Abstract: Motor vehicle door lock having a means of locking/unlocking the lock from the outside and an electric actuator (50) for controlling the means of locking/unlocking from the outside. In particular, the means of locking/unlocking from the outside is a central locking/unlocking wheel (20) with which all the means (22, 38, 40) of controlling the locking/unlocking of the lock from the outside cooperate. Also, the wheel can be rotated by the electric actuator (50).

Abstract: A door lock system has a closing mechanism for bringing an ajar condition of a door into a fully closed condition. The fully closed condition of the door is locked for the sake of safety by the locking operation of a locking-and-unlocking mechanism. The locked condition of the door is released by an unlocking operation of the locking-and-unlocking mechanism. Moreover, by actuating a double lock mechanism, the door under the locked condition is further brought into a double-looked condition under which the unlocking operation of the locking-and-unlocking mechanism cannot be established. The closing mechanism, the locking and-unlocking mechanism, and the double lock mechanism are driven by a common electric motor thus allowing the door lock mechanism to be reduced in size and manufactured less expensively.

Abstract: A door lock assembly having a reduced size. The door lock assembly comprises: a closer mechanism for bringing a vehicle door from a partially closed state to a completely closed state; a locking/unlocking mechanism for bringing the vehicle door in the completely closed state to a locked state and an unlocked state; and a drive mechanism including a single motor acting as a drive source for actuating the closer mechanism and the locking/unlocking mechanism.

Abstract: A lock actuator mechanism for vehicle doors, especially rear passenger doors has a child safety facility and provision for locking the door even if powered actuation is inoperative. A main power driven locking lever rocks between its locked and unlocked condition with respect to a T-shaped driven output lever, one arm of which has a longitudinal slot. Co-axial with the T-shaped driven output lever is a drive input lever operated by the interior door handle and having an L-shaped slot. A drive dog pin is received in both slots and linked to a security actuator lever co-axial with the main power driven locking lever. The security actuator lever can be shifted by a button accessible only when the door is open and can be set to shift the dog pin into the lateral part of L-shaped slot disabling the interior door handle for child safety.

Abstract: A lock, in particular for motor vehicle doors or the like, having a rotary latch which can be locked via a pawl and can be released by the pawl. For this purpose, a release force acts or does not act on the pawl via a coupling member movable by an actuator as a function of commands by an operator. The coupling member can be moved by the actuator into at least three positions.

Abstract: A door open/close detector is incorporated in a door lock device. The door lock device includes a case, a latch plate pivotally connected to the case to pivot between a latch position to latch a striker and an open position to release the striker, and a lock plate pivotally connected through a shaft to the case to pivot between a lock position to lock the latch plate in the latch position and an unlock position to unlock the latch plate. The door open/close detector includes a switch connected to the case. The switch includes a given surface and a detecting pin. The detecting pin is axially movable in both directions thereby to cause a head thereof to be retractable into and protrusible from the given surface. The detecting pin turns the switch ON and OFF in response to the axial movement thereof. An actuating lever is connected to the lock plate to pivot therewith and has a pin actuating portion.

Abstract: A motor vehicle door lock has a rotary latch with a holding recess formed in it. The rotary latch has a main catch with a catch surface formed on it. A key collar has a pin that is adapted to be received in the holding recess. A pivotally mounted detent pawl is biased in an engagement direction and has a catch lever having an opposing catch surface formed on it which is adapted to engage the catch surface of the main catch in a catch position. The catch lever and a support lever are pivotally mounted on an axle to pivot with respect to one another about an axis in the catch position in which the detent pawl is biased by a spring element into an extended position. An actuating element is disposed on the rotary latch, and the spring element cooperates with the actuating element to bias the detent pawl into the extended position when said actuating element engages the spring element.

Abstract: A vehicle door latch device comprises a locking lever displaceable between locked and unlocked positions, an antitheft member displaceable between an antitheft position for disabling an unlocking operation of an inside locking button and an antitheft cancelling position, a motor for changing the locking lever into the locked position by a predetermined amount of normal rotation thereof and for changing the antitheft member into the antitheft position by a continuous normal rotation thereof beyond the predetermined amount, a controller for carrying out a locking operation and an antitheft operation, and a power supplying circuit having a normal rotation circuit for supplying power to the motor for normal rotation and a brake circuit for causing the motor to generate electrical brake. The motor is connected to the brake circuit after the locking lever is changed into the locked position by the locking operation.

Abstract: A motor-vehicle door latch has a metallic mounting plate, latching elements mounted on the plate and operable to secure a door carrying the latch in a closed position, a latch mechanism connected to the elements for operating same, and a plastic housing. The housing has a part fixed to the metallic mounting plate and a cover surrounding the mechanism and elements and formed with a plurality of mounting pockets. A plurality of conductors imbedded in the cover have exposed ends at least some of which are exposed in each of the pockets. An electrical drive unit fixed in one of the pockets of the housing is connected to the exposed ends in the respective pocket and is connected to the mechanism. At least one switch operable by the mechanism is mounted in another of the pockets and connected to the exposed ends in the respective pocket.

Abstract: A power-operated vehicle door locking assembly including separate inner and outer door locking mechanisms connected with a housing assembly and an electric motorized system operable to selectively move (1) the inner door locking mechanism between an inoperative and an inner door locking position in response to inner manual electric motor energizing actuations and (2) the outer door locking mechanism between an inoperative and an outer door locking positions in response to outer manual electric motor energizing actuations. The arrangement is such that an outer manual electric motor energizing actuation without a corresponding inner manual electric motor energizing actuation causes a door latching assembly when in a door latching position to be incapable of being moved into a door unlatching position by an outer door latch releasing mechanism while at the same time the door latching assembly is capable of being moved into the door unlatching position thereof by an inner door latch releasing mechanism.

Abstract: An automotive door latching system can include a first latch for locking one vehicle door, a second latch for locking a second vehicle door, and an electric switch controlled by the first switch for supplying current to an electrically-operated latch release means associated with the second latch. The latching system requires that the first latch be in the door release state before the second latch can be moved to the door release state. Consequently the doors are openable only in a predetermined sequence.

Abstract: A lock device, in particular for doors of motor vehicles, has lock elements such as at least a rotary latch and a pawl, wherein at least one lock element (a pawl) can be connected via connecting elements with at least one handle or such connection can be eliminated. An actuator device has a cam disk of the lock device, the connection being made or eliminated as a function of the cam disk.

Abstract: A vehicle closure has a power operated compartment latch that includes a stop lever and an eccentric roller on an electric motor driven wheel. The stop lever is moved to a by-pass position automatically cocking the compartment latch when the compartment latch is latched. The eccentric roller then by-passes the stop lever and unlatches the compartment latch when the electric motor is energized. The stop lever is moved to a stop position when the compartment latch is unlatched to automatically reset the compartment latch.

Abstract: A door lock system for a vehicle of which a striker, a first switch and a manual switching mechanism are mounted to the vehicle door and a first latch, a first motor, a second latch, a second motor, a second switch and a key cylinder are mounted to the vehicle body. When the key cylinder mounted to the vehicle body is switched to an unlock side, the second switch rotates the second motor, but the second latch remains engaged with the first latch. When after that the first switch is turned on by the manual switching mechanism on the door side, the first motor rotates and the first latch releases the striker.

Abstract: A motor vehicle door lock or the like including a housing with a detent pawl including a lock catch, a dynamic actuation linkage extending from an outside door handle and an inside door handle to the detent pawl, and a controller including a control disk with a plurality of peripherally located control cams, each of the control cams corresponding to a respective one of a plurality of functional positions including "locked", "unlocked", and optionally, "theft-proof" and "child-proof" positions. The lock also includes actuating elements in a control segment of the dynamic actuation linkage which is disengaged unless it is made engaged by coupling of the actuating elements by the action of one of the various control cams on the control disk.

Abstract: A closing device, in particular for vehicle doors or the like, having at least one manipulator which, with the interpositioning of a coupling device via connecting elements to a lock element can be driven by a setting drive, in particular a pawl when the setting device is activated, a transmission of force can take place from the at least one manipulator to the lock element over the coupling device which has a setting device.

Abstract: A vehicle door latch has a rotatable forkbolt that is latched by a detent in a primary or an intermediate secondary latch position. The detent is operated via an intermittent lever that is operated by a transfer lever that is actuated by inside and outside door handles via suitable mechanical linkage. The door latch includes a locking lever that disables the door handles from operating the intermittent lever when it is in the locked position. The door latch also includes a cinching mechanism that automatically engages the forkbolt in the primary latch position when the intermediate secondary latch position is reached. The cinching mechanism includes a link that has one end connected to a cinch pawl and another end connected to the latch assembly. The link pulls on the pawl to disengage it from a cinching gear to allow the cinching gear to return to the standby or home position during an unlatching operation.

Abstract: A vehicle door latch has a locking mechanism and an unlatching mechanism that cooperate so that the door latch can be unlocked when the unlatching operation is initiated prematurely.

Abstract: A door closing system for locking and unlocking a door using a single actuator has a motor, a latch to be engaged with a door striker and a driving cam for driving the latch. An output shaft of the motor is disposed in parallel with a shaft which rotatably holds the latch and the driving cam, thereby reducing an installment space of the latch and the driving cam. Further, the actuator has plural reduction gears rotated by the motor, and a pattern is disposed on a surface of one of the reduction gears. First to third contacts are disposed to slide on the pattern, thereby producing detection signals of a rotation position of the reduction gear. An operation state of the door closing system is detected according to the detected rotation position of the reduction gear. Thus, the door closing system can be controlled accurately with a single detection sensor.

Abstract: A door lock device comprises a latch plate pivotally connected to the body and a pawl member pivotally connected through a pivot shaft to the body and engageable with the latch plate to retain the same in given positions. The pawl member is secured to the pivot shaft to move therewith. An open lever is secured to the pivot shaft so that the open lever and the pawl member pivot like a single unit. A detecting lever is pivotally connected to the pivot shaft. A first structure is provided for pivoting the detecting lever in a first direction to a given position only when the open lever is pivoted in the first direction. A second structure is provided for retaining the detecting lever in the given position even when the open lever is pivoted back in a second direction opposite to the first direction. A detecting switch is actuated by the detecting lever when the latter comes to the given position.

Abstract: A vehicle door latch mechanism (10) having an improved double lock assembly (34). The present double lock assembly (34) is disposed between the latch handle assembly (30) and the latching assembly (26). In the un-double locked configuration, the double lock (34) allows motion transfer from the latch handle assembly (30) to the latching assembly (26) by extending the secondary intermittent member (36). In the double locked configuration, the double lock (34) retracts the secondary intermittent member (36) to prevent motion transfer between the latch handle assembly (30) and the latching assembly (26), preventing any unlatching of the door (12) even if the lock assembly (32) is in the unlocked configuration.

Abstract: A sliding door locking device has a fully opened condition locking mechanism and a fully closed condition locking mechanism for locking a sliding door to a vehicle body when the sliding door is at its fully opened position and fully closed position, respectively. When an inside handle is rotated in one direction for closing the sliding door, the inside handle is connected only to the fully opened condition locking mechanism for releasing the fully opened condition locking mechanism. On the other hand, when the inside handle is rotated in the other direction for opening the sliding door, the inside handle is connected to both the fully opened condition locking mechanism and the fully closed condition locking mechanism for releasing both.

Abstract: A vehicle door latch has a latching mechanism and stiffness adjustment mechanism disposed in a housing. The housing includes a fishmouth slot for receiving a striker. The latching mechanism includes a fork bolt that moves between a latching position and an unlatching position. The fork bolt has a throat that is aligned with the throat of the housing for receiving the striker when the fork bolt is in the unlatching position and that captures the striker when the fork bolt is in the latching position. An overslam bumper has an elastomeric portion located at a rearward end of the housing slot. The elastomeric portion engages the striker and biases the striker against a surface of the throat of the fork bolt when the striker is captured. The elastomeric portion is preloaded by the stiffness adjustment mechanism that includes a flexible portion of the housing, an expandable bushing, a nut that slides in the bushing for expanding the bushing and an adjustment screw that screws into the nut.

Abstract: A vehicle door latch has a forkbolt, a detent that holds the forkbolt in a latched position, a release mechanism that moves the detent to release the forkbolt, a lock mechanism for disabling the release mechanism, an inside lock lever for operating the lock mechanism and a double lock for disabling the inside lock lever. The detent is moved by an intermittent lever that is part of the release mechanism and part of the locking mechanism. A composite lock lever forming part of the lock mechanism moves the intermittent lever back and forth between an unlock position where the intermittent lever drives the detent to release the forkbolt and a lock position where the intermittent lever free wheels with respect to the detent. The intermittent lever is pivotally connected to an unlatching lever of the release mechanism that is operated by inside and outside release levers.

Abstract: A vehicle door latch has a selectively engaged security lock that prevents a vehicle door from being unlatched by an inside door handle. The security lock overrides the door lock when the inside door handle is operated with the security lock engaged so that the vehicle door latch may be unlocked from inside the vehicle easily when the security lock is engaged.

Abstract: Lock comprising a rotary latch and a pawl for retaining the latch; external opening control rod and internal opening control rod for acting on the pawl by way of an intermediate lever and an electric drive. The intermediate lever has one end connected to the pawl. The lever being articulated in such a way as to be able to pivot at least about two different axes forming an angle between them. A pivoting of the lever about a first direction permits the locking function to be performed, a pivoting of the lever about the second direction permits the child safety function to be performed, and a combined pivoting of the lever about the first and second directions permits the double-locking function to be performed, so that the electric drive has only to control two movements in order to execute the three functions: locking, child safety and double-locking.

Abstract: An automotive door lock device comprises an open lever pivotal between a door latch position and a door unlatch position. The open lever has an engaging lug. A lock/unlock lever is pivotal between lock and unlock positions. A release lever is pivotal between first and second positions. A first sub-lever has one end pivotally connected to the release lever and the other end pivotally connected to the lock/unlock lever. A second sub-lever has one end pivotally connected to the first sub-lever and the other end formed with an actuating arm. The actuating arm is engageable with the engaging lug of the open lever. A spring is used for biasing the second sub-lever toward the first sub-lever.

Abstract: A vehicle door latch device comprises a longitudinal open link having an upper end connected to an open lever and a lower end connected to a lock lever. The open link is displaced into a locked position when it moves toward an exterior side of a latch body and is not overlapped with a raised portion of the latch body. A self-canceling lever is attached to the latch body by a first shaft and has a first arm connected to an ratchet pin and a second arm extending toward the open link. The second arm restores the open link to an unlocked position by when a ratchet is rotated by a contact with a latch. The first shaft is located on an exterior side of the ratchet pin. The second arm is overlapped with the open link when the open link is in the locked position.

Abstract: A latch plate pivots between a latch position wherein the latch plate engages with the striker and an open position wherein the latch plate releases the striker. A pawl member pivots between an engaging position wherein the pawl member engages with the latch plate to restrain the latch plate in the latch position and a releasing position wherein the pawl member disengages from the latch plate. A holding lever pivots while incorporating with the latch plate and the pawl member. The holding lever includes a holding portion which is engageable with the pawl member to restrain the pawl member in the releasing position and an arm portion against which a projected part of the latch plate abuts to pivot the holding lever in a direction to disengage the holding portion from the pawl member when the latch plate is pivoted from the latch position toward the open position.

Abstract: A vehicle door latch has a locking mechanism and a latching mechanism and inside and outside handle levers for unlatching the vehicle door latch. Each handle lever cooperates with the locking mechanism and the latching mechanism independently of the other so that the vehicle door latch can be unlocked and unlatched by one handle lever when the other handle lever is stuck in an unlatched position.

Abstract: A door lock assembly has a slide pin (9) slidably supported to an door opening lever (4), a first oblong hole (52) formed in a locking lever (5) and inserting the slide pin (9), and a window like opening (31) formed in the lift lever (3), inserting the slide pin (9) and provided with a projection (31a) capable of restricting a slide motion of the slide pin (9), wherein a position of the slide pin (9) with respect to the opening (31) is changed in correspondence to an operation of the door opening lever (4) and the locking lever (5), thereby engaging and disengaging the pawl (7) with the latch (6), and engaging and disengaging a connection between the door opening lever (4) with the lift lever (3).

Abstract: A security door latching mechanism and complementary receiver are arranged to be installed within a door and a complementary door jamb. In the preferred embodiment, the installation takes place in a vehicle and the latching mechanism can be installed either in the door or in the door frame or jamb. The latching mechanism includes a plunger shaft which is arranged to extend from the door jamb into the receiver, and is forcibly maintained in the extended position until retracted by an electrical current provided to an actuator. This actuator is spring-driven to keep the plunger shaft in an extended position until provided with an electrical power to retract the plunger shaft. A wedge-shaped guide forces the plunger shaft to slide to the recess when the door is being closed. It is necessary to constantly maintain the electric power to the actuator in order to keep the plunger shaft retracted.

Abstract: An outer door handle structure is operated as a directly operating system wherein an engaging piece of an unlocking lever for unlocking a door is directly depressed by the tip portion of an operating lever mounted on an outer door handle via an arm portion, so that any transmission mechanisms such as a rod can be omitted unlike conventional indirect operating systems. The arm portion has an inclined portion on which the engaging piece of the unlocking lever can slide up when a load is applied to the outer door handle from the outside.The outer door handle may have a pair of arm portions spaced at an interval in a horizontal direction. One of the arm portions has a preset quantity of rotational stroke necessary to unlock the door, and the other arm portion has a greater quantity of rotational stroke than that of the one arm portion by forming a recessed portion in the other arm portion or the like.

Abstract: An automotive door latch device comprises a latch rotatably mounted to a latch body by a latch shaft and engageable with a striker, a ratchet rotatably mounted to the body by a ratchet shaft and engageable with the latch, an opening mechanism for releasing the ratchet from the latch for opening the door, a lock lever switched between an unlocked position and a locked position, a block lever rotatably mounted to the latch body by a block shaft and engaging with the lock lever when the latch is in an unlatched position so as to prevent the lock lever from moving from the unlocked position to the locked position. The latch, the ratchet and the block lever are arranged on the same plane. The block lever and the ratchet are arranged along a lateral direction of the latch body.

Abstract: Actuator for vehicle door locks provides powered shifting of a mechanism component while permitting manual operation thereof. A motor powers a driver annulus having internal teeth and notches in respective axial zones with each tooth being diametrically opposite a notch. A spring-loaded index across the annulus interior has a tail co-acting with the notches and a head co-acting with the teeth and is guided by fixed structure that it can only move angularly to displace the component to which it is linked, by indexing past a tooth when its tail is in a notch. Powered movement of the annulus causes the teeth to selectively shift the index, but manual displacement of the component causes the index to spring past the relevant tooth.

Abstract: An apparatus for perfectly closing a door of a vehicle basically comprising a latch, a pawl, a motor, an active lever, a latch lever, a pawl switch, and a latch switch. The door closing begins with the action of the latch moving from the door half-closed to the closed position an shown by the switching off of the pawl switch with the latch switch turning on. The electric motor activates upon detecting the door half-closed position and stops when the closed position is reached.

Abstract: A security door latching mechanism and complementary receiver are arranged to be installed within a door and a complementary doorjamb. In the preferred embodiment, the installation takes place in a vehicle and the latching mechanism can be installed either in the door or in the door frame or jamb. The latching mechanism includes a plunger shaft which is arranged to extend from the doorjamb into the receiver, and is forcibly maintained in the extended position until retracted by an electrical current provided to an actuator. This actuator is spring-driven to keep the plunger shaft in an extended position until provided with an electrical power to retract the plunger shaft. It is necessary to constantly maintain the electric power to the actuator in order to keep the plunger shaft retracted.

Abstract: A door member locking/unlocking apparatus comprises a motor for driving an output shaft rotationally, and a latch rotatably hinged in a position to engage with a striker for retaining a door member in a closed state and urged in a direction to disengage from the striker. A first ratchet regulates the latch in a partially latched position and in a fully latched position. A second ratchet turns the latch from the partially latched position to the fully latched position. An engaging pin provided on the first ratchet releases the retention of the latch in the fully latched position by the first ratchet. A cam is arranged to have an axis of rotation in parallel with that of the latch. The cam is rotationally driven by the motor for actuating the second ratchet and the engaging pin.

Abstract: A powered closing device for a vehicle door comprises a latch engageable with a striker, a ratchet for maintaining the engagement between the latch and the striker, an output member rotated by a motor when the latch comes into a half-latched position, an intermediate lever connected to the latch for displacing the latch from the half-latched position to a full-latched position, a connecting member provided between the output member and the intermediate lever, a cancelling lever having a first arm connected to an opening handle of the door and a second arm in which a cancelling cam surface is formed. The cancelling cam surface is brought into contact with the connecting member to disconnect the output member and the intermediate lever when the opening handle is operated. The cancelling cam surface is overlapped with the output member when the opening handle is not operated and moved in a direction apart from the first shaft when the opening handle is operated.

Abstract: A motor vehicle gate lock having a lock catch (2) which can be shifted from an open position into a catch position and vice versa, a detent pawl (5) which holds the lock catch (2) in the catch position by catching, and a spring (7) which pretensions the lock catch (2) and detent pawl (5) relative to one another. The detent pawl (5) has an actuating surface (11) for the lock catch (2) at a distance from a catch projection (9) of the detent pawl. There is an electric motor drive (13) with a drive element (14) and a driving lug (16) that located off-center relative to the axis of rotation of the drive element. The driving lug (16) touches the actuating surface (11) by rotation of the drive element (14) in one direction and then lifts the catch projection (9) of the detent pawl (5) out of a catch projection (10) of the lock catch (2) which, in the open position, keeps the detent pawl (5) in a raised position.

Abstract: A motor-vehicle door latch has a housing, a latching fork pivotal on the housing, and a release pawl pivotal on the housing between a latched position retaining the fork in a latched position engaged around a bolt and securing a motor-vehicle door closed and an unlatched position in which the fork can release the bolt and allow the door to open. An inside door handle can move between a center rest position, an end open position, and an end lock position. A bowden cable has a sheath fixed to the housing and a core having a pair of ends one of which is attached to the handle for displacement of another end of the core jointly with the door handle. A locking lever can pivot between a locked position and an unlocked position.

Abstract: A vehicle door latch has a rotatable fork bolt that is latched by a detent in primary or an intermediate secondary latch position. The detent is operated via an intermittent lever that is operated by a transfer lever that is actuated by inside and outside door handles via suitable mechanical linkage. The door latch includes a locking lever that disables the door handles from operating the intermittent lever when it is in the locked position. The door latch also includes a cinching mechanism that automatically engages the fork bolt in the primary latch position when the intermediate secondary latch position is reached. The cinching mechanism shifts out of the way responsive to an unlatching operation to provide a fail-safe feature.

Abstract: A deck lid may be released via rotation of a latch release shaft. A pinion gear is operably connected with the release shaft for rotating the release shaft. An electric motor has a gear meshing with the pinion gear and is energizable to rotate the pinion gear. An electrical switch is located inside the vehicle for energizing the electric motor. According to the invention, a blocking member is movably mounted on the latch and movable between a normal disengaged position, permitting rotation of the pinion gear by the motor, and a blocking position in which the blocking member engages the pinion gear to block rotation thereof by the electric motor. In a preferred embodiment, the blocking member is slidably mounted on the latch and the pinion gear has a toothed periphery with a cutout into which the blocking member is slid to block rotation of the pinion gear, thereby causing the motor to stall.

Abstract: A passenger vehicle door latch assembly includes inhibiting means for preventing accidental setting of the latch to locked condition while the door is open. A resiliently loaded plunger is guided in fixed structure between a blocking position at which a head or other stop formation of the plunger prevents shifting of an element of a locking mechanism to its locked position and a free position at which locking can take place. The plunger co-acts with a face of a claw or other latch formation or with a face of a pawl or other retention element whenever the latter formation or element are not in their door securing relationship so preventing movement of the plunger from the blocking position until the door is closed.

Abstract: A process for triggering a electrically actuated motor vehicle door lock by a mechanical or electromechanical actuating handle. In this process, triggering takes place such that the electric motor drive always returns to an initial rest position after initial triggering and that actuation of the actuating handle for less than a minimum time does not trigger a switching function. Thus misactuations are unlikely. The operating characteristics of the motor vehicle door lock which is controlled using this process is matched as much as possible to the operating characteristics of mechanical or electromechanical motor vehicle door locks of conventional design. This facilitates acceptance among customers and prevents misoperations.

Abstract: A door latch assembly has a housing defining a mouth. A detent fork is pivotally mounted within the housing to cooperate with the mouth to pivot between an open and closed condition for receiving, engaging and cinching a keeper of a striker. The detent fork is biased in the open condition. A pivotally mounted pawl is biased into engagement with the detent fork for retaining the detent fork in the closed condition. A pivotally mounted inside release lever is movable between a stand-by position and a release position and biased to the stand-by position. A pivotally mounted outside release lever is movable between a stand-by position and a release position, and biased to the stand-by position. A pivotally mounted locking cam operably engages the pawl for positioning the pawl to selectively engage the release levers.

Abstract: A door latch for latching the vehicle door in the closed position includes a fork bolt pivotally mounted on the latch housing for movement between the latching position engaging a striker in an unlatching position to unlatch from the striker and permit opening of the door. A detent lever is pivotally mounted on the latch housing for movement between an engaging position engaging the fork bolt in its latching position and a disengaging position disengaged from the fork bolt to permit pivoting of the fork bolt to its unlatching position. A spring acts between the detent lever and the latch housing to urge the detent lever to the engaged position. A catch member is provided to retain the detent lever in the disengaged position and block pivoting movement of the detent member to the engaging position in response to absence of the spring.

Abstract: An automotive door latch device comprises a latch body having a horizontal passage into which a striker enters, a latch rotatably mounted to the latch body by a latch shaft, a ratchet rotatably mounted to the latch body by a ratchet shaft, a lock lever switched between an unlocked position and a locked position, a block lever rotatably mounted to the latch body by a block shaft and engaging with the lock lever when the latch is in an unlatched position to prevent the lock lever from moving from the unlocked position to the locked position. The latch and the ratchet is substantially arranged along a vertical direction. A straight line connecting the ratchet shaft and the block shaft is substantially in parallel to the horizontal passage of the latch body. The block lever is connected to the ratchet lever by a connection pin.

Abstract: For a mobile door or container, a lock that will hold firm against shock. The lock can be opened using a keypad to turn on a motor that disengages it, or manually, using a key. To disengage the lock, a shockproofer element of the lock includes components that must first be pivoted about one axis and components that must then be pivoted about a second, different axis, usually nearly perpendicular to the first axis. The lock resists opening under shock loading because the two pivoting rotations about different axes must be made to occur in a particular sequence, and cannot occur simultaneously.

Abstract: A vehicle door latch device comprises a latch assembly fixed to a vehicle back door and a motorized closure assembly attached to the latch assembly. The latch assembly includes a housing, a latch accommodated in the housing by a latch shaft, and a ratchet accomodated in the housing by a ratchet shaft. The motorized closure assembly has an electric motor and a rotating lever for displacing the latch from a half-latched position to a full-latched position. The latch has a latch arm which substantially extends toward an outer panel of the door and overlaps with a rotating locus of the rotating lever.