US2735708A - Door lock - Google Patents

Description

F. J. TEED DOOR LOCK Feb; 21, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 24, 1953 m m m m ATTORNEYS.

F. J. TEED Feb. 21, 1956 DOOR LOCK 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 24, 1953 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS 2,735,708 7 DOOR LOCK Floyd J. Teed, South Bend, Ind., assignor, by mesne asslgnments, to Studebaker-Packard Corporation, a corporation of Michigan Application February 24, 1953, Serial No. 338,306 2 Claims. (Cl. 292182) My present invention relates generally to door locks, and, more specifically, is directed to a door lock for automobiles.

I means may be installed for proper operation with a minimum of adjustment.

It is a still further object of my present invention to provide lock means of the character noted, which may be installed on all existing models of automobiles.

In the accomplishmentof the aforementioned objects, I provide a lock mechanism on each side of the automobile. Each lock mechanism comprises a lock plunger which is engageable with the lower edge of the adjacent rear door for maintaining the same in a locked position. Each lock mechanism further comprises an actuating plunger which is engageable by the lower edge of the adjacent front door. The actuating plunger and the lock plunger on the same side of the automobile are interconnected by a flexible cable. When the actuating plunger is depressed by the closing of the front door, the lock plunger is conditioned for being distended into locking engagement with the rear door. When the front door is opened, the actuating plunger is distended under the action of spring means which causes the flexible cable to withdraw the lock plunger from engagement with the rear door. It will be quite apparent to those skilled in the art that the lock means are operable independently of the rear door handles. Thus, a four door automobile, equipped with the lock mechanism of my present invention, retainsthe convenience of a conventional four door automobile while attaining the safety of a two door automobile.

Now, in order to acquaint those skilled in the art with the manner of constructing and using door locks in accordance with the principles of my present invention, I shall describe in connection with the accompanying drawings, a preferred embodiment of my present invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a four door automobile with which the door lock of my present invention is embodied;

Figure 2 is a partial plan view of the door lock of Figure 1, taken substantially along the line 2-2, with portions being broken away for the sake of clarity;

Figure 3 is a sectional view showing the positions of the actuating plunger and the lock plunger with the rear door closed and the front door open; and

Figure 4 is a sectional view showing the positions of the actuating plunger and the lock plunger with the rear door closed and the front door closed.

Referring now to the drawings, there is indicated generally by the reference numeral 10, a four door automobile with which the door lock mechanism 11 of my present invention is embodied. Although a lock mechanism 11 is shown on only one side of the automobile 10, it is to be understood that a similar lock mechanism is employed on the side of the automobile 10 opposite to that which is shown in Figure 1.

The automobile 10 comprises a car body 12 to which a front door 13 is suitably hinged along its forward vertical edge. The car body 12 further comprises a center A generally horizontally extending scufl plate 21 is secured to the car body 12 immediately below the front door 13. A similar generally horizontally extending scuff plate 22 is secured to the car body 12 immediately below the rear door 15.

The forward scufi plate 21 provides support for conditioning means indicated generally at 23. The condithe car body 12. by a pin 36 fixed in the cylinder 25 and engaging a flat 37 formed in the side of the plunger 27.

Longitudinally extending bores 28 and 29 are formed in the opposite ends of the actuating plunger 27 and the bores are interconnected by a throat portion 30. A helical compression spring 31 is disposed in the cylinder 25 and extends into the lower bore 28 formed in the plunger 27. An opening 32 is formed in the lower end of the cylinder actuating plunger 27 thereby causing the latter to be depressed inwardly of the cylinder 25 against the force of the spring 31 for a purpose to be described more fully hereinafter.

The rear scuif plate 22 provides support for lock means indicated generally by the reference numeral 24. The lock means 24, which is associated with the conditioning means 23, comprises a cylinder 41 which is disposed through an opening formed in the rear scuff plate 22 adjacent the rear end thereof. The upper flared end of the cylinder 41 is suitably secured by a plurality of screws 40 to the scuff plate 22.

Disposed within the cylinder 41 for reciprocating movement is a lock plunger 42 in which is formed, at the opposite ends, longitudinally extending bores 43 and 44. The bores 43 and 44 are interconnected by a throat portion 45. Disposed within the cylinder 41 and extending into the lower bore 43 formed in the lock plunger 42 is a helical compression spring 46 which exerts a lesser force than that exerted by the spring 31. Extending through an opening 47 formed in the lower end of the cylinder 41 is the other end of the afore-described flexible cable 33. The said other end of the cable extends upwardly through the spring 46 and the throat portion 45. Secured to the upper end of the cable 33, within the upper bore 44 formed in the plunger 42, is a collar member 48. The upper end of the lock plunger 42 is inclined downwardly away from the car body 12. Rotation of the plunger 42 is restrained by a pin 38 fixed in the cylinder 41 and engaging a flat 39 formed in the side of the plunger 42.

The operation of the lock mechanism of my present invention is as follows:

Referring to Figure 3, it will be observed that when the front door 13 is open, the lock plunger 42 assumes a position out of engagement with the opening 20 formed in the door molding 18 of the reardoor 15, thus permitting the rear door to be opened in a conventionalmanner. Theilockplunger 42 assumes the position shown in Figure 3 dueto'the fact that the spring 31 associated with the conditioning means 23 exerts a greater spring-pressure than the spring 46associated with the lock means 24. Due to this differential in spring pressures, when the front door 13 is opened, the actuating plunger 27 is urged upwardlyto the'position shown in'Figure 3, which causes therportion of the plunger-27 adjacent the throat 30 to engage the'collar member 34 for urging the latter, together with the fiexible cable 33, upwardly to the position shown in Figure 3. This movement of the forward end of ithe cable 33 causes downward'movement of the rear end of the cable 33 associated with the loc; means 24-. Thus, the collar member48 engages the portion of the plunger 42 adjacent the throat 45 thereby causing the plunger 42 to be drawn inwardly of the cylinder-41 and out' of engagement with thehole formed in the rear door molding 18.

'Now, if it is desired to lock the rear door against opening, the front door 13- need only be closed, which, as shown in Figure 4, causes the plunger 27 to be urged inwardly of the cylinder against the force of the spring 31. Asthe plunger 27 moves inwardly of the cylinder 25, the flexible cable 33 becomes slack thus permitting the spring 46, associated with the lock means 2-4, to urge the lock plunger 42 upwardly into the opening 20 formed in the rear door molding 13, thereby locking the rear door in a closed position.

It is to be understood that the lock plunger 42, even when extended, is'yieldable relative to the cylinder 41. Thus, the rear door 15 may be closed even though the lock plunger 42 has been distended prior to the door 15 being closed.

It will be apparent-to those skilled in the art that the operation of the lock means 24 associated with the rear door 15-of the automobile is conditioned for operation by the conditioning means 23 which is responsive to the closing of the front door 13. As a result of this arrangement, the rear door 15'may be locked and unlocked by slight swinging movement of the front door 13. It is thus not necessary for persons in the front seat of the automobile to get out of the automobile to open the rear door as is necessary with presently known safety door lock mechanisms.

It is to be further observed that the actuating plunger 27 and the lock plunger 42 are adjacent to the rear edges ofthe doors 13 and.15. alongside of the front and rear seats respectively. Thus, these projecting members are a completely removed from the normal entrance space of the front and rear doors thereby eliminating the danger .thatthe-shoes or clothing of passengers might catch-there- Now, while I have shown and described what I believe to be a preferred embodiment of my present invention, it will be understood that various modifications and rearrangements may be made therein-without departing from the spirit and scope of my present invention.

I claim:

1. A door lock adapted for use on a structure having first and second doors hinged to the frame of the structure said door lock comprising a locking plunger engageable with said first door for locking said first door, actuating means associated 'with said second door and being operable to effect movement of said locking plunger into locking engagement with said first door when said second door is closed and effect movement of said locking plunger out of locking engagement with said first door when said second door -is opened, said actuating'means including an actuating plunger engageable with said second door, a flexible cable interconnecting said locking plunger and said actuating plunger, first spring means disposedbetween said frame and said locking plunger, and second spring'means disposed between said frame and said actuatingplunger'having a greater force than said first spring means.

2. Adoor lock'adapted for use on a structure having first and second doors hinged to the frame of the structure said door lock comprising a locking plunger attached to said frame immediately below said first door and being engageable with said first door for locking said first door, actuating means associated with said second door and being operable to effect movement of said locking plunger into locking engagement with said first door when said second door is closed and effect movement of said locking plunger out of locking engagement with said first door when said second door is opened, said actuating means including an actuating plunger attached to said frame immediately below said second .door and being engageable with said second door, a'flexible cable interconnecting said locking plunger and said actuating plunger, first spring means disposed between said frame and said loci-:- ing plunger, and second spring means disposed between said frame and said actuating plunger having a greater force than said first spring means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,790,104 Levitt et al. Jan. 27, 1931 2,145,968 Bozarth Q Feb. 7, 1939 2,323,358 Shannon et al. July 6, 1943 1 2,507,328 Ashley May 9, 1950 2,548,242 Rosenbarger Apr. 10, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 186,424 Switzerland Nov. 16, 1936

Images