US 5,584,515 A · Double locking vehicle door latch

Abstract

A vehicle door latch assembly including a lock mechanism actuatable between a locked and unlocked condition and providing a double locking feature. The lock mechanism includes a first locking member adapted to selectively rotate about a first axis between locked and unlocked positions respectively corresponding to the locked and unlocked conditions of the latch mechanism. A second locking member is provided which is adapted to rotate about the first axis adjacent to the first locking member. The first and second locking members may be selectively coupled and uncoupled. When coupled, the second locking member may be selectively rotated about the first axis to move the first locking member between the locked and unlocked positions. When uncoupled, the first locking member is operable to move between the locked and unlocked positions independently of the second locking member. A control member is moveable axially to couple the first and second locking members. The control member is provided with a cam surface which cooperates with another cam surface on a gear to produce the axial movement of the control member required for coupling and uncoupling of the first and second locking members.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A vehicle door latch including:

a locking fork moveable between latched and unlatched positions;
a pawl moveable between an engaged position for holding said locking fork in said latch position and a disengaged position permitting said locking fork to move to said unlatched position;
a selectively moveable operating member;
a link member moveable between a first position and a second position relative to said operating member, said link member operatively connecting said operating member to said pawl when said link member is in said first position, said operating member being selectively moveable when connected to said pawl to move said pawl to said disengaged position, said operating member being operatively disconnected from said pawl when said link member is in said second position;
a first locking member rotatable about an axis and operatively connected to said link member to selectively move said link member between said first position and said second position;
a second locking member rotatable about said axis;
and
a control structure moveable between a couple position and an uncouple position, said control structure operable in said couple position to cause said first and second locking members to be coupled such that rotation of said second locking member about said axis will cause said first locking member to rotate about said axis therewith to move said link member between said first and second positions.

5 more elements

A vehicle door lock assembly for a latch which includes a coupling member selectively moveable between a coupled position in which the latch is unlocked and an uncoupled position in which the latch is locked, the vehicle door lock assembly comprising:

a first locking member rotatable about an axis and operatively connectable to the coupling member of said latch to move the coupling member between the coupled position in which said latch is unlocked and tile uncoupled position in which said latch is locked;
a second locking member rotatable about said axis;
means for coupling said first and second locking members such that rotation of said second locking member about said axis will cause said first locking member to rotate about said axis therewith:
and
means for uncoupling said first and second locking members such that said first locking member is rotatable independently of said second locking member.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Double locking vehicle door latch

Life of this patent

Double locking vehicle door latch

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15