Vehicle door lock system
US5069491A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 29, 1990 |
| Grant date | Dec 3, 1991 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 29, 2010 |
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 an end formation that is "inclined" or "tapered" so as to be wedgingly engaged, when "latched," by a correspondingly inclined or tapered wedge block component of an L-shaped striker assembly. As the rotary latch releasably engages the striker to effect "latching," the inclined or tapered end region of the latch housing cooperatively engages the wedge block 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.