GB938882A - A safety latching device for motor vehicle doors - Google Patents

Abstract

938,882. Latch fastenings. L. R. LEMAINE A.G. Feb. 3, 1960 [Jan. 25, 1960], No. 3840/60. Class 44. In a latching device for motor vehicle doors either the bolt member or the keeper member is arranged to be further displaceable in the fastening direction away from its normal fastened position adopted on slamming the door, the bolt member and keeper member being so interconnected that the further displaceable member is further displaced in the fastening direction if the door is pulled away from the door jamb in the general plane of the door, the interconnection and further displacement of said member being effected by permanent magnet means disposed adjacent one of the members. As shown in Fig. 1 the bolt member 19 is spring-loaded and slides in a casing 18 and is retracted by a lever handle 21 pivoted to the casing. The keeper member 21 is slidable in a casing 24 and is biased by a spring 26 so that it tends to remain in the casing. The permanent magnet 29 is mounted on the casing 18 for the sliding latch bolt. In use when the door 1 to which the latch bolt 19 is fitted is closed, the bolt is retracted against the pressure of the spring 20 by engagement with the keeper 25 and when its end passes beyond the keeper it moves forwardly again under pressure of the spring, the permanent magnet 29 then attracting the keeper and any movement of the vehicle door relative to the body in a direction of the general plane of the door causes the keeper to move relative to its casing and the door still remains fastened since the latch bolt remains in position behind the keeper. In a second construction, Figs. 4 and 6, the keeper member is pivotally mounted on a pin 58 and the permanent magnet 62 is carried by the keeper member. The latch bolt member 48 is mounted in a casing 41 so that it can move beyond its normal position under the attraction of the magnet which it engages in the closed position of the door. When the door is closed the end of the bolt 48 engages the keeper member and pivots it against the pressure of a spring 61, the end of the bolt first engaging a safety notch 59 in the keeper member and then a fastening notch 60 in which position it is also engaged by the permanent magnet. To open the door the keeper member is pushed back by a member 63 which is operated from the outside of the door by means of a push-button which engages a bellcrank lever 70 or from the inside of the door by a remote handle through linkage and a lever 66.