EP1645705B1 - Locking device - Google Patents

Abstract

The interlocking device has a plug-in (12), which comprises a catch medium formed as interlocking rocker (32). The interlocking rocker has within the area of, in plug-in direction seen, front and rear end (36,38) respectively a catch protrusion (40,42). The interlocking rocker is flexibly tipped for opening and closing of the interlocking device around a transverse to the plug-in direction running axle.

Description

The invention relates to a locking device according to the preamble of claim 1.

From the DE 299 01 132 U a locking device with a receiving part and a plug-in in the receiving part male part is known, wherein the receiving part and the male part are provided with complementary locking means, which cause a locking of receiving part and male part in the assembled state of the locking device.

Such a locking device is usually made of plastic and serves, for example, for fastening a cover to a housing. Since the strength of plastic is limited, such a locking device has only a limited locking or holding force. Act tensile forces on the receiving part and / or the male part, which in their sum exceed a maximum holding or locking force of the locking device, this leads to an unintentional unlocking of the locking device. Even a permanent load of a known locking device made of plastic with increased forces proves to be problematic.

A locking device according to the preamble of claim 1 is in the US-A-5,491,845 disclosed. From the US-A-5,184,352 and the U.S. Patent 4,825,515 Locking devices are also known in which the locking of receiving part and male part in two - seen in the insertion direction - successively arranged areas.

The invention has for its object to provide a particularly easy to handle locking device with an increased locking or holding force.

To achieve the object, a locking device with the features of claim 1 is provided. The locking device according to the invention is characterized in that the plug part comprises a latching means designed as a locking rocker, wherein the locking rocker in the region of - viewed in the insertion direction - front and rear end each having a latching projection, so that said latching of receiving part and plug-in part in at least two - Seen in the insertion direction - successively arranged areas.

The locking rocker allows easy handling, in particular easy opening and closing, the locking device. This is especially true in a confined space. An auxiliary tool for actuating the locking device is not required.

By the front and rear locking projection latching of receiving part and male part in two spaced apart and - seen in the insertion direction - successively arranged areas is reached.

By latching offset in the insertion direction, the locking or holding force of the locking device is distributed over two bearing surfaces, namely on the support surface, which lies in the locking plane of the first latch, and on the support surface, which lies in the locking plane of the second latch. In other words causes the offset in the insertion direction locking an enlargement, such as duplication, the effective contact surface of the locking means.

This increase in the effective contact surface of the locking means results in a reduction of the force acting on the respective bearing surfaces force. As a result, the locking device according to the invention can withstand elevated, acting on plug and / or receiving part tensile forces. In other words, the locking device has an increased holding or locking force.

In the case of a design of the locking device made of plastic, the locking device according to the invention consequently ensures reliable locking even with increased tensile forces. Conversely, it is possible at a lower maximum tensile force corresponding to the two bearing surfaces, i. the detent means to downsize. With the same maximum holding or locking force, the locking device according to the invention can consequently have a lower overall height and thus a reduced space requirement compared to a known locking device.

To further increase the locking security, the locking device may be additionally formed self-locking, for example by a corresponding undercut of the locking means.

A locking of receiving part and male part in at least two areas allows - in addition to the locking position - also the formation of at least one further detent position, which allows a backup of the male part in a predefined position on the receiving part. For example, a Vorverriegelungs- or Vorraststellung the male part be provided, in which the male part is held before the final locking of the locking device on the receiving part.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are described in the dependent claims, the description and the drawings.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the locking rocker for opening and closing the locking device is tiltable about a tilt axis extending transversely to the direction of insertion, in particular, can be tilted elastically. This further simplifies the handling of the locking device and in particular facilitates the engagement or disengagement of the latching means arranged one behind the other in the direction of insertion. The tilting axis may, for example, extend through torsion webs extending laterally out of the locking rocker or through a separate axis, e.g. a metal axis, be formed.

Preferably, the locking rocker automatically tilts when mating plug-in part and receiving part. The plug-in part therefore needs to be pushed into the receiving part for locking the locking device, which can be carried out well even in a small installation space.

The locking rocker may have a ramp which cooperates with the receiving part during the mating of male part and receiving part to cause a tilting of the locking rocker. Through the ramp, an automatic tilting of the locking rocker is achieved. The ramp ensures that when the locking rocker on the receiving part that the locking rocker just tilted so far that the locking means of the male part when mating Plug-in part and receiving part first overcome the locking means of the receiving part and then can engage behind this.

Alternatively or additionally, the locking rocker can be manually tilted. For example, while an end of the locking rocker is pressed down by hand to achieve tilting of the locking rocker. This allows tilting of the locking rocker even if it is not designed for automatic tilting. If the locking rocker, however, provided with a ramp, as described above, it can be reduced by an additional manual tilting of the locking rocker required for mating of receiving part and male part force.

Advantageously, the locking projections extend in opposite directions with respect to a main plane of the locking rocker. In this way, the latching projections of the locking rocker during mating plug-in part and receiving part can move past the locking means of the receiving part particularly well. The applied during mating of male and female part force is thereby further reduced.

Fig. 1

(a) eine Draufsicht auf eine Unterseite und (b) eine Querschnittsansicht einer ersten Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Verriegelungsvorrichtung im unverriegelten Zustand;

Fig. 2

(a) eine Draufsicht auf die Unterseite und (b) eine Querschnittsansicht der Verriegelungsvorrichtung von Fig. 1 mit einem in das Aufnahmeteil etwa halb eingesteckten Steckteil;

Fig. 3

(a) eine Draufsicht auf die Unterseite und (b) eine Querschnittsansicht der Verriegelungsvorrichtung von Fig. 1 mit verkippter Verriegelungswippe;

Fig. 4

(a) eine Draufsicht auf eine Unterseite, (b) eine Querschnittsansicht und (c) eine Draufsicht auf eine Oberseite einer zweiten Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Verriegelungsvorrichtung;

Fig. 5

(a) eine Draufsicht auf eine Unterseite und (b) eine Querschnittsansicht der Verriegelungsvorrichtung von Fig. 4 mit verkippter Verriegelungswippe;

Fig. 6

(a) eine Draufsicht auf die Unterseite und (b) eine Querschnittsansicht der Verriegelungsvorrichtung von Fig. 4 im verriegelten Zustand;

Fig. 7

(a) eine Querschnittsansicht und (b) eine Draufsicht auf eine Oberseite einer dritten Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Verriegelungsvorrichtung in einer Vorraststellung; und

Fig. 8

(a) eine Querschnittsansicht und (b) eine Draufsicht auf eine Oberseite der Verriegelungsvorrichtung von Fig. 7 im verriegelten Zustand.

Hereinafter, advantageous embodiments of the invention will be described purely by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show it:

Fig. 1

(A) is a plan view of a bottom and (b) is a cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of the locking device according to the invention in the unlocked state;

Fig. 2

(a) is a bottom plan view and (b) is a cross-sectional view of the locking device of FIG Fig. 1 with an approximately half inserted into the receiving part male part;

Fig. 3

(a) is a bottom plan view and (b) is a cross-sectional view of the locking device of FIG Fig. 1 with tilted locking rocker;

Fig. 4

(a) a bottom plan view, (b) a cross-sectional view, and (c) a top plan view of a second embodiment of the locking device according to the present invention;

Fig. 5

(a) is a plan view of a bottom and (b) is a cross-sectional view of the locking device of FIG Fig. 4 with tilted locking rocker;

Fig. 6

(a) is a bottom plan view and (b) is a cross-sectional view of the locking device of FIG Fig. 4 in the locked state;

Fig. 7

(a) a cross-sectional view and (b) a plan view of an upper side of a third embodiment of the locking device according to the invention in a pre-locked position; and

Fig. 8

(a) is a cross-sectional view and (b) is a plan view of an upper side of the locking device of FIG Fig. 7 in the locked state.

In the Fig. 1 to 3 a first embodiment of the locking device according to the invention is shown. The locking device comprises a receiving part 10 and a plug-in part 12 which can be inserted into the receiving part 10. The plugging direction is in Fig. 1 indicated by the arrow 13.

Both the receiving part 10 and the plug-in part 12 is formed from a plastic material, in particular, it may be in both parts 10, 12 to plastic injection molded parts. Alternatively, it is also possible to form the male part 12 and / or the receiving part 10 of a metal material.

The receiving part 10 has a flat cuboid basic shape and comprises a diar-like upper wall 14. The upper wall 14 is formed by two parallel to each other in the insertion direction extending, spaced-apart side portions 16 extending through two parallel to each other and transverse to the insertion direction to each other spaced upper cross member 18, 20 are interconnected. The side portions 16 and the upper cross members 18, 20 define a rectangular recess 22 of the upper wall 14 of the receiving part 10th

At each side portion 16 adjoins a perpendicular to the upper wall 14 extending side wall 24 at. The side walls 24 are at their sides facing away from the top wall 14, i. at the bottom of the receiving part 10, connected by a transversely to the direction of insertion 13 extending lower cross member 26 with each other. The lower cross member 26 does not extend exactly through the center of the underside of the receiving part 10, but is offset with respect to this in the insertion direction 13 slightly forward.

The male part 12 is essentially formed by a rectangular plate 28. The width of the plate 28 corresponds approximately to the distance between the side walls 24 of the receiving part 10, while the thickness of the plate 28 corresponds approximately to the distance between the upper wall 14 and the lower cross member 26. The length of the male part 12 is slightly larger than that of the female part 10.

In the plate 28 two mutually open U-shaped recesses 30 are provided. As a result, a rectangular plate section 32 is formed, which is connected via two aligned and transverse to the insertion direction 13 extending web portions 34 with the remaining part of the plate 28.

The plate portion 32 forms a locking rocker which is tiltable about an axis extending transversely to the insertion direction 13 and through the web portions 34 axis. The web portions 34 act at a tilt of the locking rocker 32 as torsion elements such that the tilting of the locking rocker 32 is elastic in nature. In other words, the locking rocker 32 is always anxious to tilt back into its original position, i. in a position parallel to the plate 28, to return.

The locking rocker 32 may also be mounted with respect to a separate axis fixed to the plate 28, e.g. a metal axis, be tilted stored. Alternatively, the axle may be fixedly connected to the locking rocker 32 and rotatably supported in the plate 28. In both cases, a spring element between the locking rocker 32 and the plate 28 may be connected to move the locking rocker 32 from the tilted position back to its original position.

In the region of its front end 36 and its rear end 38, the locking rocker 32 each have a latching projection 40, 42. Both the front latching projection 40 and the rear latching projection 42 extend substantially over the entire width of the locking rocker 32.

The front locking projection 40 is formed on the underside 44 of the locking rocker 32 and serves to engage behind the lower cross member 26 of the receiving part 10 in the locked state of the locking device. In contrast, the rear locking projection 42 is formed on the upper side 46 of the locking rocker 32 to engage in the locked state of the locking device seen in the insertion direction 13 rear upper cross member 18 of the upper wall 14 of the receiving part 10. The lower cross member 26 and the rear upper cross member 18 thus form counter-locking elements of the receiving part 10 for the front and rear locking projection 40, 42 of the male part 12th

The locking of receiving part 10 and plug-in part 12 in the assembled state of the locking device thus takes place in two - viewed in the insertion direction 13 - successively arranged areas, namely by the lower cross member 26 and the front locking projection 40 and by the rear cross member 18 and the rear locking projection 42nd As a result, a particularly reliable locking of plug-in part 12 and receiving part 10 is achieved.

Due to the distribution of acting in the locked state of the locking device locking forces on two Verrastungsbereiche the locking device according to the invention despite their training of plastic and despite their flat design, even when acting on the receiving part 10 and / or male part 12 increased tensile forces a secure connection of receiving part 10 and male part 12 for sure.

The height of the front locking projection 40 and the rear locking projection 42 substantially corresponds to the thickness of the upper wall 14 and the lower cross member 26, so that the locking projections 40, 42 in the mated state of the locking device do not protrude significantly beyond the receiving part 10, as in particular in Fig. 2 can be seen.

Thus, the locking projections 40, 42 can overcome the lower cross member 26 and the rear upper cross member 18 when inserting the male part 12 into the receiving part 10, the locking rocker 32 is tilted during insertion of the male part 12 in the receiving part 10.

As in Fig. 3 is shown, the rear end 38 of the locking rocker 32 is thereby pressed down, so that the front end 36 of the locking rocker 32 is raised. The front and rear ends 36, 38 of the locking rocker 32 are deflected up or down from the main plane of the plate 28, at least so far that the located on the bottom 44 of the locking rocker 32 front locking projection 40 on the lower cross member 26 move away and located on the top 46 of the locking rocker 32 located rear locking projection 42 can move under the rear upper cross member 18 of the receiving part 10.

In order to avoid damage to the front locking projection 40 in contact with the lower cross member 26 and to facilitate the emergence of the front locking projection 40 on the lower cross member 26, the front of the front locking projection 40 is additionally slightly bevelled.

At the in Fig. 1 to 3 illustrated embodiment of the locking device according to the invention, the tilting of the locking rocker 32 is done manually, ie by pressing down the rear end 38 of the locking rocker 32nd

In 4 to 6 a second embodiment of the locking device according to the invention is shown, in which the tilting of the locking rocker 32 during mating of receiving part 10 and Plug-in part 12, however, takes place automatically. The second embodiment has substantially the same structure as the first embodiment described above. Identical components or parts of the same function are therefore provided with the same reference numerals.

The locking device according to the second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in particular in that the locking rocker 32 is provided on its upper side 46 with a ramp 48 which adjoins the front side of the rear locking projection 42. The ramp 48 rises from the top 46 of the locking rocker 32 starting in the direction of the rear locking projection 42 and reaches a maximum height corresponding to the height of the rear locking projection 42.

As Fig. 4c can be seen, the ramp 48 in the illustrated embodiment in plan view on a circular contour. Just as well, however, the ramp 48 can also have a different rounded or angled contour.

If the male part 12 is inserted into the receiving part 10, then the ramp 48 runs on the rear side of the rear upper cross member 18 on the receiving part 10 and thereby causes an automatic tilting of the locking rocker 32, as shown in FIG Fig. 5b is shown.

The length of the ramp 48, the height of the locking projections 40, 42 and the distance between the locking projections 40, 42 to each other are coordinated so that it is ensured by the emergence of the ramp 48 on the rear upper cross member 18 that the front and rear locking projection 40, 42 when mating plug-in part 12 and receiving part 10 in time as far out of the plane of the plate 28, ie be raised or lowered, that they do not stick to the lower cross member 26 and rear upper cross member 18, but can move across and away.

By ramp 48 is the mating plug and on receiving part 12, 10 thus causes an automatic tilting of the locking rocker 32. However, it is additionally or alternatively also in the in 4 to 6 illustrated second embodiment of the locking device according to the invention, it is possible to manually actuate the locking rocker 32 by depressing the rear end of the locking rocker 32.

Fig. 6 shows the second embodiment of the locking device according to the invention in the locked state. The locking rocker 32 is located in the plane of the plate 28 of the male part 12 and the locking projections 40, 42 engage behind the lower cross member 26 and the rear upper cross member 18. Accordingly, the situation in the locked state of the first embodiment is also.

In FIGS. 7 and 8 a third embodiment of the locking device according to the invention is shown, in which the tilting of the locking rocker 32 during mating of receiving part 10 and plug-in part 12 also takes place automatically. The third embodiment has substantially the same structure as the above-described embodiments. Identical components or parts of the same function are therefore also provided here with the same reference numerals.

The locking device according to the third embodiment differs from the second embodiment in that the ramp for the automatic tilting of the locking rocker 32 is not on the Locking rocker 32 of the male part 12, but on the lower cross member 26 of the receiving part 10 is provided. The - viewed in the insertion direction - the rear end face of the lower cross member 26 is provided for this purpose with a ramp-like inclined surface 50, on which the tapered front of the front locking projection 40 of the male part 12 can accumulate during insertion of the male part 12 in the receiving part 10, whereby the tilting the locking rocker 32 is effected.

In contrast to the previous embodiments, the lower cross member 26 is in the in FIGS. 7 and 8 In addition, the third embodiment shown in FIGs. 1 and 2 is formed as a double carrier comprising two carrier sections 26 ', 26 "extending parallel to each other and spaced apart from each other, the distance between the carrier sections 26', 26" being selected such that the front latching projection 40 of the plug-in section 12 between the support portions 26 ', 26 "can engage to secure the male part 12 in a pre-locking position on the receiving part 10.

As Fig. 7 shows the distance of - seen in the insertion direction - rear support portion 26 'to the rear upper cross member 18 further adapted to the distance between the front and the rear locking projection 40, 42 that in the pre-locking position of the male part 12 of the rear locking projection 42 at its Front approximately to the rear upper cross member 18 abuts and the front locking projection 40 abuts on its rear side approximately to the front support portion 26 '. As a result, the plug-in part 12 is fixed in the pre-locking position almost free of play on the receiving part 10.

Both the front support portion 26 'and the rear support portion 26 "has a ramp-like inclined surface 50 in order to effect an automatic tilting of the locking rocker 32. As a result, the Locking rocker 32 twice automatically tilted during insertion of the male part 12 in the receiving part 10, namely a first time when the male part 12 in the pre-locked position ( Fig. 7 ) is brought, and again, when the male part 12 from the pre-locking position to the locking position ( Fig. 8 ) is brought.

The foregoing has described the provision of a pre-engaged position of the locking position in connection with a ramp arrangement provided on the receiving part 10 for the automatic tilting of the locking rocker 32. However, it is also possible to provide a pre-locking position in a locking device according to the first embodiment. In this case, two ramps must be arranged one behind the other in the insertion direction on the locking rocker 32 in order to effect a corresponding twice tilting of the locking rocker 32.

To unlock the above-described embodiments of the locking device according to the invention, the rear end of the locking rocker 32 is pushed down so far that the front locking projection 40 on the lower cross member 26 and the rear locking projection 42 can slide away under the rear upper cross member 18 when the male member 12 for opening the Locking device is pulled out of the receiving part 10.

For additional assurance of the locking device according to the invention, this with an auxiliary locking mechanism, not shown, for example, a slider, cooperate, which can be actuated only at a correct locking end position of the male part, on the one hand to ensure correct engagement of the male part in the receiving part and on the other hand inadvertent tilting of the locking rocker and thereby to prevent unlocking of the locking device.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

receiving part

12

male member

13

plug-in direction

14

upper wall

16

side portion

18

rear upper cross member

20

front upper cross member

22

recess

24

Side wall

26

lower cross member

28

plate

30

recess

32

Plate section / locking rocker

34

web section

36

front end

38

rear end

40

front latching projection

42

rear locking projection

44

bottom

46

top

48

ramp

50

sloping surface

Claims (12)

1. A latching device having a reception part (10) and a plug-in part (12) insertable into the reception part (10), wherein the reception part (10) and the plug-in part (12) are provided with latching means (18, 26, 32, 40, 42) which are made complementary to one another and which bring about a latch connection of the reception part (10) and the plug-in part (12) in the plugged together state of the latching device in at least two regions arranged behind one another - considered in the plug-in direction (13),
   characterized in that
   the plug-in part (12) includes a latching means formed as a latching rocker (32), with the latching rocker (32) having a respective latch projection (40, 42) in the region of each of a front and a rear end (36, 38) - considered in the plug in direction (13) - so that the named latch connection of the reception part (10) and the plug-in part (12) takes place in at least two regions arranged behind one another - considered in the plug-in direction (13).
2. A latching device in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the latching rocker (32) can be rocked, can in particular be elastically rocked, about an axis extending transversely to the plug-in direction (13) to open and close the latching device.
3. A latching device in accordance with claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the latching rocker (32) rocks automatically on the plugging together of the plug-in part (12) and the reception part (10).
4. A latching device in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that at least one ramp (48; 50) is provided which effects a rocking of the latching rocker (32) on the plugging together of the plug-in part (12) and the reception part (10).
5. A latching device in accordance with claim 4, characterized in that the ramp (48; 50) is arranged at the plug-in part (12) and/or at the reception part (10).
6. A latching device in accordance with claim 4 or claim 5, characterized in that the ramp (48) is arranged in a region (38) of the latching rocker (32) at the rear - considered in the plug-in direction (13).
7. A latching device in accordance with any one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the ramp (50) is arranged at a transverse carrier (26) which connects side walls (24) of the reception part (10) to one another.
8. A latching device in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the latching rocker (32) is manually rockable.
9. A latching device in accordance with any one of of the preceding claims, characterized in that the latch projections (40, 42) extend in opposite directions with respect to a main plane of the latching rocker (32).
10. A latching device in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the latch projections (40, 42) each engage behind a counter-latching element (26, 18) of the reception part (10) in the plugged-together state of the latching device.
11. A latching device in accordance with claim 10, characterized in that the counter-latch elements are formed by transverse carriers (18, 26) which connect side walls (24) of the reception part (10) to one another.
12. A latching device in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the plug-in part (12) is latchable to the reception part (10) in at least two positions, in particular in a pre-latched position and in a latching position.

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