Abstract: The present invention includes a latch mechanism that couples a glove box door to an automobile console. The latch mechanism includes a locking rod that is movable from an engaged position to a disengaged position. In the engaged position, the locking rod lockingly engages the console of the automobile to prevent movement of the door. In the disengaged position the locking rod is removed from engagement with the console to selectively allow movement of the door to its open position. A connecting rod is coupled to a handle and the locking rod and is movable from a first position to a second position relative to the locking rod. In the first position the connecting rod is coupled to the locking rod to selectively move the locking rod into its engaged position upon movement of the handle into an unlocked position.

Abstract: A safety latch for securing doors, windows and the like includes a plunger slidably received within a housing and movable between extended and retracted positions. A first end of the plunger is freely available for engagement with a hole, recess, strikeplate, or the like externally of the housing, and a second end of the plunger within the housing includes a cam member. A retracting member is interconnected with the plunger through the use of an intermediate member located between and connected at its opposite ends to the plunger and the retracting member. Either a first end of the intermediate member or the retracting member includes a cam follower engageable with the cam member included on the plunger. When a force is applied to the retracting member to pull the plunger into the housing from the extended position toward the retracted position, the plunger is freely movable within the housing to the retracted position.

Abstract: An outside door handle assembly for an automobile includes a handle lever that follows the motion of an outside handle. When a transverse load in excess of a predetermined value acts upon the vehicle as the result of an impact at the side thereof, the handle lever is caused to swing in the transverse direction outwardly of the vehicle against the biasing force of a spring. As a result, an opening lever in a door lock device is placed in an inoperative state so that the door will not open accidentally during a side collision.

Abstract: A vehicle back door latch device has a striker fixed to a vehicle body, and a latch assembly fixed to a vehicle back door. The latch assembly comprises a main metal plate having a vessel-shaped storing portion for storing a latch, a sub metal plate fixed to the main metal plate so as to cover an upper opening of the storing portion. The storing portion is defined by a bottom wall, a front wall, a rear wall, a right-hand wall and a left-hand wall. A main notch portion and a sub notch portion are respectively formed in the bottom wall and the front wall for receiving the striker when the back door is closed. The rear wall is formed into an arc shape swelling backward. Engaging portions are respectively formed on both sides of the sub notch portion of the front wall, and studs which are engaged with the engaging portions when the back door is closed are fixed to the striker.

Abstract: An outside door handle assembly for a vehicle comprises a case mounted to a vehicle door, a handle rotatably supported by the case and having a grip portion and a pair of supporting arms extending from the grip portion, a balance weight, disposed between the pair of supporting arms in such a manner as to oppose the grip portion with respect to a rotational center of the handle, fixed to the pair of supporting arms at both ends thereof and having substantially the same weight as that of the grip portion, a shaft portion formed on one end of the balance weight and extending through one of the pair of supporting arm and an operation portion mounted to the shaft portion and connected to a door lock mechanism.

Abstract: A vehicle door latch device has an improved door-holding force. The device comprises a latch accommodated in a housing which has a parallel plate parallel to a rotational plane of the latch and an approach path formed on the parallel plate for receiving the striker. The parallel plate has a first plate and a second plate partitioned with the approach path as a boundary. The latch is attached to the first plate. The second plate has a raised portion projecting toward the latch, and the latch has a hook which is engageably opposed to the raised portion when the door is in a door-closed position.

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 motor-vehicle door latch has a latch housing formed with a recess open in an acceleration direction the latch is displaced in during a collision and, immediately adjacent the recess, with a blocking formation directed in the direction. A latching element is displaceable on the housing between a position retaining a door bolt and a position releasing the door bolt and a retaining pawl displaceable engageable with the latching element is pivotal on the housing between a retaining position holding the latching element in its retaining position and a freeing position releasing the latching element. An actuating lever pivotal on the housing is engageable with the pawl to move same into the freeing position. The actuating lever extends transversely of the acceleration.

Abstract: A door lock device for use with a striker, comprises a cover plate having an elongate cut into which the striker is insertable. A latch plate is pivotally connected to the cover plate, which is capable of taking a latching position wherein the latch plate is engaged with the striker. A locking plate is pivotally connected to the cover plate, which is capable of taking a locking position wherein the locking plate is engaged with the latch plate to restrain the same at the latching position. A reinforcing shaft is secured to the cover plate and has an enlarged flange formed on a leading end thereof. The above-mentioned parts are so arranged that at least a part of the locking plate is placed between the cover plate and the enlarged flange when the locking plate is in the locking position.

Abstract: An impact resistant vehicle door latch device comprises a locking mechanism provided on a metal back plate fixed to a latch body. The locking mechanism has an inner locking lever which has a first base portion rotatably mounted to the back plate by a metal supporting shaft and a first tip portion extending toward an interior side of a door for being connected to an inside lock button, and an outer locking lever which has a second base portion rotatably mounted to the back plate by the supporting shaft and a second tip portion extending toward an exterior side of the door for being connected to a key cylinder. The supporting shaft has a large-diameter cylindrical part which supports the inner and outer locking levers, and a substantially annular flange which is integrally formed with the cylindrical part and has a plane surface perpendicular to an axis of the supporting shaft. The annular flange is located between the first base portion and second base portion.

Abstract: A latch assembly for a glove box or similar compartment in a motor vehicle has a receptacle in which a slide is biased from an unlocked position toward a locked position. The receptacle has two side walls and, at the locked position of the slide, a notch in each side wall. The notches, together with the slide when it is in the locked position, define an enclosed passage for a striker to which the latch assembly is designed to be locked.

Abstract: A vehicle door latch device enclosed entirely within a vehicle door comprises a latch unit having a fork member which engages with a striker fixed to a vehicle body and a pawl which engages with the fork member for preventing the fork member from reversing, a power unit for turning the fork member from a half-latch position to a full-latch position, and a cable for transmitting power of the power unit to the fork member. The cable has a middle portion provided in vicinity of a bottom edge of the door, a first end portion which is provided in proximity of a rear edge of the door in such a manner as to extend nearly vertically, and a second end portion which extends almost parallel with the first end portion and is connected to the power unit.

Abstract: A loop striker for use with a vehicle closure latch having a rotatable fork bolt that traps a leg of the loop striker when the fork bolt is in a latched position includes a base having a pair of laterally spaced legs that is adapted for securement to a support, a cross bar that is spaced from the base and attached to the pair of laterally spaced legs, and a tab at one end of the cross bar that overhangs the trapped leg to prevent the fork bolt from walking around the corner of the loop at the end of the trapped leg.

Abstract: A motor vehicle lock for a motor vehicle closure member having a locking catch that is movable between an unlatched position and a latched position, a pawl for holding the locking catch in the latched position by latching engagement therewith, and a locking pin rotatably mounted on a carrier for rotation about an axis of rotation which is eccentric to a central axis thereof in which the locking pin is rotatable by a motor between a preliminary locking position and a main locking position and in which the pawl is disengageable from latching engagement with the locking catch by a dynamic effect derived from the rotation of locking pin from the main locking position in a direction toward the preliminary locking position, thereby releasing the locking catch. This dynamic effect is achieved, in accordance with preferred embodiments by a control flange on the locking pin which coacts with of the pawl.

Abstract: A lock striker unit comprises generally a striker and a plastic cover. The striker includes a base plate, a generally U-shaped rod secured to the base plate and a molded plastic material covering the rod to provide each shank portion of the same with a diametrically larger portion and a diametrically smaller groove portion. The groove portion is positioned near the base plate. The plastic cover is sized to cover a major surface of the base plate and has an elongate slit which is constructed to permit the U-shaped rod to pass therethrough. The elongate slit includes two circular openings connected through a thinner slit. Each circular opening is so sized as to make a latched engagement with the groove portion of the shank portion when the plastic cover is properly attached to the base plate.

Abstract: A lock for doors, hinged covers or the like, particularly on motor vehicles, having a rotary fork latch which captures a closure member and engages in closed position with a locking pawl. In order that the lock remain in a dependable closed position even in the event of the action of transverse forces, the rotary fork latch (8) and the locking pawl (14) are in a form-locked engagement which is active in the direction of the support pin of the rotary fork latch (8).

Abstract: A device which prevents separation of a doorjamb and door to provide security against forced entry into a building by an intruder. The device includes a doorjamb plate which is attached to the interior of a hollow metal door frame, and includes a retaining plate which is attached to the interior of a hollow metal door. A bolt head protruding from the doorjamb plate is engageable with a slotted groove in the retaining plate. When the door is closed, the retaining engagement of the bolt head with the slotted groove of the retaining plate prevents an intruder from using a tool such as a crowbar to pry the door open.

Abstract: A door chain-locking device comprises a door-frame side locking unit and a door side locking unit. The frame-side locking unit has a locking bolt for permanently securing thereon the fixed-end link of a chain and a case for fixing the locking bolt. The door-side locking unit has an engaging bolt operable to engage thereon one of the middle part's links of the chain fixed at its fixed end link to the door-frame side locking bolt and also to engage the free-ended link of the chain when the door is being closed and to be lifted out of engagement with the free-end link of the chain after disengagement of the middle part's link therefrom.

Abstract: A locking entry door latch equipped with a positive locking dead bolt and a latch bolt. The latch includes a housing, a sliding latch bolt mechanism, a sliding dead bolt mechanism, a center bolt to resist longitudinal loading, a strike assembly with a precatch that holds the door latched when it is not completely closed and a final catch for the latch bolt and dead bolt, a locking mechanism and inside and outside operating handles. Both the locking mechanism and the operating handles are independently operable from inside or outside the vehicle.

Abstract: A locking device for a vehicle is disclosed, which comprises a latch lever capable of being rotated in mesh with a striker being advanced, a locking lever for engaging with and thereby blocking the rotation of the latch lever, the latch lever and locking lever being pivotally mounted on a base plate, and a locking lever provided on the base plate for engaging with the side of the locking lever or latch lever opposite the base plate and thereby blocking the movement of the engaging lever away from the surface of the base plate.

Abstract: Apparatus deadlocking a door member to a door frame member, one of the members rigidly supporting a bolt to project freely in the direction of a first axis, for captivation by said mechanism, comprises:(a) a body attachable to the other member,(b) a rotary latching structure carried by the body to pivot about a second axis generally parallel to the first axis, the latching structure including a latch forming a recess to relatively receive the bolt as the members relatively close and so that the bolt pivots the latch about the second axis into full latching position, therby to deadlock the two members,(c) a confinement wall on the body to face and confine the bolt in the recess in full latching position,(d) the latching assembly including a latch dog,(e) and a blocking and unblocking part extending in co-operation with the body and movable from a first location in which the latch dog is blocked to prevent pivoting of the latch to release the bolt, to a second location in which the dog is unblocked, to allow la

Abstract: A lock for motor vehicle doors is described. The lock comprises a striker member arranged for engagement and disengagement by means comprised in a mechanism of said lock, the mechanism is supported by a first plate, and the striker member and means are disposed on a part fixed relative to the door and on the door respectively, or vice versa.The main feature of this lock is that said means comprise at least one pair of engagement members for said striker which are rotatable on pins, and the disengagement load exerted between said member and said means is opposed only by component forces passing substantially through the axis of said pins.

Abstract: Latching apparatus with anti-separation feature for use with closure covers, such as vehicle doors, including interlocking back plate of bolt and striker, the back plate being mounted on the door and having a flange at the outer end which engages behind the striker mounted on door frame, when in closed and latched position, and an aperture adjacent the outer end of the bolt to accommodate an outwardly extending tang on the edge of the striker which is lockingly engaged by the bolt, with a spacer between the striker and door frame to enable such engagement of striker by back plate flange, thereby assuring three-directional containment of the striker so as to prevent undesired separation of bolt from striker because of relative movements therebetween.

Abstract: A door-lock assembly for an automotive vehicle comprises a locking wedge on a post of the vehicular frame which upon closure of the door slides into a keeper on the outer door surface, this wedge being engageable by a pivoted catch in the keeper under the control of a latch mechanism within the door. Vertical play between the wedge and a guide channel of the keeper is equalized by a central wedge body of plastic material bearing elastically upon opposite edges of the channel through a pair of metallic yokes or by resilient tongues integral with that body.