IP Library Granted Patent US 12662852
Granted Patent B2
US 12662852 · App. 18/864,930 · Granted Jun 23, 2026

Motor vehicle lock

Inventors: Holger Schiffer (Meerbusch, DE); Michael Scholz (Essen, DE); Cyrille Roussel (Mettmann, DE); Ömer Inan (Dorsten, DE); Peter Szegeny (Engelskirchen, DE)
Assignee: Kiekert AG
E05B77/06
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12662852
App. No.
18/864,930
Granted
Jun 23, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A motor vehicle lock, in particular a motor vehicle door lock is provided with an actuation lever chain for a locking mechanism. The actuation lever chain has at least one actuation lever and a coupling element. A mass inertia element is also produced, which acts on the coupling element at least in the event of a crash. As well as a spring acting on the mass inertia element. According to the invention, the spring is designed to be double-acting, with a crash spring part and an engaging spring part.

Claims (36)

1 . A motor vehicle lock comprising:

a locking mechanism,

an actuation lever chain for the locking mechanism, the actuation lever chain having at least one actuation lever and a coupling element,

a mass inertia element which acts on the coupling element at least in the event of a crash, and

a spring acting on the mass inertia element,

wherein the spring is double-acting that comprises a crash spring part that holds the mass inertia element in a predetermined position relative to the actuation lever and an engaging spring part that preloads the mass inertia element toward a locking position, and

wherein the coupling element comprises a locking region for a temporary coupling of the mass inertia element during a crash, and a pin receptacle for receiving a locking lever of the actuation lever chain.

2 . The motor vehicle lock according to claim 1 , wherein the mass inertia element is rotatably connected to the actuation lever with the interposition of the spring.

3 . The motor vehicle lock according to claim 2 , further comprising a bearing pin passing through the actuation lever for the rotatable connection of the mass inertia element.

4 . The motor vehicle lock according to claim 3 , wherein the crash spring part of the spring engages around the bearing pin with a first winding portion.

5 . The motor vehicle lock according to claim 1 , wherein the crash spring part holds the mass inertia element in the predetermined position relative to the actuation lever during a normal operation, and the crash spring part is deformed in the event of a crash.

6 . The motor vehicle lock according to claim 1 , wherein the engaging spring part is preloaded in a direction of a locking position of the mass inertia element.

7 . The motor vehicle lock according to claim 1 , wherein spring forces built up by the crash spring part and the engaging spring part act in different planes.

8 . The motor vehicle lock according to claim 1 , wherein the crash spring part provides spring forces in a crash plane and the engaging spring part provides spring forces in a locking plane which runs perpendicularly relative to the crash plane.

9 . The motor vehicle lock according to claim 1 , wherein the mass inertia element comprises a mass inertia lever with a passage opening for receiving a U-shaped spring arm as the engaging spring part.

10 . The motor vehicle lock according to claim 9 , wherein the crash spring part comprises a wind portion for rotatably connecting the mass inertia element to the actuation lever.

11 . The motor vehicle lock according to claim 1 , wherein the mass inertia element has a first mass inertia lever and a second mass inertia lever, wherein the second mass inertia lever is rotatably connected to the actuation lever, and wherein the first mass inertia lever is equipped with a winding portion as the engaging spring part.

12 . The motor vehicle lock according to claim 1 , wherein the crash spring part comprises a first winding portion and the engaging spring part comprises a second winding portion.

13 . The motor vehicle lock according to claim 1 , wherein during a crash the engaging spring part temporarily locks the mass inertia element to the coupling element.

14 . The motor vehicle lock according to claim 1 , wherein the mass inertia element is connected to an arm of the actuation lever.

15 . A motor vehicle lock comprising:

a locking mechanism,

an actuation lever chain for the locking mechanism, the actuation lever chain having at least one actuation lever and a coupling element,

a mass inertia element which acts on the coupling element at least in the event of a crash, and

a spring acting on the mass inertia element,

wherein the spring is double-acting that comprises a crash spring part that holds the mass inertia element in a predetermined position relative to the actuation lever and an engaging spring part that preloads the mass inertia element toward a locking position, and

wherein the mass inertia element has a first mass inertia lever and a second mass inertia lever, wherein the second mass inertia lever is rotatably connected to the actuation lever, and wherein the first mass inertia lever is equipped with a winding portion as the engaging spring part.

16 . A motor vehicle lock comprising:

a locking mechanism,

an actuation lever chain for the locking mechanism, the actuation lever chain having at least one actuation lever and a coupling element,

a mass inertia element which acts on the coupling element at least in the event of a crash, and

a spring acting on the mass inertia element,

wherein the spring is double-acting that comprises a crash spring part that holds the mass inertia element in a predetermined position relative to the actuation lever and an engaging spring part that preloads the mass inertia element toward a locking position,

wherein the mass inertia element is rotatably connected to the actuation lever with the interposition of the spring,

further comprising a bearing pin passing through the actuation lever for the rotatable connection of the mass inertia element, and

wherein the crash spring part of the spring engages around the bearing pin with a first winding portion.