JP6526526B2 - Door latch device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a door latch device.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a door latch device provided with a fork that can be engaged with and detached from a striker disposed at a door. The fork comprises a metal fork body provided with a U-shaped engagement groove for engaging the striker. The fork main body is covered with a resin fork cover except for a part. The fork cover is interposed between the striker and the fork main body, and prevents the generation of abnormal noise due to the striker and the fork rubbing each other when the vehicle is traveling or the like.

JP 2001-3622 A

  In the door, a seal member pressed against the vehicle body is disposed in order to prevent water from entering the vehicle interior through a gap between the door and the vehicle body. Since the door is biased in the opening direction by the reaction force of the seal member, a compression force by the striker is always applied to the fork of the door latch device. When the reaction force of the seal member is larger than necessary, the fork cover may be crushed, deformed or torn, which may cause not only abnormal noise but also malfunction. In addition, the fork cover may be broken when a light collision (rapid braking) of the vehicle causes an excessive load to be applied.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a door latch device capable of preventing deformation and breakage of a fork cover, and preventing generation of abnormal noise and generation of operation failure.

  According to the present invention, an engagement groove is provided for detachably engaging a striker provided on a vehicle body or a door, and the first portion of the striker abuts on a first side wall defining the engagement groove. And a fork rotatable between the latch position for blocking release of the striker and an open position capable of releasing the striker from the engagement groove, the fork including a metal fork body, and the fork body And the first side wall portion is an end portion of an elastically deformable elastic holding portion provided on the fork cover, and the fork is in the latched position. When the striker moves in the movement direction at the time of opening the door in a rotated state, the striker moves by the contact of a second portion different from the first portion of the striker. The restricting portion has a restricting portion, and the restricting portion is configured such that the second portion of the striker is engaged before the elastic holding portion is deformed and the first portion of the striker contacts the end of the fork main body. Provided is a door latch device that is set to contact.

  According to this aspect, the elastic holding portion of the fork cover is compressed to the first portion of the striker when the striker moves in the movement direction at the time of opening the door by a strong force, but when the predetermined amount is compressed, the restricting portion is the striker By contacting the second part of the second part, movement of the striker further is restricted. As a result, since the fork cover can be prevented from being compressed more than necessary, it is possible to prevent the deformation and breakage of the fork cover. Therefore, while being able to prevent generation | occurrence | production of the noise by contact | abutment of a striker on a fork main body, generation | occurrence | production of the malfunctioning of a door latch apparatus can be prevented.

  The restricting portion is a part of the fork main body not covered by the fork cover. According to this aspect, when the second portion of the striker abuts on the restricting portion, the fork cover is not damaged. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the restriction position of the striker from changing due to the breakage of the fork cover, and to reliably prevent the fork cover from being compressed more than necessary. In normal use, since the elastic holding portion lowers the frequency at which the striker collides with the restricting portion, the generation of the collision noise does not pose a problem even if the restricting portion is not covered by the fork cover.

  The striker is circular in cross section, and the second portion is positioned at a predetermined interval in the circumferential direction of the striker with respect to the first portion, and the elastic holding portion is a portion of the restrictor and the striker. The striker is held so that the second part is positioned at a set interval. According to this aspect, it is possible to suppress the collision of the striker and the regulating portion during normal use. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the generation of abnormal noise due to the collision between the striker and the restriction part.

  Specifically, the engagement groove includes the first side wall, a second side wall spaced from the first side wall, and one end side of the first side wall and the second side wall. And the restricting portion is provided on the end wall portion, and in a moving direction of the striker when the door is opened, with the fork rotated to the latch position. It projects to the striker side than the first side end of the fork main body located. According to this aspect, when the striker moves in the movement direction when the door is opened by a strong force, the second portion of the striker abuts on the restricting portion, and it is possible to prevent the overload from being applied to the fork cover.

  Here, in the door latch device, by shortening the distance between the striker and the fork, the fork can be miniaturized and the entire device can be miniaturized. Therefore, the fork is formed with the fork main body exposed, without covering the apex of the end wall of the engagement groove with the fork cover. On the other hand, although it is necessary to provide a hole in the fork cover to expose the fork body, if the hole becomes large, the edge of the fork cover that defines the hole may be twisted and broken.

  Therefore, the fork main body has a recessed portion between the apex of the end wall portion intersecting the line connecting the center of the striker held in the engagement groove and the rotation center of the fork, and the restricting portion. The fork cover has a first covering portion covering one side of the fork main body along the rotation center of the fork and a second covering portion covering the other side, and is positioned in the recess. The first cover portion and the second cover portion are connected to each other to have a connecting portion covering a part of the engagement groove. According to this aspect, since the connecting portion for connecting the first covering portion and the second covering portion of the fork cover is provided in the concave portion provided in the fork main body, the strength of the fork cover can be improved and the breakage is prevented. it can. In addition, this aspect can improve the strength of the fork cover in the same manner even when the fork main body is completely exposed, and the surface of the fork main body is covered with the thin film of the fork cover. Can be prevented.

  The striker is circular in cross section, and the second portion is positioned at a predetermined distance from the first portion in the axial direction of the fork, and the elastic holding portion is the restrictor and the striker. The striker is held so as to be spaced apart from the second portion by a predetermined distance, and the restricting portion and the elastic holding portion are provided offset in the axial direction of the fork. Also in this aspect, when the striker moves in the movement direction when the door is opened by a strong force, the second portion of the striker abuts on the restricting portion, and it is possible to prevent the overload from being applied to the fork cover.

  In the door latch device of the present invention, when the elastic holding portion of the fork cover is compressed by the first portion of the striker by a predetermined amount, the restricting portion abuts on the second portion of the striker, thereby restricting the movement of the striker. Therefore, since the elastic holding portion of the fork cover can be prevented from being excessively compressed, deformation and breakage of the fork cover can be prevented. Therefore, while being able to prevent generation | occurrence | production of noise normally, generation | occurrence | production of the malfunction of a door latch apparatus can be prevented.

Schematic which shows the structure of the door latch apparatus of this invention. The front view of a door latch apparatus. The front view which shows the latch mechanism of a latch position. The front view which shows the latch mechanism of an open position. Front view of the fork. Side view of the fork. Cross section of fork. The partially expanded sectional view of FIG. 3C. The II sectional view taken on the line of FIG. 3D. Sectional drawing which shows a part of fork of the door latch apparatus of 2nd Embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

First Embodiment
1A and 1B show a door latch device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The door latch device 10 is mounted on one of the vehicle body panel 1 and the door panel 3 of the vehicle. The door latch device 10 maintains the door 2 in a closed state by engaging the striker 4 disposed on the other of the vehicle body panel 1 and the door panel 3. In the illustrated example, the striker 4 is disposed on the vehicle body panel 1, and the door latch device 10 is disposed on the door 2. Examples of the door 2 in which the door latch device 10 is disposed include a hatchback door and a trunk door that open and close in the vertical direction. It is provided at the end of the vehicle body panel 1 between the vehicle body panel 1 and the door 2 and is in contact with the end face of the door 2 to prevent water from entering the vehicle from the gap between the door 2 and the vehicle body panel 1 The sealing member 8 is disposed.

  The door latch device 10 includes a base plate 12, a base cover 20 disposed on the upper side so as to cover the base plate 12, and a set plate 23 disposed so as to obliquely project from an end of the base plate 12. As shown in FIGS. 1A to 2B, the base plate 12 is provided with an insertion groove 13 which extends in the opening / closing direction of the door 2 and through which the striker 4 is inserted. As shown most clearly in FIG. 1B, the base cover 20 is provided with an insertion groove 21 in communication with the insertion groove 13. In addition, as shown to FIG. 1A and FIG. 2A, the striker 4 is the structure which bent the cross section circular shaped rod material in U shape.

  As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, a latch mechanism 25 including a fork 30 and a claw lever 65 is disposed on the base plate 12. As shown in FIG. 1B, a lever mechanism 70 including an open lever 72 and a lock lever 74 is disposed on the set plate 23. Further, the set plate 23 is provided with a cable 76 connected to an outer handle (not shown) disposed at the door 2 and a spring 78 for urging the open lever 72 to the non-operating position shown in FIG. 1B.

  When the outer handle is operated, the open lever 72 rotates clockwise in FIG. 1B via the cable 76, and the claw lever 65 engaged with the end of the open lever 72 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 2A. Then, since the locking between the claw lever 65 and the fork 30 is released, the fork 30 is rotated by the biasing spring (not shown) to the open position where the striker 4 shown in FIG. 2B can be released. Thereby, the door 2 can be opened.

  When the opened door 2 is rotated in the closing direction, the striker 4 enters the engagement groove 33 of the fork 30 along the insertion grooves 13 and 21. When the striker 4 presses the fork 30, the fork 30 is rotated clockwise against the biasing force of the biasing spring. When the fork 30 is rotated to the latched position shown in FIG. 2A, the claw lever 65 is engaged with the fork 30 to hold the fork 30 in the latched position. As a result, the fork 30 and the striker 4 can be engaged, and the door 2 can be maintained in the state of being prevented from being opened.

(Details of the fork)
Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B together and FIG. 3A, the fork 30 is rotatably disposed on the right side of the insertion groove 13 with respect to the base plate 12. The fork 30 is provided with an axial hole 31 at a position biased to the right in FIG. 3A. A separate first shaft member (rotational shaft) 15 is disposed in the shaft hole 31, and the fork 30 is pivotally supported by the base plate 12 via the first shaft member 15. Further, the fork 30 is provided with a spring locking hole 32 for locking the biasing spring.

  The fork 30 is provided with a U-shaped engaging groove 33 which engages with the first cylindrical portion 4a of the striker 4 in a detachable manner. The engagement groove 33 is defined by the first side wall portion 34, the second side wall portion 35, and an end wall portion 36 connecting one end sides of the side wall portions 34 and 35. The first side wall portion 34 is located on the side of the inlet / outlet 14 of the insertion groove 13 and extends generally tangentially to the shaft hole 31. The first side wall portion 34 is positioned to intersect the insertion groove 13 substantially at right angles in the latch position, and to be inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the insertion groove 13 in the open position. The second side wall portion 35 is positioned at substantially the same distance from the first side wall portion 34 as the diameter of the striker 4 and extends generally parallel. The end wall portion 36 is positioned on the shaft hole 31 side of the first side wall portion 34 and the second side wall portion 35.

  As shown in FIG. 2A, with the striker 4 engaged with the engagement groove 33 and the fork 30 rotated to the latch position, when the door 2 is rotated in the opening direction, the striker 4 is in the downward direction in FIG. Move to the entrance 14 side of 13. The movement of the striker 4 is blocked by the striker 4 coming into contact with the first side wall 34 defining the engagement groove 33. As a result, the opening of the door 2 is blocked. As shown in FIG. 2B, when the fork 30 is rotated to the open position, the opening 33a between the end of the first side wall 34 and the end of the second side wall 35 matches the insertion groove 13. Therefore, when the striker 4 moves to the entrance 14 side by the rotation of the door 2, the striker 4 is released from the engagement groove 33. Thus, the door 2 can be opened.

  On the tip end side of the second side wall 35 of the fork 30, a full latch engagement step 37 is provided which is engaged with the engagement portion 66 of the claw lever 65 when it is rotated to the latch position. The claw lever 65 is rotatably supported on the left side of the insertion groove 13 (the opposite side of the fork 30) with respect to the base plate 12 via the second shaft member 16. Further, on the side of the second side wall 35 of the fork 30, a half latch engagement step 38 is provided so as to protrude outward in the orthogonal direction with respect to the engagement groove 33. The locking portion 66 of the claw lever 65 is engaged with the half latch engagement step 38 when the fork 30 is rotated to a rotational angle position intermediate between the open position and the latch position.

  Referring to FIGS. 3A to 3C, the fork 30 includes a metal fork main body 40 and a resin (elastomer) fork cover 50 covering the fork main body 40. The fork cover 50 is interposed between the fork main body 40 and the striker 4 and prevents generation of metallic noise (noise) due to the collision of the striker 4 and the fork main body 40, both of which are made of metal. In the fork 30, the fork main body 40 is insert-molded in the fork cover 50 by setting the fork main body 40 in the cavity of the molding die. In this embodiment, the striker 4 prevents the fork cover 50 from being subjected to an excessive load, and prevents the fork cover 50 from being plastically deformed or broken.

  The fork main body 40 is formed of a metal plate having a predetermined thickness. The fork cover 50 includes a pair of covering portions 51 and 52 covering both surfaces of the fork main body 40, and an outer surface covering portion 53 covering the outer peripheral surface of the fork main body 40. The first covering portion 51 covers one surface side of the fork main body 40 along the rotation center P of the fork 30. The second covering portion 52 covers the other surface side of the fork main body 40 along the rotation center P of the fork 30. The outer surface covering portion 53 also has a function of connecting the first covering portion 51 and the second covering portion 52.

  The fork main body 40 is exposed without the fork main body 40 being covered with the fork cover 50 in the portion where the spring locking hole 32 of the fork 30, the full latch locking step 37, and the half latch locking step 38 are formed. It is done. That is, the spring engagement hole 32, the full latch engagement step 37 and the half latch engagement step 38 are formed in the fork main body 40.

  Referring also to FIG. 2A, the fork cover 50 is provided with a cutout 54 for exposing the fork main body 40 in a portion positioned at the entrance 14 of the insertion groove 13 in a state where the fork 30 is rotated to the latch position. There is. When the striker 4 is engaged with the engagement groove 33 and the fork 30 is rotated clockwise beyond the latch position by the pressing of the striker 4, the second cylindrical portion 4 b on the non-engagement side of the striker 4 is notched 54 Abut on the fork main body 40 exposed. Thus, the fork cover 50 is prevented from being damaged by an excessive load by the second cylindrical portion 4b.

  The fork cover 50 is provided with a first buffer portion 55 which protrudes outward from the outer surface covering portion 53 in the vicinity of the cutout portion 54. The first buffer 55 is formed with a first air gap 55 a penetrating along the rotation center P of the fork 30. The first buffer portion 55 reduces the impact when the fork 30 rotates from the latch position to the open position and abuts on the first stopper portion 17 of the base plate 12.

  Further, the fork cover 50 is provided with a second buffer portion 56 projecting outward from the outer surface covering portion 53 between the full latch engagement step 37 and the half latch engagement step 38. In the second buffer 56, a second air gap 56a similar to the first buffer 55 is formed. The second buffer portion 56 reduces the impact when the claw lever 65 abuts when the fork 30 is rotated from the open position to the latch position. More specifically, the claw lever 65 rotates counterclockwise from the locking position shown in FIG. 2B against the biasing force of a biasing spring (not shown) by the pressing of the half latch locking step 38. When the pressure is released by the passage of the half latch locking step 38, the locking position is rotated to the locking position by the biasing force of the biasing spring. At this time, the impact due to the contact of the claw lever 65 with the fork 30 is reduced.

  The axial hole 31 of the fork 30 is an internal space of the inner wall portion 57 provided on the fork cover 50. The fork main body 40 is provided with a main body hole portion 41 formed of a circular hole penetrating in the thickness direction Y. The inner wall portion 57 of the fork cover 50 is formed in a cylindrical shape that covers the circular end surface of the fork main body 40 that defines the main body hole portion 41. The inner wall portion 57 also has a function of connecting the first covering portion 51 and the second covering portion 52. By arranging the metal first shaft member 15 in the shaft hole 31 formed in the inner wall portion 57, the first shaft member 15 and the fork main body 40, both of which are made of metal, are prevented from sliding contact with each other.

(Details of engagement groove)
As shown in FIGS. 3C and 3D, the first side wall 34 defining the engagement groove 33 of the fork 30 is an end of the first elastic holding portion 58 of the fork cover 50. The second side wall 35 defining the engagement groove 33 is an end of the second elastic holding portion 59 of the fork cover 50. The end wall portion 36 defining the engagement groove 33 is composed of the end of the fork cover 50 and the end of the fork main body 40.

  More specifically, the fork main body 40 is provided with a main body groove portion 42 having a groove width wider than the engagement groove 33. The main body groove 42 has a first side end 43 located at an interval S1 set with the first side wall 34 and a second side end 44 located at an interval S2 set with the second side wall 35. And a bottom end 45 that constitutes a part of the end wall 36.

  The fork cover 50 is provided with a first elastic holding portion 58 on the inner side of the first side end portion 43. The first elastic holding portion 58 extends from the first covering portion 51 to the second covering portion 52 and also has a function of connecting the covering portions 51 and 52. The thickness of the first elastic holding portion 58 is set such that the end on the engagement groove 33 side is positioned at an interval S1 with respect to the first side end 43. The interval S1 is set based on the load applied from the striker 4 and the pressure resistance of the fork cover 50. Referring to FIG. 3E, the first elastic holding portion 58 of the present embodiment is formed in a trapezoidal shape in which the center in the thickness direction protrudes most into the engagement groove 33, and the upper side thereof is the first side wall portion 34. Configure. When the striker 4 moves in the movement direction Z when the door 2 is opened, the first contact of the first cylindrical portion 4a of the striker 4 with the first side wall portion 34 in a state where the fork 30 is rotated to the latch position. The part (first part) 5 abuts.

  The fork cover 50 is provided with a second elastic holding portion 59 at the inner side of the second side end 44. The second elastic holding portion 59 extends from the first covering portion 51 to the second covering portion 52 and has a function of connecting the covering portions 51 and 52. The thickness of the second elastic holding portion 59 is set such that the end on the engagement groove 33 side is positioned at an interval S2 with respect to the second side end 44. Referring to FIG. 3E, the second elastic holding portion 59 is formed in an arc shape in which the center in the thickness direction is most expanded in the engagement groove 33, and the top portion thereof constitutes the second side wall portion 35. . Further, in the second elastic holding portion 59, a gap portion 59a penetrating along the rotation center P of the fork 30 is formed. The air gap 59 a is provided to extend along the second side wall 35 in an oval shape. The gap 59a reduces the impact when the striker 4 enters and abuts on the engagement groove 33 of the fork 30 in the open position. In the second side wall portion 35, a portion (opposite portion 6) radially facing the first contact portion 5 of the first cylindrical portion 4a is in contact.

  The distance between the first side end 43 and the second side end 44 defining the main body groove 42 is set larger than the diameter of the first cylindrical portion 4 a. Further, the distance between the first side wall portion 34 and the second side wall portion 35 defining the engagement groove 33 is set smaller than the diameter of the first cylindrical portion 4 a. As a result, the first cylindrical portion 4 a of the striker 4 is held in a state in which it is elastically pressed between the first elastic holding portion 58 and the second elastic holding portion 59. Further, the second elastic holding portion 59 constituting the second side wall portion 35 is more easily elastically deformed than the first elastic holding portion 58 by forming the void portion 59 a. Therefore, as shown by a broken line in FIG. 3D, when the striker 4 is held in the engagement groove 33, the second elastic holding portion 59 is elastically deformed without the first elastic holding portion 58 being elastically deformed. It will be in a state of

  The end wall portion 36 defining the engagement groove 33 is, in order from the side of the first side wall portion 34, a first end 36a which is a part of the fork main body 40 and a second end which is a part of the fork cover 50 36 b, a third end 36 c which is a part of the fork main body 40, and a fourth end 36 d which is a part of the fork cover 50. The first end 36 a to the fourth end 36 d are continuous from the first side wall 34 to the second side wall 35 so as to form a curved shape as a whole.

  The first end 36 a is an inner edge of the restricting portion 46 which is a part of the bottom end 45 of the fork main body 40. The second end 36 b is an inner edge of the connecting portion 62 formed on the fork cover 50. The third end 36 c is an inner edge of the apex 45 a which is a part of the bottom end 45 of the fork main body 40. The fourth end 36 d is an inner edge of the extending portion 63 continuous with the second elastic holding portion 59 of the fork cover 50. Among them, the first end 36a and the third end 36c are set to be a part of the fork main body 40, but due to an arrangement error of the fork main body 40 at the time of insert molding, It may be molded in a state of being covered with a film. In other words, the first end 36 a and the third end 36 c may be covered by the fork cover 50.

  The restricting portion 46 including the first end 36 a is provided so as to protrude into the engagement groove 33 of the fork 30. When the striker 4 moves in the movement direction Z when the door 2 is opened with the fork 30 rotated to the latch position, the restricting portion 46 has a second contact portion (different from the first contact portion 5 of the striker 4) By abutting on the second part 7), the movement of the striker 4 is blocked.

  Here, the first contact portion 5 of the striker 4 is a line L1 extending in a direction orthogonal to the first side wall portion 34 from the center of the first cylindrical portion 4a having a circular cross section and engaged with the engagement groove 33. , And an outer peripheral portion of the first cylindrical portion 4a. The second contact portion 7 is a portion located at a predetermined interval (angle) in the circumferential direction of the first cylindrical portion 4 a with respect to the first contact portion 5. The rotation angle of the second contact portion 7 with respect to the line L1 extending from the center of the first cylindrical portion 4a toward the first contact portion 5 is preferably less than 90 degrees, and is set to about 45 degrees in the present embodiment .

  Referring to FIG. 3E, the restricting portion 46 (first end 36 a) is not covered by the fork cover 50. A rectangular opening 60 is formed in the fork cover 50 at a portion corresponding to the restricting portion 46. The restricting portion 46 protrudes to the striker 4 side more than the first side end 43 of the fork main body 40 positioned in the moving direction of the striker 4 when the door 2 is opened, in a state where the fork 30 is rotated to the latch position. Further, as shown by a broken line in FIG. 3D, the restricting portion 46 is positioned so as to be spaced from the second contact portion 7 in a state where the striker 4 is held by the elastic holding portions 58 and 59. Is formed. Note that movement of the striker 4 in this holding state toward the end wall portion 36 facing right in FIG. 3D is restricted by the insertion groove 21 of the base cover 20.

  With the fork 30 rotated to the latch position, when the striker 4 is moved in the Z direction from the position shown by the broken line in FIG. 3D to the position shown by the dashed line in FIG. It is elastically deformed. When an overload exceeding the compression strength of the first elastic holding portion 58 is applied from the striker 4, the first contact portion 5 of the striker 4 abuts on the first side end portion 43 of the fork main body 40, and the first elastic holding portion 58 breaks. Therefore, the second contact portion 7 is set to abut on the restricting portion 46 before the first contact portion 5 abuts on the first side end portion 43. Specifically, it is preferable to set the second contact portion 7 to abut on the restricting portion 46 when the first elastic holding portion 58 is deformed to a range of 50% to 90% of the thickness (interval S1) . And in this embodiment, when the 1st elastic holding part 58 deform | transforms to 70%, it is set so that the 2nd contact part 7 may contact | abut in the control part 46. As shown in FIG.

  Further, as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 3D, the striker 4 elastically deforms the first elastic holding portion 58 and moves in the Z direction even with a reaction force of the seal member 8 disposed on the vehicle body panel 1. When the first elastic holding portion 58 is deformed by the movement of the striker 4 by the reaction force of the seal member 8, the distance between the restricting portion 46 and the second contact portion 7 so that the striker 4 does not abut the restricting portion 46. Is set. As a result, the striker 4 is prevented from coming into contact with the restricting portion 46 during normal use, and the occurrence of abnormal noise due to the collision between the metal striker 4 and the restricting portion 46 is also prevented.

  The apex 45a constituting the third end 36c is a portion where a line L2 connecting the center of the first cylindrical portion 4a and the rotation center P of the fork 30 intersects the bottom end 45 of the fork main body. The setting range including the apex 45 a is not covered by the fork cover 50. Referring to FIG. 3E, the fork cover 50 is formed with a rectangular opening 61 at a portion corresponding to the apex 45a. As described above, the fork 30 is configured such that the apex 45a of the engagement groove 33 of the fork 30 is not covered by the fork cover 50, and the distance between the striker 4 and the first shaft member 15 of the fork 30 is shortened. , The entire door latch device 10 is miniaturized.

  The connecting portion 62 including the second end 36 b is provided so as to be located in a recess 47 formed in the fork main body 40. The recess 47 is provided between the apex 45 a of the fork main body 40 and the restricting portion 46 so as to be recessed toward the shaft hole 31. The connection portion 62 is formed by filling the recess 47 with a material by insert molding. A part of the engagement groove 33 (end wall portion 36) is covered by the fork cover 50 by the connecting portion 62. The connecting portion 62 also has a function of maintaining the first covering portion 51 and the second covering portion 52 of the fork cover 50 in a connected state. Therefore, the thickness of the connecting portion 62 is formed to be approximately the same thickness as that of the first elastic holding portion 58. As described above, by providing the connecting portion 62 between the peak portion 45 a for exposing the fork main body 40 and the restricting portion 46, the opening end edge of the fork cover 50 is prevented from being twisted and damaged.

  The extending portion 63 including the fourth end 36 d is provided so as to gradually decrease in thickness from the second side end 44 to the apex 45 a of the bottom end 45 of the fork main body 40. The extending portion 63 extends from the first covering portion 51 to the second covering portion 52 and also has a function of connecting the covering portions 51 and 52.

  In the door latch device 10 thus configured, when the striker 4 moves in the movement direction Z when the door 2 is opened by a strong force, the first elastic holding portion 58 of the fork cover 50 compresses to the first contact portion 5 of the striker 4 Be done. However, when the first elastic holding portion 58 is compressed by a predetermined amount, the restricting portion 46 abuts on the second contact portion 7 of the striker 4 to restrict movement of the striker 4 beyond that. Thus, since the fork cover 50 can be prevented from being compressed beyond the limit, deformation and breakage of the fork cover 50 can be prevented. Therefore, while being able to prevent generation | occurrence | production of the abnormal noise by the striker 4 contact | abutting to the fork main body 40, generation | occurrence | production of the malfunction of the door latch apparatus 10 can be prevented.

  Since the restricting portion 46 is a part of the fork main body 40 not covered by the fork cover 50, the fork cover 50 is not damaged by the contact of the second contact portion 7 of the striker 4. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the restriction position of the striker 4 from changing due to the breakage of the fork cover 50, and to reliably prevent the fork cover 50 from being compressed more than necessary. Further, although the fork 30 exposes the apex 45a and the restricting portion 46 including the fork main body 40 from the fork cover 50 for downsizing, the fork cover 50 is provided with the connecting portion 62. The strength of the steel can be improved and breakage can be prevented. This effect can be obtained similarly even when the apex 45 a and the restricting portion 46 are covered with the thin film of the fork cover 50.

Second Embodiment
FIG. 4 shows the fork 30 of the door latch device 10 of the second embodiment. The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the position of the restricting portion 46 formed in the engagement groove 33 is changed. Specifically, the restricting portion 46 of the first embodiment is in contact with the second contact portion 7 at a position different in the circumferential direction with respect to the first contact portion 5 of the striker 4, but the second embodiment The restricting portion 46 in the form is in contact with the second contact portion 7 at a different position in the axial direction with respect to the first contact portion 5.

  Specifically, the first side end 43 of the fork main body 40 is provided with a restricting portion 46 which protrudes from the half area of the thickness toward the inside of the engagement groove 33. That is, the restricting portion 46 and the first elastic holding portion 58 are provided to be shifted in the axial direction of the fork 30. The first elastic holding portion 58 of the fork cover 50 is provided at a set interval (thickness) S1 as in the first embodiment. The first elastic holding portion 58 is provided with a notch 64 at a portion corresponding to the restricting portion 46. The restriction portion 46 of the fork main body 40 is exposed by the notch portion 64. The restricting portion 46 is provided on the outer side of the engagement groove 33 (the moving direction side of the striker 4 when the door 2 is opened) than the first side wall portion 34 of the first elastic holding portion 58.

  When the striker 4 is moved in the Z direction with the fork 30 rotated to the latch position, as shown by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. The first elastic holding portion 58 abuts and elastically deforms. Then, when the first elastic holding portion 58 is compressed by a predetermined amount, the second contact portion 7 axially spaced from the first contact portion 5 of the striker 4 abuts against the restricting portion 46. The movement of the striker 4 is further restricted. Therefore, since it is possible to prevent the fork cover 50 from being compressed beyond the limit, the same operation and effect as the first embodiment can be obtained.

  In addition, the door latch apparatus 10 of this invention is not limited to the structure of the said embodiment, A various change is possible.

  For example, in the above embodiment, the distance between the first side wall 34 and the second side wall 35 defining the engagement groove 33 is smaller than the diameter of the striker 4, but may be larger than the diameter of the striker 4. Further, the door 2 using the door latch device 10 is not limited to a hatchback door and a trunk door that has a horizontal hinge axis and that opens and closes in the vertical direction, and a door that has a vertical hinge axis and that opens and closes in the horizontal direction It may be. Although the striker 4 is disposed on the vehicle body panel 1 and the door latch device 10 is disposed on the door panel 3, the same operation and effect can be obtained even if the door latch device 10 is disposed on the vehicle body panel 1 and the striker 4 is disposed on the door panel 3. You can get Also, the other parts except fork 30 can be modified as desired.

Reference Signs List 1 vehicle body panel 2 door 3 door panel 4 striker 4 a first cylindrical portion 4 b second cylindrical portion 5 first contact portion (first portion)
6 opposing part 7 second contact part (second part)
Reference Signs List 8 seal member 10 door latch device 12 base plate 13 insertion groove 14 inlet / outlet 15 first shaft member 16 second shaft member 17 first stopper portion 20 base cover 21 insertion groove 23 set plate 25 latch mechanism 30 fork 31 shaft hole 32 spring locking hole 33 engaging groove 33a opening 34 first side wall 35 second side wall 36 end wall 36a first end 36b second end 36c third end 36d fourth end 37 full latch engagement step 38 half latch Locking step 40 Fork body 41 Body hole 42 Body groove 43 First side end 44 Second side end 45 Bottom end 45a Peak 46 Control part 47 Recess 50 Fork cover 51 First cover 52 Second cover Part 53 Outer surface covering part 54 Notch part 55 1st buffer part 55a 1st void part 56 2nd buffer part 56a 2nd empty Part 57 inner wall part 58 first elastic holding part 59 second elastic holding part 59a void 60 opening 61 opening 62 connecting part 63 extending part 64 cutout part 65 claw lever 66 locking part 70 lever mechanism 72 open lever 74 lock lever 76 Cable 78 Spring

Claims (6)

An engagement groove is provided for detachably engaging a striker provided on a vehicle body or a door, and the first portion of the striker abuts on a first side wall portion defining the engagement groove, whereby the striker is provided with an engagement groove. And a fork rotatable between a latch position for preventing release and an open position capable of releasing the striker from the engagement groove;
The fork includes a metal fork body and a resin fork cover that covers the fork body.
The first side wall portion is an end portion of an elastically deformable elastic holding portion provided on the fork cover,
The fork contacts the second portion different from the first portion of the striker when the striker moves in the movement direction when the door is opened while the fork is rotated to the latch position. It has a regulation part that blocks the movement of the striker,
The restricting portion is set such that the second portion of the striker abuts before the elastic holding portion is deformed and the first portion of the striker abuts on an end of the fork main body. Door latch device.   The door latch device according to claim 1, wherein the restricting portion is a part of the fork main body not covered by the fork cover. The striker is circular in cross section, and the second portion is positioned at a predetermined distance from the first portion in the circumferential direction of the striker,
3. The door latch device according to claim 1, wherein the elastic holding portion holds the striker such that the restricting portion and the second portion of the striker are positioned at a set interval. 4. The engagement groove is an end wall connecting the first side wall, a second side wall spaced apart from the first side wall, and one end of the first side wall and the second side wall. Defined by
The restricting portion is provided on the end wall portion, and the first side end portion of the fork main body located in the moving direction of the striker when the door is opened in a state where the fork is rotated to the latch position The door latch device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which protrudes further to the striker side. The fork main body has a recess between the apex of the end wall portion intersecting the line connecting the center of the striker held in the engagement groove and the rotation center of the fork, and the restricting portion.
The fork cover has a first covering portion covering one side of the fork main body along the rotation center of the fork, and a second covering portion covering the other side, and is positioned in the recess. 5. The door latch device according to claim 4, further comprising: a connecting portion connecting the first covering portion and the second covering portion to cover a part of the engagement groove. The striker is circular in cross section, and the second portion is positioned at a predetermined distance in the axial direction of the fork relative to the first portion,
The elastic holding portion holds the striker such that the restriction portion and the second portion of the striker are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance.
3. The door latch device according to claim 1, wherein the restricting portion and the elastic holding portion are provided so as to be offset in the axial direction of the fork.

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