GB2210339A - Sliding closures, e.g. doors, with latching mechanisms - Google Patents

Description

1. ' 2 20 3 3' DOOR MECHANISS This invention relates to a handle and

mechanism for the release of a latch retaining a closure member in a position in which it closes an opening in a structure, wherein the closure member is movable to and fro across the opening. The closure member mayll additionally, be of a type which is movable into and out of the opening. Such a closure member is hereafter referred to as a closure member of the type described.

An example of a closure member of the type described, a corresponding structure and an opening therein is provided by a vehicle having a door opening and a door slidable to and fro across the opening. The door may be movable into and out of the opening as well as across it. The door and the vehicle at the opening are provided with co-operating latch components for retaining the door in its closed position across, or across and in, the opening. Interior and exterior handles are provided whereby the latch may be released from inside or outside the vehicle to enable the door to be opened.

According to one aspect of the present invention a closure member of the type described comprises a handle mounted on the closure member so as to be movable at least between a first position and a second position, a latch carried by the closure member and adapted to co-operate with a latch member at an opening in a structure to retain the closure member in one.position relative to the opening, connecting means connecting the handle to the latch and biassing means biassing the handle to the first position, the arrangement being such that force applied to the handle to move it to the second position against the bias causes release of the latch whereby the closure member is freed to be drawn across the opening and, in use, is so drawn by the continued application of force in the same sense to the handle.

The handle may be pivotally mounted on the closure member or may be slidably mounted relative thereto.

On release of the handle the biassing means causes it to return to its first position.

21 The handle may be mounted so as to be movable between first, second and third positions such that force applied to the handle to move it to the third position against the bias causes release of the latch, or release of a further latch carried by the closure member and operatively connected to the handle, which latch or further latch is adapted to co- operate with a further latch member on the structure to'retain the closure member in another position relative to the opening, whereby the closure member can be drawn across the opening and, in use, is so drawn by the continued application of force in the same sense to the handle.

According to another aspect of the present invention a vehicle comprises an opening for a door, a door in the form of a closure member as set out herein and means acting between the vehicle and the door to support and guide the door for sliding-movement across the opening between a position in which it covers the opening and a position in which it does not cover the opening, including latching means to retain the door in each of the aforesaid positions.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a scrar, side view of a vehicle having a door which is shown in the closed position, Figure 2 is similar to Figure 1 but shows the door in the open position, Figure 3 is a perspective view of one form of handle Figure 4 is a view of a mechanism mounted inside the vehicle door Figure 5 is a view showing latch members for retaining the door in open and closed positions respectively, and Figure 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating an alternative mechanism.

3.

Referring to the drawings, Figures 1 and 2, there is shown parts of one side of a van which has been made with a standard door. The usual upper and lower hinges by which the door is secured to the vehicle, adjacent the front edge of the door, have been substituted by a sliding door gear. The sliding door gear comprises an upper guide 1, a lower guide located below the sill (not shown) and an intermediate guide 2. These guides are secured in parallel spaced relationship-on the vehicle body. A bracket 3 at the top of the door carries a roller which is engaged in the guide 1. A bracket 4 and arm 5 carry a roller which is engaged in the lower guide. The upper and lower guides are curved inwardly at their front ends to guide the front edge of the door 6 into the door opening in the vehicle.

A lock plate 7 at the rear edge of the door 6 is pivotally connected to an arm 8 and the arm 8 is pivotally connected to a guide member 9 wh.ich is slidable along the guide 2.

A door handle 11 (see Figure 3) is pivotally mounted so as to be movable through a small are forwardly and rearwardly as will be described in further detail with reference to Figure 4. A rearwards force (i.e. a force directed towards the rear of the vehicle) applied to the handle 11 causes release of the door latch and a continued force in the same direction causes the door to be moved out of the opening, through the hingeing action of plate 7 and arm 8 and the movement of the rollers along,he curved portions of the upper and lower guides. Conversely, when t he door is latched in the open position, a forwards force applied to handle 11 releases the latch and a continued force in the same direction causes the door to be moved forwards and into the door opening in which it is then latched. An interlock, for example between arm 8 and guide member 9, ensures the rear of the door is out of the opening before the guide member 9 moves rearwards along guide 2. Similarly, a further inter lock ensures the door 6 is correctly positioned longitudinally of the vehicle before arm 8 pivots forwardly to carry the rear of the door into the opening, wherein it is latched. Figure 2 shows the door 6 in the open position. A hand hold 12 is provided at the rear of the door 6 for use to move door 6 towards the closed position. The pivoted handle 11 may also be used on a conventional vehicle sliding door which is 4.

externally mounted and moves to and fro across a door opening without entering into the opening, or on any other closure member which is slidable across an opening and is latched in a position relative thereto.

Referring now to Figures 3 and 4 the handle 11 ib pivotally carried in the mounting 13 which is secured on the outside of the door 6. An arm 14 connected to handle 11 extends through a slot in a plate 15 secured to the inside of the door 6. Springs 18, 19 are connected respectively between pegs 16, 17 on plate 15 and arm 14 whereby the handle 11 is biassed to a first position from which it is pivotable rearwardly (of the vehicle) to a second position and forwardly to a third position.

The usual window winding gear is represented by a toothed quadrant 21, an arm 22 and a stub shaft 23 for the winding handle. A lever 24 is pivotally mounted on stub shaft 23. An operating rod 25 for the door latch (represented by a lever 25A) has its forward end connected to lever 24 via a lost motion connection at 26 and its rear end. pivoted to the lever 25A.

A second latch 27, for latching the door 6 in an open position, is mounted inside the door and has an operating lever 28 which is connected to lever 24 by a rod 210. This latch also has an operating handle 31. A plate 32, indicated in broken lines, retains lever 24 on stub shaft 23 and pravides a mounting for the latch 27.

Referring now to Figure 5, the 'B' post is shown at 33, secured to which is the standard latch pin 34 with which the door latch engages, that is, the door latch which is operated by rod 25. A similar latch pin 35 is secured to the vehicle body in front of the intermediate guide 2.

Considering the door 6 in the closed position in the opening and latched in that position by co-operation of the door latch and latch pin 34, as illustrated in Figure 1. Application of a rearward force to handle 11 causes the handle to pivot rearwardly whereby arm 14 pivots forwardly. Rod 20 causes lever 24 to pivot forwardly (i.e. anti-clockwise as seen in Figure 4) and this pulls rod 25 which releases the door latch. At the same time rod 29 is pushed, rotating lever 28 to open the latch 27. As already explained a continued force applied in the same direction to handle 11 causes the door to open. The opening movement of the door is terminated when latch pin 35 enters latch 27 and this latch engages to retain the door 6 in the open position. Alternately, from inside the vehicle, operation of handle 31 will cause latch 27 to open and at the same time release the door latch via arm 28, rod 29, lever 24 and rod 25. The handle 31 may then be used to push the door rearwards until latch 27 and latch pin 35 engage.

From the latched open position, a forward pull on handle 11 will cause a rearward pivoting of arm 14 whereby lever 24 is pivoted in a clockwise direction. This has no effect on the rod 25 because of the lost motion connection at 26, the door latch al ready being in the released or open position. The arm 28 is pulled by rod 29 and lever 24, causing latch 27 to open. Alternatively handle 31 is operated to open latch 27. When the door has been moved forwards across and into the opening the door latch engages with latch pin 34. Co-operating docking members (not illustrated) for example a tapered head pin at the front of the door which enters a tube at the front of the door opening as the door approaches the fully closed position, may be provided to assist location, or location and retention, of the door in the opening.

In the embodiment of the invention which has been described, which was devised for a particular vehicle application, it was necessary to locate the guide 2 at a level below that of the latch pin 34 and it was considered desirable to align guide 2 and latch pin 35 as both extend from the side of t.he vehicle. This necessitated the fitting of the further latch 27 inside the door. However, if desired the door latch could be utilised to latch the door in both open and closed positions, dispensing with the need for a further latch as 27. In this event an additional latch pin as 34 is fitted in longitudinal alignment with latch pin 34, and oriented the same way in the region of the rear end of guide 2 so as to be engaged by the door latch when the door is open. Docking means, not illustrated, may be provided to assist stability of the door in the open position. An example of such a docking means might be a tube with a conical opening mounted inside the 6.

door so that as the door approaches the fully open position the latch pin 34 enters the tube so helping to locate the front end of the door.

Referring now to Figure 6 a modified mechanism is illustrated schematically for operation of the door latch where this is used for latching the door in both closed and open positions. The arm 14 is shown between a generally T-sbaped member 36 and a lever 37. The forward end of the rod 25 is pivotally connected to the stem 38 of member 36. The cross piece 39 of member 36 is engaged between rollers 41 mounted on the door so that member 36 is slidable to and fro. Lever 37 is pivotally mounted at 42 and its lower end is forked to fit over rod 25 and rounded to engage a collar 43 on rod 25. Rearward pivoting of handle 11 to release the door latch causes arm 14 to pivot forwardly so that it engages stem 38 to slide member 36 forwards,thus pulling rod 25 and releasing the latch. Forward pivoting of handle 11 causes rearward pivoting of arm 14 whereby lever 37 is pivoted in a clockwise direction (as drawn). The lower end of lever 37 engages collar 43 and pulls rod 25 to release the door latch so the door can be drawn forwards from its latched open position. The biassing springs have been omitted from Figure 6 for clarity. Whilst the handle 11 has been described as being pivotally mounted it will be appreciated that it could readily be slidably mounted so as to be slidable a short distance forwards and rearwards (or up and down if used on a vertically moving closure member) to release the relevant latch and then draw the door across the opening.

7.

Claims (1)

1. CLAIMS-

   1 A closure member of the type described comprising a handle mounted on the closure member so as to be movable at least between a first position and a second position, a latch carried by the closure member and adapted to co-operate with a latch member at an opening in a structure to retain the closure member in one position relative to the opening, connecting means connecting the handle to the latch and biassing means biassing the handle to the first position, the arrangement being such that force applied to the handle to move it to the second position against the bias causes release of the latch whereby the closure member is freed to be drawn across the opening and, in use, is so drawn by the continued application of force in the same sense o the handle.

   2. A closure member as claimed in claim 1 wherein the handle is pivotally mounted on the closure member.

   3. A closure member as claimed in claim 1 wherein the handle is slidably mounted on the closure member.

   4. A closure member as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the handle is mounted so as to be movable between first second and third positions such that force applied to the handle to move it to the:t.hird position against the bias causes release of the latch, or release of a further latch carried by the closure member and operatively connected to the handle, which latch or further latch is adapted to co-operate with a further latch member on the structure to retain the closure member in another position relative to the opening, whereby the closure member can be drawn across the opening and, in use, is so drawn by the continued application of force in the same sense to the handle.

   8.

   5. A vehicle comprising an opening for a door, a door in the form of a closure member as claimed in any preceding claim and means acting between the vehicle and the door to support and guide the door for sliding movement across the opening between a first position in which it covers the opening and a second position in which it does not cover the opening, inclUding two latch members on the structure of the vehicle co-operating with the latch, or with the latch and a further latch respectively, whereby one latch and latch member combination retains the door in said first position and the latch, or the further latch as the case may be, in combination with the other latch member retains the door in said second position.

   6. A vehicle comprising an opening for a door, a door in the form of a closure member as claimed in claim 4 and means acting between the vehicle and the door to support and guide the door for sliding movement across the opening between a first position in which it covers the opening and a second position in which it does not cover the opening, including first and second latches carried by the door and first and second latch members carried by the structure of the vehicle whereby the first latch and the first latch member co-operate to retain the door in the first position and the second latch and second latch member co-operate to retain the door in the second position, and second connecting means connecting the handle to the second latch whereby movement of the handle to the second position to release the first latch also causes opening of the second latch for reception of the second latch member.

   7. A vehicle as claimed in claim 6 wherein the first mentioned connecting means includes a lost motion connection whereby, when the door is latched in its second position, movement of the handle to its third position causes release of the second latch but does not cause any operation of the first latch.

   9.

   A vehicle as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7 including an operating handle for the second latch and wherein the operating handle acts through the second connecting means whereby movement of the operating handle to open the second latch also causes release of the first latch.

   A closure member-of the type described substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

   10. A vehicle including a closure member of the type described substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

   Published 1988 at The Fatent Office. St Wp House. 66"71 High Holborn. London WC1R 4TP. hirther copies majy be obtained from The Patent Office, Salles Branch. St Cray. Orpi 9ton. Ken., BR5 3RD Printed by M,.2uplex tecluuqijes ltd. S- MaiT Cray, Kent. Con. 1'87,