Closing device for a motor-vehicle hood, and method

Abstract

The problem addressed by the invention is providing a closing device for a motor vehicle that can be opened comfortably and nevertheless can be produced with little effort and cannot open in an unplanned manner. This problem is solved in that a closing device comprises a locking mechanism, which has a rotary latch and a pawl, and at least one electrical drive for opening the locking mechanism. The closing device has an actuating apparatus for actuating the electrical drive, such that the locking mechanism can be opened exclusively electrically. Thus, there is no mechanical system—for example, comprising a handle and a Bowden cable that connects the handle to a release lever of the locking mechanism—for enabling the locking mechanism to be opened exclusively in a mechanical manner, i.e., without the use of the electrical drive or another electrical apparatus. In the non-actuated state, the electrical drive is completely disconnected from the current-carrying electrical conductors. Thus, there is then no voltage on the drive, which must be used to open the locking mechanism. The actuating apparatus is designed in such a way that, by means of actuation, one or more electrical contacts are closed in order to contact the electrical drive to a current source and put the electrical drive into operation such that an associated door or flap can be opened.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.