Automotive door lock

• US 7,475,920 B2
• Filed: 06/15/2006
• Issued: 01/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intier Automotive Closures, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Intier Automotive Closures, Inc.
• Inventors: Taviani, Corrado, Bigazzi, Luca
• Primary Examiner(s): Engle; Patricia
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, MARK A
• Application Number:
  US11/453,687
• Publication Number:
  US 20060284426A1
• Time in Patent Office: 943 Days
• Field of Search: 292/201, 292/216, 292/DIG.23
• US Class Current: 292/201
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 15/0053 means providing a stable, i.e. indexed, position of lock parts
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0026 Clutches, couplings or braking arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0031 of the elastic type
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/14 operating on bolt detents, e.g. for unlatching the bolt
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/40 Nuts or nut-like elements moving along a driven threaded axle
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/46 Clutches
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 292/23 Vehicle door latches
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1047 Closure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1082 Motor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5155 Door

Abstract

An automotive door lock having a lock mechanism (3) for releasably engaging a striker (4), and a release mechanism (5) interacting with the lock mechanism (3) to release the lock (1). The release mechanism (5) has a control member (18) which interacts with the lock mechanism (3), is loaded elastically into a rest position, and can be set to a work position to release the lock (1). The release mechanism (5) has an actuating member (31) activated selectively to move the control member (18), in a forward movement, from the rest position to the work position; and, during a return movement of the control member (18) to the rest position, the control member (18) and the actuating member (31) are disconnected to minimize the time taken to complete the return movement.

Claims

1. An automotive door lock for releasably engaging a striker (4), said door lock comprising:

a supporting body (2);

a fork (6) pivotally coupled to said supporting body (2) for pivotal movement between a lock position engaging the striker (4) and a release position allowing withdrawal of the striker (4);

a pawl (7) pivotally coupled to said supporting body (2) for engaging said fork (6) to releasably retain said fork (6) in said lock position;

a control lever (18) pivotally coupled to said supporting body (2) for interacting with said pawl (7), said control lever (18) is loaded elastically into a rest position and can be set to a work position engaging said pawl (7) and pivoting said pawl (7) to disengage from said fork (6) thereby allowing said fork (6) to pivot to said release position; and

an actuating member (31) by a drive mechanism (23, 30) movable by a drive mechanism (23, 30) along an axis (D) and including a projection (35) interacting with said control lever (18) and extending radially with respect to said axis (D), wherein said actuating member (31) is selectively activated to perform a first translational movement along said axis (D) to move said control lever (18) in a forward movement from said rest position to said work position when said actuating member (31) is set to a first configuration, and wherein said actuating member (31) is guided by an elastic member (34) to perform a second translational movement along said axis (D), opposite to said first translational movement, during a return movement of said control lever (18) to said rest position when said actuating member (31) is set to a second configuration in which said actuating member (31) is disconnected from said control lever (18) to minimize the time taken to complete said return movement.

2. A lock as claimed in claim 1, further including a screw (27) operatively coupled to said actuating member (31) for translating said actuating member (31) along said axis (D).

3. A lock as claimed in claim 2, further including first guide means (37, 39) disposed on one side of said axis (D) and extending parallel to said axis (D) along a first portion of said first translational movement of said actuating member (31) for engaging said projection (35) to prevent said actuating member (31) from rotating about said screw (27) thereby maintaining said actuating member (31) in said first configuration.

4. A lock as claimed in claim 3, wherein said actuating member (31) is rotatable about said screw (27) along a second portion of said first translational movement of said actuating member (31) thereby allowing said actuating member (31) to move into said second configuration.

5. A lock as claimed in claim 4, further including second guide means (38, 40) disposed on a side of said axis (D) opposite said first guide means (37, 39) and extending parallel to said axis (D) along a first portion of said second translational movement of said actuating member (31) for engaging said projection (35) to prevent said actuating member (31) from rotating about said screw (27) thereby maintaining said actuating member (31) in said second configuration.

6. A lock as claimed in claim 5, wherein said actuating member (31) is rotatable about said screw (27) along a second portion of said second translational movement of said actuating member (31) thereby allowing said actuating member (31) to move into said first configuration.

7. A lock as claimed in claim 6, wherein said drive mechanism operates said screw (27).