Side impact-initiated door latch locking system
AssigneeToyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
InventorChad E. Anderson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatuses and methods for preventing a vehicle door from opening in response to a side impact. An apparatus comprises a cover structure and a latch mechanism. The cover structure is located between an outer panel of a vehicle door and an inner panel of the vehicle door. The cover structure has an inboard surface with a sloped portion. The latch mechanism is associated with an inside handle that is attached to the inner panel of the vehicle door. Movement of the outer panel towards the inner panel causes the sloped portion of the inboard surface of the cover structure to contact the latch mechanism and move the latch mechanism into a latched position.
Claims20
An apparatus comprising:
- a cover structure located between an outer panel of a vehicle door and an inner panel of the vehicle door, the cover structure having an inboard surface with a sloped portion;
- and
- a latch mechanism associated with an inside handle that is attached to the inner panel of the vehicle door, wherein movement of the outer panel towards the inner panel causes the sloped portion of the inboard surface of the cover structure to contact the latch mechanism and move the latch mechanism into a latched position.
A vehicle door comprising:
- an outer panel;
- an inner panel;
- an inside handle attached to the inner panel;
- a cover structure located between the outer panel and the inner panel, the cover structure having an inboard surface with a sloped portion;
- and
- a latch mechanism associated with the inside handle,
- wherein movement of the outer panel towards the inner panel causes the sloped portion of the inboard surface of the cover structure to contact the latch mechanism and move the latch mechanism into a latched position.
A method for preventing a vehicle door from opening in response to a side impact to the vehicle door, the method comprising:
- moving an outer panel of the vehicle door in an inboard direction in response to the side impact to the vehicle door;
- applying, by the outer panel, force to a cover structure located between the outer panel and an inner panel of the vehicle door such that a sloped portion of an inboard surface of the cover structure is moved in an inboard direction;
- and
- applying, by the sloped portion of the inboard surface of the cover structure, force to a latch mechanism associated with an inside handle attached to the inner panel to thereby move the latch mechanism into a latched position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.