WO2003029586A1

WO2003029586A1 - Striker assembly

Info

Publication number: WO2003029586A1
Application number: PCT/CA2002/001465
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dragan Zindovic; David Jacobs
Original assignee: Intier Automotive Closures Inc.
Priority date: 2001-09-28
Filing date: 2002-09-27
Publication date: 2003-04-10

Abstract

A striker assembly for selectively engaging a door latch of a motor vehicle. The striker assembly includes first and second L-shaped (20,22) brackets each having a mounting plate (24,26) and a contact plate (28,30) perpendicular thereto. Each of the contact plates (28,30) has an inner surface (36,38) and an aperture (58,60) extending therethrough. The first and second L-shaped brackets (20,22) are aligned such that the inner surfaces (36,38) abut one another and the apertures (58,60) align to define a striker bar to selectively receive the door latch thereabout. The striker assembly also includes a coating (62) applied over the L-shaped brackets (20,22) for securing the first and second L-shaped brackets to one another.

Description

ENCAPSULATED VEHICLE STRIKER

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a striker assembly for engaging a door latch of a motor vehicle. More particularly, the invention relates to a striker assembly having two L- shaped brackets held together only by a coating.

Description of Related Art

A striker assembly selectively engages a door latch to secure a door to a motor vehicle. Typically, the striker assembly will be mounted to a part of an aperture of the motor vehicle, i.e., to a door pillar. Alternatively, the striker assembly may be secured to the door itself. In either case, the striker assembly must be of sufficient strength or rigidity to withstand repeated impacts with the door latch in order to decrease the likelihood of an unwanted door opening. Numerous attempts have been made to provide a more cost-effective and/or rigid striker assembly. For example, United States Patent 4,981,313 to Makamura discloses a striker assembly for a motor vehicle including a metal base having a bulged portion. The striker assembly also includes a U-shaped metal rod having a horizontal portion and legs extending at a right angle from each end of the horizontal portion. The legs are inserted through holes in the bulging portion of the metal base and are secured therein by heat caulking. An engagement surface is formed between a back surface and a side surface of the metal base. Almost the entire surface of the striker assembly is covered with a molded synthetic resin layer, which improves the appearance of the striker assembly by covering the metal surfaces thereof. In addition, a claw portion is formed integrally with the molded synthetic resin layer. Since the claw portion of the synthetic resin layer is engaged by the engagement surface, the synthetic resin layer will not easily peel off during use.

United States Patent 5,501,495 to Claucherty discloses a door striker assembly for a motor vehicle including upper and lower elements each having a mounting plate and a latching plate. The upper and lower elements are held together by spot welding the latching plates together in a back-to-back configuration. To further ensure that the upper and lower elements are secured to one another, the latching plates are also brazened along a recess defined between the upper and lower elements at a point where the mounting plate and the latching plate meet.

Summary of the Invention

A striker assembly selectively engages a door latch of a motor vehicle. The striker assembly includes first and second L-shaped brackets each having a mounting plate and a contact plate peφendicular thereto. Each of the contact plates have an inner surface and an aperture extending therethrough. The first and second L-shaped brackets are aligned such that the inner surfaces abut one another and the latch apertures align to define a striker bar to selectively receive the door latch thereabout. The striker assembly also includes a coating applied over the L-shaped brackets to secure the first and second L-shaped brackets to one another.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a partially exploded side view, partially cut away, of a motor vehicle incorporating one embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a striker assembly of one embodiment of the invention; and Figure 3 is a perspective view of first and second L-shaped brackets of the striker assembly of one embodiment of the invention.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment Referring to the Figures, a striker assembly, generally shown at 10, is mounted to a door pillar 12 of a motor vehicle 14. The striker assembly 10 is selectively engaged by a door latch 16 mounted on a door 18 of the motor vehicle 14 as the door 18 is opened and closed. Alternatively, the striker assembly 10 may be mounted on the door 18, and the door latch 16 may be mounted on the door pillar 12.

The striker assembly 10 includes first and second L-shaped brackets, generally shown at 20 and 22, respectively. The first 20 and second 22 L-shaped brackets are formed from sheet steel by conventional methods known to those skilled in the art. The second L-shaped bracket 22 mirrors the first L-shaped bracket 20 structurally. More specifically, the first 20 and second 22 L-shaped brackets are not identical but complement each other.

The first 20 and second 22 L-shaped brackets each include a mounting plate 24, 26 and a contact plate 28, 30 peφendicular to the mounting plate 24, 26. Each mounting plate 24, 26 defines a mounting aperture 32, 34, through which a fastener or similar device extends for mounting the striker assembly 10 to the door pillar 12 of the motor vehicle 14. Each of the contact plates 28, 30 has an inner surface 36, 38 and a latch engaging extension 40, 42. The latch engaging extensions 40, 42 define a striker bar 44, which selectively receives the door latch 16 thereabout.

The contact plates 28, 30 also include an embossment 46, 48. The embossments 46, 48 provide strength to the striker bar 44. In addition, the embossments 46, 48 aid in the alignment of the first 20 and second 22 L-shaped brackets with respect to each other.

In the embodiment shown in the Figures, the contact plates 28, 30 also include a support leg 50, 52 and a bridge 54, 56. The latch engaging extensions 40, 42, support legs 50, 52, and bridges 54, 56 are all connected sequentially and define apertures 58, 60. A portion of the door latch 16 extends through the apertures 58, 60 when the door latch 16 engages the striker assembly 10. The support legs 50, 52 and the bridges 54, 56 provide additional strength to the latch engaging extensions 40, 42.

To form the striker assembly 10 shown in Figure 2, the first 20 and second 22 L- shaped brackets must be held against one another. Typically, the contact plates 26 of the first 20 and second 22 L-shaped brackets would be welded to each other to hold the first 20 and second 22 L-shaped brackets together. But to avoid the costs involved with welding two pieces together, the first 20 and second 22 L-shaped brackets are held together by the alignment of the first 20 and second 22 L-shaped brackets relative to each other using the embossments 46, 48.

More specifically, the inner surfaces 36, 38 of the first 20 and second 22 L-shaped brackets are aligned to abut one another. At the same time, the apertures 58, 60 are aligned with each other to define the striker bar 44. After the inner surfaces 36, 38 and the apertures 58, 60 are in alignment, a coating 62 is applied over the first 20 and second 22 L-shaped brackets to hold the first 20 and second 22 L-shaped brackets to one another. The coating 62 encapsulates each component of the striker assembly 10, that is, a layer of the coating 62 covers the mounting plates 24, 26 and the contact plates 28, 30. The coating 62 may be applied by way of injection molding or other known molding processes, all of which are known to those skilled in the art. The coating 62 is preferably a thermoset material, such as plastic. The chosen

^■ coating 62 must be able to hold the first 20 and second 22 L-shaped brackets together during shipping of the finished striker assembly 10 to be eventually incoφorated into the motor vehicle 14. In addition, the coating 62 must be able to withstand the mounting of the striker assembly 10 onto the motor vehicle 14. Finally, the striker assembly 10 must be able to maintain its integrity while withstanding repeated impacts with the door latch 16 as the door 18 is opened and closed.

In a method for manufacturing the striker assembly 10, the first step is positioning the first 20 and second 22 L-shaped brackets so that the inner surfaces 36, 38 thereof are in abutment with each other. At the same time, the latch engaging extensions 40, 42 of the contact plates 28, 30 are aligned with each other to define the striker bar 44. Next, the coating 62 is applied over the first 20 and second 22 L-shaped brackets. The coating 62 encapsulates the first 20 and second 22 L-shaped brackets so that the first 20 and second 22 L-shaped brackets are held together within the coating 62. More specifically, the encapsulation of the striker assembly 10 may occur by injection molding or similar known molding processes. Finally, the coating 62 is cured.

The invention has been described in an illustrative manner, and it is to be understood that the terminology, which has been used, is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation. Many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A striker assembly for selectively engaging a door latch of a motor vehicle, said striker assembly comprising: first and second L-shaped brackets each having a mounting plate and a contact plate peφendicular thereto, each of said contact plates having an inner surface and an aperture extending therethrough, said first and second L-shaped brackets aligned such that said inner surfaces abut one another and said apertures align to define a striker bar to selectively receive the door latch thereabout; and a coating applied over said L-shaped brackets securing said first and second L- shaped brackets to one another.

2. A striker assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said contact plates defines an embossment therealong to align said first and second L-shaped brackets with each other.

3. A striker assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein each of said mounting plates defines a mounting aperture therethrough.

4. A striker assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said coating is a plastic material.

5. A striker assembly for selectively engaging a door latch of a motor vehicle, said striker assembly comprising: first and second L-shaped brackets each having a mounting plate and a contact plate peφendicular thereto, each of said contact plates having an inner surface and a latch engaging extension, said first and second L-shaped brackets aligned such that said inner surfaces about one another and said latch engaging extensions to define a striker bar to selectively receive the door latch thereabout; and a coating applied over said L-shaped brackets securing said first and second L- shaped brackets to one another.

6. A striker assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said coating is a thermoset material.

7. A striker assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein said coating is a plastic material.

8. A striker assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein each of said contact plates defines an embossment therealong to align said first and second L-shaped brackets with each other.

9. A striker assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein each of said mounting plates defines a mounting aperture therethrough.

10. A method for manufacturing a striker assembly having first and second L- shaped brackets, each including a mounting plate and a contact plate wherein each of the contact plates has an aperture extending therethrough and an inner surface, and a coating, said method comprising the steps of: positioning the first and second L-shaped brackets so that the inner surfaces of the contact plates abut one another; and applying the coating over the first and second L-shaped brackets.

11. A method as set forth in claim 10 wherein the step of positioning the first and second L-shaped brackets includes the step of aligning the apertures to one another.

12. A method as set forth in claim 11 wherein the step of applying the coating includes the step of encapsulating the first and second L-shaped brackets with the coating.

13. A method as set forth in claim 12 including the step of curing the coating.