Vehicle door lock mechanism

Abstract

To provide a vehicle door lock mechanism in which the static load capacity of the door at a specified opening angle can be improved.SOLUTION: A vehicle door lock mechanism 10 includes: a door check link 16 connecting a swing door 14 and a vehicle body and having an arm section 18 formed with a notch 30; and a lever 52 having an engagement section 68 urged toward the arm section 18 and engaged with the notch 30 of the arm section 18 when the swing door 14 is opened at a specified angle and release sections 52B, 62 configured to be able to release the engagement between the notch 30 and the engagement section 68 by being swung in a direction in which the urging force is relaxed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle door lock mechanism. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 below discloses a vehicle door checker that stops a vehicle door at a desired angle. The arm of this vehicle door checker is inserted into the vehicle door and is attached to the vehicle body so that it can rotate freely around a support shaft. Furthermore, this vehicle door checker is configured to prevent the door from rotating inadvertently by applying resistance to the door in the opening and closing directions while the door is stopped at the desired opening angle. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 10-140909 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, the vehicle door checker described in Patent Document 1 is configured to stop the door by using an electrical mechanism to press a roller against an arm, and if, for example, a passenger applies weight to the stationary door as a handrail when getting in and out, the load-bearing capacity may be insufficient and the stationary door may move.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In consideration of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle door lock mechanism that can improve the static load resistance of a door at a predetermined opening angle. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] First AspectThe vehicle door lock mechanism according to the present invention includes a door check link that connects a swing door to a vehicle body and has an arm portion with a notch formed therein, an engagement portion that is biased toward the arm portion and engages with the notch in the arm portion when the swing door is opened at a predetermined angle, and a release portion that is configured to be able to release the engagement between the notch and the engagement portion by being swung in a direction that releases the biasing force. the arm portion is configured so that the engaging portion is relatively movable in response to opening and closing of the swing door, the notch is formed on a side surface of the arm portion on the engaging portion side so as to open toward the engaging portion, and an angle of the inner surface of the arm portion with respect to the side surface on the swing door side is a right angle, and an angle of the inner surface of the arm portion with respect to the side surface on the vehicle body side is an obtuse angle. .

[0007] In the vehicle door lock mechanism according to the first aspect, The swing door is connected to the vehicle body by a door check link. The door check link has an arm portion with a notch formed therein. An engaging portion of a lever is biased toward the arm portion. When the swing door is opened at a predetermined angle, the engaging portion of the lever engages with the notch of the arm portion. The arm portion is configured so that the engaging portion can move relative to the arm portion in response to the opening and closing of the swing door. Furthermore, the notch is formed on the side surface of the arm portion on the engaging portion side so as to open toward the engaging portion, and the angle of the inner surface relative to the side surface on the swing door side is a right angle, while the angle of the inner surface relative to the side surface on the vehicle body side is an obtuse angle. . This restricts the swing door's rotation. Therefore, the swing door can be stopped at a predetermined opening angle. Furthermore, when the release portion is swung in a direction that loosens the biasing force, the engagement between the notch and the engagement portion is released. This allows the swing door to rotate. By mechanically restricting the swing door's rotation using a mechanism that can be unlocked externally, the static load capacity is improved compared to a configuration in which the swing door is stopped using an electrical mechanism. Therefore, even if a large load is applied to the swing door, such as when a passenger applies a load to the stopped swing door as a handrail when getting in and out of a vehicle, the swing door can be reliably stopped at a predetermined opening angle. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] As described above, the vehicle door lock mechanism according to the present invention has the excellent effect of improving the static load resistance of the door at a predetermined opening angle. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle door lock mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] A vehicle door lock mechanism 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to Fig. 1. The arrows FR, UP, and OUT shown in Fig. 1 indicate the front side, upper side, and outer side in the vehicle width direction of a vehicle 12 to which the vehicle door lock mechanism 10 is attached, respectively. Furthermore, unless otherwise specified, when the front-rear, up-down, and left-right directions are used in the following description, they refer to the front and rear in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, the up and down in the up-down direction of the vehicle, and the left and right in the left-right direction (width direction) of the vehicle, respectively.

[0011] Fig. 1 shows a vehicle door lock mechanism 10 that connects a swing door 14 to the body (not shown) of a vehicle 12. Fig. 1 shows the door 14 in a fully open state, and the door 14 is a swing-type front door that can open and close an opening formed in the front left of the vehicle body. Although not shown, the door 14 is attached to a front pillar of the vehicle body via, for example, a pair of upper and lower door hinges, and is further connected to the front pillar of the vehicle body by the vehicle door lock mechanism 10 provided between the pair of upper and lower door hinges.

[0012] (Door Check Link 16) The vehicle door lock mechanism 10 includes a door check link 16 that restricts the fully open position of the door 14 and holds the door 14 stationary at a predetermined open angle. The door check link 16 includes a rod-shaped arm portion 18 that connects the door 14 to a front pillar of the vehicle body (not shown), and a checker portion (not shown) provided inside the door 14. The arm portion 18 is inserted into the checker portion inside the door 14. The arm portion 18 is also inserted into a through-hole 22 formed in an inner panel 20 of the door 14. The through-hole 22 is formed, for example, in a front end portion 24 of the inner panel 20 that is bent outward in the door width direction.

[0013] Although not shown, the end of the arm portion 18 on the vehicle body side is formed, for example, in a ring shape and is attached to a front pillar of the vehicle body (not shown) so as to be rotatable with its axial direction being approximately vertical. A stopper (not shown) is provided on the end of the arm portion 18 on the door 14 side. The door check link 16 is configured so that the stopper of the arm portion 18 abuts against a checker portion inside the door 14, thereby restricting the fully open position of the door 14.

[0014] Furthermore, a plurality of recesses 26A are formed on the upper surface 26 of the arm portion 18. Furthermore, a plurality of recesses 27A are formed on the lower surface 27 of the arm portion 18, facing the plurality of recesses 26A on the upper surface 26. As the door is opened or closed, pressing portions of a checker portion (not shown) are pressed against the upper surface 26 and the lower surface 27 of the arm portion 18, and the arm portion 18 slides relative to the checker portion. As the upper surface 26 and the lower surface 27 of the arm portion 18 have such uneven shapes, the door check link 16 holds the door 14 at a predetermined open angle and prevents the door 14 from rotating inadvertently.

[0015] Here, in the arm portion 18, a side surface 28 facing inward in the door width direction is formed with a notch 30 that is approximately triangular in cross section and recessed toward the front side of the vehicle (outward in the door width direction) when the door 14 is fully open as shown in Figure 1.

[0016] In the arm portion 18, a door-side corner 32 formed between the notch 30 and a side surface 28A closer to the door 14 than the notch 30 is formed at a substantially right angle in a plan cross-sectional view. On the other hand, in the arm portion 18, a vehicle-side corner 34 formed between the notch 30 and a side surface 28B closer to the vehicle body than the notch 30 is formed at an obtuse angle in a plan cross-sectional view. The notch 30 is configured to engage with a lever 52 of a door lock device 50 (described later) when the door 14 is opened at a predetermined opening angle smaller than the fully open state. In other words, when the notch 30 engages with the lever 52, the sliding of the arm portion 18 relative to the door 14 is restricted, and the door 14 is thereby fixed at the predetermined opening angle.

[0017] (Door lock device 50) The vehicle door lock mechanism 10 includes a door lock device 50 that restricts sliding of the arm portion 18 relative to the door 14 to fix the door 14 at a predetermined open angle. The door lock device 50 includes a case 56 fixed to the front end portion 24 of the inner panel 20 of the door 14 by a pair of upper and lower fastening portions 54, and a plate-bar-shaped lever 52 attached to the case 56 so as to be swingable in the door width direction. The case 56 is fastened to a checker portion (not shown) provided inside the door 14 by the pair of upper and lower fastening portions 54.

[0018] The case 56 includes a door-side plate 58 abutting against the front end 24 of the inner panel 20 of the door 14, and a vehicle-body-side plate 60 disposed opposite the door-side plate 58 with a gap toward the vehicle body from the door-side plate 58. The door-side plate 58 and the vehicle-body-side plate 60 extend in the vertical direction and the door width direction, respectively. The door-side plate 58 and the vehicle-body-side plate 60 are each formed in a generally U-shaped plate shape with an open outer side in the door width direction, and are connected at their inner ends in the door width direction. The lower end of the door-side plate 58 extends downward beyond the lower end of the vehicle-body-side plate 60.

[0019] The lever 52 is inserted between a door-side plate 58 and a vehicle-body-side plate 60. A lower end 52A of the lever 52 is rotatably attached to the lower end of the door-side plate 58 by a support portion 61. An upper end 52B of the lever 52 is disposed so as to protrude upward from the upper end of the case 56. A bolt 62 is fixed to the vehicle-body side of the upper end 52B of the lever 52. The bolt 62 is connected by a spring 66 to a bolt 64 provided on the vehicle-body side of the upper part of the vehicle-body-side plate 60. The spring 66 biases the upper end 52B of the lever 52 outward in the door width direction. The upper end 52B of the lever 52 and the bolt 62, which are provided above the case 56, correspond to the release portion in the present invention and can be gripped from the outside.

[0020] An engaging portion 68 on the outer side in the door width direction at the vertical center of the lever 52 is biased toward the arm portion 18 by a spring 66. When the door 14 is opened to a predetermined open angle, the engaging portion 68 is configured to engage with the notch 30 of the arm portion 18. Here, the predetermined open angle is, for example, the angle of the door 14 that is most effective for an occupant to use the door 14 as support when getting in and out of the door.

[0021] In addition, when the upper end portion 52B of the lever 52 and the bolt 62 are moved in a direction that loosens the biasing force of the spring 66 (the direction of arrow U in Figure 1), i.e., toward the inside of the door width direction, the lever 52 is swung, and the engagement between the engagement portion 68 of the lever 52 and the notch portion 30 is released.

[0022] (Action of this embodiment) Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

[0023] In the vehicle door lock mechanism 10 according to this embodiment, the lever 52 swings in the door width direction around the lower end 52A as a fulcrum. The lever 52 is constantly biased outward in the door width direction by the spring 66. This biases the engagement portion 68 of the lever 52 toward the arm portion 18.

[0024] When door 14 is gradually opened from its closed state, engaging portion 68 of lever 52 slides along side surface 28B of arm portion 18 facing the vehicle body. At this time, arm portion 18 is gradually pulled out from inside door 14 through through-hole 22.

[0025] When the door 14 is further opened, the engaging portion 68 of the lever 52 slides along the side surface 28B of the arm portion 18 and engages with the notch 30 at a predetermined opening angle. This limits the rotation of the door 14. Therefore, the door 14 can be reliably stopped at the predetermined opening angle. By mechanically limiting the rotation of the door 14 in this way, the door 14 can be stopped more reliably than in a configuration in which the door 14 is stopped using an electrical mechanism. Therefore, even if a large load is applied to the door 14, for example, when a passenger applies a load to the stopped door 14 as a handrail when getting in and out of a vehicle, the door 14 can be reliably stopped at the predetermined opening angle.

[0026] Furthermore, since the door 14 is securely locked, it is possible to prevent the door 14 from colliding with an adjacent vehicle, a wall, or other obstacle when an occupant applies weight to the door 14.

[0027] Furthermore, when the upper end 52B of the lever 52 and the bolt 62 are moved inward in the door width direction (in the direction of arrow U in FIG. 1 ) to release the biasing force of the spring 66 toward the outside in the door width direction, the lever 52 is swung, and the engagement between the notch 30 and the engagement portion 68 is released. This allows the door 14 to rotate. When the door 14 is further opened from this state, the engagement portion 68 of the lever 52 slides along the door-side side surface 28A of the arm portion 18. At this time, the arm portion 18 is further pulled out from inside the door 14 through the through-hole 22. The movement of the arm portion 18 is then limited by a stopper (not shown) provided at the end on the door side. This stops the door 14 in the fully open position.

[0028] Here, the door-side corner 32 of the arm portion 18, which is formed between the notch 30 and the side surface 28A closer to the door 14 than the notch 30, is formed at a substantially right angle in a plan cross-sectional view. As a result, when the door 14 is opened from a closed state to a locked position, it is reliably locked by the door-side corner 32. In other words, unless the lever 52 is swung to release the lock, the engaging portion 68 cannot climb over the door-side corner 32 of the arm portion 18 and abut against the side surface 28A.

[0029] On the other hand, the vehicle body side corner 34 of the arm portion 18, which is formed between the notch 30 and the side surface 28B closer to the vehicle body than the notch 30, is formed as an obtuse angle, i.e., a gentle angle, in a plan cross-sectional view. Therefore, when the door 14 is closed from a fully open state, the engaging portion 68 engages with the notch 30 and then overcomes the biasing force of the spring 66 to overcome the vehicle body side corner 34 and abut against the side surface 28B. In other words, when the door 14 is closed from a fully open state, the arm portion 18 slides without being engaged with the lever 52, and the door 14 is not locked. Therefore, the occupant can close the door 14 without any discomfort.

[0030] Furthermore, according to the vehicle door lock mechanism 10 of this embodiment, the vehicle door lock mechanism 10 can be installed by forming a notch 30 in an existing door check link and fixing the door lock device 50 to the door 14, so that the vehicle door lock mechanism 10 can be easily installed as an aftermarket equipment in already sold vehicles and used vehicles.

[0031] [Supplementary explanation of the above embodiment] In the above embodiment, the door check link 16 has been described as being configured to hold the door 14 at a predetermined open angle by having the upper surface 26 and the lower surface 27 of the arm portion 18 have an uneven shape. Also, the door check link 16 has been described as regulating the fully open position of the door 14. However, this is not limiting, and the door check link 16 does not necessarily have to have these functions.

[0032] Furthermore, although the upper end 52B of the lever 52 and the bolt 62 have been described as corresponding to the release portion, this is not limited thereto. For example, the upper end 52B of the lever 52 may be bent toward the vehicle body, and the lever 52 may be swung by grasping and moving this bent portion.

[0033] Furthermore, the direction in which the lever 52 engages with the arm portion 18 is not limited to the above. [Explanation of symbols]

[0034] 10. Vehicle door lock mechanism 14 Doors (Swing Doors) 16 Door Check Link 18 Arm section 30 Notch 52 Lever 52B Upper end of lever (release part) 62 Bolt (release part) 68 Engagement part

Claims

[Claim 1] a door check link that connects the swing door and the vehicle body and has an arm portion with a notch formed therein; a lever including: an engaging portion that is biased toward the arm portion and that engages with the notch of the arm portion when the swing door is opened at a predetermined angle; and a releasing portion that is configured to release the engagement between the notch and the engaging portion by being swung in a direction that loosens the biasing force; and The arm portion is configured so that the engaging portion can move relatively in response to opening and closing of the swing door, The notch is formed on a side surface of the arm portion on the engaging portion side so as to be recessed toward the engaging portion, and the angle of the inner surface relative to the side surface on the swing door side is a right angle, and the angle of the inner surface relative to the side surface on the vehicle body side is an obtuse angle. A vehicle door lock mechanism including:

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