Door lock apparatus

• US 20060186674A1
• Filed: 02/07/2006
• Published: 08/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Kunimatsu, Yukinobu, Suzumura, Makoto, Muramatsu, Akira, Tanabe, Sigeru
• Granted Patent: US 7,637,542 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 292/216
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 77/34 Protection against weather or dirt, e.g. against water ingress closures or guards for keyholes E05B17/14
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 85/02 Lock casings
• 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 door lock apparatus includes a housing for accommodating a latch mechanism for holding a vehicle door to a vehicle body, a lever mechanism actuated when a door handle is operated, a link mechanism for connecting the lever mechanism to the latch mechanism, the link mechanism having a first position for transmitting operational force from the lever mechanism to the latch mechanism and a second position for preventing transmission of the operational force from the lever mechanism to the latch mechanism, and a motor drive mechanism for changing the first and second positions of the link mechanism. The housing includes a first accommodating space for accommodating the motor drive mechanism and a second accommodating space adjacently provided to the first accommodating space for accommodating the latch mechanism and a water preventing portion is provided for preventing water from entering the first accommodating space from outside the housing.

Claims

1. A door lock apparatus, comprising a housing for accommodating a latch mechanism for holding a vehicle door to a vehicle body in a closed state, a lever mechanism actuated when a door handle provided inside or outside the vehicle door is operated, a link mechanism provided between the lever mechanism and the latch mechanism for connecting the lever mechanism to the latch mechanism, the link mechanism having a first position for transmitting operational force from the lever mechanism to the latch mechanism and a second position for preventing transmission of the operational force from the lever mechanism to the latch mechanism, and a motor drive mechanism for changing the first and second positions of the link mechanism, wherein

the housing includes a first accommodating space for accommodating the motor drive mechanism and a second accommodating space adjacently provided to the first accommodating space for accommodating the latch mechanism and a water preventing means is provided for preventing water from entering the first accommodating space from outside the housing.

2. The door lock apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the water preventing means includes a hole provided at the housing for letting water flow into the second accommodating space.

3. The door lock apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the water preventing means includes a water stopping plate provided near an upper surface of the housing above the second accommodating space.

4. The door lock apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the water preventing means includes at least one of a hole provided at the housing for letting water flow into the second accommodating space and a water stopping plate provided near an upper surface of the housing above the second accommodating space.

5. The door lock apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a cover member for covering an upper surface side of the housing, the cover member having an end portion at the latch mechanism side, wherein

the water preventing means is provided on or above the upper surface of the housing in an area from the end portion of the cover member to a position above the first accommodating space.

6. The door lock apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the first accommodating space and the second accommodating space are defined by a separating wall provided in the housing.

7. The door lock apparatus according to claim 6, wherein

the separating wall is continuously connected to the water preventing means.

8. The door lock apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the water preventing means is provided at the second accommodating space side from a position between the first accommodating space and the second accommodating space.

9. The door lock apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

a water flow path is formed on the upper surface of the housing.

10. The door lock apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

one end of the housing at the second accommodating space side is exposed at an outside edge portion of the vehicle door.

11. The door lock apparatus according to claim 2, wherein

an inner periphery of the hole is processed by means of round chamfering.

12. The door lock apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the water preventing means is an introducing means for introducing water into the second accommodating space.

13. The door lock apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the housing includes an opening portion through which the lever mechanism and the door handle are linked.

14. The door lock apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising a lid member for covering the opening portion of the housing.

15. The door lock apparatus according to claim 14, wherein

the lid member includes a regulating portion for regulating movement of the lever mechanism.

16. The door lock apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the water preventing means is provided on or above the housing.

17. The door lock apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the housing includes a first cover and a second cover.

18. The door lock apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the water preventing means is provided at either one of the first cover and the second cover.

19. The door lock apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a cover member for covering an upper surface side of the housing, the cover member having an end portion at the latch mechanism side, wherein

the water preventing means is provided on or above the upper surface of the housing in an area from the end portion of the cover member to a position above the first accommodating space.

20. The door lock apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a cover member for covering the upper surface side of the housing, the cover member having an end portion at the latch mechanism side, wherein

the water preventing means is provided on or above the upper surface of the housing in an area from the end portion of the cover member to a position above the first accommodating space.