Abstract: A linear reciprocating-motion apparatus includes at least one movable member (10, 30) supported by a housing (90) and being capable of undergoing linear reciprocating motion in a range that includes a first position, a second position, and a third position; a stopper (50) supported by the housing to be displaceable between a blocking position that blocks the at least one movable member and a nonblocking position that does not block the at least one movable member, and is displaced to the nonblocking position in response to a specific operation; an intermittent mechanism (100, 200) that interacts with movement of the at least one movable member and assumes a specific state once every two times that the at least one movable member moves to the third position; and a switch (SW1) that, in response to the specific state, is switched from a disconnected state or a connected state to the other thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus (1) for opening and closing a lid (lid body) of a vehicle includes a linearly-movable shaft (10) supported by a housing (90) such that the shaft (10) is linearly movable along, and nonrotatable around, an axial center (X10); and a rotary shaft (30) supported by the linearly-movable shaft (10) such that it is linearly movable along and rotatable around the axial center (X10). A stopper (50) is supported by the housing (90) and is displaceable between a blocking position at which the stopper (50) prohibits the linearly-movable shaft (10) from moving from a second position to a first position, and a nonblocking position at which the stopper (50) is separated from the linearly-movable shaft (10). The stopper (50) is biased toward the blocking position and displaces to the nonblocking position in response to a manual opening operation for displacing the lid to the open position.

Abstract: An apparatus (1) for opening and closing a lid (lid body) of a vehicle includes a linearly-movable shaft (10) supported by a housing (90) such that the shaft is linearly movable along, and nonrotatable around, an axial center (X10); and a rotary shaft (30) supported by the shaft such that it is linearly movable along and rotatable around the axial center. A stopper mechanism (50, 60) selectively blocks or permits the shaft to move from moving from a second position to a first position. The shaft has a main body (11) disposed within the rotary shaft (30) and an elastic body (80) provided on a terminal end portion of the main body (11). The elastic body includes a cushioning part (81) on a tip, a sealing part (83) around the main body, and a connecting part (85) connecting the cushioning part to the sealing part within the main body.

Abstract: A vehicle door lock apparatus has a first housing superimposed on a second housing that includes a base wall, a first concave wall projecting from the base wall, an engaging part formed in or on the first concave wall, and an opening that provides a path from the outside into an inner housing chamber. A transmission cable includes an inner cable slidably housed in an outer cable. A portion of the inner cable is exposed from a first end of the outer cable, passes through the opening, and is coupled to a rotatable element disposed in the inner housing chamber via a linkage. A casing cap that surrounds an end of the outer cable has a contact part that contacts the first concave wall in a second direction and an engaged part that engages with the engaging part in the second direction when the contact part contacts the first concave wall.

Abstract: A vehicle door lock apparatus (1) includes latch and actuating housings (9, 7) that are fixed between outer and inner panels (3, 4) of a vehicle door (2). A connector fitting section (80C) is exposed through an open window (4H) in the inner panel (4) toward a vehicle interior side of the inner panel (4). A movable member (50) includes a second end (52) that projects out of the actuating housing (7), passes through an opening (80H) in the actuating housing (7) and also passes through the open window (4H) toward the vehicle interior side, where it is coupled to a link member (C3). The connector fitting section (80C) and the opening (80H) are covered by a single umbrella-shaped blocking member (89) that contacts the actuating housing (7) and the inner panel (4) around at least an upper side of the peripheral edge of the open window (4H).

Abstract: A vehicle door lock apparatus (1) includes a latch housing (9), a latch mechanism (8), an actuating housing (7), and an actuating mechanism (6). The actuating housing (7) includes a first housing (70) made of resin joined to a second housing (80) made of resin, thereby forming a housing chamber (7A). The first housing (70) includes at least one projection (75P, 75Q, 75R, and 75S) that extends toward the second housing (80) from a proximal end (75A) to a distal end (75B). The second housing 80 includes at least one receptacle (85P, 85Q, 85R, and 85S) having a contact part (85A) welded to the distal end (75B).

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.

Abstract: An operation device (1) includes first bases (81A, 81B) and/or second bases (72A, 72B) that are elastically deformable in the direction of a pivot axis (X1) so that a shaft (120) can be inserted into a shaft hole (110). A first protrusion (121) is formed on a distal end portion of the shaft and projects radially outward from an outer sliding surface (120E). The first bases (81A, 81B) include a first escape section (111) recessed radially outward from an inner sliding surface (110E). The first escape section allows the first protrusion to pass through the first base when the shaft is being inserted into the shaft hole with an operation member (80) located in an initial position. A first slip-off preventing section (113) circumferentially adjacent to the first escape section prevents the shaft from coming out of the shaft hole when the operation member is pivoted from the initial position to an end position.

Abstract: A vehicle door lock apparatus includes housings respectively having a housing chamber and a latch chamber formed therein, a latch mechanism housed in the latch chamber and being configured to retain a door closed with respect to a vehicle frame, and an actuating mechanism housed in the housing chamber for actuating the latch mechanism. A first and a second switch are housed in one of the latch chamber and the housing chamber, and respectively detect states of the actuating mechanism and the latch mechanism. A plurality of terminals is arranged in a first row and a second row in the housing. The first switch is connected to terminals in the first row and the second switch is connected to terminals in the second row such that the plurality of terminals is sandwiched by the first switch and the second switch.

Abstract: In a vehicle door lock apparatus, when disposed in an unlocking position, a second lever enables a fork to be displaced to an unlatched position and, in a locking position, it disables the fork from being displaced to the unlatched position. Third levers displace the second lever from the locking position to the unlocking position in response to an unlocking operation being performed on a lock operator and displace the second lever from the unlocking position to the locking position in response to a locking operation being performed on the lock operator. In an unblocking position, a fourth lever linked to the fork separates from the second lever. In a blocking position, the fourth lever contacts the second lever and blocks it from being displaced to the locking position. A fifth lever is linked with the fourth lever, detects the position of the fork, and disconnects or connects a switch.

Abstract: A cable apparatus is disposed between a handle and an actuator to transmit movement of the handle to the actuator. The handle includes a handle housing defining a housing chamber and an operation lever supported by the handle housing so as to be pivotable about a first axis. The cable apparatus includes a case housed in the housing chamber, a cable having a first end disposed in the case and a second end connected to the actuator, and a link lever supported by the case so as to be pivotable about a second axis. The link lever is connected to the first end of the cable in the case, and is displaceable by pivoting the operation lever.

Abstract: A vehicle door lock apparatus includes a housing, a fork in the housing, a pawl selectively preventing pivoting movement of the fork, a first lever having one end coupleable to a door handle and a second lever pivotably supported at a second end of the first lever and shiftable from a first position to a second position by application of inertial force. When the first lever pivots and the second lever is in the first position the second lever comes into contact with the pawl and releases the fork and when the second lever is in the second position it moves with the first lever independently of the pawl. A third lever selectively places the second lever in the second position and a retention device prevents the second lever from moving the pawl when first lever moves and the third lever is holding the second lever in the second position.

Abstract: A switching mechanism of vehicle door lock device includes a pivotable first lever and a second lever that pivotably acts on a pawl. An inertial lever is provided on the first lever and is pivotable about an axis (X3) from an initial position when an inertial force is applied thereto. A transmitting portion is provided on the second lever and transmits the pivotal movement of the first lever to the second lever when the inertial lever is disposed in its initial position. In contrast, the transmitting portion does not transmit the pivotal movement of the first lever to the second lever when the inertial lever has been pivoted away from its initial position. A first axial center of pivotal movement of the first lever and a second axial center of pivotal movement of the second lever are coaxial axial centers of pivotal movement (X1).

Abstract: A closing mechanism of a vehicle door lock apparatus includes a drive, a pivoting body, a close lever, a transmitting member, and a cancel lever. The pivoting body is driven by the drive to pivot when a fork is disposed in a half latched position. The transmitting member is displaceable between an engaging position, where the transmitting member regulates relative displacement of the close lever and the pivoting body, and a releasing position where the transmitting member allows relative displacement. The cancel lever pivots independently of an open lever and displaces the transmitting member to the releasing position. The close lever displaces the fork to a latched position through the pivoting of the pivoting body when the transmitting member is in the engaging position. The close lever does not contact the fork irrespective of the pivoting of the pivoting body when the transmitting member is in the releasing position.

Abstract: A latch mechanism of a vehicle seat reclining device includes a plurality of latch holes formed in a rail along a central axial line, a slider hole penetrating through a slider so as to face the respective latch holes, a support portion provided on the slider, and a movable portion displaceably supported by the support portion and having a latch projection that is engageable with the respective latch holes while passing through the slider hole. A clearance is defined in the direction of the central axial line between the slider hole and the latch projection. One or more shock absorbing members is (are) provided on opposing first and second inner surfaces of the slider hole and abut against the latch projection while being resiliently deformed to suppress the generation of undesirable rattling noise in case a force causes the latch projection to oscillate within the engaged latch hole.

Abstract: A vehicle door lock apparatus includes a housing, a fork in the housing, a pawl selectively preventing pivoting movement of the fork, a first lever having one end coupleable to a door handle and a second lever pivotably supported at a second end of the first lever and shiftable from a first position to a second position by application of inertial force. When the first lever pivots and the second lever is in the first position the second lever comes into contact with the pawl and releases the fork and when the second lever is in the second position it moves with the first lever independently of the pawl. A third lever selectively places the second lever in the second position and a retention device prevents the second lever from moving the pawl when first lever moves and the third lever is holding the second lever in the second position.

Abstract: A switching lever of a vehicle door lock device includes a lever main body, an inertial lever having a mass body pivotably disposed on the lever main body so as to be pivotable from its initial position about a pivot, and a torsion coil spring disposed between the lever main body and the inertial lever and biasing the inertial lever towards its initial position. If the inertial lever is disposed in its initial position and is displaced integrally with the lever main body, the inertial lever will press a pawl, thereby causing a fork to switch to an unlocked position. However, if an inertial force greater than a pre-determined value acts on the mass body, the inertial lever will pivot from its initial position in a direction opposite of the interial force and avoid pressing the pawl, such that the fork is maintained in a locked state.

Abstract: A latch mechanism of a vehicle seat reclining device includes a plurality of latch holes formed in a rail along a central axial line, a slider hole penetrating through a slider so as to face the respective latch holes, a support portion provided on the slider, and a movable portion displaceably supported by the support portion and having a latch projection that is engageable with the respective latch holes while passing through the slider hole. A clearance is defined in the direction of the central axial line between the slider hole and the latch projection. One or more shock absorbing members is (are) provided on opposing first and second inner surfaces of the slider hole and abut against the latch projection while being resiliently deformed to suppress the generation of undesirable rattling noise in case a force causes the latch projection to oscillate within the engaged latch hole.

Abstract: A switching mechanism of vehicle door lock device includes a pivotable first lever and a second lever that pivotably acts on a pawl. An inertial lever is provided on the first lever and is pivotable about an axis (X3) from an initial position when an inertial force is applied thereto. A transmitting portion is provided on the second lever and transmits the pivotal movement of the first lever to the second lever when the inertial lever is disposed in its initial position. In contrast, the transmitting portion does not transmit the pivotal movement of the first lever to the second lever when the inertial lever has been pivoted away from its initial position. A first axial center of pivotal movement of the first lever and a second axial center of pivotal movement of the second lever are coaxial axial centers of pivotal movement (X1).

Abstract: A vehicle seat reclining device comprises a latch mechanism having latch holes defined in a rail along a central axial line, a slider hole penetrating through a slider so as to be alignable with the latch holes, a support portion slidably supported on the slider, and a lever coupled to the support portion so as to be pivotable about an axis that is substantially parallel to the central axial line. A latch claw is extends from the lever and is engageable with the respective latch holes via the slider hole. A first amount of play is provided between the support portion and the lever in a direction parallel to the central axial line. A second amount of play, which is less than the first amount play, is provided between the slider hole and the latch claw in the direction parallel to the central axial line.