US 12,276,140 B2
Lock with assisted closing device for a motor vehicle
Thorsten Bendel, Oberhausen (DE)
Assigned to Kiekert AG, Heiligenhaus (DE)
Appl. No. 16/481,876
Filed by Kiekert AG, Heiligenhaus (DE)
PCT Filed Jan. 30, 2018, PCT No. PCT/DE2018/100070
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jul. 30, 2019,
PCT Pub. No. WO2018/137738, PCT Pub. Date Aug. 2, 2018.
Claims priority of application No. 10 2017 101 703.8 (DE), filed on Jan. 30, 2017; and application No. 10 2017 101 704.6 (DE), filed on Jan. 30, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2020/0040618 A1, Feb. 6, 2020
Int. Cl. E05B 81/20 (2014.01); E05B 81/30 (2014.01); E05B 81/32 (2014.01); E05B 81/66 (2014.01)
CPC E05B 81/21 (2013.01) [E05B 81/30 (2013.01); E05B 81/32 (2013.01); E05B 81/66 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A lock for a motor vehicle, the lock comprising:
a locking mechanism having a rotary latch and at least one pawl,
an assisted closing device comprising a pull-handle attached to a Bowden cable,
an electric drive, and
a torque converter, wherein the torque converter is connected to the electric drive and the Bowden cable is connected to the torque converter, wherein the torque converter is configured to exert different forces or torques into the rotary latch via the Bowden cable and the pull-handle, wherein during a first assisted closing movement of the rotary latch to a closing position in which a gap of 4 mm exists between a door or flap to be closed and a chassis of the motor vehicle, the assisted closing device transmits a first assisted closing toque into the rotary latch via a first force exerted on the Bowden cable by the torque converter and by a frictional connection between the pull-handle and the rotary latch resulting in a first constant uniform force on the rotary latch, and wherein during a second assisted closing movement of the rotary latch from the closing position to a closing of the door or flap, the assisted closing device transmits a second assisted closing torque into the rotary latch via a second force exerted on the Bowden cable by the torque converter and by a form fitting connection between the pull-handle and the rotary latch resulting in a second constant uniform force on the rotary latch.