Vehicle door latch device

• US 6,669,247 B2
• Filed: 09/11/2001
• Issued: 12/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitsui Kinzoku Act Corporation (Mitsui Mining and Smelting Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Mitsui Kinzoku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Swan, Oliver
• Primary Examiner(s): Swann, J. J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HO, THOMAS YIH
• Application Number:
  US09/950,417
• Publication Number:
  US 20020030366A1
• Time in Patent Office: 840 Days
• Field of Search: 292/201, 292/216, 292/DIG.23
• US Class Current: 292/201
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/14 operating on bolt detents, e.g. for unlatching the bolt
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/20 for assisting final closing or for initiating opening
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 292/23 Vehicle door latches
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1047 Closure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1082 Motor

Abstract

A vehicle door latch device comprises a latch engageable with a striker and rotatable from an unlatched position to a full-latched position via a half-latched position, a power closing mechanism rotating the latch from the half-latched position to the full-latched position by motor power, a ratchet holding an engagement state between the latch and the striker by engaging with the latch, and a power opening mechanism releasing the ratchet from the latch by motor power. The power opening mechanism and the power closing mechanism are actuated by a single common motor, respectively.

Claims

1. A vehicle door latch device comprising:

a latch engageable with a striker and rotatable from an unlatched position to a full-latched position via a half-latched position;

a ratchet holding an engagement state between the latch and the striker by engaging with the latch; and

a ratchet lever releasing the ratchet from the latch when rotated;

an opening lever rotating the ratchet lever; and

a power closing mechanism rotating the latch from the half-latched position to the full-latched position by motor power, said power closing mechanism being provided with a pushing link which rotates the latch from the half-latched position to the full-latched position by engaging with the latch when moved by the motor power;

wherein said opening lever is provided with a function of cancelling the engagement between the latch and the pushing link in addition to a function of rotating the ratchet lever;

wherein said opening lever rotates the ratchet lever by a first operating force and cancels the engagement between the latch and the pushing link by a second operating force following the first operating force; and

wherein said opening lever is rotatably supported to a guide pin which is slidably mounted to a first slot formed in a fixed bracket of the door latch device, and the opening lever is rotated about the guide pin by the first operating force and cause the guide pin to slide within the first slot by the second operating force.

2. A vehicle door latch device according to claim 1, wherein said pushing link is provided with a second slot with which the guide pin is slidably engaged, and the pushing link is displaced in a non-engaging position where the pushing link is not engageable with the latch by sliding movement of the guide pin within the first slot.