Closure fasteners – Bolts – Swinging
Patent
1987-06-23
1989-04-25
Moore, Richard E.
Closure fasteners
Bolts
Swinging
E05C 316
Patent
active
048241520
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to latches for vehicle doors.
More particularly the invention relates to a vehicle door latch of the kind including a latch bolt for interaction with a striker formation of the door frame in use, the bolt in a latched position keeping the door fully closed, retention means cooperating with the bolt to secure it at the latched position, and release means connectible with a door handle or other operating means to actuate the retention means for freeing the bolt to allow the door to open, said latches being hereinafter referred to as "latches of the kind described".
The object of the invention is to provide a latch of the kind described which is of simple construction and economical to manufacture and install; which gives particularly secure fastening of the door for added safety, e.g. on impact with the door, and resistance to unauthorised entry; which is durable and reliable in use; and which can readily be adapted to servo operation e.g. in a central door locking system and/or be readily provided with sensor means for automatic monitoring of its operation.
While the invention is primarily concerned with latches of the kind described in which the latch bolt is a rotatably mounted fork or claw having a mouth in which a cylindrical portion of the striker formation is received it is contemplated that the invention may be applicable to latches having rectilinearly sliding or other forms of bolt.
According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a vehicle door latch of the kind described in which the retention means has first and second pawl members each resiliently urged independently of the other into coacting relationship with the bolt, the release means acting to shift both pawl members to free the bolt for movement from the latched position.
Preferably said pawl members co-act respectively with separate engaging faces of the bolt.
It is also preferred that the first pawl member acts to block movement of the bolt in a direction away from the latched position when the bolt and striker reach a safety position at which the door is not fully closed in use and that the second pawl member acts to block movement of the bolt when the latter is at the latched position.
It is further preferred that each pawl member makes only one unidirectional movement during each full latching cycle; conveniently said movement is rectilinear though rotary or other translatory movement is also contemplated.
Desireably the pawl members move in paths intersecting the plane in which the latch bolt moves e.g. they move in paths normal to said plane so that they are subjected to shear forces when in coacting relationship with the bolt.
According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a door latch of the kind described in which the retention means is moved relative to the bolt by lateral translation within the body of the latch, the release means being enclosed within said body so as to render more difficult any attempt to release the latch or interfere with the latch mechanism in unauthorised manner e.g. to break into the vehicle when locked.
A latch according to the invention as defined by either of the aspects referred to above may further include
(a) servo operating means in the form of a power operated actuator built into the body of the latch for selective operation of the release means and/or connection thereof with a door handle or other manual operating means, and/or (b) sensor means for monitoring operation of the latch by response to the positioning of the bolt in the latch body, in particular providing a signal according to whether the bolt is at the fully latched position or not at that position e.g. at the safety position.
Conveniently the release means includes a formation of the latch which is pushed inwardly of the latch body to shift the retention means and free the bolt, said formation being actuated by a push-rod or the like connected to a door handle and having an end in abutment with said formation but not otherwise linked thereto whereby in use any bending or other
REFERENCES:
patent: 1352762 (1920-09-01), Schultze
patent: 1412544 (1922-04-01), Wollesen
patent: 3334935 (1967-08-01), Eddey
patent: 3601883 (1971-08-01), Arlauskas
patent: 3751088 (1973-08-01), Schlage et al.
Moore Richard E.
Rockwell Automotive Body Components (UK) Ltd.
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