US2802683A

US2802683A - Door lock

Info

Publication number: US2802683A
Authority: US
Inventors: John H Roethel
Original assignee: ROETHEL ENGINEERING CORP
Current assignee: ROETHEL ENGINEERING Corp
Priority date: 1953-02-13
Filing date: 1953-02-13
Publication date: 1957-08-13
Anticipated expiration: 1974-08-13

Description

J. H. ROETHEL Aug. 13, 1957 DOOR LOCK 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 13, 1953 INVENTOR. fii/f Fae/1:1

BY I

,777'0I71VEK 'Aug- 1957 J. H. ROETHEL 2,802,683

DOOR LOCK I Filed Feb. 13,1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR. JVr7 Faeliel ITTaR/V X DOOR LUCK John H. Roethel, Coral Gables, Fia., assignor to Roethel Engineering Corporation, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Application February 13, 1953, Serial No. 336,674

16 Claims. (Cl. 292-280) This invention relates to latch mechanism for swinging doors, especially the doors of automobile or other vehicle bodies, an object of the invention being to provide an improved door latch mechanism which will effectively meet various requirements for motor vehicle door locks yet which is characterized by simplification and compactness in construction and which is relatively small, easy and economical to manufacture, comparatively quiet in operation, efiicient and durable in use.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved door latch mechanism having a rotatable latch device, such as a rotary multi-headed bolt, controlled by pivoted detent means or the like, the latch mechanism comprising operating control elements associated in such new and improved relation as to enable the above objec tives of the invention to be accomplished.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved means for swinging or pivotally actuating the detent means to disengage the same from the latch device, such means including swinging lever means on one side of the latch support, operable from the outside of the door, and shiftable link means on an angularly related side of the latch support, said link means being interposed between the lever means and the detent means for pivotally actuating the latter and being swingable into and out of operative relation to the detent means by manually operable means at the inside of the door. A particular object in connection with this aspect of the invention is to provide an inside manual operator, preferably remotely controlled, for actuating the detent means through the medium of said shiftable link means, the improved construction being such that upon shifting said link means out of operative relation to the detent means the inside manual operator is ineflective to actuate the detent means.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a swinging lever means operable from the outside of the door and a swinging lever means operable from the inside of the door, each lever means operating through a common shiftable member or slide for actuating the detent means to disengage the same from the rotatable latch device, said shi'ftable member or slide, however, being mounted in such manner as to enable it to be moved out of and into operative relation to the detent means. Hence, when said shiftable member or slide is moved out of operative relation to the detent means it may be freely shifted relative to the detent means by either the inside or outside operated lever means without actuating or disengaging the detent means.

A further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved door latch mechanism in which a rotary bolt or latch, a pivoted detent or holding means and an outside actuated lever means are mounted on the door jamb facing portion of the latch support, and in which a vertically shittable swingable operating connection or coupling device and an inside actuated lever means are mounted on an inner or angular flange portion of the support, said operating connection being interposed be- State Patent O tween each lever means and the detent means for selectively transmitting motion from the former to the latter and being swingable in a direction longitudinally of the door out of and into operative relation to the detent means and, when out of operative relation, being. shiftable freely and generally vertically relative to the detent means upon actuating either of the lever means. The foregoing improved construction permits the outside actuated lever means and the detent means to be positioned one above the other so as to swing preferably in the same direction and permits a direct vertically shiftable connection or coupling means to be interposed between the inside and outside operated lever means and the detent means, which connection or coupling can be swung out of operative relation to the detent means by a suitable inside manually operable means, such as a vertically shiftable rod or plunger accessible at the insideof the door and which alone is effective to move said connection or coupling means out of or into operative relation to the detent means.

Other objects of this invention will appear in the following description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of an automobile body equipped with door locks constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken substantially through lines 22 of Fig. 1 looking in the.

direction of the arrows and illustrating one embodiment of the invention particularly adapted for the rear doors of an automobile body.

Fig. 3 is a section taken substantially through lines 3-3 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 illustrating certain of the parts in a different position.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary top plan view partly in section.

Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation illustrating the rotary latch bolt and striker or keeper in their relative positions when the door is fully closed.

Fig. 7 is a section taken substantially through lines 7{7 of Fig. 8 looking in the direction of the arrows and illustrating a second embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 8 is a section taken substantially through lines 88 of Fig. 7 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 9 is a sectional elevation illustrating the rotary latch bolt of the present embodiment and a keeper or striker device in their relative positions when the door is fully closed.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my ap-' plication Serial No. 119,325 filed October 3, 1949, now abandoned.

Before explaining in detail the present invention it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings,-

terminates in a transverse jamb edge 22 facing the fixed jamb face or edge 23 (Fig. 6) of the door frame post or body pillar.

The present latch device comprises a case plate 24..

provided with screw bosses 24a by means of which the case plate is secured to the inner side of the jamb portion 22 of the door. The case plate terminates at its inner edge in a flange 25 facing the inner door panel 21. The latch device is preferably provided with a rotatable toothed latch or bolt 26 positioned at the outer face of the case plate 24, this latch or bolt having an integral projecting shaft or shank 27 extending through an aperture in the case plate which is formed with a bearing for the bolt shank. The inner end of the shank 27 is flattened and extended through a correspondingly shaped aperture in a rotatable toothed detent engaging member or ratchet member 28 and is riveted thereto.

The rotatable latch 26, as shown in Fig. 6, is formed with a number of radially projecting tooth-like projections 26a, preferably six, which are spaced equally around the periphery of the latch so as to provide in effect a gear type latch or bolt. The ratchet member 28 is also formed around its periphery with a number of tooth-like abutments or projections 28a which correspond in number to the tooth-like projections 26a of the bolt. Pivotally mounted on a shoulder rivet 29 secured to the case plate 24 is a swinging detent, pawl or dog which has an outwardly and downwardly extending detent arm 30 cooperable with the teeth or projections 28a of the ratchet member 28. This detent arm 30 is engageable with any one of the teeth 28a in the manner shown in Fig. 2 to hold the ratchet member and, hence, the bolt 26 in locking position against rotation in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2. The detent also comprises an inwardly extending actuating arm 31 which is adapted to be swung downwardly by the inside and outside operators, hereinafter described, so as to raise the detent arm 30 out of engagement with any one of the teeth 28a. it will be understood that when the door is closed the bolt 26 is rotated by engagement with its striker or keeper thereby rotating the ratchet member 28 in a counterclockwise direction and pivotally actuating the detent. For the purpose of eliminating any objectionable clicking noise as the end of the detent arm 30 drops between two adjacent teeth 28a of the ratchet member, a rubber bumper 32 is mounted on the case plate 24 in position to be engaged by the arm 31 of the detent slightly before the detent arm 30 goes fully home. Thus, when the arm 31 strikes the bumper 32 the edge 3th of the detent arm will be slightly spaced from the back edge 28b of the ratchet tooth thereby eliminating noise which would otherwise occur if the edge 30a contacted the edge 28b.

Associated with the detent is a detent actuating or release lever 33 which is pivoted upon a shoulder rivet 34 secured to the case plate 24. This lever has a lever arm 35 extending inwardly toward the case plate flange 25 and a second lever arm 36 extending upwardly from the pivot 34 and provided at its upper outer edge with a widened flange 36a.

The detent arm 30 is yieldingly urged toward the ratchet plate 28 by means of a coil spring 37 anchored at its inner end to a retainer 38 lanced out of the case plate. This spring has a downwardly extending arm 37a engageable with the outer edge of the detent arm 30 so as to yieldingly urge this arm in latching engagement with a .tooth 28a of the ratcaet plate 23. The release lever 33 is yieldingly urged toward its normal position shown in Fig. 2 by means of a coil spring 39 of suitable strength which has one end connected at 39a to the lever arm 36 and its opposite end connected at 3917 to the case plate 24. The spring 39 thus resists swinging movement of the lever 33 in a clockwise direction and returns the lever to its position shown in Fig. 2, this position being governed by a stop 40 which is in the form of a lug or flange on the case plate.

It will be noted that the lever arm 35 and the actuating arm 31 of the detent are vertically spaced and extend inwardly toward the case plate flange 25 in corresponding directions. Motion from the lever arm 35 is transmitted to the detent arm 31 by means of a vertically shiftable operating link or coupling member 41 which is pivotally supported or mounted in such manner that it may be swung into and out of operative relation to the detent arm 31. This link or coupling member 41 has an aperture 42 to receive the inner end of the release lever arm 35, the latter thus overlying and engaging the bottom edge of this aperture so as to permit the lever arm to shift the link 41 downwardly in accordance with the downward swinging motion of the lever arm 35. The aperture 42 is formed in an outward embossment 41a of the link .1. This link has an upward extension 41b having a sliding fit between the parallel side flanges 43a of a link carrier 4-3. The carrier or support 43 for the link 41 is pivoted on a shoulder rivet 44 secured to the case plate flange 25. The shank of this rivet or headed stud extends through a vertical guide slot 45 in the link 41. The link is thus guided for vertical sliding movement on the pivoted carrier member 4-3 by the guide stud 44 and the flanged edges 43:: of the carrier member. The link is yieldingly urged toward its upper position shown in Fig. 3 by means of a coil spring 46 having its inner end anchored to a retainer 47 struck out from the case plate fiange'25. This spring has arm 46a which is anchored at its end beneath a retainer lug 48 struck out from the link 41. Near its lower end the link 41 has an inwardly embossed portion 41c terminating in a pair of outwardly offset projecting portions 41d and 41a. The portion 41d overlies the detent arm 31 and the portion Me, which is offset outwardly of the portion 41d, extends down and overlaps the side of the detent arm 31. The portion die is provided at its rear edge with an outwardly extending lug 41;, the purpose of which will he later described. From the foregoing it will be seen that when the release lever arm 35 is swung downwardly the link 4-1 will be shifted downwardly relative to the member 4-3 and the projecting foot portion 41d by engagement with the detent arm 31 will swing the latter downwardly thereby disengaging the detent arm 30 from the ratchet member 2-3.

The present latch device is preferably operated from the inside of the door through the medium of a remote control mechanism comprising a longitudinally shiftable draft link 49 which is pivoted at 59 to the lower end of one arm 51a of a bell crank lever 51. This lever is pivoted on the shank of a shoulder rivet 52 secured to the case plate flange 25. The lever is provided with a projecting arm 51b overlying at its inner end the lug 41;) on the lower end of the coupling link 41. From this construction it will be seen that when the draft link 49 is shifted to the right in Fig. 3, as by turning the inside door handle, the lever arm 511; will be swung downwardly into engagement with the lug 41;, thereby shifting the link 41 downwardly relative to the carrier member 43 and causing the foot did on the link to engage the detent arm 31 and swing the detent so as to disengage the same from the ratchet member 23. It will be noted that the lever arm 51b terminates short of the detent arm 31 so that disengagement of the detent by swinging the inside operated lever 51 is accomplished solely through the vertically slidable link 41.

In accordance with the present embodiment of the invention means operable from the inside of the door is provided for pivotally moving or swinging the operating link 41 into and out of operative relation to the detent arm 31, this being accornpiished in the present instance by swinging the carrier member 43 about its pivot 44. The member 43 is provided with a downwardly projecting angular extension 4312 formed on its lower end with spaced ears 53 to receive the rounded end 54a of a lever arm 54 formed as a part of a lever 55 pivotally mounted on the shank of the shoulder rivet or stud 52. The lever 55 has a second lever arm 55a to the end of which is pivotally connected a vertically shiftable rod or plunger 56 which extends upwardly through the garnish molding at the inner side of the glass panel of the door. This rod carries at its end a knob 57 which may be manipulated at the inside of the door to shift the rod 56 vertically in either direction, thereby rocking the lever 55 and causing the rounded end 54a of the lever arm 54 to engage one or the other of the ears 53 on the extension 4312 and swing this extension from the position shown in Fig. 3 to the position shown in Fig. 4 and vice versa. By thus swinging the carrier member 43 through the medium of the lever 55 the operating link 41 will correspondingly be swung from its position shown in Fig. 3 to the position shown in Fig. 4 and vice versa. The aperture 42 in the link is suitably dimensioned to permit the link to swing relatively to the end of the lever arm 35, this construction in effect providing an articulated connection between the lever arm 35 and the operating link 41 by means of which the lever arm may shift the link downwardly when the link is either in its position shown in Fig. 3 or its position shown in Fig. 4. The lever 55 is yieldingly held in either of its positions shown in Figs. 3 and 4 by means of a snap-over spring 58 of suitable strength attached at one end to an extension 55b of the lever 55 and at its opposite end to the case plate flange 25. When the member 43 and operating link 41 are swung to the position shown in Fig. 4, the limit of this swinging motion is governed by a stop lug 59 struck out from the case plate flange 25 and positioned for engagement by the side of the member 43.

It will be noted that the detent arm 31 is adapted to swing downwardly relatively to the operating foot portion 41d on the link 41. By this construction the door may be closed without disturbing the inside and outside detent operating means since the operation of closing the door will result in rotating the ratchet member 28 and pivotally actuating the detent so as to swing the detent arm 31 downwardly and relatively to the operating link 41. This operation will occur regardless of whether the operating link 41 is in its operative position shown in Fig. 3 or in its inoperative position shown in Fig. 4. It will be apparent that, if the rod or plunger 56 is shifted downwardly when the door is in its open position so as to move the link 41 to its position shown in Fig. 4, the link 41 will remain in this position after the door has been closed, thus ensuring that the door cannot be opened by manual operation either of the lever 35 from the outside of the door or the lever 51 from the inside of the door. Thus, with the operating link 41 in its inoperative position shown in Fig. 4, the door can only be unlocked by shifting the rod or plunger 56 upwardly so as to restore the link 41 to its operative position shown in Fig. 3. As will be readily understood from Fig. 4, downward swinging motion of the lever arm 51b, as by turning the inside door handle, or downward swinging motion of the lever arm 35, as by actuation of the outside push button control, will result in shifting the link 41 downwardly past the detent arm 31 and free of engagement therewith. Hence, the door cannot be opened either from the outside or the inside when the operating link 41 is shifted by the rod 56 and lever 55 to its position illustrated in Fig. 4.

In the present embodiment of the invention a push or plunger type outside operator is provided for swinging the detent release lever 33 so as to raise the detent arm 39 out of engagement with the teeth 28a of the ratchet member 28 to permit the door to be opened. A handle 68 is rigidly secured to the outside door panel 28, this handle having at one end a transverse opening 60a to receive a push button 61 which is slidable in and out within the end of the handle between predetermined limits. The push button is held within the opening 68a against rotation by means of upper and lower keys 62 fitting into keyways 63 in the handle. Interposed between the push button and a cover plate 64, fastened by screws to the handle 60, is a light helical spring 65 which serves to return the push button to its normal position shown in Fig. 2. Fixed to and projecting from the push button 61 is a flat metal stem or shaft 66 which passes freely through an aperture 67 in the cover plate 64. Adjustably mounted on the end of the stem 66 is a thrust or actuating element 68, this element having a flat sided hole into which the stem 66 extends. The thrust element 68 is slidable on the stem 66 and is secured to the stem in any fixed adjusted position by means of a set screw 69 threaded through a tapped hole in the element 68 and engageable with the flat vertical side of the stem. Upon pushing the button 61 inwardly to shift the stem 66 inwardly the element 68 by en gagement with the flange 36a on lever 33 will swing the lever and cause the lever arm 35 to shift the operating link 41 downwardly.

It is desirable for efiicient and safe operation of the latch mechanism that the thrust element 68 substantially contact the flange 36a of the lever 33 when the latter is in its normal retracted position shown in Fig. 2. If after installation the element 68 is positioned too far to the right in Fig. 2, it will hold the lever arm 36 inwardly of its normal position resulting in holding the detent arm 30 raised somewhat out of normal engagement with a tooth 28a.

2, there may be sufficient lost motion to prevent the thrust element, upon pushing in the push button 61,

from swinging the lever 33 sufliciently to disengage the detent arm 30 from a tooth 28a. 7

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the relation of the outside operator, such as push button 61, to the lever 33 after installation of the handle 60 and latch mechanism on the door is important in ensuring safe and efiicient operation of the latch mechanism. Due. to manufacturing tolerances, inaccuracies and variations not only in the handle assembly and latch mechanism but also in the door panel structure, it is important that provision be made to compensate for such tolerances, inaccuracies and variations so that a predetermined operative relationship can be ensured between the outside operator and the detent release means. This may be readily accomplished in accordance with the present invention by enabling adjustment of the element 68 longitudinally of the stem 66 from the outside of the door jamb after installation of the handle assembly and latch mechanism on the door. A hole of suitable size is pierced in the door jamb member 22 opposite the set screw 69. A screw driver may be inserted through this hole or aperture and operated to loosen the set screw 69 and then shift the element 68 on the stem 66 so as to position it in contact with the flange 36a. the set screw is tightened to secure the element 68 in properly adjusted fixed position.

In the present embodiment of the invention the rotary toothed latch or bolt 26 is actuated when the door is closed by means of a striker or keeper member 88 which overlies the latch bolt 26 when the door is in closed position. The keeper member 88 forms the overhanging top portion of a unitary frame member 89 of generally 0- shape in cross-section, this frame member 89 being secured by means of screws 90 to the jamb face of the door pillar 23. The overhanging striker or keeper portion of the frame member 89 is formed at its lower edge with two integral spaced tooth-like projections 91 and 92 with which the teeth 26a of the latch bolt mesh to hold the door in either a final or safety locking position. When an adjacent pair of teeth 26a embrace and engage the tooth 91 the door is in safety locking position, and when an adjacent pair of teeth 26a engage and embrace the tooth 92 as shown in Fig. 7, the latch bolt is in final engagement with the tooth 92 of the striker or keeper On the other hand, if the element 68' is positioned, after installation, too far to the left in Fig.

Thereupon and to prevent vertical movement of the door during operation of the vehicle, cooperating wedge members are provided on the door and body pillar. In the present instance a wedge member 53 is slidably mounted on the bottom surface 94 of the opening in the C-shaped frame member 89. This wedge member is guided in its sliding movement by a rod 95 secured at its outer end to an abutment 89:: on the frame member 89 and at its rear end to the back wall of this member. In order to resiliently urge the wedge member 93 in an outward direction along its supporting surface 94 a coil spring 96 is mounted on the rod 95 and extends into a recess in the wedge member, the spring being interposed between the base of the recess and the back wall of the frame 89.

The cooperating wedge member on the door comprises a casing 97 which is rigidly secured to the jamb edge 22 of the door and which embraces the lower portion of the bolt 26. The bottom wall 98 of the casing 97 is arcuate in shape and is adapted to engage a correspondingly shaped curved upper surface 93a of the wedge member 93 when the door is closed.

It will be apparent from the foregoing construction that on closing the door the cooperative engagement of the curved bottom wall 98 of the casing 97 with the correspondingly curved upper surface 93a of the wedge 93 will result in taking up any play between the latch bolt and striker tooth 92, thus ensuring tight and final engagement of the bolt and striker when the door is fully closed.

For most efficient operation the latch bolt and keeper are arranged so that the path or travel of the latch bolt is substantially at right angles to the hinge axis of the door. It will be readily seen that any variations in this angular relationship will be compensated for in the present device without impairing the efiiciency of operation since the arcuate bottom wall 93 of the wedge casing 97 will cooperate effectively with the correspondingly curved surface 93a of wedge 93 regardless of variations in the relationship of the hinge axis of the door to the striker body 89.

The latch mechanism constructed in accordance with the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. to 9 inclusive comprises a case plate 100 provided with screw bosses by means of which the case plate is adapted to be secured to the inner side of the jamb portion of a door. The case plate terminates at its inner edge in a flange llll adapted to face the inner door panel. The latch mechanism is preferably provided with a rotatable toothed latch or bolt 1G2 positioned at the outer face of the case plate 100, this latch or bolt having an integral projecting shaft or shank 1113 extending through an aperture in the case plate which is formed with a hearing for the bolt shank. The inner end of the shank 103 is flattened and extended through a correspondingly shaped aperture in a rotatable toothed detent engaging member or ratchet member 104 and is riveted thereto.

The rotatable latch 1112, as shown in Fig. 9, is formed with a number of radially projecting tooth-like projections 162a, preferably five, which are spaced equally around the periphery of the latch so as to provide in efiect a gear type latch or bolt. The ratchet member 1% is also formed around its periphery with a number of toothlike abutments or projections 1114a which correspond in number to the tooth-like projections 192a of the bolt. Pivotally mouned on a shoulder rivet 1 35 secured to the case plate 109 is a swingable detent, pawl or dog which has a downwardly extending arm 1136 cooperable with the detent or projections 194a of the ratchet member 1134. This detent arm 186 is engageable with any one of the teeth 194a in the manner shown in Fig. 8 to hold the ratchet member and, hence, the bolt 1112 in looking position against rotation in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 8. The detent also comprises an inwardly extending actuating arm 107 which is adapted to be swung downwardly by the inside and outside operators, hereinafter described, so as to. raise the detent arm 1% out of engagement with any one of the teeth 104a. It will be' understood that when the door is closed the bolt 102 is rotated by engagement with its striker or keeper thereby rotating the ratchet member 1114 in a counterclockwise direction and pivotally actuating the detent.

Associated with the detent is a detent actuating member or release lever 1% which is pivoted upon a shoulder rivet 1G9 secured to the case plate 100. This lever has a lever arm 11th extending inwardly toward the case plate flange 1&1 and a second lever arm 111 extending upwardly from the pivot N9 and provided at its upper outer edge with a widened flange 111a.

' The detent arm 1% is yieldingly urged toward the ratchet plate 104 through the action of a coil spring 112. The coil spring 112 is anchored at its inner end in a slot or kerf 113 notched in the pivot stud 109 and has a downwardly extending arm 112a engageable with a projection 114- on the detent so as to yieldingly urge the detent in a counterclockwise direction and therefore the detent arm 106 in latching engagement with a tooth 164a of the ratchet plate 1134. It will be noted that the lever arm and the actuating arm 107 of the detent are vertically spaced and extend inwardly toward the case plate flange 101 in corresponding directions. Motion from the lever arm 110 is transmitted to the detent arm 107 by means of a vertically shiftable operating link or coupling member 115 which is pivotally supported or mounted in such manner that it may be swung into and out of operative relation to the detent arm 107. This link or coupling member 115 has an embossed or channel shaped projection 116 adapted to underlie the inner end of the release lever arm 119 so as to permit the lever arm to shift the link 115 downwardly in accordance with the downward swinging motion of the lever arm 11%. The link is pro vided with a vertical guide slot 117 adapted to receive a shoulder stud 118 by means of which the link is secured to the case plate flange 1111. The link is thus guided for vertical sliding movement and for pivotal movement on the case plate flange 191 by the shoulder or guide stud 113. The link is yieldingly urged toward its upper position shown in Fig. 12 by means of a coil spring 119 having its inner end anchored to a retainer 121? struck out from the case plate flange 101. This spring has an arm 1190 which is seated within the embossed or channel shaped projection 116 on the link 115. Near its lower end the link 115 has an inwardly embossed portion 121 terminating in a pair of outwardly offset portions 122 and 122a. The portion 122 overlies the detent arm 107 and the portion 122a, which is offset outwardly of the portion 122, extends down and overlaps the side of the detent arm 197. The portion 122a is provided at ts lower edge with a lug 122k extending upwardly from the flange, the purpose of which will be later described. From the foregoing it will be seen that when the release lever arm 110 is swung downwardly the link 115 will be shifted downwardly and the projecting foot portion 122 thereon by engagement with the detent arm 1%7 will swing the detent thereby disengaging the detent arm 1% from the ratchet member 104.

The present latch mechanism is preferably operated from the inside of the door through the medium of a remote control mechanism comprising a longitudinally shiftable draft link 123 which is pivoted at 124 to the lower end of one arm 125a of a bell crank lever 125. This lever is pivoted on a shoulder rivet 126 secured to the case plate flange 101. The lever is provided with a projecting arm 1255 overlying at its inner end the lug 12221 on the lower end of the coupling link 115. From this construction it will be seen that when the draft link 123 is shifted to the right in Fig. 7, as by turning the inside door handle, the lever arm 125!) will be swung downwardly into engagement with the lug 122b, thereby shifting the link 115 downwardly and causing the foot or projection 122 on the link to engage the detent arm 107 and swing the detent so as to disengage the same 9 from the ratchet member 104. It will be noted that the lever arm 12512 terminates short of the detent arm 107 so that disengagement of the detent by swinging the inside operated lever 125 is accomplished solely through the vertical slidable link 115.

In accordance with the present invention means operable from the inside of the door is provided for pivotally moving or swinging the operating link 115 into and out of operative relation to the detent arm 107, this being accomplished in the present instance by swinging the link 115 about the shoulder stud 118. A bell crank lever 127 is pivotally mounted on a pivot stud 128 to the case plate flange 101 at the upper end thereof. The bell crank lever 127 has a downwardly extending arm 127a adapted to overlie the upper end of the link 115. A stud 129 is mounted in the lower end of the arm 127 in such a manner as to project into the slot 117 in the upper end of the link 115. Upon the bell crank arm 127a being swung in a clockwise direction the link 115 will be swung about its pivot axis in a counterclockwise direction thus shifting the lower end 122 of the link 115 out of abutting relation to the detent arm 107. The bell crank lever arm 127a has a horizontally extending portion 12711 to which is pivotally connected a horizontally shiftable rod 130 which is adapted to be shifted by means accessible at the garnish molding at the inner side of the glass chan' nel of the door. The rod 130 may be shifted horizontally in either direction, thereby rocking the lever 127 and causing the stud 129 on the lever arm 127a to swing the link from its position as shown in Fig. 7 to a position in which the foot portion 122 is out of abutting relation to the detent arm 107. The lever 127 is yieldingly held in either its position shown in Fig. 7 or its displaced position by means of a snap-over spring 131 of suitable strength attached at one end to a horizontally extending portion 1270 and at its opposite end to the case plate flange 101. When the operating link 115 is swung from its position shown in Fig. 7 to the position in which the foot portion 122 thereon is out of abutting relation to the detent arm 197, the limit of the swinging movement is governed by a suitable lug 132 struck-out from the case plate flange 101 and positioned for engagement by the side of the embossed portion 121 of the link.

In the present embodiment of the invention the rotary toothed latch r bolt 102 is shown in engagement with a striker or keeper member 133 of different construction than that shown with the previous embodiments. In general, the keeper or striker 133 comprises a C-shaped structure having upper and

lower body portions

134 and 135. The lower body portion 135 is formed at its lower edge with depending tooth-

like projections

136 and 137 with which the teeth 102a of the latch bolt 102 mesh to hold the door in either final or safety locking position. When an adjacent pair of teeth 102a embrace and engage the tooth 136 the bolt is in safety locking position, and when an adjacent pair of teeth 102a embrace the tooth 137, as shown in Fig. 9, the bolt is in final locking position.

The upper surface 138 of the lower body portion 134. forms a slightly inclined ramp engageable by a suitably contoured dovetail or abutment 139 fastened to the outer face of the case plate 190. A yieldable wedging means is carried on the underside of the upper body portion 135 of the striker device and engages the upper surface of the dovetail or abutment 139 to firmly hold the door against vibratory movement in a vertical plane. The wedging means in the present instance comprises a wedge block 149 controlled by a compression spring 141, the wedge block and spring being slidably retained within a recess 142 by means of a guide rod 143 fastened to the end walls of the recess 151. The spring 141 is mounted under initial compression and constantly urges the wedge outwardly or to the left as viewed in Fig. 9. During closing movement of the door the wedge block 140 is engaged by the upper surface of the dovetail and is carried inwardly to some extent against the action of the spring. As the vehicle body vibrates during motion of the vehicle over the road surface, the wedge block will constantly tend to tighten itself against the upper surface of the abutment 139 and, hence, maintain the bolt 102-firmly in engagement with the tooth 137 on the striker thus minimizing the possibility of vibratory movement of the door in a vertical direction.

I claim:

1. In a latch mechanism for a swinging door, a support having two angularly related plate portions, a rotatable latch device mounted on one plate portion of the support, detent means pivotally mounted on said one plate portion and engageable with said latch device for holding the same in door latching position, link means, pivoted mounting means mounting said link means on the other of said plate portions for swinging movement with said mounting means about a fixed axis and for shiftable movement relative to said mounting means, said mounting means including guide means restricting said link means to such shiftable movement at all times along a line which passes through said fixed axis, inner manually operable lever means mounted on said other plate portion and having a part engageable with said link means for shifting the same along said line, said detent means having a part engageable by said link means for pivotally actuating said detent means upon operating said inner manually operable lever means, and means mounted on said other plate portion and having a part operative to pivotally move said link means out of engaging relation to said part of the detent means.

2. In a latch mechanism for a swinging door, a support having two angularly related plate portions, a rotatable latch device mounted on one plate portion of the support, detent means pivotally mounted on said one plate portion and engageable with said latch device for holding the same in door latching position, link means, pivoted mounting means mounting said link means on the other of said plate portions for swinging movement with said mounting means about a fixed axis and for shiftable movement relative to said mounting means, said mounting means including guide means restricting said link means to such shiftable movement at all times along a line which passes through said fixed axis, outer manually operable means mounted on said one plate portion and having a part engageable with said link means for shifting the same along said line, inner manually operable lever means mounted on said other plate portion and having a part engageable with said link means for shifting the same along said line, said detent means having a part engageable by said link means for pivotally actuating said detent means upon operating either of said manually operable means, and means mount ed on said other plate portion and having a part operative to pivotally move said link means out of engaging relation to said part of the detent means.

3. In a latch mechanism for a swinging door, a support having two angularly related plate portions, a rotatable latch device mounted on one plate portion of the support, detent means pivotally mounted on said one plate portion and engageable with said latch device for holding the same in door latching position, a longitudinally extending carrier member pivotally mounted on the other of said plate portions for swinging movement, a transmitting member mounted on said carrier member for swinging movement therewith and shiftable longitudinally in a vertical direction relative thereto, means on said carrier member restricting said transmitting member to shiftable movement in the direction of a single longitudinal axis of said carrier member, inner manually operable lever means pivotally mounted on said other plate portion and having an arm portion engageable with one part of said transmitting member to shift the same longitudinally in one direction upon swinging said lever means, said detent means having an arm extending toward said other plate portion of the support and having a part arranged inopposing relation to another part of said transmitting member and engageable thereby upon shifting of said transmitting member longitudinally of said carrier member thereby to pivotally actuate said detent means and disengage the same from said latch device, and inner manually operable means for swinging said carrier member thereby to swing said transmitting member into a position in which said parts of the transmitting member and detent arm are out of opposing relation whereby said transmitting member may be shifted relatively to the detent arm without engaging the same.

4. In a latch mechanism for a swinging door, a support having two angularly related plate portions, a rotatable latch device mounted on one plate portion of the support, detent means pivotally mounted on said one plate portion and engageable with said latch device for holding the same in door latching position, a longitudinally extending carrier member pivotally mounted on the other of said plate portions for swinging movement, a transmitting member mounted on said carrier member for swinging movement therewith and shiftable longitudinally in a vertical direction relative thereto, means on said carrier member restricting said transmitting member to shittable movement in the direction of a single longitudinal axis of said carrier member, inner manually operable lever means pivotally mounted on said other plate portion and having an arm portion engageable with one part of said transmitting member to shift the same longitudinally in one direction upon swinging said lever means, said detent means having an arm extending toward said other plate portion of the support and having a part arranged in opposing relation to another part of said transmitting member and engageable thereby upon shifting of said transmitting member longitudinally of said carrier member thereby to pivotally actuate said detent means and disengage the same from said latch device, and inner manually operable means for swinging said carrier member thereby to swing said transmitting member into a position in which said parts of the transmitting member and detent arm are out of opposing relation whereby said transmitting member may be shifted relatively to the detent arm without engaging the same, said lever arm portion and said one part of the transmitting member and said opposing parts of the detent arm and transmitting member being disposed below the locality of the pivot of said carrier member.

5. in a latch mechanism for a swinging door, a support having two angularly related plate portions, a rotatable latch device mounted on one plate portion or the support, detent means pivotally mounted on said one plate portion and engageable with said latch device for holding the same in door latching position, a longitudinally extending carrier member pivotally mounted on the other of said plate portions for swinging movement, a longitudinally extending transmitting member mounted on said carrier member for swinging movement therewith and shiftable longitudinally in a vertical direction relative thereto, means on said carrier member maintaining said transmitting member in alignment with said carrier member so that the longitudinal axis of the one is at all times coincident with the longitudinal axis of the other, inner manually operable lever means pivotally mounted on said other plate portion and having an arm portion engageable with one part of said transmitting member to shift the same longitudinally in one direction upon swinging said lever means, said detent means having an arm extending toward said other plate portion of the support and having a part arranged in opposing relation to another part of said transmitting member and engageable thereby upon shifting of said transmitting member thereby to pivotally actuate said detent means and disengage the same from said latch device, and inner manually operable means for swinging said carrier member thereby to swing said transmitting member into a position in which said parts of the transmitting member and detent arm are out of opposing relation whereby said transmitting member may be shifted relatively to the detent arm without engaging the same.

6. In a latch mechanism for a swinging door, a support having two angularly related plate portions, a rotatable latch device mounted on one plate portion of the support, detent means pivotally mounted on said one plate portion and engageable With said latch device for holding the same in door latching position, a longitudinally extending carrier member pivotally mounted on the other or" said plate portions for swinging movement, a longitudinally extending transmitting member mounted on said carrier member for swinging movement therewith and shiftable longitudinally in a vertical direction relative thereto, means on said carrier member maintaining said transmitting member in alignment with said carrier member so that the longitudinal axis of the one is at all times coincident with the longitudinal axis of the other, inner manually operable lever means pivotally mounted on said other plate portion and having an arm portion engageable with one part of said transmitting member to shift the same longitudinally in one direction upon swinging said lever means, said detent means having an arm extending toward said other plate portion of the support and having a part arranged in opposing relation to another part of said transmitting memher and engageable thereby upon shifting of said transmember thereby to pivotally actuate said detent means and disengage the same from said latch device, and inner manually operable means for swinging said carrier member thereby to swing said transmitting member into a position in which said parts of the transmitting member and detent arm are out of opposing relation whereby said transmitting member may be shifted relatively to the detent arm without engaging the same, said lever arm portion and said one part of the transmitting member and said opposing parts of the detent arm and transmitting member being disposed below the locality of the pivot of said carrier member.

7. In a latch mechanism for a swinging door, a support having two angularly related plate portions, a retatable latch device mounted on one plate portion of the support, detent means pivotally mounted on said one plate portion and engageable with said latch device for holding the same in door latching position, a longitudinally extending carrier member pivotally mounted on the other of said plate portions for swinging movement, a transmitting member mounted on said carrier member for swinging movement therewith about a common pivot axis and shiftable longitudinally in a vertical direction relative thereto, guide rails on said carrier member restricting said transmitting member to shiftable movement in the direction of a single longitudinal axis of said carrier member, inner manually operable lever means pivotally mounted on said other plate portion and having an arm portion engageable with one part of said transmitting member to shift the same longitudinally in one direction upon swinging said lever means, said detent means having an arm extending toward said other plate portion of the support and having a part arranged in opposing relation to another part of said transmitting member and engageable thereby upon shifting of said transmitting member longitudinally of said carrier member thereby to pivotally actuate said detent means and disengage the same from said latch device, and inner manually operable means for swinging said carrier member thereby to swing said transmitting member into a position in which said parts of the transmitting member and detent arm are out of opposing relation whereby said transmitting member may be shifted relatively to the detent arm without engaging the same.

8. In a latch mechanism for a swinging door, a support having two angularly related plate portions, a rotatable latch device mounted on one plate portion of the support, detent means pivotally mounted on said one plate portion and engageable with said latch device for holding the same in door latching position, a longitudinally extending carrier member pivotally mounted on the other of said plate portions for swinging movement, a transmitting member mounted on said carrier member for swinging movement therewith about a common pivot axis, means on said carrier member for guiding said transmitting member for movement in a vertical direction relative thereto, inner manually operable lever means pivotally mounted on said other plate portion and having an arm portion engageable with one part of said transmitting member to shift the same vertically in one direction upon swinging said lever means, said detent means having an arm extending toward said other plate portion of the support and having a part arranged in opposing relation to another part of said transmitting memher and engageable thereby upon shifting of said transmitting member vertically thereby to pivotally actuate said detent means and disengage the same from said latch device, inner manually operable means for swinging said carrier member thereby to swing said transmitting member into a position in which said parts of the transmitting member and detent arm are out of opposing relation whereby said transmitting member may be shifted vertically relatively to the detent arm without engaging the same, Said lever arm portion and said one part of the transmitting member and said opposing parts of the detent arm and transmitting member being disposed below the locality of the pivot of said carrier member.

9. In a latch mechanism for a swinging door, a support having two angularly related plate portions, a rotatable latch device mounted on one plate portion of the support, detent means pivotally mounted on said one plate portion above said latch device and engageable with said latch device for holding the same in door latching position, said detent means having an arm extending toward said other plate portion of the support, a detent actuating member pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on said other plate portion for swinging movement about a fixed axis positioned above said detent means arm from a first position to a second position and vice versa and also for shiftable movement relatively to the pivotal mounting thereof along a line which at all times passes through said fixed axis, said actuating member having a lower end portion cooperable with said detent means arm to pivotally actuate said detent means to disengage the same from said latch device upon shiftable movement of said actuating member in one direction, inner manually operable lever means mounted on said other plate portion cooperable with the lower end portion of said detent actuating member for shifting the same along said line, and means mounted on said other plate portion and having a part engageable with said detent actuating member above its pivot axis and operative to pivotally move said detent actuating member lower end portion out of engaging relation to said detent means arm.

10. In a latch mechanism for a swinging door, a support having two angularly related plate portions, a rotatable latch device mounted on one plate portion of the support, detent means pivotally mounted on said one plate portion above said latch device and engageable with said latch device for holding the same in door latching position, said detent means having an arm extending toward said other plate portion of the support, a detent actuating member pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on said other plate portion for swinging movement about a fixed axis positioned above said detent means arm from a first position to a second position and vice versa and also for shiftable movement relatively to the pivotal mounting thereof along a line which at all times passes through said fixed axis, said actuating member having an end portion cooperable with said detent means arm to pivotally actuate said detent means to disengage the same from said latch device upon shiftable movement of said actuating member in one direction, outer manually operable means for shifting said detent actuating member along said line in said one direction, inner manually operable lever means mounted on said other plate portion and having a part engageable with said detent actuating member end portion for shifting the same along said line in said one direction, and means mounted on said other plate portion and having a part engageable with said detent actuating member above its pivot axis and operative to pivotally move said detent actuating member end portion out of engaging relation to said detent means arm.

11.. In a latch mechanism for a swinging door, a support having two angularly related plate portions, a rotatable latch device mounted on one plate portion of the support, detent means pivotally mounted on said one plate portion and engageable with said latch device for holding the same in door latching position, said detent means having an arm extending toward said other plate portion of the support, a detent actuating member, means comprising a pivot pin on said other plate portion engageable within a guide slot in said actuating member for pivotally mounting said actuating member intermediate its ends on said other plate portion for swinging movement about the axis of said pivot pin from a first position to a second position and vice versa and also for shiftable movement in either of said positions relatively to said pivot pin along a line extending longitudinally of said actuating member which line at all times passes through said axis, said actuating member having a portion cooperable with said detent means arm to pivotally actuate said detent means to disengage the same from said latch device upon shiftable movement of said actuating member in one direction, an inner manually operable lever means mounted on said other plate portion for shifting said detent actuating member in said one direction, and inner manually operable means including a lever pivotally mounted on said other plate portion and having a pin engageable with said guide slot above said pivot pin for swinging said actuating member from said first position to said second position wherein said detent actuating member is out of engaging relation with said detent means arm.

12. In a latch mechanism for a swinging door, a support having two angularly related plate portions, a rotatable latch device mounted on one plate portion of the support, detent means pivotally mounted on said one plate portion above said latch device and engageable with said latch device for holding the same in door latching position, said detent means having an arm extending toward said other plate portion of the support, a detent actuating member, means comprising a pivot pin on said other plate portion engageable within a guide slot in said actuating member for pivotally mounting said actuating member intermediate its ends on said other plate portion for swinging movement about the axis of said pivot pin from a first position to a second position and vice versa and also for shiftable movement in either of said positions relatively to said pivot pin along a line extending longitudinally of said actuating member which line at all times passes through said axis, said actuating member having an end portion cooperable with said detent means arm to pivotally actuate said detent means to disengage the same from said latch device upon shiftable movement of said actuating member in one direction, an inner manually operable lever means mounted on said other plate portion for shifting said actuating member in said one direction, and inner manually operable means including a lever pivotally mounted on said other plate portion and engageable with said actuating member above said pivot pin for swinging the same from said first position to said second position wherein said detent actuating member is out of engaging relation with said detent means arm.

13. In a latch mechanism for a swinging door, a support having two angularly related plate portions, a rotatable latch device mounted on one plate portion of the support, detent means pivotally mounted on said one plate portion and engageable with said latch device for holding the same in door latching position, a detent actuating member, means comprising a pivot pin on said other plate portion engageable within a guide slot in said actuating member for pivotally mounting said actuating member intermediate its ends on said other plate portion for swinging movement about the axis of said pivot pin from a first position to a second position and vice versa and also for shiftable movement in either of said positions relatively to said pivot pin along a line extending longitudinally of said actuating member which line at all times passes through said axis, aid actuating member having a portion cooperable with said detent means to pivotally actuate said detent means to disengage the same from said latch device upon shiftable movement of said actuating member in one direction, inner manually operable means mounted on said other plate portion for shifting said detent actuating member in said one direction, and inner manually operable means including a lever pivotally mounted on said other plate portion and having a pin engageable with said guide slot above said pivot pin for swinging said actuating member from said first position to said second position wherein said detent actuating member is out of engaging relation with said detent means.

14. In a latch mechanism for a swinging door, a support having two angularly related plate portions, a rotatable latch device mounted on one plate portion of the support, detent means pivotally mounted on said one plate portion and engageable with said latch device for holding the same in door latching position, a detent actuating member, means comprising a pivot pin on said other plate portion engageable within a guide slot in said actuating member for pivotally mounting said actuating member intermediate its ends on said other plate portion for swinging movement about the axis of said pivot pin from a first position to a second position and vice versa and also for shiftable movement in either of said positions relatively to said pivot pin along a line extending longitudinally of said actuating member which line at all times passes through aid axis, said actuating member having a lower end portion cooperable with said detent means to pivotally actuate said detent means to disengage the same from said latch device upon shiftable movement of said actuating member in one direction, inner manually operable means mounted on said other plate portion for shifting said actuating member in said one direction, and inner manually operable means engageable with said actuating member at the upper end portion thereof for swinging the same from said first position to said second position wherein said detent actuating member lower end portion is out of operating relation to said detent means.

15. In a latch mechanism for a swinging door, a support having two angularly related plate portions, a rotatable latch device mounted on one plate portion of the support, detent mean pivotally mounted on said one plate portion and engageable with said latch device for holding the same in door latching position, a detent actuating member, means comprising a pivot pin on said other plate portion engageable within a guide slot in said actuating member for pivotally mounting said actuating member intermediate its ends on said other plate portion for swinging movement about the axis of said pivot pin from a first position to a second position and vice versa and also for shiftable movement in either of said positions relatively to said pivot pin along a line extending longitudinally of said actuating member which line at all times passes through said axis, said actuating member having a lower end portion cooperable with said detent means to pivotally actuate said detent means to disengage the same from said latch device upon shiftable movement of said actuating member in one direction, and inner manually operable means for shifting said actuating member in said one direction thereby to disengage the detent means from said latch device.

16. In a latch mechanism for a swinging door, a support having two angularly related plate portions, a rotatable latch device mounted on one plate portion of the support, detent means pivotally mounted on said one plate portion and engageable with said latch device for holding the same in door latching position, a detent actuating member, means for pivotally mounting said actuating member intermediate its ends for swinging movement from a first position to a second position and vice versa and also for shiftable movement in either of said positions relatively to the pivotal mounting of said References Cited in the file of this patent UNlTED STATES lATENTS 2,249,018 Marple et al. July 15, 1941 2,270,559 Rolph et al. Ian. 20, 1942 2,569,047 Endter Sept. 25, 1951 2,608,429 Wise Aug. 26, 1952 2,641,495 Leslie et al. June 9, 1953 2,649,321 Smith Aug. 18, 1953