Movable or removable closures – Operator interrelated with closure latch release – Motor driven
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-23
2001-05-01
Stodola, Daniel P. (Department: 3634)
Movable or removable closures
Operator interrelated with closure latch release
Motor driven
C292S201000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06223468
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to door closures and more particularly to electric door closures incorporated with a door lock device, which enforcedly close a door with the aid of electric power. More specifically, the present invention is concerned with electric door closures of a type which enforcedly moves a door to a so-called full-latch position with the aid of electric power when the door moves from an open position to a so-called half-latch position.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In order to clarify the task of the present invention, a known electric door closure shown in Japanese Patent Second Provisional Publication 2-4754 will be outlined in the following.
The electric door closure of the publication is incorporated with a back door lock device. The back door lock device generally comprises a lock proper mounted on a pivotal back door and a striker mounted on a rear portion of a vehicle body. Upon closing of the back door, the lock proper catches the striker to hold the door in a closed and latched position. The electric door closure includes a rotating plate fixed to a latch plate shaft of the lock proper, a lever pivotally connected to the rotating plate, a position sensor for sensing the position of the latch plate and an electric motor for actuating the latch plate through the lever and the rotating plate. That is, when the position sensor senses that the latch plate has turned from an open position wherein the latch plate releases the striker to a half-latch position wherein the latch plate incompletely engages with the striker, the electric motor becomes energized to force, through the lever and the rotating plate, the latch plate to pivot from the half-latch position to a full-latch position wherein the latch plate fully engages with the striker. Due to this movement, the back door is shifted to its fully closed and latched position relative to the vehicle body.
In the electric door closure of the publication, a measure is employed for permitting a free movement of the latch plate and the rotating plate when the electric door closure is under OFF condition. That is, in the measure, for preventing the lever from interrupting the movement of the latch plate and the rotating plate in such OFF condition, there is provided between the lever and the rotating plate a play of an amount corresponding to a rotation angle of the latch plate between the open position and the half-latch position.
However, due to provision of this play, upon operation of the electric door closure, the lever is subjected to an inoperative condition for a certain period from the time when the motor is energized to the time when the lever actually drives the latch plate. Thus, the electric door closure fails to achieve a quick door closing action.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an electric door closure incorporated with a door lock device, which is free of the above-mentioned drawback.
That is, according to the present invention, there is provided an electric door closure incorporated with a door lock device, which can quickly shift a door from the half-latch position to the full-latch position upon energization of an electric actuator.
According to the present invention, there is further provided an electric door closure incorporated with a door lock device, which assures a reliable and smoothed open/close movement of a door.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electric door closure which is incorporated with a door lock device. The door lock device includes a striker mounted on one of a fixed structure and a door movably connected to the fixed structure, and a lock proper mounted on the other of the fixed structure and the door, the lock proper including a latch plate which can pivot to an open position, a half-latch position and a full-latch position and a locking lever which can engage the latch plate to assure the half-latch and full-latch positions of the latch plate. The electric door closure comprises a rotation lever connected to a first rotation shaft of the latch plate to rotate therewith; an electric actuator mounted in the lock proper; an arm member pivotally connected to the lock proper through a second rotation shaft which is angled relative to the first rotation shaft, the arm member being pivoted by the electric actuator between an operative position and an inoperative position; a connecting lever pivotally connected to the arm member through a third rotation shaft which extends in parallel with the second rotation shaft, the connecting lever being movable between an engaging position wherein when the arm member is pivoted from the inoperative position to the operative position, a press portion formed on the connecting lever pushes an edge of the rotation lever to pivot the latch plate from the half-latch position to the full-latch position and a canceling position wherein the press portion is separated from the rotation lever in a direction perpendicular to a major surface of the rotation lever, the press portion being in abutment with the edge of the rotation lever to suppress the connecting lever from moving toward the engaging position when the latch plate is in a zone between the open position and just before the half-latch position; an open lever which moves the connecting lever and the locking plate to the respective canceling positions when actuated in a certain direction; and biasing means for biasing the connecting lever toward the engaging position.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electric door closure which is incorporated with a door lock device. The door lock device includes a striker mounted on one of a fixed structure and a door movably connected to the fixed structure, and a lock proper mounted on the other of the fixed structure and the door, the lock proper including a latch plate which can pivot to an open position, a half-latch position and a full-latch position and a locking lever which can engage the latch plate to assure the half-latch and full-latch positions of the latch plate. The electric door closure comprises a rotation lever connected to a shaft of the latch plate to rotate therewith; an electric actuator mounted in the lock proper; an arm member pivotally connected to the lock proper, the arm member being pivoted by the electric actuator between an operative position and an inoperative position; a connecting lever pivotally connected to the arm member, the connecting lever being movable between an engaging position wherein when the arm member is pivoted from the inoperative position to the operative position, a press portion formed on the connecting lever pushes an edge of the rotation lever to pivot the latch plate from the half-latch position to the full-latch position and a canceling position wherein the press portion is separated from a way of the rotation lever; biasing means for biasing the connecting lever toward the engaging position; and a stopper to which a projection of the connecting lever abuts when the arm member is pivoted from a neutral position between the operative and inoperative positions to the inoperative position, so that the connecting lever is pivoted to the canceling position.
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patent: 6070921 (2000-06-01), Valasin
patent: 2-4754 (1990-01-01), None
Cohen Curtis A.
Foley & Lardner
Ohi Seisakusho Co. Ltd.
Stodola Daniel P.
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