LOCK FOR MOTOR VEHICLE DOOR/LID WITH SEAL SYSTEM OF THE STRIKER

The present patent application for industrial invention relates to a lock for a motor vehicle door or lid, in particular for the trunk.

Various types of locks for motor vehicle doors or lids are known on the market. Such locks comprise a closing hook provided with a slot that is engaged with a "U"-shaped striker fixed to the body of the vehicle.

A stop lever, which is normally called "pawl", is engaged with the closing hook in order to lock the closing hook in closed position.

Generally, the striker is surrounded by a rubber seal that is forcedly compressed in the slot of the closing hook. Such a seal provides a seal between the striker and the closing hook and permits an extra-travel of the closing hook when the user energetically pushes the trunk lid to close it.

Such a sealing system of the striker is impaired by some drawbacks both during the assembly and the operation.

In fact, during the assembly of the lock, the operator must force the closing hook on the seal of the striker in such a way to center the box that contains the lock in order to fix it to the trunk lid. Such an operation is complicated and often results in centering errors.

Moreover, if the user pushes the trunk lid slowly in order to close it, the closing hook cannot compress the seal around the closing hook properly; therefore the closing hook does not engage the striker and the trunk lid is not closed.

US2008054151 discloses a lock comprising a closing hook and a pawl hinged to a box. A first retention lever is disposed on the pawl and is hinged in the same pivot as the pawl. A second retention lever is disposed on the closing hook, but is hinged in the box with a different pivoting axis compared to the pivoting axis of the closing hook. The striker is disposed between two cam portions of the two retention levers. Such a lock is impaired by the fact that it must be provided with two retention levers that interact with the striker.

The purpose of the present invention is to eliminate the drawbacks of the prior art by providing a lock for a vehicle door or lid that is reliable and easy to make and assemble.

Another purpose of the present invention is to disclose such a lock for vehicle door or lid that is compact, noiseless and effective.

These purposes are achieved according to the invention with the characteristics of the independent claim.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention appear from the dependent claims.

The lock for vehicle door or lid according to the invention is defined in claim 1 .

The advantages of the lock of the invention are evident. Because of the provision of the mobile bumper, such a lock avoids using a seal around the striker, thus remedying all the drawbacks of the prior art.

Additional features of the invention will appear manifest from the detailed description below, which refers to merely a illustrative, not limiting embodiment, as illustrated in the attached figures, wherein:

Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the parts of the lock of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of a closing hook of Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of a pawl of Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of a mobile bumper of Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of a cam of Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the cam of Fig. 5 in overturned position; Fig. 7 is a top view of the lock in assembled condition and in open position;

Fig. 7A is a partially sectional view of a detail of Fig. 7, which shows the position of the pin of the cam in the seat of the closing hook;

Fig. 8 is the same view as Fig. 7, except for it shows the lock during the closing of the door/lid; Fig. 8A is a partially sectional view of a detail of Fig. 8, which shows the position of the pin of the cam in the seat of the closing hook;

Fig. 9 is the same view as Fig. 8, which shows the lock in closed condition;

Fig. 10 is the same view as Fig. 9, except for it shows an extra-travel of the closing hook;

Fig. 1 1 is the same view as Fig. 10, except for it shows the lock in completely closed position;

Fig. 1 1 A is a partially sectional view of a detail of Fig. 1 1 , which shows the position of the pin of the cam in the seat of the closing hook.

With reference to the Figures, the lock of the invention is disclosed, which is generally indicated with reference numeral (100).

Reference is made to a set of three Cartesian axes (X, Y, Z) that are oriented as shown in Fig. 1 .

Now with reference to Fig. 1 , the lock (100) comprises a closing hook

(2) intended to be engaged to a striker (4) (Fig. 8) generally shaped as a "U". The striker (4) is fixed to the body of the vehicle. Instead the lock (100) is disposed in a box (1 ) fixed to the door or lid of the vehicle.

The box (1 ) has a base (10) generally made of sheet metal and a lid (1 1 ) generally made of plastics. A slot (15) is obtained in the base (10) to let the striker (4) pass through.

With reference to Fig. 2, the closing hook (2) has a plate-shaped body provided with a "U"-shaped slot (20) suitable for fastening the striker (4).

A pivoting hole (21 ) is obtained in the body (10) of the closing hook for pivoting the closing hook in the box (1 ) that contains the lock, around a pivoting axis parallel to axis Z. A pivoting pin (14a) fixes the lid (1 1 ) to the base (10) and pivots the closing hook (2) to the box (1 ).

The closing hook (2) comprises a tooth (22) that projects radially outwards in the proximity of the slot (20).

The closing hook (2) comprises a seat (23) disposed near the hole (21 ) and projecting in upper position from the closing hook. The seat (23) has an elliptical shape and two stop surfaces (23a, 23b). The closing hook (2) is stressed by a spring (M1 ) that pushes the closing hook (2) towards its opening position. With reference to Fig. 7, the spring (M1 ) exerts a moment (F1 ) on the closing hook (2) that makes the closing hook rotate in clockwise direction.

With reference to Fig. 3, a pawl (3) is provided with a pivoting hole (31 ) for hinging the pawl in the box (1 ) around a pivoting axis that is parallel to the axis Z. A pivoting pin (14b) fixes the lid (1 1 ) to the base (10) and pivots the pawl (3) to the box (1 ).

The pawl (3) has a tooth (30) that is faced towards the closing hook (2). The pawl (3) has a first arm (32) that projects from the pawl, forming an acute angle, and a second arm (33) that protrudes from the pawl, forming an obtuse angle.

The pawl has a projection (34) disposed near the hole (31 ) of the pawl in upper position. The projection (34) has an arched shape with a subtended angle that is lower than 60 °.

The pawl (3) is stressed by a spring (M2) that pushes the pawl towards its locking position. With reference to Fig. 7, the spring (M2) exerts a moment (F2) on the pawl in anticlockwise direction.

The closing hook (2) and the pawl (3) interact mutually.

With reference to Fig. 10, when the closing hook (2) is in closing position, the tooth (22) of the closing hook is stopped against the tooth (30) of the pawl, and the pawl (3) is in locking position, in such a way to prevent the closing hook (2) from opening.

The lock (100) comprises a mobile bumper (5) intended to engage the striker (4). The closing hook (2) and the mobile bumper (5) operate as two opposite jaws that engage the striker (4).

With reference to Fig. 4, the mobile bumper (5) has a "U"-shaped seat (50) suitable for hooking the striker (4), in such a way that the striker (4) is inserted in the seat (50) of the mobile bumper. The mobile bumper (5) has a hole (51 ) suitable for being disposed in register with the hole (31 ) of the pawl. In view of the above, the mobile bumper (5) is disposed above the pawl (3) and is pivoted around the pivoting pin (14b) with possibility of rotating around it.

The mobile bumper (5) is stressed by a spring (M3) that pushes it towards its locking position. With reference to Fig. 7, the spring (M3) exerts a moment (F3) on the mobile bumper in anticlockwise direction, that is to say in the same direction as the moment (F2) exerted by the spring (M2) on the pawl (3).

A circular collar (52) surrounds the hole (51 ) of the mobile bumper, said circular collar (52) being provided with two radial stop surfaces (53, 54) that subtend an arc (55) of approximately 80-100°. The projection (34) of the pawl is disposed in the arc (55) of the collar between the two radial stop surfaces (53, 54) of the mobile bumper that act as stops for the relative rotational travel of the mobile bumper (5) relative to the pawl (3).

In view of the above, the mobile bumper (5) is constrained to the pawl (3). Otherwise said, the projection (34) of the pawl and the arc (55) of the collar with the radial stop surfaces (53, 54) form first constraint means (V1 ) (Fig. 7) that constraint the relative rotation of the mobile bumper relative to the pawl.

The mobile bumper (5) has an end (56) in distal position from the hole (51 ). Said end (56) acts as follower of a cam (6), as described below.

With reference to Figs. 5 and 6 the cam (6) is disclosed.

The cam (6) comprises an internally empty cylindrical shank (60) with a hole (61 ) suitable for being disposed in register with the hole (21 ) of the closing hook. In view of the above, the cam (6) is disposed above the closing hook (2) and is pivoted around the pivoting pin (14a), with possibility of rotating around it.

A flange (62) is disposed around the shank (60) of the cam. The flange (62) is shaped as a substantially circular plate with a circular edge (63). The flange (62) has a lateral edge that is cut like a non-rectilinear chord of the circumference, defining a cam surface (64) whereon the end (56) of the mobile bumper slides. The cam surface (64) has a prominence (65) that protrudes radially outwards and a substantially planar stop surface (68). The flange (62) has a radial projection (66). A pin (67) protrudes in lower position from the radial projection (66) of the flange, being suitable for being engaged in the seat (23) of the closing hook. In view of the above, the pin (67) of the cam can move in the seat (23) of the closing hook between the stop surfaces (23a, 23b) that act as stops.

Moreover, the cam (6) is constrained to the closing hook (2). In other words, the pin (67) of the cam and the seat (23) of the closing hook form second constraint means (V2) (Fig. 7) that constrain the relative rotation of the cam relative to the closing hook.

The cam (5) is stressed by a spring (M4), which pushes it in opposite direction relative to the direction in which the closing hook (2). is pushed. With reference to Fig. 7, the spring (M4) exerts a moment (F4) on the mobile bumper (5) in anticlockwise direction.

This description continues by illustrating the operation of the lock (100). With reference to Fig. 7, initially, the pawl (3) is brought to its opening position, wherein the tooth (30) of the pawl does not interfere with the tooth (22) of the closing hook. Consequently, the closing hook (2) is pushed by the spring (M1 ) to its opening position, wherein the slot (20) of the closing hook is not in register with the slot (15) of the base of the box.

The rotation of the mobile bumper (5) is blocked because the stop surface (53) of the collar (52) of the mobile bumper is stopped against the projection (34) of the pawl.

The end (56) of the mobile bumper is disposed on the cam surface (64) of the cam (6) near the prominence (65).

With reference to Fig. 7A, the rotation of the cam (6) is prevented because the pin (67) of the cam is stopped against the stop surface (23a) of the seat (23) of the closing hook.

With reference to Fig. 8, the trunk lid is closed. Accordingly, the striker (4) is stopped against the closing hook (2), rotating the closing hook in anticlockwise direction, as indicated by the arrow (F5), against the action of the spring (M1 ). Also the cam (6) rotates in anticlockwise direction, together with the closing hook (2) because (as shown in Fig. 8A) the pin (67) of the cam is stopped against the stop surface (23b) of the seat of the closing hook.

During the rotation of the cam (6), the end (56) of the mobile bumper follows the cam surface (64) of the cam, passes beyond the prominence (65) of the cam surface and is engaged on the stop surface (68) of the cam surface. So, the cam (6) can no longer rotate in anticlockwise direction because of the action of its spring (M4). Instead, because of the shape of the cam surface (64), the mobile bumper can rotate in anticlockwise direction in order to fasten the striker (4).

In the meantime the pawl (3) is brought to its locking position, wherein the tooth (30) of the pawl is stopped against the tooth (22) of the closing hook.

The mobile bumper (5) fastens the striker (4) that is disposed in the seat (50) of the mobile bumper. In particular, the striker (4) is tightened between the seat (50) of the mobile bumper and the slot (20) of the closing hook.

Fig. 9 shows the situation in which the lock (100) is closed. The closing hook (2) and the pawl (3) are in final closing position, whereas the mobile bumper (5) and the cam (6) are not in the final closing position yet.

With reference to Fig. 10, the lock (100) permits an extra-travel of the closing hook (2) relative to the striker (4). The extra-travel occurs only if the user closes the trunk energetically. In fact, if the user pushes the trunk energetically, the closing hook (2) pushed by the striker (4) makes an extra- travel of approximately 2 mm relative to its closing position. As shown in Fig. 10, the tooth (22) of the striker is spaced by approximately 2 mm relative to the tooth (30) of the pawl.

Obviously, the mobile bumper mobile (5) must follow the closing hook (2) in the 2 mm extra-travel.

In such a case, the shape of the end (56) of the mobile bumper and the shape of the cam surface (64) of the cam are such that the end (56) of the mobile bumper slides on the cam surface (64) of the cam to allow a 2 mm extra-travel of the closing hook.

Fig. 1 1 shows a complete closing operation of the lock, wherein the cam (6) has been rotated in anticlockwise direction (in the direction of the arrow F6) by means of the action of its spring (M4). The mobile bumper (5) is provided with a spring that rotates the mobile bumper (5) in anticlockwise direction, tightening the striker (4) between the mobile bumper (5) and the closing hook (2). When the mobile bumper (5) has reached the closing position, the cam (6), which is likewise provided with a spring that makes it rotate in anticlockwise direction, will slide under the mobile bumper (5), finally locking the system in closing position.

With reference to Fig. 1 1 A, the cam (6) rotates in anticlockwise direction until the pin (67) of the cam is stopped against the stop surface

(23a) of the seat (23) of the closing hook.

During the rotation of the cam (6), the end (56) of the mobile bumper passes beyond the stop surface (68) of the cam surface and is disposed on the circular edge (63) of the flange of the cam.

In such a final locking configuration, the parts of the lock are completely locked, preventing any movement of the closing hook (2).

When the system is in the configuration of Fig. 1 1 , the mobile bumper

(5) and the cam (6) will prevent the system from making the extra-travel again.

Numerous variations and modifications can be made to the present embodiment of the invention, which are within the reach of an expert of the field, falling in any case within the scope of the invention as disclosed by the attached claims.