GB1561538A

GB1561538A - Vehicle bodies

Info

Publication number: GB1561538A
Application number: GB4974176A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Chrysler United Kingdom Ltd
Current assignee: Peugeot Motor Co PLC
Priority date: 1976-11-29
Filing date: 1976-11-29
Publication date: 1980-02-20
Also published as: FR2372067A1; FR2372067B1

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO VEHICLE BODIES (71) We, CHRYSLER UNITED KINGDOM LIMITED, a British Company, of Bowater House, 68 Knightsbridge, London SW1X 7LH, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- This invention provides a vehicle body having a door and a lock for the door comprising a latch mounted on an end wall of the door opposite a door post of the vehicle body, a striker on the door post for engagement by the latch in the closed position of the door, and spacer means associated with the striker to prevent the door end wall deforming past the striker on the side of the striker facing inwardly of the vehicle body in the event of a collision so that the door is still permitted to open.

The spacer means may comprise an abutment mounted on the door post, the abutment projecting from the door post to a similar extent as the striker.

The striker and the abutment may both be formed integrally with a base plate secured to the door post.

Preferably the abutment extends inwardly of the vehicle body from the striker sufficiently to overlap the inside edge of the door so that in the event of a collision distorting the end of the door and door post towards each other, the abutment engages the end wall of the door up to the inside edge of the door.

The following is a description of a specific embodiment of the invention reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a horizontal sectional view through part of a vehicle body including a door and a door post showing the door and door post in normal condition; Figure 2 is a similar view to that of Figure 1 showing the result of a vehicle collision which forces the end of the door and door post towards each other; and Figure 3 is a sectional view through a conventional arrangement showing the effect of a collision.

Referring firstly to Figure 1 of the drawings, there is shown part of a vehicle body including a door 10 having a rear end wall 11 which, in the closed position of the door is spaced opposite a door post 12 built into the vehicle body. The inside wall 13 of the door post carries the usual trim 14 and a door seal 15 which engages with a recess 16 formed around the periphery of the inside wall 17 of the door.

A locking mechanism is mounted on the end wall of the-door including a releasable latch 18 which engages over a striker 19 in the form of a post which is mounted on the door post 12. The striker post 19 has an integral base plate 20 which abuts the side face of the door post 12 and is secured therethrough to a screw threaded plate 21 by screws (not shown), the plate 21 being held in position by a cage 22 welded to the inside face of the door post 12.

The striker post 19 is formed with a head 23 at the end thereof remote from the door post to prevent detachment of the latch 18 from the striker in the event of a collision pulling the door and door post away from each other.

The base plate 20 of the striker post 19 has an extension 24 extending towards the inside of the vehicle body which terminates in a leg 25 extending outwardly from the door post at right angles thereto. The end-of the leg 25 remote from the door post is formed with a flange 26 extending at right angles to the leg 25 towards and stopping just short of the head of the striker 23. The face of the flange 26 remote from the door post is generally flush with the face of the head 23 remote from the door post. The flange 26 lies opposite that part of the end wall 11 of the door between the head 23 on the striker post and the inside edge 27 of the door. In the event of a collision forcing the end wall 11 and door post 12 towards each other, the head 23 of the striker post 19 will eventually contact and deform inwardly the end wall 11 of the door. Similarly the flange 26 will contact and deform inwardly the part of the end wall of the door 11 spaced inwardly of the striker head 23 to prevent the formation of a shoulder in the end wall of the door adjacent the striker head 23 which would otherwise prevent the opening of the door. The normal "springback" after the collision will cause a slight separation between the striker head 23 and flange 26 and the end wall of the door so that the door can be opened. Similar lock arrangements are provided for the other doors of the vehicle body.

Figure 3 of the drawings shows the effect of a collision on a conventional mechanism without the abutment flange 26 and it will be seen that the striker head 23 has deformed inwardly the end wall 11 of the door forming a shoulder indicated at (a) on the inner side of the striker head 23 which will prevent the door open opening.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A vehicle body having a door and a lock for the door comprising a latch mounted on an end wall of the door opposite a door post of the vehicle body, a striker on the door post for engagement by the latch in the closed position of the door and spacer means associated with the striker to prevent the door end wall deforming past the striker on the side of the striker facing inwardly of the vehicle body in the event of a collision so that the door is still permitted to open.

2. A vehicle body as claimed in claim 1 wherein the spacer means comprises an abutment mounted on the door post adjacent the striker, the abutment projecting from the door post to a similar extent as the striker.

3. A vehicle body as claimed in claim 2 wherein the striker and the abutment are both formed integrally with a base plate secured to the door post.

4. A vehicle body as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the abutment extends inwardly of the vehicle body from the striker sufficiently to overlap the inside of the door so that in the event of a collision distorting the end of the door and door post towards each other, the abutment engages the end wall of the door up to the inside edge of the door.

5. A vehicle body having a number of doors wherein each door has a lock as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

6. A vehicle body substantially as described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **.

26 will contact and deform inwardly the part of the end wall of the door 11 spaced inwardly of the striker head 23 to prevent the formation of a shoulder in the end wall of the door adjacent the striker head 23 which would otherwise prevent the opening of the door. The normal "springback" after the collision will cause a slight separation between the striker head 23 and flange 26 and the end wall of the door so that the door can be opened. Similar lock arrangements are provided for the other doors of the vehicle body.

Figure 3 of the drawings shows the effect of a collision on a conventional mechanism without the abutment flange 26 and it will be seen that the striker head 23 has deformed inwardly the end wall 11 of the door forming a shoulder indicated at (a) on the inner side of the striker head 23 which will prevent the door open opening.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A vehicle body having a door and a lock for the door comprising a latch mounted on an end wall of the door opposite a door post of the vehicle body, a striker on the door post for engagement by the latch in the closed position of the door and spacer means associated with the striker to prevent the door end wall deforming past the striker on the side of the striker facing inwardly of the vehicle body in the event of a collision so that the door is still permitted to open.
2. A vehicle body as claimed in claim 1 wherein the spacer means comprises an abutment mounted on the door post adjacent the striker, the abutment projecting from the door post to a similar extent as the striker.
3. A vehicle body as claimed in claim 2 wherein the striker and the abutment are both formed integrally with a base plate secured to the door post.
4. A vehicle body as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the abutment extends inwardly of the vehicle body from the striker sufficiently to overlap the inside of the door so that in the event of a collision distorting the end of the door and door post towards each other, the abutment engages the end wall of the door up to the inside edge of the door.
5. A vehicle body having a number of doors wherein each door has a lock as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.
6. A vehicle body substantially as described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.