DOOR LOCK APPARATUS

• US 20120266639A1
• Filed: 04/20/2012
• Published: 10/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: U-Shin Limited (MinebeaMitsumi Inc.)
• Original Assignee: U-Shin Limited (MinebeaMitsumi Inc.)
• Inventors: YAMAGATA, Mikio, AKAGI, Nobuya
• Granted Patent: US 9,249,605 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 70/372
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/002 Geared transmissions
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0025 in the form of grooves
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 77/32 allowing simultaneous actuation of locking or unlocking elements and a handle, e.g. preventing interference between an unlocking and an unlatching action
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 79/08 Mounting of individual lock elements in the lock, e.g. levers
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/06 using rotary motors
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/16 operating on locking elements for locking or unlocking action
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/34 of geared transmissions
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/42 Cams
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 85/02 Lock casings
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7667 Operating elements, parts and adjuncts

Abstract

The door lock apparatus of the invention includes: a latch mechanism; a lock mechanism having a link 35 that can move the latch mechanism to an unlock position and a lock position, and a lock plate 50 that moves the link 35; a key-operation-force transfer mechanism (55, 61, 68) that transfers an operation force of a key cylinder 58 to the lock plate 50 of the lock mechanism; and a housing (11, 21) in which at least the lock mechanism and the key-operation-force transfer mechanism are accommodated. The door lock apparatus further includes positioning means (15b, 66) that positions the key-operation-force transfer mechanism (55, 61, 68) in a neutral state corresponding to a neutral position of the key cylinder 58 with respect to the housing (11, 21).

Claims

1. A door lock apparatus comprising:

a latch mechanism for engaging with and disengaging from a striker;

a lock mechanism having a link that can move to an unlock position where the latch mechanism can be operated and a lock position where the latch mechanism can not be operated, and a lock plate that moves the link to the unlock position and the lock position;

a key-operation-force transfer mechanism that transfers an operation force of a key cylinder disposed on a door to the lock plate of the lock mechanism; and

a housing in which at least the lock mechanism and the key-operation-force transfer mechanism are accommodated;

wherein

the door lock apparatus further comprises positioning means that positions the key-operation-force transfer mechanism in a neutral state corresponding to a neutral position of the key cylinder with respect to the housing.

2. The door lock apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the positioning means includes a positioning portion that is provided the housing and an engaging portion that is provided in the key-operation-force transfer mechanism and resiliently detachably engaged with the positioning portion.

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

the key-operation-force transfer mechanism includes

a key lever to which a rotation rod that projects from a rear end of the key cylinder is directly connected, the key lever turning in accordance with an operation of the key cylinder,

a key link that is connected to the key lever and that reciprocates, and

a key sub-lever that is connected to the key link and is turnably disposed in the housing, and that engages with the lock plate with play, wherein

the engaging portion is provided on the key link.

4. The door lock apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the housing is provided with a guide groove in which the key link is straightly guided, and an abutment wall that extends along the guide groove and with which the engaging portion slides, and the abutment wall is provided with the positioning portion.

5. The door lock apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the engaging portion is integrally formed on the key link.

6. The door lock apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the key-operation-force transfer mechanism is further provided with a key-operation detection switch that detects an operation position of the key-operation-force transfer mechanism.