Door lock device with automatic closing mechanism

• US 5,564,761 A
• Filed: 03/14/1996
• Issued: 10/15/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mitsui Kinzoku Act Corporation (Mitsui Mining and Smelting Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Mitsui Kinzoku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Mitsui, Jiro, Mizuki, Tetsuro
• Primary Examiner(s): Meyers, Steven N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ESTREMSKY, GARY WAYNE
• Application Number:
  US08/615,072
• Time in Patent Office: 215 Days
• Field of Search: 292/201, 292/341.16, 292/DIG. 23, 292/DIG. 43, 292/DIG. 56, 292/DIG. 62
• US Class Current: 292/201
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/20 for assisting final closing or for initiating opening
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/66 the bolt position, i.e. the latching status
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1082 Motor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/699 Motor controlled

Abstract

A door lock device with an automatic door closing mechanism comprises a lock body having a recess on its front surface side, a latch adapted to be engaged with a striker so as to be rotated from an open position to a full-latch position by way of a half-latch position, a ratchet adapted to be engaged with the latch so as to hold the engagement between the latch and the striker, an actuator adapted to be operated when the latch is rotated to the half-latch position, an output lever adapted to be rotated by power of the actuator, and a link lever adapted to be rotated by rotation of the output lever so as to move the latch from the half-latch position to the full-latch position. The latch, the ratchet and the link lever are stored in the recess of the lock body, and the output lever is provided on the rear surface side of the lock body.

Claims

1. A door lock device with an automatic door closing mechanism, comprising:

a lock body having a front surface side formed therein a recess substantially covered by a metal plate;

a spring returned type latch adapted to be engaged with a striker fixed to a vehicle body so as to be rotated from an open position to a full-latch position by way of a half-latch position;

a ratchet adapted to be engaged with the latch so as to hold the engagement between the latch and the striker;

an actuator adapted to be operated when the latch is rotated to the half-latch position;

an output lever adapted to be rotated by power of the actuator; and

a link lever which is rotated in association with any rotation of the output lever so as to move the latch from the half-latch position to the full-latch position;

wherein said latch, said ratchet and said link lever are stored in said recess of said lock body, and said output lever is provided on the rear surface side of the lock body, and

said link lever is rotatably attached to a slide member having a roller abutting an outer periphery of said latch to allow said roller to press and move said latch when said link lever is rotated.

2. A door lock device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the rotating axis of said link lever is aligned with the rotating axis of said output lever.

3. A door lock device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said latch, said link lever and said output levers have their shafts whose rotating axes are arranged in parallel with one another.

4. A door lock device as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a first sensor for detecting said latch at the half-latch position, and a second sensor for detecting said latch at the full-latch position, wherein said actuator is energized when the first sensor detects said latch at the half-latch position, but said actuator is deenergized when said second sensor detects said latch at the full-latch position.

5. A door lock device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said recess has a peripheral wall attached thereto with a single rubber stopper having a first contact surface which makes contact with said latch when said latch is returned by said spring, and a second contact surface which makes contact with said latch when said latch is further rotated, overriding the full-latch position.

8. A door lock device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the roller moves and is guided along a slot in the lock body.

6. A door lock device with an automatic door closing mechanism, comprising:

a latch adapted to be engaged with a striker fixed to a vehicle body so as to be moved from an open position to a full-latch position by way of a half-latch position;

a latch adapted to be engaged with said ratchet so as to hold the engagement between the striker and the latch;

an actuator adapted to be operated when said latch is rotated to the half-latch position;

an output lever adapted to be rotated around a first shaft by power of the actuator;

a link lever adapted to be rotated in association with the rotation of the output lever so as to move the latch from the half-latch position to the full-latch position;

an open lever coupled to an open handle of a door, for releasing said ratchet from the latch when it is rotated; and

a movable rod journalled rotatably to the open lever by means of a second shaft laid coaxially with said first shaft, and connecting the output shaft with the link lever;

whereby said movable rod is adapted to be moved in association with a shift of the center axis of the second shaft from the center axis of the first shaft upon rotation of the open lever so as to release the engagement between the output lever and the link lever.

7. A door lock device as set forth in claim 6, wherein said output lever is formed therein a first hole having a radial hole extending radially from said first shaft, and an arcuate hole extending from a front end of the radial hole along an arc around said first shaft as a center, said link lever is formed therein with a second hole corresponding to said radial hole, and said movable rod is formed thereon with a pin adapted to be inserted in said first and second holes.