US3791686A

US3791686A - Door lock mechanism

Info

Publication number: US3791686A
Authority: US
Inventors: K Horozawa
Original assignee: Aisin Seiki Co Ltd
Current assignee: Aisin Corp
Priority date: 1971-12-13
Filing date: 1971-12-13
Publication date: 1974-02-12
Anticipated expiration: 1991-02-12

Abstract

An automotive door lock mechanism, comprising a latch or fork member adapted for engagement with striker pin, a pivotable pawl adapted for engagement with said latch for performing the door lock a pivotable open plate adapted for controlling to establish or release the engagement between said latch and said pawl, and a locking plate pivotably mounted on the base of said lock mechanism, characterized by that said locking plate and said open plate are mounted pivotably to each other.

Description

United States Patent 191 Horozawa DOOR LOCK MECHANISM [75] Inventor: Kiochiro Horozawa, Kariya, Japan [73] Assignee: Aisin Seiki Company Limited,

Kariya-shi, Japan [22] Filed: Dec. 13, 1971 21] Appl. No.: 207,240

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 782,077, Dec. 9, 1968,

abandoned.

[52] US. Cl. 292/216, 292/DIG, 26 [51] Int. Cl. E05c 3/26 [58] Field of Search292/2l6, 280, DIG. 26, DIG. 27, 292/198, 336.3

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/1967 Sandor ..292/216 6/1957 Roethel ..292/28O 1 1 Feb, 12,1974

2,813,418 11/1957 Craig 292/280 X 2,658,781 11/1953 Allen 292/216 3,365,226 1/1968 Shay 292/216 3,121,580 2/1964 DiSalvo et al. 292/229 Primary ExaminerRichard E. Moore Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Sughrue, Rothwell, Mion, Zinn & Macpeak [57] ABSTRACT 6 Claims, 16 Drawing Figures noon LOCK MECHANISM This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 782,077 filed Dec. 9, 1968, now abandoned.

This invention relates to improvements in and relating to automotive door lock mechanism of the fork type.

In the field of automotive door lock mechanisms, it is highly desired to provide a possibility for performing the following multipurpose functions I. When the vehicle door has been closed, the door is kept in its closed position even when the door lock is not in its latched condition, so far as otherwise intentionally operated.

2. The door can be intentionally opened from the closed position mentioned above.

3. When the door has been closed, it can be locked intentionally from inside of the vehicle, for the prevention of possible unauthorized opening from outside or accidental opening on a traffic emergency.

4. The door lock can be latched by key operation from outside, for avoiding possible unauthorized opening of the door.

5. To provide a possibility of unlock operation which means that when a person depresses the inside door lock knob and gets out of the automotive vehicle and then closes the opened door, the once latched door lock will be automoatically released.

6. To provide a possibility of keyless lock operation" which means that under the same conditions described above the door lock can be released by closing the door with its outside handle being intentionally kept in its door open position.

The main object of the invention is to provide an automotive door lock mechanism adapted for performing the aforementioned various and desirous functions, yet being of simpler design and easy and economical in its manufacture.

A further object is to provide a door lock mechanism of the above kind, capable of effectively providing false-proof functions.

In the conventional comparative mechanisms there must be certain control means which is adapted for controlling the establishment of operatively coupled or connected relation between the latch pawl and the open plate or lever which constitute requisite constituents of the door lock mechanism of the above kind. It has been found that the provision of such control means leads to a highly complicated design of the door lock mechanism.

It is therefore a still further object of the invention to provide an improved door lock mechanism of the above kind wherein however the control means of the above kind and nature has been dispensed with.

The most predominant characterizing feature of the present invention resides in such unique arrangement that the locking plate and the open lever which are also requisite constituents of the door lock mechanism are pivotally connected with each other.

These and further objects, features and advantages of the invention will become more clear when read the following detailed description of several preferred embodiments of the present invention shown in the accompanying drawings which constitute part of the specification. It should be however stressly understood that these embodiments are shown and described only for illustrative purposes and should not be construed as any definition of the invention.

In the drawings FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of the automotive door lock mechanism as a first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken long a section line II-II shown in FIG. 1, illustrating substantially the engaging conditions between the striker and the latch embodied in the door lock mechanism.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are front views of essential parts of the door lock mechanism illustrating two different operational stages thereof.

FIG. 5 is a sectional plan view of the mechanism shown in FIg. 3.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are front views of main operating parts of said mechanism, illustrating further two working modes of thereof.

FIG. 8 is a substantially similar view to FIG. 1, illustrating however a preferred second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9 is a substantially similar view to FIG. 2, illustrative of the second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a front view of the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.

FIG. 11 is a substantially similar view to FIG. 5, illustrative however of the second embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a part of FIG. 10, illustrative of several main working parts for the illustration of a working mode of the second embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a front view of a third embodiment of the invention, shown in its unlocked conditions.

FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken substantially along a section line XIVXIV shown in FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a partial sectional view taken substantially along a section line XVXV shown in FIG. 14, the mutual positions of the component parts being shown in their fully latched conditions.

FIG. 16 is a similar view to FIG. 15, wherein however the latch mechanism is shown in its unlatched conditions.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings, especially FIGS. l-7 thereof, the first embodiment will be described in detail. The shown automotive door lock mechanism belongs to the fork type so called among those skilled in the art. The relative positions of the working parts shown in FIG. 1 are those in which the latch is kept in its fully latched position with the vehicle door completely closed.

In these figures, the numeral 10 shows generally a conventional keeper or striker which is fixedly attached to a certain stationary member of the automotive vehicle, not shown, which is fitted with the door lock mechanism, said member being normally shown at 13, FIG. 1, by an imaginary line illustrative of its rear marginal configuration, shown only partially. The striker 10 comprises striker plate 1 l fitted integrally with a pin 12 having at its free end a flange made again integral therewith. The provision of this flange 12a serves for preventing unintentional disengagement of the striker from the door lock mechanism proper, generally shown at 14, even when a sudden shock acting in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle should be induced in the lock mechanism in an emergency.

Door lock or latch 14 comprises a door lock base 15 which is fixedly attached at 51 as conventionally to a door of the vehicle and mounts in turn rigidily two

separate shafts

16 and 17, respectively. The door is shown only by imaginary lines 50, FIG. 1, illustrative of its front marginal wall part, shown only partially. A fork member 18 is rotatably mounted on the former shaft 16 and in the similar way a pawl member 19 is mounted on the latter shaft 17. The fork member is formed with a recess 18a which straddles over said pin 12 of the striker, and further with first and

second ratchet teeth

18b and 180, respectively, either thereof being adapted for engagement with tooth 19a formed on the pawl member. 4

Numeral 20 shows a coil spring which is loosely mounted on said shaft 16, one end of said spring being bent inwardly and kept in pressure engagement with a side edge of said fork 18, thus urging the latter and the other end being kept in pressure abutment on an inwardly folded projection 21a of fork cover 21, thereby said fork 18 being resiliently urged to turn in counter clockwise direction when seen in FIG. 2. The fork cover consists substantially of a channel section and of an angular section when viewed either from FIG. 1 or FIG. 2, respectively, and is rigidly connected to the lock base 15 as at 21b and 21c symbolizingly shown in FIG. 1. The fixing procedure for this purpose may be flaring, fusing, spot welding or the like, although not specifically shown.

A further coil spring 22 is mounted on said shaft 17, one end of said spring being kept in engagement with said pawl member 19 so as to urge the latter for turning in counter clockwise direction in FIG. 2, another end of said spring being kept in engagement with said fork cover 21.

Slide block 23, preferably made of a plastic material into a key-like longitudinal configuration as shown most clearly in FIG. 2, is slidably mounted on an elongated pin 25 which is fixedly attached with its both ends to

side flanges

15a and 21d formed on base 15 and fork cover 21, respectively. This slide block serves for suppressing possible idle movement of the related vehicle door occasionally appearing in the vertical direction when the fork member 18 and the pin member 12 of striker are kept in the fully latched position with each other as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Between side flange 21d of fork cover 21 and the recess at 23a formed in said slide block 23, there is provided an elongated spring 26 kept in its compressed state around the horizontal pin 25, thereby uring resiliently the slide block towards the recessed side of said door lock base which recess is most clearly seen at the left-hand side of FIG. 2 at 52.

Next, referring especially to FIGS. 3-7, the numral 54 shows a locking plate which is pivotably mounted on a pin 55 studded on the base plate 15, although the fixing means have been omitted from the drawing for simplicity. This locking plate is formed into an inverted tee configuration when seen in FIG. 3. Open plate 46 is pivoted at 57 to the upper end of said locking plate when seen again in FIG. 3. To the right-hand end of said lock plate in FIG. 3, an outside locking rod 58 is linked at 59 which is shiftable substantially vertically by manual key operation from outside of the door related. At a slightly leftward position from the middle point of the open plate 56, there is provided thereon a land 56a having a length longer than the width of a horizontal projection 19a formed on pawl 19.

Conventional outside open rod 60 which is arranged to move substantially vertically up and down by actuating manually a conventional outside door handle, not

shown, attached to the door 50, is linked pivotably at 61 to the open plate 56 at its righthand end, as most clearly seen from FIGS. 3-4. The opposite or left-hand extremity of said open plate 56 projects normally and horizontally through an opening 15b drilled through the side flange 15a of said base plate. Spring 63 is tensioned between an ear 56b projecting forwardly and horizontally from the upper edge of open plate 56, on the one hand, and a stationary stop 62 made integral with base plate 15, on the other hand, thereby urging the open plate to rotate in the counter clockwise direction in FIg. 3. Conventional inside open lever 65 is pivotably mounted on a pin 64 fixedly mounted on a side flange 15a of said open plate, said lever being linked as conventionally with inside door handle although not shown so that it may swivel around its pivot pin 64 within a lateral plane perpendicular to the drawing paper of FIG. 3.

A further coil spring 66 is tensioned between a lateral projection 19b formed on the pawl 19 and a further lateral projection 62 extruding from the lower edge of the left-hand arm of locking plate or lever 54 at its intermediate point. The free length of the spring 16 is so set and adjusted that, as in the case of FIG. 7, when the locking plate 54 has been brought to its counter clockwise extreme position, the spring length under consideration is equal to the disance between stop 54a on the locking plate and the projection 19b on said pawl 19. Numeral 81 denotes a conventional inside locking rod the lower end of which is linked to the left-hand end of locking plate 54. Same construction is employed equally in the second and third embodiments of the invention to be set forth.

The operation of the first embodiment so far shown and described will be set forth in detail hereinbelow Now assuming that the door is being closed from its open position wherein the fork member is kept in its counter clockwise extreme position as shown by imaginary line 18A in FIG. 2, abutting against a resilient stationary stop 49 mounted indirectly on door lock base 15. In this case, it will be clear that the door lock 14 fixed on the door advances therewith in the direction from left to right in FIG. 2, thereby the striker pin 12 being brought through an intermediate position shown therein by its imaginary line 12A corresponding to nearly closed door position into engagement with the fork at 18A which is thus caused to rotate in the clockwise direction in FIG. 2 upon sliding contact thereof with the pin. By this actuation, the front edge of first ratchet tooth on the fork member is brought into engagement with the pawl 19a of member 19 which is thus rotated in the clockwise direction against the urging force exerted by coil spring 22. In this way, the ratchet tooth 18c is brought firstly into contact with the pawl member 19 so that the door lock is maintained in its secondary latched position.

With further continuation of the door advancement in its closing direction, the front edge 18f of second ratchet tooth 18b will actuate the pawl member 19 for further rotation and finally the tooth 18b is brought into meshing with the pawl, thus the desired fully latched position of the locking mechanism being brought about, as shown by full lines in FIGS. 1 and 2. This closed position corresponds to the position shown in FIGS. 3 and 6.

When it is desired to open again the closed and fully latched door, the driver or passenger, as the case may be, must manually operated the inside door handle, not shown, to turn in its opening direction as usual, so as to rotate the lever 65, FIG. 3, around its pivot pin 64 in the counter clockwise direction when seen in FIG. I, for elevating the left-hand end of open plate 56 in its position in FIG. 3, thereby the pawl 19 being pivotally moved in the clockwise direction when seen therein. Thus, the lock mechanism is released from its latched position, thereby letting the door into its openable state.

On the contrary, when the driver or the like person manipulates the conventional outside door handle, not shown, to rotate it in the door-opening direction as usual and in the closed door position above referred to, for depressing the rod 58 in the downward direction, thus rotating the open plate 56 in clockwise direction in FIG. 3. It will thus be seen that also in this case, the door lock mechanism is released from its latched position.

When the operator or the like person should have been pressed down manually and carelessly the inside lock push knob, not shown, and then closed from outside the door, leaving the door key in the cabin, special means must be provided for reopening the erroneously closed and latched door.

By closure of the door, the driving engagement of striker pin 52 with latch or fork member 18 is brought about as was referred to hereinbefore in connection with FIG. 2, thereby pawl 19 being rotated in the clockwise direction in FIGS. 2 and 3. In this way, the tension of spring 66 is increased and the locking plate 54 is caused to rotate in clockwise direction, thus the mech anism being released from its latched position. Therefore, the door can be opened by manipulating the outside door handle in its door-opening direction as usual.

As is commonly known, it is frequently desired to lock the door from outside of the vehicle and without use of the door key which means the keyless lock operation.

For satisfying this desire with use of the present door lock mechanism, it is only necessary to close the door by means of the outside door handle while being held in its door opening position, and indeed upon depression of the inside door lock push knob. This manipulation means that the door is closed while the open plate 56 is being held in its chain-dotted line position in FIG. 7. Thus, pawl 19 is rotated in clockwise direction together with its projection 19b shifted into its upper position, urging to elongate the spring 66 and to rotate the locking plate 54 in clockwise direction. In practice, however, the left hand inclined extreme part at 56b of land 56a on said open plate 56 is kept in engagement with the projection 19b on pawl 19 and thus the latched position is nevertheless maintained, because in this case the upward shift of the projection 19b caused by the clockwise rotation of pawl 19 will result in a sliding movement of the part 1% along said inclined extremity 56b. Thus, the engagement of the latter with the projection 19b cannot be released, and therefore, a clockwise rotation of locking plate 541 is prevented. Even with the outside door handle manipulated in its door opening direction, the door is kept in its closed and latched position. Any unauthorized door opening effort from outside of the vehicle will thus be effectively prevented.

As may well be seen from the foregoing, by use of the door lock mechanism according to this invention, various and desirous functions for an ideal one can be perfectly performed, yet having a comparatively simple design in comparison with conventional comparative mechanisms.

Referring further to FIGS. 8-12, a second embodiment of the invention will be set forth hereinbelow. In these drawings, same or similar constituent parts are shown by respective same reference numerals as in the first embodiment, yet being attached each with a single prime for better identification and comparison. The design, arrangement and function of these parts may be well understood from the foregoing without further detailed analysis.

In this embodiment, the pivot pin for locking plate 54' is received in an elongated opening 70 cut through said plate as seen from FIGS. 8 and 10. A lateral projection 71 is formed on openplate 56' so as to be adapted for engagement with a lateral projection 72 formed on the pawl 19.

Within the moving range of pivot pin 57' serving for mutual pivotal attachment of locking plate 54' and open plate 56' during the pivotal movement of the for mer plate 54 around pivot pin 55', the fork cover 21' is formed with a W-shaped opening 73 cut therethrough, as shown by a wavey and closed dotted line in FIG. 10. When the locking plate 54 is moved from non-latched to latched position, or vice versa, the head at 74 formed on the pivot pin 57' will slide along the generally W-shaped recesses constituting part of said opening 73. It will thus be seen that the both extreme end walls of said opening 73 ranging the W-shaped double recess serve as positive stops defining the shiftable range of said pivot in 57'.

The operation of the second embodiment is as follows.

When it is intended to open the door which has been closed and kept in its normal conditions, the driver or the like inside person shall manipulate the conventional inside door handle to rotate it in its door opening direction, thereby inside open lever being caused to rotate around pin 64' in counter clockwise direction in FIG. 8, so as to raise the left-hand end of open plate 56' in FIG. I0 and thus, a projection 71 formed on the latter being brought into pressure engagement with a projection '72 on the pawl 19'. In this way, the pawl 19' is caused to rotate in clockwise direction around the pin 17' in FIG. 10, so as to release the locked position of the door lock mechanism, thus the door being brought into its release position.

On the contrary, when it is desired to open the door from outside of the vehicle, the person shall manipulate the conventional outside door handle to turn it in its door opening direction, so as to lower the outside open rod for rotating said open plate 56' in clockwise direction in FIG. 10. In this way, the mechanism is unlocked and the door is released.

When it is desired to lock the door which has been brought into its closed position, the person shall depress inside push knob from inside of the cabin, thereby to lower the inside locking rod. Or alternatively, the person shall draw the outside locking rod upwards by performing a door key operation as usual from outside of the vehicle. The locking plate 54' is thereby caused to rotate in counter clockwise direction and brought into the position shown in FIG. 10. In this way, the pivotal center of open plate 56' at 57' is shifted a small distance towards left in FIG. 10. Under these conditions, even when either of said inside or outside door handle is rotated in its door opening direction so as to turn said open plate 56 in clockwise direction, the projection 71 on the plate can not be brought therewith into engagement of the mating projection 72. Thus, the open plate 56 will act only in vain. Therefore, the door is not opened, but, it is kept in its latched conditions.

When the person should erroneously depress the inside lock push knob, not shown, and the door is thus brought into its latched conditions, the rotation of the latch or fork member 18' by engagement with the invading striker pin will cause as before the pawl 19' to rotate in clockwise direction in FIG. 9, thereby the projection 72 together with the pawl being elevated in its position. The thus accumulated spring force at 66' will cause the lock plate 54 to shift uwpards and the plate is rotated in clockwise direction. The mechanism is released from its once locked position and thus the door can be opened by manipulation of the outside door handle.

When it is desired to close and lock the door from outside of the vehicle and without use of the door key, it is only necessary to close the door while keeping the outside door handle in its door opening position, upon the inside lock push knob beong depressed. By this operation, the pawl 19 is rotated as before in clockwise direction and the projection 72 on pawl 19' is elevated together with the latter in its position. The spring 66 is thereby extended and will act upon the plate 54 to rotate the latter in clockwise direction. In practice, however, since the left-hand hook-like end at 560 of open plate 56 is kept in engagement with the projection 15a on base plate the upward shift of projection 72 brought about by clockwise rotation of the pawl 19' is carried into effect without engagement with projection 71. Therefore, the motion of pawl 19' is performed only ineffectively, the energy being. consumed in extending the length of spring 66'. Thus, the engagement of the hook-like end 56c of said open plate and the projection a of said base plate is positively maintained and not disturbed, any clockwise rotation of said locking plate 54 being prevented from its realization and the locked conditions of the door lock mechanism is maintained. Therefore, a manipulation of the outside door handle in the opening direction does not invite a door opening operation upon closure of the door.

When locking plate 54' is moved from the latched position, FIG. 10, to unlatched position, the head 74 of pin 57 is shifted thereby from the left of central projection 75 of said W-shaped opening 73 thereover to the right of said projection, thus the locking plate 54 being upwardly shifted against the spring action 63' with its pivot pin 55' sliding up along the side wall of the elongated bearing opening 70. After this shifting movement, said projection will act as a stop for said locking plate 64' against its counter clockwise rotational movement, thus the plate being prevented effectively from shifting to its latched position, so far as it is not rotated intentionally in the same rotational direction as above referred to.

A reversed transfer from unlatched to latched position may be carried into effect by rotating the locking plate 64 in clockwise direction against spring action 63' for shifting the pin head 74 with its stem 57' from left back to right in FIG. 10. Upon thus latched, said projection 75 will act again as a stop against uninten tional latch-releasing movement of said locking plate 64'.

It will be clear from the foregoing that by use of the second embodiment so far shown and described all the main functional requirements hereinbefore referred to can be effectively satisfied, and indeed, with highly simpler design of the mechanism. In a comparative conventional mechanism there must be provided certain control means by which the operative connection between said pawl and said open plate is established or released depending upon the operational position of said locking plate. When the locking plate is brought into its latching position by intentional manipulation, said control means acts so as to release said operative connection. On the contrary, when the locking plate is intentionally returned from its latching to its latchreleasing position, said control means acts so as to restore the said operating connection, thus, by the intentional manipulation of the open plate to its latch releasing position, said pawl is moved to such position that the door is ready for intentional opening.

In accordance with the improvements embodied in the second embodiment, said kind of conventional control means have been completely dispensed with, thus providing a highly improved and simplified door lock mechanism. Especially, when it is desired to perform a keyless lock operation is being performed from outside of the vehicle, an undesirous shift of the locking plate from its latching to latch-releasing position can be effectively prevented by the provision of the hook-like end of said open plate which is adapted to prevent positively said kind of undesirous shift by the engagement of said hook with a stationary part of the door lock mechanism, preferably a part of the base plate, as proposed in the present second embodiment.

Finally referring to FIGS. 13-16, a third embodiment of the invention will be described in detail.

In these figures, same or similar constituents as employed in the foregoing first embodiment are denoted with same reference numerals as employed therein, yet attached with two primes.

The main difference of the present embodiment from the foregoing resides in such that one end of the locking lever protrudes to the moving range of striker pin. When the door is being closed, said lever end is brought into engagement with the incoming striker pin, thereby said lever end being repulsed upwards and thus releasing the latched position of the door lock mechanism.

In the foregoing embodiments, the open lever and the pawl are mounted eccentrically to each other. In the present embodiment, however, these members are mounted concentrically to each other. This serves for considerably reducing mutual frictional resistance which appears during the unlocking operation of the mechanism and between these parts in rotational movements.

In the present embodiment, open plate 56' is formed with an elongated guide opening 76 which receives loosely the pin 57 acting as the pivot for locking plate 54". The open plater 56" is formed further with a horizontally elongated opening 77, by the provision of which said open plate can be shifted along this opening or slot 77, the latter receiving again loosely pin 17" studded on the base plate 15". For attaining this provision of both

slots

76 and 77, the related part of the open plate 56" is bent in a curved configuration as most clearly seen from FIG. 14.

A plate spring 78 is provided, one end of which is abutting against the fork cover 21", while the opposite spring end is kept in pressure engagement with the pawl 19", thereby the latter being urged to rotate in the counter clockwise direction in FIG. 13 around its pivot pin 17'.

A wire spring 79 is provided so as to urge the latch or fork member 18" to rotate in counter clockwise direction in FIG. 13 about its pivot pin 16''. One end of said spring 79 is kept in pressure abutment with a projection 18d forming a part of fork member 18".

Numeral 80 denotes the part of inside door open lever 65" which is adapted for engagement with said open plate 56".

A lateral projection 71 is formed on open plate 56", being adapted for cooperation with the motionreceiving projection 191;" formed as before on pawl 19!! During latch releasing operation, open plate 56" is rotated in clockwise direction in FIG. 13 in the same manner as before, the projection 71 will act upon projection 1912 so as to rotate pawl 19" again in clockwise direction in FIG. 13. Thanks to the concentric arrangement of both members 56" and 19'', otherwise possible substantial sliding friction can effectively be prevented. For this purpose, the provision of slot serves well.

In the case of latched position caused by outside key operation, or by depressing the inside lock push knob, the open plate 56" is shifted towards left in FIG. 16 along the horizontal slot 77 by the counter clockwise rotation of locking plater 54 as before. Under these conditions, an operator may manipulate the outside or inside door handle in its opening direction. In this case, the leftwardly shifted positioning of open lever 56", the engagement between the projections 71' and 19b" and thus unintentional release of the latched door lock can effectively be avoided.

Keyless operation may be carried out in substantially same way as before.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention without departing from the spirit thereof, and the invention includes all such modifications.

What we claim is:

1. A door lock mechanism for a vehicle having a striker mounted thereon, said door lock mechanism comprising a base plate, a latch member movably mounted on said base plate for latching engagement with said latch member for releasably retaining said latch member in a latching position, a locking plate pivotally mounted on said base plate, an open plate pivotally connected to said locking plate, said locking plate being pivotally movable to a release position wherein said open plate is engagable with said pawl for moving it out of locking engagement with said latch member when said open plate is pivotally moved in a first direction relative to said locking plate, said locking plate also being pivotally movable to a locking position wherein said open plate is not engagable with said pawl when pivotally moved in said first direction, means connected to said open plate for pivotally moving it in said first direction, a latch cover mounted on said base plate, an elongated opening in said locking plate, a W- shaped opening in said cover, a pivot pin extending through said elongated opening and said W-shaped opening, and spring means connected to said cover and said open plate to bias said open plate toward a position spaced from said pawl.

2. A door lock mechanism for a vehicle having a striker mounted thereon, said door lock mechanism comprising a base plate, a latch member movably mounted on said base plate for latching engagement with said striker, a pawl pivotally mounted on said base plate for engagement with said latch member for releasably retaining said latch member in a latching position, a locking plate pivotally mounted on said base plate, an open plate pivotally connected to said locking plate, said locking plate being pivotally movable to a release position wherein said open plate is engagable with said pawl for moving it out of locking engagement with said latch member when said open plate is pivotally moved in a first direction relative to said locking plate, said locking plate also being pivotally movable to a locking position wherein said open plate is not engagable with said pawl when pivotally moved in said first direction, means connected to said open plate for pivotally moving it in said first direction, said open plate being bent in a curved configuration to define two walls having elongated openings, a first pivot pin mounted on said locking plate and loosely receivable in one of said openings, a second pivot pin mounted on said base plate and loosely receivable in the other of said openings, and said open plate and said pawl being mounted concentrically to each other.

3. A door lock mechanism for a vehicle having a striker mounted thereon, said door lock mechanism comprising a base plate, a latch member movably mounted on said base plate for latching engagement with said striker, a pawl pivotally mounted on said base plate for engagement with said latch member for releasably retaining said latch member in a latching position, a locking plate pivotally mounted on said base plate, an open plate pivotally connected to said locking plate, said locking plate being pivotally movable to a release position wherein said open plate is engagable with said pawl for moving it out of locking engagement with said latch member when said open plate is pivotally moved in a first direction relative to said locking plate, said locking plate also being pivotably movable to a locking position wherein said open plate is not engagable with said pawl when pivotally moved in said first direction, means connected to said open plate for pivotally moving it in said first direction, and spring means connected between said pawl and said locking plate for urging said locking plate toward said release position. I

4. A doo lock mechanism for a vehicle having a striker mounted thereon, said door lock mechanism comprising a base plate, a latch member movably mounted on said base plate for latching engagement with said striker, a pawl pivotally mounted on said base plate for engagement with said latch member for releasably retaining said latch member in a latching position, a locking plate povotally mounted on said base plate, an open plate pivotally connected to said locking plate, said locking plate being pivotally movable to a release position wherein said open plate is engagable with said pawl for moving it out of locking engagement with said latch member when said open plate is pivotally moved in a first direction relative to said locking plate, said locking plate also being pivotally movable to a locking position wherein said open plate is not engagable with said pawl when pivotally moved in said first plate in a direction opposite to said first direction.

6. A door lock mechanism according to claim 3 further comprising second spring means connected between said open plate and said base plate for urging said open plate in a direction opposite to said first direction, said second spring. means having a spring constant less that that of said first mentioned spring means.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION v Patent No.3 7g 635 Dated Februar 12, 1974 Invent0r($) Koichiro Hirozawa It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In The Heading:

The Priority Dates Were Omitted.Should be;

""Jlll'le 29, Tapa -a b 0 0 0 0 0 I 0 o u a a o n n a a Y- Japan...-....oa |...68968/1968-- --December 9,1967 Japan. .1; H .103729/1967" Signed and eealed this 18th day of June 1971;.

Attest: V

EUJARD M.FLETCHER,JR. a C. MARSHALL DANN Atteeting Officer v Commissioner of Patents FORM PO-1050 (10-69) uscoMM-oc man-Poo 9 11.5. GOV ERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1 III! 0-36l-33l.

Claims

1. A door lock mechanism for a vehicle having a striker mounted thereon, said door lock mechanism comprising a base plate, a latch member movably mounted on said base plate for latching engagement with said latch member for releasably retaining said latch member in a latching position, a locking plate pivotally mounted on said base plate, an open plate pivotally connected to said locking plate, said locking plate being pivotally movable to a release position wherein said open plate is engagable with said pawl for moving it out of locking engagement with said latch member when said open plate is pivotally moved in a first direction relative to said locking plate, said locking plate also being pivotally movable to a locking position wherein said open plate is not engagable with Said pawl when pivotally moved in said first direction, means connected to said open plate for pivotally moving it in said first direction, a latch cover mounted on said base plate, an elongated opening in said locking plate, a W-shaped opening in said cover, a pivot pin extending through said elongated opening and said W-shaped opening, and spring means connected to said cover and said open plate to bias said open plate toward a position spaced from said pawl.

3. A door lock mechanism for a vehicle having a striker mounted thereon, said door lock mechanism comprising a base plate, a latch member movably mounted on said base plate for latching engagement with said striker, a pawl pivotally mounted on said base plate for engagement with said latch member for releasably retaining said latch member in a latching position, a locking plate pivotally mounted on said base plate, an open plate pivotally connected to said locking plate, said locking plate being pivotally movable to a release position wherein said open plate is engagable with said pawl for moving it out of locking engagement with said latch member when said open plate is pivotally moved in a first direction relative to said locking plate, said locking plate also being pivotably movable to a locking position wherein said open plate is not engagable with said pawl when pivotally moved in said first direction, means connected to said open plate for pivotally moving it in said first direction, and spring means connected between said pawl and said locking plate for urging said locking plate toward said release position.

4. A doo lock mechanism for a vehicle having a striker mounted thereon, said door lock mechanism comprising a base plate, a latch member movably mounted on said base plate for latching engagement with said striker, a pawl pivotally mounted on said base plate for engagement with said latch member for releasably retaining said latch member in a latching position, a locking plate povotally mounted on said base plate, an open plate pivotally connected to said locking plate, said locking plate being pivotally movable to a release position wherein said open plate is engagable with said pawl for moving it out of locking engagement with said latch member when said open plate is pivotally moved in a first direction relative to said locking plate, said locking plate also being pivotally movable to a locking position wherein said open plate is not engagable with said pawl when pivotally moved in said first direction, and means connected to said open plate for pivotally moving it in said first direction, said open plate having a downwardly extending projection Position to be engaged by the striker when the door is closed, whereby said open plate will be rotated into a release position.

5. A door lock mechanism according to claim 3 further comprising spring means connected between said open plate and said base plate for urging said open plate in a direction opposite to said first direction.

6. A door lock mechanism according to claim 3 further comprising second spring means connected between said open plate and said base plate for urging said open plate in a direction opposite to said first direction, said second spring means having a spring constant less that that of said first mentioned spring means.