Abstract:
A closing mechanism with a lock which contains both a rotatably supported latch and a pivotably supported pawl, which is spring-loaded toward the latch. The latch is in an open position when the door is open, and, when the door is being closed, it moves first into a prelatching position, in which the pawl engages with a prelatching notch on the latch. A closing aid moves the latch from its prelatching position into a main latching position, in which the pawl is supported on the main latching notch of the latch. When the door is opened, before the release or during the release, the closing aid be activated again not in the same direction as the preceding closing movement but rather in the opposite direction. As a result, the same component, namely, the closing aid, is used to move the latch gradually and gently back into its open position.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a closing mechanism with a movable part of a vehicle such as a (hinged) lid or door and with a resting part of the vehicle, namely, the vehicle body,
       consisting of a lock on the one part of the vehicle and a closing part on the other part;   where the lock comprises a rotatably supported latch and a pivotably supported pawl;   the latch has a receptacle for a closing part and both a prelatching notch and a main latching notch for the engagement of the pawl;   the pawl is spring-loaded in the direction toward the latch; and   the latch is in an open position when the (hinged) lid or door is open, and, when the (hinged) lid or door is being closed, the latch moves initially into a prelatching position, in which the pawl engages in the prelatching notch of the latch;   with a motorized closing aid, which, during the closing phase, moves the latch by motor power onward out of the prelatching position, thus bringing the latch into the main latching position, in which the pawl is supported on the main latching notch of the latch; and   with an actuator, acting on the pawl, to open the (hinged) lid or door;   where, upon activation of the actuator, the pawl is lifted out of the main latching notch, which thus releases the latch; and the released latch leaves its main latching position and returns to its open position, in which the (hinged) lid or door is open, wherein   while the latch is in the main latching position closed, the closing aid is activated again before the release or during the release of the latch by the pawl and, during the return movement phase, moves the latch gradually back into its open position in the direction opposite that of the preceding closing phase. The lock belonging to the closing mechanism includes a latch, a pawl, and at least one motorized closing aid. When the (hinged) lid or door is closed, the latch arrives first in a prelatching position, in which the pawl drops into a prelatching notch. Then, with the help of sensors or the like, the closing aid is activated, which then initiates the closing phase. During this closing phase, the closing aid moves the latch out of its prelatching position and into the main latching position, at which point the pawl drops into the main latching notch. The (hinged) lid or door is now completely closed.       
 
         [0012]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0013]    A closing mechanism of this type is known from DE 102 06 813 A1. During the closing phase, the elastic seals between the (hinged) lid or door and the vehicle body are compressed. Springs are also present, which try to push the (hinged) lid or door into its open position. The (hinged) lid is thus under tension. To open the (hinged) lid, an actuator is used, which lifts the pawl out of its engaged position in the main latching notch of the latch. In certain cases, this can also be done by a so-called motorized opening aid. Because of the previously mentioned tension, the (hinged) lid or door springs open abruptly and produce an unpleasant noise, which can be disturbing. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]    The invention is based on the object of developing an inexpensive closing mechanism of the type indicated in the introductory clause of Claim  1 , which makes it possible for the (hinged) lid or door to be opened conveniently and gently. This is achieved according to the invention by the measures described in Claim  1 , to which the following special meaning attaches. 
         [0015]    The invention makes use of a closing aid, i.e., a device which serves to pull the door or (hinged) lid closed, and gives it a new function, namely, that of opening the lid or door in a convenient manner in that the closing aid is also operated during the opening phase. A component which is already present, namely, the closing aid, thus acquires a double function through the invention. The first, conventional function of the closing aid is, as previously mentioned, to move the pawl out of the prelatching position in the latch into the main latching position during the closing phase. The second, new function of the closing aid is to move the latch in a defined manner gently back into its open position in the direction opposite that of the preceding closing phase. The motor of the closing aid then acts in opposition to the tension being exerted on the (hinged) lid or door. The return movement can be controlled very precisely by sensors, which are inexpensive and occupy very little space, and appropriate electronic software. Because the latch is returned to the open position by the motor of the closing aid acting in the opposite direction, no disturbing opening noises are produced. The forces acting on the seals and springs are relaxed slowly during the return movement phase of the closing aid. The (hinged) lid or door open in a controlled manner by way of the rotary latch and the closing part which engages in it. 
         [0016]    The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of the disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages, specific objects attained by its use, reference should be had to the drawing and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated and described preferred embodiments of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
       In the Drawings: 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  shows the latch of the lock in the open position, which is present while the hatchback is open, the part of the lock mounted on the vehicle body still being completely disengaged; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  shows the same closing mechanism at the time when the latch is in its prelatching position and a closing aid begins to operate, thus initiating the closing phase of the latch and thus of the (hinged) lid; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  illustrates the final part of the closing phase, where the latch has just reached the main latching position and been secured there by a pawl; 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  shows the same main latching position as that of  FIG. 3 , but here the closing aid has relaxed after the final closed state of the hatchback has been reached; 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  shows an overstroke phase of the latch, which occurs before the start of the return phase and which releases the load on the pawl, thus allowing it be lifted easily; and 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  explains how the closing aid works during the inventive return phase, in which the latch is gradually returned to its open position in the direction opposite that of the closing and overstroke movement of  FIGS. 2 and 5 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0023]    The lock  12  is located in the present case on the hatchback of a motor vehicle, only part  18  of which is shown in  FIGS. 1-6 . The housing of the lock  12  is shown open in all of the figures, for which reason the following lock parts can be seen. 
         [0024]    First there is a pawl  20 , which, when the (hinged) lid  18  is open, is located in the standby position illustrated by the auxiliary line  20 . 1  in  FIG. 1 , where it is supported by its catch projection  27  on the periphery of a latch  15 . The pawl  20  is mounted in the lock housing with freedom to pivot around an axis  26 . Another lock part is the latch  15 , which is supported rotatably on an axis  14  and has a suitable contour around its periphery, namely, both a prelatching notch  16  and a main latching notch  17 . The latch  15  is held in its open position, shown by the auxiliary line  15 . 1  in  FIG. 1 , by its own spring-loading  19 , which is active in the present case, and a rotation stop (not shown). 
         [0025]    A closing part  10  assigned to the lock  12  is designed here as a closing stirrup and is mounted on the body of the vehicle, only part  38  of which is shown. When the hatchback  18  is closed in the direction of the arrow  39 , the forward leg  11  of the closing stirrup  10 , starting from the position of  FIG. 1 , travels into a receptacle  13  in the latch  15  and moves the latch as far as the prelatching position shown in  FIG. 2 , as indicated by the auxiliary line  15 . 2 . 
         [0026]    The prelatching position  15 . 2  of the latch  15  is monitored by sensors, etc., which actuate a closing aid  60 , illustrated schematically in the figures. The closing aid  40  is connected to a motor  41  by way of a transmission mechanism, e.g., rods  43 ,  44 , where a coupling  42  can be installed in certain cases between the transmission mechanism  43 ,  44 . To make it easier to understand the active and inactive states of the coupling  42 , it is designed as a block guide  47 , in which a (sliding) block  48  is guided. The block  48  is seated on the end of the first transmission rod  43 , the inner end of which is hinged at  24  to the crank  15 . At the point where the transmission rod  43  exits the block guide  47 , the guide has an inner stop  49  for the (sliding) block  48 . In the open position  15 . 1  of the latch, the transmission rod  43 ,  44  is slack. In the open position  15 . 1  of  FIG. 1 , the coupling  42  is therefore inactive. This is indicated in  FIG. 1  by the fact that the (sliding) block  48  is a certain distance away from the inner stop  49  on the block guide  47 . This position of the (sliding) block  48  is marked by an auxiliary line  48 . 1 , which thus characterizes the “inactive state” of the coupling  42 . The transmission mechanism  43 ,  44  is now relieved of load, and the closing aid  40  is in a relaxed, neutral position. In terms of the coupling  42 , a “disengaged” state is present. 
         [0027]    When the prelatching position  15 . 2  of  FIG. 2  is reached, sensors and control means turn the motor  41  on. The motor  41  first moves the second transmission rod  44  in the direction of the arrow  45  in  FIG. 2 , as a result of which the coupling  42  is made active. That the coupling  42  is now active is indicated in  FIG. 2  by the fact that the (sliding) block  48  is now resting against the inner stop  49 . This situation is characterized in  FIG. 2  by the auxiliary line  48 . 1  on the (sliding) block  48  opposite the inner stop  49 . The line  48 . 1  therefore characterizes the “active” state of the coupling  42 . Because the coupling  42  is now active, the closing movement  45  of the transmission rod  44  is transmitted to the transmission rod  43  belonging to the (sliding) block  48  and thus brings about a closing movement of that rod. As a result, the latch  15  is rotated even farther, against its spring-loading  19 , to the position shown in  FIG. 3 , which is indicated by the auxiliary line  15 . 3 . What we are seeing now is the “closing” phase of the closing aid  40 . Seals between the car body  48  and (hinged) lid  18  are compressed. This tensioning work is performed by the motor  41  of the closing aid  40 . Then the catch projection  27  of the pawl  20  drops behind the main latching notch  18  of the pawl. The closing stirrup  10  has reached its end position in the lock  12 . In  FIG. 3 , the hatchback  18  is in its completely closed position. This is established by sensors, which act on the lock components and/or on the (hinged) lid  18 . The sensors feed this information to an electrical control unit, which, on the basis of its electrical control program, first stops the motor  41 . This limit situation is illustrated in  FIG. 3 . As can be seen on the basis of the auxiliary line  48 . 2 , the coupling  42  is still inactive. 
         [0028]    As  FIG. 4  shows, however, the tensioned position  48 . 2  of  FIG. 3  is not permanent; the motor control program now moves the motor  41  a certain distance backward in the direction of the arrow  22  of  FIG. 4 . Because of the control action of the linkage in the area of the coupling  42 , however, only the motor-side transmission rod  44  moves back; the latch-side transmission rod  43  rests, because, as previously mentioned, the main latching position  15 . 3  of the latch  15  is still present in  FIG. 4 . Because of the previously mentioned relative movement of the two transmission rods  43 ,  44  with respect to each other, the closing aid  40  relaxes; the (sliding) block  48  is again a certain distance away from the inner stop  49 . In  FIG. 4 , the disengaged position of the coupling  42  is again present, as indicated by the auxiliary line  48 . 1 . The elastic forces of the compressed seals between the hatchback  18  and the link  38 , i.e., forces which the closing stirrup  10  exerts on the latch  15 , are absorbed by the catch projection  27  of the pawl and carried away via its pivot axis  26 . 
         [0029]    An actuator (not shown) is also provided to open the hatchback  18 ; it can be designed in any known manner. Thus, the actuator could be a component of a so-called ID transmitter, such as an electronic key, which is in the possession of an authorized person and which cooperates by remote control with a receiver present in the vehicle. This actuator, too, has a double function in the invention. A first function of the actuator is to cooperate directly or indirectly with the pawl  20 . The second function of the actuator is associated with the present invention and consists in initiating a return movement of the closing aid, which will be described in greater detail on the basis of  FIGS. 5 and 6 . 
         [0030]    In the present exemplary embodiment, the first function of the actuator is realized by a motorized opening aid  30 . When the actuator is actuated, an electrical control unit puts an additional motor  31  into operation, which acts on a cam  32  by way of transmission parts, e.g., a worm and a worm gear  33 . In the present case, the worm gear  33  and the cam  32  have a common axis  35 . The motor  31  turns the cam  32  in the direction of the arrow  34  of  FIG. 5 .  FIG. 6  illustrates what the opening aid  30  does next. 
         [0031]    Upon rotation  34  of the cam  32 , the maximum point on the cam control surface  36  meets an opposing control surface  21  on the pawl  20 , which is then pivoted in opposition to its spring-loading  29  away from the latch  15 . The pawl  20  moves from its main latching position  20 . 3 , still present in  FIG. 5 , into a releasing position  20 . 4  in  FIG. 6 . In the releasing position  20 . 4 , the catch projection  27  has released the main latching notch  17  of the latch  15 , but it has also been pivoted back so far from the prelatching notch  16  that the prelatching notch  16  can now also move safely past the catch projection  27 , as shown by the dotted arrow  23 . 
         [0032]    In  FIG. 6 , the latch  15  is in an intermediate position, indicated by the auxiliary line  15 . 5 . In comparison with the completely engaged position of  FIG. 5 , the closing stirrup  10  has already moved back somewhat relative to the lock  12  in the direction of motion arrow  51  of  FIG. 6 . The spring-loading action of the spring provided there, present between the hatchback  18  and the body of the vehicle  38 , has already relaxed somewhat. During this relaxation, however, the closing aid  40  is also cooperating in a special way, which is to be described on the basis of  FIGS. 5 and 6 . Now the previously mentioned second function of the actuator comes into play. 
         [0033]    The second function of the actuator proceeds from the main latching position  35 . 3  of the latch in  FIG. 4  and consists in now also acting on the closing aid  40 , first turning its motor  41  a short distance in the direction of the closing movement described in conjunction with  FIG. 2 . The transmission mechanism  43 ,  44  is moved in the direction of the closing movement  45  of  FIG. 2 . The transmission mechanism  43 ,  44  thus executes the further movement illustrated by the motion arrow  50  in  FIG. 5 . The coupling  42  again arrives in the coupling position  48 . 2  of  FIG. 5 . A certain tension is built up between the (sliding) block  48  and the inner stop  49  of the block guide  47 . This is the first change to be achieved versus the previous situation of  FIG. 4 . 
         [0034]    Another difference with respect to  FIG. 4  consists in that, upon continuation of the movement  50 , the transmission rods  43 ,  44  also turn the rotary latch  15  farther out of its main latching position  15 . 3  of  FIG. 4  against its spring-loading  19  by an angle  52 . The latch thus arrives in a position, illustrated by the auxiliary line  15 . 4  in  FIG. 5 , which is to be called the “overstroke” position. As can be seen in  FIG. 5 , the pawl  20  remains initially in its main latching position  20 . 3  shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , where the support projection  28  of the pawl  28 , as a result of its spring-loading  29 , is supported on the periphery of the rotary latch  15 . A gap  53  is created between the catch projection  27  of the pawl  20  and the main latching notch  17 , as can be seen in  FIG. 5 . In the overstroke position  15 . 4  of  FIG. 5 , the elastic forces of the seals or the like, which act between the rotary latch  15  and the closing stirrup  10 , are no longer transmitted to the pawl  20  but rather are absorbed initially by the motor  41  of the closing aid  40 , acting via the transmission mechanism  43 ,  44 . The pawl  20  is free of load and can therefore be moved easily into the previously described releasing position  20 . 4  of  FIG. 6  by the actuator and, in the present case, by the opening aid  30 . 
         [0035]    In the previously described releasing position  20 . 4  of the pawl  20  in  FIG. 6 , however, the special return phase of the closing aid  40 , already mentioned above, takes place. As can be seen from the tension position of the coupling  42  illustrated by the auxiliary line  48 . 2  in  FIG. 2 , the latch  15  is also engaged and held under tension by the transmission rods  43 ,  44 . In addition to the latch&#39;s own spring loading  19 , the elasticity of the seals between the hatchback  18  and the vehicle body  38  are also acting on the latch  15 . The motor  41  of the closing aid  40  now goes into action in the direction opposite that of the closing phase  45  described in conjunction with  FIG. 2 . What happens is a return movement of the transmission mechanism  43 ,  44  and thus of the latch  15  as illustrated by the arrow  46  in  FIG. 6 . 
         [0036]    As previously mentioned, an intermediate position  15 . 5  of the latch  15  is reached in  FIG. 6 . The latch  15  is then turned even farther in the direction of the previously mentioned arrow  22  toward the open position shown in  FIG. 1 . What occurs is a gradual return movement  22 , which is carefully controlled by the motor  41  of the closing aid  40 , now acting in the direction of the arrow  46 . The compressed seals between the hatchback  18  and the vehicle body  38  can relax slowly. The rotary latch  15  is also returned by the spring-loading  19  to its open position  15 . 1  of  FIG. 1 . The lock  12  has been opened without any noise at all. 
         [0037]    When the hatchback  18  is opened, the opening aid  30  operates in the manner described, but in addition the closing aid  40  also makes a significant contribution to this process. To obtain this special cooperation between the opening aid  30  and the closing aid  40 , all that is required is suitable software and an electrical control unit to manage the interaction of these two devices  30 ,  40 . In terms of hardware, the invention can also make use of the components already present in such mechanisms in any case, namely, the opening aid  30 , the closing aid  40 , and the actuator. 
         [0038]    While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the inventive principles, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.