Vehicle door lock system providing a plurality of spaced rotary latches

• US 4,917,412 A
• Filed: 01/30/1989
• Issued: 04/17/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eastern Company The
• Original Assignee: Eastern Company The
• Inventors: Vargus, Joel T., Swan, Jye P., Weinerman, Lee S.
• Primary Examiner(s): MOORE, RICHARD
• Application Number:
  US07/303,972
• Time in Patent Office: 442 Days
• Field of Search: 292/216, 292/280, 292/48
• US Class Current: 292/48
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 77/24 preventing use of an inner door handle, sill button, lock knob or the like
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 77/265 hand actuated, e.g. by a lever at the edge of the door
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 85/243 with a bifurcated bolt
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 9/026 comprising key-operated locks, e.g. a lock cylinder to drive auxiliary deadbolts or latch bolts E05C9/023 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/0853 Link and lever
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1047 Closure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/65 Central control

Abstract

A vehicle door lock system includes interior and exterior handle assemblies that are accessible, respectively, from interior and exterior sides of a vehicle door on which the door lock system is mounted. The system includes a plurality of rotary latches that are configured to releasably engage door-frame-mounted strikers to "latch" and "unlatch" the door, and a latch interconnection linkage for effecting concurrent unlatching of the rotary latches. The door is "locked" and "unlocked" by selectively enabling and disabling at least one driving connection between at least one of the handle assemblies and separate latch release arms that are arranged to operate a selected one of the rotary latches. In preferred practice, locking and unlocking of the door are effected either by operating an exterior key cylinder, or by operating an interior sill button.

Claims

1. A door lock system for a vehicle door that closes an access opening of a vehicle body, for securely latching the door in a closed position, and for locking the closed latched door, the system comprising:

(a) striker means including a plurality of striker members for attachment to a vehicle body at a plurality of spaced striker locations near an access opening of the vehicle body that is closable by a door of the vehicle;

(b) rotary latch means including a plurality of rotary latch units for attachment to the vehicle door at a plurality of spaced latch locations for rendering the door "latched " as by latchingly engaging the striker means for securely latching the vehicle door in a closed position, with the latch locations each being adjacent a separate one of the striker locations when the vehicle door is closed, and with each of the rotary latch units latchingly engaging a separate one of the striker members when the door is closed;

(c) latch operator means for attachment to the vehicle door, including;

(i) first operator means connected to the vehicle door at a first operator location which is spaced from each of the latch locations, with the first operator means being movable at the first operator location between a first normal position and a first latch operating position; and

,

(ii) second operator means connected to the vehicle door at a second operator location which is spaced from each of the latch locations, with the second operator means being movable at the second operator location between a second normal position and a second latch operating position;

(d) latch unit interconnection means for drivingly interconnecting the rotary latch units to effect concurrent unlatching of the rotary latch units from latching engagement with their associated striker members;

(e) connection means for establishing a driving connection between the latch operator means and a selected one of the rotary latch units to normally enable the latch operator means to "unlatch" the door as by releasing the selected rotary latch unit from latchingly engaging its associated striker member and, through concurrent operation of the latch unit interconnection means, to release the other of the rotary latch units from latching engagement with their associated striker members to thereby enable the vehicle door to be moved from its closed position, the connection means including;

(i) first linkage means that extends along a first path from the first operator location to the latch location of the selected rotary latch unit, and with the first linkage means being drivingly connected to the first operator means at the first operator location and to the selected rotary latch unit at its latch location for normally establishing a driving connection that extends along the first path for enabling the first operator means to unlatch the door as by causing the rotary latch means to withdraw latching engagement of the rotary latch means with the striker means and to thereby unlatch the door in response to movement of the first operator means between the first normal position and the first latch operation position; and

,

(ii) second linkage means that extends along a second path from the second operator location to the latch location of the selected rotary latch unit, and with the second linkage means being drivingly connected to the second operator means at the second operator location and to the selected rotary latch unit at its latch location for normally establishing a driving connection that extends along the second path for enabling the second operator means to unlatch the door as by causing the rotary latch means to withdraw latching engagement of the rotary latch means with the striker means and to thereby unlatch the door in response to the movement of the second operator means between the second normal position and the second latch operator position;

(f) lock control means for selectively disabling the normal driving connection that is provided by the connection means between the first operator means and the selected rotary latch unit means when the door is latched and to thereby "lock" the closed latched door against being unlatched, including first control means for selectively preventing the first linkage means from enabling the first operator means to unlatch the rotary latch means from latching engagement with the striker means;

(g) the first linkage means including a first release lever pivotally connected to the selected rotary latch unit for pivotal movement about a common axis between a first non-actuated position and a first release position for effecting unlatching of the selected rotary latch unit when the first release lever is pivoted to the first release position;

(h) the second linkage means including a second release lever pivotally connected to the selected rotary latch unit for pivotal movement about said common axis between a second non-actuated position and a second release position for effecting unlatching of the selected rotary latch unit when the second release lever is pivoted to the second release position;

(i) the rotary latch units other than the selected rotary latch unit each having a pawl that is pivotally movable to an unlatching position for effecting unlatching;

(j) the latch unit interconnection means including drive link means including separate drive links drivingly connected to the pawls of each of said other rotary latch units for pivoting the pawls thereof to their unlatching positions in response to unlatching of their associated separate drive links; and

,

(k) the latch unit interconnection means additionally including an operating arm that is pivotally connected to the selected rotary latch means and to the drive link means for moving the drive link means to unlatch the other rotary latch means in response to pivotal movement of either of the first ad second release lever means into releasing engagement with the release means of the selected rotary latch.

2. The door lock system of claim 1 wherein the first control member is a sill button that is movable between locked and unlocked positions from an interior side of the vehicle door.

3. The door lock system of claim 2 wherein the first latch operator means includes an external door handle operating assembly that is operable from an external side of the door to unlatch the door, and the second latch operator means includes an internal door handle operating assembly that is operable from an internal side of the door to unlatch the door.

4. The door lock system of claim 1 wherein the first control member is a sill button that is movable between locked and unlocked positions from an interior side of the vehicle door.

5. The door lock system of claim 1 wherein the operating arm is pivotally connected to the selected rotary latch means for pivoting about said common axis, and the operating arm carries separate formation means for extending into paths of movement followed by the first and second release levers, respectively, in moving between their non-actuated positions and their release positions to effect unlatching movement of the operating arm about the common axis in response to unlatching movement of either of the first and second release levers about the common axis.

6. A door lock system for a vehicle door that closes an access opening of a vehicle body, for securely latching the door in a closed position, and for locking the closed latched door, the system comprising:

(a) striker means including a plurality of striker members for attachment to a vehicle body at a plurality of spaced striker locations near an access opening of the vehicle body that is closable by a door of the vehicle;

(b) rotary latch means including a plurality of rotary latch units for attachment to the vehicle door at a plurality of spaced latch locations for rendering the door "latched" as by latchingly engaging the striker means for securely latching the vehicle door in a closed position, with the latch locations each being adjacent a separate one of the striker locations when the vehicle door is closed, and with each of the rotary latch units latchingly engaging a separate one of the striker members when the door is closed;

(c) latch operator means for attachment to the vehicle door, including;

(i) first operator means connected to the vehicle door at a first operator location which is spaced from each of the latch locations, with the first operator means being movable at the first operator location between a first normal position and a first latch operating position; and

,

(ii) second operator means connected to the vehicle door at a second operator location which is spaced from each of the latch locations, with the second operator means being movable at the second operator location between a second normal position and a second latch operating position;

(d) latch unit interconnection means for drivingly interconnecting the rotary latch units to effect concurrent unlatching of the rotary latch units from latching engagement with their associated striker members;

(e) connection means for establishing a driving connection between the latch operator means and a selected one of the rotary latch units to normally enable the latch operator means to "unlatch" the door as by releasing the selected rotary latch unit from latchingly engaging its associated striker member and, through concurrent operation of the latch unit interconnection means, to release the other of the rotary latch units from latching engagement with their associated striker members to thereby enable the vehicle door to be moved from its closed position, the connection means including;

(i) first linkage means that extends along a first path from the first operator location to the latch location of the selected rotary latch unit, and with the first linkage means being drivingly connected to the first operator means at the first operator location and to the selected rotary latch unit at its latch location for normally establishing a driving connection that extends along the first path for enabling the first operator means to unlatch the door as by causing the rotary latch means to withdraw latching engagement of the rotary latch means with the striker means and to thereby unlatch the door in response to movement of the first operator means between the firsts normal position and the first latch operator position; and

,

(ii) second linkage means that extends along a second path from the second operator location to the latch location of the selected rotary latch unit, and with the second linkage means being drivingly connected to the second operator means at the second operator location and to the selected rotary latch unit at its latch location for normally establishing a driving connection that extends along the second path for enabling the second operator means to unlatch the door as by causing the rotary latch means to withdraw latching engagement of the rotary latch means with the striker means and to thereby unlatch the door in response to movement of the second operator means between the second normal position and the second latch operator position;

(f) lock control means for selectively disabling the normal driving connection that is provided by the connection means between the first operator means and the selected rotary latch unit means when the door is latched and to thereby "lock" the closed latched door against being unlatched, including first control means for selectively preventing the first linkage means from enabling the first operator means to unlatch the rotary latch means from latching engagement with the striker means; and

,

(g) each of the rotary latch units includes;

(i) housing means including structure defining a notch into which the body portion of the striker means is admitted as the door is closed;

(ii) first and second bolt members pivotally supported by the housing means at spaced locations on opposite sides of the notch for movement between latching and unlatching positions;

(iii) each of the bolt members being provided with;

(A) a recess formation facing generally toward the notch for receiving and engaging the body portion of the striker means when the body portion is admitted to the notch; and

,

(B) a cam surface which cooperates with the cam surface on the other of the bolt members for assisting to effect concurrent movement of the bolt members between their latching and unlatching positions;

(iv) the recess formation being configured such that, when the bolt members are in their unlatching positions, the striker means may be moved into and out of the notch, and such that when the striker means is received in the recess formations with the bolt members in their latching positions, the striker means is retained in the notch by the bolt members;

(v) first biasing means biasing the bolt members toward their unlatching positions;

(vi) one of the bolt members having at least one abutment formation thereon;

(vii) a pawl movably carried on the housing means and having tooth means which is engageable with the abutment formation for preventing unlatching movement of the bolt members;

(viii) second biasing means for biasing the tooth means into engagement with the abutment formation when the bolt members are moved to their latching positions;

(ix) operating means for moving the pawl in opposition to the second biasing means to release the tooth means from engagement with the abutment formation to permit the bolt members to move under the influence of the first biasing means toward their unlatching positions to release the striker means; and

,

(x) the bolt members being provided with stop formations configured to engage each other when the bolt members are in their latching positions to prevent further rotation of the bolt members in directions away from their unlatching positions, and to thereby positively prevent the bolt members from becoming inoperably jammed together.

7. The door lock system of claim 6 wherein the recess formations are configured to close toward the striker means as the striker means is moved into the notch and as the bolt members move concurrently toward their latching positions.

8. The door lock system of claim 7 wherein the recess formations are configured such that, as they close toward each other, they serve to center the striker means with respect to opposite sides of the notch, whereby, when the bolt members are in their latching positions, they hold the striker means at a predetermined centered location out of engagement with such portions of the housing structure as define the notch.

9. The door lock system of claim 7 wherein the housing means is formed as an assembly including a pair of side plates and three parallel-oriented bushings positioned at spaced locations between the side plates.

10. The door lock system of claim 9 wherein each of the bolt members is journaled on a separate one of the bushings, and the pawl is journaled on the remaining one of the bushings.

11. A door lock system for a vehicle door that closes an access opening of the vehicle body, for securely latching the door in a closed position, and for locking the closed latched door, wherein the system includes a plurality of rotary latches mounted on a vehicle door for engaging a plurality of strikers mounted on the vehicle body, with both exterior and interior handle assemblies being mounted on the door and being operable to unlatch the door except that, when the system is locked, at least the exterior handle assembly is disabled and with the system comprising:

(a) striker means including a plurality of striker members mounted on a vehicle body at spaced striker locations which are adjacent a body access opening that provides access from an exterior of the body to an interior of the body, with the access opening being selectively closable by a vehicle door;

(b) rotary latch means including a plurality of rotary latch units mounted on a vehicle door that is movable between open and closed positions to selectively close the body access opening, with the rotary latch means being operable to render the door "latched" as by causing the rotary latch units to each latchingly engage a separate one of the striker members when the door is in its closed position to securely latch the door, with the rotary latch units being mounted on the vehicle door at spaced latch locations that are adjacent the striker locations when the vehicle door is closed, and with the vehicle door having an interior and an exterior;

(c) latch operator means mounted on the vehicle door including interior handle means which is accessible from and operable from an interior side of the door and from an interior portion of the vehicle body, and exterior handle means which is accessible from and operable from an exterior side of the door and from the exterior of the body;

(d) the latch operator means additionally including first operator means carried by the vehicle door at a first operator location which is spaced from each of the latch locations and being drivingly connected to a selected one of the interior handle means and the exterior handle means, with the first operator means being movable at the first operator location between a first normal position and a first latch operating position;

(e) the latch operator means additionally including second operator means carried by the vehicle door and being drivingly connected to the other of the interior handle means and the exterior handle means;

(f) latch unit interconnection means for rotary latch units to effect concurrent unlatching of the rotary latch units from latching engagement with their associated striker members;

(g) connection means for establishing a driving connection between the first operator means and a selected one of the rotary latch units, and between the second operator means and the selected one of the rotary latch units, to normally enable the interior handle means and the exterior handle means of the latch operator means to "unlatch" the door as by releasing the rotary latch means from latchingly engaging the striker means and to thereby enable the vehicle door to be moved from its closed position, and being operable to disable at least one of the interior handle means and the exterior handle means of the latch operator means from "unlatching" the door;

(h) the connection means including first linkage means that extends along a first path from the first operator location to the latch location of the selected rotary latch unit, and with the first linkage means being drivingly connected to the first operator means at the first operator location and to the selected rotary latch means at its latch location for normally establishing a driving connection that extends along the first path for enabling the first operator means to unlatch the door as by causing the rotary latch means to withdraw latching engagement of the rotary latch means with the striker means and to thereby unlatch the door in response to movement of the first operator means between the first normal position and the first latch operator position;

(i) lock control means for selectively disabling the normal driving connection that is provided by the connection means between the latch operator means and the rotary latch means when the door is latched and to thereby "lock" the closed latched door against being unlatched, including first control means for selectively preventing the first linkage means from enabling the first operator means to unlatch the rotary latch means from latching engagement with the striker means;

(j) the first linkage means including at least a first pair of elongate linkage elements, with one of the linkage elements of the first pair of linkage elements being connected to the first operator means, and with the other of the linkage elements of the first pair of linkage elements being connected to the rotary latch means;

(k) the first control means including first paired lever means for normally drivingly connecting the linkage elements of the first pair of linkage elements, but also for selectively disrupting the normal driving connection between the linkage elements of the first pair of linkage elements to thereby selectively prevent the first linkage means from enabling the first operator means to unlatch the rotary latch means from latching engagement with the striker means, the first paired lever means having a first pair of pivotally mounted levers that are connected to the door for pivotal movement about a common axis of pivotal movement, with the levers of the first pair of pivotally mounted levers extending in overlying relationship, and with one of the levers of the first pair of pivotally mounted levers being connected to a first of the linkage elements of the first pair of linkage elements, and with the other of the levers of the first pair of pivotally mounted levers being connected to a second of the linkage elements of the first pair of linkage elements, and with the first control means additionally including first connection means coupled to both of the linkage elements of the first pair of linkage elements for movement between a connection position wherein the first connection means is operable to drivingly connect the linkage elements of the first pair of linkage elements for concurrent pivotal movement about said common axis so that movement of either one of the linkage elements of the first pair of linkage elements will result in corresponding movement of the other of the linkage elements of the first pair of linkage elements, and a disconnection position wherein the first connection means is operable to drivingly disconnect the linkage elements of the first pair of linkage elements for concurrent pivotal movement about said common axis so that movement of either one of the linkage elements will not result in corresponding movement of the other of the linkage elements of the first pair of linkage elements, and positioning means for effecting movement of the first connection means between its connection position and its disconnection position;

(1) the positioning means including;

(i) at least one control lever that is pivotally connected to the door and that extends in overlying relationship with at least one of the levers of the first pair of pivotally mounted levers;

(ii) a first control member located at a first control location spaced from the location of the control lever, and first elongate control linkage means for drivingly connecting the first control member to the control lever, with the control lever being operable, in response to movement of the first control member, to effect movement of the first connection means between its connection position and its disconnection position; and

,

(iii) a second control member located at a second control location spaced from the location of the control lever, and second elongate control linkage means for drivingly connecting the second control member to the control lever, with the control lever being operable, in response to movement of the second control member, to effect movement of the first connection means between its connection position and its disconnection position;

(m) the first control member including a key operated lock that is mounted on the vehicle door and that is operable from the exterior of the door; and

,

(n) the second control member including interior lock operator means mounted on the vehicle door and being accessible from the interior side of the door.

12. The door lock system of claim 11 wherein the interior lock operator means includes a sill button that is movable between locked and unlocked positions, and that is accessible from the interior side of the door for locking and unlocking the rotary latch.

13. The door lock system of claim 12 wherein the first linkage means is operable to connect the rotary latch means with the interior and exterior handle means, the key operated lock and the sill button such that, (1) when the door is "latched" but not "locked," either of the interior and exterior handle means may be operated to unlatch the door, (2) when the door is both "latched" and "locked," neither of the interior and exterior handle means may be operated to unlatch the door, and, (3) such locking and unlocking movements as are executed by the key operated lock will cause corresponding movements of the sill button between its locked and unlocked positions, whereby the positioning of the sill button is indicative of the "locked" and "unlocked" status of the door lock system.

14. The door lock system of claim 11 wherein the striker means includes a striker pin, and the rotary latch means includes a housing having a notch for reception of the striker pin when the vehicle door is closed, a pair of bolt members each having a recess formed therein for receiving the striker pin when the vehicle door is closed, means pivotally connecting the bolt members to the housing on opposite sides of the notch for movement between a first position wherein the bolt recesses are aligned with the notch to permit the striker pin to be moved into and out of the notch, and a second position wherein the bolt members extend into the notch from opposite sides thereof to retain the striker pin therein, a spring-biased pawl pivotally carried by the housing for engaging one of the bolt members to releasably retain both of the bolt members in the second position, operator means connected to the frame for releasing the pawl from retaining engagement with the one bolt member, means for pivoting the bolt members in unison between their latching and unlatching positions, and the bolt members being provided with stop formations configured to engage each other when the bolt members are in their latching positions to prevent further rotation of the bolt members in directions away from their unlatching positions, and to thereby positively prevent the bolt members from becoming inoperably jammed together.

15. A door lock system for a vehicle door that closes an access opening of a vehicle body, for securely latching the door in a closed position, and for locking the closed latched door, the system comprising:

(a) striker means including a plurality of strikers members for attachment to a vehicle body at a plurality of spaced striker locations near an access opening of the vehicle body that is closable by a door of the vehicle;

(b) rotary latch means including a plurality of rotary latch units for attachment to the vehicle door at a plurality of spaced latch locations for rendering the door "latched" as by latchingly engaging the striker means for securely latching the vehicle door in a closed position, with the latch locations each being adjacent a separate one of the striker locations when the vehicle door is closed;

(c) latch operator means for attachment to the vehicle door for movement relative to the door between a normal position and a latch operating position, including first operator means connected to the vehicle door at a first operator location which is spaced from the latch locations, with the first operator means being movable at the first operator location between a first normal position and a first latch operating position;

(d) latch unit interconnection means for connecting the rotary latch units to effect concurrent unlatching of the rotary latch units from latching engagement with their associated striker members;

(e) connection means for establishing a driving connection between the latch operator means and the rotary latch means to normally enable the latch operator means to "unlatch" the door as by releasing the rotary latch means from latchingly engaging the striker means and to thereby enable the vehicle door to be moved from its closed position, including first linkage means that extends along a first path from the first operator location to a selected one of the latch locations, and with the first linkage means being drivingly connected to the first operator means at the first operator location and to a selected one of the rotary latch means for normally establishing a driving connection that extends along the first path for enabling the first operator means to unlatch the door as by causing the rotary latch means to withdraw latching engagement of the rotary latch means with the striker means and to thereby unlatch the door in response to movement of the first operator means between the first normal position and the first latch operator position;

(f) lock control means for selectively disabling the normal driving connection that is provided by the connection means between the latch operator means and the rotary latch means when the door is latched and to thereby "lock" the closed latched door against being unlatched, including first control means for selectively preventing the first linkage means from enabling the first operator means to unlatch the rotary latch means from latching engagement with the striker means;

(g) the first linkage means including at least a first pair of elongate linkage elements, with one of the linkage elements of the first pair of linkage elements being connected to the first operator means, and with the other of the linkage elements of the first pair of linkage elements being connected to the rotary latch means;

(h) the first control means including first paired lever means for normally drivingly connecting the linkage elements of the first pair of linkage elements, but also for selectively disrupting the normal driving connection between the linkage elements of the first pair of linkage elements to thereby selectively prevent the first linkage means from enabling the first operator means to unlatch the rotary latch means from latching engagement with the striker means, the first paired lever means having a first pair of pivotally mounted levers that are connected to the door for pivotal movement about a common axis of pivotal movement, with the levers of the first pair of pivotally mounted levers extending in overlying relationship, and with one of the levers of the first pair of pivotally mounted levers being connected to a first of the linkage elements of the first pair of linkage elements, and with the other of the levers of the first pair of pivotally mounted levers being connected to a second of the linkage elements of the first pair of linkage elements, and with the first control means additionally including first connection means coupled to both of the linkage elements of the first pair of linkage elements for movement between a connection position wherein the first connection means is operable to drivingly connect the linkage elements of the first pair of linkage elements for concurrent pivotal movement about said common axis so that movement of either one of the linkage elements of the first pair of linkage elements will result in corresponding movement of the other of the linkage elements of the first pair of linkage elements, and a disconnection position wherein the first connection means is operable to drivingly disconnect the linkage elements of the first pair of linkage elements for concurrent pivotal movement about said common axis so that movement of either one of the linkage elements of the first pair of linkage elements will not result in corresponding movement of the other of the linkage elements of the first pair of linkage elements, and positioning means for effecting movement of the first connection means between its connection position and its disconnection position; and

,

(i) the positioning means including at least one control lever that is pivotally connected to the door and that extends in overlying relationship with at least one of the levers of the first pair of pivotally mounted levers, a first control member located at a first control location spaced from the location of the control lever, and elongate control linkage means for drivingly connecting the first control member to the control lever, with the control lever being operable, in response to movement of the first control member, to effect movement of the first connection means between its connection position and its disconnection position.

16. The door lock system of claim 15 wherein the first control member is a key operated lock that is operable from an exterior side of the vehicle door.

17. The door lock system of claim 15 wherein the first control member is a sill button that is movable between locked and unlocked positions from an interior side of the vehicle door.

18. The door lock system of claim 15 wherein the positioning means additionally includes a second control member located at a second control location spaced from the location of the control lever, and second elongate control linkage means for drivingly connecting the second control member to the control lever with the control lever being operable, in response to movement of either of the first and second control members to effect movement of the first connection means between its connection position and its disconnection position.

19. The door lock system of claim 18 wherein the first control member is a key operated lock that is operable from an exterior side of the vehicle door.

20. The door lock system of claim 19 wherein the second control member is a sill button that is movable between locked and unlocked positions from an interior side of the vehicle door.

21. The door lock system of claim 15 wherein the first control means includes non-identically configured but alignable slot formations formed in the levers of the first pair of pivotally mounted levers, the first connection means includes connection pin means extending through the slot formations, and the control lever is operable to move the connection pin means relative to the slot formations between said connection position wherein the connection pin means serves to establish a driving connection that assures concurrent pivotal movement of the levers of the first pair of pivotally mounted levers about the common axis, and said disconnection position wherein the connection pin means provides no such driving connection between the levers of the first pair of pivotally mounted levers.

22. The door lock system of claim 15 wherein the first control means includes bracket means for mounting in close proximity to the latch location with the first pair of pivotally mounted levers and the control lever being pivotally connected to the bracket means for pivotal movement about said common axis.

23. The door lock system of claim 15 wherein the first latch operator means includes an internal door handle operating assembly that is operable from an internal side of the door to unlatch the door.

24. The door lock system of claim 15 wherein the latch operator means includes separate interior and exterior handle means connected to separate interior and exterior portions of the vehicle door, with each of the separate interior and exterior handle means having a separate actuator member that is movable relative to the door, with one of the separate actuator members comprising said first operator means, and with operating linkage means being provided for connecting the other of the separate actuator members to the rotary latch means for unlatching the rotary latch means in response to movement of said other of the separate actuator members.

25. The door lock system of claim 24 wherein said one of the actuator members that comprises said first operator means is the actuator member of the interior handle means.

26. The door lock system of claim 15 wherein each of the rotary latch units includes:

(a) housing means including structure defining a notch into which the body portion of the striker means is admitted as the door is closed;

(b) first and second bolt members pivotally supported by the housing means at spaced locations on opposite sides of the notch for movement between latching and unlatching positions;

(c) each of the bolt members being provided with;

(i) a recess formation facing generally toward the notch for receiving and engaging the body portion of the striker means when the body portion is admitted to the notch; and

,

(ii) a cam surface which cooperates with the cam surface on the other of the bolt members for assisting to effect concurrent movement of the bolt members between their latching and unlatching positions;

(d) the recess formations being configured such that, when the bolt members are in their unlatching positions, the striker means may be moved into and out of the notch, and such that when the striker means is received in the recess formations with the bolt members in their latching positions, the striker means is retained in the notch by the bolt members;

(e) first biasing means biasing the bolt members toward their unlatching positions;

(f) one of the bolt members having at least one abutment formation thereon;

(g) a pawl movably carried on the housing means and having tooth means which is engageable with the abutment formation for preventing unlatching movement of the bolt members;

(h) second biasing means for biasing the tooth means into engagement with the abutment formation when the bolt members are moved to their latching positions; and

,

(i) operating means for moving the pawl in opposition to the second biasing means to release the tooth means from engagement with the abutment formation to permit the bolt members to move under the influence of the first biasing means toward their unlatching positions to release the striker means; and

,

(j) the bolt members being provided with stop formations configured to engage each other when the bolt members are in their latching positions to prevent further rotation of the bolt members in directions away from their unlatching positions, and to thereby positively prevent the bolt members from becoming inoperably jammed together.

27. The door lock system of claim 26 wherein the recess formations are configured to close toward the striker means as the striker means is moved into the notch and as the bolt members move concurrently toward their latching positions.

28. The door lock system of claim 27 wherein the recess formations are configured such that, as they close toward each other, they serve to center the striker means with respect to opposite sides of the notch, whereby, when the bolt members re in their latching positions, they hold the striker means at a predetermined centered location out of engagement with such portions of the housing structure as define the notch.

29. The door lock system of claim 27 wherein the housing means is formed as an assembly including a pair of side plates and three parallel-oriented bushings positioned at spaced locations between the side plates.

30. The door lock system of claim 29 wherein each of the bolt members is journaled on a separate one of the bushings, and the pawl is journaled on the remaining one of the bushings.

31. A rotary latch system for releasably latching a closure "closed" with respect to an associated structure, with the latching of the closure to the associated structure being effected at a plurality of spaced locations, and with the latch system being operable to concurrently release the latching of the closure at the plurality of locations in response to unlatching movement of either of a pair of operators, comprising:

(a) a plurality of striker means for mounting on a selected one of a closure structure and a closure-associated structure at spaced locations thereon;

(b) a plurality of rotary latch means for mounting on other of the structures for latchingly engaging the striker means at said spaced locations to releasably latch the closure closed;

(c) each of the rotary latch means including a latching mechanism and pivotally mounted release means for movement to a release position to release its latching mechanism from latching engagement with an associate are of the striker means;

(d) first and second release lever means pivotally connected to a selected one of the rotary latch means, with each of the first and second release lever means being individually pivotally movable into engagement with the release means of the selected rotary latch means to effect unlatching of the selected rotary latch means by moving the release means to its release position to release the latching engagement of the selected rotary latch means with its associated striker means;

(e) connection linkage means including at least one drive link drivingly connected to the release means of the other rotary latch means for moving the release means thereof to its release position to release latching engagement of the other rotary latch means from its associated striker means;

(f) the connection linkage means further including an operating arm that is pivotally connected to the selected rotary latch means and to the drive link for moving the drive link to unlatch the other rotary latch means in response to pivotal unlatching movement of either of the first and second release lever means into releasing engagement with the release means of the selected rotary latch;

(g) the rotary latch units other than the selected rotary latch unit each having a pawl that is pivotally movable to an unlatching position for effecting unlatching; and

,

(h) the connection linkage means including separate drive links drivingly connected to the pawls of each of said other rotary latch units for pivoting the pawls thereof to their unlatching positions in response to unlatching movement of either of the first and second release lever means.

32. The rotary latch system of claim 31 wherein the connection linkage means additionally includes an operating arm that is pivotally connected to the selected rotary latch means and to the drive link means for moving the drive link means to unlatch the other rotary latch means in response to pivotal unlatching movement of either of the first and second release lever means into releasing engagement with the release means of the selected rotary latch.

33. The rotary latch system of claim 32 wherein the first and second release lever means and the operating arm are connected to the selected rotary latch means for pivoting about a common axis, and the operating arm carries separate formation means for extending into paths of movement followed by the first and second release levers, respectively, in executing pivotal unlatching movement to effect unlatching movement of the operating arm about the common axis in response to unlatching movement of either of the first and second release levers about the common axis.