Vehicle door lock device

Abstract

To suppress deformation of a support member even if a large lateral load acts on a plunger.SOLUTION: A vehicle door lock device includes: a plunger whose tip part engages with a recess provided in a vehicle door upon closure thereof; and a support member having a support hole that supports the plunger slidable in its axial direction, wherein a first tapered portion that expands in diameter toward a tip direction of the plunger is formed in a portion of the support hole on a tip part side of the plunger. A second tapered portion that reduces in diameter toward the tip direction is formed in a portion of the support hole on a base end side of the plunger.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle door lock device.

Background Art

[0002] As a prior art of a vehicle door lock device, for example, the one shown in Patent Document 1 is known. This vehicle door lock device includes a plunger and a support member having a support hole that supports the plunger so as to be movable in its axial direction. The support member is provided on one of two doors that open to the left and right of the vehicle. After closing the door, the plunger moves in a direction protruding from the support member and engages with a recess provided on the other of the two doors, thereby locking the door in a fully closed state.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, when a robber tries to break open the door with a bar or the like, for example, if a large load (a load from a direction intersecting the axial direction) acts on the plunger, stress may concentrate on the edge of the support hole of the support member due to contact with the plunger, and the support member may be deformed.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle door lock device capable of suppressing deformation of the support member.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To achieve the above object, a vehicle door lock device according to the present invention includes a plunger whose tip engages with a recess provided in the door when the vehicle door is closed, and a support member having a support hole that supports the plunger so as to be movable in its axial direction. A first tapered portion that expands in diameter toward the tip direction of the plunger is formed at a portion on the tip side of the plunger in the support hole.

Advantages of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, even when a large lateral load acts on the plunger, deformation of the support member can be suppressed.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] Hereinafter, this embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, "FD" indicates the front direction of the vehicle, "RD" indicates the rear direction of the vehicle, "UD" indicates the upward direction, and "DD" indicates the downward direction, respectively.

[0010] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, an overview of the vehicle 10 according to this embodiment will be described. FIGS. 1 and 2 are schematic views showing the vehicle 10 equipped with the vehicle door lock device 26 according to this embodiment. FIG. 1 shows the state where the sliding door 16 is closed, and FIG. 2 shows the state where the sliding door 16 is half-opened.

[0011] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the vehicle 10 includes a vehicle body 14 having a door opening 12 and a sliding door 16 slidably provided in the front-rear direction on the vehicle body 14. The sliding door 16 opens and closes the door opening 12 by first moving outward and then moving in the front-rear direction. Opening the door opening 12 is synonymous with opening the sliding door (door) 16, and closing the door opening 12 is synonymous with closing the sliding door (door) 16. Note that the vehicle 10 may be provided with a swingable door instead of the sliding door 16.

[0012] A fully closed striker 18 is provided at the rear edge of the door opening 12 of the vehicle body 14. A fully closed latch mechanism 20 that can be engaged and disengaged with the fully closed striker 18 is provided at the rear end of the sliding door 16. The fully closed latch mechanism has a latch (not shown) and a ratchet (not shown) having a well-known configuration. In the state where the sliding door 16 is closed, the fully closed latch mechanism 20 engages with the fully closed striker 18, so that the fully closed state of the sliding door 16 can be maintained.

[0013] In addition, a fully open striker 22 is provided at the trailing edge of the door opening 12 of the vehicle body 14, and the fully open striker 22 is disposed below the fully closed striker 18. A fully open latch mechanism 24 that can be engaged and disengaged with the fully open striker 22 is provided on the front end side of the sliding door 16. The fully open latch mechanism has a latch (not shown) and a ratchet (not shown) having a well-known configuration. In a state where the sliding door 16 is opened (fully opened), the fully open latch mechanism 24 engages with the fully open striker 22, so that the fully open state of the sliding door 16 can be maintained.

[0014] Furthermore, the vehicle 10 includes a vehicle door lock device 26 that locks the sliding door 16 in a fully closed state. The vehicle door lock device 26 is used for anti-theft prevention and complements the function of holding the sliding door 16 in a fully closed state by the fully closed latch mechanism 20 and the fully closed striker 18.

[0015] Subsequently, with reference to FIGS. 1, 3 to 7, the specific configuration of the vehicle door lock device 26 according to the present embodiment will be described. FIGS. 3 and 4 are schematic views showing the vehicle door lock device 26 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a view showing a state where the sliding door 16 is locked in a fully closed state, and FIG. 4 is a view showing a state where the sliding door 16 is locked in a fully open state. FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a portion V in FIG. 3. FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a portion VI in FIG. 4. FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII in FIG. 5.

[0016] As shown in FIGS. 1, 3 to 6, a receiver 28 is provided at the rear end portion of the sliding door 16, and the receiver 28 is disposed between the fully closed striker 18 and the fully open striker 22. A cylindrical recess 30 is formed in the receiver 28. In other words, a cylindrical recess 30 is provided at the rear end portion of the sliding door 16. The vehicle door lock device 26 includes a cylindrical plunger 32, and the tip of the plunger 32 engages with the recess 30 of the receiver 28 when the sliding door 16 is closed.

[0017] As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, a mounting plate 34 is provided at the trailing edge of the door opening 12 of the vehicle body 14, and a support member 36 is provided on the mounting plate 34. In other words, a support member 36 is provided at the trailing edge of the door opening 12 of the vehicle body 14 via the mounting plate 34. Further, the support member 36 has a support hole 38 that supports the plunger 32 so as to be movable in its axial direction. In other words, the plunger 32 is provided on the support member 36 so as to be movable in its axial direction.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 7, a first tapered portion 38a that expands in diameter toward the tip direction (front direction) of the plunger 32 is formed at a portion on the tip end side of the plunger 32 in the support hole 38 of the support member 36. By forming the first tapered portion 38a, when the sliding door 16 (see FIG. 1) moves outward with the tip end portion of the plunger 32 engaged with the recess 30 of the receiver 28, the plunger 32 can also move following it. Further, a second tapered portion 38b that contracts in diameter toward the tip direction of the plunger 32 is formed at a portion on the base end side of the plunger 32 in the support hole 38 of the support member 36.

[0019] In the cross section of the support hole 38 of the support member 36, the first tapered portion 38a and the second tapered portion 38b may each be linear or may be curved. The support hole 38 of the support member 36 may have the first tapered portion 38a without having the second tapered portion 38b. For example, the support hole 38 may have a shape in which the inner diameter suddenly expands instead of the second tapered portion 38b. Further, the first tapered portion 38a and the second tapered portion 38b may be provided over the entire circumference of the support hole 38, or may be provided only in the vehicle width direction or the vertical direction according to the mounting position and the opening direction of the sliding door 16.

[0020] The support hole 38 of the support member 36 has a straight portion 38c with the same diameter along the axial direction of the plunger 32 between the first tapered portion 38a and the second tapered portion 38b. Instead of the support hole 38 of the support member 36 having the straight portion 38c, it may have a curved curved portion (not shown), and the first tapered portion 38a and the second tapered portion 38b may be directly connected.

[0021] As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the support member 36 is provided with a cylindrical seal member 40 to prevent water from entering the support hole 38. The seal member 40 is made of an elastic body such as rubber.

[0022] As shown in FIGS. 3 to 7, the base portion of the link member 42 is rotatably connected to the mounting plate 34 via a connecting pin 44, and the axis 44c of the connecting pin 44, which is the rotation axis of the link member 42, is parallel to the direction orthogonal to the axial direction and the vertical direction of the plunger 32. The side view shape of the link member 42 is a V shape, and the link member 42 has a first arm portion 46 and a second arm portion 48.

[0023] A mover 50 is provided at the tip of the first arm portion 46, and the mover 50 is slidably guided in an arc-shaped guide slit 52 formed in the mounting plate 34. Note that the side view shape of the link member 42 is not limited to a V shape, and may be, for example, a circular shape, a rectangular shape, etc. In other words, if the link member 42 has a portion corresponding to the tip of the first arm portion 46 and a portion corresponding to the tip of the second arm portion 48, it may not have the first arm portion 46 and the second arm portion 48.

[0024] An annular (frame-shaped) connecting portion 54 is provided at the base end portion of the plunger 32, and the hole inside the connecting portion 54 extends in the vertical direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the plunger 32. A boss portion 56 is provided at the tip end portion of the first arm portion 46, and the boss portion 56 is loosely fitted inside the connecting portion 54 so as to be relatively movable with respect to the connecting portion 54 in the vertical direction orthogonal to the axial direction. In other words, the tip end portion of the first arm portion 46 is connected to the base end portion of the plunger 32 via the connecting portion 54 and the boss portion 56 so as to be relatively movable.

[0025] Instead of providing the connecting portion 54 at the base end portion of the plunger 32 and providing the boss portion 56 at the tip end portion of the first arm portion 46, the connecting portion 54 may be provided at the tip end portion of the first arm portion 46 and the boss portion 56 may be provided at the base end portion of the plunger 32.

[0026] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a drive mechanism (actuator) 58 for axially moving the plunger 32 is provided via a bracket 60 on the rear side of the door opening 12 in the vehicle body 14. The drive mechanism 58 has a reciprocally movable operating rod 62. The drive mechanism 58 can be remotely operated by an operation switch (not shown).

[0027] The vehicle door lock device 26 includes a cable 64 for interlocking and connecting the operating rod 62 and the link member 42, and the cable 64 is a well-known control cable. One end portion of the cable 64 is connected to the tip end portion of the operating rod 62, and the other end portion of the cable 64 is connected to the tip end portion of the second arm portion 48. The link member 42 rotates by the drive of the drive mechanism 58. When the drive mechanism 58 is arranged in the vicinity of the link member 42, the cable 64 may be omitted from the configuration of the vehicle door lock device 26, and the tip end portion of the operating rod 62 may be connected to the tip end portion of the second arm portion 48.

[0028] With the above configuration, the sliding door 16 is slid forward to close the door opening 12. Next, by driving the drive mechanism 58 with the operation switch, the operating rod 62 is moved forward. Then, while the boss portion 56 moves upward relative to the connecting portion 54, the link member 42 rotates counterclockwise as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5 about the axis 44c of the connecting pin 44. As a result, the plunger 32 is moved forward (the direction in which the tip of the plunger 32 protrudes from the support member 28), and the tip of the plunger 32 engages with the recess 30 of the receiver 28, so that the sliding door 16 can be locked in the fully closed state.

[0029] After locking the sliding door 16 in the fully closed state, when opening the sliding door 16, by driving the drive mechanism 58 with the operation switch, the operating rod 62 is moved backward. Then, while the boss portion 56 moves downward relative to the connecting portion 54, the link member 42 rotates clockwise as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6 about the axis 44c of the connecting pin 44. As a result, the plunger 32 is moved backward (the direction opposite to the protruding direction), and the tip of the plunger 32 is disengaged from the recess 30 of the receiver 28, so that the locked state of the sliding door 16 can be released.

[0030] According to the configuration of the vehicle door lock device 26 according to the present embodiment, as described above, a first tapered portion 38a that expands in diameter toward the tip direction of the plunger 32 is formed at a portion on the tip side of the plunger 32 in the support hole 38 of the support member 36. Therefore, when a large lateral load (a load from a direction intersecting the axial direction of the plunger 32) acts on the plunger 32, the first tapered portion 38a can receive the lateral load, and stress concentration at the edge of the support hole 38 of the support member 36 can be suppressed. That is, according to the present embodiment, even if a large lateral load acts on the plunger 32, deformation of the support member 36 can be suppressed.

[0031] Moreover, according to the configuration of the vehicle door lock device 26 according to the present embodiment, as described above, at the portion on the base end side of the plunger 32 in the support hole 38 of the support member 36, a second tapered portion 38b that tapers in diameter toward the tip direction of the plunger 32 is formed. In other words, a first tapered portion 38a is formed at the portion on the tip end side of the plunger 32 in the support hole 38 of the support member 36, and a second tapered portion 38b is formed at the portion on the base end side of the plunger 32 in the support hole 38 of the support member 36. Therefore, when a large lateral load acts on the plunger 32, the lateral load can be dispersed and received by the first tapered portion 38a and the second tapered portion 38b, and stress concentration at the edge of the support hole 38 of the support member 36 can be further suppressed. That is, according to the present embodiment, even when a large lateral load acts on the plunger 32, deformation of the support member 36 can be further suppressed.

[0032] Moreover, according to the configuration of the vehicle door lock device 26 according to the present embodiment, as described above, the support hole 38 of the support member 36 has a straight portion 38c with the same diameter along the axial direction of the plunger 32 between the first tapered portion 38a and the second tapered portion 38b. Therefore, the plunger 32 can be stably supported to be movable in the axial direction by the straight portion 38c of the support hole 38 of the support member 36. Thereby, according to the present embodiment, the operation stability of the vehicle door lock device 26 can be enhanced.

[0033] Moreover, according to the configuration of the vehicle door lock device 26 according to the present embodiment, as described above, the link member 42 rotates by the drive of the drive mechanism 58, and the tip end portion of the first arm portion 46 is connected to the base end portion of the plunger 32 so as to be relatively movable. Therefore, the driving force of the drive mechanism 58 can be efficiently transmitted to the plunger 32 via the link member 42. Thereby, according to the present embodiment, the operation stability of the vehicle door lock device 26 can be further enhanced.

[0034] Also, according to the configuration of the vehicle door lock device 26 according to the present embodiment, as described above, the boss portion 56 is connected to the inside of the connecting portion 54 so as to be relatively movable with respect to the connecting portion 54 in the orthogonal direction. Therefore, even if a large lateral load acts on the plunger 32, part of the lateral load can be absorbed by the relative movement of the boss portion 56 with respect to the connecting portion 54 in the orthogonal direction. Thus, according to the present embodiment, even if a large lateral load acts on the plunger 32, deformation of the support member 36 can be further suppressed. When a lateral load acts on the plunger 32 and the plunger 32 moves, the boss portion 56 can move inside the annular connecting portion 54, so that breakage of the boss portion 56 due to the action of the lateral load can be prevented.

[0035] As described above, one embodiment of the present invention has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the invention.

Industrial Applicability

[0036] The present invention is useful as a vehicle door lock device that can suppress deformation of a support member even when a large lateral load acts on a plunger.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0037] 10 Vehicle 12 Door opening 14 Vehicle body 16 Slide door (door) 18 Fully closed striker 20 Fully closed latch mechanism 22 Fully open striker 24 Fully open latch mechanism 26 Vehicle door lock device 28 Receiver 30 Recess 32 Plunger 34 Mounting plate 36 Support member 38 Support hole 38a First tapered portion 38b Second tapered portion 38c straight part 40 seal member 42 link member 44 connecting pin 46 first arm part 48 second arm part 50 mover 52 guide slit 54 connection part 56 boss part 58 drive mechanism 58 operating rod 60 bracket 62 operating rod 64 cable

Claims

1. When the vehicle door is closed, a plunger whose tip engages with a recess provided in the door, and a support member having a support hole that supports the plunger so as to be movable in its axial direction, a first tapered portion that expands in diameter toward the tip direction of the plunger is formed at a portion on the tip side of the plunger in the support hole, A vehicle door lock device.

2. A second tapered portion that contracts in diameter toward the tip direction is formed at a portion on the base end side of the plunger in the support hole, The vehicle door lock device according to Claim 1.

3. The support hole has a straight portion having the same diameter along the axial direction between the first tapered portion and the second tapered portion, The vehicle door lock device according to Claim 2.

4. Further comprising a link member that rotates by driving of a drive mechanism, and the link member is connected to the base end portion of the plunger so as to be relatively movable, The vehicle door lock device according to Claim 1.

5. An annular connection portion provided on one of the base end portion of the plunger or the link member, and a boss portion provided on the other of the base end portion of the plunger or the link member, and is loosely fitted inside the connection portion so as to be relatively movable with respect to the connection portion in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction, The vehicle door lock device according to Claim 4.

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