# US 11,027,646 B2 · Motor vehicle lock arrangement

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- Number: US 11,027,646 B2
- Document ID: US11027646B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/676,856
- Filed: 2019-11-07
- Published: 2020-06-04
- Granted: 2021-06-08
- Earliest claimed: 2018-11-07
- Assignees: Brose Fahrzeugteile SE & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft, Bamberg
- Applicants: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft, Bamberg
- Inventors: Markus Kothe; Fatih Erarslan
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11027646B2

## CPC

- E05B 85/10: Handles
- B60Q 1/2669: {on door or boot handles (lighting devices for vehicle interior on door handles B60Q3/267)}
- B60Q 1/324: {for signalling that a door is open or intended to be opened}
- E05B 17/10: Illuminating devices on or for locks or keys; {Transparent or translucent lock parts; Indicator lights}
- E05B 63/22: operated by a pulling or pushing action perpendicular to the front plate, {i.e. by pulling or pushing the wing itself (without deadlocking E05C19/02)}
- E05B 81/20: for assisting final closing or for initiating opening
- H05B 45/10: Controlling the intensity of the light
- H05B 47/105: in response to determined parameters
- B60J 5/04: arranged at the vehicle sides {(panel mounted arm-rests B60N2/78; wall liners B60R13/02; door edge guards B60R13/043; padded linings associated with the side doors B60R21/0428)}
- E05Y 2900/531: Doors
- E05B: LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
- B60Q: ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
- B60J: WINDOWS, WINDSCREENS, NON-FIXED ROOFS, DOORS, OR SIMILAR DEVICES FOR VEHICLES; REMOVABLE EXTERNAL PROTECTIVE COVERINGS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES (fastening, suspending, closing, or opening of such devices E05)
- E05Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES E05D AND E05F, RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS, ELECTRIC CONTROL, POWER SUPPLY, POWER SIGNAL OR TRANSMISSION, USER INTERFACES, MOUNTING OR COUPLING, DETAILS, ACCESSORIES, AUXILIARY OPERATIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, APPLICATION THEREOF

## Abstract

A motor vehicle lock arrangement for a motor vehicle door which is adjustably coupled to a motor vehicle body work, wherein the motor vehicle lock arrangement has a motor vehicle lock wherein the motor vehicle lock arrangement has a push-open arrangement for applying a drive force to the motor vehicle door in its opening direction, so that the motor vehicle door can be adjusted, in a motor-operated push-open process, from a closed door position into a push-open door position which is located further in the opening direction of said motor vehicle door, and as a result an engagement gap can be produced between the motor vehicle door and the motor vehicle body work. It is proposed that the motor vehicle lock arrangement has a light arrangement and a light controller for actuating the light arrangement.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A motor vehicle lock arrangement for a motor vehicle door which is adjustably coupled to a motor vehicle body work,
wherein the motor vehicle lock arrangement has a motor vehicle lock which in a mounted state is arranged on the motor vehicle door or on the motor vehicle body work,
wherein the motor vehicle lock arrangement, in particular the motor vehicle lock has a push-open arrangement for applying a drive force to the motor vehicle door in its opening direction, so that the motor vehicle door can be adjusted, in a motor-operated push-open process, from a closed door position, in particular a main closed door position or a pre-closed door position, into a push-open door position which is located further in the opening direction of said motor vehicle door, and as a result an engagement gap can be produced between the motor vehicle door and the motor vehicle body work,
wherein the motor vehicle lock arrangement has a light arrangement and a light controller for actuating the light arrangement,
wherein the light controller actuates the light arrangement into an illuminating state during the motor-operated push-open open process and/or in response to a conclusion of the motor-operated push-open process in a region within the engagement gap and the light arrangement is positioned between the motor vehicle door and motor vehicle body work,
wherein the light controller is arranged in the motor vehicle lock,
wherein the push-open arrangement is a component of the motor vehicle lock,
wherein the motor vehicle lock has an electric connection or an optical connection for actuating the light arrangement, and
wherein the light arrangement is connected electrically or optically to the electric connection.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The motor vehicle lock arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the light arrangement illuminates at least part of the engagement gap during the motor-operated push-open process and/or in response to the conclusion of the motor-operated push-open process, and/or wherein the light arrangement illuminates outwards from the engagement gap during the motor-operated push-open process and/or in response to the conclusion of the motor-operated push-open process.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The motor vehicle lock arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the light arrangement is configured to be operated with different lighting configurations by the light controller.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The motor vehicle lock arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the light arrangement illuminates with different lighting configurations in accordance with an operating state of the motor vehicle lock arrangement.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The motor vehicle lock arrangement according to claim 4, wherein, after the conclusion of the motor-operated push-open process, the motor vehicle door can be pivoted open manually, and wherein, in response to pivoting open the motor vehicle door, the light arrangement does not illuminate or illuminates with a different lighting configuration, in particular with a different color.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The motor vehicle lock arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the light arrangement illuminates with a different lighting configuration during the motor-operated push-open process and in response to the conclusion of the motor-operated push-open process.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The motor vehicle lock arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the motor vehicle lock arrangement has a closing arrangement for closing the motor vehicle door into a closing door position, in particular from the pre-closing door position into the main closing door position, within the scope of a closing process, and wherein during the closing process the light arrangement illuminates with a lighting configuration which is assigned to the closing process.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The motor vehicle lock arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the motor vehicle lock arrangement has an anti-trap device for, in particular, sensor-based, sensing an instance of trapping, and wherein in response to sensing of an instance of trapping,. the light arrangement illuminates with a lighting configuration which is assigned to the instance of trapping.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The motor vehicle lock arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the light arrangement has an elongate light region which extends along part of a longitudinal extent of the engagement gap.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The motor vehicle lock arrangement according claim 9, wherein the elongate light region of the light arrangement is configured as an illuminant strip with a number of illuminants, in particular as LED strips with a number of LEDs, or wherein the elongate light region of the light arrangement is configured as a lightguide.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The motor vehicle door having the motor vehicle lock arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the motor vehicle door has an engagement region, behind which a user's hand can engage when the engagement gap is produced, and otherwise said engagement region is inaccessible to the user's hand.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

A method for operating the motor vehicle lock arrangement of claim 1.

### Claim 13 (depends on 3)

The motor vehicle lock arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the light arrangement illuminates in different colors depending on a lighting configuration, and/or wherein depending on the lighting configuration the light arrangement illuminates continuously or in a pulsed fashion, or in particular with different pulse frequencies, and/or depending on the lighting configuration the light arrangement illuminates with different brightness.

### Claim 14 (depends on 5)

The motor vehicle lock arrangement according to claim 5, wherein in the mounted state the light arrangement illuminates in a rearward direction of the motor vehicle door in response to the pivoting open of the motor vehicle door.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The motor vehicle lock arrangement according to claim 13, wherein the light arrangement illuminates with a different lighting configuration with a different color and/or with a different pulse frequency, during the motor-operated push-open process and in response to the conclusion of the motor-operated push-open process.

### Claim 16 (depends on 11)

The motor vehicle door having a motor vehicle lock arrangement according claim 11, wherein the motor vehicle door has a door outer skin which is configured without a handle.

### Claim 17

A motor vehicle lock arrangement for a motor vehicle doorwhich is adjustably coupled to a motor vehicle body work,
wherein the motor vehicle lock arrangement has a motor vehicle lock which in a mounted state is arranged on the motor vehicle door or on the motor vehicle body work,
wherein the motor vehicle lock arrangement, in particular the motor vehicle lock has a push-open arrangement for applying a drive force to the motor vehicle door in its opening direction, so that the motor vehicle door can be adjusted, in a motor-operated push-open process, from a closed door position, in particular a main closed door position or a pre-closed door position, into a push-open door position which is located further in the opening direction of said motor vehicle door, and as a result an engagement gap can be produced between the motor vehicle door and the motor vehicle body work,
wherein the motor vehicle lock arrangement has a light arrangement and a light controller for actuating the light arrangement,
wherein the light arrangement is positioned within the engagement gap and between the motor vehicle door and motor vehicle body work,
wherein the light controller is arranged in the motor vehicle lock and actuates the light arrangement into an illuminating state during the motor-operated push-open open process and/or in response to a conclusion of the motor-operated push-open process in a region of at least part of the engagement gap, and
wherein an acoustic arrangement is provided for generating acoustic indication signals for a user, and that the acoustic arrangement generates said acoustic signals with predetermined synchronization with the light arrangement.

### Claim 18

A motor vehicle lock arrangement for a motor vehicle doorwhich is adjustably coupled to a motor vehicle body work,
wherein the motor vehicle lock arrangement has a motor vehicle lock which in a mounted state is arranged on the motor vehicle door or on the motor vehicle body work,
wherein the motor vehicle lock arrangement, in particular the motor vehicle lock has a push-open arrangement for applying a drive force to the motor vehicle door in its opening direction, so that the motor vehicle door can be adjusted, in a motor-operated push-open process, from a closed door position, in particular a main closed door position or a pre-closed door position, into a push-open door position which is located further in the opening direction of said motor vehicle door, and as a result an engagement gap can be produced between the motor vehicle door and the motor vehicle body work,
wherein the motor vehicle lock arrangement has a light arrangement and a light controller for actuating the light arrangement,
wherein the light arrangement is positioned within the engagement gap and between the motor vehicle door and motor vehicle body work,
wherein the light controller is arranged in the motor vehicle lock and actuates the light arrangement into an illuminating state during the motor-operated push-open open process and/or in response to a conclusion of the motor-operated push-open process in a region of at least part of the engagement gap, and
wherein the light area of the light arrangement is configured as a light guide.
