U.S. patent number 3,649,061 [Application Number 05/081,368] was granted by the patent office on 1972-03-14 for vehicle body door lock.
This patent grant is currently assigned to General Motors Corporation. Invention is credited to Barthold F. Meyer.
United States Patent |
3,649,061 |
Meyer |
March 14, 1972 |
VEHICLE BODY DOOR LOCK
Abstract
A vehicle body door lock includes a conventional push button
outside door handle assembly and a conventional bolt and detent.
The control system for the detent is located entirely within the
handle and includes a rotatable drum having a cam surface
engageable by the push rod to rotate the drum against a spring
bias. A shift cam is slidable diametrically of the drum and
rotatable therewith. Sliding movement of the cam is effected by a
shift lever connected to the garnish button and key cylinder. An
unlatching arm is connected to the detent and includes a pin
received within a contoured and shouldered slot of the shift cam.
The pin freewheels within the slot when the shift lever slides the
shift cam relative to the drum to uncoupled position. This
disconnects the push button and unlatching arm. The pin engages a
shoulder of the slot to rotate the unlatching arm with the shift
cam and drum and release the detent when the shift cam is moved to
coupled position relative to the drum. The pin can also engage a
contoured edge of the slot or freewheel within the slot to
respectively automatically undog or keyless lock.
Inventors: |
Meyer; Barthold F. (Mt.
Clemens, MI) |
Assignee: |
General Motors Corporation
(Detroit, MI)
|
Family
ID: |
22163709 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/081,368 |
Filed: |
October 16, 1970 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
292/336.3;
292/DIG.37; 292/DIG.27 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E05B
83/36 (20130101); E05B 1/0038 (20130101); Y10T
292/57 (20150401); Y10S 292/37 (20130101); Y10S
292/27 (20130101); E05B 13/005 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
E05B
65/20 (20060101); E05B 1/00 (20060101); E05B
13/00 (20060101); E05b 003/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;292/119,127,135,166,168,174,221,227,237,DIG.25,DIG.23,DIG.26,DIG.27,336.3 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Wolfe; Robert L.
Claims
I claim:
1. In combination with a vehicle body having latch means movable
between latched and unlatched positions, detent means movable
between holding and released positions with respect to the latch
means, and an outside door handle assembly including a movable
pushbutton, the improvement comprising, detent control means
located within the handle and operatively connected to the detent
means for moving the detent means to released position, coupling
means located within the door handle assembly for selectively
coupling and uncoupling the detent control means and the push
button, and means remote from the door handle assembly and
operatively connected to the coupling means for actuation
thereof.
2. In combination with a vehicle body having latch means movable
between latched and unlatched positions, detent means movable
between holding and released positions with respect to the latch
means, and an outside door handle assembly including a reciprocally
movable push button, the improvement comprising, detent control
means rotatably mounted within the handle and operatively connected
to the detent means for moving the detent means to released
position, means within the door handle assembly converting the
reciprocal pushbutton motion to rotary motion, and means located
within the door handle assembly for selectively coupling the detent
control means and the motion converting means.
3. In combination with a vehicle body having latch means movable
between latched and unlatched positions, detent means movable
between holding and released positions with respect to the latch
means, and an outside door handle assembly including a movable
pushbutton, the improvement comprising, detent control means
located within the handle and operatively connected to the detent
means for movement therewith, means located within the door handle
assembly for selectively coupling the detent control means and the
pushbutton to move the detent means to released position upon
movement of the pushbutton, and means located within the door
handle assembly for selectively uncoupling the detent control means
and the pushbutton upon movement of the detent control means by the
detent means.
4. In combination with a vehicle body having latch means movable
between latched and unlatched positions, detent means movable
between holding and released positions with respect to the latch
means, and an outside door handle assembly including a movable
pushbutton, the improvement comprising, detent control means
located within the handle and operatively connected to the detent
means for movement therewith, movable coupling means located within
the door handle assembly, means operatively connecting the coupling
means to the pushbutton for movement therewith and movement
independently thereof between coupled and uncoupled positions with
respect to the detent control means, the detent control means and
coupling means being movable as a unit upon movement of the
coupling means in coupled position by the pushbutton.
5. In combination with a vehicle body having latch means movable
between latched and unlatched positions, detent means movable
between holding and released positions with respect to the latch
means, and an outside door handle assembly including a movable
pushbutton, the improvement comprising, detent control means
located within the handle and operatively connected to the detent
means for movement therewith, movable coupling means located within
the door handle assembly, means operatively connecting the coupling
means to the pushbutton for movement of the coupling means upon
movement of the pushbutton and movement of the coupling means
between coupled and uncoupled positions with respect to the detent
control means independently of movement of the pushbutton, and
cooperating means on the detent control means and coupling means
engageable with each other upon movement of the coupling means in
coupled position by the pushbutton to move the control means with
the coupling means and move the detent means to released
position.
6. In combination with a vehicle body having latch means movable
between latched and unlatched positions, detent means movable
between holding and released positions with respect to the latch
means, and an outside door handle assembly including a reciprocally
movable pushbutton, the improvement comprising, detent control
means rotatably located within the handle and operatively connected
to the detent means for movement therewith, means rotatably mounted
within the door handle assembly and operatively connected to the
pushbutton for rotational movement upon reciprocal movement of the
pushbutton, coupling means located within the door handle assembly,
means mounting the coupling means on the rotatable means for
rotational movement therewith and radial movement independently
thereof between coupled and uncoupled positions with respect to the
detent control means, and cooperating means on the detent control
means and coupling means engageable with each other upon rotational
movement of the coupling means in coupled position by the
pushbutton to rotate the control means and move the detent means to
detented position.
7. In combination with a vehicle body having latch means movable
between latched and unlatched positions, detent means movable
between holding and released positions with respect to the latch
means, and an outside door handle assembly including a reciprocally
movable pushbutton, the improvement comprising, detent control
means rotatably located within the handle and operatively connected
to the detent means for movement therewith, means rotatably mounted
within the door handle assembly and operatively connected to the
pushbutton for rotational movement upon reciprocal movement of the
pushbutton, coupling means located within the door handle assembly,
means mounting the coupling means on the rotatable means for
rotational movement therewith and radial shifting movement
independently thereof between coupled and uncoupled positions with
respect to the detent control means, shifting means for moving the
coupling means between coupled and uncoupled positions and radially
locating the coupling means on the rotatable means, and cooperating
means on the detent control means and coupling means engageable
with each other upon rotational movement of the coupling means in
coupled position by the pushbutton to rotate the control means and
move the detent means to detented position.
8. In combination with a vehicle body having latch means movable
between latched and unlatched positions, detent means movable
between holding and released positions with respect to the latch
means, and an outside door handle assembly including a reciprocally
movable pushbutton, the improvement comprising, a shaft rotatably
mounted within the handle detent control means secured to the shaft
and operatively connected to the detent means for movement
therewith, cam means rotatably mounted on the shaft and engageable
by the pushbutton for rotational movement upon reciprocal movement
of the pushbutton, a coupling member slidably mounted on the cam
means for rotational movement therewith and radial sliding movement
independently thereof between coupled and uncoupled positions with
respect to the detent control means, shift lever means swingably
mounted on the handle eccentrically of the shaft and radially
locating the coupling member with respect to the cam means, and
cooperating means on the detent control means and coupling member
engageable with each other upon rotational movement of the coupling
member in coupled position by the cam means to rotate the control
means and move the detent means to detented position.
Description
This invention relates generally to vehicle body door locks and
more particularly to a vehicle body door lock wherein the control
arrangement for the latching functions is remote from the latching
structure.
The door lock of this invention includes a conventional outside
pushbutton-type door handle assembly and a conventional bolt and
detent. However, it differs from conventional locks by having the
control arrangement controlling release of the detent from the
bolt, keyless locking, and automatic undogging located entirely
within the outside door handle. Thus the control arrangement is
entirely remote from the latching structure.
Conventionally, the control arrangement of the lock is integrated
with the latching structure. However, in certain instances due to
space requirements, it is desirable to reduce the latching
structure to a minimum and to locate the control arrangement remote
from this lock structure. The door lock of this invention
accomplishes this purpose in a very simple and expeditious manner
and through the use of a minimum number of parts which are of a
size so as to be located within a conventional pushbutton door
handle assembly.
In the preferred embodiment of the invention, an unlatching arm is
rotatable about a predetermined fixed axis to either release the
detent and permit the door to be opened or to be rotated by the
detent when the door is closed. A shift lever controls the
connection and disconnection of the unlatching arm and a shift cam.
The shift cam is rotatable with but movable independently of a drum
which converts the linear motion of the pushbutton into rotary
motion. The shift lever is under the control of the conventional
key cylinder and garnish button. Movement of the shift cam relative
to the drum to coupled and uncoupled positions with respect to the
unlatching arm effects release of the detent from the bolt,
automatic undogging, and keyless locking.
The primary object of this invention is to provide an improved
vehicle body door lock wherein the control arrangement for the
latching structure is remotely located therefrom and incorporated
within a conventional outside pushbutton door handle assembly.
This and other objects of the invention will be readily apparent
from the following specification and drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of a portion of a vehicle body
door having a conventional pushbutton outside door handle assembly
mounted thereon and embodying a control arrangement according to
this invention;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged partially broken away view of a portion of
FIG. 1 showing the control arrangement of this invention;
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the control
arrangement;
FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the control arrangement
releasing the detent from the bolt to permit the door to be opened;
and
FIG. 5 is a view showing the control arrangement in a position
wherein the outside pushbutton freewheels.
Referring now particularly to FIG. 1 of the drawings, a
conventional vehicle body door 10 includes an outer panel 12 on
which is mounted a conventional pushbutton door handle assembly
14.
The door handle assembly 14 includes a handle portion 16 which is
adapted to be grasped by the operator and an enlarged end portion
18 which embodies a conventional manually operated pushbutton
20.
As shown in the remaining Figures, the end portion 18 includes an
outwardly opening generally rectangularly shaped cavity 22 which
slidably receives a like shaped pushbutton 20. A coil compression
spring 24 slidably surrounds the push rod 26 which is secured to
the button 20. Spring 24 seats between the outer surface of the
base wall 28 of the cavity 22 and the button 20 to bias the button
20 outwardly of the cavity 22 to its normal position shown in FIGS.
2, 3 and 5. A pin 30 through the rod 26 engages the inner surface
of wall 28 to limit outward movement of the button 20. Wall 28 also
provides in part the base wall 32 of a cylindrically shaped cavity
34 opening inwardly of the end portion 18 of the handle. A shaft 36
has its outer shouldered end rotatably journaled within wall 28 and
its inner end rotatably journaled in a circular shouldered cover
plate 38 which seats within the opening of cavity 34 and is secured
thereto in any suitable manner.
A drum cam 40 is rotatably mounted on the shaft 36. The cam
includes an outwardly opening cylindrical bore 42 and a coil
torsion spring 44 freely surrounds the shaft 36 within the bore 42.
One end of the spring conventionally engages a shoulder of bore 42,
not shown, and the other end is anchored within an aperture of wall
28, as shown, to bias the cam 40 counterclockwise. The cam 40
includes an axially extending shoulder 46 which merges into a
circumferentially extending shoulder 48 joined to a radially and
axially extending arcuate cam shoulder 50. When the cam 40 is in
its normal unactuated position, FIGS. 2, 3, and 5, the inner free
end of the push rod 26 engages the shoulder 50 as shown in FIGS. 2
and 3 to locate the cam 40 against the action of the spring 44.
The inner axial face of the cam 40 includes a spaced aligned pair
of diametrically extending ribs 52. The ribs 52 slidably receive
like grooves 54 of a shift cam 56 to thereby mount the shift cam on
the drum for rotation therewith and independent movement radially
thereof. The diametrical extent of the ribs 52 is less than that of
the grooves 54 to permit radial movement of the shift cam relative
to the drum. The central enlarged opening 58 of the shift cam is
journaled on the annular hub 60 of a shift lever 62. Hub 60
includes a slot 63 which receives the shaft 36. The shift lever 62
is pivoted in a conventional manner to the lateral end of a garnish
rod 64 which is secured to a conventional garnish button 66. The
lateral end of the rod 64 slidably receives the slotted end of a
link 68 which is conventionally coupled to a conventional outside
key cylinder assembly 70 mounted on the outer panel 12 of the door
10 as shown in FIG. 1. As best shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5, hub 60
includes a radial extension 72 provided with an inwardly opening
cylindrical bore 74. Bore 74 rotatably receives a pin 76 secured to
the cover plate 38 to thereby rotatably mount or fulcrum the shift
lever 62 on the cover plate for movement relative to the shaft 36.
Slot 63 is of sufficient width to permit movement of the shift
lever relative to the shaft.
The garnish button 66 is shown in unlocked position in FIGS. 3 and
4 and can be moved downwardly to locked position shown in FIG. 5
independently of any movement of the link 68. However, operation of
the key cylinder 70 from unlocked position shown in FIG. 3 to
locked position, not shown, shifts link 68 downwardly and will move
the garnish button downwardly to locked position if it is in
unlocked position. Alternatively, the garnish button 66 can be
moved upwardly to unlocked position regardless of the position of
the key cylinder assembly, but movement of the key cylinder
assembly to unlocked position will always move the garnish button
66 upwardly to unlocked position.
A detent control or unlatching arm 78 is fixed to the shaft 36
adjacent the cover plate 38 and coupled by a rod 80 with the detent
of a conventional bolt and detent, not shown. Such bolt and detent
may be located anywhere desired within the door 10 for latching and
unlatching movement of the bolt with respect to a conventional
striker mounted on an adjacent door pillar.
The unlatching arm 78 includes a lateral pin 82 which is received
within a contoured slot 84 of the shift cam 56, as will be further
explained. A remote lever 86 is secured to the shaft 36 in a
predetermined angular relationship to the arm 78 and includes a pin
88 which is slidably received in an arcuate slot 90 of a remote
link 92. The remote link is conventionally coupled to an inside
remote handle, not shown.
When the door is in closed position, the garnish button 66 is in
unlocked position or upwardly with respect to the door, and the key
cylinder assembly 70 is in unlocked position, the pin 82 of the
unlatching arm 78 engages a radial edge or shoulder 94 of the slot
84 as shown in FIG. 2. Shoulder 94 merges into arcuate edge
portions 96 and 98 which are generated about the axis of shaft 36.
If the operator pushes on the button 20 or moves it inwardly of the
cavity 22 from its position shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, to its position
shown in FIG. 4, the engagement of the free end of the push rod 26
with the contoured shoulder 50 will rotate the drum 40 clockwise
from its FIG. 3 position to its position shown in FIG. 4. This
clockwise movement of the drum 40 will be against the bias of
spring 44 and will be limited in extent by the engagement of the
push rod 26 with shoulder 46, as shown in FIG. 4. Since the shift
cam 56 is rotatively coupled to the drum by ribs 52 and grooves 54,
the cam 56 will likewise rotate clockwise from its FIG. 3 position
to its FIG. 4 position. The engagement of shoulder 94 with pin 82
will swing arm 78 clockwise from its FIG. 3 position to its FIG. 4
position to shift rod 80 and thereby release the detent from the
bolt to permit the door to be opened. The shift lever 62 remains
stationary while the remote lever 86 rotates with the arm 78 and
shaft 36 relative to link 92 as pin 88 moves within slot 90.
Upon release of the pushbutton 20, the combined action of springs
24 and 44 and the detent spring will return the pushbutton 20 from
its FIG. 4 position to its position shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 and
likewise return the drum 40, shift cam 56, arm 78, and lever 86 to
their positions as shown therein. When the door is later moved from
its now open position to closed position, the ratcheting movement
of the detent with respect to the bolt will move pin 82
counterclockwise of shoulder 94 and adjacent and relative to edge
portion 98. Pin 82 will return into engagement with the shoulder 94
when the bolt reaches latched position.
If either the garnish button 66 or key cylinder 70 is moved from
unlocked position shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 to locked position,
shown in FIG. 5, the shift lever 62 will be rotated slightly
clockwise. Since the shift lever is fulcrumed on the cover plate
38, the rotational movement of the shift lever will move the shift
cam 56 downwardly from its FIG. 3 position to its FIG. 5 position
due to the journaling of the shift cam on hub 60. Pin 82 is now
located out of engagement with the shoulder 90 and immediately
thereabove adjacent the edge portion 96 of the slot. It can be seen
that any subsequent movement of the pushbutton 20, as previously
described, will merely result in freewheeling of the pushbutton and
of the pin 82 adjacent and relative to edge portion 98 so that the
detent remains engaged with the bolt. The position of the shift cam
shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 may be termed its coupled position since it
connects or couples the pushbutton 20 and arm 78 in this position.
Likewise the position of the shift cam shown in FIG. 5 may be
termed its uncoupled position since it disconnects or uncouples the
pushbutton 20 and arm 78 in this position.
The control arrangement of this invention also provides the
features of automatic undogging and keyless locking.
Assume now that the door is in an open position and that either the
garnish button 66 or the key cylinder 70 has been operated to
locate the shift cam 56 in its uncoupled position shown in FIG. 5
wherein the pin 82 is located out of engagement with the shoulder
94 as previously described. If the door is thereafter closed, the
ratcheting movement of the detent with respect to the bolt will
shift the rod 80 to the left and in turn rotate the unlatching arm
78 in a clockwise direction. As the pin 82 moves clockwise within
the slot 84, it will engage a cam edge portion 100 of the slot
which is formed about a center other than the center of shaft 36
and shift the shift cam 54 upwardly from its uncoupled FIG. 5
position to its coupled position shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Pin 82
will now be located adjacent the edge portion 98 and will engage
the shoulder 94 when the door is closed. Thus, automatic undogging
will occur.
Keyless locking is accomplished by depressing the button 20 as the
door is closed. This will rotate the shift cam 56 in a clockwise
direction so that edge portion 96 will move relative to pin 82 and
the pin will be located adjacent the right-hand closed end 102 of
slot 84. End 102 merges into an edge portion 104 of slot 84 which
is formed about the axis of shaft 36, as edge portion 96, and
merges into edge portion 100. Thus when the pin 82 moves clockwise
upon ratcheting of the detent relative to the bolt, it moves
between edge portions 96 and 104 and no movement of the shift cam
will occur. It will thus remain in its uncoupled position shown in
FIG. 5 when the door is completely closed so that the unlatching
arm 78 will remain uncoupled from the shift cam.
It is believed evident that the inside remote handle can be
actuated to shift link 92 to the right as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 3
to rotate arm 78 clockwise and release the detent. This movement of
the remote handle is independent of the position of the shift
cam.
Thus this invention provides an improved vehicle body door lock
having a control arrangement remote from the latching
structure.
* * * * *