Patent Application
20160160537
This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent Application Ser. No. 62/087,785, filed Dec. 4, 2014, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference thereto.
Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to latches and, more particularly, to latches for vehicles.
Latches are used to restrain the movement of one member or element with respect to another. For example, door latches restrain the movement of a door with respect to a surrounding door frame. The function of such latches is to hold the door secure within the frame until the latch is released and the door is free to open. Existing latches typically have mechanical connections linking the latch to actuation elements such as handles which can be actuated by a user to release the latch. Movement of the actuation elements is transferred through the mechanical connections that cause the latch to release. The mechanical connections can be one or more rods, cables, or other suitable elements or devices.
Latch sound quality can enhance or detract from the overall perception of quality by an end user about the construction of the vehicle. For example, good sound quality may imply solid construction, smooth operation, and thoughtfulness of design. As a result, vehicle manufacturers are placing more emphasis on the ability of the door latch to absorb the noise emissions that may occur during a closing event. Sound quality metrics, such as minimal loudness and frequency content for example, are affected by many variables including the profile geometry, small features, and material selection of the components of a latch mechanism.
Accordingly, while existing vehicle latch mechanisms are suitable, the need for improvement remains, particularly in providing a latch mechanism having improved noise dampening and energy absorption.
In accordance with one embodiment, a latch is provided. The latch having: a claw configured to rotate between an unlatched position and a latched position; a pawl configured for movement between an engaged position and a disengaged position, wherein the pawl retains the claw in the latched position when the pawl is in the engaged position and wherein the pawl releases the claw when it is in a disengaged position and the claw is free to move from the latched position to the unlatched position; a bumper located on the pawl to dampen noises as the pawl is moved by a portion of the claw; and wherein the detent lever is pivotally mounted to a frame of the latch proximate to a corner of an opening of the latch.
In another embodiment, a vehicle door latch having components illustrated in the attached figures is provided.
In yet another embodiment, a vehicle door latch as disclosed herein is provided.
The above-described and other features and advantages of the present invention will be appreciated and understood by those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, drawings, and appended claims.
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Current designs for a side door latch are exceeding the requirements of mass, package, sound, fast lock unlock and costs. Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to latch assemblies wherein the package size is reduced without affecting performance in addition to reducing the mass, sound and price of the latch assembly.
Various embodiments of the disclosed latch achieve are noise reduction during operation and in a steady state, fast lock and unlock performance, low energy release efforts required to open the latch, prevention of water intrusion and lower cost as well as smaller overall package size.
In one embodiment, the disclosed side door latch will have a small detent that allows the entire package size to be reduced while keeping the same performance of strength of a larger sized latch. As such, the mass and the price of the disclosed latch is reduced.
Through the use of a direct central door locking mechanism the timing for the lock and unlock of the latch is reduced.
With reference to all of the FIGS., an exemplary latch having improved sound performance is illustrated. The latch is movable between a latched position and an unlatched position, and is configured to have a housing. The latch may be integrated into a component of a vehicle, such as the vehicle structure adjacent a lift gate, trunk, door, or any other operable component for example.
The latch includes a fork bolt or claw and a cooperating detent lever or pawl for maintaining the fork bolt or claw in the latched position. The fork bolt or claw and the detent lever or pawl are each pivotally mounted to the housing or frame of the latch by a stud or pivot. The fork bolt may be biased into an open position and the detent lever may be biased into engagement with the fork bolt by for example a biasing mechanism. In one embodiment, the biasing mechanism may be coil or torsion spring. The fork bolt has a slot or throat for receiving and retaining a striker that may be located on a complementary vehicle component, such as a vehicle frame. The latch may also be used in applications where the compressed weather stripping or seals are used to bias the claw into the open position as they will push open the door that latch is secured to when the latch is unlocked and the corresponding movement of the door will in turn cause the striker to rotate the claw into or towards an open position.
In the attached FIGS. a latch 20 according to various embodiments of the present invention is illustrated. In one embodiment, the latch 20 may be a latch for a side door of a vehicle. Latch 20 has a frame 1 upon which a fork bolt or claw 2 is pivotally mounted. The claw 2 is pivotally mounted about a pivot or pivot pin 5, which may be secured to frame 1. A detent or pawl 3 is also pivotally mounted to the frame and is configured for engagement with the claw 2 as is pivots between an open position, a first or safety position and a closed or latched position during this movement of the claw 2, the detent or pawl 3 moves between an engaged position and a disengaged position and an intermediary position between the engaged position and the disengaged position. The movement of the detent or pawl 3 allows for the movement of the claw 2. The detent of pawl 3 is pivotally mounted about a pivot or pivot pin 6, which may be secured to frame 1.
In accordance with various embodiments of the present invention, the size of the detent lever or pawl 3 is reduced such that the overall size of the latch 20 can be reduced without adversely affecting the performance of the latch 20. In one embodiment, the pivot 6 is located proximate to a corner portion 22 of the frame 1 such that the overall length and size of the claw 2 can be reduced. In one embodiment the corner portion 22 of the frame 1 is located proximate to an opening or slot 24 configured to receive a striker 26 as it is received in the throat 28 of the claw 2 by passing into slot 24 in the direction of arrow 30.
In order to provide noise abatement when the latch 20 is operated, a bumper or buffer 4 is provided. The bumper or buffer may comprise an elastomeric material configured to absorb forces applied to the latch during opening and closing of the latch 20. In addition, a portion of the throat 28 of the claw 2 may have a bumper 32 configured to deflect inwardly upon contact with the striker 26 as it moves into the throat 28 and the slot 24 in the direction of arrow 30. The claw 2 further comprises a curved surface 34 configured to contact a curved surface 36 of the bumper 4 when the claw is in the closed position. See at least
When the claw 1 in the closed position a contact surface 42 of the pawl 3 is engaged with or contacts a contact surface 44 of the claw 2. See at least
In addition, the bumper or buffer 4 is configured to have a contact end or portion 46 that contacts a portion or contact portion 48 of the claw 2 as it rotates in a direction opposite to that of arrow 40 to the open position. This interaction reduces the claw 2 opening sounds of the latch 20.
Referring now to
As the claw 2 rotates in the direction of arrow 40 from the 1st safety position of
By locating the pawl 3 at the corner 22 an overall dimension or length 56 of the pawl 3 can be reduced as it is proximate to portions 44 and 54 of the claw when it is in the closed or latched position (
An actuating device 82 may be provided and is illustrated in at least
The actuator or actuator system 82 may comprise a lock lever 14, a gear 15, a spring 16, which may be an over center spring 16, a worm 17 and a motor 18, wherein the motor 18 is configured to rotate worm 17 which in turn rotates gear 15, which in turn moves lock lever 14, which in turn moves the detent or pawl 3 so that the claw or fork bolt 2 can be released.
While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62087785 | Dec 2014 | US |
