MOTOR VEHICLE DOOR LATCH

Abstract

Taught is a motor vehicle door latch with a locking mechanism (1, 2) comprising a catch (1) and a pawl (2), said locking mechanism (1, 2) being capable of being moved along at least a first pathway and a second pathway; and at least one damping element (9), said damping element having at least a first damper constant and a second damper constant; wherein said damping element (9) is capable of damping a movement of said locking mechanism (1, 2) along said first pathway with said first damper constant; and said damping element (9) is capable of damping a movement of said locking mechanism (1, 2) along said second pathway with said second damper constant.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is described hereinbelow with reference to accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of the motor vehicle door latch of the invention; and

FIGS. 2 a to 2c show a plan view the locking mechanism in various stages of operation.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle door latch with a locking mechanism (1, 2) comprising a catch (1) and a pawl (2), said locking mechanism (1, 2) being capable of being moved along at least a first pathway and a second pathway; and at least one damping element (9), said damping element having at least a first damper constant and a second damper constant; wherein said damping element (9) is capable of damping a movement of said locking mechanism (1, 2) along said first pathway with said first damper constant; and said damping element (9) is capable of damping a movement of said locking mechanism (1, 2) along said second pathway with said second damper constant.

2. The latch of claim 1, wherein said first damper constant is about 0 allowing for an undampened movement of said locking mechanism (1, 2) along said first pathway.

3. The latch of claim 1, wherein said catch is capable of assuming a first latching position; and said damping element (9) is capable of damping said movement of said locking mechanism (1, 2) along said second pathway with said second damper constant once said catch has assumed said first latching position.

4. The latch of claim 1, further comprising a mechanical end stop (13), wherein said mechanical end stop (13) limits movement of said locking mechanism (1, 2) independently of said damping element (9) limiting movement of said locking mechanism (1, 2).

5. The latch of claim 5, wherein said end stop (13) is a part of said locking mechanism (1, 2), or said end stop (13) is not a part of said locking mechanism (1, 2).

6. The latch of claim 1, wherein said damping element (9) is a moving damper.

7. The latch of claim 6, wherein said damping element (9) is linear damper.

8. The latch of claim 1, wherein said damping element (9) comprises a plunger or a lever (9b); and at least one damping fluid and/or a damping material, said damping fluid and/or said damping material damping the movement of said plunger or said lever.

9. The latch of claim 1, wherein said damping element (9) acts on said pawl (2).

10. The latch of claim 1, wherein in a certain position of said catch (1) said pawl (2) is separated from the said damping element (9) by a distance a.

11. The latch of claim 1, comprising further a blocking area (2a), wherein said pawl (2) engages with said blocking area (2a) in a primary position (1a).

12. The latch of claim 1, wherein said pawl (2) comprises an extension arm (2′), said extension arm (2′) preventing the damping element from contacting the pawl (2) in a certain orientation of said catch (1).

13. The latch of claim 1, comprising further a spring (11), said spring (11) pretensioning said pawl (2) in the clockwise direction.

14. The latch of claim 1, comprising further a spring (8), said spring (8) ensuring that said catch (1) is acted upon in the counterclockwise direction.

15. The latch of claim 8, wherein said second damper constant is greater than zero and depends on damping properties of said damping fluid and/or said damping material.

16. A motor vehicle door latch with a locking mechanism (1, 2) comprising a catch (1) and a pawl (2); and at least one damping element (9), said damping element being capable of providing variable resistance against a movement of said catch and/or said pawl.

17. A motor vehicle door latch with a locking mechanism (1, 2) comprising a catch (1) and a pawl (2); said catch being rotatable around a first axis of rotation between an open position and a closed position, wherein said locking mechanism (1, 2) is acted upon by a counteracting force during a final portion of a rotating movement of said catch from said open position toward said closed position.

18. The latch of claim 17, wherein said locking mechanism (1, 2) is not acted upon by a counteracting force during an initial portion of a rotating movement of said catch from said open position toward said closed position.

19. The latch of claim 17, wherein said counteracting force is provided by a viscous fluid damper.

20. The latch of claim 19, wherein said viscous fluid damper acts on said pawl (2).