US2240524A - Automobile door latch, etc. - Google Patents

Description

May (6, 1941. A. E. SMITH AUTOMOBILE DOOR LATCH, ETC- Filed Jan. 28, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet l y 6, 1941- A. E. SMITH 2,24,524

AUTOMOBILE DOOR LATCH, ETC

Filed Jan. 28, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 1. I k f y 6, 1941. A. E. SMITH 2,240,524

AUTOMOBILE DOOR LATCH, ETC

Filed Jan. 28, 1959' 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented May 6, 1941 AUTOMOBILE DOOR LATCH, ETC.

Arthur E. Smith, Brooklyn, N. Y., asslgnor to Bid-- Lok Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application January 28, 1939, Serial No. 253,418

4 Claims.

This invention relates to operating mechanism for door latches and the like and has particular reference to means for operating latch mechanism of automobile doors.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved operating mechanism of simple construction wherein the operating handle elements are countersunk or concealed with respect to the door, and in which certain elements of the operating mechanism are designed to move within the clearance space existing between the edge of the door glass well and the front stile of the door.

Other objects will be apparent from the description. While the instant disclosure is illustrative of means by which the invention is reduced to practice, it is to be understood that the structural details and arrangement of parts as shown and described may be varied as desired both as to arrangement and substitution in all respects not inconsistent with the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a fragmentary outside elevation of an automobile body of the four door type illustrating .the operating handle constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a horizontal section, partly in plan, taken through the rear door of Figure 1 at the horizontal plane or zone of the latch operating mechanism.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical transverse section taken on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective on an enlarged scale, of the latch bolt and certain of its associated parts.

Figure 5 is an elevation similar to Figure l but illustrating an alternative embodiment of the invention in which the exterior latch handles are concealed with respect to the outer wall of the automobile body.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken in the zone of the latch operating mechanism of the rear door shown in Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a vertical section taken on the line 1'l of Figure'fi.

Figure 8 is a vertical section taken substantially on the line 8-8 of Figure 6.

Figure 9 is a transverse vertical section taken substantially on the line 99 of Figure 6.

Figure 10is a fragmentary perspective on an enlarged scale illustrating a detail of the operating handle.

Figure I1 is also' a fragmentary perspective on an enlarged scale illustrating certain operative details of the latch bolt and its manner of assembly with associated elements.

Recent developments in automobile designs have brought about efforts to effect a removal of projecting door latch handles and to dispose said handles in streamlined, blended or concealed relationship with the exterior and interior wall plates of the door with which they are associated. The present invention has been designed with this design trend in view and contemplates a relatively simple arrangement of operating mechanism by which the number of operating parts is greatly reduced as compared with the average door latch operating mechanism, andin which full use is made of the very limited clearance space existing between the end or the glass well and the stile of the door.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 through 4 the invention is shown as associated with an automobile body equipped with a front door l5 and a rear door It; the latch operating mechanism being the same in both except for a reversal of operating direction. In order to avoid prolixity the latch operating mechanism is described only in connection with the rear door l6.

As in conventional practice the door includes an inner wall I1 and an outer wall It! which is provided with the usual horizontal decorative head or molding l9, this being in the present instance pressed from the metal body of the door wall. The window glass 20 operates vertically in the usual manner in slidable relation between the door walls in the well provided by the clearance existing between the inner and outer walls.

At an appropriate point in line with the bead IS the exterior wall I8 is horizontally slotted a su-ificient linear distance to accommodate a handle lever 2| which, adjacent one end, is mounted on a vertical pivot pin 22 appropriately secured on the inner face of the exterior wall 18 so that the handle may be swung laterally through a horizontal arc in order to effect operation or the latch mechanism. The outboard portion of the handle 2| is formed or otherwise finished to simulate a continuation of the bead l9 and in its innermost position, that is when the door is latched, the handle seats within the door slot completely filling the same and giving an optical illusion or appearance of a continued portion of the decorative bead. As the bead I9 is entirely cut away in the area of the handle 2| it is obvious that the projecting, or bead simulating, portion of the handle may readily be grasped when the handle is to be swung out to unlock the door.

bolt asse'mbly comprises a bolt 23 provided with a recess 24 for cooperation with any approcessing the inner side edge of the plate 34 for e an appropriate distance forwardly from its point priate type of lock mechanism, not shown. "The bolt is mounted for reciprocation in a horizontal plane in the space between the window glass and the inner wall I! and operates in the conventional manner through an aperture in the front stile 25 to engage in the bolt keeper socket 23 provided in the door 'iamb 21 which forms a part of the automobile body structure. An operating rod 28 extends from the rear end of the bolt 23, being rigidly connected thereto and be ing slidably supported through bracket means 29 suitably fixed to the adjacent face of. the inner wall II. These bracket means 23' comprise one or more individual bracket pieces so situated and spaced as to provide adequate support for the operating rod 28 and to insure proper alignment of the bolt with respect to its slot and keeper. At its rear end the rod 28 has an appropriate operating connection with the inside operating handle 30. The handle 30 is mounted for operation within a well 3| provided in the inner wall of the door so that no interior projecting portion of the mechanism exists.

The bolt 23 is further provided with a lateral extension 32 rigidly associated therewith and extending transversely of door in the direction of the outer wall It in the clearance space between the edge of the window glass and door stile 25 and in close proximity to the stile 25 when the bolt is projected to latched position as shown in Figure 2. In the illustrated embodiment the extension 32 is shown as a web integral with the bolt 23 and extending at .a right angle therefrom. It is obvious, and it is so intended, that where desired the extension 32 may comprise a separate member having an appropriate connection with the bolt so that two move in unison.

On the other side of the window pane an, that is between the window glass and the outer wall l8, the boltextension 32 is provided with a rearwardly extendedmortion 33, preferably an integral continuation of the web 32 which extends substantially parallel with the bolt 23 and which is formed with a quarter turn just forwardly of the forward end of the housing slot for the exterior latch handle 2|. The result of this quarter turn is to providea flat horizontal plate 34 which passes beneath the handle 2| and which at its rear endis guided for slidable reciprocation through a support bracket 35 provided on the inner face of the outer wall I8. From the rear end of the plate 34 a stem 36 extends in slidably supported relation through a bracket 31 also secured to the inner face of the outer wall l8 and which provides a stop for one end of an expansion spring 38 that is coiled about the stem 36 with its other end abutting the end of the plate 34. It is obvious that the spring 38 is placed under compression by the rearward or retracting movement of the bolt and the function of the spring is to return the bolt to its fully projecting position, acting to urge the bolt to that pwition.

, The exterior latch handle 2| at its pivoted end is formed with an inward lateral extension 39 which mounts a fixed vertical post 40 that extends down past the plate 34 and which, in the latched or fully projected position of the bolt, as shown in Figure 2, normally abuts against the shoulder 4|, or other abutment, provided in or upon the flat plate 34. In the illustrated embcdiment this abutment 4| is provided by reof alignment with the post 43. g

with the door in latched and closed position the parts are as shown in Figure 2. If it is desired to unlatch the door from the inside the handle 33 is appropriately manipulated to draw the rod 28 rearwardly and retract the bolt 23. During this movement the plate 34 will be moved rearwardly by virtue of its connection through the extension 32 and the shoulder 4| will move away from its engagement with the post 40 carried by the exterior handle 2|. The movement will be against compression of the spring 38 so that immediately upon release of the handle 33 the expansion of the spring will project the bolt to its original position and will also move the plate 34 forwardly until the abutment 4| engages against the post 40. In this position of the parts the bolt is at the extremity of its projected movement and further movement is arrested by engagement of the extension 32 against the stile 25. Various other suitable means may be provided to stop the projected bolt at the desired point. The essential factor is that in the extreme projected position of the bolt the shoulder 4| on the plate 34 rests idly against the post 40.

When it is desired to operate the bolt from the exterior handle 2| that handle is grasped and pulled outwardly swinging on its pivot 22 and moving the post 40 rearwardly in contact with the shoulder 4|. This operation necessarily causes the plate 34 and its associated bolt 23 to move rearwardly under the forcing action of the post 40 as the lever is swung outwardly through its are. This movement is illustrated by the dotted line shown in Figure 2. The movement rearwardly is, of course, against compression of the spring 38 and when the handle is released the expansion of the spring will return the parts to their original positions.

It is important to note that in this operation of the exterior and interior handles the bolt may be operated by one independently of the other.

The extension 32 plays in the very limited clearance which exists between the edge of the window glass and the front stile 25 of the door. The extent of movement is slight and it is all that is necessary to bring about proper operation of the latch.

In the alternative embodiment illustrated in Figures 5 through 11 the exterior wall l8 of the door has its horizontal bead l9 cut out and pressed inwardly from its under face to provide a dished concealed housing 42 within which the exterior handle 43 operates in a manner to be described.

In this embodiment the handle 43 is of the curved type being reversely bowed with respect to the bow of the dished housing 42 so that the fingers of an operator may be inserted readily through the aperture 44 provided in the molding which plays within the space between the outer wardlyextending post which passes through a closed end slot 49 provided in a horizontal plate 50 that is supported. for .slidable reciprocation in a supporting bracket projecting inwardly from the outer wall l8 to which it is secured. At its rear end the plate 50 is reduced to provide astem 52 which is slidable through and supported by a second bracket, alsosecured to the wall l8 and which provides a stop for one end of an expansion spring 54 coiled about the stem 52, and hearing at its forward end against the adjacent rear end of the plate 59, the function of the spring. being to project the plate 50 forwardly and to urge the same constantly to that position.

At itsforward end the plate 50 is provided with a transverselateral extension 55 which is rearwardly offset as at 56 in a plane disposed at the opposite side of the window pane 20, and which offset terminates ina lug portion 51 which extends in the direction of the inner wall l1 and parallel with the extension 55. The lug 51 plays within a recess 59 formed in the adjacent side face of the bolt 59 which extends through the stile of the door for engagement in a keeper socket provided in the door jamb as in the previously described embodiment.

The bolt 59, best shown in Figure 11, is provided in its top face with a well or transverse recess 60 immediately in rear of the side recess 56, leaving an upstanding rear lip 6! providing an abutment adapted to be engaged by a stud or head 62 rigidly secured on the forward end of an operating rod 63 slidably guided through bracket means 64 secured to the adjacent face of the inner wall H. In this instance the bracket means comprises a pair of independent brackets arranged in spaced relation with the rearmost bracket to provide a stop for one end of an expansion spring 65 that is coiled about the rod 63 with its other end abutting a retaining washer or other abutment 66 suitably secured in rigid relation with the rod 63 and which in turn bears against an adjacent portion of the foremost bracket 64 to arrest forward movement of the rod 63. At its inner or rear end the operating rod 63 has pivotal connection with a link 61 fixed to the spindle 68 associated with a handle lever 69 disposed in the well 10 on the inner wall l1 and providing the inner handle for the latch. It is obvious that as the handle 69 is rocked rearwardly the link 61 will draw the rod 63 rearwardly and by virture of engagement of the lug 62 against the lip 61 on the bolt, the bolt 59 will be correspondingly moved rearwardly into its unlatched position. The rearward or retracting movement of the bolt 59 is resisted by expansion spring ll coiled about a stem 12 which projects rearwardly from the bolt 59 in rigid connection therewith and which is guided at its rear end through a portion of the foremost bracket 64, the bracket providing a stop for one end of the spring II while the body of the bolt itself provides the abutment for the front or other end of the spring. In order to support the bolt in its retracted position the inner wall I1 is provided with a supporting bracket 13 on which the body of the bolt slides when the bolt is moved to its retracted position. By this means the bolt is prevented from dropping down and becoming disaligned with its slot provided in the door stile.

In the retracting movement of the bolt by operation of the inner door handle 69 it is obvious, as shown in Figure 6, that the lug 51 remains idle with respect to the bolt, playing in the. side recess 59 which is of sumcient extent to insure that ;the lug 51 will not be moved by rearward movement of the bolt under operation of. themner handle 69. In the normal fully projected po-" sition of the bolt the lug 51 rests idly againstthe front face of the rear wall'of the recess 56 which wall constitutes and provides an abutment on the bolt for cooperative engagement with the lug 51.

When it-is desired to manipulate the latch from the outer handle 43 that handle is grasped by inserting the fingers beneath the molding l9 in the appropriate recess 42 and pulling the handle lever outwardly whereupon the post 48 will be swung rearwardly moving within its slot 49 and bearing upon the plate 50 to cause the plate 50 to moverearwardly and thus carry with it the lateral extension 55 and the lug 51. As the lug 51 moves rearwardly bearing against the shoulder formed in the body of the bolt 59 it carries with it bolt 59 so that the bolt is moved rearwardly into unlatched position. Upon release of the handle 43 the expanding action of the springs H and 54 insure that the bolt will move back to projected position. It is apparent from this association of parts that either handle may be operated to move the latch without effecting movement of the other handle. As the latch bolt 59 moves rearwardly under manipulation of the outer handle 43 the lug 62 on the operating rod 63 of the inner handle plays within the well or recess 60 so that the inner handle is not actuated by movement of the bolt. On the other hand, as previously described, when the inner handle 69 is manipulated to move the bolt the lug 51 plays within the guide recess 58 in the bolt so that the plate 50 is not actuated and no movement is imparted to the exterior handle 43.

In all embodiments of the invention the illustrated details may be varied or substituted by equivalent structures.

As in the previously described embodiment, the bolt 59 is provided with a socket 14 for engagement by the pin of suitable lock means (not shown).

An important characteristic of the invention in all its embodiments is that the entire operating mechanism is disposed substantially in the horizontal zone of the door latch with th operating mechanism disposed at opposite sides of the window pane well and having an operating connection extending transversely substantially in the zone of the latch in the limited clearance space existing between the forward edge-of the window pane and the stile of the door. This arrangement dispenses with the necessity of complicated linkage and gear mechanism and makes for relative simplicity of construction as Well as ease of operation. The operating handles are concealed or housed with respect to the door wall structure and the exterior handles are mounted for lateral movement through a horizontal arc, thus providing economy of space and facilitating operation.

I claim:

1. In a latch for an automobile door having an outer wall, an inner wall, a window pane movable therebetween, a latch bolt disposed for reciprocation between the window pane and said inner wall, a plate disposed for reciprocation at the other side of the window pane, means providing an operating connection between said plate and bolt and extending transversely of the door between an edge of the window pane and the door stile, a lever pivoted on the inner faceof said outer wall and having a handle portion,

said outer wall being apertured to receive said handle portion therethrough as the handle is acaopa-t carried by said outer wall, an actuator between said outer wall and the window pane, means mounting said actuator for reciprocation in a operated, and a post extending vertically from;

one end of said lever and engaging said platefor moving said plate to retract said bolt on move--- ment of said lever.

2. In an automobile door latch operating mechanism wherein the door includes spaced inner and outer door walls and a window pane clearance between the edge ot-the pane and the door stile and being rigidly and integrally con-' movable in a well therebetween, a latch 'bolt adapted for reciprocation through the door stile between said window pane and said inner wall, an outer operating lever pivoted on the outer door wall for movement in a horizontal plane laterally thereof, a plate mounted on the inner face or said outer wall for slidable reciprocation thereon, means carried by said plate and extending transversely of the door between the edge of the window pane and the door stile into engagement with said bolt, and a post extending vertically from One end of said lever and engaging said plate for moving said plate to retract said bolt as the lever is moved outwardly with respect to the outer wall of the door.

3. In a latch for an automobile door having laterally spaced inner and outer walls and a window pane operable therebetween with a clearance between one edge of the pane and the stile of the door, a latch bolt mounted for lineal reciprocation through the door stile between the window pane and said inner wall, a handle lever nected with said-latch bolt whereby to operate said latch bolt by movement oi! said handle lever.

4. In a latch for an automobile door having laterally spaced inner and outer walls and a window pane operable therebetween with a clearance between one edge of the pane and the stile oi the door, a latch bolt mounted for reciprocation through the door stile between the window pane and said inner wall, a handle lever pivotally mounted on said outer wall, an actuator slidably mounted on said outer wall for reciprocation between said wall and the window pane, an operating connection between said handle lever and said actuator, the one .end of said actuator being extended transversely of the door in the clearance between the edge of the pane and the door stile, a shoulder on said latch bolt, and said extended end of the actuator having a cooperative engagement with the latch bolt shoulder for moving the bolt in a direction of retraction upon operation of said handle lever.

ARTHUR E.- SMITH.

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