GB2527645A

GB2527645A - Vehicle door lock apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2527645A
Application number: GB1507010.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Takeshi Tada; Eiji Torii; Yusuke Kojima
Original assignee: Aisin Seiki Co Ltd
Current assignee: Aisin Corp
Priority date: 2014-04-24
Filing date: 2015-04-24
Publication date: 2015-12-30
Anticipated expiration: 2035-04-24
Also published as: GB2527645B; GB201507010D0; JP2015209663A; JP6388111B2

Abstract

The door lock includes: an electrical component a metal terminal electrically connecting the electrical component to an external terminal for supplying electrical power to the electrical component. Additionally the lock includes housing made of resin, to which both the electrical component and the terminal are assembled. The terminal includes a terminal horizontal portion 141a deposited on an assembled surface of the housing, and a terminal extending portion 141b extending from the terminal horizontal portion in a direction intersecting the terminal horizontal portion when the terminal is assembled to the housing. The vehicle door lock apparatus further comprises a terminal holding structure 160 holding the terminal extending portion such that the inclination of the terminal about a boundary portion 141c between the terminal horizontal extending portions is restricted in a state where the terminal is assembled to the housing.

Description

TITLE

VEHICLE DOOR LOCK APPARATUS

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] This disclosure relates to a vehicle door lock apparatus that is assembled to a vehicle door.

BACKGROUND DISCUSSION

[0002] An example of a vehicle door lock apparatus is disclosed in JP 2006-264641A (Reference 1). The vehicle door lock apparatus includes metal terminals that are configured to electrically connect an electrical component, for example, an electric motor or a micro switch, to external terminals (power supply terminals or communication terminals). The terminal is configured such that terminal extending portions extend vertically from both of respective ends of a terminal horizontal portion, and are connected to the external terminals. When the terminal is pre-assembled to a housing, it is possible to deposit the terminal horizontal portion on an assembly surface of the housing. Thereafter, a connector for holding both the terminal extending portions and the external terminals, or an electrical component connected to the terminal extending portion is assembled to the housing. Specifically, when a connector is assembled to a predetermined terminal, one terminal extending portion of the predetermined terminal is inserted into a terminal insertion hole of the connector, and when an electrical component is assembled to the predetermined terminal, the other terminal extending portion is connected to a connected portion of the electrical component.

[0003] Since the vehicle door lock apparatus has a structure in which the terminal extending portions extend vertically from both of respective ends of the terminal horizontal portion when the terminal is pre-assembled to the housing, an assembled state of the terminal is likely to become unstable when the terminal extending portions are relatively long. It is possible to adopt a structure in which the terminal is positioned relative to the housing using the terminal horizontal portion. However, even if such a positioning structure is adopted, the terminal extending portion may be inclined about a boundary portion between the terminal extending portion and the terminal horizontal portion when the terminal is assembled, which is a problem. At this time, a distal end of the terminal extending portion may not be in a proper position, and as a result, it may not be possible to smoothly assemble a connector or an electrical component to be connected to the terminal extending portion, which is a problem. That is, merely the positioning of the terminal horizontal portion relative to the housing, or the boundary portion between the terminal horizontal portion and the terminal extending portion is not sufficient to ensure an assembled state of the terminal, which allows a smooth assembly of the connector or the like.

SUMMARY

[0004] Thus, a need exists for a vehicle door lock apparatus with metal terminals configured to electrically connect an electrical component to external terminals for supplying electrical power to the electrical component in which a terminal assembled to a housing is held at a proper assembly position.

[0005] A vehicle door lock apparatus according to an aspect of this disclosure includes an electrical component; a metal terminal; and a housing made of resin, to which both the electrical component and the terminal are assembled; and a terminal holding structure. A typical electrical component may be an electric motor that is an actuator configured to drive configurational elements of the door lock apparatus, or a micro switch configured to detect a signal relating to an operating position of the configurational element of the door lock apparatus. The terminal has a function of electrically connecting the electrical component and the external terminal for supplying electrical power to the electrical component. The terminal includes a terminal horizontal portion to be deposited on an assembled surface of the housing, and a terminal extending portion configured to extend from the terminal horizontal portion in a direction intersecting the terminal horizontal portion when the terminal is assembled to the housing. The terminal holding structure is assigned to the terminal extending portion.

[0006] The terminal holding structure has a function of holding a terminal extending portion in such a manner that the inclination of the terminal about a boundary portion between a terminal horizontal portion and the terminal extending portion is restricted in a state where the terminal is assembled to the housing. For this reason, the terminal assembled to the housing can be stably held at a proper assembly position. As a result, an operator can easily insert the distal end of the terminal extending portion into an insertion hole of a connector main body, and can smoothly assemble a connector for connection of the external terminal to the terminal when assembling the connector to the terminal extending portion of the pre-assembled terminal.

[0007] In the vehicle door lock apparatus having the aforementioned configuration, preferably, the terminal holding structure is configured as at least two erected walls which are erected on the assembled surface of the housing in such a manner as to face both of respective end surfaces of the plate-like terminal extending portion in at least one direction of a plate width direction and a plate thickness direction. Accordingly, it is possible to restrict the inclination of the terminal extending portion in at least one direction of the plate width direction and the plate thickness direction. In this case, it is possible to simplify the terminal holding structure by using the erected walls which are erected on the assembled surface of the housing.

[0008] In the vehicle door lock apparatus having the aforementioned configuration, the terminal extending portion preferably includes a first region and a second region. The first region is configured as a region having a first plate width. The second region is configured to protrude in the plate width direction from a region having the same plate width as that of the first region while the first region is interposed between the terminal horizontal portion and the second region disposed on the opposite side of the terminal horizontal portion. In this case, preferably, the terminal holding structure is configured as erected walls, and includes a first erected wall; a second erected wall; a third erected wall; and a fourth erected wall. The first erected wall and the second erected wall are disposed to respectively face a first end surface and a second end surface of the first region in the plate width direction. The third erected wall is disposed to face a third end surface that is one of both end surfaces of the first region in the plate thickness direction. The fourth erected wall is disposed to face a fourth end surface that is one of both end surfaces of the second region in the plate thickness direction, the fourth end surface being positioned on the opposite side of the third erected wall. Accordingly, the inclination of the terminal extending portion is restricted in four directions (also referred to as two directions such as the plate width direction and the plate thickness direction) by four erected walls. For this reason, it is possible to more reliably hold the terminal extending portion of the terminal at the proper assembly position.

(0009] In the vehicle door lock apparatus having the aforementioned configuration, preferably, the housing includes a boss portion into which the first erected wall, the second erected wall, the third erected wall, and the fourth erected wall are integrally formed, and the boss portion and the housing are integrally molded with a resin material. Accordingly, it is possible to implement the terminal holding structure at low cost without increasing the number of components by using the boss portion that is part of the housing.

[0010] As described above, in the vehicle door lock apparatus disclosed here including the metal terminal configured to electrically connect the electrical component to the external terminal for supplying electrical power to the electrical component, the terminal assembled to the housing can be stably held at the proper assembly position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(0011] The foregoing and additional features and characteristics of this disclosure will become more apparent from the following detailed description considered with the reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 is a view of a vehicle door lock apparatus of an embodiment when seen from a vehicle interior; Fig. 2 is a view illustrating a state in which a second housing configuration body of a housing is detached from the vehicle door lock apparatus in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of region A in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an electrification mechanism taken along line IV-IV in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the electrification mechanism taken along line V-V in Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of region A in Fig. 2; Fig. 7 is a view illustrating a state in which a connector and an electric motor are detached from the electrification mechanism in Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a plan view of a terminal holding structure in Fig. 7; Fig. 9 is a schematic view illustrating the effects of the terminal holding structure in Fig. 8; and Fig. 10 is a schematic view illustrating the effects of the terminal holding structure in Fig. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0012] Hereinafter, an embodiment disclosed here will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the front and rear of a vehicle are respectively denoted by arrow Xl and arrow X2, and the top and bottom of the vehicle are respectively denoted by arrow Yl and arrow Y2. The definition of the directions can be applied to a vehicle door lock apparatus that is not assembled to a vehicle door, and the vehicle door lock apparatus that is assembled to the vehicle door.

[0013] A vehicle door lock apparatus (hereinafter, simply referred to as a "door lock apparatus") 100 of an embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1 is mounted in a region which is bounded by a door outer panel (panel on the outside of the vehicle) and a door inner panel (panel on the inside of the vehicle) of a vehicle door DR. Fig. 1 illustrates a right vehicle door as a typical example of the vehicle door DR.

[0014] The door lock apparatus 100 includes a housing 101 configured to accommodate door locking configuration elements of the door lock apparatus, and a cover member 104 that is attached to the housing 101 in such a manner so as to cover a housing upper surface and a housing front surface of the housing 101. Each of the housing 101 and the cover member 104 is configured as a member made of resin.

[0015] The housing 101 is configured to include a first housing configuration body 102 disposed to face outside the vehicle and a second housing configuration body 103 disposed to face inside the vehicle. The door locking configuration elements are assembled to the housing 101. The cover member 104 has a function of protecting the door locking configuration elements in the housing 101 from the entry of water or a theft tool from outside the vehicle door DR. The door locking configuration elements include a latch mechanism 110, a locking mechanism 120, and a double locking mechanism 130, and the like, all of which are well known.

[0016] Typically, the latch mechanism 110 is configured so as to be able to hold the vehicle door DR in a closed state by engaging with a striker ST attached to a vehicle body SD.

[0017] Typically, the locking mechanism 120 is configured so as to set the latch mechanism to be in an unlocked state in which the engagement of the latch mechanism 110 with the striker ST can be released, or in a locked state in which the engagement of the latch mechanism 110 with the striker ST cannot be released. As illustrated in Fig. 2, the locking mechanism 120 includes an inside opening lever 121; an outside opening lever 122; an opening link (not illustrated); an active lever 123; an inside locking lever 124; an electric motor 125; and the like.

[0018] The inside opening lever 121 is driven to rotate from an initial position to an operating position when an inside door operating handle (not illustrated) provided inside the vehicle door DR is operated for door opening. The outside opening lever 122 is driven to rotate from an initial position to an operating position when an outside door operating handle (not illustrated) provided outside the vehicle door DR is operated for door opening. The active lever 123 sets the opening link in a locked state when a locking/unlocking member is operated for locking, or the active lever 123 sets the opening link in an unlocked state when the locking/unlocking member is operated for unlocking. The inside locking lever 124 is driven to rotate between a locking position and an unlocking position when a door lock knob (not illustrated) provided inside the vehicle door DR is operated for locking or for release of locking. The electric motor 125 is configured as an actuator configured to drive the active lever 123.

[0019] Typically, the double locking mechanism 130 can hold a locked state that is activated by the locking mechanism 120, and has a function of selectively enabling either one of a double-lock set state in which the operation of the active lever 123 is restricted, and a double-lock unset state in which the operation of the active lever 123 is allowed. As illustrated in Fig. 2, the double locking mechanism 130 includes a double locking lever 131 configured to lock the rotation of the active lever 123, and an electric motor 132 that is an actuator configured to drive the double locking lever 131.

[0020] For example, refer to an "engaged mechanism", a "first operation mechanism", a "second operation mechanism" and the like disclosed in JP 2002-38799A for a more specific configuration of each of the latch mechanism 110, the locking mechanism 120, and the double locking mechanism 130.

[0021] As illustrated in Fig. 3, the door locking mechanism 100 having the aforementioned configuration includes an electrification mechanism 140 in region A (an assembled surface 102a that is an inner surface of the first housing configuration body 102) in Fig. 2. The electrification mechanism 140 has a function of supplying electrical power to the electric motors 125 and 132 that are electrical components. The electric motors 125 and 132 referred to here are equivalent to "electrical components" disclosed here.

[0022] To this end, the electrification mechanism 140 includes terminals 141 and 142 configured to electrically connect the respective electric motors 125 and 132 to external terminals for supplying electrical power to the electric motors 125 and 132, and a connector 150 made of resin for connection to the external terminals 200. Each of a first terminal 141 and a second terminal 142 is a plate-like member made of a metal plate piece (thin plate piece). The first terminal 141 is assigned to the electric motor 125, and the second terminal 142 is assigned to the electric motor 132. In this case, both the electric motors 125 and 132 and the terminals 141 and 142 are assembled to the first housing configuration body 102 made of resin. The terminals 141 and 142 referred to here are equivalent to "terminals" disclosed here, and the first housing configuration body 102 is configured as a "housing' disclosed here.

[0023] As illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, the first terminal 141 includes a pair of terminal horizontal portions 141a that are configured to extend horizontally along the assembled surface 102a and to be deposited on the assembled surface 102a when the terminal is assembled; terminal extending portions 141b, each of which is configured to extend from one end portion (a boundary portion 141c) of each of the terminal horizontal portions 141a in a direction (approximately perpendicular to) intersecting the terminal horizontal portion 141a; and other terminal extending portions (not illustrated), each of which is configured to extend from the other end portion of each of the terminal horizontal portions 141a in the direction (approximately perpendicular to) intersecting the terminal horizontal portion 141a. The first terminal 141 is configured such that the terminal extending portion 141b is connected to the external terminal 200, and the other terminal extending portion is connected to the electric motor 125.

[0024] The terminal extending portion 141b is configured as a metal plate-like portion including a first region 143 and a second region 144. The first region 143 is configured as a region having a first plate width. The second region 144 is a region (protrusion) that is configured to protrude in a plate width direction from a region having the same plate width as that of the first region 143 while the first region 143 is interposed between the terminal horizontal portion 141a and the second region 144 disposed on the opposite side of the terminal horizontal portion 141a. The first region 143 and the second region 144 referred to here are equivalent respectively to a "first region" and a "second region" disclosed here.

[0025] The second terminal 142 has the same configuration as that of the first terminal 141, and includes a pair of terminal horizontal portions 142a that are configured to extend horizontally along the assembled surface 102a and to be deposited on the assembled surface 102a when the terminal is assembled; terminal extending portions 142b, each of which is configured to extend from one end portion of each of the terminal horizontal portions 142a in a direction (approximately perpendicular to) intersecting the terminal horizontal portion 142a; and other terminal extending portions (not illustrated), each of which is configured to extend from the other end portion of each of the terminal horizontal portions 142a in the direction (approximately perpendicular to) intersecting the terminal horizontal portion 142a. The second terminal 142 is configured such that the terminal extending portion 142b is connected to the external terminal 200, and the other terminal extending portion is connected to the electric motor 132. Here, the terminal horizontal portions 141a and 142a and the terminal extending portions 141b and 142b are equivalent respectively to "terminal horizontal portions" and "terminal extending portions" disclosed here.

[0026] As illustrated in Fig. 6, the connector 150 includes a connector main body 151 that is assembled to the terminal extending portion 141b of the first terminal 141 and the terminal extending portion 142b of the second terminal 142, and connecting pieces 152, 152 configured to respectively connect the connector main body 151 to ribs 102b of the assembled surface 102a.

The connector 150 has a function of holding the pair of terminal extending portions 141b, 141b of the first terminals 141, the pair of terminal extending portions 142b, 142b of the second terminal 142, and the external terminals 200.

[0027] To this end, the connector main body 151 is formed in a bottomed box shape having a space 151a into which the external terminals 200 can be inserted, and a plurality of insertion holes opening in a connector bottom portion 151b. The plurality of insertion holes include a pair of insertion holes 153, 153 into which the pair of terminal extending portions 141b, 141b of the first terminals 141 are inserted, and a pair of insertion holes 154, 154 into which the pair of terminal extending portions 142b, 142b of the second terminals 142 are inserted (refer to Fig. 3). For this reason, the terminal extending portions 141b inserted into the respective insertion holes 153, and the terminal extending portions 142b inserted into the respective insertion holes 154 are held in the space 151a of the connector main body 151 while being electrically connected to the respective external terminals 200.

[0028] In the electrification mechanism 140 having the aforementioned configuration, in a state where the first terminal 141 is pre-assembled to the assembled surface 102a of the first housing configuration body 102, the terminal extending portion 141b extends vertically from the terminal horizontal portion 141 a of the first housing configuration body 102. For this reason, when the terminal extending portion 141b is relatively long, an assembled state of the first terminal 141 is likely to become unstable, and the terminal extending portion 141b may be inclined about the boundary portion 141c between the terminal horizontal portion 141a and the terminal extending portion 141b, which is a problem. In this case, a distal end of the terminal extending portion 141b is not in a proper position, and as a result, it may not be possible to smoothly assemble the connector 150 to the first terminal 141, which is a problem. Specifically, when the distal end of the terminal extending portion 141b is not in the proper position, it is difficult to align the position of the distal end of the terminal extending portion 141b of the pre-assembled first terminal 141 with the position of the insertion hole 153 of the connector main body 151, and thereby it is difficult to insert the distal end of the terminal extending portion 141b into the insertion hole 153. Accordingly, merely the positioning of the terminal horizontal portion 141a or the boundary portion 141c between the terminal horizontal portion 141a and the terminal extending portion 141b relative to the first housing configuration body 102 is not sufficient to ensure an assembled state of the terminal 141, which allows a smooth assembly of the connector 150.

[0029] As illustrated in Fig. 7, in the door lock apparatus 100 of the embodiment, a terminal holding structure 160 is assigned to the electrification mechanism 140. The terminal holding structure 160 has a function of holding the terminal extending portion 141b in such a manner that the inclination of the first terminal 141 about the boundary portion 141c between the terminal horizontal portion 141a and the terminal extending portion 141b is restricted in a state where the first terminal 141 is assembled to the first housing configuration body 102. The terminal holding structure 160 is equivalent to a "terminal holding structure' disclosed here. The terminal holding structure 160 is configured as a boss portion 105 that is erected on the assembled surface 102a of the first housing configuration body 102.

[0030] As illustrated in Fig. 8, the boss portion 105 includes four erected walls 105a, 105b, 105c, and 105d, and is configured as a portion into which the four erected walls are integrally formed. The four erected walls 105a, 105b, 105c, and 105d referred to here are equivalent respectively to a "first erected wall", "a second erected wall", a "third erected wall", and a "fourth erected wall" disclosed here. In this case, it is possible to simplify the terminal holding structure by using the erected walls which are erected on the assembled surface 102a of the first housing configuration body 102. In this configuration, preferably, the boss portion 105 and the first housing configuration body 102 of the housing 101 are integrally molded with a resin material.

Accordingly, it is possible to implement the terminal holding structure 160 at low cost without increasing the number of components by using the boss portion 105 that is part of the first housing configuration body 102.

[0031] The first erected wall 105a and the second erected wall 105b are disposed to face both of respective end surfaces (a first end surface 141d and a second end surface 141e) of the first region 143 of the terminal extending portion 141b in the plate width direction out of four end surfaces 141d, 141e, 141f, and 141g of the terminal extending portion 141b having a rectangular cross section. The third erected wall lOSe is disposed to face a third end surface 141f that is one of both end surfaces of the first region 143 of the terminal extending portion 141b in a plate thickness direction.

[0032] Three erected walls 105a, 105b, and lOSe in the boss portion 105 are erected at the same wall height (a first wall height dl) on the assembled surface 102a. The boss portion 105 has a substantially inverted cap shape, and the three erected walls 105a, 105b, and 105c form a holding space 106 by which the terminal extending portion 141b is surrounded in three directions.

[0033] When taking easiness in assembling the terminal extending portion 141b in the holding space 106 into consideration, preferably, an erected wall is not provided on the opposite end surface of the third end surface 141f which is one of both the end surfaces of the first region 143 in the plate thickness direction so that interference between the terminal horizontal portion 141a and the boss portion 105 can be prevented. The fourth erected wall 1USd is disposed to face a fourth end surface 141g that is one of both end surfaces of the second region 144 of the terminal extending portion 141b in the plate thickness direction, the fourth end surface 141g being positioned on the opposite side of the third erected wall lOSe. The fourth erected wall 105d is erected on the assembled surface 102a in such a manner that the wall height (a second wall height d2 greater than the first wall height dl) of the fourth erected wall 105d is greater than that of the three erected walls 105a, 105b, and 105c (refer to Fig. 9). Accordingly, it is possible to assemble the terminal extending portion 141b in the holding space 106 without causing interference between the terminal horizontal portion 141a and the boss portion 105.

[0034] In the boss portion 105 having the aforementioned configuration, the gap (the gap of the first region 143 of the terminal extending portion 141b in the plate width direction) between two erected walls 105a and 105b is preferably set to be a dimension obtained by adding a predetermined margin to the plate width of the first region 143 of the terminal extending portion 141b. Accordingly, as illustrated in Fig. 9, the terminal extending portion 141b is held in the holding space 106 in such a manner that the terminal extending portion 141b is positioned relative to the first housing configuration body 102 in the plate width direction of the terminal extending portion 141b, and the inclination of the terminal extending portion 141b about the boundary portion 141c between the terminal horizontal portion 141a and the terminal extending portion 141b in a first direction Si and a second direction R2 is restricted. That is, when the terminal extending portion 141b is inclined in the first direction Ri, the first end surface 141d of the first region 143 comes into contact with the first erected wall 105a, and is supported by the first erected wall 105a, and thereby it is possible to prevent the terminal extending portion 141b from being inclined further Similarly, when the terminal extending portion 141b is inclined in the second direction R2, the second end surface 141e of the first region 143 comes into contact with the second erected wall 105b, and is supported by the second erected wall 105b, and thereby it is possible to prevent the terminal extending portion 141b from being inclined further. In this case, the terminal extending portion 141b is configured such that a lower surface 143a of the second region 144 of the terminal extending portion 141b can come into contact with an upper surface (distal end surface of the erected wall) 105e of the erected wall 105b. Accordingly, the inclination of the terminal extending portion 141b toward the second erected wall 105b is more reliably restricted due to the engagement of the second region 144 with the second erected wall 105b.

[0035] In contrast, the gap between two erected walls 105c and 105d in the plate thickness of the terminal extending portion 141b is preferably set to be a dimension obtained by adding a predetermined margin to the plate thickness direction of the terminal extending portion 141b.

Accordingly, as illustrated in Fig. 10, the terminal extending portion 141b is held in the holding space 106 in such a manner that the terminal extending portion 141b is positioned relative to the first housing configuration body 102 in the plate thickness direction of the terminal extending portion 141b, and the inclination of the terminal extending portion 141b about the boundary portion 141c between the terminal horizontal portion 141a and the terminal extending portion 141b in a third direction 53 and a fourth direction 54 is restricted. That is, when the terminal extending portion 141b is inclined in the third direction R3, the third end surface 141f of the first region 143 comes into contact with the third erected wall 105c, and is supported by the third erected wall lOSc, and thereby it is possible to prevent the terminal extending portion 141b from being inclined further.

Similarly, when the terminal extending portion 141b is inclined in the fourth direction R4, the fourth end surface 141g of the second region 144 comes into contact with the fourth erected wall 105d, and is supported by the fourth erected wall 105d, and thereby it is possible to prevent the terminal extending portion 141b from being inclined further.

[0036] The terminal horizontal portion 141a has a function of restricting the inclination of the terminal extending portion 141b in the fourth direction R4. For this reason, when it is possible to obtain desired effects of restricting the inclination of the terminal extending portion 141b with only the terminal horizontal portion 141a, it is possible to omit the fourth erected wall 105d, and the second region 144 of the terminal extending portion 141b corresponding to the fourth erected wall 105d.

[0037] Due to the terminal holding structure 160 having the aforementioned configuration, the inclination of the terminal extending portion 141b in four directions Ri to R4 (also referred to as two directions such as the plate width direction and the plate thickness direction) is restricted when the first terminal 141 is pre-assembled to the first housing configuration body 102. For this reason, it is possible to more reliably hold the terminal extending portion 141b of the first terminal 141 at a proper assembly position due to the boss portion 105 forming the terminal holding structure 160.

As a result, when assembling the connector 150 to the terminal extending portion 141b of the pre-assembled first terminal 141, an operator can easily insert the distal end of the terminal extending portion 141b into the insertion hole 153 of the connector main body 151, and can smoothly assemble the connector 150 to the first terminal 141.

[0038] In the electrification mechanism 140 having the aforementioned configuration, the boundary portion 141c has a high residual stress when the boundary portion 141c between the terminal horizontal portion 141a and the terminal extending portion 141b of the first terminal 141 is formed via bending. Accordingly, beard-like metallic crystals, referred to as a so-called "whisker", may occur on a plating film of the boundary portion 141c in a high humidity environment. The metallic crystals may cause a short when the distance between the first terminal 141 and the adjacent second terminal 142 is short. In the embodiment, the erected wall 105c can prevent the whisker from causing a short because the erected wall lOSc is interposed between the first terminal 141 and the second terminal 142.

[0039] The embodiment disclosed here is not limited to the aforementioned typical embodiment, and can be applied or modified in various forms. For example, it is possible to realize the following embodiments via the application of the aforementioned embodiment.

[0040] In the embodiment, the terminal holding structure 160 is implemented so as to hold the terminal extending portion 141b of the first terminal 141 assigned to the electric motor 125 that is an electrical component; however, the same terminal mechanism as the terminal holding structure -10-disclosed here can be applied to portions other than the terminal extending portion 141b of the first terminal 141. The other portions referred to here may be a terminal extending portion of the first terminal 141 to be connected to the electric motor 125; the terminal extending portion 142b of the second terminal 142 assigned to the electric motor 132, a terminal extending portion of the second terminal 142 to be connected to the electric motor 132; a terminal extending portion of a terminal assigned to an electrical component (typically, a micro switch configured to detect a signal relating to an operating position of a configurational element of the locking mechanism 120) other than an electric motor; and the like.

[0041] In the embodiment, the terminal holding structure restricts the inclination of the terminal extending portion in both the plate width direction and the plate thickness direction; however, this disclosure can adopt a structure in which the inclination of the terminal extending portion is restricted in only one direction of the plate width direction and the plate thickness direction. To this end, for example, it is possible to adopt a structure in which the two erected walls 105a and 105b or the two erected walls 105c and 105d out of the four erected walls 105a, 105b, 105c, and 105d of the boss portion 105 are omitted.

[0042] In this disclosure, the four erected walls 105a, 105b, 105c, and 105d of the boss portion 105 may be independently formed. In this case, a structure, in which means equivalent to the erected wall is attached to the assembled surface 102a of the first housing configuration body 102 at a later stage, may be adopted. In another modification example, it is possible to adopt means having the shape of a column or a shaft in replacement of or in addition to means having the shape of a wall like an erected wall.

[0043] In the embodiment, both the first terminal 141 and the second terminal 142 are metal plate-like members; however, in this disclosure, the shape of the terminals 141 and 142 is not limited to a plate shape insofar as the terminals 141 and 142 are made of metal, and other shapes can be appropriately adopted. For example, the entirety or part of the terminal can be made of a rounded metal component having a circular cross section. In this case, only a distal end of the terminal made of a rounded component can have a flat shape (plate shape).

[0044] An essential structure of the door lock apparatus 100 disclosed here can be applied to any vehicle door of a vehicle. For example, the essential structure of the door lock apparatus 100 disclosed here can be applied to each of front right and left vehicle doors, each of rear right and left vehicle doors, a door (back door) in a rear portion of a vehicle, or the like.

[0045] The principles, preferred embodiment and mode of operation of the present invention have been described in the foregoing specification. However, the invention which is intended to be protected is not to be construed as limited to the particular embodiments disclosed. Further, the embodiments described herein are to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive.

Variations and changes may be made by others, and equivalents employed, without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Accordingly, it is expressly intended that all such variations, -11 -changes and equivalents which fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the claims, be embraced thereby.

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Claims

CLAIMS1. Avehicle door lock apparatus (100) comprising: an electrical component (125, 132); a metal terminal (141, 142) configured to electrically connect the electrical component to an external terminal (200) for supplying electrical power to the electrical component; and a housing (101) made of resin, to which both the electrical component and the terminal are assembled; wherein the terminal includes a terminal horizontal portion (141a, 142a) to be deposited on an assembled surface of the housing, and a terminal extending portion (141b, 142b) configured to extend from the terminal horizontal portion in a direction intersecting the terminal horizontal portion when the terminal is assembled to the housing, and wherein the vehicle door lock apparatus further comprises a terminal holding structure (160) configured to hold the terminal extending portion in such a manner that the inclination of the terminal about a boundary portion (141c) between the terminal horizontal portion and the terminal extending portion is restricted in a state where the terminal is assembled to the housing.
2. The vehicle door lock apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the terminal holding structure is configured as at least two erected walls (lOSa, 105b, 105c, 105d) which are erected on the assembled surface of the housing so as to face both of respective end surfaces of the plate-like terminal extending portion in at least one direction of a plate width direction and a plate thickness direction.
3. The vehicle door lock apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the terminal extending portion includes a first region (143) having a first plate width, and a second region (144) that is configured to protrude in the plate width direction from a region having the same plate width as that of the first region while the first region is interposed between the terminal horizontal portion and the second region disposed on the opposite side of the terminal horizontal portion, and wherein the terminal holding structure is configured as erected walls, and includes a first erected wall (105a) and a second erected wall (105b) which are disposed to respectively face a first end surface (141a) and a second end surface (141b) of the first region in the plate width direction; a third erected wall (105c) disposed to face a third end surface (141c) that is one of both end surfaces of the first region in the plate thickness direction; and a fourth erected wall (105d) disposed to face a fourth end surface (141d) that is one of both end surfaces of the second region in the plate thickness direction, the fourth end surface being positioned on the opposite side of the third erected wall. -13-
4. The vehicle door lock apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the housing includes a boss portion (105) into which the first erected wall, the second erected wall, the third erected wall, and the fourth erected wall are integrally formed, and the boss portion and the housing are integrally molded with a resin material. -14-