Alignment assembly for door latch and striker bolt

• US 7,938,458 B1
• Filed: 09/21/2007
• Issued: 05/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TriMark Corporation
• Original Assignee: TriMark Corporation
• Inventors: Hemann, Brandon L., Zweibohmer, Dennis J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lugo; Carlos
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, MARK A
• Application Number:
  US11/859,216
• Time in Patent Office: 1,327 Days
• Field of Search: 292/197, 292/340, 292/341.15, 292/341.13, 292/341.17, 292/341.18, 292/341.19, 292/DIG.60, 292/DIG.39
• US Class Current: 292/197
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 15/0006 Devices for aligning wing and frame; Anti-rattling devices for vehicle doors E05B83/367
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 83/01 Locks for military or armoured vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 85/045 for bifurcated bolts
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 85/26 Cooperation between bolts and detents
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 292/60 Adjustment provisions
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1077 Cam
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/691 Take-up
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/702 Pivoted or swinging
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/705 Adjustable

Abstract

A door latch and striker combination for a vehicle door is provided with a pivotal cam on the striker assembly of the door frame so as to overcome misalignment between the latch assembly and striker assembly. When the door is moved from an open position to the closed position, the latch housing engages the cam, which pivots over center as the door closure continues, thereby lifting the latch assembly and door into proper alignment with the striker bolt on the door frame, such that the door can be closed. The cam is spring biased to an initial position with an inclined upper surface. The cam supports the latch assembly while the door is closed, and allows the latch assembly to slide over the upper cam surface when the door is opened.

Claims

1. An improved door latch and striker combination for a vehicle door mounted to a door frame, including a latch assembly mounted on the door so as to reside between the frame and the door, the latch assembly having a rotor pivotal between open and closed positions;

and a striker assembly mounted on the door frame so as to reside between the frame and the door, the striker assembly having a striker bolt, the improvement comprising;

a pivotal cam on the striker assembly between the frame and the door;

the latch assembly, during closing of the door, engaging and pivoting the cam before the rotor engages the striker bolt so as to lift the door and the latch assembly for alignment of the rotor and striker bolt;

the cam having an upper planar surface which moves during pivotal rotation of the cam between a lowered inclined position when the door is open and a substantially raised horizontal position when the door is closed; and

the latch assembly having a striker block adapted to engage the planar surface of the cam to define an area of support when the door is closed.

2. The improved combination of claim 1 further comprising a spring to bias the cam to an initial position when the door is opened.

3. The improved combination of claim 1 wherein the cam supports the door and the latch assembly when the door is being opened.

4. The improved combination of claim 1 wherein the cam supports the latch assembly when the door is closed.

5. The improved combination of claim 1 further comprising a replaceable striker alignment block removably attached to the latch assembly.

6. The improved combination of claim 1 wherein the door has opposite inner and outer sides and an edge extending between the inner and outer sides, and the door frame has an edge facing the door edge, the latch assembly being mounted on the door edge and the striker assembly being mounted on the frame edge.

7. A device aligning a door latch and a striker bolt, the door latch being on a side edge of a vehicle exterior passenger door and the striker bolt being on a side edge of a vehicle door frame, the latch being pivotally mounted on a latch assembly, the device comprising:

a cam pivotally mounted on the door frame, so as to reside between the frame and the door, the cam pivotally moving a between inclined lowered position and a raised generally horizontal positions;

whereby the cam pivotally moves to the raised generally horizontal position when engaged by the latch assembly as the door is being closed, thereby raising the door to align the latch with the striker bolt; and

the cam being spring biased toward the lowered inclined position.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein the cam moves to the lowered inclined position so as to lower the door and the latch assembly when the door is being opened.

9. The device of claim 7 wherein the cam supports the latch assembly when the door is closed.

10. The device of claim 7 wherein the cam has an upper planar surface which is movable between the lowered inclined position when the door is open and the raised generally horizontal position when the door is closed.

11. The improved combination of claim 7 further comprising a replaceable striker alignment block removably mounted on the striker assembly.