EP0828911B1 - Motor vehicle door lock - Google Patents

Abstract

PCT No. PCT/FR97/00534 Sec. 371 Date Nov. 26, 1997 Sec. 102(e) Date Nov. 26, 1997 PCT Filed Mar. 26, 1997 PCT Pub. No. WO97/36074 PCT Pub. Date Oct. 2, 1997A motor vehicle door lock is provided. An inside connecting device is connected at one end to an inside door opening element and at another end to an inside opening lever. The inside opening lever pivots about a first pin via the inside connecting device and the inside door opening element, whereby the inside opening lever engages a pawl which in turn engages a striker. An inside pivoting arm cooperates with the inside opening lever. The inside pivoting arm pivots about pin whereby it moves the inside opening lever between a locked and an unlocked position. In the locked position, the inside opening lever is not affected by the inside connecting device and in the unlocked position, the inside connecting device may act on the inside opening lever. Corresponding parts are also provided for an outside door opening element. The latch, pawl, levers and pivoting arms are all arranged parallel to the same face of a housing whereby their pins are perpendicular to the same face.

Description

The invention relates to a vehicle door lock automobile, in particular of the type comprising a rotary fork bolt and a rotary latch retaining pawl.

We know that a motor vehicle door is generally held in the closed position by a lock, of which the bolt and the pawl are arranged parallel to the edge of the door, the keeper being integral with the bodywork amount which is located immediate vicinity of the door edge. The lock case has a notch for the passage of the striker; the keeper, to the closing the door, enters the bolt fork, which pivots in a position where it retains the keeper and which is kept in this position by the ratchet. This well-known type of lock is always associated with a number of peripheral elements intended for controlling the lock, namely, on the one hand, control members for opening the door from inside or outside the passenger compartment, on the other hand, locking and unlocking operating from inside or outside of the passenger compartment, and finally safety devices, for example a conviction preventing untimely opening of the lock by a child. The presence of all these peripheral elements leads unfortunately, for locks of this type, a complicated shape and the moving parts of the lock are arranged around axes, which are parallel not only to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, which is the case for the ratchet and the bolt, but also around axes parallel to the transverse axis and the vertical axis of the vehicle. The result so that the locks have a complicated shape and, since it protect the peripheral elements from control of the lock, it is necessary to associate with the lock the covers protection of tormented form, which are troublesome for mounting the door lock; these covers are moreover heavier and expensive they have a more tormented form. But, furthermore, locks of this type are extremely sensitive to decelerations "brutal in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle due to the existence moving parts, whose axes are perpendicular to the axis longitudinal of the vehicle. As a result, these moving parts must be carefully balanced by weighing down some of their parts and subjecting them to springs, from which follows a increase in weight and price of the lock.

In other words, the prior art locks have the disadvantage of having housings having a shape in square, the elements of which do not withstand brutal decelerations in case of accident, the square shape involving, both for the structure component parts of the lock only for the rollover, a increased cost and weight.

It is clear that it is highly desirable to carry out a lock, the housing of which would have substantially the shape of a parallelepiped rectangle, this lock therefore having all of its elements in one plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.

GB-A-2 268 966 discloses a lock according to the preamble of claim 1.

The invention firstly aims to provide a lock in which all the axes of the moving parts are parallel to one direction. The invention also aims to provide a lock, of which all the components can be accommodated the interior of a substantially parallelepiped housing, the large faces are, when mounted in the door, positioned parallel door knocking. The invention also aims to provide a lock in which the opening, unlocking and of internal and external convictions are independent, the convictions and convictions that can be insured mechanically or electrically.

The present invention therefore relates to a lock motor vehicle door, according to claim 1.

It can be provided that the pivoting of the associated pivoting arm the external control means causes the arm to pivot swivel associated with the internal control members, so that the exterior unlocking leads to interior unlocking.

Advantageously, the connecting element of a connecting device can take a so-called middle position and a position called first extreme position, said middle position corresponding to the absence of action by the user on the control members mechanically connected to the lock and said first extreme position corresponding to the action of the user on a door opening element, each connecting element of said connecting devices (15, 16) cooperating, in the housing 1 of the lock with a lever (12, 13) suitable for causing the opening of the lock when the connecting element passes from its middle position to its first extreme position, each of these two levers (12, 13) being susceptible, on the one hand, when the lock is in the unlocked position, to pivot around an axis (10, 13 d ) under the action of a locking element, to escape the action of its associated connecting element when it comes into its first pos ition extreme, and secondly, when the lock is in the unlocked position, to perform the reverse pivot under the action of a unlocking element, the connecting element of at least one of the connecting devices ( 16) being capable, to ensure the mechanical unlocking control of the lock in the locked position, to take a third position, called the second extreme position, and cooperating with a pivoting arm (14), which is driven by said connecting element when this the latter passes from its middle position to its second extreme position and which, by rotation, returns the lever (12) associated with said connecting element to the angular position where it can cause the opening of the lock.

We can foresee that the pivoting arm associated with the organs interior control is electrically controlled to drive the pivoting of the lever associated with the internal control members in the direction of its positioning in the condemnation position.

In addition, the elements of conviction / unlocking indoor and outdoor can be controlled electrically and / or mechanically.

In a preferred embodiment, the connecting element of a connecting device moves in translation and the associated levers to the indoor and outdoor controls are also likely to move in translation under the action of their element respective link, each lever being subjected to a spring, which recalls in the opposite direction to that corresponding to the action of the connecting element for opening the lock.

The lever associated with the external control members can advantageously be driven electrically in rotation to bring it into its condemnation position. We can also predict that the translation of the lever associated with the internal control members in the direction of opening of the lock drives, if the associated lever to the external control members is in the locked position, the . pivoting of said lever to bring it into position unlocking.

Advantageously, the pivoting arm associated with the organs of interior control is likely to be rotated by the user by direct manual action on the end of its axis, which is accessible on the housing of the lock in the edge of the door, to bring the lever associated with the external control members into its condemned position; so even in the event of a battery failure, is possible to condemn the lock vis-à-vis the outside, the unlocking by the action of the user on the element of external unlocking, which acts on the pivoting control arm exterior.

We can advantageously provide that the connection device associated with the control members indoor or outdoor, either a curvilinear sheathed cable, positioned in a U-shape inside the door, one end of the sheath being fixed relative to the vehicle door, while the other is connected to a manual unlocking element when it exists one, one end of the cable being connected to the element door opening while the other is the connecting element acting on the lock.

The lock housing according to the invention is covered with a protective cover forming a simple cover given the shape rectangular lock rectangle, one large face of which is positioned parallel to the door edge.

The lock according to the invention preferably comprises a rotary fork latch and a latch retaining pawl.

To better understand the object of the invention, we will describe it now, as a purely illustrative example and not limiting, an embodiment shown in the accompanying drawing.

• la figure 1 représente schématiquement, vue en plan, une serrure selon l'invention, dans laquelle on a fait figurer uniquement le pêne, le cliquet et le positionnement des actionneurs électriques, qui entraínent la rotation des deux axes permettant d'obtenir la condamnation extérieure et intérieure de la serrure ;
• la figure 2 représente schématiquement une vue selon II-II de la figure 1 lorsque la serrure est positionnée à l'intérieur d'une porte de véhicule mise en position de fermeture ;
• la figure 3 représente schématiquement, vue en plan, la serrure de la figure 1 où l'on a fait figurer les deux leviers d'ouverture intérieure et extérieure et les bras pivotants associés à chacun de ces deux leviers ;
• la figure 4 représente une vue analogue à la figure 3 où l'on a fait figurer les extrémités des dispositifs de liaison permettant la commande de la serrure ;
• la figure 5 représente une vue en perspective des leviers et bras pivotants de la serrure ;
• la figure 6 représente, en perspective, la coopération des deux éléments de liaison avec les deux leviers de la serrure ;
• les figures 7A et 7B représentent schématiquement la commande d'ouverture extérieure du mécanisme de la serrure et les figures 7C et 7D représentent schématiquement la commande de l'ouverture intérieure ;
• les figures 8A et 8B représentent schématiquement le fonctionnement des levier et bras pivotant de la commande extérieure, lorsque l'on réalise une condamnation ou une décondamnation électrique ;
• les figures 9A et 9B représentent schématiquement le fonctionnement du levier et du bras pivotant de commande intérieure, lorsque l'on réalise une fonction de sécurité dite "condamnation enfant" ou "supercondamnation" ;
• les figures 10A, 10B, 10C et 10D représentent schématiquement la coopération des deux leviers lorsque l'action d'ouverture intérieure entraíne la décondamnation de la commande extérieure ;
• la figure 11 représente, en perspective, la pièce mise en place sur le levier de commande extérieure pour obtenir le fonctionnement représenté sur la figure 10 ;
• les figures 12A, 12B et 12C représentent schématiquement les levier et bras pivotant de commande extérieure lors d'une action de décondamnation extérieure manuelle, ces figures correspondant au dessin de la demande de brevet français 95-12 133.

On this drawing :

• Figure 1 shows schematically, in plan view, a lock according to the invention, in which only the bolt, the pawl and the positioning of the electric actuators have been shown, which cause the rotation of the two axes making it possible to obtain the external locking and interior of the lock;
• Figure 2 schematically shows a view along II-II of Figure 1 when the lock is positioned inside a vehicle door in the closed position;
• FIG. 3 schematically represents, in plan view, the lock of FIG. 1 in which the two interior and exterior opening levers and the pivoting arms associated with each of these two levers have been shown;
• FIG. 4 represents a view similar to FIG. 3 in which the ends of the connecting devices allowing the control of the lock have been shown;
• FIG. 5 represents a perspective view of the levers and pivoting arms of the lock;
• Figure 6 shows, in perspective, the cooperation of the two connecting elements with the two levers of the lock;
• FIGS. 7A and 7B schematically represent the control of the exterior opening of the lock mechanism and FIGS. 7C and 7D schematically represent the control of the interior opening;
• FIGS. 8A and 8B schematically represent the operation of the lever and pivoting arm of the external control, when an electrical locking or unlocking is carried out;
• FIGS. 9A and 9B schematically represent the operation of the lever and of the pivoting arm for internal control, when a safety function known as "child lock" or "deadlock" is carried out;
• Figures 10A, 10B, 10C and 10D schematically show the cooperation of the two levers when the interior opening action causes the unlocking of the external control;
• Figure 11 shows, in perspective, the part put in place on the external control lever to obtain the operation shown in Figure 10;
• FIGS. 12A, 12B and 12C schematically represent the lever and pivoting arm for external control during a manual external unlocking action, these figures corresponding to the drawing of French patent application 95-12 133.

Referring to the drawing, we see that we have designated by 1, as a whole, the housing of the lock according to the invention. The housing 1 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape and it has on one of its large faces a notch 2 allowing the passage of a keeper 3, which is fixed on the bodywork amount associated with the door where the lock is to be placed. The lock comprises a bolt 4 in the form of a fork and a pawl 5 which cooperates with the bolt to lock the latter in the position where it retains the keeper by one of the branches of its fork. The lock moves to the closed position when the door is slammed and the strike repels the bolt. When you want to put the lock in the open position to be able to open the vehicle door, you must pull the pawl 5 to disengage it from its zone of contact with the bolt, this traction being effected by exerting a force on the pin 6 of the ratchet. The axes of the bolt and the pawl are perpendicular to the large faces of the housing 1, that is to say arranged "parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, when the door is closed; these axes have been designated respectively by 4 a and 5 a and have been shown diagrammatically by a dashed line with the same reference in FIG. 2.

In the lock described by way of example, the exterior and interior locking functions are electrically fulfilled by means of two actuators 7, 8 which are electric motors supplied from the vehicle battery. The motors 7, 8 drive, by means of a gear train and an endless screw, a pivoting cleat respectively 7 a , 8 a whose pivot axis, respectively 9 and 10, cooperates, to the first, with a pivoting internal control arm 11 and, for the second, with an external control lever 12.

Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 3 and 4, it can be seen that the lock according to the invention comprises a mechanism consisting, on the one hand, for the internal control, of a lever 13 and of a pivoting arm 11 and, on the other hand, for the external control, a lever 12 and a pivoting arm 14. These four parts are arranged parallel to each other in different planes relative to the large faces of the housing 1. The pivoting arm 14 is the one, whose plan is located on. closer to pawl 5; in a first adjacent plane (away from the pawl 5), are the lever 12 and the pivoting arm 11; in a second plane adjacent to the first (away from the pawl 5), is the lever 13. The levers 12 and 13 have identical shapes; they comprise, at one end, a square tab 12 a , 13 a respectively and, at their other end, a recess 12 b , 13 b respectively, in the vicinity of which an oblong recess 12 c , 13 c respectively has been provided. One of the edges of the redent is perpendicular to the average longitudinal line of the lever and the other edge is oblique and makes an acute angle with said average line. In the housing 1, the two levers are positioned so that their brackets 12 a , 13 a are arranged above one another. In the oblong recesses 12 c , 13 c , axes 10 and 13 d are arranged respectively. The axis 13 d is a cylindrical axis having only a function of stroke limiter for the translation of the lever 13; on the contrary, the axis 10 has a flat section and can cause the rotation of the lever 12 under the action of the actuator 8; but it also allows the translation of the lever 12 relative to the axis 10.

The pivoting arm 14 can rotate about its axis 14 a ; axes 4 a , 5 a , 9, 13 d , 10 and 14 a are parallel. The pivoting arm 14 has a fork shape and, in the rest position of the lock which is shown in FIG. 3, one of the branches 14b of the fork can come to cooperate with the edge of the lever 12 while the other limb 14 c of the fork to cooperate with a stud 11 carried by the pivot arm 11 on its face which faces the swing arm 14.

The pivoting arm 11 has a groove 11 b , which opens out to the outside of the arm; the middle line of this groove 11b is first of all, from the outside, a straight segment, then a curvilinear segment, said curvilinear segment making the groove oblique towards the axis 9. In this groove 11b , is set up a stud 13 e , which protrudes from the face of the lever 13 which is opposite the pivoting arm 11. The straight segment of the groove 11 b allows translation of the lever 13 relative to the pivoting arm 11; the curvilinear segment of the groove 11 b allows, when the pivoting arm 11 is pivoted about the axis 9, to cause the lever 13 to pivot relative to the axis 13 d . The levers 12 and 13 are each subjected to a return spring which tends to bring them back to a position where the axes 10 and 13 d are respectively supported at the bottom of their associated oblong recess.

The operation of the lock according to the invention is carried out by means of two connecting devices each consisting of a sheathed cable. One of the devices 15 corresponds to the interior control while the other device 16 corresponds to the exterior control. Each sheath cable is formed in a U and corresponds to the device described in French patent application 95-12 133. The sheath of the cable 16 is linked by one of its ends to the housing 1 of the lock and, by its other end, to the thresher of a door barrel; the sheath of the cable 15 is linked by one of its ends to the housing 1 of the lock and by its other end to the frame of the door. The cable of these connecting devices is integral, at one of its ends, with a door opening element constituted, for example, by a door handle, and, at its opposite end, said cable cooperates with the a cusps 12 b, 13 b of the two levers 12 and 13 respectively. "Figure 6 shows in detail the cooperation of the two cables with the levers 12 and 13.

To the right of the flat axis 10 is a plate 17, which is clearly visible in FIGS. 10 and 11. The plate 17 is arranged above the plane of the lever 12, at the level of the plane of the lever 13, and, when the lever 13 is driven in translation parallel to the long side of the housing 1, the oblique edge of the cusp 13 b comes into contact with the edge of the platen 17 and causes rotation of the lever 12 when the lever was in oblique position relative to the lever 13, so as to cause it to be parallel to lever 13.

The operation of the mechanism, which has just been described, will be detailed below.

Referring to FIGS. 7, it can be seen that FIG. 7A represents the two levers 12 and 13 and the two pivoting arms 13 and 14 in the position which corresponds to a non-locked lock, door closed. If you want to open the door, you must bring the pin 6 of the pawl down in Figures 7. In Figure 7B, there is shown the movement of the lever 12 by means of the connecting element of the connecting device 16, which corresponds to an opening by external control, under the action of the door handle. When the door handle is released, the lever 12 returns to the position it had in FIG. 7A due to the action of its return spring, but the pawl pin 6 does not go back into the position it had initially, since the pawl 5 comes to bear on the lateral edge of the bolt 4. If the door is slammed, the pawl pin 6 returns to the position it had in FIG. 7A. Figures 7C and 7D show the operation of the mechanical system for control by the interior door handle. In this case, the connecting element 15 acts on the cusp 13b of the lever 13 and causes the lever 13 downwardly in Figures 7. The angled leg of the lever 13 causes the pin 6 downward, which causes the lock to open. The stud 13 e slides in the rectilinear part of the groove 11 b without any modification of the position of the pivoting arm 11. When the action is released on the door handle, the connection element of the connection device 15 resumes the initial position, which it had in FIG. 7C; but the pawl pin 6 remains substantially in the low position, as for the opening under an external control. The lever 13 is returned by its return spring to the initial position which it occupied before the opening command and which is shown in FIG. 7C. As before, if the door is closed by slamming it, the pin 6 rises to reach its initial position below the brackets 12 a , 13 has two levers.

Referring now to Figures 8, we see that the FIG. 8A represents the position of the lever 12 and of the pivoting arm 14, when the exterior control has been electrically locked opening. FIG. 8B represents the unlocking position, which corresponds to that of FIGS. 7: the lever 12 has its mean line parallel to the longest sides of the lock.

If the axis 10 is controlled by the actuator 8, the lever 12 can be brought into the position shown in FIG. 8A, where it makes an acute angle with its previous position. In this position, the movement of the connecting element 16 takes place along the oblique edge, which delimits the redent 12 b , so that the movement of the connecting element 16 does not cause any change in the position of the lever 12, which corresponds to an impossibility of maneuvering the pawl 6 by the lever 12 and, consequently, to an external locking of the lock. The unlocking is obtained by rotating the axis 10 in the opposite direction, to bring the lever 12 to the position shown in FIG. 8B.

In FIGS. 9, the kinematics are shown in the case of an interior locking or unlocking. This case corresponds to security to prevent the door from being opened by children inside the vehicle and also corresponds to what is called a "super-conviction", namely the impossibility, in the event of a break-in by glass break, to open the door from inside the vehicle. The unlocking position is shown in Figure 9A and, in this case, we find the lever 13 and the pivoting arm 11 in the position they occupied in Figure 7A. To carry out the internal locking, the pivoting arm 11 is pivoted by controlling the rotation of its axis 9 by means of the actuator 7; during this pivoting, the stud 13 e of the lever 13 slides in the "curvilinear part of the groove 11 b , which causes the pivoting of the lever 13 in a position symmetrical to that taken by the lever 12 to secure the locking outdoor. under these conditions, the beveled edge of the cusp 13b comes along the travel of the connecting element 15, when it moves under the action of an actuation of the inside door handle. It As a result, the connecting element 15 can no longer impart any movement to the lever 13, which corresponds to the interior locking.

As has been seen so far, the exterior unlocking is carried out electrically. However, the vehicle battery may be faulty, in which case it is necessary to provide an external unlocking by manual action on the barrel with which at least one of the vehicle locks is associated. In this case, the operation of the barrel by means of the user's key causes, as explained in French patent application 95-12 133, a displacement of the connecting element of the connecting device 16 from its middle position, which corresponds to a rest position and is shown in FIG. 12A, towards its second extreme position, which corresponds to that which is opposite to the extreme position generating the opening of the lock. In this movement, said connecting element maneuvers the pivoting arm 14, so that it pivots about its axis 14 a . Since the lock is assumed to be locked on the outside, the lever 12 is in an oblique position corresponding to that shown in FIG. 8A. When the pivoting arm 14 rotates under the action of the connecting element of the connecting device 16, the branch 14b comes to bear against the lever 12, which causes the pivoting of the lever 12 to bring it into a position where its middle line is parallel to the longest sides of the housing 1; in this position, the square tab 12 a comes in line with the pawl pin 6. If the barrel is brought back to the rest state, said connecting element returns to its middle position, which is shown in the figure 12C; and, in this case, a subsequent operation of the outer door handle causes the translation of the lever 12, and therefore the opening of the door. The manual back-up function is thus ensured so that unlocking can take place from the outside, even in the event of a battery failure.

It may happen that the two levers 12 and 13 are in the locking position and that the external unlocking is ensured as previously indicated. In this case, if the user entered his car and closed the door, he could no longer open from the inside, except to electrically unlock the interior, which would not be possible in the event of a battery failure. In the lock according to the invention, provision has been made to bring the lever 13 into its unlocking position at the same time as, by the emergency function, the lever 12 is brought into its unlocking position. To do this, the end of the limb 14 c of the pivot arm 14 abuts against the stud 11a of the swing arm 11 so that when the pivoting arm 14 pivots to ensure the external unlocking aid, it causes the rotation of the pivoting arm 11 to bring it from the position which corresponds to FIG. 9B to the position which corresponds to FIG. 9A, position in which the lever 13 has its mean line parallel to the longest sides of the housing 1. The exterior unlocking in the emergency function thus automatically leads to interior unlocking.

The lock according to the invention also makes it possible to achieve another security. Indeed, if the lock is in the exterior locking position and in the interior unlocking position, it would be possible for a user inside the passenger compartment to open the door by the interior door handle; after which, if carelessly slams the vehicle door leaving the key inside the passenger compartment, the user is unable to open the door lock from the outside. To avoid this drawback, the plate 17 has been associated with the axis 10, which is located at the level of the lever 13. If the user in the above-defined lock position, which corresponds to FIG. 10A, operates the handle door interior, it causes the translation of the lever 13, as shown in Figure 10B; towards the end of the lever of the displacement path 13, the beveled edge of the cusp 13 b comes into contact with the platen 17, which causes rotation of the lever 12 about its axis 10 until the lever comes into position unlocking mechanism, as shown in FIG. 10C. In this case, when the user releases the interior opening handle, the lever 13 returns to its high position under the effect of its return spring and if the user slams the door, the two levers are found in the position of unlocking, so that the user can re-enter his vehicle again, this position being shown in FIG. 10D.

Finally, the lock according to the invention makes it possible to carry out a final security function in the event of a battery failure. If it is assumed that the lever 12 is in the unlocked position, the user can no longer condemn the lock from the outside. However, if he wants to get help, it is desirable that he can close his vehicle during his absence. In this case, the user opens his door to have access to the door edge and the large face of the housing, which is flush with the door edge. On this large face, the axis 9 of the pivoting arm 11 is accessible from its end. It provides on the end of said axis 9 a slot for inserting a tool such as a screwdriver, a key or a coin, and the axis 9 is rotated so as to drive the pivoting arm 11 in the opposite direction to that in which it pivots to ensure the interior locking. In this case, the end of the pivoting arm 11 comes into contact with the end of the square tab 12 a of the lever 12 and makes the lever 12 pivot to its locked position. When the rotation action printed by the user on the axis 9 ceases, the pivoting arm 11 returns to its initial position under the effect of a return spring. If the user then slams his door, the lock is in the external locking position and the user can again enter his vehicle by acting with his key on the barrel, as indicated above when the description is given. manual emergency unlocking function.

Claims (10)

1. Motor vehicle door lock, the said lock being associated with members for operating it from the inside and from the outside which comprise, on the one hand, at least one door-opening element and, on the other hand, at least one element for locking/unlocking the lock, the said lock interacting with an inside connecting device (15), capable of being connected to an element for opening the door from the inside and having an inside connecting element (15) which is capable of being moved between at least two positions by the said element for opening the door from the inside, the said lock interacting with an outside connecting device (16) capable of being connected to an element for opening the door from the outside and having an outside connecting element (16) which is capable of being moved between at least two positions by the said element for opening the door from the outside, the inside connecting element (15) being associated with an inside opening lever (13) so as to move it into a position in which the latter interacts with a rotary pawl (5), the outside connecting element (16) being associated with a lever (12) for opening from the outside, so as to move it into a position in which the latter interacts with the said rotary pawl (5), the lock comprising a housing (1) containing the pawl (5), a rotary latch (4) capable of retaining a striker (3) when the said latch is immobilized by the said pawl (5), characterized in that the housing (1) also contains the levers (13) for opening from the inside and (12) for opening from the outside, in that the said at least one element for locking/unlocking from the outside consists of an outside pivoting arm (14) interacting with the said lever (12) for opening from the outside so as to pivot it between a locked position in which the said lever (12) for opening from the outside escapes the action of the outside connecting element (16) and an unlocked position in which the said outside connecting element (16) interacts with the said lever (12) for opening from the outside, in that the said at least one element for locking/unlocking from the inside consists of an inside pivoting arm (11) interacting with the said lever (13) for opening from the inside so as to pivot it between a locked position in which the said lever (13) for opening from the inside escapes the action of the inside connecting element (15) and an unlocked position in which the said inside connecting element (15) interacts with the said lever (13) for opening from the inside, and in that the said latch (4), the said pawl (5), the said levers (12, 13) and the said pivoting arms (11, 14) are all arranged parallel to one and the same face of the lock housing (1) so that the pins (4a, 5a, 9, 10, 13a, 14a) of these components are all perpendicular to the said face of the housing.
2. Lock according to Claim 1, characterized in that the pivoting of the outside pivoting arm (14) causes the pivoting of the inside pivoting arm (11) so that unlocking from the outside causes unlocking from the inside.
3. Lock according to either of Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the connecting element of a connecting device can adopt a so-called middle position and so-called first extreme position, the said middle position corresponding to the absence of user action on the door-opening elements and the said first extreme position corresponding to user action on a door-opening element, each connecting element of the said connecting devices (15, 16) interacting, within the lock housing (1), with its respective lever (12, 13) when the connection element moves from its middle position to its first extreme position, each of these two levers (12, 13) being capable, on the one hand, when the lock is in the locked position, of pivoting about a pin (10, 13d) under the action of a locking element in order to escape the action of its associated connecting element when it comes into its first extreme position and, on the other hand, when the lock is in the unlocked position, of pivoting the other way under the action of an unlocking element, the connecting element of one of the connecting devices (16) being capable, in order to allow the lock when in the locked position to be unlocked mechanically, of adopting a third position, the so-called second extreme position, and interacting with the respective pivoting arm (14) which is driven by the said connecting element when the latter moves from its middle position to its second extreme position and which, by rotating, brings the lever (12) associated with the said connecting element into the angular position in which it allows the lock to open.
4. Lock according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the inside pivoting arm (11) is controlled electrically to make the lever (13) for opening from the inside pivot in the direction which brings it into the lock-locked position.
5. Lock according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the elements for locking/unlocking the lock from the inside and from the outside are controlled electrically and/or mechanically.
6. Lock according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the connecting element of a connecting device (15, 16) moves in translation and that the levers (12, 13) for opening from the inside and from the outside can also move in translation under the action of their respective connecting element, each lever being subject to a spring which returns it in the opposite direction to the one that corresponds to the action of the connecting element for opening the lock.
7. Lock according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the lever (12) for opening from the outside is rotated electrically to bring it into its lock-locked position.
8. Lock according to Claim 6, characterized in that the translation of the lever (13) for opening from the inside in the direction of opening the lock, if the lever (12) for opening from the outside is in the lock-locked position, causes the said lever (12) for opening from the outside to pivot to bring it into the lock-unlocked position.
9. Lock according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the inside pivoting arm (11) can be rotated by the user by direct manual action on the end of its axis (9) which is accessible on the lock housing (1) in the edge of the door, in order to bring the lever (12) for opening from the outside into its lock-locked position.
10. Lock according to one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that at least one of the inside or outside connecting devices is a curved sheathed cable inside the door, one of the ends of the sheath being stationary with respect to the vehicle door, while the other is connected to a manual unlocking element, when there is one, one of the ends of the cable being connected to the door-opening element, while the other constitutes the connecting element that acts on the lock.

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