the detent hook about the first rotational axis and about the locking part. The cooperation of the locking part with the detent hook locks the pivotable component, when operational, in a simple and secure manner. 
     Preferably, in the event of an unintended incident, and in the locked resting position of the pivotable component, the detent hook acts non-positively between the locking part and the pivotable component and transmits the force acting in the event of a crash in the opening direction of the pivotable component onto the locking part. Due to the non-positive connection of the detent hook with the locking part and the pivotable component and the arrangement between the locking part and the pivotable component, the forces occurring in the event of a crash are directed into the structure of the vehicle component and thus do not act on the vehicle passengers, at least not fully. 
     In one exemplary embodiment, the detent hook comprises a detent means, preferably a nose, which cooperates with the pivotable component and, in the event of a crash and in the locked resting position of the pivotable component, prevents the unlocking of the detent hook. A detent is any means which secures the position of a component and prevents an alteration of the position. The detent means secures against the unlocking of the pivotable component by preventing, in the event of an unintended incident, the alteration of the position of the detent hook. The detent means may, in the event of an incident, plastically and/or elastically deform and therefore also possibly act in a locking manner. 
     In a one embodiment, the lock comprises an unlocking lever which, when operational, may be rotated about the first rotational axis and by the rotation of which the detent hook may be rotated from the locked position into the unlocked position. Easy operation of the pivotable component is possible using the unlocking lever. 
     In one embodiment, the lock comprises a spring or biasing means, preferably a spring, which holds the first rotational axis and/or the detent hook in the operating position and preferably, after the incident, transfers the first rotational axis and/or the detent hook into the operating position again. The spring means increases the operational reliability of the lock and by the preferred transfer of the detent hook from the crash position into the operating position after a crash, preferably due to the return force of the spring, allows the first rotational axis and/or the detent hook to be transferred again into the operating position, so that the reuse of the vehicle component is possible without repair costs, if the vehicle component has not been damaged during the crash. The spring means may additionally serve always to return the unlocking lever into its locked position. Preferably, in the event of a crash, the first rotational axis is displaced in relation to the pivotable component and/or the detent hook is displaced in relation to the first rotational axis against the force of the spring means. It is thereby ensured that the pivotable component has not already been prevented from being unlocked by forces occurring when operational, but that a minimum force is required therefor, which preferably does not occur when operational. The spring means may also be a means which is plastically deformed in the event of a crash. 
     Preferably, in one embodiment, at least the unlocking lever and the detent hook of the lock are produced in one piece. As a result, the number of components is small and the lock may be produced and assembled inexpensively and easily. Preferably, the pivotable component and/or the lock are produced from plastic which is inexpensive and, as a result of which, the vehicle component has a low weight. 
     The vehicle component ensures that, in the event of a crash, no luggage is able to penetrate from the luggage compartment into the passenger compartment, by means of a pivotable component of the vehicle component, if the pivotable component is in the locked resting state before the crash. The lock of the pivotable component may be produced and assembled easily and inexpensively and the vehicle component has a low weight. Preferably, the pivotable component may be reused without repair costs, after a crash, if the vehicle component has not been damaged during the crash. The pivotable component is able to be easily operated by a passenger. 
     In one exemplary embodiment, a method for securing a pivotable component against opening in the event of a crash, which may be locked by means of a lock which comprises a detent hook which, when operational, may be rotated about a first rotational axis from a locked position into an unlocked position, the unlocked pivotable component being able to be folded about a second rotational axis in an opening direction from a substantially vertical resting position into a substantially horizontal loading position, the first rotational axis, in the event of an unintended incident in the locked resting position of the pivotable component, being displaced in a reversible manner by a force acting in the opening direction of the pivotable component, preferably such that the pivotable component may not be unlocked. The method may be carried out in a simple manner. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A vehicle component is explained below by reference to  FIGS. 1-6   b . The explanations are merely exemplary. 
         FIG. 1  shows a vertical cross-section through a vehicle component, in this case through a backrest of a seat. 
         FIG. 2  shows a vertical cross-section of a lock of a pivotable component, in this case of a through-load hatch, of the vehicle component of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  shows the lock of  FIG. 2  in a locked position when operational. 
         FIG. 4  shows the lock of  FIG. 2  in a unlocked position when operational. 
         FIG. 5  shows the lock of  FIG. 2  in the locked position in the event of a crash. 
         FIG. 6   a  shows the pivotable component with the lock of  FIG. 2  in a horizontal cross-section in the locked position, when operational. 
         FIG. 6   b  shows the pivotable component  2  with the lock of  FIG. 2  in a horizontal cross-section in the locked position in the event of a crash. 
         FIG. 7  shows a backrest of a vehicle seat including a pivotable component configured in a substantially vertical resting position. 
         FIG. 8  shows the backrest of  FIG. 7  with the pivotable component configure in a substantially horizontal loading position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-6   b  and, in particular to  FIG. 1 , a vehicle component  1 , in this case a backrest of a seat is shown. The term “backrest” is, therefore, used hereinafter for the vehicle component  1 . The backrest  1  separates a passenger compartment  4  from a luggage compartment  20  and comprises a pivotable component  2 , in this case a through-load hatch, for example, for skis and other lengthy items. The term “hatch” is, therefore, used hereinafter for the pivotable component  2 . When operational, the hatch  2  is able to be folded in a reversible manner from a substantially vertical resting position, shown in  FIG. 1 , to a substantially horizontal loading position about a second rotational axis  5  in an opening direction, which is shown by the arrow  3 . The through-load hatch  2  may be locked in a reversible manner to the backrest  1 , by means of a lock  8 , in the resting position. The locking and/or unlocking of the lock  8  is carried out by the unlocking lever  6  which, when operational, may be rotated about a first rotational axis  11  which is shown in  FIG. 2 , whereby the hatch  2  may be unlocked into an unlocked position. In the sense of the explanations, the term, “when operational” means the normal use situation of the vehicle in contrast to an unintended incident, accident or crash situation. For easier handling of the unlocking lever  6  the hatch comprises a recessed grip  7 . 
       FIG. 2  shows the lock  8  of the through-load hatch  2  of  FIG. 1  in a vertical cross-section. The hatch  2 , which comprises the recessed grip  7  for easier handling of the unlocking lever  6 , is shown. The unlocking lever  6  may be rotated about a first rotational axis  11 .  FIG. 2  shows the lock  8  when operational in the locked position. The first rotational axis  11  is in the operating position  18 . A recess  12  is also visible, in this case an elongated hole, in which, in the event of a crash, in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , the first rotational axis  11  is displaced in relation to the hatch  2  into a crash position  19 . The first rotational axis  11  is formed in this case by a pin  13 . When rotating the unlocking lever  6  about the first rotational axis  11 , the detent hook  17  which, in this embodiment of the vehicle component  1 , is integral with the unlocking lever  6 , is rotated about the first rotational axis  11  and about a locking part  9 . The locking part  9  is arranged in a receiver  10  for the locking part  9 . The detent hook  17  is arranged in the locked position between the locking part  9  and the hatch  2  and is rotated, when rotating about the first rotational axis  11 , about the locking part  9 , so that the hatch  2  is unlocked. For securing in the event of a crash, the detent hook  17  comprises a detent means  16 , in this case a nose. 
       FIG. 3  shows the lock  8  of  FIG. 2  in the locked position when operational. The detent hook  17  and/or the first rotational axis  11  and/or the pin  13 , which in this embodiment forms the first rotational axis  11 , are held in the operating position  18  by a spring or biasing means  14 , in this case a spring. The term “spring” is used hereinafter for the biasing means  14 . Additionally, the unlocking lever  6  is held by the spring  14  in the locked position shown. 
       FIG. 4  shows the lock  8  of  FIG. 2  in the unlocked position when operational. By rotating the unlocking lever  6  against the force of the spring  14  and, as a result, the detent hook  17  about the first rotational axis  11  and/or the pin  13 , the hatch  2  is unlocked, the pin  13  remaining in the operating position  18 . As the rotational axis  11  is in the operating position, the detent nose may be rotated past the hatch  2 . The spring  14  is tensioned during the unlocking and preferably moves the detent hook  17  into the locked position. 
       FIG. 5  shows the lock  8  of  FIG. 2  in the locked position in the event of a crash. By means of a force  15  in the opening direction  3  of the hatch  2 , in this embodiment the first rotational axis  11  and/or the pin  13  is displaced to the right in the recess  12  in relation to the hatch  2  into the crash position  19 . As a result, the detent hook  17  may no longer rotate past the hatch  2  into the unlocked position. The detent hook  17  acts non-positively between the fixedly arranged locking part  9  and the hatch  2 , and directs the occurring forces into the structure of the seat. Additionally, the detent hook  17  comprises a detent means  16 , in this case a nose which, in the event of a crash, at least partially bears against the hatch  2  and prevents the unlocking of the detent hook  17 . The first rotational axis  11  is displaced against the force of the spring  14  and, after the crash, is transferred into the operating position  18  again, due to the return force of the spring  14 . 
       FIG. 6   a  shows the hatch  2  with the lock  8  of  FIG. 2  in a horizontal cross-section in the locked position when operational. The unlocking lever  6  and the detent hook  17  are integral with the detent means  16  and may be rotated about the pin  13  which forms the first rotational axis  11 . The pin  13  is held in two recesses  12  of the hatch  2  in the operating position  18  by two springs  14 . The locking part  9  is arranged in the receiver  10  for the locking part  9 , so that the detent hook  17  is arranged between the locking part  9  and the hatch  2  and the hatch  2  is locked. 
       FIG. 6   b  shows the hatch  2  with the lock  8  of  FIG. 2  in a horizontal cross-section in the locked position in the event of a crash. By means of a force  15  acting on the hatch  2  in the opening direction  3  of the hatch  2 , the pin  13  is displaced in the recesses  12  against the force of the springs  14  into the crash position  19 . In this position, the detent hook  17  is arranged non-positively between the locking means  9  and the hatch  2  and the detent nose  16  prevents the unlocking of the detent hook  17 .