Vehicle door latch

Details Vehicle door latch Vehicle door latch

1999-06-10

2001-03-13

Estremsky, Gary W. (Department: 3627)

Closure fasteners

Bolts

Swinging

C292SDIG002, C070S283000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06199923

ABSTRACT:

TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a vehicle door latch, and more particularly to a vehicle door latch having a child security mechanism.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Vehicle manufacturers have concerned themselves with child security features on door latches, and especially rear door latches. Presently there are several types of child security locks for disabling the rear inside door latch handle of a vehicle.
One type of security lock involves a hand-operated lever that pivots into and out of engagement with the door latch components. The purpose of the lever is to engage one or more of these components to block or arrest motion transfer along the motion transfer path between the rear inside door latch handle and the latching assembly that unlatches the rear door. In order to operate the lever, a person must open the rear door to access the lever, which is located adjacent the door latch.
Another type of hand-activated system is a free-wheeling system. In such a system, some of the motion-transferring components in the latch's motion transfer path can switch into a free-wheeling or lost motion mode wherein they do not transfer motion from the inside latch handle to the latching assembly.
These manually operated systems are effective; but they lack convenience. For example, the driver may want to activate the security lock while seated in the vehicle—perhaps even while driving. This is not possible without a power system for activating the lock, with a switch located near the driver seat.
There are power security lock systems of the type shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,511,838 to Baughman et al; and 5,263,751 to Priest et al. These systems each involve an electromechanical assembly disposed in the motion transfer path between the inside latch handle and the latching assembly. But in both cases the electro-mechanical assembly is positioned in the middle of the door—mid-way between the latch handle and the latching assembly. Both systems involve establishing a free-wheeling junction along the motion transfer path between the inside latch handle and the latching assembly. Thus, when the lock is activated, the motion transfer path is broken, and the inside latch handle will simply free-wheel. These two power systems are effective, but they leave room for improvement in the area of simplicity and packaging. Both are complex assemblies involving several parts; and both involve installation in the middle of the door and remote from the latching assembly. This translates into higher labor and material costs, and possibly higher vehicle weight.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION AND ADVANTAGES
The present invention is a comparatively compact and simple arrangement for providing a power child security lock for a vehicle door latch assembly.
The present invention comprises an enclosure and several components mounted on or in the enclosure. First is a latching assembly disposed in the enclosure and adapted to move between an unlatched configuration and a latched configuration. There is also an inside latch handle assembly disposed adjacent the latching assembly for transferring motion to the latching assembly in response to an actuator to move the latching assembly to the unlatched configuration. A child security lock assembly for the inside latch handle assembly includes a lock pin. The lock pin is moveable between a locked position in which the lock pin engages the inside latch handle assembly to prevent any motion transfer to the latching assembly, and an unlocked position in which the lock pin disengages the inside latch handle assembly to allow motion transfer to the latching assembly. The child security lock assembly also includes a motor assembly disposed adjacent the lock pin, and a linkage interconnecting the lock pin and the motor assembly wherein the motor assembly controls movement of the lock pin.


REFERENCES:
patent: 3098671 (1963-07-01), Moss
patent: 3111339 (1963-11-01), Nadeau
patent: 4875723 (1989-10-01), Compeau
patent: 4900074 (1990-02-01), Kleefeldt
patent: 4969673 (1990-11-01), Portelli
patent: 5439261 (1995-08-01), O'Hare
patent: 5537848 (1996-07-01), Grzanka
patent: 5715713 (1998-02-01), Aubry
patent: 5802894 (1998-09-01), Jahrsetz

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