IP Library Granted Patent US 12,662,853
Granted Patent B2
US 12,662,853 · App. 18/903,284 · Granted Jun 23, 2026

Electromotive drive unit for motor vehicle applications

Inventors: Robert J. Hunt (Davisburg, MI); Scott Brown (Livonia, MI); Thorsten Bendel (Oberhausen, DE)
Assignee: KIEKERT AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
E05B81/20E05B79/20E05B81/04
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,662,853
App. No.
18/903,284
Granted
Jun 23, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An electromotive drive unit is provided for motor vehicle applications, in particular a closing drive for a motor vehicle lock, preferably a motor vehicle door lock. For this purpose, the drive unit is provided with an electromotive drive and a Bowden cable. The Bowden cable couples the electromotive drive to an actuating element acted upon thereby. The Bowden cable is supported with its sheath on a housing accommodating the actuating element and works with its core on the actuating element. According to the invention, the core has a front hook which engages over a bevel of the actuating element. In this way, in order to interrupt a pulling action on the actuating element, the hook only has to be released from the bevel.

Claims (16)

1 . An electromotive drive unit for motor vehicle applications comprising:

an electromotive drive and an actuating element,

a housing that accommodates the actuating element,

a Bowden cable which couples the electromotive drive to the actuating element acted upon thereby, the Bowden cable being supported with a sheath of the Bowden cable being supported on the housing which accommodates the actuating element and working with a core of the Bowden cable on the actuating element,

wherein the core has a front hook which engages over a bevel of the actuating element, so that in order to interrupt a pulling and/or pushing action on the actuating element, the hook and the core are released from the bevel, and

a release lever for releasing the hook from the bevel by directly acting on the hook.

2 . The electromotive drive unit according to claim 1 , wherein the release lever directly acts on the hook mechanically and/or by an electric motor.

3 . The electromotive drive unit according to claim 1 , wherein the release lever directly acts on the hook transversely to a longitudinal extension on the hook.

4 . The electromotive drive unit according to claim 1 , wherein the hook is provided with a run-up slope and a stop.

5 . The electromotive drive unit according to claim 4 , wherein the hook rests with the stop on the bevel in a functional state in which the hook and the bevel are engaged.

6 . The electromotive drive unit according to claim 5 , wherein the stop and the bevel run parallel to one another.

7 . The electromotive drive unit according to claim 1 , wherein the hook is designed as a metal stamped part.

8 . The electromotive drive unit according to claim 1 , wherein the hook and the core are detachably connected to one another.

9 . The electromotive drive unit according to claim 1 , wherein the hook and the core are integrally connected to one another.

10 . The electromotive drive unit according to claim 1 , wherein the actuating element is a motor vehicle door lock comprising a rotary latch and a pawl, and the bevel is provided on the pawl.

11 . The electromotive drive unit according to claim 1 , wherein the actuating element is a motor vehicle door lock comprising a rotary latch, a pawl, and a closing lever that engages with the pawl, and the bevel is provided on one of the closing lever or the pawl.