Power closing door latch device for motor vehicle

• US 5,520,425 A
• Filed: 12/20/1994
• Issued: 05/28/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mitsui Kinzoku Act Corporation (Mitsui Mining & Smelting Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Mitsui Kinzoku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Dowling, Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): Meyers, Steven N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Millner, Monica E.
• Application Number:
  US08/360,062
• Time in Patent Office: 525 Days
• Field of Search: 292/201, 292/216, 292/336.3, 292/DIG. 23, 292/DIG. 43
• US Class Current: 292/201
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/20 for assisting final closing or for initiating opening
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1047 Closure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1082 Motor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/57 Operators with knobs or handles

Abstract

A power closing door latch device for a motor vehicle comprises a latch engaged with a striker, a motor adapted to rotate when the latch is at a half latch position, an output member operative to rotate about a first shaft by the motor and having a slot extending radially and outwardly from the first shaft, a wire lever rotatably mounted on the first shaft and having an opening extending radially and outwardly from the first shaft, a slide member provided between the lever and the output member and having a first roller engaged with the slot and a second roller being engaged with the opening and being capable of rotating independent of the first roller, a spring for pushing the slide member in a direction in which the first roller is engaged with the slot. The wire lever is operatively connected to the latch, whereby the latch is moved by the lever to a full latch position if the output member is turned while the first roller is engaged with the slot. The device further has a canceling lever operative to slide the slide member against resilience of the spring when turned by operating an outer opening handle of a vehicle door, so as to disengage the first roller from the slot.

Claims

1. A power closing door latch device for a motor vehicle comprising:

a latch engaged with a striker adapted to be fixed to a vehicle body;

a motor adapted to rotate when the latch is at a half latch position;

an output member operative to rotate about a first shaft by means of the motor, said output member having a slot extending radially and outwardly from the first shaft;

a lever rotatably mounted on the first shaft, said lever having an opening extending radially and outwardly from the first shaft;

a slide member having at least a pin engaged with the slot of the output member and the opening of the lever;

a spring for pushing the slide member in a direction in which the pin is engaged with the slot;

said lever being operatively connected to the latch, whereby the latch is moved by the lever to a full latch position if the output member is turned while the pin is engaged with the slot; and

a canceling lever operative to slide the slide member against resilience of the spring when turned by operating an outer opening handle of a vehicle door, so as to disengage the pin from the slot, said canceling lever having an arcuate abutting engagement surface, the section of which is shaped like a revolution locus of an end portion of the slide member.

2. A power closing door latch device according to claim 1, wherein the lever is connected to the latch through a wire rope.

3. A power closing door latch device for a motor vehicle comprising:

a latch engaged with a striker adapted to be fixed to a vehicle body;

a motor adapted to rotate when the latch is at a half latch position;

an output member operative to rotate about a first shaft by means of the motor, said output member having a slot extending radially and outwardly from the first shaft;

a lever rotatably mounted on the first shaft, said lever having an opening extending radially and outwardly from the first shaft;

a slide member provided between the lever and the output member and having a first roller engaged with the slot and a second roller being engaged with the opening and being capable of rotating independent of the first roller;

a spring for pushing the slide member in a direction in which the first roller is engaged with the slot;

said lever being operatively connected to the latch, whereby the latch is moved by the lever to a full latch position if the output member is turned while the first roller is engaged with the slot; and

a canceling lever operative to slide the slide member against resilience of the spring when turned by operating an outer opening handle of a vehicle door, so as to disengage the first roller from the slot.

4. A power closing door latch device according to claim 3, wherein the first roller and the second roller are placed on a same axis.

5. A power closing door latch device according to claim 3, wherein the first roller is provided at one of two sides of the slide member and the second roller is provided at the other side of the slide member.

6. A power closing door latch device according to claim 3, wherein the lever is connected to the latch through a wire rope.

7. A power closing door latch device according to claim 3, wherein the canceling lever has a first arm connected to the outer opening handle and a second arm which is able to be in abutting engagement with the slide member, wherein an arcuate abutting engagement surface, the section of which is shaped like a revolution locus of an end portion of the slide member, is formed on the second arm.