US2687032A

US2687032A - Vehicle door latch

Info

Publication number: US2687032A
Application number: US185411A
Authority: US
Inventors: Burnie J Craig
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1950-09-18
Filing date: 1950-09-18
Publication date: 1954-08-24
Anticipated expiration: 1971-08-24

Description

Aug. 24, 1954 B. J. CRAIG VEHICLE DOOR LATCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 18, 1950 INVENTOR.

Aug. 24, 1954 B. J. CRAIG VEHICLE DOOR LATCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 18. 1950 g 36 IO 37 a novel push button operated Patented Aug. 24, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VEHICLE DOOR LATCH Burnie J. Craig, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application September 18, 1950, Serial No. 185,411

11 Claims.

This invention relates to a vehicle door latch.

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

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a door. lockingsystem including novel means for unlocking and/or looking a plurality of the doors of an automotive vehicle and wherein speed responsive means controls the operation of the release means for the latches which hold the doors closed. 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 actuated tumbler controlled lock assembly.

Another object of-the invention is to provide latch release member and latch lock. l Another object of the invention is to provide a novel push button latch release member including a novel keyless actuated unlocking member.

A further object of the invention is to provide a latch lockingmeans wherein a push button ries push button means for operating a door latch to release position and wherein a plurality of in-.

dependently operated means is carried by the handle for unlocking the latch to render the push button means operative to open the door.

Another object of the invention is to provide a door latch including latch releasing means and locking means operable when the latch is in locked position and the door is shut to cause the latch to be unlocked or, by manipulation of a manual member, to remain locked, depending upon the position of the manual member when the door is closed and wherein a keyless lock is employed to unlock the latch.

Another object of the invention is to provide a vehicle door latch including a novel locking member which is movable from locked to unlocked positions and which includes a novel latch releasing member which is controlled by novel lock means and is movable to release the door latch when the locking member is in one position and is inefi'ective to release the latch when moved by the locking member which is in another position. 1

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 fragmentary side elevation showing an automotive vehicle equipped with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, sectional view taken on line 2-2, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3, Fig. 2; r

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary front view showing the door pillar and strike; a

Fig. 5 is an enlarged central sectional view showing the latch operating parts;

Fig. 6 is a section takenon line 6--B, Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a section taken on line 1-l,Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a central sectional view showing the parts in a different position from that shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 5, showing the parts in still another position;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary elevation corresponding to line |0|0, Fig. 3, showing the push button operated actuating member;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view showing the coincidental locking and speed controlled mechanism;

Fig. 12 is a front end view of the pillar lock barrel, and

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 5, showing a modification.

Referring to the drawing by reference characters, the invention isshown as embodied in door latches arranged upon doors A of a multi-door vehicle B.

. As shown, each latch includes a base plate I0, having a flange l I thereon which is provided with a slot 12 through which a pivoted bolt 13 protrudes. The bolt I3 is shown as pivotally mounted on the base plate at M and at its outer end supports a strike engaging roller 15.

The latches in the present disclosure are of the type shown in applicants copending application Serial No. 103,431, filed July7, 1949, now Patent No. 2,659,230, issued November 1'7, 1953.

The protruding roller 15 moves in an inclined slot E6 in a strike member I1, arranged upon the car pillar [8. The slot 16 is inclined so that as each door closes its associated roller moves from one end of the slot l6 towards the other end to fully engaged position behind the portion 19 of 3 the slot. To hold the bolt in this position and thereby hold the door closed, a catch member 2! is pivotally supported at El upon the base 40, and

includes notched

portions

22 and 23.

The bolt it includes an outwardly directed pin 24% which rests upon the notched portion 22 when the bolt is inthe disengaged position. When the bolt is moved to safety latched position, the pin engages the notch 23 and when the bolt is raised to fully engaged position (see Fig. 3), the bolt engages the notched portion 25, just above the notch 23. When so engaged the bolt cannot move downwardly to disengaged position until the catch member 2% is swung about its pivot 2i and is released, as will be hereinafter described. A tongue 2.5 on the base plate limits movement of the catch member in one direction.

One end of a spring 26, arranged about the pivot pin It, engages a pin 27 on the catch 2i and urges the catch 29 to bolt holding position while the other end of the spring 2% engages a pin 28 on the bolt It to normally urge the bolt downwardly to disengaged position.

The bolt may be released by means of an inside remote control door handle 2Q which includes an arm 36, disposed inside the door and adapted to be rocked by the handle 253. The arm 3%.) is connected to one end of a rod 3|, the other end of the rod fitting in a hole 32 in a rock arm 553 which is mounted on the pivot 2|. The lower end of the rock arm engages an actuating pin t l mounted on a latch releasing member 35. The rock arm will thus move the pin 34 and the pin will move the catch 20, thus permitting the spring 26 to move the latch bolt to disengaged position as the door is opened.

In order to provide means exterior of the vehicle for releasing the catch members 28 and also to provide means for locking the release means against unwarranted operation, a carriage member 36 is provided for each latch releasing arm. Each carriage member is pivoted on a pivot 3? on the base it. One end of the carriage member 3b is raised as at 35 and a snap-over spring 36 is arranged between this raised portion 36 and the base Ill to hold the carriage member in either one of its two positions. Tongues 35', struck from the base it, limit movement of the carriage member 36.

The carriage member 35 includes a projecting end portion 33 which extends through a slot 38 in the flange H. The end of the portion 38 is formed into a cylindrical shape to support a roller 38".

The carriage member is similar in some respects in'construction and operation to the carriage member shown in Fig. 32 of the applicants prior Patent No. 2,204,208, granted June 11, 1940.

Guide tongues 39 on the carriage member 36 slidably support the latch release member 35 previously mentioned. When the carriage member is in the position shown inFig. 3 and the release member 35 is moved, the pin 34 will engage the tongue as on the catch 28 to move the catch. A tongue at on the carriage member limits movement of the release member in one direction.

When the carriage member 36 is swung about its pivot 3?, the pin 36 will be disposed opposite a slot 46 in the catch 2i] so that when the release member 35 moves to releasing position, the pin 34 will move into the slot ill without moving the catch member 20. The latch just described is disclosed in the applicants patent No. 2,659,230 mentioned above.

The carriage member 36 includes an elongated 4 slot at (see Fig. 8), which is aligned with a slot in the base l6, and the latch releasing member at is also provided with a slot #8, aligned with the slots 36 and M. The slots 6'5, t? and 58 receive one end portion of a bell crank releasing arm 49, which may be operated from the exterior of the door, as will be described.

The released arm 49 is shown as pivoted at 50 to ears 5i struck from the base Ill. One portion of the bell .crank 39 engages one end wall of the slot 58. The other portion 52 of the bell crank is provided with a slot 52*. An actuating member 53 is carried by an outside actuator indicated generally at 54. The member 53 carries an integral tongue 53 which engages the slotted portion 52 of the bell crank to rock the latter. The outside actuator is similar in some respects to the handle assembly disclosed in applicants prior patent 2,45%),3'72 granted September 28, 1948, and is also similar to the outside actuator disclosed in applicants Patent No. 2,659,230, mentioned above.

As shown, the outside actuator 56 includes a body 55 which has a handle grip member 56 thereon. The body 55 may be held in place by means of a slip plate SW'which engages in notches 5i in the body.

The body 55 has a bore 59 and at the outer end has an enlarged bore 66. At the inner end the body 55 is open to receive a closure M which is held in place against rotation by a tight fit and by a split ring 62. The closure 6i supports a sleeve 533 which has spaced tongues Gd thereon which pass through slots in the closure BI and are bent over to hold the sleeve in place.

About the sleeve 63 I arrange a dial member which has a finger engaging head portion 67 and a tubular body 68. The dial member rotates about the sleeve 63 and in the bore Eli and is slidable in the bore 633. The dial member is also slidable upon the sleeve 63 and at its inner end is cut away as at 59 to provide an annular recess in which a spring 10 is arranged. The spring 10 bears against the closure GI and normally urges the dial member outwardly.

The closure El includes an inwardly directed flange t l which is fitted in the enlarged portion 69 of the body 55.

Upon the dial member I arrange a series of tumblers, shown as three in number, H, 12 and '33, which are free to rotate about the dial member and are provided with the usual tumbler pins 14. Tumbler locks of this type are common and well known and a further description thereof is believed unnecessary. The tumbler '13 is provided with a slot which receives a key it on the dial body (58 and the construction is such that after the tumblers have been set and as the dial moves inwardly, tensioning the spring Hi, the key it will move in the slot F5.

The tumblers ll, l2 and '13 are shown as spaced apart by collars H which are annular and integral with the tumblers. In operating the dial the key 16 will cause the tumbler 73 to first rotate, whereupon the pins on this tumbler will rotate the tumbler l2 and the pins of tumbler [2 will rotate the tumbler H.

The dial member body 68 is provided with a plurality of ears 8%, with one ear for each of the tumblers ll, 12 and T3, and the tumblers are provided with notches or gates 8|, which when the tumblers are correctly aligned each receives a companion ear 80. The construction is such that when the head portion 61 of the dial member 66 is rotated the tumblers, when the correct positioning has taken place, will be aligned, with each of the slots 8I aligned with its companion ear 80, whereupon the dial head 61 may be pushed inwardly until the end 82 of the dial body engages the closure 6|. I

The sleeve 63 slida'blyreceives a lock barrel 85. This lock barrel includes a body 86. and a push button end 81. The push button end extends through a hole 83 in the dial head 67. The details of the key lock form no part of the present inven tion as such locks are common and in well known use. I

Theconstruction issuch that when a key 88 is inserted in the barrel 8! and rotated, suitable pins (not shown) will be aligned, permitting the key to turn the push member relative to the lock barrelin either direction from a normal position. The turning of the key rotates a head member 89 on the push member and rotates a head member 89 on the push member and rotates the releasing arm 53 which is carried by the head member and was previously mentioned. The releasing arm 53 and tongue 53' swing only through asmall angle when moved and at all times contact the bell crank arm 52 so that they may rock the latter. Shoulders 9| and 32 on the barrel 85 and the sleeve 63 limit outer movement of the lock barrel. A spring 93 normally urges the lock barrel outwardly.

In order to prevent rotation between the sleeve 63 and the barrel 8'5 aclutchdevice, which includes a ball I00, is provided. This clutch ball is arranged in a slot IOI in the. sleeve 63 and the ball in normal position also is engaged in a substantially hemispherical seat I02 in the barrel 85. The slot MI is of sufiicient width to receive the ball but does not permit circumferential movement of the ball about the axis of the dial. The

slot IN is elongated as shown in Fig. 5 so that the rotary movement of the barrel is normally prevented while axial movementis permitted.

When in this position the push button may be operated to cause inward movement of the releasing arm 53 to thereby rock the bell crank member 52 to cause the end 49 thereof to move the release member to release the bolt, or the key 8 8 may be inserted and the lock barrel may be rotated, thus turning the head member -89 clockwise or counterclockwise and causing the inner end of the member 53 torotate about the axis of the lock barrel to thus cause the locking arm 36 to be raised or lowered.

The lock barrel is keyed by the clutch ball I00 to the sleeve 63 so that relative rotation between the lock barrel and the sleeve is prevented.

With the construction heretofore described, a 3

person without a key could not rotate the lock barrel and operating member 53 to move the carriage member to unlocked position. The following mechanism provides for this unlocking without use of a key.

The dial member 61 has an arcuate, elongated recess I03 which, after the tumblers have been aligned and the dial head 61 pushed inwardly, will become aligned with theclutch ball to permit the clutch ball to move from the semi-spherical recess I02 into the arcuate recess I 03. In this position there may be limited rotary movement between the sleeve 68 and the lock barrel 86. The slot I03 being circumferentially elongated, once the ball I02 enters the slot I03 there may be limited rotary motion of thedial head 61.

-When the dial head is pushed in after it has been correctly aligned, a slot I05 on the dial head will be engaged by a key I06 on the push member 81 so that thereafter when the dial is rotated the push member and lock barrel will be rotated and rotation of the push member will give this member the same motion as when rotated by a key so that the push member may rotate the arm 53 to operate the carriage member 36 from locked to unlocked position or vice versa.

In order to prevent a vehicle operator from looking himself out of the vehicle through inadvertently closing the door when the locking member 36 is in locked position, the catch member 20 is provided with a restoring pin I I0 which is disposed adjacent to, and is adapted to engage, the lower edge I I l of the catch releasing member 35. The pin I I0 is disposed at one side of the axis of the pivot 31 and the construction is such that when the catch member 20 is rocked by the spring 26 as the door is closed, the pin I I0 will shift with the catch member 20. Thus when the carriage member 36 is in locked position and the member 20 is rocked in the act of closing the door, the pin I II) will move upwardly slightly and will engage the edge III of the latch releasing member 35 and will rock the member 35 upwardly.

, The member 35 is carried on the carriage member 36 and the arrangement of par-ts is such that the carriage member 36 will be moved to unlocked position, where it will be held by the spring 36". Thus the likelihood of any operator locking himself out of the vehicle due to thoughtless closing of the. door when the latch is locked will be prevented.

However, should the operator desire to lock the vehicle door without the use of a key, he may operate a push rod I I 2 on a door, moving the carriage member 36 on that door to locked position whereupon theoperator will press the push button 8! on. the same door and in doing this will move the latch releasing member 35 so that the pin III] will be moved from the'edge I I I and will be aligned with a slot II3 inthe latch releasing member 36. Thus when the door is closed and the catchmember 20 moves the pin IIO will pass into theslot I I3 and will not engage the edge I I I and therefore the carriage member 36 will remain locked.

Thus by dual manipulationthat is by pushing on the push member 8'! and at the same time closing the door when the carriage member 36 is in looking position, the operator will cause the parts to remain locked. Further, as hereinafter I explained, due to a coincidental locking system to be later described, this dual act will also cause all of the other doors besides the one door being closed to be locked regardless of whether the other doors were in locked or unlocked position when the one door was closed;

The latches described abovemay be used individually as single latches. They may also be used with a coincidental locking device and/or with a vehicle speed control for releasing the latches, as will be later described.

For coincidental locking the rollers 38" on the lock members 34 of adjacent door latches are adapted to move into substantially U-shaped wings I 20 (see Fig. 1), mounted at the two ends of a locking bar I2I which has a lever H22 con nected thereto. The bar I2I includesarms I23 which are pivoted as atI 24 to uprights I25 struck from a base I26 of a speed control and look assembly I26. The uprights I 25 are supported by braces I25 bent up from the base I26. This assembly also includesa verticalportion I 21 which supports the barrel I 28 of a key operated lock, the operatingdetails of which form no part of the present invention. The lock I28 includes a projecting cylindrical member I29 which has a crank I36 mounted thereon and the crank I36 includes a crank pin I3I which fits in the slot I36 in the looking bar I2 I.

The lock is adapted to be turnedby a suitable key from a neutral position in either direction. This turning of the lock moves the crank I36 from an upper position to a lower position, and vice versa, and in so doingthe pin I3I moving in the slot I32 in the locking bar iZI raises and lowers the bar HI and thus raises and lowers the Wings I26.

The lever I22 on one side of the vehicle is connected by a Bowden wire I33 with a similar lever I22 on the other side of the vehicle, with the Bowden wire preferably passing beneath the vehicle body. TheBowden wires are so connected to the levers that when the lever on one side is depressed or raised the leveron the other side of the vehicle will be also depressed or raised.

The speed control and lock assembly may be suitably secured on the vehicle body in a position wherein the wings I26 are disposed to receive the rollers 38" when each door is closed. A snapover spring E35 holds the bar I2I and Wings I26 in either up or down position after they have been moved to such position. Stops 36 limit the movement of the bar I2 I.

When two adjacent doors are closed and the rollers 33" are in the wings I26 with the locking barI2I in the position shown in Fig. 11, the carriage members 3% will be in a position to cause the associated latches to be unlocked. When, under this condition, a key is inserted in the lock I26 and the lock I26 is moved to locked position, that is, the lock is moved so that the pin It! is lowered and the locking bar i2i is moved downwardly, the wings I2t will move downwardly and thus will move the rollers I38" and will move the associated carriage members 36 downwardly so that the latter will be in locked position.

The slot I32 is of a shape to permit the pin I3I to move up and down therein. The lock I28 is preferably of the well known character wherein a key must be turned to a normal intermediate position-before the key can be removed. When the pin is in this normal position and the wings I26 are in unlocked position the pin will be adjacent to the lower face of the slot I32 and when the wings I26 are in the reverse position the pin will be adjacent to the upper edge of the slot. This allows the wings I26 to be moved to locked and to unlocked position by the lever I22 independent of the position of the pin I3 I.

As the wings I26 move about the pivot I24 from locked to unlocked position, there is a slight forward and backward movement of the wings relative to the face I2'I. The wing support, however, is slightly flexible and loosely fitted together so that this slight movement of the wings I2!) does not cause a binding action due to the rollers 38" pressing against the wings.

When any key 88 of a latch is turned from locked to unlocked position or vice-versa, the

- releasing arm will be rocked about the axis of the push member 81 and will be swung upwardly or downwardly. The member 53 must be in normal intermediate position when the key is removed and when in this position the releasing arm 53 will fit in the slot 46 as shown in Fig. 3 when the device is unlocked. The slot 46 is shaped to permit the releasing arm to fit therein in reverse position when the latch is locked.

By rotating the key 62 or by correctly positioning the tumblers and pushing in on and rotating the dial head 61, it will be seen that the releasing arm 53 will be rocked about its axis (which coincides with the axis of the pushmember 81) and will raise the locking member 36 upwardly or downwardly, depending upon the direction of movement of the releasing arm. This upward or downward movement of the releasing arm will cause similar movement of the

members

35 and 36 and will likewise shift the rollers 36" upwardly or downwardly and thereby shift the wings I26 in a similar direction and manner.

Thus it will be apparent that all the latches on closed doors can be coincidentally locked or unlocked either by operating the key in the lock member I28 or by operating the key 88 in any one door handle or by operating the keyless dial head 51, and that all the latches may be locked by pushing down any locking member H2 or by rocking the lever I22.

Each speed control and lock assembly I26 vertical portion I2l has a tongue I46 extending at right angles thereto and this tongue includes a downwardly bent end I4I which carries a pivot pin E42 which supports a downwardly depending, generally U-shaped spring I43. The spring includes a pair of opposed vertical portions I44 from which opposed inclined tabs I43 extend. The spring includes downwardly converging portions I45 which terminate in short vertical tongues I46 which normally are slightly spaced apart by the resiliency of the spring material. A solenoid I 41 on the base I26 has an armature E48 which has a rounded end I49 which, when the solenoid is energized, moves between the tongues I46.

To energize the solenoid I48 one lead I56 therefrom is shown as passing to a contact I5I on an arcuate circuit closer I52. The other lead I53 extends through a source of current I54 to the needle I55 of a vehicle driven speedometer I56 and the construction is such that when the speedometer needle I55 is moved when the the vehicle goes into motion this needle will close the circuit from the lead I50 to I53 and thus will energize the solenoid and cause the armature to move upwardly against the tension of a spring (not shown). When the vehicle speed decreases to a predetermined rate, the solenoid will be deenergized and the armature I46 will move from between the tongues I46 of the spring I43. The spring I43 is of such character that normally the vertical portion I44 may be moved inwardly easily when the solenoid is not energized.

The latch releasing member extensions previously mentioned are in the nature of speed controlled feelers and each of these extensions has its free end adjacent to the vertical portion I44 of the spring. Thus when the latch releasing member starts its movement towards latch releasing position the associated extension 4I will engage the spring portion I44 (see Fig. 8) When the solenoid is not energized the spring will bend easily and thus there will be no resistance to the operation of the latch releasing member. When, however, the solenoid is energized and the solenoid armature I48 is between the tonguesI46, the spring can be flexed only under great force and at this time will require great pressure to move the latch releasing member to latch releasing position.

Thus it will be seen that when the vehicle is at rest the latches may be released from within or from without the vehicle to open the doors with only a light finger tip pressure. However, when 9 the vehicle is moving above a predetermined rate of speed the latch releasing members can only be operated with difficulty. Thus accidental door opening is prevented while at thesame time the fear of riders who object to riding in a vehicle the doors of which are locked against opening is overcome.

The speed controlled and coincidental locking mechanism is like that described in the applicants prior application Serial No. 103,431, mentioned above.

To open the doors from without pressure on the push member 54 will rock the releasing arm and will cause the associated latch releasing member to be moved by the arm 49 to releasing position. If the locking mechanism is in locked condition, movement of the arm 49 will merely cause the latch releasing member to move idly since in that position the pin 34 will move into the notch 40'.

- In closing the door when all of the latches are unlocked and the carriage member 36 is in unlocked position with the parts as shown in Fig. 2; the operator merely closes the door and the parts remain in the conditionshown in Fig. 2. When in this condition, from within the vehicle, all doors may be locked by pushing on any one push rod I I2 or by rocking the lever I22 to locked position. From without the vehicle all doors may be locked by operatingthe key 68 or the key for the lock I28 to locked position. All doors may be unlocked when they are locked by reversal onthe operations just described.

In operation-and assuming that all doors are closed and that the vehicle is at rest-the oper ator may turn any remote control handle 29,thus causing the rod 3| to rock the catch member 20 and thus free the associated bolt; When the bolt is freed, opening of the door causes the roller I5 to move along the groove I6 and then to pass from this groove.

If the vehicle is at rest when the above operation takes place, the extension M on the latch release member will engage the associated vertical portion I04 of the spring and will push that portion without difiiculty.

When the vehicle is running and the solenoid armature I40 is disposed between the tongues I46 the force required to move the portion I44 of the associated spring will be such that the operator 29 can be actuated only with great difiiculty. Thus accidental opening of the door is prevented.

Full movement of the actuating member 53 by the push button will not move the pin 34 enough to engage the rear wall of the slot 40 so that no unlocking occurs. However, when theoperator 29 is turned it will move the member 33 far enough to shift the pin 34 against the rear wall of the slot 40 and thus rock the member 20 and release the latch.

The above described operation of opening any door from Within by operating the remote control handle 29 applies regardless of whether or not the latches are in locked or unlocked condition.

Assuming now that certain of the doors are closed and that the locking mechanism for the closed doors is in locked condition: If the operator now closes another door, the carriage member 36 of which is in unlocked condition, this will cause the roller 38 on the one door to move its associated wing I20, thus causing all of the wings to move to unlocked position.

This is done by the roller 38" camming against the adjacent portion of the wing I 20. This occurs whilethe catch member 20 is being rocked by the 10 pin 24 passing from notch 22 to notch 23 and to edge 25 so that the pin holds the carriage member 36 in the position shown in Fig. 3 and thus overcomes the tension of the springs 36 and I35 which tend to hold the doors previously locked in that condition.

Assuming now that certain of the doors are closed and that the locking mechanism for the closed doors is in unlocked condition and that the operator wishes to cause all of the doors to be locked: The operator will press down on the push rod II2 on the door which is being closed, this will place the carriage member 36 of the door being closed in locked condition. The operator will thereupon press the push member 87 inwardly and will at the same time close the door. In this position movement of the catch member 29, by its engagement with the pin 24 on the bolt, will take place with the pin IIO on the catch member passing into the slot H3 and the pin 34 will be disposed in the notch 40'. In this condition the roler 38 will enter its associated wing I20. The pin 34 will then engage the lower edge of the notch 40, thus preventing the carriage member 36 from shifting to unlocking position, and the roller 38" will thus pass into its associated wing and will pull this wing from unlocked condition to locked condition and will cause all of the other wings to move to locked condition.

When any door is closed with the push member 8? moved inwardly as in the operation described in the preceding paragraph, the extension i-I will be advanced and as the door closes will strike an inclined tab I43 on the spring I43 and as it moves along the tab will push the portion I44 of the spring inwardly so that the parts assume the position shown in Fig. 3. The spring will offer no substantial resistance to this movement when the vehicle is at rest but should a door be closed while a vehicle is in motion so that the solenoid armature end is between the ends I46 of the spring, an added force must 'be applied to the door to close the same.

Assuming now that certain of the doors are closed and are unlocked and. that the operator closes one door which, unknown to him, has been placed in locked position, then in this circumstance when the operator closes this one door without pressing on the associated push member $37, the one door will become unlocked and the others will remain unlocked.

In Fig. 13 a modification is shown. In this fig- .ure parts similar to those previously described are designated by primed reference numerals.

In the modification the slot I05 on the dial head and the key I06 on the push member 87 have been omitted. Otherwise there are no changes. In operating the modification the dial is rotated to correctly align the tumblers and thereafter the dial is pushed inwardly to cause the ball I00 to be aligned with the recess I03. The push button 8'! is then free to turn and as it turns it will swing the head member 89 thus causing the actuating member to move to unlocking position.

It will be understood that under certain installations the lock I28 on the pillars may be omitted and only the key operated locks may be employed. Also, under other conditions, it may be desirable toomitthe locks operated by the key 88 and make the members 54 merely push members and depend only on the locks I28 as the key operated members.

From the foregoing description it will be apparentthat the present disclosure relates to a novel latch construction which, if desired, may include coincidental locking mechanism and/or safety release controls and wherein the parts act in effective manner to perform their intended functions.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a vehicle door. latch assembly which includes a bolt, a locking member for the bolt, and an actuating member for moving the locking member to unlocked position, a fixed support, a lock barrel movably mounted to rotate and to reciprocate on the support, clutch means normally holding the lock barrel against rotation relative to the support while permitting reciprocation thereof, and tumbler controlled means to free the clutch means and to permit rotation of the lock barrel, the actuating member being mounted on the lock barrel and movable axially to free the bolt, said actuating member being moved when the lock barrel is rotated to move the locking member to unlocked position.

2. In a vehicle door latch assembly which includes a bolt, a locking member for the bolt, and an actuating member for moving the locking member to unlocked position, a fixed support, a push button lock barrel movably mounted to rotate and to reciprocate on the support, means to normally hold the lock barrel against rotation relative to the support while permitting reciprocation thereof, said actuating member being mounted on the lock barrel and movable axially to free the bolt when the latch is unlocked, said actuating member being movable when the lock barrel is rotated and adapted to move the looking memberto unlocked position, and tumbler controlled means operable to free the holding means and to permit rotation of the lock barrel and actuating member.

3. In a vehicle door latch assembly which includes a bolt, a locking member for the bolt, and an actuating member for moving the locking member to unlocked position, a fixed support, a lock barrel rotatable on the support, means to normally hold the lock barrel against rotation relative to the support, a head member within the lock barrel, key controlled means for normally preventing relative rotation between the head member and lock barrel, the insertion of a key in the head member permitting rotation of the head member relative to the lock barrel,

tumbler controlled means to free the holding means to permit rotation of the head member and lock barrel as a unit, and a lock actuating member carried by the head member and movable when the head member is rotated and adapted to move a locking member to unlocked position.

l. In a vehicle door lock, a fixed support, a bolt, a push button lock barrel movably mounted to rotate and to reciprocate on the support, means to normally hold the lock barrel against rotation relative to the support while permitting reciprocation thereof, a head member within the lock barrel, key controlled means for normally preventing relative rotation between the head member and lock barrel, the insertion of a key in the head member permitting rotation of the head member relative to the lock barrel, tumbler controlled means to free the holding means to permit rotation of the head member and lock barrel as a unit, and an actuating member carried by the head member and movable axially to free the bolt when the lock is unlocked and rotatably movable when the head member is rotated l2 and adapted to move a locking member to unlocked position.

5. In a door handle assembly, a body having a chamber therein and having a bore communicating with the chamber, a cylindrical dial body rotatable in said bore, a dial head carried by .said body, gated tumblers rotatable in said body,

said dial head projecting beyond the bore for engagement with the finger of an operator to permit rotation of said tumblers, means permitting inward movement of the dial head when the tumblers are correctly positioned, a sleeve fixed within said chamber and disposed within said dial body, a lock barrel slidable in and rotatable in said sleeve, said dial head having a bore therein, said lock barrel including a push button extending through said bore, a head member rotatably mounted in said lock barrel, clutch means normally preventing relative rotation between the lock barrel and sleeve, key released means normally preventing rotation of the head member in the lock barrel, an actuating member carried by the head member, said clutch means being operable to free the lock barrel from the sleeve when the dial body is pushed inwardly.

6. In a door handle assembly, a body having a chamber therein and having a bore communicating with the chamber, a cylindrical dial body rotatable in said bore, a dial head carried by said body, gated tumblers rotatable in said body, said tumblers having pins thereon, a fixed closure for said chamber, said dial head projecting beyond the bore for engagement with the finger of an operator to permit rotation of said tumblers, means permitting inward movement of the dial head when the tumblers are correctly positioned, a sleeve carried by said closure and disposed within said dial body, a lock barrel slidable in and rotatable in said sleeve, means normally urging said lock barrel outward- 1y, said dial head having a bore therein, said lock barrel including a push button extending through said bore, a head member rotatably mounted in said lock barrel, clutch means normally preventing relative rotation between the lock barrel and sleeve, key released means normally preventing rotation of the head member in the lock barrel, an actuating member carried by the head member, means to free the lock barrel from the sleeve when the dial body is pushed inwardly, and means clutching the dial body to the lock barrel when the dial body is pushed inwardly.

'7. In an automotive vehicle door latch, a base plate, a bolt movable on the base plate to e'n-' gaged and released positions, means holding the bolt in engaged position, means to release the bolt holding means, said release means including a pivoted carriage, a reciprocatingly mounted control member on the carriage, means to releasably hold the carriage in each of the two positions, means to release the bolt when the control member is moved in one direction while the carriage is turned to one position about its pivot, the last means being inefiective to release the bolt when the control member is similarly moved while the carriage is turned to the other position about its pivot, a lock support, means to normally hold the support against rotation, a lock barrel rotatable in the support, means to normally hold the lock barrel on the support against rotation relative thereto, a head member within the lock barrel, key controlled means for normally preventing relative rotation between the head member and lock barrel, the insertion of a key in the head member permitting rotation of the head member relative to the look barrel, gated tumbler controlled means to free the holding means to permit rotation of the head member and lock barrel as a unit, and a lock actuating member carried by the head member and movable when the head member is rotated for moving the carriage to unlocked po sition.

8. In a door handle assembly, a body having a chamber therein and having a bore communieating with the chamber, a cylindrical dial body rotatable in said bore, a dial head carried by said dial body, tumblers rotatable on said dial body, means whereby the dial body rotates the tumblers, a fixed closure for said chamber, each tumbler having a notch in its periphery, said dial body having spaced tongues disposed to enter said notches when the tumblers are correctly positioned, said dial head projecting beyond the bore for engagement with the finger of an operator to permit rotation of said dial body, a sleeve within said dial body, means to prevent rotation of the sleeve, a lock barrel slidable within said sleeve, means normally urging said lock barrel outwardly in the sleeve, means to limit the outward movement of the lock barrel, said dial head having a bore therein, said lock barrel including a push button extending through said dial head bore, a head member rotatable in said lock barrel, means normally preventing rotation of said head member in said lock barrel, means normally preventing rotation of said lock barrel in said sleeve, key means operable to permit rotation of said head member in the lock barrel While the barrel remains stationary, said head member having an actuating member thereon extending through said closure and being adapted to engage a looking arm, and means to free the preventing means and permit rotation of the lock barrel in the sleeve when the dial tumblers are codified.

9. In a vehicle door handle assembly for a latch which includes a bolt, a locking member for the bolt, and an actuating member for moving the locking member to unlocked position, said handle assembly including a body having a chamber therein and having a bore communicating with the chamber, a lock barrel mounted to rotate and to reciprocate in the chamber, means to normally hold the lock barrel against rotation relative to thebody while permitting reciprocation thereof, said lock barrel being operable to free the bolt when the lock barrel is moved axially while the locking member is in unlocked position, said actuating member being movable upon rotary movement of the lock barrel and adapted to move the locking member to unlocked position, and tumbler controlled means operable when the tumbler controlled means is correctly positioned to free the holding means which normally holds the lock barrel against rotation relative to the body and to permit rotary movement of the lock barrel and movement of the actuating member to move the locking member to unlocked position.

10. In a vehicle door latch assembly which includes a bolt, a locking member for the bolt, and an actuating member for moving the locking member to unlocked position, said assembly including a body having a chamber therein and having a bore communicating with the chamber, a look barrel mounted to rotate and to reciprocate in the chamber, means to normally hold the lock barrel against rotation relative to the body, said lock barrel being operable to free the bolt when the lock barrel is moved axially while the locking member is in unlocked position, said actuating member being movable when the lock barrel is rotated and adapted to move the locking member to unlocked position, and tumbler controlled means operable to free the holding means and to permit rotation of the lock barrel and actuating member.

11. In a vehicle door latch assembly which includes a bolt, a locking member for the bolt, and

an actuating member for moving the locking member to unlocked position, a lock barrel mounted to rotate and to reciprocate, means normally holding the lock barrel against rotation While permitting reciprocation thereof, the lock barrel being operable to free the bolt when it is reciprocated while the locking member is in unlocked position and tumbler controlled means operable to free the holding means and to permit rotation of the lock barrel, said actuating member being rotatable when the lock barrel is rotated to move the locking member to unlocked position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,362,417 Hammer Dec. 14, 1920 1,619,676 Meilink Mar. 1, 1927 1,885,425 Fitzgerald NOV. 1, 1932 2,202,833 Jones June 4, 1940 2,235,830 Dodge Mar. 25, 1941 2,251,145 Machinist July 29, 1941 2,289,129 Lalonde July 7, 1942 2,314,815 Brandt Mar. 23, 1943 2,481,099 Formo Sept. 6, 1949