# US 11,306,518 B2 · Vehicle door lock, especially tailgate lock > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,306,518 B2 - Document ID: US11306518B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/909,022 - Filed: 2018-03-01 - Published: 2018-09-06 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2017-03-02 - Assignees: Kiekert AG - Applicants: Kiekert AG - Inventors: Bryan D. Bishop; Keith Robertson; John Dey - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11306518B2 ## CPC - E05B 81/18: to effect movement of a bolt or bolts (E05B81/20 takes precedence) - E05B 81/20: for assisting final closing or for initiating opening - E05B 81/64: Monitoring or sensing, e.g. by using switches or sensors - E05B 83/00: Vehicle locks specially adapted for particular types of wing or vehicle (locks specially adapted for bicycles E05B71/00; locking arrangements for non-fixed vehicle roofs B60J7/185; latching means for sideboards or tailgates of open load compartments B62D33/037) - E05B 83/18: for car boot lids or rear luggage compartments - E05B 85/243: {with a bifurcated bolt} - E05B 85/26: Cooperation between bolts and detents - E05C 3/004: {about an axis perpendicular to the surface on which the fastener is mounted} - B62D 33/037: Latching means therefor - E05B 79/20: using flexible connections, e.g. Bowden cables - E05B 81/28: Linearly reciprocating elements - E05Y 2400/445: Switches - E05Y 2900/546: Tailboards, tailgates or sideboards opening upwards - E05B: LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS - E05C: BOLTS OR FASTENING DEVICES FOR WINGS, SPECIALLY FOR DOORS OR WINDOWS (latching means for sideboard or tailgate structures for vehicles B62D, {B62D33/02}; fastening devices for constructional or engineering elements E04, F16B; locks, fastening devices structurally or operatively combined or having significant cooperation with locks E05B; means for operating or controlling wing fasteners in conjunction with mechanisms for moving the wing E05F) - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) - 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 The subject matter of the present invention is a motor vehicle door lock, in particular tailgate lock, which is provided with a locking mechanism (1, 2) essentially consisting of a rotary latch (1) and a pawl (2). Furthermore, as required, an unlocking/opening actuator (6) as well as a locking actuator (7) may be realised. In addition at least one sensor (12, 13) assigned to the locking actuator (7) is provided. According to the invention the sensor (12, 13) is arranged at a distance from a locking mechanism plane protected in the lock interior, and is impacted by means of an actuating element (14) following the locking actuator (7). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A motor vehicle door lock for a tailgate, the motor vehicle door lock comprising: a locking mechanism having a rotary latch and a pawl, an unlocking/opening actuator for the locking mechanism, a locking actuator for the locking mechanism, a closing lever engageable between the locking actuator and the locking mechanism, at least one sensor configured to query a position of the rotary latch, wherein the at least one sensor is arranged at a distance from a locking mechanism plane and protected in a lock interior, and an actuating element configured to follow movement of the rotary latch, wherein the actuating element is configured to directly impact the at least one sensor, wherein the rotary latch, the closing lever, and the actuating element are coaxially mounted on on a common axis, wherein the at least one sensor is mounted to a first side of a mounting plate, the actuating element is arranged adjacent the first side of the mounting plate and extends along the first side of the mounting plate, and the locking mechanism is arranged adjacent a second side of the mounting plate opposite the first side and extends along the second side of the mounting plate, wherein the mounting plate covers a fish mouth associated with the locking mechanism to close the fish mouth relative to the at least one sensor and the actuating element arranged on the first side of the mounting plate, and wherein the closing lever extends along the second side of the mounting plate opposite the actuating element. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The motor vehicle door lock according to claim 1, wherein the actuating element is configured as an actuating cam non-rotatably attached to the rotary latch. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The motor vehicle door lock according to claim 1, wherein the actuating element and the at least one sensor are covered by a housing. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The motor vehicle door lock according to claim 3, wherein the housing is detachably attached to the mounting plate. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The motor vehicle door lock according to claim 4, wherein the housing accommodates the actuating element and the at least one sensor relative to the mounting plate, wherein the housing includes a reach-through slot for at least a portion of the actuating element. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The motor vehicle door lock according to claim 1, wherein both of the unlocking/opening actuator and the locking actuator are configured in a modular manner. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The motor vehicle door lock according to claim 1, wherein both of the unlocking/opening actuator and the locking actuator are detachably attached to a lock case. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The motor vehicle door lock according to claim 1, wherein both of the unlocking/opening actuator and the locking actuator are arranged on an L-shank of a lock case, which is L-shaped in cross-section, wherein another L-shank of the lock case supports the locking mechanism and the at least one sensor. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The motor vehicle door lock according to claim 1, wherein the locking actuator is configured to impact the closing lever and/or the unlocking / opening actuator is configured to impact the pawl via a connecting means. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The motor vehicle door lock according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor includes two sensors. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The motor vehicle door lock according to claim 10, wherein the two sensors, during a closing operation of the locking mechanism, are directly impacted in sequence by the actuating element. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The motor vehicle door lock according to claim 10, wherein depending on whether a first sensor or a second sensor of the two sensors is directly impacted by the actuating element or whether both of the two sensors are directly impacted by the actuating element, the locking mechanism is movable to different functional states including “open”, “start of closing”, and “end of closing”/“closed”. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The motor vehicle door lock according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is configured as at least one switch. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The motor vehicle door lock according to claim 13, wherein the at least one switch is at least one microswitch. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The motor vehicle door lock according to claim 1, wherein the mounting plate is attached to a lock case, and the motor vehicle door lock further includes a housing attached to the mounting plate that is configured to at least partially enclose the actuating element and the at least one sensor relative to the mounting plate. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The motor vehicle door lock according to claim 1, wherein the rotary latch, the closing lever, and the actuating element are spaced along the common axis. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The motor vehicle door lock according to claim 1, wherein the closing lever and the actuating element are axially spaced along the common axis. ### Claim 18 A motor vehicle door lock for a tailgate, the motor vehicle door lock comprising: a locking mechanism having a rotary latch and a pawl, an unlocking/opening actuator for the locking mechanism, a locking actuator for the locking mechanism, a closing lever engageable between the locking actuator and the locking mechanism, at least one sensor configured to query a position of the rotary latch, wherein the at least one sensor is arranged at a distance from a locking mechanism plane and protected in a lock interior, and an actuating element configured to follow movement of the rotary latch, wherein the actuating element is configured to directly impact the at least one sensor, wherein the rotary latch, the closing lever, and the actuating element are coaxially mounted on a common axis, wherein the at least one sensor is mounted to a first side of a mounting plate, the actuating element is arranged adjacent the first side of the mounting plate and extends along the first side of the mounting plate, and the locking mechanism is arranged adjacent a second side of the mounting plate opposite the first side and extends along the second side of the mounting plate, wherein the mounting plate covers a fish mouth associated with the locking mechanism to close the fish mouth relative to the at least one sensor and the actuating element arranged on the first side of the mounting plate, and wherein the closing lever and the actuating element are axially spaced along the common axis.