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(11) | EP 0 894 918 B1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
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| (54) |
Striker for a vehicle lock Schliessblech für ein Fahrzeugsschloss Gâche pour une serrure de véhicule |
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| Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention). |
[0002] It is emphasized that the term "door" is used in this description and in the claims in its very widest sense, to indicate whatsoever moving component between an opening position and a closing position of an access aperture to an internal compartment of a vehicle. The above terms consequently comprise in addition to the side doors of the motor vehicle, which will be referred to in the following without the loss of any general sense, also the hoods or front and rear doors or hatches.
[0003] Closure systems for motor vehicle doors are known, which essentially comprise a lock and a striker respectively fitted to the door and to a fixed portion of the bodywork in the proximity of the aperture of the door itself (or more seldom, vice versa), in such a manner that on closing the door a closure mechanism forming a part of the lock cooperates with the striker in such a way as to achieve a relative locking between the lock and the striker itself.
[0004] The striker is generally made up of a metal plate serving as an anchor to the bodywork of the vehicle and of a locking section secured to the anchor plate and intended to cooperate in service with the lock. According to a widely distributed form of actuation, the locking section consists of a cylindrical pin extending in orthogonal manner up to the plate and secured at its ends to the plate itself and to an extension thereof folded back into a 'C'-shape.
[0005] The anchor plate is generally made of steel and is secured to the bodywork by means of screws.
[0006] So as to reduce the noise which is inevitably produced when the door is closed and consequently the impact caused between components of the lock itself and the locking section of the striker, the said components and/or the locking section are frequently fitted with a plastic material coating. This arrangement reduces the noise caused during the impact; the vibrations of the striker generated by the impact itself are however transmitted to the vehicle bodywork, in turn forming a source of noise.
[0007] WO-A-9532347 discloses a striker assembly as claimed in the preamble of Claim 1, wherein the metal plate, designed to be secured to the bodywork of the vehicle, is mounted within a mounting member, and a body of resilient structure is molded within the residual space between the interior surface of the mounting member and the exterior surface of the metal plate.
[0008] JP-A-05039681 discloses a striker assembly for a vehicle lock, wherein the metal plate is surrounded by a vibration absorbing coating formed by a number of separate components which inevitably complicate the mounting operations of the striker.
[0009] The purpose of the present invention is to achieve a striker for a vehicle lock, which permits to reduce the noise occurring on closure of the door of the vehicle and requires simple and easy mounting operations.
[0011] For a better comprehension of the present invention two preferred forms of actuation are described below, for the purpose of non-restrictive examples and with reference to the appended drawings, wherein:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a striker designed according to the statements of the present invention, duly broken down into its component parts;
Fig. 2 is a front view of the striker in Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is a section along line III-III in Fig. 2;
Fig. 4 is a view along line IV-IV in Fig. 2; and
Fig. 5 is a section of a second form of actuation of the present invention, corresponding with the section in Fig. 3.
[0012] With reference to Fig. 1 a striker is indicated under reference 1 as an assembly for the lock on a motor vehicle door.
[0013] The striker 1 comprises in a known manner an anchor plate 2 designed to be fixed to a section of the bodywork (not illustrated) by means of a pair of screws not illustrated, and to a locking section 4 designed to cooperate with the locking section of the lock (not illustrated).
[0014] An extension 6 extends integrally from a side edge 5 of the plate 2, and is folded back essentially in a 'C'-shape in such a way that an end section 7 is arranged parallel and at a distance from said plate 2.
[0015] The plate 2 has a pair of countersunk holes 8 receiving the heads of the screws 3 in service.
[0016] The locking section 4 (Fig. 3) consists of a pin 10 essentially cylindrical and having an axis A orthogonal in relation to the plate 2 and interposed between the plate itself and section 7. In particular the pin 10 has a head 11 countersunk at the end which engages with a corresponding countersunk hole 12 in section 7, and engages with an opposing end 13 a countersunk hole 14 in the plate 2, into which the end 13 is rivetted.
[0017] The pin 10 is advantageously coated by means of a sleeve 15 made of wear-resistant plastic material.
[0018] According to the present invention, the striker 1 comprises a coating 16 made of elastically deforming material, for instance rubber, which surrounds the anchor plate 2 preventing a direct contact between the latter and the vehicle bodywork section to which it is secured in use. The plate 2 and the relevant coating 16 define as an assembly, an anchor section 23 of the striker 1.
[0019] In the embodiment form illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, the coating 16 consists of a separate sheath of a shape matching that of the plate 2, which is fitted on the plate itself from a side opposing the edge 5, and surrounds the plate 2 in an essentially complete manner.
[0020] The coating 16 presents a pair of flat walls 17, 18 parallel with each other and designed to cooperate with the respective faces 2a, 2b of the plate 2 facing towards section 7 and respectively, towards the bodywork section to which the plate 2 is secured in service. The said walls have respective holes 19, 20 matching the hole 14 in the plate 2 (Fig. 3), and a respective pair of holes 21, 22 matching the holes 8 in the plate 2 (Fig. 4).
[0021] From a peripheral edge of the holes 21 of the walls 17 flexible fins 25 extend towards the inside, these being formed in position coplanar with the walls 17 to allow the extraction of the coating 16 from the die though remaining flexible in such a way as to assume in service the working position illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4. More particularly, once the coating 16 has been swept over the plate 2, the fins 25 will flex and arrange themselves in contact with the conical surfaces 30 of the holes 8. Metal material conical bushes 26 are located on the said fins, and serve as bearing points for the heads of the securing screws.
[0022] In service, the striker 1 is mounted on the vehicle bodywork in the usual manner by means of the said above screws.
[0023] The wall 18 of the coating 16 interposes itself between the plate 2 and the bodywork, avoiding direct contact between these two. In addition, the fins 25 interposed between the bushes 26 and the plate 2 avoid the metal to metal contact both between the plate 2 and the screws 3 in an integral assembly with the bodywork; this path of potential propagation of vibrations of the plate 2 to the bodywork of the vehicle is consequently also interrupted.
[0024] Fig. 5 illustrates a variation in implementation of the present invention, as indicated in 1a, wherein from the wall 17 of the coating 16 a tubular sleeve 31 extends in integral manner to overhang, being interposed between the pin 10 and the plastic material sleeve 15. A noise resulting from impact between the locking section 4 and the components of the lock is consequently reduced.
[0025] On examination of the characteristics of the striker 1, 1a produced according to the facts stated in the present invention, the advantages to be obtained therefrom become evident.
1. Striker (1; 1a) for the lock on a vehicle door comprising an anchor section (23) designed
to be secured to a section of the bodywork of the said vehicle and a locking section
(4) designed to cooperate with a closure mechanism of the said lock, the said anchor
section (23) comprising a metal plate (2) and a coating (16) of elastically yielding
material surrounding the said plate (2) in an essentially complete manner, characterized in that the said coating (16) is a one-piece member separated from the said plate (2) and
fittable on the plate (2) itself.
2. Striker according to claim 1, characterized in that said coating (16) consists of a sheath having a shape matching that of said plate
(2) and fittable on the plate (2) itself from a side thereof.
3. Striker according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the said plate (2) presents at least one securing hole (8) for connection to the
said section of bodywork by way of a respective screw, the said coating comprising
a section (25) extending at least partly over a surface (30) of the said securing
hole (8) designed to cooperate with the said screw.
4. Striker according to claim 3, characterized in that the said surface (30) of the said securing hole (8) designed to cooperate with the
said screw is conical, the said striker (1, 1a) comprising at least one metal bush
(26) located on the said section (25) of the said coating (16) extending over the
said conical surface (30).
5. Striker according to claim 4, characterized in that the said section of the said coating (16) extending over the said conical surface
(30) of the said securing hole (8) comprises a plurality of flexible fins (25) integral
with a single essentially flat wall (17) of the coating (16) itself cooperating with
a face (2a) of the said plate (2), the said fins (25) allowing distortion from a pressing
position in which they are co-planar with the said wall (17) of the said coating (16)
and an operational position in which they are arranged in contact with the said conical
surface (30) of the said securing hole (8).
6. Striker according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the said locking section (4) comprises a cylindrical pin (10) having an axis orthogonal
in relation to the said plate (2) and rigidly connected to the plate itself (2) and
a sleeve (15) made of plastic material covering the said pin (10).
7. Striker according to claim 6, characterized by the fact that the said coating (16) integrally defines a tubular sleeve (31) interposed
between the said pin (10) and the said coating sleeve (15).
1. Schließblech (1, 1a) für das Schloß auf einer Fahrzeugtür mit einem Ankerabschnitt
(23), der gestaltet ist, um an einem Abschnitt der Karosserie des Fahrzeugs gesichert
bzw. befestigt zu werden, und mit einem Schließabschnitt 4, der gestaltet ist, um
mit einem Schließmechanismus des Schlosses zusammenzuwirken, wobei der Ankerabschnitt
(23) eine Metallplatte (2) und einen Überzug (16) aus einem elastisch nachgiebigen
Material, das die Platte 2 im wesentlichen vollständig umgibt, umfaßt, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Überzug (16) ein einstückiges Element ist, das von der Platte (2) getrennt und
auf der Platte (2) selbst anbringbar ist.
2. Schließblech nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Überzug (16) aus einer Umhüllung besteht, die eine Form hat, die mit der Platte
(2) zusammenpaßt und auf der Platte selbst von einer Seite von dieser anbringbar ist.
3. Schließblech nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Platte (2) zumindest ein Befestigungs- bzw. Sicherungsloch (8) zum Verbinden
mit dem Abschnitt der Karosserie durch eine jeweilige Schraube aufweist, wobei der
Überzug einen Abschnitt (25) umfaßt, der sich zumindest teilweise über eine Oberfläche
(30) des Befestigungsloches (8) erstreckt und gestaltet ist, um mit der Schraube zusammenzuwirken.
4. Schließblech nach Anspruch 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Oberfläche (30) des Befestigungslochs (8), die gestaltet ist, um mit der Schraube
zusammenzuwirken, konisch ist, wobei das Schließblech (1, 1a) zumindest eine Metallhülse
(26) aufweist, die auf dem Abschnitt (25) des Überzugs (16) angeordnet ist, der eich
über die konische Oberfläche (30) erstreckt.
5. Schließblech nach Anspruch 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Abschnitt des Überzugs (16), der sich über die konische Oberfläche (30) des Befestigungsloches
(8) erstreckt, eine Vielzahl von flexiblen Rippen (25) einstückig mit einer einzelnen
im wesentlichen flachen Wand (17) des Überzugs (16) selbst umfaßt, die mit einer Fläche
(2a) der Platte (2) zusammenwirken, wobei die Rippen (25) ein Verdrehen von einer
Druckposition, in der diese koplanar zu der Seitenwand (17) des Bezugs (16) sind,
und einer Hetriebsposition, in der diese in Kontakt mit der konischen Oberfläche (30)
des Befestigungsloches (8) angeordnet sind, erlauben.
6. Schließblech nach einem der vorstehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Schließabachnitt (4) einen zylindrischen Stift (10), der eine Achse aufweist,
die orthogonal in Bezug zu der Platte (2) und fest mit der Platte (2) salbst verbunden
ist und eine Hülse (15), die aus einem Plastikmaterial gefertigt ist, das den Stift
(10) umgibt, umfaßt.
7. Schließblech nach Anspruch 6, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Überzug (16) integral eine röhrenförmige Hülse (31) bildet bzw. definiert, die
zwischen dem Stift (10) und der Überzugshülse (15) angeordnet ist.
1. Gâche (1; 1a) pour la serrure d'une portière de véhicule, comprenant une section d'ancrage
(23) conçue pour être fixée à une section de la carrosserie dudit véhicule et une
section de verrouillage (4) conçue pour coopérer avec un mécanisme de fermeture de
ladite serrure, ladite section d'ancrage (23) comprenant une plaque métallique (2)
et un revêtement (16) de matière à déformation élastique entourant ladite plaque (2)
d'une manière sensiblement complète, caractérisée en ce que ledit revêtement (16) est un élément d'une seule pièce séparé de ladite plaque (2)
et adaptable sur la plaque (2) elle-même.
2. Gâche selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que ledit revêtement (16) est constitué d'une gaine ayant une forme correspondant à celle
de ladite plaque (2) et adaptable sur la plaque (2) elle-même par un côté d'elle.
3. Gâche selon la revendication 1 ou 2, caractérisée en ce que ladite plaque (2) présente au moins un trou de fixation (8) pour un rattachement
à ladite section de carrosserie au moyen d'une vis respective, ledit revêtement comprenant
une section (25) qui s'étend au moins partiellement au-dessus d'une surface (30) dudit
trou de fixation (8) conçue pour coopérer avec ladite vis.
4. Gâche selon la revendication 3, caractérisée en ce que ladite surface (30) dudit trou de fixation (8) conçue pour coopérer avec ladite vis
est conique, ladite gâche (1, 1a) comprenant au moins une douille métallique (26)
placée sur ladite section (25) dudit revêtement (16) qui s'étend au-dessus de ladite
surface conique (30).
5. Gâche selon la revendication 4, caractérisée en ce que ladite section dudit revêtement (16) qui s'étend au-dessus de ladite surface conique
(30) dudit trou de fixation (8) comprend une pluralité d'ailettes flexibles (25) d'une
seule pièce avec une seule paroi sensiblement plane (17) du revêtement (16) qui coopère
elle-même avec une face (2a) de ladite plaque (2), lesdites ailettes (25) pouvant
se déformer d'une position de moulage dans laquelle elles sont coplanaires avec ladite
paroi (17) dudit revêtement (16) à une position opérationnelle dans laquelle elles
sont placées en contact avec ladite surface conique (30) dudit trou de fixation (8).
6. Gâche selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisée en ce que ladite section de verrouillage (4) comprend une broche cylindrique (10), ayant un
axe orthogonal à ladite plaque (2) et rattachée rigidement à la plaque (2) elle-même,
et un manchon (15) fait de matière plastique couvrant ladite broche (10).
7. Gâche selon la revendication 6, caractérisée en ce que ledit revêtement (16) définit d'une seule pièce un manchon tubulaire (31) intercalé
entre ladite broche (10) et ledit manchon de revêtement (15).