Vehicle door lock system
US4896906A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 16, 1987 |
| Grant date | Jan 30, 1990 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 16, 2007 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T292/688
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A vehicle door lock system includes a rotary latch having an elongate housing with opposed ends that are tapered so as to be securely received, when "latched," within an elongate U-shaped striker assembly that has a pair of spaced, inwardly facing wedge blocks at opposed ends. As the rotary latch releasably engages the striker to effect "latching," the tapered end regions of the latch housing are wedgingly engaged by the wedge blocks of the striker to guide the latch into properly aligned engagement with the striker, and to maintain proper alignment of the rotary latch with the striker while "latched." By this arrangement, a strong, racking-resistant type of latched connection is provided that will assist in preventing undesired relative movements of a door and a door frame on which the latch and striker are mounted, respectively. Handle assemblies are connected to the rotary latch to operate the latch to effect "unlatching" of the latch and the striker. "Locking" and "unlocking" of the latch is effected by selectively enabling and disabling driving connections between the handle assemblies and the rotary latch.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.