1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a motor vehicle door latch with at least one locking mechanism comprising a catch and a pawl and a flexible friction brake device for the locking mechanism that, as part of a closing movement of the locking mechanism only becomes effective shortly before reaching a rigid end stop, in which the locking mechanism comprises at least one cam in reciprocal action with the friction brake device as it assumes its closing position.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In motor vehicle door latches, as described for instance in DE 44 20 185 A1, the friction brake device ensures that the impact noise of the catch when coming into contact with the end stop, is effectively reduced. For this purpose, DE 44 20 185 A1 provides a cam on the catch or forked catch, with the friction brake device being designed as a leaf spring protruding in the path of movement of the cam shortly before reaching the closing position of the forked catch. This leaf spring slows down the catch as desired. It can, however, be improved with regard to its acoustic behavior. At this point, noise can still be expected, as the steel forked catch comes into contact with the leaf spring made of the same material.
DE 196 52 012 A1 also uses a leaf spring as a friction brake device. In this case, the main objective is, however, the prevention of the opening noises and not of the closing noises.
Finally, DE 43 03 532 C2 discloses a motor vehicle door latch in which the catch contains a conical, oval recess forming the friction brake or friction brake device, into which a tapered, oval section of a cover plate of the door latch engages. This type of device is particularly difficult to produce from a manufacturing point of view. The produced noise is also at a level that is not advantageous.