DOOR LATCH SYSTEM FOR AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLE

• US 20070170727A1
• Filed: 01/10/2006
• Published: 07/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Liu, Stanley, Yu, Xiang Dong, Siedlecki, Tad, Kohlstrand, Kelly
• Granted Patent: US 7,562,917 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 292/216
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 79/20 using flexible connections, e.g. Bowden cables
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/00 Power-actuated vehicle locks
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 83/12 for back doors of vans E05B83/04, E05B83/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 292/25 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 292/42 Trunk latches
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1047 Closure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/57 Operators with knobs or handles

Abstract

A door latch system for an automotive vehicle uses a push-pull cable linked to a lock cylinder and to a latch to move the latch assembly into the locked position while simultaneously blocking the latch'"'"'s lock/unlock lever from moving into the unlocked position.

Claims

1. A door latch system for an automotive vehicle, comprising:

a latch assembly attached to a door, with said latch having a primary lock/unlock lever with a locked position and an unlocked position;

a lock cylinder extending through an outer surface of the door; and

a primary push-pull cable having a first end linked to said lock cylinder and a second end linked to said primary lock/unlock lever.

2. A door latch system according to claim 1, further comprising a blocker pin, actuated by said push-pull cable, for engaging a portion of the latch system so as to prevent movement of said primary lock/unlock lever to said unlocked position.

3. A door latch system according to claim 2, wherein said blocker pin is carried upon a slider driven by said push-pull cable.

4. A door latch system according to claim 3, wherein said slider is linked to said lock/unlock lever.

5. A door latch system according to claim 3, wherein said portion of said latch system engaged by said blocker pin comprises a secondary lock/unlock lever pivotably mounted to said latch assembly and slaved to said primary lock/unlock lever.

6. A door latch system according to claim 3, further comprising an interior latch unlocking cable attached to said slider.

7. A door latch system according to claim 6, wherein said push-pull cable and said interior latch unlocking cable are at least partially unitary.

8. A door latch system according to claim 3, wherein said slider is housed within a carrier attached to said latch assembly.

9. A door latch system according to claim 8, wherein said carrier comprises a channel-shaped enclosure having opposing sidewalls for supporting said slider for reciprocating motion, with said sidewalls having apertures permitting the passage of said blocker pin and a linkage terminal integral with said slider and carrying a link extending to said primary lock/unlock lever.

10. A door latch system according to claim 1, further comprising an interior latch unlocking cable driven by a handle.

11. A door latch system according to claim 5, wherein said secondary lock/unlock lever is redundantly driven by a manually accessible plunger extending through an interior surface of the door.

12. A door latch system according to claim 1, wherein said push-pull cable comprises a tubular, flexible cylindrical housing having a reciprocable metallic core extending therethrough.

13. A door latch system according to claim 12, wherein said lock cylinder is attached to a housing receiving said push-pull cable such that said lock cylinder will detach from said housing in the event that said lock cylinder is subjected to tampering.

14. A door latch system according to claim 1, wherein said lock cylinder comprises a key lock.

15. A method for locking a door latch system for an automotive vehicle, comprising the steps of:

engaging a key with a lock cylinder extending through an outer surface of a vehicle door;

manually rotating the lock cylinder with said key so as to actuate a push-pull cable attached to a latch assembly; and

using the push-pull cable to move a lock/unlock lever associated with said latch assembly to a locked position, while simultaneously using the push-pull cable to move a blocker pin into a blocking position with respect to a portion of said latch assembly slaved to said lock/unlock lever, such that said lock/unlock lever is prevented from moving out of said locked position.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein the portion of said latch blocked by said blocker pin comprises a lever pivotably mounted to said latch assembly and linked to a manually accessible plunger extending through an inner surface of said door.

17. A method for locking a door latch system for an automotive vehicle, comprising the steps of:

commanding a linear driver to actuate a push-pull cable attached to a latch assembly; and

using the push-pull cable to move a lock/unlock lever associated with said latch assembly to a locked position, while simultaneously using the push-pull cable to move a blocker pin into a position blocking a portion of said latch assembly slaved to said lock/unlock lever, such that said lock/unlock lever is prevented from moving out of said locked position.