GB2453017A

GB2453017A - Vehicle door latch with double locking

Info

Publication number: GB2453017A
Application number: GB0813918A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Yoshihiko Fujihara
Original assignee: Mitsui Mining and Smelting Co Ltd
Current assignee: Mitsui Mining and Smelting Co Ltd
Priority date: 2007-09-19
Filing date: 2008-07-30
Publication date: 2009-03-25
Anticipated expiration: 2028-07-30
Also published as: FR2921089B1; GB2453017B; FR2921089A1; JP4382121B2; GB0813918D0; JP2009074276A

Abstract

A vehicle door latch apparatus has a latch bolt 5 engaging a striker and released by outer or inner handles acting via outer 8 and inner 10 levers on an open lever. A lock lever 12 is pivotable to either prevent (fig. 5) or permit (fig. 3) the release operation of the outer lever 8. A sub-lock lever 13 is movable with the lever 12 between the locking and unlocking positions and is also movable by a motor 18 acting via a slide 20 to a double locking position (fig. 7) in which the release operation of the inner lever 10 is also prevented. A linkage 14, 15 moved by the outer lever 8 acts via an abutment 141 on the open lever 6. and inner lever 10 acts on the lever 6 via abutments 102 and 82 to move lever 8. Locking movement of the lever 12 causes a projection 123 to act on link 15 via slot 152 to move the abutment 141 out of alignment with lever 6. Initial operation of inner lever 10 causes interacting abutments 101, 131 to move lever 13 and hence lever 12 to an unlocking position and a subsequent operation of the lever 10 allows latch release. The slide 20 acts via a projection 210 in a slot 132 to move the lever 13 to a double-locking position in which abutments 101 and 131 are placed out of alignment to prevent any release action of lever 10. The lock lever 12 can be operated by either a linkage 11, 16 from a key lock or directly by a motor 17. Unlocking action by either key or motor on lever 12 will also release any double locking by consequent movement of lever 13.

Description

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VEHICLE DOOR LATCH APPARATUS

This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-242813 filed on September 19, 2007.

The present invention relates to a vehicle door latch apparatus which can be operated into a double locking state.

There has been proposed a door latch apparatus which can be operated into a unlocking state in which a door can be opened by operating either of an outer handle provided on an exterior side of the door and an inner handle provided on an interior side of the door, a locking state in which the door cannot be opened by operating the outer handle but can be opened by operating the inner handle in a double operating fashion (in a first operation of the inner handle, firstly, the locking state is moveed to the unlocking state, and in a second operation of the inner handle, the door can be opened), and a double locking state in which the double operation of the inner handle being negated, the door cannot be opened even

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though either of the outer handle and the inner handle is operated (refer to, for example, Japanese Patent No. 3310964).

The related vehicle door latch apparatus is configured such that, when the inner handle is operated in the double locking state, the locking state cannot be switched to the unlocking state. However, in such a related vehicle door latch apparatus, since many parts (in Japanese Patent No. 3310964, for example, a button side operation lever 52B, a button side lever 49B and spring 70, and the like) which are linked with the inner lever (which is the lever driven by being coupled with the operation of the inner handle) are driven in association with the rotation of the inner lever, there is caused a problem that the structure thereof becomes complex.

An object of the invention is to provide a vehicle door latch apparatus which can ensure that the double locking state can be obtained.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a vehicle door latch apparatus comprising: a meshing mechanism unit that is configured to engage with and disengage from a striker provided on a vehicle

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body, the meshing mechanism unit comprising an open lever that is configured to release an engagement between the meshing mechanism unit and the striker; and an operating mechanism unit that is configured to operate the meshing mechanismunit, the operatingmechanism unit comprising: a lock lever that is movable between an unlocking position where an operation of a operation handle to open a door is made successful and a locking position where the operation of the operation handle is made unsuccessful; an inner lever that is configured to rotate in an unlocking direction by being coupled with the operation of the operation handle and comprises an unlocking abutting portion; a connecting lever that is connectable to the open lever to release the engagement between the meshing mechanism unit and the striker by being coupled with an unlocking operation of the inner lever when the lock lever is in the unlocking position, the connecting lever being unconnectable to the open lever while being coupled with the operation of the inner lever when the lock lever is in the locking position; a sub-lock lever that is configured to move to an unlocking position and a locking position together with the lock lever, the sub-lock lever being further movable to a double locking position by a motor; and an unlocking abutted portion that is configured to: when the lock lever and the sub-lock lever are in the locking position, abut with the unlocking abutting portion by being coupled with an unlocking operation of the inner lever; and when the lock lever is in the locking position and the sub-lock lever is in the double locking position, evacuate from a moving locus of the unlocking abutting portion so as not to abut with the unlocking abutting portion.

According to a second aspect of the invention, when the lock lever and the sub-lock lever are in the locking position, the unlocking abutted portion is locatable opposed to the unlocking abutting portion so as to abut with the unlocking abutting portion.

According to a third aspect of the invention, the unlocking abutted portion is provided on the sub-lock lever.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, the operating mechanism unit further comprises a shaft that pivotally supports the lock lever and the sub-lock lever.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention, the operating mechanism further comprises a key lever that is driven by being coupled with an operation of a key cylinder provided outside of the vehicle body, and an unlocking operation of the key lever allows the lock lever to move from the locking position to the unlocking position and allows the sub-lock lever to move from the double locking position to the unlocking position.

According to a sixth aspect of the invention, the operating mechanism unit further comprises a slide lever that is movable in a substantially linear direction by the motor, and the sub-lock lever is coupled to the slide lever to be driven to rotate from the locking position to the double locking position by the movement of the slide lever.

According to a seventh aspect of the invention, the slide lever comprises a coupling projection, and the sub-lock lever comprises an elongated hole with which the coupling projection is engaged, the elongated hole being inclined with respect to the substantially linear direction.

According to the invention, there are provided the following advantages.

According to the first and second aspects of the invention, since the unlocking operation of the inner lever is not transmitted to the sub-lock lever and the lock lever when the lock lever is in the locking position and the sub-lock lever is in the doubled position, an ensured double locking state can be obtained with the simple configuration.

According to the third aspect of the invention, an ensured double locking state can be obtained through the movement of the unlocking abutted portion in association with the operation of the sub-lock lever.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, the operating mechanism unit can be made smaller in size.

According to the fifth aspect of the invention, even though the driving by the motor is disabled due to the failure of the electric apparatus, the double locking state can be switched to the unlocking state based on the operation of the key cylinder.

According to the sixth and seventh aspects of the invention, the sub-lock lever can be moved to the double locking position in an ensured fashion via the slide lever which can move in a straight line through the driving by the motor.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a door latch apparatus according to the invention which results when viewed from an inside of a vehicle; Fig. 2 is a schematic side view of the door latch apparatus as viewed from the front; Fig. 3 is a front view of the door latch apparatus in an unlocking state; Fig. 4 is a rear view of the door latch apparatus in the unlocking state; Fig. 5 is a front view of the door latch apparatus in a locking state; Fig. 6 is a rear view of the door latch apparatus in the locking state; Fig. 7 is a front view of the door latch apparatus in a double locking state; Fig. 8 is a front view of a main part of the door latch apparatus in a state where an inner handle is operated; Fig. 9 is a front view of the door latch apparatus in a state where a key cylinder is operated to unlock a door; Fig. 10 is a front view of the main part of the door latch apparatus in a first stage of double operations of the inner handle; Fig. 11 is a front view of the main part of the door latchapparatus inasecondstageofthedoubleoperations of the inner handle; Fig. 12 is an explanatory perspective view showing main parts of first and second connecting levers; Fig. 13 is an explanatory perspective view showing main parts of a slide block and a slide lever; Fig. 14 is a perspective view of a main part of a cover with the slide block and the slide lever removed; Fig. 15 is an explanatory enlarged front view of a main part of the slide block; and Fig. 16 is a sectional view taken along the line XVI-XVI in Fig. 15.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that in the following description, the left in Fig. 1 denotes the "front" of a vehicle, the right denotes the "rear" of the vehicle, a near side of the figure denotes the "interior side" of the vehicle, and a far side of the figure denotes the "exterior side" of the vehicle.

A door latch apparatus 1 is disposed inside a rear end portion of a front side door (hereinafter, referred toasadoor) ofavehicle and includes ameshingmechanism unit 2 for holding the door in a closed position and an operating mechanism unit 3 for operating the meshing mechanism unit 2.

In addition, the door latch apparatus 1 is provided on an interior side of the door and is applied to a knob-less type which does not include a locking and unlocking operation knob which is operated when the door is manually locked and unlocked. In addition, the door latch apparatus 1 can be operated into an unlocking state, a locking state and a double locking state. In the unlocking state, the door can be opened by operating either of an outer handle (whose illustration is omitted) provided on an exterior of the door and an inner handle (whose illustration is omitted) provided on the interior side of the door. In the locking state, although the door cannot be opened by operating the outer handle, the door can be opened by the inner handle being operated in a double operating fashion (in a first operation of the inner handle, firstly, the locking state is moved to the unlocking state, and in a second operation of the inner handle, the door can be opened) In addition, in the double locking state, the double operation of the inner handle is negated, and the door cannot be opened even though either of the outer handle and the inner handle is operated.

The meshing mechanism unit 2 includes a body 4 which is fixed to an interior end portion of the door with a plurality of bolts (whose illustration is omitted), a latch 5 which is pivotally attached within the body 4 by a pivot 51 and is able to be brought into engagement with and disengagement froma striker (whose illustration is omitted) which is secured to a vehicle body, a ratchet (whose illustration is omitted) which is pivotally attached within the body 4 by a pivot 61 and is able to be brought into engagement with and disengagement from the latch 5 and an open lever 6 which is disposed on a front side of the body 4 and is able to rotate integrally with the ratchet via the pivot 61. When the door is closed, the striker is brought into engagement with the latch 5, and the ratchet is brought into engagement with the latch 5 in such a manner as to prevent the rotation of the latch 5 in an opening direction, so that the door is held in a closed state. In addition, when the outer handle or the inner handle is operated, the open lever 6 rotates in an unlocking direction (a counterclockwise direction indicated by an arrow in Fig. 2), and the ratchet is disengaged fromthe latch 5. Accordingly, the door is allowed to be opened. Note that since the structure of the meshing mechanism unit 2 has no direct relation with the invention, the detailed description thereof will be omitted here.

A cover 7 which is made of resin is fixed to the front side of the body 4 in such a manner as to cover the front side. The operating mechanism unit 3 is disposed within the cover 7. The operating mechanism unit 3 includes an outer lever 8 which is coupled to the outer handle via an operation force transmitting member (whose illustration is omitted) such as a rod, an inner lever 10 which is coupled to the inner handle via a cable 9 which can transmit an operation force, first and second key levers 11, 16 which are driven by being coupled with an operation of a key cylinder (whose illustration is omitted) provided on the exterior side of the door, a lock lever 12 which can perform locking and unlocking operations based on operations which will be described later, a sub-lock lever 13 which enables a double locking state, first and second connecting levers 14, 15 which are driven by being coupled with the outer lever 8, a locking and unlocking motor 17, a double locking motor 18, and a slide block 19 and a slide lever 20 which are driven by being coupled with the double locking motor 18.

As is shown in Fig. 2, the outer lever 8 is pivotally supported by a pivot 83 which is provided in a lower portion of the cover 7 in such a manner as to be directed in a longitudinal direction (of the vehicle) and rotates against the biasing force of a spring (whose illustration is omitted) in the unlocking direction (the counterclockwise direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2) from a waiting position shown in Fig. 2. Note that the cover 7 is omitted for the sake of simplifying the illustration in Fig. 2. The first connecting lever 14 is coupled to a right end portion 82 of the outer lever 8 in such a manner as to rotate a predetermined amount in the longitudinal direction, and a lower portion of

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the second connecting lever 15 is coupled to the first connecting lever 14 in such a manner as to rotate a predetermined amount in the longitudinal direction by a coupling shaft 151 which is directed in a transverse direction (of the vehicle) The first key lever 11 is pivotally supported in an upper portion of the cover 7 and is driven to rotate a predetermined angle from a neutral position (for example, a position shown in Fig. 4) in the unlocking direction (the counterclockwise direction in Fig. 4) and a locking direction (a clockwise direction in Fig. 4) by being coupled with the operation of the key cylinder.

The second key lever 16 is coupled rotatably to the first key lever 11 at an upper end portion thereof by a coupling shaft 111 which is directed in the longitudinal direction and is driven to move upwards from a neutral position (refer to, for example, Fig. 4) by being coupled with the rotation of the first key lever in the unlocking direction and is driven to move downwards from the neutral position by being coupled with the rotation of the first key lever 11 in locking direction. Provided in a lower portion of the second key lever 16 are a vertical elongated hole 161 which is connected to the slide lever via a predetermined play and a connecting projecting portion 162 which is connected to the lock lever 12 via a predetermined play.

As is mainly shown in Figs. 13, 14, the slide block 19 is supported slidably by a raised guide portion 71 which is provided in a lower portion of the cover 7 in such a manner as to be directed vertically (horizontally in Figs. 13, 14) and a worm gear 181, which is provided on a rotational shaft of the double locking motor 18, thread passes through a front portion of the slide block 19. A recessed accommodating portion 191 and a vertically directed guide groove 193 which is provided continuously to upper and lower portions of the accommodating portion 191 and is adapted to be brought into sliding engagement with the guide portion 71 are provided on a side of the slide block 19 which is opposed to the cover 7.

A vertically directed coil spring 24 is accommodated within the accommodating portion 191 of the slide block 19. The coil spring 24 is accommodated in a compressed state in the accommodating portion 191 of the slide block 19 and is held within a recessed portion 72 which is provided in a substantially vertical center of the guide portion 71 in such a state that the coil spring 24 is in abutment with upper and lower ends of the recessed portion 72 to thereby bias the slide block 19 to a neutral position (for example, a position shown

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in Figs. 3 to 6) . The slide block 19 is caused to screw on to the worm gear 181 in such a manner as to screw reversely.

The double locking motor 18 rotates in the locking direction based on a locking operation by a portable remote control switch (whose illustration is omitted) and rotates in the unlocking direction based on an unlocking operation thereof.

When the double locking motor 18 rotates in the locking direction, due to its screwing relationship with the worm gear 181, the slide block 19 moves downwards against the biasing force of the coil spring 24 from the neutral position to be displaced to a double locking position 19A indicated by an imaginary line shown in Fig. 7, and thereafter, when the power supply to the double locking motor 18 is stopped, the slide block 19 returns to the neutral position by virtue of the biasing force of the coil spring 24 while rotating the worm gear 181 reversely. In addition, when the double locking motor 18 rotates in the unlocking direction, due to its screwing relationship with the worm gear 181, the slide block 19 moves upwards against the biasing force of the coil spring 24 from the neutral position to be displaced to a double lock unlocking position 19B indicated by an imaginary line shown in Fig. 7, and thereafter, when the power supply to the double locking motor 18 is stopped, the slide block 19 returns to the neutral position again by virtue of the biasing force of the coil spring 24 while rotating the worm gear 181 reversely.

In the slide lever 20, a coupling projecting portion 202 provided at an upper end portion thereof is coupled to and engaged with the elongated hole 161 in the second key lever 16 in such a manner as to slide vertically therein, and a vertical elongated hole 203 provided in a lower end portion thereof is coupled to and engaged with a coupling projecting portion 192 provided on the slide block 19, whereby the slide lever 20 is driven to be displaced from a double lock unlocking position (for example, a position shown in Figs. 3 to 6) and a double locking position (a position shown in Fig. 7) which is moved downwards from the double lock unlocking position by being coupled with the movement of the slide block 19.

When the slide block 19 is in the neutral position and the slide lever 20 is in the double lock unlocking position, the coupling projecting portion 192 of the slide block 19 is positioned at a lower end of the elongated hole 203 in the slide lever 20, and when the slid block 19 is in the neutral position and the slide lever 20 is in the double locking position, the coupling projecting portion 192 of the slide block 19 is positioned at an upper end of the elongated hole 203 in the slide lever 20. Thus, when the slide block 19 moves from the neutral position to the double locking position with the slide lever staying in the double lock unlocking position, the coupling projecting portion 192 is brought into engagement with the lower end of the elongated hole 203.

Accordingly, the slide lever 20 can be made to move from the double lock unlocking position to the double locking portion. In addition, when the slide block 19 moves from the neutral position to the double lock unlocking position with the slide lever 20 staying in the double locking position, the coupling projecting portion 192 is brought into engagement with the upper end of the elongated hole 203. Accordingly, the slide lever can be made to move from the double locking position to the double lock unlocking position.

A spring 25 which is supported in the lower portion of the cover 7 is brought into elastic engagement with an engaging projecting portion 204 provided in a lower portion of the slide lever 20 to thereby elastically hold the slide lever in the respective positions.

As is mainly shown in Figs. 3, 5, when the slide lever 20 is in the double lock unlocking position, the slide block 19 is in the neutral position and the second key lever 16 is the neutral position, the upper coupling projecting portion 202 of the slide block 19 is positioned substantially centrally in the elongated hole 161 in the second key lever 16, and a play which substantially corresponds to a move stroke of the second key lever 16 is produced vertically between the coupling projecting portion 202 and the elongated hole 161. Accordingly, a locking operation and an unlocking operation of the second key lever 16 based respectively on a locking operation and an unlocking operation of the key cylinder are not transmitted to the slide lever 20. In addition, as is mainly shown in Fig. 7, when the slide lever 20 is in the double locking position and the slide block 19 is in the neutral position, the coupling projecting portion 202 of the slide lever 20 is positioned at a lower end of the elongated hole 161 in the second key lever 16. Accordingly, an unlocking operation the second key lever 16 based on an unlocking operation of the key cylinder is transmitted to the slide lever 20 by the lower end of the elongated hole 161 being brought into engagement with the coupling projecting portion 202, and the slide lever 20 can be caused to move from the double locking position to the double lock unlocking position through the operation of the key cylinder. In addition, the operation of the slide lever 20 then is not transmitted to the slide block 19.

The lock lever 12 is pivotally supported by a pivot 21 which is provided in the cover 7 in such a manner as to be directed in the transverse direction and is able to rotate between an unlocking position shown in Figs. 3 and 4 and a locking position which is moveed angularly a predetermined mount in a clockwise direction in Fig. 3 (a counterclockwise direction in Fig. 4) through operations of the locking and unlocking motor 17 and the key cylinder.

A sector gear portion 121 is provided on a front portion of the lock lever 12 in such a manner as to mesh with a worm gear 171 provided on a rotating shaft of the locking and unlocking motor 17, while in a rear portion of the lock lever 12, that is, in an end portion which lies opposite to the gear portion 121 across the pivot 21 as a boundary a key operation input portion 122 (refer to Figs. 4, 6) which is connected to the coupling projecting portion 162 of the second key lever 16 via a play which corresponds to an operating stroke of the key cylinder. In addition, a raised operation transmitting portion 123 is provided integrally on an end portion of the lock lever 12 which lies below the key operation input portion 122 and opposite to the gear portion across the pivot 21 as the boundary in such a manner as to be slidably coupled to an elongated hole 152 provided in an upper portion of the second connecting lever 15. In addition, the gear portion 121 meshes with the worm gear 171 in such a manner as to allow for the reverse rotation of the worm gear 171.

As has been described heretofore, by forming integrally the gear portion 121 into which the rotation of the locking and unlocking motor 17 is inputted, the key operation input portion 122 which is coupled to the second key lever 16 and the operation transmitting portion 123 which is coupled to the second connecting lever 15 on the lock lever 12, the number of parts involved is reduced, and the configuration of the operating mechanism unit 3 can be simplified. In addition, since only the meshing portion between the worm gear 171 and the gear portion 121 and the engagement portion between the operation transmitting portion 123 and the elongated hole 152 exist as coupling portions along an operation force transmitting path between the worm gear 171 and the second connecting lever 15, the configuration of the operating mechanism unit 3 can be simplified, and the rotation of the locking and unlocking motor 17 can be transmitted to the second connecting lever 15 in an ensured fashion. Additionally, by providing the key operation input portion 122 and the operation transmitting portion 123 of the lock lever 12 on the end portions which lie opposite to the gear portion 121 across the pivot 21, since force exerted on the lock lever 12 is dispersed to both the end portions thereof, the supporting of the lock lever 12 is stabilized, thereby making it possible to ensure the transmission of the rotation of the locking and unlocking motor 17 to the second connecting lever 15. Furthermore, by providing the key operation input portion 122 above the operation transmitting portion 123, since the second key lever 16 and the second connecting lever 15 can be disposed in such a manner that they are not overlapped in the transverse direction, the operating mechanism unit 3 can be made thinner in thickness, and the second connecting lever 15 can be coupled to the lock lever 12 with the simple configuration.

When the remote control switch is operated to lock (or unlock) the door, the locking and unlocking motor 17 rotates in a locking direction (or an locking direction) , the rotation of the motor is transmitted to the lock lever 12 via the worm gear 171 and the gear portion 121, and the lock lever 12 rotates to the locking position (or the unlocking position) . In addition, when the key cylinder is operated to lock (or unlock) the door, the second key lever 16 moves downwards (or upwards) via

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the first key lever 11, and the coupling projecting portion 162 of the first key lever 16 is brought into abutment with a lower end (or an upper edge) of the key operation input portion 122 of the lock lever 12, whereby the lock lever 12 can be caused to rotate to the locking position (or the unlocking position) . In addition, when in the unlocking position (or the locking position), a projecting portion 124 which is provided on an upper portion of the lock lever 12 is brought into elastic engagement with a spring 22 which is supported on the cover 7, the lock lever 12 is elastically held in the unlocking position (or the locking position) The sub-lock lever 13 is pivotally supported by the pivot 21 in such a manner as to rotate independently of the lock lever 12 and is able to rotate to an unlocking position shown in Figs. 3 and 4, a locking position shown in Figs. 5 and 6 where the lever reaches after rotating a predetermined amount in a clockwise direction in Fig. 3 (a counterclockwise direction in Fig. 4) from the unlocking position, and a double locking position shown in Fig. 7 where the lever reaches after rotating further a predetermined amount in a clockwise direction in Fig. (a counterclockwise direction in Fig. 6) from the locking position.

An arc-shaped cut-out portion 133 is provided round a rotating axis of the sub-lock lever 13 in such a manner as to be brought into engagement with a engaging projecting portion 125 provided on the lock lever 12 in a rotating direction via a play which corresponds to an operating stroke between the locking position and the double locking position, while in a lower portion of the sub-lock lever 13 an engaging recessed portion 134 is provided in such a manner as to be brought into engagement with a engaging projecting portion 126 provided on the lock lever 12 in a locking direction. In addition, an unlocking abutted portion 131 is provided on a lower end portion of the sub-lock lever 13 which can be brought into abutment with an unlocking abutting portion 101, which will be described later, provided on the inner lever 10 when the sub-lock lever 13 is in the locking position, and furthermore, an elongated hole 132 is provided in the sub-lock lever 13 round the pivot 21 in such a manner that a coupling projecting portion 201 provided on an upper portion of the slide lever 20 is brought into sliding engagement therewith.

When the lock lever 12 moves from the unlocking position to the locking position by virtue of the operation of the locking and unlocking motor 17 or the key cylinder, by the engaging projection portion 126 of the lock lever 12 being brought into engagement with the engaging recessed portion 134 of the sub-lock lever 13, the sub-lock lever 13 is driven to rotate from the unlocking position to the locking position by being coupled with the movement of the lock lever 12. In addition, when the lock lever 12 moves from the locking position to the unloc king position by virtue of the operation of the locking and unlocking motor 17 or the key cylinder, by the engaging projection portion 125 of the lock lever 12 being brought into engagement with the lower edge of the cut-out portion 133 of the sub-lock lever 13, the sub-lock lever 13 is driven to rotate from the locking position to the unlocking position by being coupled with the movement of the lock lever 12.

AsseeninFig. 3, asubstantiallyleft-halfportjon of the elongated hole 132 of the sub-lock lever 13 is formed into the shape of an arc which is centered at the pivot 21, while a substantially right-half portion thereof is formed in a straight line, whereby the elongated hole 132 is provided in such a manner that the elongated hole 132 is directed substantially in a horizontal direction when the sub-lock lever 13 is in the unlocking position, while when the sub-lock lever 13 is in the locking position or the double locking position, the elongated hole 132 is inclined relative to the moving direction (the vertical direction) of the slide lever 20.

The coupling projecting portion 201 of the slide lever 20 is positioned at a front end of the elongated hole 132 when the sub-lock lever 13 is in the unlocking position, is positioned substantially centrally of the elongated hole 132 when the sub-lock lever 13 is in the locking position, and is positioned at a rear end of the elongated hole 132 when the sub-lock lever 13 is in the double locking position. Accordingly, since the coupling projecting portion 201 moves relatively along the arc-shaped portion of the elongated hole 132 when the sub-lock lever 13 rotates between the unlocking position and the locking position, the sub-lock lever 13 can freely rotate between the unlocking position and the locking position. In addition, when the slide lever moves vertically in a straight line by being driven by the double locking motor 18 with the sub-lock lever 13 staying in the locking position (or the double locking position), the straight line motion of the slide lever 20 can be transformed into a rotating motion by the coupling projecting portion 201 and the elongated hole 132.

When the slide lever 20 moves from the double lock unlocking position to the double locking position by being driven by the double locking motor 18, the coupling projecting portion 201 of the slide lever 20 is brought into abutment with a lower edge of the elongated hole 132 of the sub-lock lever 13, whereby the sub-lock lever 13 is driven to rotate from the locking position to the double locking position by being coupled with the movement of the slide lever 20. As this occurs, since the play which corresponds to the operating stroke between the locking position and the double locking position is produced between the engaging projecting portion 125 of the lock lever 12 and the Cut-out portion 133 of the sub-lever 13, the motion of the sub-lock lever 13 when it is displaced from the locking position to the double locking position is not transmitted to the lock lever 12. In addition, when the slide lever 20 moves from the double locking position to the double lock unlocking position, the Coupling projecting portion 201 of the slide lever 20 is brought into engagement with an upper edge of the elongated hole 132 of the sub-lock lever 13, whereby the sub-lock lever 13 is driven to rotate from the double locking position to the locking position by being coupled with the movement of the slide lever 20.

As this occurs, since the play which corresponds to the operating stroke between the double locking position and the locking position is produced between the engaging projecting portion 125 of the lock lever 12 and the cut-out portion 133 of the sub-lever 13, the motion of the sub-lock lever 13 when it is displaced from the double locking position to the locking position is not transmitted to the lock lever 12.

The unlocking abutted portion of sub-lock lever 13 is opposed to the unlocking abutting portion 101 of the inner lever 10 when the sub- lock lever 13 is in the locking position, and the unlocking abutted portion 131 leaves to remain outside a moving locus of the unlocking abutting portion 101.

The first connecting lever 14 is coupled to the end portion 82 of the outer lever 8 at a lower end portion thereof in such a manner as to be oscillated in the longitudinal direction, and a releasing abutment portion 141 is provided on an upper portion of the first connecting lever 14 in such a manner as to be brought into abutment with the open lever 6.

The second connecting lever 15 is coupled in an oscillating fashion to a front portion of the first connecting lever 14 by the coupling shaft 151 which is directed in the transverse direction, and as is mainly shown in Fig. 12, an engaging portion 153 is provided on a front portion thereof in such a manner as to be brought into engagement with the first connecting lever 14 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 12.

In addition, a spring 26 is wound on the coupling shaft 151, and the spring 26 is locked on the first connecting lever 14 at one end and is done on the second connecting lever 15 at the other end (refer to Figs. 3 and 4). For the sake of simplifying the drawings, the spring 26 is shown only in Figs. 3 and 4, and the illustration thereof is omitted in the other drawings.

The spring 26 exerts its biasing force between the first connecting lever 14 and the second connecting lever 15 so as to impart a biasing force acting in a direction in which the first connecting lever 14 and the engaging portion 153 of the second connecting lever 15 are brought into engagement with each other. Consequently, the first and second connecting levers 14, 15 operate integrally within a range of the holding force of the spring 26.

The first and second connecting levers 14, 15 are driven to rotate about the end portion 82 of the outer lever 8 between the unlocking position shown in Figs. 3 and 4 and the locking position shown in Figs. 5 and 6 by being coupled with the operation of the lock lever 12 via the operation transmitting portion 123 of the lock lever 12 and the elongated hole 152 of the second connecting lever 15 and are driven to move upwards by being coupled with the unlocking operation of the outer lever 8.

The releasing abutment portion 141 of the first connecting lever 14 is opposed to the open lever 6 when the first connecting lever 14 is in the unlocking position and is displaced to a position where the releasing abutment portion 141 is not opposed to the open lever 6 when the first connecting lever 14 is in the locking position.

With the first and second connecting levers 14, 15 staying in the unlocking position, when the first and second connecting levers 14, 15 are driventomove upwards by being coupled with the unlocking operation of the outer lever 8, the releasing abutment portion 141 of the first connecting lever 14 is brought into abutment with the open lever 6 so as to cause the open lever 6 to rotate in the releasing direction. Accordingly, the door can be opened. In addition, when the first and second connecting levers 14, 15 are in the locking positions, even though the first and second connecting levers 14, 15 are driven to move upwards by being coupled with the rotation of the outer lever 8 in the releasing direction, since the releasing abutment portion 141 is disabled from being brought into abutment with the open lever 6, the door cannot be opened.

The inner lever 10 is pivotally supported in the

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lower portion of the cover 7 by the pivot 23 which is directed in the transverse direction, and the unlocking abutting portion 101 is provided on the upper portion of the inner lever 10 in such a manner as to be brought into abutment with the unlocking abutted portion 131 of the sub-lock lever 13. In addition, an abutment portion 102 is provided on a front portion of the inner lever in such a manner as to be brought into abutment with an end portion of the outer lever 8, and the inner lever 10 rotates in the releasing direction (clockwise direction) from, for example, the waiting position shown in Figs. 3, 5 to thereby be displaced in a released position shown in Fig. 8 based on the door opening operation of the inner handle.

When the inner lever 10 rotates in the releasing direction, the outer lever rotates in the releasing direction by the abutment portion 102 being brought into abutment with the end portion 81 of the outer lever 8.

As this occurs, when the lock lever 12 and the sub-lock lever 13 are in the locking positions, the unlocking abutting portion 101 is brought into abutment with the unlocking abutted portion 131 of the sub-lock lever 13 so as to cause the sub-lock lever 13 to move to the unlocking position. In association with the movement of the sub-lock lever 13 to the unlocking position, as shown in Fig. 11, the lock lever 12 and the first and second connecting levers 14, 15 can also be caused to move to the unlocking position.

Next, operations of the respective states of the embodiment according to the invention will be described.

(A case where the outer handle or inner handle is operated in the unlocking state) As is shown in Figs. 3 and 4, when the door latch apparatus 1 is in the unlocking state, the lock lever 12, the sub-lock lever 13, the first and second connecting levers 14, 15 are in the unlocking positions, respectively, and the releasing abutment portion 141 of the first connecting lever 14 is in the position where it is opposed to the open lever 6. Consequently, when theouterlever8 rotates inthe releasingdirectionbased on the door opening operation of the outer handle in this state, the first and second connecting levers 14, 15 move upwards as is shown in Fig. 8, as a result of which the releasing abutment portion 141 is brought into abutment with the open lever 6. Accordingly, the open lever 6 rotates in the releasing direction, and the ratchet is disengaged from the latch 5, thereby the door being able to be opened. In addition, when the inner lever 10 rotates in the releasing direction based on the door opening operation of the inner handle, the abutment portion 102 of the inner lever 10 is brought into abutment with the end portion 81 of the outer lever 8, whereby the outer lever 8 rotates in the releasing direction, and as when the outer handle is operated, the door can be opened.

(A case where the locking motor 17 is caused to rotate in the locking direction in the unlocking state) The rotation in the locking direction of the locking motor 17 is transmitted to the lock lever 12 via the worm gear 171 and the gear portion 121. The lock lever 12 rotates about the pivot 21 shown in Fig. 3 from the unlocking position shown in Figs. 3 and 4 to the locking position shown in Figs. 5 and 6, and in association with this action, the sub-lock lever 13 also moves from the unlocking position to the locking position by the engaging projecting portion 126 being brought into engagement with the engaging recessed portion 134. In addition, at the same time as this occurs, the movement of the lock lever 12 is transmitted to the second connecting lever 15 via the operation transmitting portion 123 and the elongated hole 152, whereby the first and second connecting levers 14, 15 also move to the locking position.

According to the configuration described above, in this embodiment, since the gear portion 121 which meshes

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directly with the worm gear 171 of the locking motor 17 and the operation transmitting portion 123 which is coupled directly to the second connecting lever 15 are formed integrally on the lock lever 12, the rotation of the worm gear 171 can be transmitted to the second connecting lever 15 via the lock lever 12 in an ensured fashion. In addition, since only the operation transmitting portion 123 and the elongated hole 152 which is in engagement with the operation transmitting portion 123 exist along the operation force transmitting path between the worm gear 171 and the second connecting lever as the coupling portions where the respective constituent parts are coupled to each other, the number of coupling portions is reduced, thereby making it possible to realize the simple structure.

(A case where the outer handle or the inner handle is operated in the locking state) As is shown in Figs. 5 and 6, when the door latch apparatus 1 is in the locking state, the lock lever 12, the sub-lock lever 13 and the first and second Connecting levers 14, 15 are in the locking positions, respectively, and the releasing abutment portion 141 of the first connecting lever 14 is in the position where it is disabled from being brought into abutment with the open lever 6. In addition, the unlocking abutted portion 131 of the sub-lock lever 13 is in the position where it is opposed to the unlocking abutting portion 101 of the inner lever 10.

When the outer handle is operated to open the door, since the abutment of the releasing abutment portion 141 of the first connecting lever 14 with the open lever 6 is disabled even though the releasing abutment portion 141 is displaced to a position indicated by a chain double-dashed line in Fig. 5 as a result of the outer lever 8 rotating in the releasing direction, the open lever 6 cannot be caused to rotate in the releasing direction. Consequently, the door cannot be opened by the door opening operation of the outer door.

When the inner handle is operated, the door can be opened through the double operations thereof, that is, the lock lever 12, the sub-lock lever 13 and the first and second connecting levers 14, 15 are caused to move from the locking positions to the unlocking positions through the first door opening operation of the inner handle, and then, the door can be opened through the second door opening operation of the inner handle.

Specifically, in the first door opening operation of the inner handle, when the inner lever 10 rotates in the releasing direction, the abutment portion 102 of the inner lever 10 is brought into abutment with the end portion 81 of the outer lever 8, and the unlocking abutting portion 101 is brought into abutment with the unlocking abutted portion 131 of the sub-lock lever 13 while causing the outer lever 8 to rotate n the releasing direction, whereby the sub-lock lever 13 is caused to rotate in the unlocking direction. By this action, as is shown in Fig. 10, moving upwards as a result of the outer lever 8 rotating in the releasing direction, the first and second connecting levers 14, 15 move in the unlocking direction in association with the sub-lock lever 13 and the lock lever 12 moving to the unlocking positions.

Then, as is shown in Fig. 11, when the inner lever rotates to the releasing position, the sub-lock lever 13, the lock lever 12 and the second connecting lever move to the unlocking positions. In addition as this occurs, the first connecting lever 14 moves upwards, in which state the first connecting lever 14 is brought into abutment with a side of the open lever 6, whereby the first connecting lever 14 stops against the biasing force of the spring 26 just before the unlocking position which the first connecting lever 14 would reach by further rotating in the counterclockwise direction. Then, when the inner handle is returned once and the inner lever 10 and the outer lever 8 are returned to the waiting positions, the first connecting lever 14 moves downwards and is disengaged from the side of the open lever 6, whereby the first connecting lever 14 moves to the unlocking position shown in Figs. 3 and 4 by virtue of the biasing force of the spring 26. Following this, when the inner handle is operated again to open the door, the door can be opened through the similar operations that are performed when the door latch apparatus 1 is in the unlocking state.

(A case where the double locking motor 18 is caused to rotate in the double locking direction in the locking state) When the double locking motor 18 is caused to rotate in the double locking direction by operating the portable remote control switch or the like, the rotation of the motor is transmitted to the sub-lock lever 13 via the worm gear 181, the slide block 19 and the slide lever 20. The sub-lock lever 13 moves from the locking position shown in Figs. 5 and 6 to the double locking position shown in Fig. 7, and the unlocking abutted portion 131 thereof leaves to stay outside the moving locus of the unlocking abutting portion 101 on the inner lever 10. As this occurs, since the play corresponding to the operating stroke of the sub-lock lever 13 between the locking position to the double locking position

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thereof is produced between the sub-lock lever 13 and the lock lever 12, even though the sub-lock lever 13 moves from the locking position to the double locking position, the lock lever 12 remains stopped in the locking position.

The double locking motor 18 stops almost the same time as the sub-lock lever 13 has moved to the double locking position, and the slide block 19 returns to the neutral position by virtue of the biasing force of the coil spring 24.

(A case where either the outer handle or the inner handle is operated in the double locking state) Even though the outer handle is operated from the outside of the vehicle so as to cause the outer lever 8 to rotate in the unlocking direction, the sub-lock lever 13 and the first and second connecting levers 14, 15 are in the locking positions as is shown in Fig. 7, and the releasing abutment portion 141 of the first connecting lever 14 is disabled from being brought into abutment with the open lever, thus the door being unable to be opened.

Even though the inner handle is operated from the inside of the vehicle and the inner handle 10 is caused to rotate in the unlocking direction so as to cause the outer lever 8 to rotate in the unlocking direction, the door cannot be opened as when the outer handle is operated to open the door. In addition, since the unlocking abutted portion 131 of the sub-lock lever 13 leaves to stay outside the moving locus of the unlocking abutting portion 101 of the inner lever 10, it is not possible to move the sub-lock lever 13, the lock lever 12 and the first and second connecting levers 14, 15 to the unlocking positions. Consequently, in the double locking state, the door opening operations of the outer handle and the inner handle are negated and the double operations of the inner handle is also negated. Accordingly, even when the inner handle is operated to attempt an illegal action, the door remains unable be opened.

(A case where the double locking motor 18 is caused to rotate in the unlocking direction in the double locking state) When the double locking motor 18 rotates in the unlocking direction based on the unlocking operation on the remote control switch, the rotation of the motor is transmitted to the slide block 19 via the worm gear 181.

The slide block 19 moves against the biasing force of the spring 24 from the neutral position indicated by a solid line in Fig. 7 to the double lock unlocking position 19B, causing the slide lever 20 to move from the double locking position to the double lock unlocking position via the coupling projecting portion 192 and the elongated hole 203. When the slide lever 20 moves to the double lock unlocking position, the double locking motor 18 stops, and the slide block 19 returns from the neutral position by virtue of the biasing force of the coil spring 24.

Then, the movement of the slide lever 20 to the double lock unlocking position is transmitted to the sub-lock lever 13 via the coupling projecting portion 201 and the elongated hole 132, and the sub-lock lever 13 then rotates from the double locking position to the locking position. Accordingly, the double locking state is released, and the locking state results.

(A case where the key cylinder is operated to unlock the door in the double locking state) When the key cylinder is operated to unlock the door from the outside of the vehicle, the second key lever 16 moves upwards via the first key lever 11 from the neutral position shown in Fig. 7 to be displaced to an unlocking position shown in Fig. 9. While being transmitted to the slide lever 20 via the elongated hole 161 and the coupling projecting portion 202, the movement of the second key lever 16 is transmitted to the lock lever 12 by the coupling projecting portion 162 being brought into abutment with the key operation input portion 122. Accordingly, the slide lever 20 moves from

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the double locking position to the double lock unlocking position, causing the sub-lock lever 13 to move towards the unlocking position via the coupling projecting portion 201 and the elongated hole 132. In addition, the sub-lock lever 13 moves from the locking position to the unlocking position, causing the first and second connecting levers 14, 15 to move from the locking positions to the unlocking positions.

According to the configuration described above, even in the event that the locking motor 17 and the double locking motor 18 are disabled from being driven due to the failure of the electric apparatus in the double locking state, the double locking state is released to result in the unlocking state by the manual operation of the key cylinder. Accordingly, the door can be opened by operating the outside handle to open the door.

Incidentally, in a same manner, when the key cylinder is operated to unlock the door from the outside of the vehicle while the door latch apparatus 1 is in the locking state as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the door lock apparatus 1 is displaced to the unlocking position shown in Fig. 9. Accordingly, the door can be opened by operating the outside handle to open the door.

While the embodiment of the invention has been described heretofore, the following various modifications and changes can be made to the embodiment without departing from the scope of the invention.

(i) The first key lever 11 and the second key lever 16 are formed integrally.

(ii) The key operation input portion 122 of the lock lever 12 to which an operation of the second key lever 16 is inputted is made into an elongated hole with which the coupling projecting portion 162 of the second key lever 16 is brought into sliding engagement.

Alternatively, the coupling projecting portion 162 of the second key lever 16 is instead formed into an elongated hole, and the key operation input portion 122 is made into a projecting portion which is brought into engagement with the elongated hole.

(iii) A so-called one-motion operation can be introduced in which not only the movement of the lock lever 12, the sub-lock lever 13 and the first and second connecting levers 14, 15 from the locking positions to the unlocking positions but also the releasing of the door latch apparatus can be attained through a single door opening operation of the inner handle. In this case, a configuration is adopted in which the unlocking abutting portion 101 of the inner lever 10 is brought into abutment with the unlocking abutted portion 131 of the sub-lock lever 13 so as to cause the sub-lock lever 13 to move

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to the unlocking position, and thereafter, the releasing abutment portion 141 of the first connecting lever 14 causes the open lever 6 to rotate in the releasing direction.

Claims

cLAIMS 1. A vehicle door latch apparatus comprising: a meshing mechanism unit (2) that is configured to engage with and disengage from a striker provided on a vehicle body, the meshing mechanism unit comprising an open lever (6) that is configured to release an engagement between the meshing mechanism unit and the striker; and an operating mechanism unit (3) that is configured to operate the meshing mechanism unit, the operating mechanism unit comprising: a lock lever (12) that is movable between an unlocking position where an operation of a operation handle to open a door is made successful and a locking position where the operation of the operation handle is made unsuccessful; an inner lever (10) that is configured to rotate in an unlocking direction by being coupled with the operation of the operation handle and comprises an unlocking abutting portion (101) ; a connecting lever (14, 15) that is connectable to the open lever to release the engagement between the meshing mechanism unit and the striker by being coupled with an unlocking operation of the inner lever when the lock lever is in the unlocking position, the connecting lever being unconnectable to the open lever while being coupled with the operation of the inner lever when the lock lever is in the locking position; a sub-lock lever (13) that is configured to move to an unlocking position and a locking position together with the lock lever, the sub- lock lever being further movable to a double locking position by a motor (18); and an unlocking abutted portion (131) that is configured to: when the lock lever and the sub-lock lever are in the locking position, abut with the unlocking abutting portion by being coupled with an unlocking operation of the inner lever; and when the lock lever is in the locking position and the sub-lock lever is in the double locking position, evacuate from a moving locus of the unlocking abutting portion so as not to abut with the unlocking abutting portion.
2. The vehicle door latch apparatus according to claim wherein, when the lock lever and the sub-lock lever are in the locking position, the unlocking abutted portion is locatable opposed to the unlocking abutting portionsoastoabutwiththeunlockingabuttingportion.

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3. The vehicle door latch apparatus according to claims 1 or 2, wherein the unlocking abutted portion is provided on the sub-lock lever.
4. The vehicle door latch apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the operating mechanism unit further comprises a shaft (21) that pivotally supports the lock lever and the sub-lock lever.
5. The vehicle door latch apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the operating mechanism further comprises a key lever (11) that is driven by being coupled with an operation of a key cylinder provided outside of the vehicle body, and wherein an unlocking operation of the key lever allows the lock lever to move from the locking position to the unlocking position and allows the sub-lock lever to move from the double locking position to the unlocking position.
6. The vehicle door latch apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the operating mechanism unit further comprises a slide lever (20) that is movable in a substantially linear direction by the motor, and wherein the sub-lock lever is coupled to the slide lever to be driven to rotate from the locking position to the double locking position by the movement of the slide lever.
7. The vehicle door latch apparatus according to claim wherein the slide lever comprises a coupling projection (201), and wherein the sub-lock lever comprises an elongated hole (132) with which the coupling projection is engaged, the elongated hole being inclined with respect to the substantially linear direction.