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(11) | EP 1 085 146 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Lock, especially for vehicle doors, with a closing lid |
| (57) It comprises an opening (15) for the insertion of the key (2), a flap (17) which
rocks between an open position and a closed position of said opening, and elastic
means (18) for holding the flap (17) in the closed position when the key (2) is not
inserted in the lock, in such a manner that the key, when inserted, pushes the flap
(17) and causes it to rock towards the open position, characterized in that said rocking flap (17) consists of a blade which comprises a protuberance
(172) in the region entering into contact with the key (2) during insertion of the
latter. Wear and damage to the flap due to friction with the key are avoided. |
[0001] The present invention relates to a lock, especially for a vehicle door, with a closure flap, which comprises an opening for the insertion of the key, a flap which rocks between an open position and a closed position of said opening, and elastic means for holding the flap in the closed position when the key is not inserted in the lock, in such a manner that the key, when inserted, pushes the flap and causes it to rock towards the open position.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Certain locks and, in particular, the majority of locks for vehicle doors, include a flap for closing the key-insertion opening, the purpose of which is to protect the mechanism of the lock from dust and moisture from the outside.
[0003] The key-insertion opening is formed in the front cover of the lock and the flap is generally articulated next to the cover, and inside the lock, in order to be positioned in front of the opening when the key is not inserted. When the key is inserted, the tip of the latter pushes the flap, causing it to rotate about its axis of articulation, and it allows the key to pass through.
[0005] This known configuration has a number of drawbacks, prominent among which is the fact that friction of the key tip against the flap weakens and wears away the region of the flap which closes the opening, and the latter ends up by being damaged to such an extent that it allows the entry of water and dust into the lock.
[0006] A further drawback of known locks is that the torsion spring which holds the flap closed occupies a certain volume in the axial direction of the lock, which it would be desirable to reduce in order to be able to limit the total length of the lock.
[0007] Mention may also be made, as a drawback, of the fact that dirt is currently able to accumulate in the opening of the front cover and this dirt is pushed towards the inside of the lock when the key is inserted.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0009] To this end, the invention proposes a lock such as that described in the introduction, which is characterized in that the rocking flap consists of a blade which comprises a protuberance in the region entering into contact with the key during insertion of the latter.
[0010] The protuberance reduces the wear of the flap due to friction with the key during the latter's insertion. This protection prevents the flap becoming damaged to the extent that it allows dust and water to enter the lock.
[0011] In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the lock, the aforesaid protuberance has a rounded, substantially semicylindrical shape.
[0012] This rounded protuberance eliminates friction between the key and the planar closure region of the flap, since the key slides directly over the aforesaid protuberance. Similarly, it facilitates sliding and reduces the area of contact.
[0013] Preferably, the protuberance is formed by deep drawing of the blade forming the flap, although the flap may also be produced from Zamak, plastic, sintered material, etc., according to design requirements.
[0014] At any rate, it is a simple matter to form the protuberance and its effect on the cost of the flap is minimal.
[0015] In one embodiment, the protuberance of the flap projects, occupying at least partially the key-insertion opening. This arrangement makes it difficult for dirt to accumulate in the opening.
[0016] According to another aspect of the invention, the elastic means for holding the flap in the closed position comprise a spring which has a pair of coplanar legs which are inserted in corresponding housing grooves of the lock, and a loop which is displaced with respect to the plane of the legs and which is in contact with the flap.
[0017] On the one hand, this configuration of the closure spring is very economical and, on the other hand, it is practically planar and occupies no space in the longitudinal direction of the lock.
[0018] Advantageously, said coplanar legs have the shape of arcs of a circle, and the loop has, next to the legs, a region which is folded backwards and, at the distal end, a tip which is folded forwards, said tip being in contact with the flap.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] For a better understanding of the above text, there are accompanying drawings in which, diagrammatically and solely by way of non-limiting example, a practical embodiment is shown.
[0020] In said drawings,
Figure 1 is a partial view in longitudinal section of a lock according to the invention, with the flap in the closed position;
Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, with a key inserted in the lock and the flap in the open position;
Figures 3a, 3b are views in front and lateral elevation, respectively, of the flap of the lock according to the invention;
Figures 4a, 4b are views in front and lateral elevation, respectively, of the spring which holds the flap in the closed position; and
Figure 5 is a sectional view in the plane AA of Figure 1, in which the flap has been removed in order to show the arrangement of the spring more clearly.
DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0021] Figures 1 and 2 show the front part of the lock of the invention, with its corresponding closure flap and with the latter in two positions.
[0022] The principal elements of the lock 1 are, as in a conventional lock, a stator or body 3, a rotor or tube part 4, and an opening lever (not shown) which is integral in rotation with the tube part. In radial openings of the tube part are a series of blades 6, each one pushed by a spring 7 so that, in the absence of the key, the blades interfere both with the tube part and with the body and block rotation of the tube part whilst, when the relevant key 2 is inserted, the blades move, cease to interfere with the body and allow rotation of the tube part and the associated opening lever.
[0024] The front part of the lock has a cover 14 with an opening 15, which is generally rectangular, for the insertion of the key 2. The cover 14 is coupled on a widened or head region of the tube part 4 and may be joined to the latter in a conventional manner by riveting or, alternatively, by means of a pair of disc-shaped keys (not shown) inserted in individual openings of the cover 14 and in corresponding housings of the tube part 4.
[0025] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the opening 15 of the cover 14 is normally closed, from the inside of the lock, by a closure flap 17 pushed by a corresponding return spring 18. The flap 17 and the spring 18 according to the invention are shown in front and lateral elevation in Figures 3a, 3b and 4a, 4b.
[0026] The flap 17 forms an articulation pin 171 whose ends are inserted in housings 41 (Figures 1, 2, 5) defined between a recess of the tube part 4 and the cover 14. In this manner, the flap is able to rock between a closed position (Figure 1), in which it faces the opening 15 of the cover 14, and an open position (Figure 2), when the key 2 is inserted in the lock.
[0027] According to the invention, the flap 17 includes a rounded protuberance 172 in its central region, preferably formed during a deep-drawing operation carried out on the actual flap. As may be seen in Figure 2, it is this protuberance which enters into contact with the key. In this manner, friction and wear of the flap in the planar closure region are eliminated since the key now slides only over the rounded protuberance.
[0028] Instead of the protuberance 172, provision could be made, ideally, for a rotary cylinder coupled on the flap. However, owing to the small size of the parts, the solution shown in the drawings is much more satisfactory from the standpoint of manufacture, assembly and corresponding cost.
[0029] The protuberance 172 also has the advantage that it occupies part of the opening 15 of the cover, affording additional protection because it also prevents the accumulation of dirt in the region where the key enters.
[0030] According to the invention, the spring 18 which pushes the flap 17 so that it returns to the closed position comprises (cf. Figures 4a, 4b) a pair of coplanar legs 181 in the shape of an arc of a circle which are each housed in their own housing groove 42 formed in the head of the tube part. Between the two legs, the wire of the spring forms a loop with a first region 182 which is folded backwards and a tip 183 which is folded forwards, which is in contact with the flap 17 (Figures 1, 2).
[0031] This spring is much cheaper than conventional torsion springs and occupies practically no space in the longitudinal direction of the lock.
[0032] Although a specific embodiment of the present invention has been described and shown, it will be obvious to the person skilled in the art that it will be possible to introduce variations and modifications or to replace details with other technical equivalents without departing from the scope of protection of the attached claims.
1. Lock, especially for a vehicle door, with a closure flap, which comprises an opening
(15) for the insertion of the key (2), a flap (17) which rocks between an open position
and a closed position of said opening, and elastic means (18) for holding the flap
(17) in the closed position when the key (2) is not inserted in the lock, in such
a manner that the key, when inserted, pushes the flap (17) and causes it to rock towards
the open position, characterized in that said rocking flap (17) consists of a blade which comprises a protuberance
(172) in the region entering into contact with the key (2) during insertion of the
latter.
2. Lock according to Claim 1, characterized in that said protuberance (172) has a rounded,
substantially semicylindrical shape.
3. Lock according to Claims 1 or 2, characterized in that said protuberance (172) is
formed by deep drawing of the blade forming the flap (17).
4. Lock according to any of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the protuberance (172)
of the flap (17) projects, occupying at least partially the key-insertion opening
(15).
5. Lock according to any of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the elastic means for
holding the flap in the closed position comprise a spring (18) which has a pair of
coplanar legs (181) which are inserted in corresponding housing grooves (42) of the
lock, and a loop (182, 183) which is displaced with respect to the plane of the legs
(181) and which is in contact with the flap (17).
6. Lock according to Claim 5, characterized in that said coplanar legs (181) have the
shape of arcs of a circle.
7. Lock according to Claims 5 or 6, characterized in that said loop has, next to the
legs (181), a region (182) which is folded backwards and, at the distal end, a tip
(183) which is folded forwards, said tip being in contact with the flap (17).