GB2105776A

GB2105776A - A door latching arrangement of a vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2105776A
Application number: GB08226398A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Shunji Utsumi; Takayo Chikaraishi
Original assignee: Ohi Seisakusho Co Ltd; Nissan Motor Co Ltd
Current assignee: Ohi Seisakusho Co Ltd; Nissan Motor Co Ltd
Priority date: 1981-09-16
Filing date: 1982-09-16
Publication date: 1983-03-30
Also published as: JPS6256315B2; FR2512871B1; FR2512871A1; GB2105776B; DE3234103A1; JPS5847878A; DE3234103C2

Abstract

A door latching arrangement for a motor vehicle having a laterally openable hinged door (12), comprises a striker (36) connected to the vehicle body, and a latch plate (42) pivotally connected to the door and pivotable about a pin (46) to latchingly catch a shank portion (36b) of the striker (36) upon closing of the door, wherein the axes of the striker shank portion (36b) and the pin (46) of the latch plate (42) are parallel with the pivot axis (14c, 16c) of the hinge of the door. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A door latching arrangement of a vehicle The present invention relates in general to a door latching arrangement of a vehicle, and more particu marly to a door latching arrangement which can keep its latching function even when a vertical displacement of the door relative to the vehicle body occurs after long use of the vehicle.

According to the present invention, there is provided a door latching arrangement of a vehicle having a door which is pivotally connected to the vehicle body through hinge means so that the door is pivotable laterally relative to the vehicle body to open and close a door opening of the vehicle body, the door latching arrangement comprising a striker connected to the vehicle body, the striker having an elongate portion which projects into the door opening; and a door latch proper mounted on the door at a portion which is brought into engagement with the striker when the door closes, the latch proper including a latch plate which is pivotable about a pin to latchingly catch the elongate portion of the striker upon closing of the door, wherein the axes of the sriker elongate portion and the pin of the latch plate are parallel with the pivot axis of the hinge means.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become clear from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a view of an automobile hinged door having a conventional door latching arrangement; Figure 2 is a vertically sectioned view of the conventional door latching arrangement; Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the line Ill-Ill of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a view of an automobile hinged door having a door latching arrangement according to the present invention; Figure 5 is a vertically sectioned view of the door latching arrangement of the present invention; Figure 6 is a sectional view taken along the line VI-VI of Figure 5; and Figure 7 is a sectional view taken along the line VII-VII of Figure 5.

Prior to describing the door latching arrangement of the present invention, one conventional arrangement will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 in order to clarify the invention.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3, there is shown a conventional door latching arrangement which is generally designated by numeral 10. As is seen from Figure 1, an automobile side door 12 with which the conventional door latching arrangement 10 is provided is pivotally connected through a pair of hinge units 14 and 16to a vehicle body (not shown), so that the door 12 is pivotable laterally about the pivot axes of the hinge units 14 and 16 to open and close a door opening of the vehicle. Each hinge unit comprises a first bracket 14a or 16a secured to the vehicle body, a second bracket 14b or 1 6b secured to the door 12 and a pivot pin 14cor 16e which pivotalyconnects the first and second brackets.

The door latching arrangement 10 comprises generally a striker 18 mounted on the vehicle body and a door latch proper mounted on the door 12. The striker 18 has an angularly U-shaped configuration and is secured at its foot portions to the vehicle body, such as a center pillar, with its bridged head portion 18a projected forwardly into the door opening. As may be seen from Figure 1, the striker 18 is so oriented that the two shank portions 1 8b and 1 8c extend perpendicular to the axis of the hinge pin 1 4c or 16c. The door latch proper is mounted in the door panel 12 at the free end portion which is brought into engagement with the striker 18 when the door 12 closes.The door latch proper comprises a base plate 20 secured to the door panel 12 and has a laterally extending elongate recess 20a into which the striker 18 is insertable upon closing of the door 12. A latch plate 22 and an actuating plate 24 are pivotally connected to the base plate 20 through respective pins 26 and 28 of whose axes are perpendicular to the axis of the hinge pin 14c or 16c. The latch plate 22 and the actuating plate 24 are slidably engageable with each other at their peripheral edges, as shown.

The latch plate 22 has a rounded projected portion 22b and a rounded recess 22c. Although not shown in the drawings, suitable spring means cooperate with the latch plate 22 and the actuating plate 24 to bias them to rotate about the respective pins 26 and 28 in the counterclockwise and clockwise directions, respectively, in Figure 3. A channel-shaped cover plate 29 is fixed to the pins 26 and 28 to form a rectangular space 29a into which the bridge head portion 18a of the striker 18 is insertable upon closing of the door 12.

Under latched condition of the door 12, the latch plate 22 and the actuating plate 24 assume the positions as shown in Figure 3, wherein the ouside shank portion 18b of the striker 18 is received in, engaged with, the rounded recess 22c of the latch plate 22, and the latch plate 22 is engaged at a projected portion 22a thereof with a projected portion 24a of the actuating plate 24. The latch plate 22 is thus kept locked thereby latching the door 12 relative to the vehicle body.

When, by firmly handling an inside or outside handle mounted on the door 12, the actuating plate 24 is rotated to a great extent about the pin 28 in the counterclockwise direction in Figure 3, the latch plate 22 rotates about the pin 26 in the counterclockwise direction by the force of the associated spring means, and comes to a position where the back edge 22e of the latch plate 22 engages with the back edge 24b of the actuating plate 24. In this condition, the latch plate 22 releases completely the outside shank portion 18b of the striker 18. Thus, the door 12 becomes unlatched and can open.

However, when the actuating plate 24 is rotated to a small extent by gently handling the handle of the door 12, the counterclockwise rotation of the latch plate 22 stops at a position where the actuating plate projected portion 24a engages with a recess 22d of the latch plate 22. Under this condition, the latch plate 22 assumes its half-latching condition causing the door 12 to be half latched.

When the door 12 closes permitting the striker 18 to enter the elongate recess 20a, the outside shank portion 18b of the striker 18 is brought into contact with the bottom of the rounded recess 22c of the latch plate 22. Thus, the latch plate 22 is forced to rotate about the pin 26 in the clockwise direction in Figure 3, resulting in that the outside shank portion 18b of the striker 18 is received in the rounded recess 22c of the latch plate 22. During this rotation of the latch plate 22, the back edge 24b of the actuating plate 24 slides on the back edge 22e of the latch plate 22, and goes over the recess 22d of the same and finally comes to the position of Figure 3 where the projected portion 24a of the actuating plate 24 engages with the projected portion 22a of the latch plate 22. Thus, the door 12 is latched.

However, in the conventional door latching arrangement as stated hereinabove, the following problems tend to occur by its inherent construction.

After long usage of the vehicle, it sometimes happens that, because of deformation of the hinge units 14 and 16, the door 12 becomes inclined with respect to the door opening, that is, a so-called "door rising phenomenon" or "door sinking phenomenon" occurs. Under this condition, normal latching engagement between the door latch proper and the striker 18 can not be expected. In fact, when the door 12 is subjected to the door rising phenomenon, that is, the free end portion of the dooor 12 is somewhat lifted, the engagement between the latch plate 22 and the striker outside shank portion 18b becomes light or unreliable, which may cause a high possibility of sudden and dangerous unlatching of the door 12 from the vehicle body.Further, when the door 12 is subjected to the door sinking phenome non, that is, the free end portion of the door 12 is somewhat lowered, the engagement between the latch plate 22 and the striker 18 becomes too tight.

Thus, in this condition, parts of the door latching arrangement are applied with great stress upon closing of the door 12, which may cause breakage of them.

Therefore, to eliminate the above-mentioned problems is an essential object of the present invention.

Referring to Figures 4 to 7, there is shown a door latching arrangement according to the present invention, which is generally designated by numeral 30. The automobile side door 12 with which the door latching arrangement 30 of the invention is provided is pivotally connected through a pair of hinge units 14 and 16 to a vehicle body 32, so that the door 12 is pivotable laterally about the hinge pins 14e and 16c to open and close a door opening 34 of the vehicle.

Each hinge unit 14 or 16 comprises the same parts as those of Figure 1.

Similar to the case of the afore-mentioned conventional one, the door latching arrangement 30 of the invention comprises generally a striker 36 secured to the vehicle body 32 and a door latch proper mounted on the door 12. However, in the invention, the arrangement 30 is placed at a lower portion of the vehicle, as is seen from Figure 4.

The striker 36 is arranged on a lateral side of the vehicle floor (such as, on a side sill of the floor) near the rear end of the door opening 34. The striker 36 has an angularly U-shaped configuration and is secured at its foot portions to the vehicle floor with its bridged head portion 36a projected upwardly into the door opening 34. As may seen from Figure 4, the striker 36 is so oriented that the two shank portions 36b and 36c thereof extend parallel with the axis of the hinge pin 14c and 16c. To assure the connection of the striker 36 with the vehicle floor, a reinforcing base plate 38 is employed which may be welded to the floor (or the side sill).

The door latch proper is mounted in the door panel 12 at a portion which is brought into engagement with the striker 36 when the door 12 closes.

The door latch proper comprises a base plate 40 which is secured to the lower portion of the door 12 in a manner to lie on an imaginary plane perpendiculay to the axis of the hinge pin 14c or 16c. The base plate 40 has a laterally extending elongate recess 40a into which the striker 36 is insertable when the door 12 closes. A latch plate 42 and an actuating plate 44 are pivotally connected to the base plate 40 through respective pins 46 and 48 whose axes are parallel with the axis of the hinge pin 14c or 16c. The latch plate 42 and the actuating plate 44 are slidably engageable with each other in the same manner as in the case of the above-mentioned conventional arrangement. The latch plate 42 has a rounded projected portion 42b and a rounded recess 42c.

Although not shown in the drawings, suitable spring means cooperate with the latch plate 42 and the actuating plate 44 to bias them to rotate about the respective pins 46 and 48 in the counterclockwise and clockwise directions, respectively, in Figure 6. A channel-shaped cover plate 50 is secured to the upper ends of the pins 46 and 48 to form a rectangular space 50a into which the bridged head portion 36a of the striker 36 is insertable upon closing of the door 12, as is seen from FigureS.

Operation will be described in the following.

Under latched condition of the door 12, the latch plate 42 and the actuating plate 44 assume the positions as shown in Figure 6, wherein the ouside shank portion 36b of the striker 36 is received in or engaged with the rounded recess 42c of the latch plate 42, and the latch plate 42 is engaged at the projected portion 42a thereof with the projected portion 44a of the actuating plate 44. Thus, the latch plate 42 is locked in the illustrated position of Figure 6, thereby latching the door 12 relative to the vehicle body.

When, by firmly handling an inside or outside handle mounted on the door 12, the actuating plate 44 is rotated to a great extent about the pin 48 in the counterclockwise direction in Figure 6, the latch plate 42 rotates about the pin 46 in the counterclockwise direction by the force of the associated spring means, and comes to a position where the back edge 42e of the latch plate 42 engages with the back edge 44b of the actuating plate 44. In this condition, the latch plate 42 releases completely the outside shank portion 36b of the striker 36. Thus, the door 12 becomes unlatched and can open.

However, when the actuating plate 44 is rotated by a small angle by gently handling the handle of the door 12, the counterclockwise rotation of the latch plate 42 stops at a position where the actuating plate projected portion 44a engages with a recess 42d of the latch plate 42. Under this condition, the latch plate 42 assumes its half-latching condition thereby causing the door 12 to be half latched.

When the door 12 closes, the striker 36 enters the elongate recess 40a and the outside shank portion 36b of it is brought into contact with the bottom of the rounded recess 42c of the latch plate 42. Thus, at the final stage of the door closing, the latch plate 42 is forced to rotate about the pin 46 in the clockwise direction in Figure 6, resulting in that the outside shank portion 36b of the striker 36 is caught by the rounded recess 42c of the latch plate 42. During the rotation of the latch plate 42, the back edge 44b of the actuating plate 44 slides on the back edge 42e of the latch plate 42, and goes over the recess 42d of the same and finally comes to the position of Figure 6 where the projected portion 44a of the actuating plate 44 engages with the projected portion 42a of the latch plate 42. Thus, the door 12 becomes latched.

In the following, advantages given by the present invention will be described, which are given by the unique arrangement in which the respective axes of the shank portion 36b of the striker 36, the pivot pins 46 of the latch plate 42 and the pivot pin 48 of the actuating plate 44 are arranged to be parallel with the axis of the pivot pin 14c or 16c of the hinge unit 14 or 16 about which the door 12 is pivotable relative to the vehicle body.

In fact, as is understood from Figures 5 and 7, the upward or downward displacement of the door latch proper (including the base plate 40, the latch plate 42, the actuating plate 44 and the cover plate 50) relative to the stationarily fixed striker 36 does not induce substantial relative displacement therebetween. In other words, the effective positional arrangement between the door latch proper and the striker 36 is assuredly kept so long as the upward or downward displacement of the door latch proper is within the range corresponding to the effective length of the striker 36. Accordingly, even when the door 12 is subjected to the afore-mentioned "door rising phenomenon" or "door sinking phenomenon" which will cause the upward or downward displacement of the door latch proper, the normal latching engagement between the door latch proper and the striker is expected.

Accordingly, in the present invention, the troublesome adjusting work is not necessary even if the door rising or sinking phenomenon occurs after long use of the vehicle.

Although, in the foregoing description, the striker 36 is described to have two shank portions 36b and 36c, it may have only one shank portion, like a stud, so long as the single shank portion assures a reliable engagement with the latch plate 42.

Claims

1. A door latching arrangement of a vehicle having a door which is pivotally connected to the vehicle body through hinge means so that the door is pivotable laterally relative to the vehicle body to open and close a door opening of said vehicle body, said door latching arrangement comprising: a striker connected to said vehicle body, said striker having an elongate portion which projects into the door opening; and a door latch proper mounted to said door at a portion which is brought into engagement with said striker when said door closes, said door latch proper including a latch plate which is pivotable about a pin to latchingly catch said elongate portion of said striker upon closing of said door, wherein the axes of the striker elongate portion and the pin of said latch plate are parallel with the pivot axis of said hinge means.

2. A door latching arrangement as claimed in Claim 1, in which said striker is secured to a lateral side of a vehicle floor at a position remote from said hinge means.

3. A door latching arrangement as claimed in Claim 2, in which said striker is secured to a side sill of the vehicle floor through a reinforcing member.

4. A door latching arrangement as clamed in Claim 3, in which said striker has an angularly U-shaped configuration and is secured at its foot portions to the vehicle floor with its bridged head portion projected upwardly into the door opening, and in which the striker is so oriented that the shank portions thereof extend parallel with the pivot axis of said hinge means.

5. A door latching arrangement as claimed in Claim 1,2,3 or 4, in which said door latch proper further comprises a base plate to which said pin of said latch plate is secured, said base plate being secured to said door and having an elongate recess into which said striker is insertable when the door closes.

6. A door latching arrangement as constructed and arranged substantially as described herein with reference to, and as illustrated in Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7 of the accompanying drawings.