GB1024740A - Door latch mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

1,024,740. Latches. FORD MOTOR CO. Ltd. Feb. 8, 1965 [Feb. 14, 1964], No. 5323/65. Heading E2A. A door latch mechanism comprises a latch arrangement spring biased towards an unlatched condition, a pivoted detent spring- biased to hold the latch arrangement in latched condition, a first actuating member coupled to the detent, a first lever coupled to the detent and to the first actuating member so that in a first position of the first lever, movement of the first actuating member releases the detent from engagement with the latch arrangement to unlatch it and in a second position of the first lever, movement of the first actuating member does not actuate the detent, a second actuating member for releasing the detent to unlatch the latch arrangement, and a second lever carried by and pivoted on the detent and spring biased towards one piston in which it engages the first lever and held in a second position where it cannot engage the first lever by actuation of the first actuating member. As shown, the invention is applied to a latch mechanism similar to that described with reference to Figs. 5 and 6 of Specification 953,264, wherein a pair of pivoted jaws 13 are arranged for latching engagement with the pin of a striker assembly, Fig. 3 (not shown). The jaws 13 are movable in unison by means of toothed control plates 18 and 19, the plate 19 also having two teeth 29, 31 which co-operate with an abutment 34 on a swinging detent 32 to define secondary and final latched positions of the jaws 13. The detent 32 cooperates through a pin and slot connection 41, 37, with a slotted end of lever 44, the pin being connected through a rod 47 to an outside push button and door handle assembly, and the free end of lever 44 being connected to an inside handle and also to an inside push-button, the arrangement being such that the mechanism can only be placed in a locked condition when the door is closed and the mechanism in fully latched condition. In the present arrangement, an additional lever 68, is provided, which is pivoted to the detent 32 and includes a projection 72, which, if the door is slammed shut with the lever 44 in the locking position, abuts a lug 74 on the lever 44 to swing the latter to the unlocked position shown, the mechanism being lockable subsequently by swinging the lever 44 to its locking position by either a key on the outside of the door or by the push button on the inside of the door. If the door is slammed shut with the outside push button held depressed, the pin 41 raises an arm 71 of the lever 68 so that the projection 72 thereon will not abut the lug 74 on the lever 44 as the detent 32 is moved by the plate 19. When the fully latched position is reached the detent 32 engages the tooth 31 and upon release of the push button the parts are restored to the position shown in Fig. 2 (not shown) in which the mechanism is locked, but in which unlocking may be effected by means of the inside handle.