US2686417A

US2686417A - Vehicle door lock

Info

Publication number: US2686417A
Application number: US185414A
Authority: US
Inventors: Burnie J Craig
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1950-09-18
Filing date: 1950-09-18
Publication date: 1954-08-17
Anticipated expiration: 1971-08-17

Description

1954 B. J. CRAIG VEHICLE DOOR LOCK Filed Spt. 18, 1950 INVENTOR.

MI I 4 5 I I 74 9 4 44 i n b\s /4 Patented Aug. 17, 1954 UNITED STATES ?ATENT OFFICE VEHICLE noon LOCK Burnie J. Craig, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application September 18, 1950, Serial No. 185,414

9 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a latch.

The general object of the invention is to provide an improved vehicle door latch including novel lock means for controlling the latch on a door of an automotive vehicle.

Another object of the invention is to provide door latching means including a novel lock means which is operable in a novel manner to unlock the latch.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel door latch handle assembly.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel combined key-controlled and dial actu ated tumbler controlled lock assembly.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel push button operated latch release member and latch lock.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel push button latch release member including a novel keyless actuated locking member.

A further object of the invention is to provide a latch locking means wherein a push button actuated key lock member is provided and wherein a dial actuated tumbler member is mounted coaxial with the push button member.

A further object of the invention is to provide a vehicle door latch handle assembly which carries push button means for operatinga door latch to released position and wherein a plurality of means is carried by the handle for rendering the push button member inoperative to open the door.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a horizontal sectional view taken through an automotive door andpillar, showing the present invention in plan;

Fig. 2 is a section through a vehicle door and pillar, showing a portion of the latch;

Fig. 3 is a central sectional view through the handle, showing the operating parts;

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 4-4,.Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged elevation with parts in section, showing the operation of the unlocking means;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing a modification;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 5, showing the modification;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary section taken on line 88, Fig. 6,

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary section taken on line 99, Fig. 6, and

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary sectional detail showing parts of the modification of Fig. 6 in another position.

Referring to. the drawing by reference characters, the invention is shown as embodied in a door latch A arranged upon a door B of a vehicle.

As shown, the latch includes a base plate I0, having a pivoted bolt ll thereon. The bolt supports a strike engaging roller [2 upon its outer end. The latches in the present disclosures are like the latches shown in applicants copending application Serial No. 103,431, filed July '7, 1949, now Patent No. 2,659,230, dated November 1'7, 1953.

The protruding roller 12 moves in a slot [3 in a strike it arranged upon the vehicle pillar M The slot I3 is inclined (not shown) so that as each vehicle door closes its associated roller moves into the open end of the slot l3 and towards fully engaged position behind a position of the wall of the slot.

To hold thebolt in this engaged position and thereby hold the door closed, a catch member 15 (Fig. 2) 'is pivotally supported upon the base it. The catch member I5 may be released by a latch releasing member [6 which is slidable on a carriage member ll. When moved in one direction a pin [8 on the latch releasing member engages and rocks the catch member to free the bolt.

The carriage member I! is pivoted as at I9 011 the base it. One end of the carriage member is raised as at 20 and a snap-over spring 2'] is arranged between this raised portion and the base It] to hold the carriage member in either one of its two positions.

The carriage member I? includes a projecting end22 which is cylindrical to support a roller 23.

The releasing member and the carriage member are like the members described in my patent, mentioned above, and a further description thereof seems unnecessary.

The releasing member [6 is operated by a releasing arm 25 which is in the nature of a bell crank and is shown as pivoted at 26 upon the base It. One arm of the bell crank engages in a slot 21 in the releasing member while the other portion of the bell crank 2'! is engaged by a tongue 21 on an actuating member 28 which is carried by an outside actuator indicated generally at 3!). The outside actuator is similar to the handle assembly disclosed in applicant's prior patent, mentioned above.

As shown, the outside actuator or handle assembly 30 includes a body 3| which has a handle grip member 32 thereon. The body 3| may be held in place by means of a slip plate 33 which engages the body 3| and the door.

The body 3| has a chamber 34 and at one end of the chamber has an enlarged bore 35. At the inner end the body is open and enlarged as at 36 to receive a closure 31 which is held in place against rotation by a tight fit and by a split ring 38. The closure 3'! engages the end of collar 39 which has an internal flange 49 there- The body 3| has a bore4| which receives the tubular dial body 42. The body 42 has a finger engaging head portion 43 slidably mounted thereon. A pin 43 on the head portion working ina slot 43 in the dial body 42 limits axial movement of the head portion. The dialbody 42 includes a sleeve 43 which rotatably engages the flange 40. The sleeve 43 has an integral tumbler 44 thereon. Concentric with the tumbler 44, I provide tumblers 45 and 4B which are free to rotate about the sleeve 43. The tumblers have the usual tumbler pins 4? thereon.

The tumblers are shown as spaced apart by collars 48 which are annular and integral with the tumblers. Tumbler locks of this type are common and well known and a further description is believed unnecessary.

The body 3| (see Fig. 3) is provided with spaced tongues| which support a'shaft 52. The shaft 52 supports an arm 53, normally urged to the full line position in Fig. 3 by a spring 55. The arm 53 has one end extending through a hole 56 in the closure 31.

In operation rotation of the dial head 43 will cause the pin 43 to rotate the sleeve 43 and the tumbler 44, whereupon the pins on this tumbler will rotate the tumbler 46 and the pins of the tumbler 46 will rotate the tumbler 45.

Each tumbler is provided with a notch 60, which may receive the arm 53. The construction is such that after the head-portion 43 of the dial has rotated the tumblers and'the correct positioning has taken place, the arm 53 will be aligned with the notches B0 and in position to move into the notches 60.

The tubular dial body 42 and sleeve 43 receive a lock barrel-5| which includes a push button end 62. The push button end extends through a hole 63 in the dial head. The details of the tumbler lock'formno part of the present invention as such locks are common and in well known use. The construction is such that when akey 64 is inserted in the barrel 6| and is rotated, suitable pins (not shown) will be aligned, permitting the key to turn a head member 65 relative to the look barrel in either direction from a normal neutral position. The head member is connected to and rotates the actuating arm 28 carried by the head member and previously mentioned.

Shouldersfifi and 6! on the barrel 6| and the dial body limit the outer movement of the lock barrel. A spring-68 normally urges the lock barrel outwardly.

In order to prevent rotation of the lock barrel 5|,the latter is shown as provided with a rod which passes through-a hole H in the fixed closure 31.

v The push button may be operated at'any time to cause inward movement of the head member 68 and the actuating member 28 carried by the head member to thereby rock the bell crank member to cause the latter to move-the release member IE to bolt-releasingposition. Ifthecarriage member I1 is in unlocked condition, this operation will cause the release member to release the bolt. If the carriage member H is in locked position, the push button and actuating member 28 will move inwardly without effect.

The key 64 may be inserted and the lock barrel may be rotated to turn the member 28 clockwise or counterclockwise and to cause the inner end of the member 28 to rotate about the axis of the lock barrel to thus cause the locking arm to be raised or lowered, in other words, move to unlocked or locked position. The lock barrel being keyed by the rod lil to the fixed partition 31, rotation of the lock barrel is prevented.

From the description it will be apparent that a person with a proper key could rotate the lock barrel and operating member 23 to move the carriage member to unlocked position.

To perform the unlocking operation without rotating the lock barrel and without use of a key, the dial head 43 is rotated to correctly position the tumblers. The arm 53 will then be aligned with the notches 68 so that thereupon, when the dial 43'is pushed inwardly, a cam surface ill thereon will engage a cam surface 10 on the arm 53 so that the arm will be rotated about the pivot 52, causing it to enter the notches 6|].

The arm 53 includes an unlocking end portion 12 which passes through the latch base plate I0 and terminates just short of the locking member ll (Fig. 5). The end 12 is provided with slopin cam surfaces '13 which are adapted to engage either the upper or lower curved surfaces 14 of a cam 15 secured to the carriage member H. When the arm 53 is rocked by the dial head moving inwardly the cam surfaces engaging the cam 15' will cause the carriage member to move from a locked or.unlocked position, depending upon its original position. So as to insure the carriage member passing over its center, the cam 15 is provided with a slight central dwell 18. A quick inward push of the dial head 43 will, clue to the inertia of the moving parts, cause the dwell portion 16 to move across the adjacent part of the cam 73, whereupon the over center spring 2| completes the movement of the member ll.

In Figs. 6, '7 and 8 a modification is shown. In the modification most of the parts are like those previously described and are designated by single primed reference characters. In the modification the arm 53' is pivotally supported at 52 to ears 99 arranged on an annular ring 9| rotatably supported on the dial body 43'. A split ring 92 retains the ring 9| in position.

The body portion 3| is provided with a slot 93 which serves to engage the arm 53' to thus normally hold the arm 53' and the ring 9| against relative rotation. A spring 55 normally urges the arm 53 towards the tumblers.

The operation of the modification is similar to that of the first type described. In the type of Fig. 3 the arm 53 is normally urged away from the notches 60 by the spring 55. In the modification of Fig. 6 the arm 53 is normally urged towards the notches 60 by the spring 55. When the notches are aligned the spring 55 will move the arm 53 into the notches 55' and the arm 53 will be withdrawn from engagement in the slot 93 and at the same time that the notches 60 are aligned the end 18' or the arm 53 will be aligned with a notch 94 in the'outer periphery of the dial body 43' as shown in Fig. 10 so that the dial body may be moved-inwardly when the arm 53' enters the slots 69' in the

tumblers

45, 46' and 41". The end 12' of. the arm will take the broken line position shown in Fig. 7. The free end of the dial body 43 may be engaged by the fingers and turned.

After the arm 53' is so moved, rotation of the dial body 43 will rotate the arm 53' about the axis of the dial body. The end 12 of'the arm 53 will then be in the broken line position of Fig. 7 and will engage one of a pair of tongues 95 on the carriage H to rock this arm. The arm 53 moves in an arcuate slot 96 and the walls of the slot limit movement of the arm 53.

To jumble the'tumblers after the device has been operated, the body 43 will be given a quick turn, causing the arm 53 to cam out of the sloping slots 60'.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the invention disclosed herein provides a handle assembly wherein the latch may be released by a push button member and that key operated means permits locking and unlocking. Also, that provision is made whereby a dial operated tumbler lock, herein shown for convenience of illustration as coaxial with the push button,

permits the look, if in locked condition, to be unlocked while the key operated lock remains locked.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: 1. In a vehicle door lock, a chambered body, gated tumblers rotatable in the chamber, a movable fence cooperating with the gated tumblers, a

dial for rotating the tumblers whereby the tumblers may be positioned with respect to one another and to the fence to allow the fence to enter the gatings of the tumblers, acatch releasing member movable to and from a position wherein it may be moved to a catch releasing position, an actuating portion movable with the fence, means operable by the actuating portion to move the catch releasing member to the position wherein it may be moved to catch releasing'posi- 2. In a vehicle door lock, a chambered bodyfa fixed support carried by the body, a lock barrel, means holding the lock barrel against rotation relative to the support while permitting reciprocation of the lock barrel with respect to the support, a head member within the lock barrel, key released means normally preventing relative rotation between the head member and the lock barrel, gated tumblers rotatable in the chamber, a movable fence cooperating with the gated tume blers, a dial for rotating the tumblers whereby the tumblers may be positioned with respect to one another and to the fence to allow the fence to enter the gatings of the tumblers, a catch releasing member movable to and from a position wherein it may be moved toa catch releasing position, an actuating portion movable with the fence and operable to move the catch releasing member to the position wherein it may be moved to catch releasing position, means operated by movement of the dial when the tumbler gatings are in alignment with the fence to move the fence and thereby to move the catch releasing member to the position wherein it may be moved to catch releasing position, an actuating member for the catch releasing member, said actuating member being rotatable with the head member and lock barrel and means to move the actuating member so as to shift the catch releasing member to its catch releasing position. a

3. In a vehicle door lock, a chambered body, gated tumblers rotatable in the chambena movable fence cooperating with the gated tumblers, a dial for rotating the tumblers whereby the tumblers may be positioned with respect. to one another and to the fence to allow the fence to enter the gatings of the tumblers, a catch releasing member movable to and from a position wherein it may be moved to a catch releasing position, an actuating arm movable with the fence and operable to move the catch releasing member to the position wherein it may be moved to catch releasing position, means operated by axial movement of the dial when the tumbler gatings are in alignment with the fence to move the fence and thereby to move the catch releasing member to the position wherein it may be moved to catch releasing position, an actuating member for the catch releasing member and means to move the actuating member so as to shift the catch releasing member to its catch releasing position. 7

4. In a vehicle door look,- a chambered body, a fixed support carried by the body, a lock barrel, means holding the lock barrel against rotation relative to the support while permitting reciprocation of the lock barrel with respect to the sup port, a head member within the lock barrel, key released means normally preventing relative rotation between the head member and the lock barrel, gated tumblers rotatable in the chamber, a movable fence cooperating with the gated tumblers, a dial for rotating the tumblers whereby the tumblers may be positioned with respect to one another and to the fence to allow the fence to enter the gatings of the tumblers, a catch releasing member, a movable carriage supporting the catch releasing member, the carriage'being shiftable to move the catch releasing member to and from a position wherein it may be moved to a catch releasing position, an actuating arm movable with the fence and operable 'to move the carriage to the position wherein the catchreleasing member may be moved to catch releasing position, means operated by axial movement of the dial when the tumbler gatings are in alignment with the fence to move the fence into said gatings and to move the carriage to the position wherein the catch releasing member may be moved to catch releasing position, the lock barrel including a push button slidable within said dial, and an actuating member for the carriage and for the catch releasing member on the head member and rotatable With the head member and lock barrel to shift the carriage to position the catch releasing member in position to be moved to catch releasing position, the actuating member being operable by the push button to move the catch releasing member to its catch releasing position.

5. In a vehicle door lock, a chambered body, a fixed support carried by the body, a lock barrel, means holdingthe lock barrel against rotation relative to the support while permitting reciprocation of the lock barrel on the support, a head tumblers may be positioned with respect to one another and to the fence to allow the fence to enter the gatings of the tumblers, a catch releasing member movable to and from a position. wherein it may be moved to a catch releasing position, an actuating portion movable with the-fence and operable to move the catch re.- leasing. member to the position wherein it may be moved to catch releasing position, means to couple the dial to the fence when the tumbler gatings are in alignment with the fence, means operable by rotation of the dial when coupled to the fence to move the fence and thereby move the catchreleasing member to the position wherein it-v may bemoved to catch releasing position, and an actuating member for the catch releasing member'on the head member and means to move the actuating member so as to shift the catch releasing member to catch releasing position.

6-. Ina vehicle door lock, a chambered body, a fi'xed support carried by the body, a lock barrel, means holding the lock barrel against rotation relative to the support while permitting reciprocation of the lock barrel onthe support, a head member- Within the lock barrel, key released means normally preventing relative rotation between the head member and the lock barrel, gated tumblers rotatable in the chamber, a movable fence cooperating with the gated tumblers, a dial member for rotating the tumblers whereby the tumblers may be positioned with respect to one another and to the fence to allow the fence to enter'the gatings of the tumblers, a catch releasing member, a movable carriage supporting the catch releasing member, the carriage being shiftable: to move the catch releasing member to and from a position wherein it may be moved to a catch releasing position, an actuating portion movablewith the fence and operable to move the carriage'so that the catch releasing member is in the position wherein it may be moved to catch releasing position, means to couple the dial to the fence when the tumbler gatings are in alignment with the fence, means operable when the dial is coupledto'thefence to move the fence and thereby move the carriage and the catch releasing member to the position wherein the catch releasingmember may be moved to catch releasing position; the lock barrel including an actuating member for" the catch releasing member, and means to-mov'e. the actuating member so as to shift the catch releasing member to its catch releasing position.

'7; Ina vehicle door look, a chambered body, a fixed support carried by the body, a lock barrel, means holding the lock barrel against rotation relative to the support while permitting reciprocation of the lock barrel on the support, a head member within the lock barrel, key released means normally preventing relative rotation between the'head member and the lock barrel, gated tumblers rotatable in the chamber, a movable fence-cooperating with the gated tumblers, a dial member for rotating the tumblers whereby the tumblers may be positioned with respect to one another and to the fence to allow the fence to enter the gatings of the tumblers, a catch releasing member, a movable carriage supporting the catch releasing member, the carriage being shiftable to move the catch releasing member to and .8 from a position; wherein it may be moved, to. a catch, releasing position, an. actuating" portion movable with the fence'and operable to move the carriage so that the catch releasing member is in the position wherein it may be moved to catch releasing position, means to couple the dial to the fence when the tumbler gatings are in alignment with the fence and means operated by rotation of the dial when coupled to the fence to move the fence and thereby move the carriage and the catch releasing member to the position wherein the catch releasing member may be moved to catch releasing position, the lockbarrel including a push button slidable within the dial head, an actuating member for the catch releasing member on the head member, the actuating member being operable by the push button to move the actuating member so as to shift the catch releasing member to its catch releasing position.

8. In a vehicle door look, a chambered body, gated tumblers rotatable in the chamber, a movable fence cooperating with the gated tumblers, a dial for rotating the tumblers whereby the tumblers may be positioned with respect to one another and to the fence to allow the fence to enter the gatings of the tumblers, a catch releasing member movable to and from a position wherein it may be moved to a catch releasing position, an actuating portion movable with the fence, means operable by the actuating portion to move the catch releasing member to the position wherein it may be moved to catch releasing position, and dial operated means effective when the tumbler gatings are in alignment with the fence to move the fence and thereby to move the catch releasing member to the position wherein it may be moved to catch releasing position.

9. In a vehicle door lock, a chambered. body, a fixed support carried by the body, a lock barrel, means holding the lock barrel against rotation relative to the support while permitting reciprocation of the lock barrel with respect to the support, a head member within the lock barrel, key released means normally preventing relative rotation between the head member and the lock barrel, gated tumblers rotatable in the chamber, a movable fence cooperating with the gated tumblers, a dial for rotating the tumblers whereby the tumblers may be positioned with respect to one another and to the fence to allow the fence to enter the gatings of the tumblers, a catch releasing member movable to and from a position wherein it may be moved to a catch releasing position, an actuating portion movable with the fence and operable to move the catch. releasing member to the position whereinit may be moved to catch releasing position, and dial operated means to move the fence and actuating portion to thereby move the catch releasing member to the position wherein it may be moved to catch releasing position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 300,868 Hill June 24, 1884 1,665,990 Soley Apr. 10, 1928 1,670,042 Mott May 15, 1928 2,129,228 Miller Sept. 6, 1938 (an N