Patent Abstract:
A lock ( 10 ) is provided for a vehicle, particularly for a vehicle seat that interacts with a counterelement (B) in the locked state. The lock includes a catch ( 15 ) pivotally supported about a first bearing pin ( 14 ), having a holder ( 15   a ) for the counterelement (B) and a functional surface ( 15   b ), and at least one securing element ( 20, 22 ) pivotally supported about a second bearing pin ( 18 ). The securing element interacts in the locked state, at least intermittently, with the functional surface ( 15   b ) in order to secure the locked state of the lock ( 10 ). The counterelement (B) approaches the functional surface ( 15   b ), the catch ( 15 ) having a contact lug ( 30 ) that comes into contact with the counterelement (B) approaching the functional surface ( 15   b ) before the counterelement (B) can come into contact with the functional surface ( 15   b ).

Full Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a United States National Phase application of International Application PCT/EP2008/002093 and claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 of German Patent Application DE 10 2007 016 409.4 filed Mar. 30, 2007, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention relates to a lock for a vehicle seat, the lock in a locked state, interacting with a counter element, the lock having a latch which is mounted pivotably about a first bearing bolt and has a receptacle for the counter element and a functional surface and with at least one securing element which is mounted pivotably about a second bearing bolt and, in the locked state, interacts at least temporarily with the functional surface in order to secure the locked state of the lock. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    In a lock of this type known from DE 101 15 667 A1, a plurality of components which are movable relative to one another are provided. When tolerances occur or in the event of an impact of such components at a certain relative speed, noises may be produced. It is therefore known through use to provide elastic elements which compensate for tolerances or relative speeds. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The invention is based on the object of further improving a lock of the type mentioned at the beginning. 
         [0005]    A lock for a vehicle and a vehicle seat with the lock are provided. The lock, in a locked state, interacts with a counter element. The lock has a latch which is mounted pivotably about a first bearing bolt and has a receptacle for the counter element and a functional surface. The lock has at least one securing element which is mounted pivotably about a second bearing bolt and, in the locked state, interacts at least temporarily with the functional surface in order to secure the locked state of the lock. During the transfer from an unlocked state into the locked state, the counter element approaches the functional surface, and the latch has a contact lug which comes into contact with the counter element, which is approaching the functional surface, before the counter element can come into contact with the functional surface. 
         [0006]    During the transfer from an unlocked state of the lock according to the invention into the locked state, the counter element approaches the functional surface. Since the latch has a contact lug which comes into contact with the counter element, which is approaching the functional surface, before the counter element can come into contact with the functional surface, an impact of the preferably metallic counter element against the preferably metallic functional surface is avoided. A possible formation of noise is therefore reduced. At the same time, the functional surface can continue to be exposed in order, in direct interaction with the securing element or the securing elements, to hold the latch in a manner free from play and to secure the locked state without noise dampers being arranged in the force flux. 
         [0007]    The contact lug is preferably arranged directly adjacent to the functional surface and preferably projects in the direction from which the counter element approaches. The contact lug is of as stiff a design as possible in order to continue to prevent contact of the counter element and of the functional surface even after a small—in particular elastic—deformation. Obstruction of the counter element on its path into the receptacle of the latch is avoided by the contact lug not protruding over the functional surface by much (“height”) in comparison to the other dimensions of the components. The latch is preferably secured by a catching and clamping system, as described, for example, in DE 44 39 644 A1. 
         [0008]    The lock according to the invention is preferably used for a vehicle seat, the backrest of which can be locked to the vehicle structure. However, it may also be used at a different location on the vehicle seat, for example for locking the vehicle seat to the vehicle floor, or at a different location in a vehicle, for example for the locking of doors or engine hoods. 
         [0009]    The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses, reference is made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    In the drawings: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is an exploded illustration of the exemplary embodiment according to the invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the latch according to the invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a section through the exemplary embodiment along line III-III in  FIGS. 5 and 6  and shown in the locked state; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a section corresponding to  FIG. 3  in the unlocked state; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a section through the exemplary embodiment along the line V-V in  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a section through the exemplary embodiment along the line VI-VI in  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a schematic side view of a vehicle seat; and 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is a partial view of the exemplary embodiment showing a state during the locking operation; 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  is a partial view of the exemplary embodiment showing another state during the locking operation; 
           [0020]      FIG. 10  is a partial view of the exemplary embodiment showing another state during the locking operation; and 
           [0021]      FIG. 11  is a partial view of the exemplary embodiment showing another state during the locking operation; 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0022]    Referring to the drawings in particular, a vehicle seat  1  is provided in a rear row of seats in a motor vehicle. The vehicle seat  1  has a seat part  3  and a backrest  4  which is pivotable relative to the seat part  3 . The backrest  4  can be locked—releasably for the user—to the vehicle structure S of the motor vehicle by means of at least one lock  10  and a counter element B. In this case, the lock  10  can be attached to the backrest  4  and the counter element B to the vehicle structure S, or vice versa. The counter element B is, for example, a bolt or a bar with a round, in particular circular or oval, cross section. 
         [0023]    The lock  10  comprises a housing  12  which, in the present case, is of single-part and half-open design, but may also be in two parts and closed. A first bearing bolt  14  protrudes vertically from the housing  12  and, in the present case, is drawn in the form of a projection out of the material of the metallic housing  12 . The hollow, first bearing bolt  14  supports a pivotable latch  15 . The directional details used below refer to the cylindrical coordinates defined as a result. For interaction with the counter element B, the housing  12  and the latch  15  have a respective receptacle  12   a  and  15   a  which intersect each other in a locked state of the lock  10 . In an unlocked state of the lock  10 , the latch  15  is pivoted in such a manner that its receptacle  15   a  and the receptacle  12   a  of the housing  12  are ready to receive the counter element B. The otherwise metallic latch  15  has a cap  17  made of plastic which covers partial regions of the latch  15 , in particular the edges of the receptacle  15   a . The cap  17  can come into direct contact with the counter element B. 
         [0024]    A second bearing bolt  18  which is parallel to the first bearing bolt  14  likewise protrudes vertically from the housing  12  and, in the present case, is likewise drawn in the form of a projection out of the material of the metallic housing  12 . The hollow, second bearing bolt  18  supports a catch element  20  and, offset thereto along the second bearing bolt  18 , a clamping eccentric  22 , said catch element and clamping eccentric both being pivotable independently of each other in the plane of the latch  15 . The latch  15 , the catch element  20  and the clamping eccentric  22  are each prestressed in a pivoting direction, in the present case by means of springs  24 , with the latch  15  being prestressed in its opening direction and the catch element  20  and the clamping eccentric  22  being prestressed in their closing direction. The prestressed clamping eccentric  22  acts in the locked state of the lock  10  by means of a clamping surface  22   a , which is curved eccentrically with respect to the second bearing bolt  18 , in order to exert a closing moment on the latch  15 . A functional surface  15   b  of the latch  15  interacts with the clamping surface  22   a , with the angle between the clamping surface  22   a  and the functional surface  15   a  lying outside the self-locking region. The functional surface  15   b  is formed in that region of the metallic latch  17  which is otherwise covered by the cap  17 , but the cap  17  has an aperture at this location in order to permit direct contact with the metallic functional surface  15   b.    
         [0025]    In the locked state of the lock  10 , the catch element  20  is arranged with a catch surface  20   a  at a distance from the functional surface  15   b . If, in the event of a crash, the latch  15  exerts an opening moment on the clamping eccentric  22  by means of the forces occurring between the lock  10  and counter element B and begins to open said clamping eccentric, the latch  15 , after a short pivoting distance, comes with its functional surface  15   b  into contact with the catch surface  20   a . The angle between the catch surface  20   a  and the functional surface  15   b  lies within the self-locking region, i.e. the latch  15  cannot exert an opening moment on the catch element  20 . The catch element  20  therefore supports the latch  15  in the event of a crash. The catch element  20  and the clamping eccentric  22  are therefore securing elements. They are both of metallic design. 
         [0026]    To improve the load bearing capacity of the lock  10 , in particular in the event of a crash, in the present case a coupling plate  26  is provided, said coupling plate being placed onto the two bearing bolts  14  and  18  and being secured on the bearing bolts  14  and  18  by means of two securing rings  28 . The latch  15 , the catch element  20  and the clamping eccentric  22  are therefore arranged spatially between the housing  12  and coupling plate  26 . 
         [0027]    The latch  15  has a contact lug  30  laterally offset from the functional surface  15   b , or, more precisely, offset from the functional surface  15   b  toward the housing  12  in the axial direction with respect to the first bearing bolt  14 . The contact lug  30  projects in the circumferential direction, i.e. in the pivoting direction of the latch  15 , in relation to the functional surface  15   b , in the present case by approximately 0.5 mm. Since, in the present case, the latch  15  bears a cap  17 , in particular also in the region surrounding the functional surface  15   b , in the present case the contact lug  30  is integrally formed on the cap  17 , i.e. is formed as a single piece therewith. The contact lug  30  is therefore composed of plastic. The contact lug  30  could also be a separately formed component which is fastened to the latch  15 . The contact lug  30  does not have any particular function in the locked state of the lock  10  and during the unlocking operation. 
         [0028]    Starting from an unlocked state of the lock  10 , the unlocked lock  10  and the counter element B approach each other during the locking operation, i.e. during the transfer from the unlocked state into the locked state. In the process, the contact lug  30  moves ahead of the functional surface  15   b . The contact lug  30  comes into contact with the counter element B. The contact lug  30  absorbs the impact and therefore serves as an impact protection means. The material of the contact lug  30  is deformed as little as possible so that the counter element B does not come into contact with the functional surface  15   b . The contact lug  30  therefore prevents formation of noise upon impact of the metallic functional surface  15   b  and metallic counter element B with each other. 
         [0029]    Over the further course of the locking operation, the counter element B—owing to a closing pivoting movement of the latch  15  which is acted upon by the counter element B—then passes from the contact lug  30  into the adjoining receptacle  15   a  of the latch  15  and to the base of the receptacle  12   a  of the housing  12 . The counter element B is then held between an edge region of the receptacle  15   a  of the latch  15  and an edge region of the receptacle  12   a  of the housing  12 . The catch element  20  and the clamping eccentric  22 —owing to their prestressing—execute a closing pivoting movement toward the latch  15 . 
         [0030]    The latch  15  is secured in the locked state by the clamping eccentric  22  in normal circumstances and by the catch element  20  in the event of a crash. For the unlocking operation, i.e. the transfer from the locked state into the unlocked state, the catch element  20  is first of all opened, i.e. pivoted away from the functional surface  15   b . The clamping eccentric  22  is then carried along by the catch element  20  or the actuating element thereof and is likewise opened. In the present case, the latch  15  opens on account of its prestressing. 
         [0031]    While specific embodiments of the invention have been described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8