Locks – Systems – Operation and control
Patent
1998-06-08
1999-05-25
Meyers, Steven
Locks
Systems
Operation and control
292216, 292DIG23, E05B 5300
Patent
active
059061235
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to passenger vehicle door latch assemblies of the kind incorporating locking mechanism for selectively securing the latched door against unauthorized access.
BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART
In order to reduce the likelihood of the vehicle keys becoming locked inside the vehicle it is common to provide at least one of the door latches on a vehicle with an inhibiting arrangement preventing the mechanism being set into the locked condition before latching has taken place i.e. while the door is open.
It is known from DE-A-2340301 to provide a latch assembly having a said inhibiting arrangement in which an inhibiting member linked to lock mechanism of the assembly is guided for movement between a blocking position at which it prevents shifting of said mechanism from unlocked to locked condition and a free position allowing said shifting to take place, said member being positioned to co-act with a relatively movable face of a latch formation of the assembly whereby the member abuts said face to prevent its displacement from the blocking position whenever that formation is not at a position at which it holds the associated door latched.
The object of the invention is to provide a latch assembly having locking mechanism with an inhibit arrangement which is simple, effective and reliable in operation; which is economical to manufacture and assemble; and which also functions in indexing or assisting the indexing of the locking mechanism so that it is more positively displaced and urged fully to its locked and unlocked conditions when not so inhibited.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention there is provided a passenger vehicle door latch assembly as defined by claim 1 of the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
An example of the invention is now more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a latch assembly and parts of associated locking mechanism.
FIGS. 2 and 3 are views in the direction indicated at A--A on FIG. 1 showing a latch claw and pawl of said assembly at unlatched and latched positions respectively,
FIGS. 4a, b and c are views of parts of said mechanism and a housing thereof in the direction indicated at B--B on FIG. 1 and showing three respective positions of components thereof, and
FIGS. 5a, b and c are respective sections on lines C--C, D--D and E--E of FIGS. 4a, b and c respectively.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The latch assembly 10 for a passenger vehicle door comprises a latch formation in the form of a conventional rotatable claw 12 which co-acts in known manner with a striker 14 operatively mounted on the door post. A retention element in the form of a conventional springloaded pivoted pawl 16 retains the claw in engagement with the striker as seen in FIG. 3 to keep the door closed. When pawl 16 is released claw 12 can rotate anti-clockwise as seen in FIG. 3 to the FIG. 2 position, freeing striker 14 so that the door can swing open.
Claw 12 and pawl 16 are pivoted on respective pivot shafts 18, 20 secured to a metal back plate 22 operatively secured to the door and also forming part of an enclosure for the mechanism.
Pawl 16 is selectively released for opening the door by a pawl lifter 24 (FIG. 1) which is in turn operated by release levers 26, 28 linked to the inside and outside door handles (not shown) in conventional manner. These levers and the locking mechanism of the assembly are located by and contained in a moulded plastics housing 30 having an inner wall or partition 32 which, together with back plate 22 defines an outer chamber containing claw 12 and pawl 16; and together with a cover plate 34 defines an inner chamber containing levers 26 and 28 and other parts of the mechanism.
To secure the door against unauthorized entry the locking mechanism includes a cranked release link 36 guided for generally vertical movement in its longitudinal direction between a locked condition at which it prevents movement of pawl lifter 24 so
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Grady Stephen
Meritor Light Vehicle Systems (UK) Ltd.
Meyers Steven
LandOfFree
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