GB2457778A

GB2457778A - Door lock with double action mechanism and child lock mechanism

Info

Publication number: GB2457778A
Application number: GB0900275A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jiro Inoue
Original assignee: Mitsui Mining and Smelting Co Ltd
Current assignee: Mitsui Mining and Smelting Co Ltd
Priority date: 2008-02-28
Filing date: 2009-01-08
Publication date: 2009-09-02
Anticipated expiration: 2029-01-08
Also published as: GB2457778B; JP2009203745A; JP4516613B2; FR2928165A1; GB0900275D0; FR2928165B1

Abstract

A door lock apparatus includes a connecting lever (41) connected to an inside door handle (IDH) arranged inside of a vehicle when a child lock mechanism (40) is in a transmitting state. The connecting lever (41) functions to supply the operating force to a pressure-receiving portion (11b) of an open lever (11) when the inside door handle (IDH) is open-operated and a lock mechanism (30) is in an unlocked state, and to supply the operating force to a lock lever portion (33f) of a first link lever (33) when the inside door handle (IDH) is open-operated and the lock mechanism (30) is in a locked state, thereby activating the pressure-receiving portion (11b) of the open lever (11).

Description

1 2457778

DOOR LOCK APPARATUS

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a door lock apparatus applied to a vehicle, such as a four wheel automobile. In particular, embodiments of the present invention may relate to a door lock apparatus that includes a latch mechanism and a lock mechanism. The latch mechanism of embodiments of the invention, when a door is in a closed position with respect to a vehicle main body, restricts movement of the door in an open direction by being latched. The lock mechanism of embodiments of the invention is disposed between a door handle and the latch mechanism. When the door handle is open-operated in an unlocked state, the lock mechanism cancels the latched state by transmitting such open-operation of the door handle to the latch mechanism, and allows the movement of the door in the open direction.

When in a locked state, the lock mechanism maintains the latched state of the latch mechanism, even if the door handle is open-operated.

2. Description of the Related Art

As is known in the art, some door lock apparatuses applied to vehicles include a child lock mechanism to prevent a child from doing mischief. The child lock mechanism is switchably configured between a transmitting state that transmits an open-operation of an inside door handle to a latch mechanism, and a non-transmitting state that does not transmit the open-operation of the inside door handle to the latch mechanism.

United States Patent No. 3301738 discloses the door lock apparatuses that include a mechanism called a one-motion or a double-action. These mechanisms switch a lock mechanism in a locked state to an unlocked state, by open-operating the inside door handle without operating a lock operating member such as an inside lock button, and are very effective to simplify an unlock operation of the lock mechanism. In particular, in the door lock apparatus that includes the one-motion mechanism, even if the lock mechanism is in the locked state, the lock mechanism is turned in the unlocked state by open-operating the inside door handle, thereby cancelling the latch mechanism subsequently. In the door lock apparatus that includes the double-action mechanism, when the inside door handle is once open-operated while the lock mechanism is in the locked state, the lock mechanism is turned in the unlocked state, thereby cancelling the latch mechanism by open-operating the inside door handle once again.

As in the United States Patent No. 3301738, with the door lock apparatus that includes the child lock mechanism and the double-action mechanism, when the child lock mechanism is in the transmitting state, the lock mechanism can be switched from the locked state to the unlocked state, by the open-operation of the inside door handle, and the latch mechanism can also be cancelled, thereby improving the operability. When the child lock mechanism is in the non-transmitting state, the lock mechanism is switched from the locked state to the unlocked state by the first open-operation of the inside door handle, but the following open-operation of the inside door handle becomes invalid, thereby not transmitting the open-operation to the latch mechanism and not cancelling the latch mechanism.

Therefore, when the child lock mechanism is in the non-transmitting state, the latch mechanism will not be cancelled even if a child in a vehicle tampers with the inside door handle, thereby ensuring safety while driving.

Meanwhile, some of the conventional vehicle door lock devices omit a lock operation member to switch between a locked state and an unlocked state, such as an inside lock button disposed inside a vehicle. As a result, the locking mechanism cannot be operated from inside the vehicle. Such a configuration enhances a security level of the vehicle against theft. That is, even if someone breaks a window of the vehicle, it becomes difficult to unlock the door from inside without the key cylinder.

However, even if a lock operating member is omitted from a conventional door lock apparatus, in the market, improvement of an anti-theft function may sometimes be called for. In other words, in a conventional door lock apparatus, even if a child lock mechanism is in a non-transmitting state, a lock mechanism in a locked state is switched to an unlocked state, when an inside door handle is operated once. Accordingly, if a malicious person breaks a window of a vehicle, open-operates the inside door handle once, and open-operates the door handle from the outside of the vehicle, a latched state of a latch mechanism is cancelled, thereby allowing the person to break into the vehicle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention seeks to at least partially solve at least one of the problems in the conventional technology.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a door lock apparatus includes: a latch mechanism that restricts movement of a door in an open direction by latching when the door is in a closed position with respect to a vehicle main body; a lock mechanism interposed between a door handle and the latch mechanism, the lock mechanism allowing the movement of the door in the open direction by cancelling a latched state thereof by transmitting an open-operation of the door handle to the latch mechanism when the door handle is open-operated in an unlocked state, and maintaining the latched state of the latch mechanism even if the door handle is open-operated when in a locked state; a double action mechanism that includes a first input portion that becomes activated while the lock mechanism is in the unlocked state, and a second input portion that, when a predetermined operating force is supplied via the first input portion, transmits the operating force to the latch mechanism, and becomes activated while the lock mechanism is in the locked state, the double action mechanism, when the predetermined operating force is supplied via the second input portion, switching the lock mechanism to the unlocked state without transmitting the operating force to the latch mechanism; and a connecting lever connected to an inside door handle arranged inside the vehicle main body while a child lock mechanism is in a transmitting state, and when the inside door handle is open-operated with the lock mechanism being in the unlocked state, functions to supply the operating force to the first input portion, and when the inside door handle is open-operated with the lock mechanism being in the locked state, functions to supply the operating force into the second input portion and activates the first input portion.

The above and other, features, advantages and technical and industrial significance of this invention will be better understood by reading the following detailed description of presently preferred embodiments of the invention, when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a door lock apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a conceptual diagram of a child lock mechanism in a non-transmitting state in the door lock apparatus shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a conceptual diagram when a child lever is moved to an emergency lock position in the door lock apparatus shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a plan view of an essential section of a vehicle to which the door lock apparatus shown in Fig. 1 is applied; Fig. 5 is a conceptual diagram of a latch mechanism applied to the door lock apparatus shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along a line VI-VI in Fig. 1; Fig. 7 is a conceptual diagram showing operations and displays of the child lever in the door lock apparatus shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 8 is a conceptual diagram when a lock mechanism is in a locked state in the door lock apparatus shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 9 is a conceptual diagram of a state when an inside door handle is open-operated in the state shown in Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is another conceptual diagram of a state when the inside door handle is continuously open-operated in the state shown in Fig. 9; Fig. 11 is still another conceptual diagram of a state when the inside door handle is continuously open-operated in the state shown in Fig. 10; Fig. 12 is a conceptual diagram of a door lock apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 13 is a conceptual diagram of a child lock mechanism in a non-transmitting state in the door lock apparatus shown in Fig. 12; Fig. 14 is a conceptual diagram of a child lock mechanism in a non-transmitting state and a lock mechanism in a locked state in the door lock apparatus shown in Fig. 12; Fig. 15 is a sectional view taken along a line IX-IX in Fig. 12; Fig. 16 is a conceptual diagram when a lock mechanism is in a locked state in the door lock apparatus shown in Fig. 12; Fig. 17 is a conceptual diagram of a state when an inside door handle is open-operated in the state shown in Fig. 16; Fig. 18 is another conceptual diagram of a state when the inside door handle is continuously open-operated in the state shown in Fig. 17; and Fig. 19 is still another conceptual diagram of a state when the inside door handle is continuously open-operated in the state shown in Fig. 18.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

First Embodiment Exemplary embodiments of a door lock apparatus according to the present invention will now be explained in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figs. 1 to 3 are conceptual diagrams of a door lock apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 4, the door lock apparatus explained here is provided in a door (rear door) D that has a front hinge disposed at a right rear seat of a vehicle main body B of a four-wheel automobile. As shown in Fig. 1, the door lock apparatus includes a latch mechanism 20 in a latch case 21 mounted on a main body case 10.

The latch mechanism 20, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, meshes and holds a striker S included in the vehicle main body B, and as shown in Fig. 5, includes a latch 22 and a ratchet 23.

The latch 22 is rotatably arranged at a position above a striker introducing groove 21a formed in the latch case 21, about a latch shaft 24 extending horizontally along a front-rear direction of the vehicle main body B. The latch 22 includes a meshing groove 22a, a hooking portion 22b, and an engaging portion 22c. The meshing groove 22a is formed towards the latch shaft 24 from an outer peripheral surface of the latch 22, and formed in a width that can accommodate the striker S. The hooking portion 22b is a portion positioned interior side than the meshing groove 22a, when the meshing groove 22a is opened downwards. The hooking portion 22b, as shown in a solid line in Fig. 5, stops at a position to cut across the striker introducing groove 21a of the latch case 21, when the latch 22 is rotated to the maximum anti-clockwise extent. Moreover, as shown in the two-point chain line in Fig. 5, the hooking portion 22b is formed so as to stop at a position to open the striker introducing groove 21a, when the latch 22 is rotated to the maximum clockwise extent. The engaging portion 22c is a portion positioned exterior side of the vehicle than the meshing groove 22a, when the meshing groove 22a is opened downwards. The engaging portion 22c, as shown in the two-point chain line in Fig. 5, is formed to stop in the state to cut across the striker introducing groove 21a, when the latch 22 is rotated to the maximum clockwise extent, and gradually inclined upwards towards the back side (outside of the vehicle) of the striker introducing groove 21a. Although not shown, a latch spring that continuously biases the latch 22 in a clockwise direction in Fig. 5 is provided between the latch 22 and the latch case 21.

The ratchet 23 is rotatably arranged at a position below the striker introducing groove 21a of the latch case 21 and interior side of the vehicle than the latch shaft 24, about a ratchet shaft 25 that extends horizontally along the front-rear direction of the vehicle main body B. The ratchet 23 includes an engaging portion 23a and an acting portion 23b. The engaging portion 23a is a portion that extends radially outwards towards the outside of the vehicle from the ratchet shaft 25. Moreover, the engaging portion 23a can be detachably engaged to the hooking portion 22b and the engaging portion 22c of the latch 22, via the protruding facet by rotating about the ratchet shaft 25. The acting portion 23b is a portion that extends radially outwards towards the inside of the vehicle from the ratchet shaft 25. The ratchet 23 includes a ratchet lever 26 that integrally rotates about the center of the ratchet shaft 25 with the ratchet 23 at a front side of the vehicle. The ratchet lever 26 includes an abutting portion 26a that extends towards the same direction as the acting portion 23b of the ratchet 23 from the ratchet shaft 25.

Although not shown, a ratchet spring that continuously biases the ratchet 23 in an anti-clockwise direction in Fig. is provided between the ratchet 23 and the latch case 21.

The latch mechanism 20 formed as the above, as shown in the two-point chain line in Fig. 4, when a door D is in an open state with respect to the vehicle main body B, as shown in the two-point chain line in Fig. 5, the latch 22 is disposed at a position to open the striker introducing groove 2la. From this state, as shown in the solid line in Fig. 4, when the door D is moved to a closed position, the striker S provided on the vehicle main body B, as shown in Fig. 5, enters the striker introducing groove 21a of the latch case 21, and then the striker S abuts to the engaging portion 22c of the latch 22. As a result, the latch 22 rotates in an anti-clockwise direction in Fig. 5, against the elastic force of the latch spring (not shown). During this time, because the protruding facet of the engaging portion 23a slides on the outer peripheral surface of the latch 22, by the elastic force of the ratchet spring (not shown), the ratchet 23 appropriately rotates about the center of the ratchet shaft 25 corresponding to the shape of the outer peripheral surface of the latch 22. When the door D is further moved to the closed direction from the above-mentioned state, the entering amount of the striker S with respect to the striker introducing groove 21a increases gradually, and then the engaging portion 23a of the ratchet 23 reaches the meshing groove 22a of the latch 22. Then, as shown in the solid line in Fig. 5, the hooking portion 22b of the latch 22 is abutted to the engaging portion 23a of the ratchet 23, thereby preventing the clockwise rotation of the latch 22, against the elastic restoring force of the latch spring (not shown) . At this state, the hooking portion 22b of the latch 22 is disposed so as to cut across the striker introducing groove 21a, thereby preventing the striker S from moving towards a direction to detach from the rear side (outside of the vehicle) of the striker introducing groove 21a by the hooking portion 22b. As a result, the door D is maintained in the closed state with respect to the vehicle main body B (latched state) When the abutting portion 26a of the ratchet lever 26 is rotated upwards in Fig. 5, against the elastic force of the ratchet spring (not shown) from the latched state, the abutting/engaging state between the hooking portion 22b of the latch 22 and the engaging portion 23a of the ratchet 23 is cancelled, thereby making the latch 22 to rotate in a clockwise direction in Fig. 5, by the elastic restoring force of the latch spring (not shown). As a result, as shown in the two-point chain line in Fig. 5, the striker introducing groove 21a is opened, and the striker S can move in a direction to disengage from the striker introducing groove 21a. Accordingly, the door D can be opened and moved with respect to the vehicle main body B. The door lock apparatus, as shown in Fig. 1, includes an open lever 11, an inside handle lever 12, and a lock mechanism 30 in the main body case 10.

The open lever 11 is rotatably arranged around an open lever shaft (not shown) that lies substantially horizontal along the anteroposterior direction of the vehicle body B. The open lever 11 includes an operating end ha and a pressure receiving portion lib. The operating end ha is arranged beneath of the abutting portion 26a of the ratchet lever 26. The pressure receiving portion lib that forms the first input unit of the present invention extends beneath of the operating end ha and bends upwards the rear side of the vehicle body B. When an attempt is made to open the door D by using an outside door handle (ODH), which is fixed on the outer surface of the door D (see Fig. 4, the open lever 11 rotates via appropriate linkage (not shown) such that the operating end ha and the pressure receiving portion hhb move upwards with reference to Fig. 1.

An open lever spring (not shown) is arranged between the open lever 11 and the main body case 10 such that the operating end ha and the pressure receiving portion hib are maintained biased in downward direction with reference to Fig. 1.

The inside handle lever 12 is pivotably arranged around an inside lever shaft 13 and at a position anterior to the open lever 11 on the vehicle body B. The inside lever shaft 13 lies substantially horizontal along the width direction of the vehicle body B. The inside handle lever 12 includes a working end 12a, an inside-handle lock linkage portion 12b. The working end 12a extends downwards from the inside lever shaft 13. The working end 12a is linked with an inside door handle (IDH) shown in Fig. 4 via an appropriate linkage (not shown) . When an attempt is made to open the door D by using the inside door handle IDH, the inside handle lever 12 pivots in clockwise direction with reference to Fig. 1. The inside-handle lock linkage portion 12b is a portion that extends towards a rear of a vehicle from an inside lever shaft 13.

The lock mechanism 30 is formed so as to switch between an unlocked state and a locked state. The unlocked state transmits the rotation of the open lever 11 by the open-operation of the outside door handle ODH to the latch mechanism 20. The locked state does not transmit the rotation of the open lever 11 by the open-operation of the outside door handle ODH to the latch mechanism 20. The lock mechanism 30 includes a worm wheel 31, a sector lever 32, a first link lever 33 (double action mechanism), and a second link lever 39 (double action mechanism).

The worm wheel 31 is rotatably arranged at a position between the open lever 11 and the inside handle lever 12 about a wheel shaft 34 that extends horizontally along the left-right direction of the vehicle main body B. The worm wheel 31 is meshed with a worm 36 fixed to an output shaft 35a of an electric motor (lock actuator) 35. An intermittent gear wheel 37 is fixed on the same shaft center of the worm wheel 31. The intermittent gear wheel 37 forms an intermittent power transmitting unit of only one direction with respect to an intermittent driven gear 32b of the sector lever 32, which will be explained later.

Aithogh not shown, a neutral return spring to maintain the worm wheel 31 in a predetermined neutral state is provided between the worm wheel 31 and the main body case 10.

The sector lever 32 is rotatably arranged ata position above the worm wheel 31, about a sector lever shaft 38 that extends horizontally along a left-right direction of the vehicle main body B. The sector lever 32 is formed in a sector shape that gradually expands and opens downwards. The sector lever 32 includes a connecting pin 32a and the intermittent driven gear 32b. The connecting pin 32a is a columnar protrusion that extends horizontally along the left-right direction of the vehicle main body B, from a facet positioned at the inside of the vehicle in the sector lever 32. The intermittent driven gear 32b is a gear formed at an outer peripheral surface of the sector lever 32 formed in an arc, and meshed with the intermittent gear wheel 37 of the worm wheel 31.

Although not shown, the intermittent power transmitting portion formed between the intermittent driven gear 32b of the sector lever 32 and the intermittent gear wheel 37 of the worm wheel 31 can swing the sector lever 32 in any direction, by rotating the worm wheel 31 in an appropriate direction. Because the power does not transmit to the intermittent gear wheel 37 from the intermittent driven gear 32b, the intermittent power transmitting portion is formed so as to swing the sector lever 32 in any direction, without rotating the worm wheel 31.

The first link lever 33 is a lever member that includes a mounting shaft 33i at a lower end of a link main body 33a. The mounting shaft 33i is a columnar protrusion that extends horizontally along the left-right direction of the vehicle main body B, from a facet positioned inside of the vehicle in the link main body 33a, and includes a mounting hole 33b. The first link lever 33 is vertically movable with the operating end ha and the pressure receiving portion llb, and also swingably supports the operating end ha about the shaft center along the left-right direction of the vehicle main body B. This is enabled by inserting the operating end ha of the open lever 11 into the mounting hole 33b and holding thereof.

The first link lever 33 also includes a sector connecting portion 33c and a second link lever abutting portion 33d.

The sector connecting portion 33c is a portion that extends upwards from a region that is a front side of the vehicle in the link main body 33a, and includes a connecting groove 33e. The connecting groove 33e is a slit opening that extends along a vertical direction, and movably fits and supports therein the connecting pin 32a of the sector lever 32. The second link lever abutting portion 33d is a portion projected towards the inside of the vehicle from the rim of the rear side of the vehicle in the link main body 33a.

The first link lever 33 also includes a lock lever portion 33f. The lock lever portion 33f forms a second input portion of the present invention. When the connecting groove 33e is disposed so as to extend along a vertical direction, the lock lever portion 33f is a portion that extends downward below the mounting hole 33b. The lock lever portion 33f includes an operating and abutting surface 33g and a pressure-receiving surface 33h. The operating and abutting surface 33g is a portion positioned at the front side of the vehicle in the lock lever portion 33f. When the link main body 33a is disposed vertically above the mounting hole 33b, the operating and abutting surface 33g is formed so as to extend along a vertical direction. The pressure-receiving surface 33h is a portion positioned at the rear side of the vehicle in the lock lever portion 33f. When the link main body 33a is disposed vertically above the mounting hole 33b, the pressure-receiving surface 33h is formed so as to gradually incline and extend upwards towards the rear of the vehicle from a lower facet of the lock lever portion 33f.

The second link lever 39 is a lever member swingably arranged between the first link lever 33 and the main body case 10 in an overlapping mode with the first link lever 33, about the mounting shaft 33i of the first link lever 33. A facet positioned at the rear side of the vehicle of a lever main body 39a is abutted to the second link lever abutting portion 33d of the first link lever 33. The second link lever 39 is vertically movable with the mounting shaft 33i of the first link lever 33. The lever main body 39a is closely opposed to the lower facet of the abutting portion 26a in the ratchet lever 26, when the lever main body 39a is disposed vertically above the mounting hole 33b of the first link lever 33.

The second link lever 39 includes a spring abutting pin 39b and a block body abutting portion 39c. The spring abutting pin 39b is a columnar protrusion that extends horizontally along the left-right direction of the vehicle main body B from the facet positioned inside the vehicle in the lever main body 39a. The block body abutting portion 39c is a portion that abuts to a block body 15 provided on the inner surface of the main body case 10. The block body abutting portion 39c is projected towards the inside of the vehicle from the rim of the front side of the vehicle at the upper region in the lever main body 39a. The block body 15 is abutted to the block body abutting portion 39c via a block surface iSa positioned above the block body abutting portion 39c in Fig. 1, and also at the front side of the vehicle than the block body abutting portion 39c.

The block surface 15a is formed so as to extend while inclining slightly forward. As apparent from Fig. 1, the lower end of the block surface 15a is extended to a position below the abutting portion 26a in the ratchet lever 26.

As shown in Fig. 1, a panic spring 51 is provided between the second link lever 39 and the main body case 10.

The panic spring 51 continuously biases the spring abutting pin 39b of the lever main body 39a about the mounting shaft 33i of the first link lever 33 in a clockwise direction.

The panic spring 51 is supported to the mounting shaft 33i of the first link lever 33.

In the lock mechanism 30 formed as the above, the state shown in Fig. 1 is an unlocked state, and the lever main body 39a of the second link lever 39 is disposed vertically above the mounting hole 33b. Accordingly, the lever main body 39a is closely opposed to the lower facet of the abutting portion 26a in the ratchet lever 26.

Subsequently, if the outside door handle ODH is open-operated from this state, and the link main body 33a of the first link lever 33 moves upward by the rotating operation of the open lever 11, the lever main body 39a of the second link lever 39 abuts to the abutting portion 26a of the ratchet lever 26 in the latch mechanism 20, thereby moving the latch mechanism 20 upwards. As a result, even if the latch mechanism 20 is in the latched state, the latched state will be cancelled, thereby allowing the door D to open and move with respect to the vehicle main body B. From the unlocked state shown in Fig. 1, when the electric motor 35 is driven and the worm wheel 31 is rotated in an anti-clockwise direction, the sector lever 32 swings about the sector lever shaft 38 in a clockwise direction. As a result, the first link lever 33 engaged via the connecting pin 32a and the second link lever 39 abutted to the second link lever abutting portion 33d swing about the mounting hole 33b in an anti-clockwise direction.

Accordingly, the lock mechanism 30 is turned in the locked state shown in Fig. 8.

In the locked state, the lever main body 39a of the second link lever 39 deviates from the position opposed to the lower facet of the abutting portion 26a in the ratchet lever 26. Accordingly, even if the outside door handle ODH is open-operated, and the link main body 33a of the first link lever 33 moves upward by the rotating operation of the open lever 11, the lever main body 39a of the second link lever 39 does not abut with the abutting portion 26a of the ratchet lever 26 in the latch mechanism 20. As a result, when the latch mechanism 20 is in the latched state, the latched state will be maintained, thereby maintaining the door D in the closed position with respect to the vehicle main body B. When the electric motor 35 is driven and the worm wheel 31 is rotated in a clockwise direction from the locked state shown in Fig. 8, the sector lever 32 swings about the sector lever shaft 38 in an anti-clockwise direction. As a result, the first link lever 33 engaged via the connecting pin 32a and the second link lever 39 biased by the panic spring 51 swing about the mounting hole 33b in a clockwise direction. Therefore, the lock mechanism 30 is returned again to the unlocked state shown in Fig. 1.

The door lock apparatus, as shown in Fig. 1, also includes a connecting lever 41 in the main body case 10.

The connecting lever 41 is swingably arranged at a region between an inside handle lever 12 and the first link lever 33, about a connecting lever shaft 43 that extends horizontally along the left-right direction of the vehicle main body B. The connecting lever 41 includes a transmission pin accommodating portion 41a and a transmitting end 41b. The transmission pin accommodating portion 41a is a portion that extends towards the front of the vehicle from the connecting lever shaft 43, and includes a pin accommodating hole 41c. The pin accommodating hole 41c is a slit opening formed along the extending direction of the transmission pin accommodating portion 41a. As apparent from Fig. 1, the pin accommodating hole 41c formed in the transmission pin accommodating portion 41a is formed so that, with respect to a swinging range of the inside-handle lock linkage portion 12b of the inside handle lever 12, when the inside-handle lock linkage portion 12b swings about the inside lever shaft 13, the end positioned at the front side of the vehicle is included in the swinging range, while the end positioned at the rear side of the vehicle deviates from the swinging range. The transmitting end 41b is a portion that extends while inclining slightly downwards towards the rear of the vehicle from the connecting lever shaft 43, and includes an open driving portion 41d and a link driving portion 41e. The open driving portion 41d is a portion positioned at the front side of the vehicle in the transmitting end 41b, and disposed at a lower region of the pressure receiving portion llb in the open lever 11. The link driving portion 4le is a portion bent at a substantially right angle towards the inside of the vehicle from the extended end of the rear side of the vehicle in the transmitting end 41b. The link driving portion 41e is disposed at a lower region of the lock lever portion 33f in the first link lever 33.

The link driving portion 41e includes a sliding contact surface 41f and a pressing surface 41g. The sliding contact surface 41f is a portion positioned at the front side of the vehicle in the link driving portion 41e, and formed so as to extend in a vertical direction, when the transmitting end 4lb is disposed so as to extend in a horizontal direction. The pressing surface 4lg is a portion positioned above the link driving portion 41e, and formed so as to extend horizontally, when the transmitting end 41b is disposed so as to extend in a horizontal direction.

The door lock apparatus, as shown in Fig. 1, includes a child lock mechanism 40 in the main body case 10. The child lock mechanism 40 is formed so as to switch between a transmitting state and a non-transmitting state. The transmitting state connects the inside door handle IDH and the connecting lever 41. The non-transmitting state does not connect the inside door handle IDH and the connecting lever 41. The child lock mechanism 40 includes a child lever 42.

The child lever 42 is slidably arranged between the connecting lever 41 and the main body case 10 in an overlapping mode with the connecting lever 41, along the front-rear direction of the vehicle main body B. The child lever 42 includes a slide groove 42a, a transmission pin supporting groove 42b, a notch engaging portion 42c, a manual operating portion 42d, and a lock operating portion 42e.

The slide groove 42a is a slit opening through which the connecting lever shaft 43 of the connecting lever 41 is inserted, and extended along the front-rear direction of the vehicle main body B. The length of the slide groove 42a determines the sliding amount of the child lever 42, and the length is set so as to realize an operation, which will be described later.

The transmission pin supporting groove 42b is a slit opening and slidably supports a transmission pin 44. The transmission pin 44 is a columnar member projected towards the outside of the vehicle from the child lever 42. The transmission pin 44, as shown in Fig. 6, after piercing through the pin accommodating hole 4lc of the connecting lever 41, reaches a position that the protruding end exceeds the facet outside of the vehicle of the inside handle lever 12. The transmission pin 44, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, by sliding the child lever 42, can move between the end positioned at the front side of the vehicle to the end positioned at the rear side of the vehicle of the pin accommodating hole 4lc formed at the connecting lever 41.

The notch engaging portion 42c is a concave groove engaged to a notch 14 provided at the inner surface of the main body case 10, and there are three notch engaging portions 42c at the upper rim of the child lever 42. The notch engaging portion 42c positioned at the rear of the vehicle, as shown in Figs. 1 and 7, defines the front end position of the child lever 42 with respect to the main body case 10, when the notch 14 is being engaged.

Similarly, the notch engaging portion 42c positioned at the front of the vehicle, as shown in Figs. 3 and 7, defines the rear end position of the child lever 42 with respect to the main body case 10, when the notch 14 is being engaged.

The notch engaging portion 42c positioned in the middle, as shown in Figs. 2 and 7, defines the middle position of the child lever 42 with respect to the main body case 10, when the notch 14 is being engaged. When the child lever 42 is disposed at the front end position, as shown in Fig. 1, the transmission pin 44 is disposed in the swinging range of the inside-handle lock linkage portion 12b in the inside handle lever 12. When the child lever 42 is disposed at the middle portion or at the rear end position, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the transmission pin 44 is disposed outside of the swinging range of the inside-handle lock linkage portion 12b in either event.

The manual operating portion 42d, as shown in Fig. 6, is a portion bent and extended towards the inside of the vehicle from the end positioned at the rear side of the vehicle in the child lever 42. The manual operating portion 42d is protruded outside through an operating hole lOa provided at the main body case 10 and an operating opening DPO provided at a panel DP of the door D. The manual operating portion 42d can slidably operate the child lever 42 from the outside of the door D. However, in the present first embodiment, as shown in Fig. 4, the manual operating portion 42d is provided at the inner surface of the door D and at a sealed position when the door D is disposed at the closed position. As shown in Fig. 7, at the operating opening DPO of the panel DP from which the manual operating portion 42d is exposed outside, a display that corresponds to each operating position is provided.

The lock operating portion 42e, as shown in Fig. 6, is a portion that bends and extends towards the outside of the vehicle from the end positioned at the rear side of the vehicle in the child lever 42, and opposed to the operating and abutting surface 33g of the lock lever portion 33f in the lock mechanism 30. When the child lever 42 is disposed at the front end position and the middle position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the lock operating portion 42e is disposed at a position separated from the operating and abutting surface 33g of the lock lever portion 33f that extends vertically downwards from the mounting hole 33b.

When the child lever 42 is disposed at the rear end position, as shown in Fig. 3, the lock operating portion 42e is disposed at a position where the first link lever 33 can be rotated via the operating and abutting surface 33g in an anti-clockwise direction, and the lock mechanism 30 can be switched to the locked state.

In the locked state shown in Fig. 8, the transmission pin 44 of the child lever 42 is disposed in the swinging range of the inside-handle lock linkage portion 12b in the inside handle lever 12. When the inside door handle IDH is open-operated from this state, the inside-handle lock linkage portion 12b moves the transmission pin 44 downwards.

When the inside door handle IDH is open-operated once, the transmission pin 44 moves sequentially from the state shown in Fig. 8 to the states shown in Figs. 9 to 11. The operation will now be described in detail.

When the transmission pin 44 moves downward along the transmission pin supporting groove 42b, as shown in Fig. 9, the connecting lever 41, through which the transmission pin 44 is pierced, swings in an anti-clockwise direction in Fig. 8, thereby moving the open driving portion 41d of the transmitting end 41b upwards. Accordingly, the upward force is supplied to the pressure receiving portion lib of the open lever 11, thereby moving the first link lever 33 and the second link lever 39 upwards. At this time, in the link driving portion 41e of the transmitting end 41b, the sliding contact surface 41f is slidably connected to the pressure-receiving surface 33h of the lock lever portion 33f in the first link lever 33.

From the state shown in Fig. 9, when the transmission pin 44 further moves downward along the transmission pin supporting groove 42b, as shown in Fig. 10, the connecting lever 41, through which the transmission pin 44 is pierced, swings in an anti-clockwise direction in Fig. 9.

Accordingly, the open driving portion 41d of the transmitting end 41b moves further upwards. Subsequently, the upward force is supplied to the pressure receiving portion lib of the open lever 11, thereby moving the first link lever 33 and the second link lever 39 further upwards.

As apparent from Fig. 10, in this state, the facet at the rear side of the vehicle of the block body abutting portion 39c in the second link lever 39 abuts to the block surface 15a of the block body 15. At this time, in the link driving portion 41e of the transmitting end 41b, the pressing surface 41g abuts to the pressure-receiving surface 33h of the lock lever portion 33f in the first link lever 33. At this time, the lever main body 39a of the second link lever 39 also comes close to the front side of the vehicle of the abutting portion 26a of the ratchet lever 26 but does not abut thereagainst.

From the state shown in Fig. 10, when the transmission pin 44 further moves downward along the transmission pin supporting groove 42b, as shown in Fig. 11, the connecting lever 41, through which the transmission pin 44 is pierced, swings in an anti-clockwise direction in Fig. 10.

At this time, the pressing surface 41g of the link driving portion 41e in the connecting lever 41 presses the pressure-receiving surface 33h of the lock lever portion 33f in the first link lever 33 towards the front side of the vehicle. Subsequently, the pressing force is supplied to the lock lever portion 33f of the first link lever 33.

At this time, as shown in Fig. 11, the facet at the rear side of the vehicle of the block body abutting portion 39c in the second link lever 39 is abutted to the block surface 15a of the block body 15. Accordingly, the first link lever 33 cancels the abutting state with the lever main body 39a of the second link lever 39, thereby swinging in a clockwise direction in Fig. 10. With the swinging of the first link lever 33, the connecting groove 33e also swings in a clockwise direction in Fig. 10, thereby swinging the sector lever 32 in an anti-clockwise direction in Fig. 10.

When the open-operating force of the inside door handle IDH is removed from the state shown in Fig. 11, the open lever 11 moves the operating end ha and the pressure receiving portion lib downwards, by the elastic restoring force of an open lever spring (not shown) . Accordingly, the first link lever 33 and the second link lever 39 also move downwards. When the operating end ha and the pressure receiving portion hib move downwards, as shown in Fig. 1, the transmitting end 41b of the connecting lever 41 also moves downwards, via the pressure receiving portion lib of the open lever 11. Subsequently, the transmission pin 44 of the child lever 42 is disposed in the swinging range of the inside-handle lock linkage portion 12b in the inside handle lever 12 again. When the first link lever 33 and the second link lever 39 move downwards, as shown in Fig. 1, the abutting state between the facet at the rear side of the vehicle of the block body abutting portion 39c in the second link lever 39 and the block surface 15a of the block body 15 is cancelled in time. The second link lever 39 then moves the lever main body 39a so as to abut with the second link lever abutting portion 33d of the first link lever 33 again, by the elastic restoring force of the panic spring 51. At this time, the second link lever 39 does not abut with the abutting portion 26a in the ratchet lever 26. With the movement of the second link lever 39, as shown in Fig. 1, the lever main body 39a of the second link lever 39 is disposed vertically above the mounting hole 33b of the first link lever 33. Accordingly, the lever main body 39a is closely opposed to the lower facet of the abutting portion 26a in the ratchet lever 26, thereby turning the lock mechanism 30 in the unlocked state.

As described above, in the locked state shown in Fig. 8, the input into the pressure receiving portion lib of the open lever 11 becomes inactivated, and the lever main body 39a of the second link lever 39 deviates from the position opposed to the lower facet of the abutting portion 26a in the ratchet lever 26. In other words, in this state, the operating force of the open-operation of the inside door handle IDH is transmitted in an order of the inside handle lever 12, the transmission pin 44, and the connecting lever 41, and supplied to the pressure receiving portion lib of the open lever 11. However, the input operating force will not be transmitted to the latch mechanism 20. In the locked state shown in Fig. 8, the input into the lock lever portion 33f of the first link lever 33 becomes activated, and the operating and abutting surface 33g of the lock lever portion 33f in the first link lever 33 extends while inclining slightly forward. In other words, in this state, the operating force of the open-operation of the inside door handle IDH is transmitted in the order of the inside handle lever 12, the transmission pin 44, and the connecting lever 41. When the operating force is supplied to the lock lever portion 33f of the first link lever 33, the lock mechanism 30 is switched to the unlocked state.

In the state shown in Fig. 1, when the inside door handle IDH is open-operated, the inside-handle lock linkage portion 12b moves the transmission pin 44 downwards. When the transmission pin 44 moves downward along the transmission pin supporting groove 42b, the connecting lever 41, through which the transmission pin 44 is penetrated, swings in an anti-clockwise direction in Fig. 1.

Accordingly, the open driving portion 41d of the transmitting end 41b moves upwards. Subsequently, the upward force is supplied to the pressure receiving portion lib of the open lever 11, thereby moving the first link lever 33 and the second link lever 39 upwards. At this time, the link driving portion 41e of the transmitting end 41b does not function to supply the operating force to the lock lever portion 33f in the first link lever 33.

Therefore, the second link lever 39 abuts to the abutting portion 26a of the ratchet lever 26 in the latch mechanism 20, thereby cancelling the latched state. In other words, the door D can be opened and moved by the open-operation of the inside door handle IDH (so-called double action mechanism) . As described above, in the unlocked state shown in Fig. 1, the input into the pressure receiving portion llb of the open lever 11 is activated, and the lever main body 39a of the second link lever 39 is closely opposed to the lower facet of the abutting portion 26a in the ratchet lever 26. In other words, in this state, the operating force of the open-operation of the inside door handle IDH is transmitted in the order of the inside handle lever 12, the transmission pin 44, and the connecting lever 41. If the operating force is supplied to the pressure receiving portion lib of the open lever 11, the input operating force is transmitted to the latch mechanism 20 via the first link lever 33 and the second link lever 39.

In the unlocked state shown in Fig. 1, the input into the lock lever portion 33f of the first link lever 33 is inactivated, and the operating and abutting surface 33g of the lock lever portion 33f in the first link lever 33 extends in a substantially vertical direction. In other words, in this state, the operating force of the open-operation of the inside door handle IDH is transmitted in the order of the inside handle lever 12, the transmission pin 44, and the connecting lever 41. However, the operating force will not be supplied to the lock lever portion 33f of the first link lever 33.

As shown in Fig. 11, the state that the facet at the rear side of the vehicle of the block body abutting portion 39c in the second link lever 39 is abutted to the block surface 15a of the block body 15 may also occur, for example, in the locked state shown in Fig. 8. This may occur when the outside door handle is open-operated, and when the lock mechanism 30 is switched to the unlocked state by driving the electric motor 35. In the locked state shown in Fig. 8, when the outside door handle ODH is open-operated, the first link lever 33 and the second link lever 39 move upwards by the rotating operation of the open lever 11, without the lever main body 39a of the second link lever 39 abutting with the abutting portion 26a of the ratchet lever 26 in the latch mechanism 20. In this state, when the electric motor 35 is driven and the worm wheel 31 is rotated in a clockwise direction, the sector lever 32 swings about the sector lever shaft 38 in an anti-clockwise direction. At this time, the first link lever 33 engaged via the connecting pin 32a of the sector lever 32 swings about the mounting hole 33b in a clockwise direction.

Further at this time, the facet at the rear side of the vehicle of the block body abutting portion 39c is abutted to the block surface 15a of the block body 15. Accordingly, the second link lever 39 cancels the abutting state with the second link lever abutting portion 33d of the first link lever 33 against the elastic restoring force of the panic spring 51, and becomes the state shown in Fig. 11.

In this state, when the open-operating force of the outside door handle ODH is removed, the open lever 11 moves the operating end ha and the pressure receiving portion hib downwards, by the elastic restoring force of the open lever spring (not shown). Accordingly, the first link lever 33 and the second link lever 39 also move downwards.

When the fist link lever 33 and the second link lever 39 move downwards, as shown in Fig. 1, the abutting state between the facet at the rear side of the vehicle of the block body abutting portion 39c in the second link lever 39 and the block surface 15a of the block body 15 is cancelled in time. Subsequently, the second link lever 39 moves the lever main body 39a again so as to abut with the second link lever abutting portion 33d of the first link lever 33, by the elastic restoring force of the panic spring 51. At this time, the second link lever 39 does not abut with the abutting portion 26a in the ratchet lever 26. With the movement of the second link lever 39, as shown in Fig. 1, the lever main body 39a of the second link lever 39 is disposed vertically above the mounting hole 33b of the first link lever 33. Accordingly, the lever main body 39a is closely opposed to the lower facet of the abutting portion 26a in the ratchet lever 26, thereby turning the lock mechanism 30 into the unlocked state.

If the outside door handle ODH is open-operated again from the state shown in Fig. 1, and the link main body 33a of the first link lever 33 moves upward by the rotating operation of the open lever 11, the lever main body 39a of the second link lever 39 abuts to the abutting portion 26a of the ratchet lever 26 in the latch mechanism 20, thereby moving the latch mechanism 20 upwards. As a result, even if the latch mechanism 20 is in the latched state, the latched state will be cancelled, thereby allowing the door D to open and move with respect to the vehicle main body B. In the child lock mechanism 40 formed as the above, the state shown in Fig. 1 is the transmitting state, and the transmission pin 44 of the child lever 42 is disposed in the swinging range of the inside-handle lock linkage portion 12b in the inside handle lever 12. When the inside door handle IDH is open-operated from this state, the inside-handle lock linkage portion l2b moves the transmission pin 44 downwards, to connect the inside door handle IDH and the connecting lever 41. When the transmission pin 44 moves downward along the transmission pin supporting groove 42b, the connecting lever 41, through which the transmission pin 44 is pierced, swings in an anti-clockwise direction in Fig. 1. Accordingly, the open driving portion 41d of the transmitting end 41b moves upward. Subsequently, the upward force is supplied to the pressure receiving portion lib of the open lever 11, thereby moving the first link lever 33 and the second link lever 39 upwards. Therefore, if the lock mechanism 30 is in the unlocked state, the second link lever 39 is abutted to the abutting portion 26a of the ratchet lever 26 in the latch mechanism 20, thereby cancelling the latched state.

In other words, the door D can be opened and moved by the open-operation of the inside door handle IDH.

When the child lever 42 is slid to the rear side of the vehicle, and switched to the state shown in Fig. 2, or in the state shown in Fig. 3, the child lock mechanism 40 is turned in the non-transmitting state. At the non-transmitting state, the transmission pin 44 of the child lever 42 is disposed outside the swinging range of the inside-handle lock linkage portion 12b in the inside handle lever 12, so as the inside door handle IDH and the connecting lever 41 will not be connected. Accordingly, even if the inside door handle IDH is open-operated, the inside-handle lock linkage portion 12b and the transmission pin 44 do not abut with each other, thereby preventing the connecting lever 41 from swinging. As a result, irrespective of the locked/unlocked state of the lock mechanism 30, the door D cannot be opened or moved by the open-operation of the inside door handle IDH.

In the door lock apparatus that includes the lock mechanism 30 and the child lock mechanism 40 as the above, the lock mechanism 30 can easily be switched between the locked state and the unlocked state, if the electric motor is driven at a normal usage.

When a failure occurs to the electric motor 35 or when the electric motor 35 does not drive due to the charged voltage of the battery, which is not shown, is low and the like, the child lever 42 can be disposed at the "emergency ON" position shown in Fig. 7. This is enabled by slidably moving the child lever 42 to the rear side of the vehicle, via the manual operating portion 42d, while the door D is being opened. In other words, when the child lever 42 is disposed at the "emergency ON" position, the first link lever 33 swings via the lock operating portion 42e of the child lever 42, and the lock mechanism 30 is switched to the locked state shown in Fig. 3. Therefore, even if the above-mentioned state occurs when the lock operating member inside the vehicle is omitted, the anti-theft function of the vehicle can be obtained.

The child lever 42 is provided at the sealed position when the door D is closed. Therefore, even if a malicious person breaks a window of a vehicle, it is difficult to operate the child lever 42. When the child lever 42 is disposed at the "child lock ON" or the "emergency ON" positions, the child lock mechanism 40 is turned in the non-transmitting state. Accordingly, even if the inside door handle IDH is open-operated after the window of the vehicle is broken, the connecting lever 41 does not swing by the operating force of the open-operation. Subsequently, the lock mechanism in the locked state does not switch to the unlocked state. In this manner, the anti-theft function of the vehicle can be improved significantly.

When the inside door handle IDH is open-operated while the lock mechanism 30 is in the unlocked state, the connecting lever 41 functions to supply the operating force to the pressure receiving portion llb of the open lever 11. When the inside door handle IDH is open-operated while the lock mechanism 30 is in the locked state, the connecting lever 41 activates the cancelling operation of the latch mechanism 20 via the pressure receiving portion llb of the open lever 11, by functioning to supply the operating force to the lock lever portion 33f of the first link lever 33.

Therefore, the connecting lever 41 is the only member required to supply the operating force of the open-operation of the inside door handle IDH to the lock lever portion 33f of the first link lever and the pressure receiving portion lib of the open lever 11. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the number of components compared with when a plurality of members is used.

When the electric motor 35 can be driven again by changing the battery, the child lever 42 can be returned to the middle position via the operating and abutting surface 33g of the lock lever portion 33f, by switching the lock mechanism 30 to the unlocked state.

In the above-mentioned first embodiment, a notch and a notch engaging portion are provided between the child lever and the main body case. Accordingly, the child lever can be operated with a moderate feeling, thereby preventing an operational error. However, the present invention does not necessarily need to include the notch and the notch engaging portion between the child lever and the main body case. Even if the notch and the notch engaging portion are provided, they are not necessarily need to be provided individually.

Second Embodiment Figs. 12 to 14 are conceptual diagrams of a door lock apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The door lock apparatus according to the second embodiment differs from the first embodiment only in the configuration of an inside handle lever 112 and a child lever 142, and the other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment. The details of the difference will now be described. In the second embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the detailed

description thereof will be omitted.

The inside handle lever 112 is swingably disposed at a region at the front of the vehicle than the open lever 11, about the inside lever shaft 13 that extends horizontally along the left-right direction of the vehicle main body B. The inside handle lever 112 includes an acting end 112a and an inside handle lock connecting portion 112b. The acting end 112a is a portion that extends downwards from the inside lever shaft 13, and the tip end is appropriately connected to the inside door handle IDH, via the link. The acting end 112a, when the inside door handle IDH is open-operated, swings the inside handle lever 112 in a clockwise direction in Fig. 12. The inside handle lock connecting portion 112b is a wide portion that extends towards the rear of the vehicle from the inside lever shaft 13. The inside handle lock connecting portion 112b includes a connecting groove 112c. The connecting groove 112c is a slit opening integrally formed with a narrow width groove ll2ca positioned at the rear side of the vehicle, and a wide width groove ll2cb positioned at the front side of the vehicle. As apparent from Fig. 12, the lower rim of the narrow width groove ll2ca and the lower rim of the wide width groove ll2cb are on a straight line, respectively, and formed in a mode that extends outward in a radial direction from the inside lever shaft 13. As apparent from Fig. 12, the narrow width groove ll2ca and the wide width groove ll2cb of the connecting groove 112c formed in the inside handle lock connecting portion ll2b are formed so as to overlap with the pin accommodating hole 41c, when the pin accommodating hole 4lc formed at the transmission pin accommodating portion 4la of the connecting lever 41 is extended towards the front of the vehicle in the horizontal direction.

The child lever 142 is slidably arranged along the front-rear direction of the vehicle main body B, between the connecting lever 41 and the main body case 10, in an overlapping mode with the connecting lever 41. The child lever 142 includes a slide groove 142a, a transmission pin supporting groove 142b, and a manual operating portion 142d.

The slide groove 142a is a slit opening through which the connecting lever shaft 43 of the connecting lever 41 is inserted, and extends along the front-rear direction of the vehicle main body B. The length of the slide groove 142a determines the sliding amount of the child lever 142, and the length is set so as to realize an operation, which will be described later.

The transmission pin supporting groove 142b is a slit opening and slidably supports the transmission pin 44. The transmission pin 44 is a columnar member projected towards the outside of the vehicle from the child lever 142. The transmission pin 44, as shown in Fig. 15, after penetrating through the pin accommodating hole 41c of the connecting lever 41, the protruding end pierces through the inside of the connecting groove 112c of the inside handle lever 112.

By sliding the child lever 142, as shown in Figs. 12 and 14, the transmission pin 44 can be moved between the end positioned at the front side of the vehicle and the end positioned at the rear side of the vehicle of the pin accommodating hole 41c formed in the connecting lever 41.

When the child lever 142 is disposed at the rear end position, as shown in Fig. 12, the transmission pin 44 is positioned at the narrow width groove ll2ca of the connecting groove 112c formed in the inside handle lever 112. When the child lever 142 is disposed at the front end position, as shown in Figs. 13 and 14, the transmission pin 44 is disposed at the wide width groove ll2cb of the connecting groove 112c, respectively.

The manual operating portion 142d, as shown in Fig. 15, is a portion that bends and extends towards the inside of the vehicle from the end positioned at the rear side of the vehicle in the child lever 142. The manual operating portion 142d is protruded outside through the operating hole lOa provided at the main body case 10 and the operating opening DPO provided at the panel DP of the door D. The manual operating portion l42d can slidably operate the child lever 142 from the outside of the door D. In the second embodiment, as well as in the first embodiment, the manual operating portion 142d is provided at the inner surface of the door D, and at the sealed position when the door D is at the closed position.

As apparent from Fig. 12, when the child lever 142 is disposed at the rear end position, the manual operating portion 142d closes the operating hole lOa of the main body case 10 and the operating opening DPO of the panel DP. On the other hand, as shown in Figs. 13 and 14, if the child lever 142 is disposed at the front end position, the manual operating portion l42d opens the operating hole lOa of the main body case 10 and the operating opening DPO of the panel DP. As apparent from Fig. 13, the lock lever portion 33f of the first link lever 33 is exposed to outside, from the operating hole lOa of the main body case 10 and the operating opening DPO of the panel DP. Accordingly, it is possible to press and operate the operating and abutting surface 33g by inserting a tool from the operating hole lOa and the operating opening DPO.

In the second embodiment, with the lock mechanism 30 formed similarly to the first embodiment, the state shown in Fig. 12 is also the unlocked state, and the lever main body 39a of the second link lever 39 is disposed vertically above the mounting hole 33b. Accordingly, the lever main body 39a is closely opposed to the lower facet of the abutting portion 26a in the ratchet lever 26. Therefore, if the outside door handle ODH is open-operated from this state, and the link main body 33a of the first link lever 33 moves upward by the rotating operation of the open lever 11, the lever main body 39a of the second link lever 39 is abutted to the abutting portion 26a of the ratchet lever 26 in the latch mechanism 20, thereby moving the latch mechanism 20 upwards. As a result, even if the latch mechanism 20 is in the latched state, the latched state will be cancelled, thereby allowing the door D to open and move with respect to the vehicle main body B. From the unlocked state shown in Fig. 12, when the electric motor 35 is driven and the worm wheel 31 is rotated in an anti-clockwise direction, the sector lever 32 swings about the sector lever shaft 38 in a clockwise direction. As a result, the first link lever 33 engaged via the connecting pin 32a and the second link lever 39 abutted to the second link lever abutting portion 33d swing about the mounting hole 33b in an anti-clockwise direction.

Therefore, the lock mechanism 30 is turned in the locked state shown in Fig. 16.

In the locked state, the lever main body 39a of the second link lever 39 deviates from the position opposed to the lower facet of the abutting portion 26a in the ratchet lever 26. Accordingly, even if the outside door handle ODH is open-operated, and the link main body 33a of the first link lever 33 moves upward by the rotating operation of the open lever 11, the lever main body 39a of the second link lever 39 does not abut with the abutting portion 26a of the ratchet lever 26 in the latch mechanism 20. As a result, when the latch mechanism 20 is in the latched state, the latched state will be maintained, thereby maintaining the door D in the closed position with respect to the vehicle main body B. From the locked state shown in Fig. 16, when the electric motor 35 is driven and the worm wheel 31 is rotated in a clockwise direction, the sector lever 32 swings about the sector lever shaft 38 in an anti-clockwise direction. As a result, the second link lever 39 biased by the first link lever 33 and the panic spring 51 engaged via the connecting pin 32a swings about the mounting hole 33b in a clockwise direction. Therefore, the lock mechanism 30 returns again to the unlocked state shown in Fig. 12.

In the locked state shown in Fig. 16, the child lever 142 is disposed at the rear end position, and the transmission pin 44 of the child lever 142 is disposed in the narrow width groove ll2ca of the connecting groove ll2c formed in the inside handle lock connecting portion 112b in the inside handle lever 112. When the inside door handle IDH is open-operated from this state, the inner wall surface of the narrow width groove ll2ca moves the transmission pin 44 downwards in the inside handle lock connecting portion 112b. When the inside door handle IDH is open-operated once, the transmission pin 44 moves sequentially from the state shown in Fig. 16 to the states shown in Figs. 17 to 19. The operation will now be described in detail.

When the transmission pin 44 moves downward along the transmission pin supporting groove 142b, as shown in Fig. 17, the connecting lever 41, through which the transmission pin 44 is pierced, swings in an anti-clockwise direction in Fig. 16. Accordingly, the open driving portion 41d of the transmitting end 41b moves upwards. Subsequently, the upward force is supplied to the pressure receiving portion lib of the open lever 11, thereby moving the first link lever 33 and the second link lever 39 upwards. At this time, in the link driving portion 41e of the transmitting end 41b, the sliding contact surface 41f slidingly contacts with the pressure-receiving surface 33h of the lock lever portion 33f in the first link lever 33.

From the state shown in Fig. 17, when the transmission pin 44 further moves downward along the transmission pin supporting groove 142b, as shown in Fig. 18, the connecting lever 41, through which the transmission pin 44 is pierced, swings in an anti-clockwise direction in Fig. 17.

Accordingly, the open driving portion 41d of the transmitting end 41b moves further upwards. Subsequently, the upward force is supplied to the pressure receiving portion llb of the open lever 11, thereby moving the first link lever 33 and the second link lever 39 further upwards.

As apparent from Fig. 18, in this state, the facet at the rear side of the vehicle of the block body abutting portion 39c in the second link lever 39 is abutted to the block surface 15a of the block body 15. At this time, in the link driving portion 41e of the transmitting end 4lb, the pressing surface 41g abuts to the pressure-receiving surface 33h of the lock lever portion 33f in the first link lever 33. The lever main body 39a of the second link lever 39 also comes close to the front side of the vehicle of the abutting portion 26a of the ratchet lever 26 at this time, but does not abut thereagainst.

From the state shown in Fig. 18, when the transmission pin 44 moves further downwards along the transmission pin supporting groove 142b, as shown in Fig. 19, the connecting lever 41, through which the transmission pin 44 is pierced, swings in an anti-clockwise direction in Fig. 18.

At this time, the pressing surface 41g of the link driving portion 41e in the connecting lever 41 presses the pressure-receiving surface 33h of the lock lever portion 33f in the first link lever 33 towards the front side of the vehicle. Accordingly, the pressing force is supplied to the lock lever portion 33f in the first link lever 33.

Also at this time, as shown in Fig. 19, the facet at the rear side of the vehicle of the block body abutting portion 39c in the second link lever 39 is abutted to the block surface 15a of the block body 15. subsequently, the first link lever 33 cancels the abutting state with the lever main body 39a of the second link lever 39, thereby swinging in a clockwise direction in Fig. 18. With the swinging of the first link lever 33, the connecting groove 33e also swings in a clockwise direction in Fig. 18. Accordingly, the sector lever 32 also swings in an anti-clockwise direction in Fig. 18.

When the open-operating force of the inside door handle IDH is removed from the state shown in Fig. 19, the open lever 11 moves the operating end ha and the pressure receiving portion lib downwards, by the elastic restoring force of the open lever spring (not shown) . Accordingly, the first link lever 33 and the second link lever 39 also move downwards. When the operating end ha and the pressure receiving portion hib move downwards, as shown in Fig. 12, the transmitting end 41b of the connecting lever 41 also moves downwards via the pressure receiving portion lib of the open lever 11. Accordingly, the transmission pin 44 of the child lever 142 is disposed in the narrow width groove ll2ca of the connecting groove ll2c formed in the inside-handle lock linkage portion 12b in the inside handle lever 12 again. When the first link lever 33 and the second link lever 39 move downwards, as shown in Fig. 12, the abutting state between the facet at the rear side of the vehicle of the block body abutting portion 39c in the second link lever 39 and the block surface 15a of the block body 15 is cancelled in time. Subsequently, the second link lever 39 moves the lever main body 39a again so as to abut with the second link lever abutting portion 33d of the first link lever 33, by the elastic restoring force of the panic spring 51. At this time, the second link lever 39 does not abut with the abutting portion 26a in the ratchet lever 26. With the movement of the second link lever 39, as shown in Fig. 12, the lever main body 39a of the second link lever 39 is disposed vertically above the mounting hole 33b of the first link lever 33. Because the lever main body 39a is closely opposed to the lower facet of the abutting portion 26a in the ratchet lever 26, the lock mechanism 30 is turned into the unlocked state. As described above, in the locked state shown in Fig. 16, the input into the pressure receiving portion lib of the open lever 11 becomes inactivated, and the lever main body 39a of the second link lever 39 is in the state deviated from the position opposed to the lower facet of the abutting portion 26a in the ratchet lever 26. In other words, in this state, the operating force of the open-operation of the inside door handle IDH is transmitted in an order of the inside handle lever 112, the transmission pin 44, and the connecting lever 41. However, the input operating force will not be transmitted to the latch mechanism 20.

On the other hand, in the locked state shown in Fig. 16, the input into the lock lever portion 33f becomes activated, and the operating and abutting surface 33g of the lock lever portion 33f in the first link lever 33 extends while inclining slightly forward. In other words, in this state, the operating force of the open-operation of the inside door handle IDH is transmitted in the order of the inside handle lever 112, the transmission pin 44, and the connecting lever 41. When the operating force is supplied to the lock lever portion 33f of the first link lever 33, the lock mechanism 30 is switched to the unlocked state.

In the state shown in Fig. 12, when the inside door handle IDH is open-operated, the inner wall surface of the narrow width groove ll2ca moves the transmission pin 44 downwards in the inside-handle lock linkage portion 12b.

When the transmission pin 44 moves downward along the transmission pin supporting groove 142b, the connecting lever 41, through which the transmission pin 44 is penetrated, swings in an anti-clockwise direction in Fig. 12. Accordingly, the open driving portion 41.d of the transmitting end 41b moves upwards. Subsequently, the upward force is supplied to the pressure receiving portion lib of the open lever 11, thereby moving the first link lever 33 and the second link lever 39 upwards. At this time, the link driving portion 41e of the transmitting end 41b does not function to supply the operating force to the lock lever portion 33f in the first link lever 33.

Therefore, the second link lever 39 is abutted to the abutting portion 26a of the ratchet lever 26 in the latch mechanism 20, thereby cancelling the latched state. In other words, the door D can be opened and moved by the open-operation of the inside door handle IDH (so-called double action mechanism). As described above, in the unlocked state shown in Fig. 12, the input into the pressure receiving portion lib of the open lever 11 is activated, and the lever main body 39a of the second link lever 39 is in the state closely opposed to the lower facet of the abutting portion 26a in the ratchet lever 26. In other words, in this state, the operating force of the open-operation of the inside door handle IDR is transmitted in the order of the inside handle lever 112, the transmission pin 44, arid the connecting lever 41. When the operating force is supplied to the pressure receiving portion lib of the open lever 11, the input operating force is transmitted to the latch mechanism 20, via the first link lever 33 and the second link lever 39. On the other hand, in the unlocked state shown in Fig. 12, the input into the lock lever portion 33f is inactivated, and the operating and abutting surface 33g of the lock lever portion 33f in the first link lever 33 extends in a vertical direction. In other words, in this state, the operating force of the open-operation of the inside door handle IDH is transmitted in the order of the inside handle lever 112, the transmission pin 44, and the connecting lever 41. However, the operating force will not be supplied to the lock lever portion 33f of the first link lever 33.

As shown in Fig. 19, the state that the facet at the rear side of the vehicle of the block body abutting portion 39c in the second link lever 39 is abutted to the block surface 15a of the block body 15 may also occur, for example, in the locked state shown in Fig. 16, when the outside door handle ODH is open-operated and when the lock mechanism 30 is switched to the unlocked state by driving the electric motor 35. When the outside door handle ODH is open-operated in the locked state shown in Fig. 16, the first link lever 33 and the second link lever 39 move upwards by the rotating operation of the open lever 11, without the lever main body 39a of the second link lever 39 abutting to the abutting portion 26a of the ratchet lever 26 in the latch mechanism 20. In this state, when the electric motor 35 is driven and the worm wheel 31 is rotated in a clockwise direction, the sector lever 32 swings about the sector lever shaft 38 in an anti-clockwise direction. At this time, the first link lever 33 engaged via the connecting pin 32a of the sector lever 32 swings about the mounting hole 33b in a clockwise direction. Also at this time, the facet at the rear side of the vehicle of the block body abutting portion 39c is abutted to the block surface 15a of the block body 15. Accordingly, the second link lever 39 cancels the abutting state with the second link lever abutting portion 33d of the first link lever 33 against the elastic restoring force of the panic spring 51, and becomes the state shown in Fig. 19.

In this state, when the open-operating force of the outside door handle ODH is removed, the open lever 11 moves the operating end ha and the pressure receiving portion hib downwards, by the elastic restoring force of the open lever spring (not shown) . Accordingly, the first link lever 33 and the second link lever 39 also move downwards.

When the first link lever 33 and the second link lever 39 move downwards, as shown in Fig. 12, the abutting state between the facet at the rear side of the vehicle of the block body abutting portion 39c in the second link lever 39 and the block surface l5a of the block body 15 is cancelled in time. Subsequently, the second link lever 39 moves the lever main body 39a again so as to abut with the second link lever abutting portion 33d of the first link lever 33, by the elastic restoring force of the panic spring 51. At this time, the second link lever 39 does not abut with the abutting portion 26a in the ratchet lever 26. With the movement of the second link lever 39, as shown in Fig. 12, the lever main body 39a of the second link lever 39 is disposed vertically above the mounting hole 33b of the first link lever 33. subsequently, the lever main body 39a is closely opposed to the lower facet of the abutting portion 26a in the ratchet lever 26, thereby turning the lock mechanism 30 into the unlocked state.

When the outside door handle ODH is open-operated again from the state shown in Fig. 12, and moving the link main body 33a of the first link lever 33 upwards by the rotating operation of the open lever 11, the lever main body 39a of the second link lever 39 abuts to the abutting portion 26a of the ratchet lever 26 in the latch mechanism 20, thereby moving the latch mechanism 20 upwards. As a result, even if the latch mechanism 20 is in the latched state, the latched state will be cancelled, thereby allowing the door D to open and move with respect to the vehicle main body B. In a child lock mechanism 140 formed as the above, the state shown in Fig. 12, in other words, when the child lever 142 is disposed at the rear end position, is the transmitting state. In this state, the transmission pin 44 of the child lever 142 is disposed in the narrow width groove ll2ca of the connecting groove 112c formed in the inside handle lock connecting portion 112b in the inside handle lever 112. When the inside door handle IDH is open-operated from this state, the inner wall surface of the narrow width groove ll2ca moves the transmission pin 44 downwards in the inside handle lock connecting portion 112b, so as to connect the inside door handle IDH and the connecting lever 41. When the transmission pin 44 moves downward along the transmission pin supporting groove 142b, the connecting lever 41, through which the transmission pin 44 is pierced, swings in an anti-clockwise direction in Fig. 12. Accordingly, the open driving portion 41d of the transmitting end 41b moves upwards. Subsequently, the upward force is supplied to the pressure receiving portion lib of the open lever 11, thereby moving the first link lever 33 and the second link lever 39 upwards. Therefore, if the lock mechanism 30 is in the unlocked state, the second link lever 39 abuts to the abutting portion 26a of the ratchet lever 26 in the latch mechanism 20, thereby cancelling the latched state. In other words, the door D can be opened and moved by the open-operation of the inside door handle IDH.

When the child lever 142 is slid to the front side of the vehicle, and switched to the state shown in Fig. 13, or to the state shown in Fig. 14, the child lock mechanism 140 is turned into the non-transmitting state. In the non-transmitting state, the transmission pin 44 of the child lever 142 is disposed in the wide width groove ll2cb of the connecting groove 112c formed in the inside handle lock connecting portion 112b in the inside handle lever 112.

This is to prevent the inside door handle IDH from connecting to the connecting lever 41. Accordingly, even if the inside door handle IDH is open-operated, the inside handle lock connecting portion 112b and the transmission pin 44 do not abut with each other, thereby preventing the connecting lever 41 from swinging. As a result, irrespective of the locked/unlocked state of the lock mechanism 30, the door D cannot be opened and moved by the open-operation of the inside door handle IDH.

In the door lock apparatus that includes the lock mechanism 30 and the child lock mechanism 140 as the above, when the electric motor 35 is driven at a normal usage, it is possible to easily switch the lock mechanism 30 between the locked state and the unlocked state.

When a failure occurs to the electric motor 35 or when the electric motor 35 does not drive due to the charged voltage of the battery, which is not shown, is low and the like, the child lever 142 can be disposed at the state shown in Fig. 13, by slidably moving the child lever 142 to the front side of the vehicle, via the manual operating portion 142d, while the door D is being opened. In other words, when the child lever 142 is disposed at the front end position, the manual operating portion 142d of the child lever 142 opens the operating hole lOa of the main body case 10 and the operating opening DPO of the panel DP.

Accordingly, when the operating and abutting surface 33g is pressed and operated by inserting a tool from the operating hole iDa and the operating opening DPO, as shown in Fig. 14, the lock mechanism 30 can be switched to the locked state.

Therefore, even if the above-mentioned state occurs when the lock operating member inside the vehicle is omitted, the anti-theft function of the vehicle can be obtained.

The child lever 142 is provided at a sealed position when the door D is closed. Accordingly, even if a malicious person breaks a window of a vehicle, it is difficult to operate the child lever 142. When the child lever 142 is disposed at the front end position, the child lock mechanism 140 is turned into the non-transmitting state. Subsequently, even if the inside door handle IDH is open-operated after the vehicle widow is broken, the connecting lever 41 will not swing by the operating force of the open-operation, and the lock mechanism in the locked state will not be switched to the unlocked state. In this manner, the anti-theft function of the vehicle can be improved significantly. When the inside door handle IDH is open-operated while the lock mechanism 30 is in the unlocked state, the connecting lever 41 functions to supply the operating force to the pressure receiving portion lib of the open lever 11. When the inside door handle IDH is open-operated while the lock mechanism 30 is in the locked state, the connecting lever 41 functions to supply the operating force to the lock lever portion 33f of the first link lever 33 and activates the cancelling operation of the latch mechanism 20 via the pressure receiving portion lib of the open lever 11. Therefore, the connecting lever 41 is the only member required to supply the operating force of the open-operation of the inside door handle IDH into the lock lever portion 33f of the first link lever and the pressure receiving portion lib of the open lever 11.

Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the number of components compared with when a plurality of members is used.

The present invention includes the connecting lever connected to the inside door handle disposed in the vehicle, when the child lock mechanism is in the transmitting state.

Therefore, when the child lock mechanism is in the non- transmitting state, the operating force of the open-operation of the inside door handle is not supplied to the double action mechanism via the connecting lever. Even if the inside door handle is open-operated after a window of a vehicle is broken, the lock mechanism in the locked state will not be switched to the unlocked state. Accordingly, the anti-theft function of the vehicle can be improved significantly. When the inside door handle is open-operated while the lock mechanism is in the unlocked state, the connecting lever functions to supply the operating force into the first input portion. When the inside door handle is open-operated while the lock mechanism is in the locked state, the connecting lever functions to supply the operating force to the second input portion and activates the first input portion. Therefore, the connecting lever is the only member required to supply the operating force of the open-operation of the inside door handle into the double action mechanism. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the number of components compared with when a plurality of members is used.

Although the invention has been described with respect to specific embodiments for a complete and clear disclosure, the appended claims are not to be thus limited but are to be construed as embodying all modifications and alternative constructions that may occur to one skilled in the art that fairly fall within the basic teaching herein set forth.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A door lock apparatus comprising: a latch mechanism that restricts movement of a door in an open direction by latching when the door is in a closed position with respect to a vehicle main body; a lock mechanism interposed between a door handle and the latch mechanism, the lock mechanism allowing the movement of the door in the open direction by cancelling a latched state thereof by transmitting an open-operation of the door handle to the latch mechanism when the door handle is open-operated in an unlocked state, and maintaining the latched state of the latch mechanism even if the door handle is open-operated when in a locked state; a double action mechanism that includes a first input portion that becomes activated while the lock mechanism is in the unlocked state, and a second input portion that, when a predetermined operating force is supplied via the first input portion, transmits the operating force to the latch mechanism, and becomes activated while the lock mechanism is in the locked state, the double action mechanism, when the predetermined operating force is supplied via the second input portion, switching the lock mechanism to the unlocked state without transmitting the operating force to the latch mechanism; and a connecting lever connected to an inside door handle arranged inside the vehicle main body while a child lock mechanism is in a transmitting state, and when the inside door handle is open-operated with the lock mechanism being in the unlocked state, functions to supply the operating force to the first input portion, and when the inside door handle is open-operated with the lock mechanism being in the locked state, functions to supply the operating force into the second input portion and activates the first input portion.
2. A door lock apparatus, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any of Figs.l to 11 or 12 to 19 of the accompanying drawings.