# US 11,536,057 B2 · Motor vehicle lock > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,536,057 B2 - Document ID: US11536057B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/347,296 - Filed: 2017-11-07 - Published: 2019-09-26 - Granted: 2022-12-27 - Earliest claimed: 2016-11-07 - Assignees: Kiekert AG - Applicants: Kiekert AG - Inventors: Claus Töpfer; Winfried Schlabs; Tim Sonnenschein; Inga Heinzen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11536057B2 ## CPC - E05B 77/26: specially adapted for child safety - E05B 77/28: for anti-theft purposes, e.g. double-locking or super-locking - E05B 79/20: using flexible connections, e.g. Bowden cables - E05B 81/06: using rotary motors - E05Y 2201/654: Cables - E05Y 2900/50: for vehicles - E05B: LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS - 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 locking device for a motor vehicle includes an actuating lever, a lock and at least one Bowden cable, which is arranged between the actuating lever and the lock, wherein the lock can be actuated by means of the actuating lever and with the help of the Bowden cable and a functional unit, which is arranged on the Bowden cable and has an electric drive, and wherein the lock can be actuated by means of the functional unit at least in an assisting manner or an actuation can be prevented. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A locking device for a motor vehicle comprising: an actuating lever; a lock; a Bowden cable which is arranged between the actuating lever and the lock, wherein the lock is configured to be actuated by the actuating lever and the Bowden cable; and a functional unit which is arranged on the Bowden cable and has an electric drive, wherein the lock is configured to be actuated by the functional unit, at least in an assisting manner, or an actuation of the lock is configured to be prevented by the functional unit, wherein the functional unit includes at least one deflection unit configured to deflect the Bowden cable, wherein the functional unit includes a drive element and a drive configured to activate the at least one deflection unit, wherein the drive is a gear stage connected between the electric drive and the drive element; wherein the at least one deflection unit includes a first deflection unit connected to a first part of the Bowden cable and a second deflection unit connected to a second part of the Bowden cable, wherein the first deflection unit and the second deflection unit are configured to be activated by the drive element; wherein the first deflection unit and the second deflection unit are rotatably mounted on a common central axle and are coupled by a coupling element, whereby the second deflection unit is actuated by rotation of the first deflection unit via the coupling element; and wherein the functional unit further includes a switching device that provides a control signal to the electric drive, wherein the second deflection unit includes a contour that actuates the switching device when the second deflection unit is actuated. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The locking device according to claim 1, wherein the drive element is made up of a gear segment. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The locking device according to claim 1, wherein the functional unit includes a control lever, whereby a movement of the at least one deflection unit is configured to be at least partially blocked by the control lever. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The locking device according to claim 1 further comprising an actuator and an additional actuating medium that works together with the actuator in such a way that a haptic acknowledgment is configured to be captured for an operator of the additional actuating medium. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The locking device according to claim 4, wherein the haptic acknowledgment is configured to be captured after or immediately during the actuation of the switching device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The locking device according to claim 1 wherein: the first part of the Bowden cable is arranged between an activating lever and the functional unit; the second part of the Bowden cable is arranged between the functional unit and the lock; and a mechanical connection is arranged on the first part of the Bowden cable that is configured to be uncoupled from the second part of the Bowden cable. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The locking device according to claim 1 further comprising an actuator, wherein the at least one deflection unit is configured to be uncoupled from the actuator by the electric drive. ### Claim 8 A locking device for a motor vehicle comprising: an actuating lever; a lock; a Bowden cable which is arranged between the actuating lever and the lock, wherein the lock is configured to be actuated by the actuating lever and the Bowden cable; and a functional unit which is arranged on the Bowden cable and has an electric drive, wherein the lock is configured to be actuated by the functional unit, at least in an assisting manner, or an actuation of the lock is configured to be prevented by the functional unit, wherein the functional unit includes at least one deflection unit configured to deflect the Bowden cable, wherein the functional unit includes a drive element and a drive configured to activate the at least one deflection unit, wherein the drive is a gear stage connected between the electric drive and the drive element; wherein the at least one deflection unit includes a first deflection unit connected to a first part of the Bowden cable and a second deflection unit connected to a second part of the Bowden cable, wherein the first deflection unit and the second deflection unit are configured to be activated by the drive element; wherein the first deflection unit and the second deflection unit are rotatably mounted on a common central axle and are coupled by a coupling element, whereby the second deflection unit is actuated by rotation of the first deflection unit via the coupling element; wherein the first part of the Bowden cable is arranged between an activating lever and the functional unit, the second part of the Bowden cable is arranged between the functional unit and the lock, and a mechanical connection is arranged on the first part of the Bowden cable that is configured to be uncoupled from the second part of the Bowden cable; and wherein uncoupling of the Bowden cable is configured to be performed by the electric drive. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The locking device according to claim 8 further comprising an actuator that is connected to the lock via the second part of the Bowden cable, and an actuating lever that works together with the actuator in such a way that a haptic acknowledgment is configured to be captured for an operator. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The locking device according to claim 9, wherein the functional unit has at least one switching device, wherein the switching device is arranged in the functional unit such that the haptic acknowledgment is configured to be captured after or immediately during the actuation of the switching device. ### Claim 11 A locking device for a motor vehicle comprising: an actuating lever; a lock; a Bowden cable which is arranged between the actuating lever and the lock, wherein the lock is configured to be actuated by the actuating lever and the Bowden cable; and a functional unit which is arranged on the Bowden cable and has an electric drive, wherein the lock is configured to be actuated by the functional unit, at least in an assisting manner, or an actuation of the lock is configured to be prevented by the functional unit, wherein the functional unit includes at least one deflection unit configured to deflect the Bowden cable, wherein the functional unit includes a drive element and a drive configured to activate the at least one deflection unit, wherein the drive is a gear stage connected between the electric drive and the drive element; wherein the at least one deflection unit includes a first deflection unit connected to a first part of the Bowden cable and a second deflection unit connected to a second part of the Bowden cable, wherein the first deflection unit and the second deflection unit are configured to be activated by the drive element; wherein the first deflection unit and the second deflection unit are rotatably mounted on a common central axle and are coupled by a coupling element, whereby the second deflection unit is actuated by rotation of the first deflection unit via the coupling element; and further comprising: a first and second actuating medium; and a separate electric drive to uncouple the first and second actuating medium. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The locking device according to claim 11, wherein the at least one deflection unit works together with the first and second actuating medium; and wherein the functional unit includes a switching device, wherein the position of at least one of the first and second actuating medium is configured to be captured by the switching device. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The locking device according to claim 11 further comprising an actuator, wherein at least one of the first and second actuating medium works together with the actuator in such a way that a haptic acknowledgment is configured to be captured for an operator. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The locking device according to claim 13, wherein the actuator is positioned so as to be longitudinally displaceable in the functional unit.