US2735710A

US2735710A - Door lock

Info

Publication number: US2735710A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1956-02-21
Anticipated expiration: 1973-02-21

Description

Feb. 21, 1956 T. c. DiNGMAN ET AL 2,735,710

DOOR LOCK 2 Sheets-Sheetl l Filed Dec. 1l, 1952 FRONT 0009 FRONT DOOR REA/P DOOR FRONT DOOR rao/NGMA/v zj lf/.JAMESON INVENTORS` EZ'. 721%, BY QMLa/W ATTORNEYS Feb. 21, 1956 T. C. DINGMAN ET AL DOOR LOCK F'j led Deo. ll, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I Et l. u A l /3 FRONT DOOR J. W. JA M/ESON INVENTORS .C7277 BY 3,65%

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ATTORNEYS united states Patent o DOOR LOCK Application December 11, 1952, Serial No. 325,384 l s claims. (c1. 292-280) Dearborn,

This invention relates generally to latch mechanisms for doors, and particularly to latch mechanisms of the rotatable bolt type for motor vehicle doors.

' An object of the invention is to provide an improved door latch mechanism of the type having a rotatable bolt and a rotatable ratchet controlled by means of a pivotally mounted pawl, the latter being engaged by an outer manually operable release lever to release Ythe bolt from the associated keeper.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lock of this type in which the outer manually operable release lever isparranged to be actuated by axial movement of an outer manually operable member to unlatch the latch mechanism, and in which a rotatable locking member is adapted to belactuated by rotation of the same outer manually operable member to lock or unlock the latch mechanism;

A further o bject is to provide a-pivotally mounted control lever having a portion extending through an elongated slot in the releaseleverand formed with a shoulder which blocks operation of the release lever when the control lever is in its locked position. The control lever is arranged to be'operated either by means of the outer manually operable locking lever or by means of an inner manually operable locking member. p

Still another object of the invention is to provide a lock of this type in which an inner manually operable releaselever 1s arranged to engage a pawl to unlatch in which an inner manually operable' locking lever is arranged to block theroperation of saidinner manually operable release lever when the locking lever is in its locked position, thus simultaneously preventing the door from being opened by the inside doorfhandle as well'as by the outside door handle under thesej, conditions;

'A Other objects and advantages of this invention will be made more apparent as this description proceeds, particularly'when considered in panying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is an elevational View, partly in section, looking toward the flange of the door lock adapted to be mounted upon the end wall of the vehicle door.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary elevational view similar to a portion of Figure l but having certain parts thereof broken'away and in section to more clearly show other parts thereof.` t

"Figure 3 is a top plan View of the nism. Y

Figure 4 is a vertical cross sectional view taken on the plane indicated by the line 4`4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a vertical cross sectional view taken on the plane indicated by the line 5-5 of Figure l.

. Figure 6 is an elevational view similar to Figure l but showing a lock designed for the rear door of a four door vehicle.

Figure 7 is a vertical cross sectional view taken on the p'lane indicated by the line 7 7 of Figure 6.

door lock mechaconnection with the accom- Dearborn, t

Figure 8 is a fragmentary end elevational View of the lock shown in Figure 7.

Referring now to the drawings, Figures l to 5 inclusive illustrate a door lock embodying the present invention and applicable to the right front door of a motor vehicle, while Figures 6 to 8 inclusive illustrate a door lock for the right rear door of the vehicle.

Referring first to the front door lock shown in Figures l to 5 inclusive, the reference character 11 indicates a generally L-shaped mounting plate having an end flange 12 and a side flange 13 extending substantially at right angles to the end flange 12. The end flange 12 is provided with three screw bosses 14 by means of which the end flange may be secured to the inner side of the end Wall of the vehicle door. The side flange 13 extends generally parallel to the inner door panel of the door.

The lock is provided with a rotatable toothed latch or rotor 16 having an integral shank 17 extending through the end flange 12 of the mounting plate and riveted to a rotatable toothed ratchet 18 located on the inner side of the end flange 12. The rotor and ratchet are thus mounted on opposite sides of the flange for rotation together as a unit, and the rotor is adapted to be engaged by a conventional keeper (not shown) mounted on the jamb face of the adjacent door pillar. A dovetail 19 is mounted on the outer side of the end flange 12 of the mounting plate to guide the keeper into engagement with the teeth of the rotor.

Referring now to Figures l and 2, a shoulder rivet 21 is mounted upon the end flange 12 of the mounting plate 11. and forms a` pivotal operable release lever 22 and a pawl 23.

The pawl 23 is formed With three extending

arms

24, 26 and 27. The downwardly depending arm 24 is engageable with the teeth of the ratchet 18 to hold the ratchet and the rotor 16 locked against rotation in a clockwise direction. l Arm 27 extends generally horizontally and protrudes through a vertical slot 28 formed in the side flange 13 of the mounting plate 11.

engaged by an inner manually be described more in detail hereinafter, to permit the lock to be unlatched by the operationof a handle located inside the door. A tongue 29Vstruck out fromvthe end flange 12 of the mounting plate 11 is encircled by a rubber grommet 31 to provide a resilient stop for the'inwardly extending arm 27 of the pawl to limit the counterclockwise rotation of the pawl under the action of return spring 32.

The return spring 32 is coiled around the shoulder rivet Y21 Vwithfthe inner end of the spring being anchored in a slot 33 formed in the rivet.V The outer end of the spring 32 engages a plasticV bushing 34 encircling a pin 36 mountedupon the downwardly depending arm 24 of the pawl. The pin 36 and its bushing 34 extend through an elongated slot 37 formed'in the lower portion of the outer manually operable release lever 22. The plastic bushing 34, which may be formed of nylon ,or other suitable material, provides an insulating medium between the pin 36and the release lever 22 to prevent metal to metal contact and to insure quiet operation.

The outer manually operable release lever -22 is generally` L-shaped in cross section, having a base flange 38extending generally parallel to the end flange 12 or the mounting plate and a side flange 39 at right angles thereto to be outermanually operable plunger 41 to rotate the release lever in a clockwise direction. The pin 36 forms an operative connection between the release lever 22 and thepawl 23 and consequently the aforesaid operation of the release leveralso swings the pawl in a clockwise directionto move'the downwardly depending arm 24 thereof out of latching engagement with the ratchet 18.

generally radially The plunger 41 is adapted to be slidably mounted within a bushing 42- rotatably mounted in a flange 43 formed integrally with the end wall 12 of the mounting plate and bent at right angles thereto. The radially outer surface of the bushing 42 is circular permitting rotation of the bushing within the flange 43. The bushing is provided with an inwardly projecting portion 44 formed with a square opening 46 therethrough to slidably but nonrotatably receive the square shank of the plunger 41. The inwardly projecting portion rotatably supports a locking lever 47, as best seen in Figure 5.

The plunger 41 projects inwardly from a key controlled lock. cylinder 48 and an outer manually operable push button 49. Inward movement of the push button 49 moves the plunger 41 axially inwardly into engagement with ange 39 of the release lever 21 to swing the latter in a clockwise direction. Operation of the key actuated lock cylinder 48 results in rotating the plunger 41 and the bushing 42 which is keyed thereto, resulting in rotating the locking lever 47.

As best seen in Figures 1 and 2, a control lever 51 is pivotally mounted upon the end ange 12 of the mounting plate 11 by means of a pivot pin 52. The control lever 51 has three radially extending

arms

53, 54 and 56. The inwardly extending arm 54 projects through a slot 57 formed in the side flange 13 of the mounting plate and is provided at its inner extremity with an opening 58 adapted to be connected to a conventional push button (not shown), mounted upon the garnish molding of the vehicle door adjacent the window opening, to swing the control lever 51 between its locked and unlocked positions.

As best seen in Figure 2, the outer arm 53 of the control lever 51 projects through a vertically elongated slot 59 formed in the side flange 39 of the release lever 22 and also through a slot 61 formed in the ange 43 of the mounting plate. The extreme outer end 62 of the arm 53 of the control lever is considerably narrower in width than the body portion of the arm to form therewith a shoulder 63. In the locked position of the control lever 51, as seen in Figure 2, the narrow end portion 62 of the arm 53 of the lever is positioned adjacent the upper end of the slot 59 in the release lever 22, and it will be apparent that the shoulder 63 of the control lever blocks clockwise rotation of the release lever. When the control lever 51 has been swung in a counterclockwise direction, however, the shoulder 63 is aligned with the slot 59 of the release lever so that the latter may be operated by the plunger 41.

The control lever 51 is adapted to be operated in three different ways. First, as described, the inwardly extending arm 54 of the control lever is adapted to be swung upwardly or downwardly by means of a conventional inside mounted lock button. Second, the outwardly ex, tending arm 53 of the control lever is adapted to be swung upwardly or downwardly by means of the locking lever 47, Figure 5, which is pivotally mounted upon the flange 43 of the mounting plate and rotated by means of the lock cylinder actuated plunger 41. The locking lever 47 is formed with bifurcated tabs 64 straddling the end portion 62 of the arm 53 of the controlv lever 51, and it will be apparent that rotation of the locking lever 47 moves the end portion 62 of the control lever up and down within the slot 61 formed in the tlange 43 of the mounting plate. Thirdly, the control lever 51 is adapted to be moved from its locked to its unlocked position by the engagement of the upper arm 26 of the pawl 23 with the downwardly depending arm 56 of the control lever. When the door is closed with the control lever 51 in its locked position as shown in Figure l, the counterclockwise rotation ofl the` rotor 16. and ratchet 18 causes the teeth of the ratchet to bear against the lower arm 24 of the pawl, swinging the latter in a clockwise direction. This movement causes the upper arm 26 of the pawl tor 44 of the bushing nonrelease lever is provided with a engage the lower arm 56 of the control lever to move the latter from its locked to its unlocked position so that the door will be automatically unlocked when it is closed.

Means are also provided for unlatching the lock mechanism from inside the vehicle. For this purpose, an inner manually operable release lever 66 is provided, Figure 4, being pivotally mounted upon the ilange 13 of the mounting plate 11 by means of a pivot pin 67. This downwardly depending arm 68 adapted to be conventionally connected to a suitable inner coor handle (not shown) enabling the lever to be rotated in a counterclockwise direction. The-release lever is also provided with an integral arm 69 overlying the inwardly extending arm 27 of the pawl 23, and it will be apparent that operation of the inner manually operable release lever 66 in a counterclockwise direction is effective to move the arm 27 of the pawl downwardly in the slot 28 and consequently to release the pawl from the ratchet.

Reference is now made to Figures 6 to 8 inclusive which disclose applicants door lock as applied tothe rear door of a four door motor vehicle. Inasrnuch as the rear door lock is generally similar to the front door lock previously described, only those portions of the rear door lock which vary therefrom will be described in detail.

As best seen in Figure 6, the control lever 71 of the rear door lock is formed with two

arms

72 and 73. The inner arm 73 extends through the slot 57 formed in' theA side ange 13 of the mounting plate 11 to guidethe lever, and the outer arm 72 projects through the slot 59 formed in the ange 39 of the outer manual operable release lever 22. The extreme outer end portion 74 of the arm 72 of the control lever is narrower in width than the body portion of the arm and formsl a downwardly extending shoulder 75 adapted, in the locked position of the control lever as shown in Figure 6, to.

extend downwardly below the lower extremity of the slotl 59 in the release lever 22 so as to block clockwise movement of the release lever under the actuation of the push button mounted in the door. The pawl 76 is theA same as the front door lock pawl 23 but the upper arm is omitted.

Referring now to Figures 7 and 8, a remote control lever 77 is pivotally mounted upon a pivot pin 78. carried by the side flange 13 of the mounting plate 11. The remote control lever 77 has an upwardly extending arm 79 adapted to be conventionally connected to the locking button (not shown) mounted in the garnish molding of the vehicle door adjacent the window opening thereof. The remote control lever also has an outwardly extending bifurcated arm 81 adapted to straddle the arm 73 of the control lever 71, and it will be apparent that rotation of the remote control lever 77 results in moving the control lever 71 between its locked and unlocked positions.

The rear door lock is provided with an inner manual operable release lever 82 for operation by an inside door handle to release the pawl from the ratchet in the same manner yas iny the front door lock. In addition, the rear door inner manually operable release lever 82 is provided with an upwardly extending arm 83 arranged in alignment with Ia tab 84 bent at rightl angles to the body por,-

tion of the remote control lever 77. WithA the remotek control lever 7.7 in its locked position as shown in Figure 7, attempted operation of the inside door handle to move the inner manually operable release lever 82 in a counterclockwise direction to unlatch the door is effectively prevented by engagement of the upper arm 83 of the release lever with the flange 84 of the remote control lever 77. Consequently, when the rear door is locked, the inner door handle is ineffective to open the door. When the remote control lever 77l is rotated in a counterclockwise direction as seen in Figure 7 from the locked position shown to an unlocked position, the flange 84 is moved out of blocking position with respect to. the upper arm 83 of the inner manuallyoperable release lever 82 so that the inner door handle is effective to unlock the door.

It will be understoodV that the invention is not to be limited to the exact construction shown and described, but that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. In a latch mechanism for a motor vehicle door, a mounting plate having an end flange mounted upon the door adjacent the end wall thereof and a side flange extending substantially at right angles to the end flange adjacent the inner side wall of the door, a toothed rotor rotatably mounted upon the end flange at one side thereof, a toothed ratchet on the opposite side of said end flange from said rotor and mounted for rotation with said rotor as a unit, a pawl mounted upon said end flange on the same side as said ratchet and adapted to engage the teeth of said ratchet to hold said ratchet and rotor against rotation in one direction, an outer manually operable release lever pivotally mounted upon said end flange and having an operative connection with said pawl, a control member pivotally mounted upon sai-d end flange having ya portion adjacent 4the actuated end of said release lever arranged in one position of another position of said control memberto permit pivotal movement of said release lever, and an outer manually operable member rotatably and slidably mounted upon said mounting plate adjacent the actuated end of said release lever for actuation of said release positions upon rotation of said outer member.

2. The structure defined by claim l which is further -characterized in that the end flangeof said mounting plate is formed with an integral flange extending generally parallel to said side flange at the opposite side of said end flange from said side flange, said integral flange being provided with yan opening therethrough, a bushing rotatably mounted in said opening and slidably receiving said outer manually operable member, and a locking lever nonrotatably mounted upon said outer manually operable member and engaging said control member.

3. In a latch mechanism for a motor vehicle door, a case for said latch mechanism having a plate portion mounted upon said door adjacent an end wall thereof and having -a side flange extending generally at right angles to said plate portion adjacent the outer side of said door, a toothed rotor mounted upon said plate at one side thereof, a toothed ratchet on the opposite side of said plate from said rotor and mounted for rotation with said rotor as a unit, a pawl mounted upon said plate on the same side as said ratchet and adapted to engage said ratchet to hold said ratchet and rotor against rotation in one direction, a release lever pivotally mounted upon said plate and having an operative engagement with said pawl to rotate said pawl out of locking engagement with said ratchet upon rotation of said release lever in one direction, a control lever pivotally mounted upon said plate and having a portion arranged in blocking relationship with a portion of said release lever to prevent rotation of said release lever in the direction required to move said pawl out of engagement with said ratchet, an outer manually operable member extending through said flange for both slidable and rotatable movement with respect thereto, the inner end of said member engaging said release lever to actuate the latter upon axial movement of said member, and means mounted upon said member and engageable with said control lever to move the latter between blocking and nonblocking positions relative to said release lever upon rotation of said outer manually operable member.

4. The structure defined by claim 3 which is further manually operable characterized in that said control lever has an arm extending through an elongated slot in said release lever and projecting outwardly therebeyond, the blocking portion of said control lever comprising a shoulder formed on said arm arranged to block pivotal movement of said release lever when the control lever is in its locked position and to pass lthrough the slot in said release lever when said control lever is in its unlocked position, and the means carried by said outer manually operable member comprises a lever mounted for rotation -with said outer manually operable member and engageable with the portion of the arm of said control lever projecting `through the slot in said release lever.

5. The structure defined by claim 3 which is further characterized in that said outer manually operable mem-l ber includes a plunger of noncircular cross section, a bushing rotatably mounted in the side flange of said lock case and having an opening therein corresponding in shape to the shape of the noncircular portion of the outer manually operable member to permit axial sliding movement of said member relative to said bushing but to effect rotation of said bushing upon rotation of said member, the means carried 'by said outer manually operable member and engageable with said control lever comprising a locking lever non-rotatably mounted upon said bushing and having a bifurcated end portion straddling a portion of said control lever.

6. In a latch mechanism for a motor vehicle door, a lock case having an end flange positioned adjacent the end Wall of the door and mounted thereon and an integral side flange positioned adjacent the inner side of said door, a toothed ratchet and a toothed rotor mounted upon the end flange of said case for rotation as a unit, a pawl pivotally mounted upon said end flange and engageable with said ratchet to prevent rotation thereof in one direction, a release lever pivotally mounted upon said end flange and having operative engagement with said pawl, a control lever pivotally mounted upon said end flange and having blocking engagement with a portion of said outer manually operable release lever in one position of said control lever,

an inner manually operable release lever pivotally mounted upon the side flange of said lock case and having a portion engageable with said pawl, and an inner remotely controlled lever pivotally mounted upon the side flange of said lock case and having a portion engageable with said control lever to move the latter between its locked and unlocked positions, said remotely controlled lever having a projection formed thereon adapted in the locked position of said remotely controlled lever to block pivotal movement of said inner manually operable release lever and in the unlocked position of said remotely controlled lever being clear of said inner manually operable member.

7. In a latch mechanism for a motor vehicle door, a mounting plate having an end flange mounted upon they door adjacent the end Wall thereof and a side flange extending substantially at right angles to the end flange adjacent the inner side wall of the door, a toothed rotor rotatably mounted upon the end flange at one side thereof, a toothed ratchet on the opposite side of said end flange from said rotor and mounted for rotation with said rotor as a unit, a pawl mounted upon said end flange on the same side as said ratchet and adapted to engage the teeth of said ratchet to hold said ratchet and rotor against rotation in one direction, an outer manually operable release lever pivotally mounted upon said end flange and having an operative connection with said pawl, a pivoted `control lever rotatably mounted upon the end flange of said mounting plate and having an arm extending through a vertically elongated slot in said release lever, said arm having a shoulder formed thereon engageable with said release lever in the locked position of said control lever to block pivotal movement of the release lever and arranged to pass through the elongated slot in said release lever in the unlocked position of said control lever to permit pivotal movement of said release lever to release` the pawl from the ratchet, anrouter manually operable member rotatably and slidably mounted upon said mounting plate adjacent said release lever for actuation of said release lever upon sliding movement of said last mentioned member, and meansl connecting said last mentioned member and said control lever to move the latter between locked and unlocked positions upon rotation of said outer manually operable member.

8. In a latch mechanism for a motor vehicle door, a mounting plate having an end flange mounted upon the door adjacent the end wall thereof and a side ange extending substantially at right angles to the end ilange adjacent the inner side wall of the door, a toothed rotor rotatably mounted upon the end flange at one side thereof, a` toothed ratchet on the opposite side of said end ilange from said rotor and mounted for rotation with said rotor as a unit, a pawl mounted upon said end flange on the same side as said ratchet and adapted to engage the teeth of said ratchet to hold said ratchet and rotor against rotation in one direction, an outer manually operable release lever pivotally mounted upon said end ange and having an operative connection with said pawl, a movable control lever pivotally mounted upon the end wall of said mounting plate above the pivotal mountings of said release lever and pawl to said flange, and said control lever having three radially extending arms, one of said arms extending through a slot formed in the side ilange of said mounting plate for operation from the interior of the vehicle, the second of saidv arms extending downwardly into the path of a portion of said pawl for engagement thereby, and the third of said arms extending through a slot in said release lever and formed with a shoulder adapted to block pivotal movement of said release lever when the control lever is in its locked position and to pass through the slot in said release lever when the control lever is in its unlocked position, an outer manually operable member rotatably and slidably mounted upon said mounting plate adjacent the actuated end of said release lever for actuation of said release lever upon sliding movement of said last mentioned member, and means connecting said last mentioned member and said control lever to move the latter between locked and unlocked positions upon rotation of said outer manually operable member.

eferenees Cited in the file of this patent UNTTED STATES PATENTS