US2279290A - Automobile door latch - Google Patents

Description

1942, H. w; RIGHMER 2,219,290

AUTOMOBILE DOOR LATCH .Filed Sep't. so, 1939 gnaw (0% MAM.

Patented Apr. 7, 1942 AUTOMOBILE DOOR LATCH Holden W. Rightmyer, Toledo, Ohio, assignor .to

The American Swiss Company, Toledo, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application September 30, 1939, Serial No. 297,269

7 Claims.

This invention relates to door latchesbut particularly to latches for use on motor vehicles, and an object is to produce a new and improved door latch structure in which the bolt nose is pivotally mounted on the case plate and in which provision is made for compensating against wear of the pivotal mounting, thereby to eliminate rat'-' tles and vibration, and further in which the movement of the bolt nose to latching position is cushioned so that a stop is provided for the movement of the bolt nose in a latching direction.

This application constitutes a continuation-inpart of my co-pending application, Serial No. 225,379, filed August 1'1, 1938, now Patent No. 2,178,530, October 31, 1939.

For purposes of illustration but not of limitation an embodiment of the invention is shown on the accompanying drawing in. which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a door latch and its keeper, portions of the structure being broken away, such, for example, as the inside operated remote control unit and the key-actuated dogging mechanism;

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view substan- Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view on the line 44 of Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view on the line 5-5 of Figure 3.

The illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises a latch bolt casing having a main plate In which is mounted in any suitable manner on the vehicle door. The main plate has an outwardly inclined face or selvage plate formed with an opening l2 to admit a pivoted latch bolt |3 which, as indicated in Figure 2, is adapted to cooperate with the keeper |4 suitably secured by screws IE to the body structure l6 of the vehicle. The keeper includes an outwardly extending ridge H which is adapted to cooperate with the belt I3 to provide the usual safety catch and spaced laterally from the ridge l1 and. projecting a greater distance from the body structure I6 is a ridge IS with which the latch bolt engages when the door I9 is fully closed. Only portions of the door l9 and body I6 are illustrated but these will be sufficient to illustrate the manner in which the parts are mounted in position of use.

The latch bolt l3 comprises a pair of side walls and 2|, a curved keeper engaging wall 22 and a curved outer wall 23, which initially engages the keeper upon slamming of the door. The bolt I3 is pivotally mounted on the pin 24 which extends through openings in the inner end of the bolt and also through openings formed in laterally spaced cars 25 and 26 which are preferably struck out of the case plate Ill. The pin 24' is formed of metal harder than that of which plates l0 and II are formed, and is provided at one end with a head 21 and has its oppositeend upset as indicated at 28, a washer 29 being interposed between the upset end and the adjacent ear 26. As particularly shown on Figures 4 and 5, the washer 29 and head 21 are generally annular in shape but each is formed with a 'flattened portion 3|] which abuts against the face plate II for convenience in assembly.

Directly in rear of the head 21 and washer 29 and forming a back therefor is an embossed portion 3| extending outwardly from the main plate I0 and positioned to absorb some of the shock imparted to the pin 24 by the latch bolt |3 during the slamming of the door or other actuation of the latch bolt.

Spaced outwardly from the pin 24 and extending through the side walls 20 and 2| of the latch bolt is a pin 32 having upset ends 33. The pin 32 engages in a groove 34 of a bolt plate extension 35 which extends inwardly and rearwardly as indicated on Figure 2 and has a strengthening rib36. The extension 35 is integral with the bolt plate 31 which is mounted for sliding move- 7 ments over the main plate ID. A spiral spring 38 has one end anchored to the main plate l0 and the opposite end of the spring 38 engages an ear 39 struck out of the bolt plate 31. It will be apparent that the spring 38 urges the bolt plate 31 to the left of Figure 1 and yieldingly urges the latch bolt |3 to its normal or projected latching position. Guiding of the bolt 31 is accomplished by a stud 40 which is secured to the main plate I0 and has its shank disposed in a longitudinally elongate slot 4| formed in the bolt plate. The stud 40 cooperates with the slot 4| in limiting the movement of the bolt plate 31.

into a longitudinally elongate slot SI'VIormed in the bolt plate 31.

Pivotally connected to the outer end of the slide 50 is a link 53 which extends to a suitable remote control mechanism (not shown) disposed on the inside of the door and which has the usual operating handle for retracting the latch bolt and for actuating the slide to dog or block movement of the outside operated handle as will hereinafter appear.

Formed on the forward end of the slide 50 is a finger 54 which is movable into a position be neath an arm 55 of the outside operatedroll back.

ation may be effected without departing from the a pair of laterally spaced ears carried by said selvage plate, a pin passing through holes formed therefor in said ears providing a pivotal mounting for said bolt nose, and members on opposite end portions of said pin to retain same oa saia earsfrespectively, said members being adapted to abutagainst the adjacent plate member inthe event of enlargement of the holes in a the ears due to wear.

bolt 13 as will be readily understood. The detail construction of the roll back 56 is well=known to those skilled in this art and since it forms no part of the present invention, detail description and illustration is not considered necessary. A spiral laterally from the side wall of the latch bolt."

The inner face of tl'ie fiange BI adapted to engage a rubber bumper which is 'inour'i'tedoh the face plate ll. As'shown in Figure 3,'a'i1otch"63 projects from the opening l2 in the face plate 'i I to enable mountingof the bumper which ismade up of a body portion 62, reduced neck 64 and an outer annular head 65. llnmountingthebilmper, the neck 64 is forced'into the notch. 63, the head being disposed on the outer side of the face plate and the rubber body 62 on the inside of the face plate.

In the operation of the above described latch, it will be apparent that the latch bolt can befreel tracted from theoutside of the'door by operation of the roll back 56. By rotating the roll. back, the arm 58 engages the shoulder orflange 59 and forces the bolt plate 31 to the right of Figure 1 against the ;force of the spring38 and thereby causing the latch bolt 13 to rock upon its pivot 24 throughlthe connections described,

side of the door, the link 53 is 'moved'to the right Figural e e j e in mo emnts t r l 50 arid retraction of the bolt plate 3'I throughthe lug 50' upon engagement thereof with the inner end of the slot 5l'.

In order to retract the latch bolt frointhe inment ofthe latter. Whe'njth'efollbakisfdogged;

the mg 50' is disposed ihabuttihgr latithto the forward end or thesiott'l thatupehsiamm hg of the door, the bolt platen isinoveatothe-right or the figure, thereby orcing 'the 111g 50'' to'tlie right. This action eirects' movement oi'the'fingr 54 away'from the rollback." Itwill thus'beapparentthat sum-unlocking s-tbtained,

2. In a vehicle door latch, a main plate, a selvage plate projecting at an angle from one side ot'said main plate and having an opening therein, Said plates being formed of sheet metal, a bolt noseifioiinted for pivotal movements to and from latching position'through said opening, a pair. of laterally spaced ears carried bysaid selvage plate, a pin foriiied of metal harder than the metal of which said plates are formed passing through holes in said ears providing a pivotal mounting for saidb'oltnose, and members on opposite end portions of said pin to retain same on said ears, said members being adapted to abut against the adjacent plate member in the event of enlargement of the holes in the ears due 'to wear.

3. In a vehicle door latch, a main plate, a selvage plate projecting at an angle from one s'idexof said main plate and having an opening therein, a bolt-nose mounted for pivotal movements to and from latching position through said openingya pair of laterally spaced ears struck out of-said selvage plate, a pin passing through "holes formed therefor'in said ears'providing a pivotal mounting for said bolt nose, members on opposite end portions of said pin to retain same on saidears respectively, and a projection on onelfof said plates for each member and against which same is adapted-to abut upon enlargementof the holes in theears due to wear.

4. In a vehicle door latch, a main "plate, a selvage plate projecting at an angle from one side of said main plate 'an d having an opening therein, a .bolt nose mounted for pivotal movements to and from latching position through said opening, a pair of laterally spaced ears struck'out or said selvage plate, 'a pin passing through holes "in said ears providing a pivotal mounting for said -bolt nose, members on opposite ehdpo'r'tioiisbf said pin to retain same on said earsandan integrallprojection'of c'oncavoconvex cross section" on onefof said plates for each member and against the convex side of which the members are adapted to abut upon enlargement of-theholes'in the ears due to'wear. (In-a vehicle door latch, a main plate, a selvage plate rprojecting at an angle from one sideof ssaid main plate and having an opening therein,-a bolt nose mounted 'for pivotal movementsto and from latching position through said opening, a pair'of laterally spaced ears carried by said selvage :plate, a pin passing through holes formed therefor in said ears providing a pivotal -mounting for said bolt nose, members on opposite end portions of. said pin to retain same "oh-said ears, and means on the adjacent adapted to abut in the event of enlargement of the holes in the ears due to wear.

6. In a vehicle door latch, a main plate, a

flanged face plate, on said main plate, a'spring tensioned bolt nose movable through an aperture in said face plate, ears carried by one of said plates, a pivotal pin for said nose,'means to retain the pin on said ears, and means on one of said plates against which the retaining means of said pin is adapted to impinge to absorb 10

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