# US 11,306,516 B2 · Motor vehicle latch > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,306,516 B2 - Document ID: US11306516B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/218,713 - Filed: 2018-12-13 - Published: 2020-06-18 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2018-12-13 - Assignees: Kiekert AG - Applicants: Kiekert AG - Inventors: Stelian Borlodan - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11306516B2 ## CPC - E05B 77/06: by means of inertial forces - E05B 79/08: Mounting of individual lock elements in the lock, e.g. levers - E05B 79/10: Connections between movable lock parts - E05B 85/04: Strikers - E05B 85/26: Cooperation between bolts and detents - Y10S 292/22: Inertia operated - E05B: LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS - Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS ## Abstract A motor vehicle latch, in particular a motor vehicle door latch, that in its basic structure is equipped with a locking mechanism essentially consisting of a catch and at least one pawl. Furthermore, an operating lever mechanism for the locking mechanism having at least one coupling lever and one release lever is realized. In its “coupled position,” the coupling lever connects the release lever mechanically to the locking mechanism, and in its “uncoupled” position separates the release lever from the locking mechanism. In addition, an inertia element for guiding the coupling lever is provided. According to the invention, the inertia element has a guide contour for the coupling lever, which guide contour in a crash event separates the coupled coupling lever from the release lever and transfers the coupling lever to its “uncoupled” position without further mechanical contact. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A motor vehicle latch comprising: a locking mechanism having a catch and at least one pawl; an operating lever mechanism for the locking mechanism with a coupling lever and one release lever mechanically connected to the locking mechanism, wherein the coupling lever has a coupled position in which the coupling lever is mechanically connected to the release lever for unlocking the locking mechanism, and an uncoupled position in which the coupling lever is separated from the release lever for retaining the locking mechanism in a locked position; and an inertia element for guiding the coupling lever, wherein the inertia element has a guide contour for the coupling lever, wherein during a crash event, the guide contour separates the coupling lever, which is in the coupled position, from the release lever and, without further mechanical contact, transfers the coupling lever to the uncoupled position, wherein the guide contour on the inertia element has a lifting flank for a contour pin of the coupling lever that guides an actuating pin of the coupling lever interacting with a support surface on the release lever during the transition of the coupling lever from the coupled position to the uncoupled position on the support surface of the release lever with clearance. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The motor vehicle latch according to claim 1 further comprising an actuating spring that pre-stresses the coupling lever towards the guide contour on the inertia element. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The motor vehicle latch according to claim 2, wherein the actuating spring is a leg spring having a fixing leg and a clamping leg. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The motor vehicle latch according to claim 3, wherein the fixing leg is fixed on an actuating lever, while the clamping leg acts on the coupling lever. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The motor vehicle latch according to claim 1 further comprising a restoring spring that acts on the inertia element in a direction of an undeflected position of the inertia element. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The motor vehicle latch according to claim 5 further comprising a bearing journal about which the restoring spring is pivotable, wherein the restoring spring surrounds the bearing journal. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The motor vehicle latch according to claim 5, wherein the restoring spring has one leg that is anchored in a lock housing and a free leg that acts on the inertia element. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The motor vehicle latch according to claim 1, wherein the operating lever mechanism includes an actuating lever on which the coupling lever is rotatably arranged. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The motor vehicle latch according to claim 8, wherein the coupling lever engages with at least one pin in a guide contour of the actuating lever. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The motor vehicle latch according to claim 9, wherein the at least one pin includes a spring journal and a contour pin, are provided on the coupling lever that, to guide it, jointly engage in the guide contour on the actuating lever. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The motor vehicle latch according to claim 10, wherein the spring journal interacts with an actuating spring and the contour pin interacts with the guide contour on the inertia element. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The motor vehicle latch according to claim 11, wherein the actuating spring has a wound section that winds around an axis of rotation of the actuating lever. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The motor vehicle latch according to claim 1, wherein the coupling lever has an actuating pin on one side that engages the release lever and a pivot pin on a side that is opposing the one side. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The motor vehicle latch according to claim 13, wherein the coupling lever has a contour pin that is arranged opposite the actuating pin. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The motor vehicle latch according to claim 1, wherein the lifting flank is obliquely inclined. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The motor vehicle latch according to claim 1, wherein the contour pin traverses an elevation separating the lifting flank from the support region. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The motor vehicle latch according to claim 1, wherein the actuating pin is guided along an end-face edge of the support surface with clearance. ### Claim 18 A motor vehicle latch comprising: a locking mechanism having a catch and at least one pawl; an operating lever mechanism for the locking mechanism with a coupling lever and one release lever mechanically connected to the locking mechanism, wherein the coupling lever has a coupled position in which the coupling lever is mechanically connected to the release lever for unlocking the locking mechanism, and an uncoupled position in which the coupling lever is separated from the release lever for retaining the locking mechanism in a locked position; an inertia element for guiding the coupling lever, wherein the inertia element has a guide contour for the coupling lever, wherein during a crash event, the guide contour separates the coupling lever, which is in the coupled position, from the release lever and, without further mechanical contact, transfers the coupling lever to the uncoupled position; and an actuating spring that pre-stresses the coupling lever towards the guide contour on the inertia element, wherein the actuating spring is a leg spring having a fixing leg and a clamping leg, and wherein the fixing leg is fixed on an actuating lever, while the clamping leg acts on the coupling lever. ### Claim 19 A motor vehicle latch comprising: a locking mechanism having a catch and at least one pawl; an operating lever mechanism for the locking mechanism with a coupling lever and one release lever mechanically connected to the locking mechanism, wherein the coupling lever has a coupled position in which the coupling lever is mechanically connected to the release lever for unlocking the locking mechanism, and an uncoupled position in which the coupling lever is separated from the release lever for retaining the locking mechanism in a locked position; and an inertia element for guiding the coupling lever, wherein the inertia element has a guide contour for the coupling lever, wherein during a crash event, the guide contour separates the coupling lever, which is in the coupled position, from the release lever and, without further mechanical contact, transfers the coupling lever to the uncoupled position, wherein the operating lever mechanism includes an actuating lever on which the coupling lever is rotatably arranged, wherein the coupling lever engages with at least one pin in a guide contour of the actuating lever, and wherein the at least one pin includes a spring journal and a contour pin, are provided on the coupling lever that, to guide it, jointly engage in the guide contour on the actuating lever.