Closure fasteners – Bolts – Swinging
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-17
2003-11-18
Knight, Anthony (Department: 3676)
Closure fasteners
Bolts
Swinging
C292S216000, C292SDIG006, C070S279100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06648379
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a motor vehicle door lock or the like that is an electric lock which is actuated by sensors in the lock mechanism. The present invention is also applicable to motor vehicle hood locks, hatch locks, etc.
2. Description of Related Art
A known motor vehicle door lock of the type to which the present invention is directed is disclosed in published German Patent Application DE-A-196 31 869 and corresponding, commonly owned, co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/147,649. This lock is an electromechanical motor vehicle door lock in which the actuation of the detent pawl is produced, especially from the outside door handle or the inside door handle, by a chain of action of mechanical forces, while unlocking and locking of the door lock normally take place by means of an electronic remote control and an electrical central locking system drive. In an emergency, the unlocking function can also be performed mechanically from a closing cylinder on the door, such as the driver's door.
In the above explained known motor vehicle door lock, there is a crash switch by which, in an accident, the lock mechanism is immediately shifted into the “unlocked” operating position independently of the control electronics so that actuation of the inside door handle immediately causes the detent pawl to be lifted.
Moreover, it is known from the above mentioned patent application that electrical actuation of the detent pawl can be attained by providing an electrical opening aid. One such purely electrically activated motor vehicle door lock is generally called an “electric lock.” In the explained prior art, this “electric lock” has a lock mechanism for mechanical activation of the detent pawl in case of an emergency.
In a motor vehicle door lock with the “passive entry” function, it is assumed that only the approach of an operator to the motor vehicle triggers a corresponding opening of the door or other functions.
The use of an “electric lock,” especially in conjunction with the “passive entry” function, instead of a known mechanical motor vehicle door lock with an electrical central locking system has long resulted in the door handle fittings needing to be modified or replaced because, instead of or in addition to the chain of action of a force which runs into the lock mechanism, various microswitches for actuating the electrical opening aid must be attached and connected to the motor vehicle door lock, specifically the control electronic located there, by means of corresponding cables.
Therefore, there exists an unfulfilled need for a motor vehicle door lock which can work as a pure electric lock and which is also suited for performing a “passive entry” function. There also exists an unfulfilled need for such a motor vehicle door lock which allows ensured operation even when the electric power supply fails for whatever reason, including an accident. Moreover, there exists an unfulfilled need for such a motor vehicle door lock that can be used as a replacement for conventional motor vehicle door locks.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The primary object of the present invention is to devise a motor vehicle door lock which can work as a pure electric lock and which is also suited for a “passive entry” function. .
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a motor vehicle door lock which allows ensured operation even when the electric power supply fails.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide such a motor vehicle door lock that can be used as a replacement for conventional motor vehicle door locks.
In accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention, these objects are obtained by an improved motor vehicle door lock that is an electric lock which is actuated by sensors in the lock mechanism. Therefore, in normal use, the chains of action of force from the outside door handle, the inside door handle, and optionally, the closing cylinder in the lock mechanics are used only to actuate the corresponding switches or to influence the corresponding sensors. As a result of existence of the chain or chains of action of mechanical forces, the lock mechanism can be used in a split second to activate the detent pawl, etc. in an emergency. In the implementation of an overrun function in which, for example, the outside door handle must be activated only up to a pressure point to trigger the electric function, no-load operation can be assigned to the chain of action of the force in the lock mechanism, such that the actuation of the outside door handle in the normal state takes place without exerting force on the detent pawl. Only in the special state, where there is a corresponding further pulling of the outside door handle beyond the pressure point, does the mechanical activation of the detent pawl take place.
According to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, however, there is a coupling switch which, in the special state, couples the chain of action of force, the chain of action of force being decoupled from the lock mechanism in the normal state. Thus, by moving the lock mechanism, mechanical actuation of the detent pawl can take place.
In addition to the above explained advantages, the motor vehicle door lock in accordance with the present invention has a major advantage in that it can be easily used as a replacement for conventional motor vehicle door locks. In particular, the outside door handles and the inside door handles of typical motor vehicle door locks can continue to be used simply with a central locking system and can also continue to work as before in the same way. The motor vehicle door lock in the present invention assigns to the outside door handles and inside door handles apparent mechanical functions in the normal state. In fact, only the electrical sensors in the lock mechanism are influenced. Only in the special state do the outside door handles and inside door handles and optionally a closing cylinder, act purely mechanically in the typical manner.
The reaction times are shortened so dramatically by the state changes in the motor vehicle door lock in accordance with the present invention which operates by purely electrical processes in the normal state, that extraordinarily low response times down to 100 ms are achieved.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4796932 (1989-01-01), Tame
patent: 4995654 (1991-02-01), Nishigami et al.
patent: 5409273 (1995-04-01), Claar et al.
patent: 5497641 (1996-03-01), Linde et al.
patent: 5667260 (1997-09-01), Weyerstall
patent: 5802894 (1998-09-01), Jahrsetz et al.
patent: 5992194 (1999-11-01), Baukholt et al.
patent: 6050117 (2000-04-01), Weyerstall
patent: 6062613 (2000-05-01), Jung et al.
patent: 6113161 (2000-09-01), Jung et al.
patent: 6148651 (2000-11-01), Roncin
patent: 6389875 (2002-05-01), Barnett et al.
patent: 6415752 (2002-07-01), Janak
patent: 32 42 527 (1984-05-01), None
patent: 42 19 210 (1993-12-01), None
patent: 197 14 992 (1994-09-01), None
patent: 195 01 493 (1996-07-01), None
patent: 196 17 038 (1997-11-01), None
patent: 196 42 698 (1998-04-01), None
patent: 297 08 857 (1998-07-01), None
patent: 198 16 603 (1999-08-01), None
Kordowski Bernhard
Weyerstall Bernd
Knight Anthony
Nixon & Peabody LLP
Patel Vishal
Robert & Bosch GmbH
Safran David S.
LandOfFree
Motor vehicle door lock or the like does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Motor vehicle door lock or the like, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Motor vehicle door lock or the like will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3184661