# US 2018/0023327 A1 · Vehicle door lock apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0023327 A1 - Document ID: US20180023327A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/653,645 - Filed: 2017-07-19 - Published: 2018-01-25 - Earliest claimed: 2016-07-20 - Assignees: Ansel Corporation - Applicants: ANSEl CORPORATION - Inventors: Masaharu TAKAGI; Satoshi YAMAJI - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180023327A1 ## CPC - E05B 83/36: Locks for passenger or like doors - E05B 77/44: Burglar prevention, e.g. protecting against opening by unauthorised tools (E05B77/28 takes precedence) - E05B 79/12: using connecting rods - E05B 79/22: Operative connections between handles, sill buttons or lock knobs and the lock unit (mounting of non-movable base elements of a handle to a lock E05B79/06) - E05B 85/02: Lock casings - B60J 5/00: Doors (B60J10/00 takes precedence; window aspects B60J1/00 {; side board or tailgate structures for open load compartments B62D33/023}) - E05B 77/06: by means of inertial forces - E05B 81/06: using rotary motors - E05B 81/16: operating on locking elements for locking or unlocking action - E05B 85/00: Details of vehicle locks not provided for in groups E05B77/00 - E05B83/00 - Y10T 292/1047: Closure - E05B: LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS - B60J: WINDOWS, WINDSCREENS, NON-FIXED ROOFS, DOORS, OR SIMILAR DEVICES FOR VEHICLES; REMOVABLE EXTERNAL PROTECTIVE COVERINGS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES (fastening, suspending, closing, or opening of such devices E05) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A vehicle door lock apparatus includes a housing, a fork, a pawl, a first lever displaceably provided in the housing such that the first lever can act on the pawl, and a second lever pivotably provided in the housing. One end of the second lever has a linkage coupled to a lower end of a transmission rod, which is coupled to an exterior door handle. The second lever pivots in response to an opening operation being performed on the exterior door handle and acts on the first lever. A plane of rotation contains an arcuate trajectory traced by the linkage when it pivots in response to the opening operation being performed, and is located farther in a frontward direction of a vehicle frame than a fixing surface. The plane of rotation is inclined relative to a plane containing the fixing surface, and intersects this plane in the vehicle downward direction. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vehicle door lock apparatus comprising: a housing including a base plate fixed in a state in which a fixing surface abuts against a door that is openable and closable with respect to a vehicle frame, to which a striker is fixed, the base plate also having an entry opening, into which the striker can enter, formed therein; a fork pivotably provided on the base plate and that is displaceable to a latched position, where the fork retains the striker in the entry opening, and to an unlatched position, where the fork allows the striker to separate from the entry opening; a pawl pivotably provided in the base plate, the pawl being configured to move so as to fix or release the fork; a first lever displaceably provided in the housing, the first lever being configured to act on the pawl when it is displaced and cause the pawl to release the fork; and a second lever pivotably provided in the housing, one end of the second lever being coupled to an exterior door handle via a transmission rod, the second lever being capable of acting on the first lever and displacing the first lever when it pivots in response to an opening operation being performed on the exterior door handle, wherein a linkage, which is coupled to a lower end of the transmission rod, is formed at the one end of the second lever, a plane of rotation, which contains an arcuate trajectory traced by the linkage when it pivots in response to the opening operation being performed, is located farther in a frontward direction of the vehicle frame than the fixing surface, and the plane of rotation extends at an angle relative to a plane containing the fixing surface such that the plane of rotation intersects the plane of the fixing surface in a downward direction of the vehicle frame. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vehicle door lock apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an inclination angle of the plane of rotation with respect to the plane of the fixing surface is 5° or more and 15° or less. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The vehicle door lock apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lower end of the transmission rod is coupled to the linkage in a direction that is at least substantially orthogonal to the plane of rotation. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The vehicle door lock apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a movement guide is formed in the housing as a slit shape that is contained within, or is at least substantially in parallel to, the plane of rotation, the movement guide surrounding a portion of the second lever that is adjacent to the linkage and being configured to guide pivoting movement of the second lever about an axis that is at least substantially orthogonal to the plane of rotation. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The vehicle door lock apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: the pawl is supported by the base plate so as to be pivotable about a pawl axis that is at least substantially orthogonal to the fixing surface, and the first lever is supported by the second lever so as to be pivotable about a first axis that is at least substantially parallel to the pawl axis. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The vehicle door lock apparatus according to claim 2, wherein: the lower end of the transmission rod is coupled to the linkage in a direction that is at least substantially orthogonal to the plane of rotation, the pawl is supported by the base plate so as to be pivotable about a pawl axis that is at least substantially orthogonal to the fixing surface, and the first lever is supported by the second lever so as to be pivotable about a first axis that is at least substantially parallel to the pawl axis. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The vehicle door lock apparatus according to claim 6, wherein a movement guide is formed in the housing as a slit shape that is recessed at least substantially in parallel to the plane of rotation, the movement guide surrounding a portion of the second lever that is adjacent to the linkage and being configured to guide pivoting movement of the second lever about an axis that is at least substantially orthogonal to the plane of rotation. ### Claim 8 A vehicle comprising: a vehicle frame; a striker affixed to the vehicle frame; a vehicle door that is openable and closable with respect to the vehicle frame; an exterior door handle movably disposed on the vehicle door; a housing including a base plate having a fixing surface defined thereon and an entry opening configured to receive the striker, the fixing surface being fixedly abutted against the vehicle door; a fork pivotably provided on the base plate such that the fork is displaceable from a latched position, where the fork retains the striker in the entry opening, to an unlatched position, where the fork allows the striker to separate from the entry opening, and vice versa; a pawl pivotably provided in the base plate, the pawl being configured to move so as to fix or release the fork; a first lever displaceably provided in the housing, the first lever being configured to act on the pawl when the first lever is displaced and cause the pawl to release the fork; and a second lever pivotably provided in the housing, one end of the second lever being coupled to the exterior door handle via a transmission rod, the second lever being configured to act on the first lever and displace the first lever when the second lever pivots in response to an opening operation being performed on the exterior door handle, wherein: a linkage is formed at the one end of the second lever and is coupled to a lower end of the transmission rod, a plane of rotation contains an arcuate trajectory traced by the linkage when it pivots in response to the opening operation being performed, the plane of rotation is located farther in a frontward direction of the vehicle frame than the fixing surface, and the plane of rotation extends at an angle relative to a plane containing the fixing surface such that the plane of rotation intersects the plane of the fixing surface in a downward direction of the vehicle frame. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the plane of rotation is inclined relative to the plane of the fixing surface by an angle of 5°-15°. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the lower end of the transmission rod is coupled to the linkage in a direction that is at least substantially orthogonal to the plane of rotation. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The vehicle according to claim 8, further comprising: a slit-shaped movement guide defined in the housing such that the plane of rotation intersects, or is at least substantially in parallel to, the slit-shaped movement guide, wherein the slit-shaped movement guide surrounds a portion of the second lever that is adjacent to the linkage and is configured to guide pivoting movement of the second lever about an axis that is at least substantially orthogonal to the plane of rotation. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The vehicle according to claim 8, wherein: the pawl is supported by the base plate so as to be pivotable about a pawl axis that is at least substantially orthogonal to the fixing surface, and the first lever is supported by the second lever so as to be pivotable about a first axis that is at least substantially parallel to the pawl axis. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The vehicle according to claim 9, further comprising: a slit-shaped movement guide defined in the housing such that the plane of rotation intersects, or is at least substantially in parallel to, the slit-shaped movement guide, wherein the slit-shaped movement guide surrounds a portion of the second lever that is adjacent to the linkage and is configured to guide pivoting movement of the second lever about an axis that is at least substantially orthogonal to the plane of rotation. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The vehicle according to claim 13, wherein: the lower end of the transmission rod is coupled to the linkage in a direction that is at least substantially orthogonal to the plane of rotation, the pawl is supported by the base plate so as to be pivotable about a pawl axis that is at least substantially orthogonal to the fixing surface, and the first lever is supported by the second lever so as to be pivotable about a first axis that is at least substantially parallel to the pawl axis. ### Claim 15 An apparatus comprising: a housing including a base plate having a fixing surface defined thereon and an entry opening configured to receive a striker affixed to a vehicle frame, the fixing surface being configured to fixedly abutted against a vehicle door; a fork pivotably provided on the base plate such that the fork is displaceable from a latched position, where the fork is configured to retain the striker in the entry opening, to an unlatched position, where the fork is configured to allow the striker to separate from the entry opening, and vice versa; a pawl pivotably provided in the base plate, the pawl being configured to move so as to fix or release the fork; a first lever displaceably provided in the housing, the first lever being configured to act on the pawl when the first lever is displaced and cause the pawl to release the fork; and a second lever pivotably provided in the housing, one end of the second lever being configured to be coupled to an exterior door handle via a transmission rod, the second lever being configured to act on the first lever and displace the first lever when the second lever pivots in response to an opening operation being performed on the exterior door handle, wherein: a linkage is formed at the one end of the second lever and is coupled to a lower end of the transmission rod, a plane of rotation contains an arcuate trajectory traced by the linkage when it pivots in response to the opening operation being performed, the apparatus is configured to be mounted on vehicle door such that the plane of rotation is located farther in a frontward direction of the vehicle frame than the fixing surface, and the plane of rotation extends at an angle relative to a plane containing the fixing surface such that the plane of rotation intersects the plane of the fixing surface in a downward direction of the vehicle frame. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the plane of rotation is inclined relative to the plane of the fixing surface by an angle of 5°-15°. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the lower end of the transmission rod is coupled to the linkage in a direction that is at least substantially orthogonal to the plane of rotation. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising: a slit-shaped movement guide defined in the housing such that the plane of rotation intersects, or is at least substantially in parallel to, the slit-shaped movement guide, wherein the slit-shaped movement guide surrounds a portion of the second lever that is adjacent to the linkage and is configured to guide pivoting movement of the second lever about an axis that is at least substantially orthogonal to the plane of rotation. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein: the pawl is supported by the base plate so as to be pivotable about a pawl axis that is at least substantially orthogonal to the fixing surface, and the first lever is supported by the second lever so as to be pivotable about a first axis that is at least substantially parallel to the pawl axis. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising: a slit-shaped movement guide defined in the housing such that the plane of rotation intersects, or is at least substantially in parallel to, the slit-shaped movement guide, wherein the slit-shaped movement guide surrounds a portion of the second lever that is adjacent to the linkage and is configured to guide pivoting movement of the second lever about an axis that is at least substantially orthogonal to the plane of rotation, the lower end of the transmission rod is coupled to the linkage in a direction that is at least substantially orthogonal to the plane of rotation, the pawl is supported by the base plate so as to be pivotable about a pawl axis that is at least substantially orthogonal to the fixing surface, and the first lever is supported by the second lever so as to be pivotable about a first axis that is at least substantially parallel to the pawl axis.