Door locking device

• US 6,158,788 A
• Filed: 12/08/1998
• Issued: 12/12/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kabushikikaisha Ansei
• Original Assignee: Kabushikikaisha Ansei
• Inventors: Fukaya, Hideaki, Ikeda, Ichio
• Primary Examiner(s): Browne, Lynne H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Walsh, John B.
• Application Number:
  US09/202,067
• Time in Patent Office: 735 Days
• Field of Search: 292/216, 292/DIG. 23, 292/DIG. 25, 292/225, 292/28, 292/50, 292/DIG. 63, 292/DIG. 31, 292/336.3
• US Class Current: 292/216
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 77/04 Preventing unwanted lock actuation, e.g. unlatching, at the moment of collision
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 77/30 allowing opening by means of an inner door handle, even if the door is locked
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 79/20 using flexible connections, e.g. Bowden cables
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/06 using rotary motors
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/16 operating on locking elements for locking or unlocking action
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 83/36 Locks for passenger or like doors
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 85/12 Inner door handles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 292/63 Finger or hand grip
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1047 Closure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/57 Operators with knobs or handles

Abstract

In a lock device in which a lock device main unit is operated from an operating handle via a single interlinking cable, provisions are made so that the releasing operation of the lock device main unit by the operating handle can be accomplished with a small force, and also that switching from a locked condition to an unlocked condition can be made reliably. An operating member for performing the locking, unlocking, and releasing operations and a switching member for performing switching between the locked and unlocked conditions are interlocked by using an interlocking member provided on the switching member and a guide portion and releasing portion provided on the operating member. The interlocking relationship between them is such that when the operating member moves between the unlocked position and the locked position, the guide portion causes the interlocking member to move, thereby switching the switching member between the unlocked condition and the locked condition, and when the operating member moves between the unlocked position and the released position, the interlocking member is engaged in the releasing portion, thereby cutting off the transmission of force from the operating member to the switching member.

Claims

1. In a door lock device:

(a) a base frame having an engaging portion for engaging a striker;

(b) a rotatable latch member mounted on said base frame;

(c) an engaging member mounted on said base frame for engaging said latch member; and

(d) a cable;

(e) an operating member mounted on said base frame and linked with an operating part by said cable, said operating member being switchable among three positions, an unlocked position, a locked position and a released position, by movement of said cable to place said engaging member selectably in one of an unlocked condition, a locked condition and a released condition, respectively;

(f) said operating member being interlocked with said engaging member so that when said operating member is in the released position, said latch member is disengaged from said engaging member, and when said operating member is in any of the other said positions, said latch member is engaged with said engaging member;

the improvement in said door lock device comprising;

(g) a switching member activated solely by an operation handle;

(h) said operating member and said engaging member being in interlocking relationship and providing said switching member with movement back and forth between the unlocked position facing a portion of said engaging member and the locked position for maintaining the locked condition of the engaging member;

(i) said switching member having a pin for interlocking with said operating member, said operating member having a guide portion for switching the pin between the unlocked position and the locked position by moving said pin when said operating member moves between the unlocked position and the locked position, and a releasing portion to terminate said interlocking with said pin when said operating member moves between the unlocked position and the released position, said guide portion of said operating member being formed as an elongated groove having a side juide face formed on each side thereof, said elongated groove being disposed in an oblique direction that crosses an arc having a radius with its center at a center of rotation of said operating member whereby, when said operating member is rotated, said pin being provided on the switching member is moved along each of said two guide faces alternately to switch the pin between the unlocked position and the locked position.

2. In a door lock device comprising:

(a) a rotatable latch member mounted on a base frame, said rotatable latch member having an engaging portion for engaging a striker;

(b) an engaging member mounted on said base frame for engaging said latch member;

(c) a cable; and

(d) an operating member mounted on said base frame and linked with an operating part by said cable, said operating member being switchable selectably among three positions, an unlocked position, a locked position and a released position, by movement of said cable to place said engaging member in either an unlocked condition, a locked condition or a released condition, respectively;

(e) said operating member being interlocked with said engaging member so that when said operating member is in the released position, said latch member is disengaged from said engaging member, and when said operating member is in any of the other said positions, said latch member is engaged with said engaging member;

the improvement in said door lock device comprising;

(f) said operating part comprises a frame having a recessed portion for mounting on a door and a handle pivotably mounted with an intermediate point thereof pivoted in said recessed portion of said frame, in the unlocked position and the released position, one end of said handle being located in an open position in said frame with no obstructions around it to enable a passenger to operate a first end of the handle with a first finger, and, in the locked-position, said handle being accommodated in an enclosed position located in a deeper portion of said frame enclosed to make it difficult for the passenger to operate the handle with a finger, while said handle, is in the locked position, and protrudes from said frame in a position where the passenger can push a second other end of said handle with another finger.

3. A door lock device as claimed in claim 2 in which said handle has an upper face, a portion surrounding said upper face of said handle being formed far apart from the locked position to the unlocked position so that the handle can be pushed with a finger, and being formed relatively close to the unlocked position and to the released position.