Vehicle door lock device

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a vehicle door lock device capable of switching the state of a lock mechanism and the state of a double lock mechanism by means of one driving force source. [Solution] A lock mechanism 123 for a vehicle door lock device 10 is configured to: switch to an unlock state when a first rotary member 42 moves to an unlock corresponding position which is a position where the first rotary member 42 has rotated in a one predetermined direction from a neutral position by means of a driving force of a first electric motor 41; and switch to a lock state when the first rotary member 42 moves to a lock corresponding position which is a position where the first rotary member 42 has rotated in a direction opposite to the one predetermined direction from the neutral position. A double lock mechanism 124 is configured to alternately switch between a DL unset state and a DL set state every time the first rotary member 42 moves to a cam operation position which is a position where the first rotary member 42 has rotated in a direction opposite to the one predetermined direction beyond the lock corresponding position from the neutral position by means of the driving force of the first electric motor 41.

Description

Door lock device for vehicle

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

[0002] The vehicle door lock device disclosed in Patent Document 1 is configured to switch between a locked state, an unlocked state, and an unlatched state by the driving force of an electric motor. Specifically, the vehicle door lock device disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a rotating member that rotates by the driving force of the electric motor. The rotating member is rotatable among a neutral position, an unlocked position that is a position rotated from the neutral position in a predetermined direction, a locking position that is a position rotated from the neutral position in a direction opposite to the predetermined direction, and an unlatched position that is a position beyond the locking position from the neutral position. The rotating member is configured to be in the neutral position while the electric motor is not operating.

[0003] When the vehicle door lock device is in a locked state, if the rotating member is rotated from the neutral position to the unlocked position by the driving force of the electric motor, the vehicle door lock device switches to an unlocked state, and when the vehicle door lock device is in an unlocked state, if the rotating member is moved from the neutral position to the locked position by the driving force of the electric motor, the vehicle door lock device switches to a locked state. Furthermore, when the rotating member is moved from the neutral position past the locked position to the unlatched position by the driving force of the electric motor, the vehicle door lock device switches to an unlatched state. In this way, the vehicle door lock device disclosed in Patent Document 1 is configured to switch between the unlocked state, the locked state, and the unlatched state by switching the driving force of the electric motor between forward and reverse.

[0004] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2021-85292

[0005] Some vehicle door lock devices include a double lock mechanism that operates using the driving force of a driving force source. The double lock mechanism is configured so that the door lock device cannot be switched from a locked state to an unlocked state by mechanical operation when in a locked state. When applying a double lock mechanism that operates using the driving force of a driving force source to a vehicle door lock device that can be switched between a locked state and an unlocked state using the driving force of the driving force source, such as that disclosed in Patent Document 1, a driving force source for operating the double lock mechanism is required in addition to the driving force source for switching between the locked state and the unlocked state. Furthermore, adding a driving force source for operating the double lock mechanism to a vehicle door lock device increases the parts cost of the vehicle door lock device.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and aims to provide a door lock device for a vehicle equipped with a double lock mechanism that does not require a driving force source separate from the driving force source for switching the lock mechanism between a locked state and an unlocked state.

[0007] In order to solve the above problems, the vehicle door lock device of the present invention includes a latch mechanism switchable between a latched state that does not allow the vehicle door to be opened and an unlatched state that allows the vehicle door to be opened; a lock mechanism switchable between a locked state that does not allow the latch mechanism to be switched from the latched state to the unlatched state and an unlocked state that allows the latch mechanism to be switched from the latched state to the unlatched state; a double lock mechanism switchable between a double lock set state that does not allow the lock mechanism to be switched from the locked state to the unlocked state and a double lock unlocked state that allows the lock mechanism to be switched from the locked state to the unlocked state; and a restriction mechanism alternately switchable between a first state that does not allow the double lock mechanism to be switched from the double lock set state to the double lock unlocked state and a second state that allows the double lock mechanism to be switched from the double lock set state to the double lock unlocked state. a first rotating member configured to be rotatable by a driving force output by a first driving force source, and configured to switch the locking mechanism from the locked state to the unlocked state when the locking mechanism is moved to a second position which is rotated in one direction from a first position while in the locked state, to switch the locking mechanism from the unlocked state to the locked state when the locking mechanism is moved to a third position which is rotated in the opposite direction from the first position while in the unlocked state, and to alternately switch the regulating mechanism between the first state and the second state each time the locking mechanism is moved to a fourth position which is rotated in the opposite direction from the first position past the third position.

[0008] According to the present invention, when the door lock device (lock mechanism of the door lock device) is in an unlocked state, if the rotating member is moved from the first position to the third position by the driving force of the driving force source, the door lock device switches to a locked state. Also, when the door lock device is in a locked state, if the rotating member is moved from the first position to the second position by the driving force of the driving force source, the door lock device switches to an unlocked state. Furthermore, when the door lock device is in a locked state, if the rotating member is moved from the first position past the third position to the fourth position by the driving force of the driving force source, the door lock device (double lock mechanism of the door lock device) switches from a double lock-unset state to a double lock-set state, or from the double lock-set state to a double lock-unset state.

[0009] In this way, the door lock device can be switched between the locked and unlocked states and between the double unlocked and double locked set states using a single driving force source, eliminating the need to provide separate driving force sources for switching between the locked and unlocked states and for switching between the double lock unlocked and double locked set states, thereby preventing or minimizing an increase in the number of parts in the vehicle door lock device.

[0010] FIG. 1A is a diagram showing a vehicle door to which a vehicle door lock device is applied. FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view taken along line IB-IB in FIG. 1A. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the door lock device. FIG. 3A is a diagram showing the operation of the door lock device. FIG. 3B is a diagram showing the operation of the door lock device. FIG. 3C is an enlarged view of portion IIIC in FIG. 3A. FIG. 4A is a diagram showing the operation of the door lock device. FIG. 4B is a diagram showing the operation of the door lock device. FIG. 5A is a diagram showing the operation of the door lock device. FIG. 5B is a diagram showing the operation of the door lock device. FIG. 6A is a diagram showing the operation of the door lock device. FIG. 7A is a diagram showing the operation of the door lock device. FIG. 7A is a diagram showing the operation of the door lock device. FIG. 8A is a diagram showing the operation of the door lock device. FIG. 8A is a diagram showing the operation of the door lock device. FIG. 9A is a partial cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a knock-type cam. FIG. 9B is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of a knock-type cam. FIG. 10A is a schematic diagram showing the operation of a knock-type cam. Fig. 10B is a schematic diagram showing the operation of the knock cam. Fig. 10C is a schematic diagram showing the operation of the knock cam. Fig. 10D is a schematic diagram showing the operation of the knock cam. Fig. 10E is a schematic diagram showing the operation of the knock cam. Fig. 10F is a schematic diagram showing the operation of the knock cam.

[0011] A vehicle door lock device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below. In the following description, the vehicle door lock device may be abbreviated as a "door lock device." In the following description, the directions of the door lock device and its components are based on the directions of the vehicle. In each drawing, the front side of the door lock device (and the vehicle) is indicated by an arrow Fr, the rear side is indicated by an arrow Rr, the outer side in the vehicle width direction (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the vehicle exterior side) is indicated by an arrow Out, the inner side in the vehicle width direction (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the vehicle interior side) is indicated by an arrow In, the upper side is indicated by an arrow Up, and the lower side is indicated by an arrow Dw.

[0012] <Vehicle Door> FIG. 1A is a side view of a vehicle door 90 to which a door lock device 10 is applied, as seen from the vehicle exterior. FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the rear end of the vehicle door 90 to which the door lock device 10 is applied, taken along the arrows IB-IB in FIG. 1A. The vehicle door 90 has a front end rotatably connected to the vehicle body and is configured to be able to close and open by rotating relative to the vehicle body. The vehicle door 90 includes a door main body 91 that forms a lower half of the vehicle door 90 and a door sash 92 that is provided in an upper half of the door main body 91. The door main body 91 includes an outer panel 911 that forms the exterior surface of the vehicle door 90, an inner panel 912 that is fixed to the interior side of the outer panel 911, and a resin trim 913 that is fixed to the interior side of the inner panel 912 and forms the interior surface of the door main body 91.

[0013] A door handle device including an outside door handle 914 and a key cylinder 916 is attached to the outer panel 911. The outside door handle 914 and the key cylinder 916 are operating members that can be manually operated by a vehicle user from outside the vehicle. An inside door handle 915 is attached to the trim 913. The inside door handle 915 is an operating member that can be manually operated by a vehicle user from inside the vehicle. Both the outside door handle 914 and the inside door handle 915 can be moved between an initial position and an operating position by rotating relative to the vehicle door 90. The outside door handle 914 and the inside door handle 915 are constantly elastically biased toward their initial positions by biasing members (not shown). Therefore, when not manually operated, the outside door handle 914 and the inside door handle 915 are held in their initial positions by the biasing force of the biasing members. The vehicle user can manually operate the outside door handle 914 and the inside door handle 915 (manually move them from the initial position to the operating position).

[0014] 1B, the door lock device 10 is disposed in the interior space of the vehicle door 90 (i.e., the space surrounded by the outer panel 911 and the inner panel 912), and a portion of the door lock device 10 is exposed to the outside at the rear end of the vehicle door 90. The door lock device 10 is fixed to the inner panel 912 (i.e., the vehicle door 90).

[0015] The configuration of the vehicle door 90 is not particularly limited as long as the vehicle door 90 is rotatably connected to the vehicle body and can be closed and opened by rotating relative to the vehicle body.

[0016] 2 is an exploded perspective view showing an example of the configuration of the door lock device 10. The door lock device 10 includes an engagement body 11 and an actuator body 12.

[0017] (Mating Body) The mating body 11 includes a latch mechanism 111. The latch mechanism 111 is configured to be switchable between a latched state and an unlatched state. The latched state is a state in which the vehicle door 90 is not permitted to be opened (which can also be said to hold the vehicle door 90 in a closed state). The unlatched state is a state in which the vehicle door 90 is permitted to be opened.

[0018] In this embodiment, the latch mechanism 111 includes a base plate 112, a latch 113, and a lift lever 114. The latch 113 is rotatably supported on the base plate 112 and is movable between a latched position (a fully latched position and a half latched position) and an unlatched position. The latch 113 is configured to restrict (not allow) the vehicle door 90 from opening when the vehicle door 90 is in a closed state when the latch 113 is in the latched position, and to allow the vehicle door 90 to open when the latch 113 is moved from the latched position to the unlatched position when the vehicle door 90 is in a closed state.

[0019] The lift lever 114 is rotatably supported on the base plate 112 and configured to be movable between an initial position and an operating position. When the lift lever 114 is located in the initial position, it restricts the movement of the latch 113 from the latched position to the unlatched position, and when located in the operating position, it allows the latch 113 to move from the latched position to the unlatched position.

[0020] In this way, the latch mechanism 111 is configured to be maintained in a latched state when the lift lever 114 is in the initial position while the vehicle door 90 is in a closed state, and to switch from the latched state to the unlatched state when the lift lever 114 moves from the initial position to the operating position. Note that the specific configuration of the mating body 11, including the latch mechanism 111, is not particularly limited, and various known configurations can be applied.

[0021] (Actuator Body) The actuator body 12 comprises a housing 31, which is a housing, a base 32, and a cover (not shown). The housing 31 is a box-shaped member with one side open, and is configured so that predetermined members of the actuator body 12 and the mating body 11 can be attached. The base 32 is a member to which predetermined members are attached and which is also attached to the housing 31. The cover (not shown) is attached to the housing 31 to cover the various members housed in the housing 31.

[0022] The actuator body 12 includes a manual operation mechanism 121, an electric unlatch mechanism 122, a lock mechanism 123, and a double lock mechanism 124.

[0023] (Manual Operation Mechanism) The manual operation mechanism 121 is configured to be able to switch the latch mechanism 111 from a latched state to an unlatched state in conjunction with manual operation of the outside door handle 914 or the inside door handle 915. The manual operation mechanism 121 includes the outside open lever 33, the open link 34, the inside open lever 35, and the inside lever 36.

[0024] The outside open lever 33 includes an open link support portion 331 that rotatably supports the open link 34 and an inside lever engagement portion 332 that can be engaged with and disengaged from the inside lever 36. The outside open lever 33 is rotatably supported relative to the housing 31. The outside open lever 33 is configured to be movable between an initial position and an operating position by rotating relative to the housing 31. The operating position of the outside open lever 33 is a position where the open link support portion 331 moves upward from the initial position. The outside open lever 33 is constantly elastically biased toward the initial position by an outside open lever biasing spring 333. The outside open lever 33 is connected to an outside door handle 914 of the vehicle door 90 via a wire or the like. When the outside door handle 914 is manually operated (moved from the initial position to the operating position), the outside open lever 33 is configured to move from the initial position to the operating position in conjunction with the movement of the outside door handle 914.

[0025] The open link 34 is rotatably supported with respect to the outside open lever 33. Therefore, the open link 34 is rotatable relative to the outside open lever 33 and is rotatable relative to the housing 31 together with the outside open lever 33. The open link 34 is movable between an unlocked position (see FIGS. 3A and 3B) and a locked position (see FIGS. 4A and 4B) by rotating with respect to the outside open lever 33. Furthermore, when the open link 34 is positioned at the unlocked position or the locked position, it is movable between an initial position and an operating position by moving together with the outside open lever 33.

[0026] The open link 34 includes a release lever engaging portion 341 and a spring engaging portion 342. When the outside open lever 33 moves from the initial position to the operating position while the open link 34 is in the unlocked position, the release lever engaging portion 341 of the open link 34 pushes the release lever 40 to move it from the initial position to the operating position, thereby pushing up the lift lever 114 via the release lever 40 and moving the lift lever 114 from the initial position to the operating position. Furthermore, when the outside open lever 33 moves from the initial position to the operating position while the open link 34 is in the locked position, the release lever engaging portion 341 of the open link 34 is configured not to come into contact with the release lever 40 (i.e., not to move the lift lever 114 from the initial position to the operating position via the release lever 40). The spring engaging portion 342 is a portion that engages with the open link biasing spring 48, which will be described later. The spring engaging portion 342 has a protruding configuration that protrudes in a direction substantially parallel to the rotation center line of the open link 34 relative to the lift lever 114.

[0027] The inside open lever 35 is rotatably supported relative to the housing 31. The inside open lever 35 is configured to be movable between an initial position (see, for example, FIGS. 3A and 3B ) and an operating position (for example, a position rotated clockwise from the position shown in FIG. 3A or counterclockwise from the position shown in FIG. 3B ) by rotating relative to the housing 31. The inside open lever 35 is linked to the inside door handle 915 and configured to move from the initial position to the operating position in conjunction with manual operation of the inside door handle 915. For example, the inside open lever 35 and the inside door handle 915 are connected by a wire (not shown). The inside open lever 35 is constantly elastically biased toward the initial position by an inside open lever biasing member (not shown). Therefore, when the inside door handle 915 is not manually operated, the inside open lever 35 is held in the initial position by the biasing force of the inside open lever biasing member.

[0028] The inside open lever 35 has an inside lever engaging portion 351. The inside lever engaging portion 351 is configured to be freely engaged with and disengaged from an inside open lever engaging portion 361 of the inside lever 36, which will be described later. When the inside open lever 35 is moved from the initial position to the operating position, the inside lever engaging portion 351 engages with the inside open lever engaging portion 361 of the inside lever 36, pushing the inside lever 36 from the initial position toward the operating position.

[0029] The inside lever 36 is rotatably supported relative to the housing 31. The inside lever 36 can be moved between an initial position (see, for example, FIGS. 3A and 3B ) and an operating position (for example, a position rotated counterclockwise from the position shown in FIG. 3A or clockwise from the position shown in FIG. 3B ) by rotating relative to the housing 31. The inside lever 36 includes an inside open lever engaging portion 361 and an outside open lever engaging portion 362. The inside open lever engaging portion 361 is configured to be engageable and disengageable with the inside lever engaging portion 351 of the inside open lever 35. The outside open lever engaging portion 362 is configured to be engageable and disengageable with the inside lever engaging portion 332 of the outside open lever 33. When the inside lever 36 moves from the initial position to the operating position, the outside open lever engaging portion 362 comes into contact with the inside lever engaging portion 332 of the outside open lever 33, moving the outside open lever 33 from the initial position to the operating position.

[0030] (Electric Unlatch Mechanism) The electric unlatch mechanism 122 is configured to be able to switch the latch mechanism 111 from a latched state to an unlatched state by the driving force of the second electric motor 37. The electric unlatch mechanism 122 includes the second electric motor 37, a second rotating member 38, a second rotating member biasing spring 39, and a release lever 40.

[0031] The second electric motor 37 is an example of a second drive power source of the present invention. The second electric motor 37 is a drive power source for the second rotating member 38, and is configured to be able to output drive power (rotational power) in both forward and reverse directions when energized. A second worm 371 is provided on the rotary shaft of the second electric motor 37, and the second electric motor 37 drives and rotates the second rotating member 38 via this second worm 371.

[0032] The second rotating member 38 is rotatably supported relative to the housing 31 via the base 32 and is configured to rotate by a driving force (rotational power) transmitted from the second electric motor 37. In the present embodiment, a worm wheel (helical gear) is used as the second rotating member 38 and is engaged with a second worm 371 provided on the rotation shaft of the second electric motor 37. The second worm 371 of the second electric motor 37 and the second rotating member 38 are configured to be capable of driving in opposite directions. That is, when the second electric motor 37 is not energized (when the second electric motor 37 is not outputting a driving force), the second rotating member 38 is rotatable by the biasing force of a second rotating member biasing spring 39, which will be described later.

[0033] The second rotating member 38 is movable between a neutral position (see, for example, FIGS. 3A and 3B ) and an unlatched position by rotating relative to the housing 31. The neutral position is one end of the movable range of the second rotating member 38. The unlatched position is the other end of the movable range of the second rotating member 38, which is a position rotated clockwise from the neutral position in FIG. 3A .

[0034] The second rotating member 38 has a release lever engaging portion 381. The release lever engaging portion 381 is a portion configured to be able to engage and disengage with the second rotating member engaging portion 401 of the release lever 40, and has a protrusion-like configuration that protrudes in the axial direction from one end face in the axial direction of the second rotating member 38. When the second rotating member 38 moves from the neutral position to the unlatch corresponding position, the release lever engaging portion 381 comes into contact with the second rotating member engaging portion 401 of the release lever 40 and pushes the release lever 40.

[0035] The second rotating member biasing spring 39 is configured to constantly elastically bias the second rotating member 38 toward the neutral position. The second rotating member biasing spring 39 can be, for example, a torsion coil spring having an arm at each end. In this case, a configuration can be applied in which one arm engages with the second rotating member 38 and the other arm engages with the base 32. The second rotating member biasing spring 39 is housed inside the second rotating member 38 coaxially with the second rotating member 38.

[0036] The release lever 40 is rotatably supported relative to the housing 31. The release lever 40 can be moved between an initial position (see FIGS. 3A and 3B ) and an operating position by rotating relative to the housing 31. The operating position is a position obtained by rotating counterclockwise from the initial position shown in FIG. 3A . The release lever 40 includes a second rotating member engaging portion 401 and a lift lever engaging portion 402. The second rotating member engaging portion 401 is configured to be engageable with and disengageable from the release lever engaging portion 381 of the second rotating member 38 and is configured to engage with the release lever engaging portion 381 of the second rotating member 38 when the second rotating member 38 rotates from the neutral position toward the unlatched position. The lift lever engaging portion 402 is configured to be engageable with and disengageable from the lift lever 114 and the inside lever 36.

[0037] (Manual Unlatching Operation) Here, we will explain the manual unlatching operation of the door lock device 10. The manual unlatching operation is an operation in which, when the lock mechanism 123 of the door lock device 10 is in an unlocked state, the latch mechanism 111 is switched from a latched state to an unlatched state by manually operating the outside door handle 914 or the inside door handle 915.

[0038] When the inside door handle 915 is manually operated, the inside open lever 35 moves from the initial position to the operating position in conjunction with the movement of the inside door handle 915 against the biasing force of the inside open lever biasing spring. When moving from the initial position to the operating position, the inside open lever 35 pushes the inside lever 36, moving the inside lever 36 from the initial position to the operating position. When moving from the initial position to the operating position, the inside lever 36 pushes the outside open lever 33, moving the outside open lever 33 from the initial position to the operating position. Furthermore, when the outside door handle 914 is manually operated, the outside open lever 33 moves from the initial position to the operating position in conjunction with the movement of the outside door handle 914.

[0039] When the outside open lever 33 moves from the initial position to the operating position while the open link 34 is in the unlocked position, the open link 34 pushes the lift lever 114 via the release lever 40, moving the lift lever 114 from the initial position to the operating position. This causes the latch 113 to move from the latched position to the unlatched position, switching the latch mechanism 111 from the latched state to the unlatched state. In this way, if the outside door handle 914 or the inside door handle 915 is manually operated while the open link 34 is in the unlatched position, the latch mechanism 111 of the door lock device 10 switches from the latched state to the unlatched state.

[0040] When the open link 34 is in the locked position, the open link 34 does not come into contact with the release lever 40 even when the outside open lever 33 moves from the initial position to the operating position. In other words, the locked position of the open link 34 is the position where the open link 34 does not come into contact with the release lever 40 even when the open link 34 moves from the initial position to the operating position together with the outside open lever 33. Therefore, when the open link 34 is in the locked position, even if the outside door handle 914 or the inside door handle 915 is manually operated to move the outside open lever 33 from the initial position to the operating position, the lift lever 114 does not move from the initial position to the operating position. Therefore, in this case, the latch mechanism 111 does not switch from the latched state to the unlatched state.

[0041] (Electric Unlatch Operation) The electric unlatch operation is an operation in which the latch mechanism 111 is switched from the latched state to the unlatched state by the driving force of the second electric motor 37. By driving the second electric motor 37, the second rotating member 38 is moved from the neutral position to the unlatch corresponding position. When the second rotating member 38 moves from the neutral position to the unlatch corresponding position, the release lever engaging portion 381 of the second rotating member 38 presses the second rotating member engaging portion 401 of the release lever 40. As a result, the release lever 40 moves from the initial position to the operating position. At this time, the lift lever engaging portion 402 of the release lever 40 presses the lift lever 114. As a result, the lift lever 114 moves from the initial position to the operating position. As a result, the latch mechanism 111 switches from the latched state to the unlatched state.

[0042] (Locking Mechanism and Double Locking Mechanism) Next, the locking mechanism 123 and the double locking mechanism 124 will be described. The locking mechanism 123 is configured to be switchable between an unlocked state and a locked state. The unlocked state allows the latch mechanism 111 to be switched from the latched state to the unlatched state by manual operation of the manual operating mechanism 121, and specifically, is a state in which the open link 34 is held in the unlocked position. The locked state of the locking mechanism 123 does not allow (restricts) the latch mechanism 111 to be switched from the latched state to the unlatched state by manual operation of the manual operating mechanism 121, and specifically, is a state in which the open link 34 is held in the locked position. The double locking mechanism 124 is configured to be switchable between a double lock unlocked state (hereinafter sometimes referred to as a DL unlocked state) and a double lock set state (hereinafter sometimes referred to as a DL set state). The DL unlocked state is a state in which the locking mechanism 123 is allowed to be switched from the locked state to the unlocked state. The DL set state is a state in which the lock mechanism 123 is not permitted to switch from the locked state to the unlocked state (a restricted state).

[0043] The locking mechanism 123 and the double locking mechanism 124 are configured to operate using the driving force of the first electric motor 41, which is a common driving force source. The locking mechanism 123 includes the first electric motor 41, a first rotating member 42, a first rotating member biasing spring 43, a locking lever 44, a locking link 45, a locking link biasing spring 46, an active lever 47, and an open link biasing spring 48. The double locking mechanism 124 includes the first electric motor 41, the first rotating member 42, the first rotating member biasing spring 43, an intermediate lever 49, and a knock-type cam 50. The first rotating member 42, the locking link 45, and the intermediate lever 49 are arranged to be rotatable coaxially with respect to the housing 31 via the base 32. For convenience of explanation, the rotation centers (rotation center lines) of the first rotating member 42, the locking link 45, and the intermediate lever 49 relative to the housing 31 may be referred to as a "common center (common center line)."

[0044] The first electric motor 41 is an example of a first driving force source of the present invention. The first electric motor 41 is a driving force source that rotates the first rotating member 42. An electric motor that can output driving force (rotational power) in both forward and reverse directions is used as the first electric motor 41. A first worm 411 is attached to the output shaft of the first electric motor 41.

[0045] The first rotating member 42 is rotatably supported relative to the housing 31 via the base 32. A worm wheel (helical gear) is applied to the first rotating member 42. The first rotating member 42 meshes with the first worm 411 and rotates by the driving force (rotational power) output by the first electric motor 41. The first rotating member 42 can be moved relative to the housing 31 to a neutral position (see FIGS. 3A and 3B), an unlock-corresponding position (see FIGS. 8A and 8B), a lock-corresponding position (see FIGS. 4A and 4B), and a cam operating position (see FIGS. 6A and 6B). The neutral position is an example of a first position of the present invention, the unlock-corresponding position is an example of a second position of the present invention, the lock-corresponding position is an example of a third position of the present invention, and the cam operating position is an example of a fourth position of the present invention.

[0046] The neutral position of the first rotating member 42 is the intermediate position of the rotatable range (movable range). The unlocked position of the first rotating member 42 is a position rotated from the neutral position in a predetermined direction (counterclockwise in FIG. 8A , clockwise in FIG. 8B ) and is one end position of the rotatable range. The locked position is a position rotated from the neutral position in the opposite direction to the predetermined direction (clockwise in FIG. 4A , counterclockwise in FIG. 4B ). The cam operating position is a position rotated from the neutral position in the opposite direction to the predetermined direction (clockwise in FIG. 6A , counterclockwise in FIG. 6B ) beyond the locked position and is the other end position of the movable range.

[0047] The first rotating member 42 is constantly elastically biased toward the neutral position by a first rotating member biasing spring 43. A torsion coil spring with arms at both ends is used as the first rotating member biasing spring 43. In this case, the first rotating member biasing spring 43 is housed inside the first rotating member 42 coaxially with respect to the first rotating member 42 so that one arm engages with the first rotating member 42 and the other arm engages with the base 32. The first rotating member 42 and the first worm 411 are configured to be reciprocally drivable (i.e., rotation of the first rotating member 42 can rotate the rotary shaft of the first electric motor 41). Therefore, when the first electric motor 41 is not operating, the first rotating member 42 is maintained in the neutral position by the biasing force of the first rotating member biasing spring 43.

[0048] The first rotating member 42 is provided with a locking lever / locking link engaging portion (hereinafter sometimes referred to as an LL engaging portion 421) and an intermediate lever engaging portion 422. The LL engaging portion 421 is an example of a first engaging portion of the present invention, and the intermediate lever engaging portion 422 is an example of a second engaging portion of the present invention. The LL engaging portion 421 and the intermediate lever engaging portion 422 have protrusion-like structures that protrude on opposite sides of the rotation center line direction of the first rotating member 42.

[0049] The locking lever 44 is supported via the base 32 on the housing 31 so as to be rotatable coaxially with the first rotating member 42. The locking lever 44 is disposed adjacent to the first rotating member 42 with a predetermined gap therebetween, on one side of the common center line direction of the first rotating member 42 from which the LL engaging portion 421 protrudes. The locking lever 44 and the first rotating member 42 are not fixed to each other and are rotatable relative to each other.

[0050] The locking lever 44 is provided with a first rotating member engaging portion 441 and a locking link engaging portion 442. The first rotating member engaging portion 441 is configured to be able to engage and disengage with the LL engaging portion 421 of the first rotating member 42. Specifically, when viewed in the common center line direction, the first rotating member engaging portion 441 is a recess that is open on one circumferential side of a circle centered on the common center and closed on the other side. When viewed in the common center line direction of the locking lever 44, the locking link engaging portion 442 is provided radially outward of the circle centered on the common center relative to the first rotating member engaging portion 441. The locking link engaging portion 442 has a round bar-like configuration that protrudes from one side of the locking lever 44 in the axial direction (common center line) toward the first rotating member 42.

[0051] The locking link 45 is an example of a first operating member of the present invention. The locking link 45 is a member configured to transmit the movement of the locking lever 44 to the active lever 47. The locking link 45 is a long, rod-shaped member formed, for example, from a metal plate. One longitudinal end of the locking link 45 is provided with a rotating member / locking lever engagement portion (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as the RL engagement portion 451). The RL engagement portion 451 is configured to be freely engaged with and disengaged from the LL engagement portion 421 of the first rotating member 42, and is connected to the locking link engagement portion 442 of the locking lever 44 so as to be rotatable and movable in a predetermined direction (specifically, a direction approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the locking link 45). The other longitudinal end of the locking link 45 is rotatably connected to the active lever 47. The common center line, the rotation center line of the locking link 45 relative to the active lever 47, and the rotation center line of the locking link 45 relative to the locking lever 44 are approximately parallel to one another.

[0052] The RL engagement portion 451 of the locking link 45 is disposed between the first rotating member 42 and the locking lever 44 in the common center line direction. An engagement groove 452 and a separation prevention portion 453 are provided in the RL engagement portion 451 of the locking link 45. When viewed in the common center line direction, the engagement groove 452 extends in a direction approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the locking link 45, and has a substantially U-shaped configuration that is open on the side closer to the common center and closed on the opposite side.

[0053] The RL engagement portion 451 is provided with a lock-side receiving portion 454 and an unlock-side receiving portion 455. The lock-side receiving portion 454 includes a lock-side receiving surface 456 facing away from the other end in the longitudinal direction (the side connected to the active lever 47). The unlock-side receiving portion 455 includes an unlock-side receiving surface 457 that is spaced apart from the lock-side receiving surface 456 on the side opposite the other end and is substantially parallel to the lock-side receiving surface 456. The end of the lock-side receiving portion 454 (lock-side receiving surface 456) closer to the common center protrudes closer to the common center than the end of the unlock-side receiving portion 455 (unlock-side receiving surface 457) closer to the common center.

[0054] The detachment prevention portion 453 is an example of a locking portion of the present invention. The detachment prevention portion 453 is provided at the end portion closer to the common center of the lock-side receiving portion 454 (lock-side receiving surface 456). The detachment prevention portion 453 has a protruding structure that protrudes further from the lock-side receiving surface 456 on the side opposite to the other end side.

[0055] The locking link 45 and the locking lever 44 are connected to each other so as to be rotatable about an axis that is substantially parallel to the common center line, by fitting the locking link engaging portion 442 of the locking lever 44 into the engaging groove 452 of the locking link 45. The locking link 45 is also connected to the locking lever 44 so as to be movable relative to the locking lever 44 in the extending direction of the engaging groove 452 (a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the locking link 45).

[0056] A biasing spring engaging portion 458 and a cam pin engaging portion 459 are provided at the intermediate portion in the longitudinal direction of the locking link 45. The biasing spring engaging portion 458 is a portion with which the locking link biasing spring 46 engages. The biasing spring engaging portion 458 is configured to be freely engaged and disengaged with a locking link restricting portion 321 provided on the base 32. Specifically, the biasing spring engaging portion 458 has a flat plate-like configuration that extends to one side in the common center line direction and extends in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the locking link 45. The cam pin engaging portion 459 is a portion configured to be freely engaged and disengaged with a pin 62 of a knock-type cam 50, which will be described later. The cam pin engaging portion 459 has a flat plate-like configuration that extends to one side in the common center line direction and extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the locking link 45.

[0057] The locking link biasing spring 46 is a member configured to constantly elastically bias the biasing spring engaging portion 458 in a direction approaching the locking link restricting portion 321 of the base 32 (to the right in FIG. 3A , and to the left in FIG. 3B ). For example, a torsion coil spring with arms provided on both ends is used as the locking link biasing spring 46. In this case, the locking link biasing spring 46 is arranged so that one arm engages with the biasing spring engaging portion 458 of the locking link 45, and the other arm engages with the base 32.

[0058] The locking link restricting portion 321 provided on the base 32 is a portion configured to restrict the range of rotation of the locking link 45 relative to the active lever 47. The locking link restricting portion 321 has a protrusion-like configuration that protrudes from one surface of the base 32. The urging spring engaging portion 458 of the locking link 45 comes into contact with the locking link restricting portion 321, thereby restricting the range of rotation of the locking link 45. In other words, the "position where the urging spring engaging portion 458 of the locking link 45 comes into contact with the locking link restricting portion 321" is one end position of the range of rotation of the locking link 45 relative to the active lever 47.

[0059] The locking link 45 moves between an unlocked position and a locked position in conjunction with the rotation of the locking lever 44. The unlocked position of the locking link 45 is an example of a fifth position of the present invention, and the locked position of the locking link 45 is an example of a sixth position of the present invention. The unlocked position of the locking link 45 is the position when the locking link 45 is located at the unlocked position. The locked position of the locking link 45 is the position when the locking link 45 is located at the locked position.

[0060] The active lever 47 is supported rotatably and coaxially with the inside lever 36 relative to the housing 31. However, the active lever 47 and the inside lever 36 are not fixed to each other and can rotate independently of each other relative to the housing 31. The active lever 47 is configured to be movable between a lock corresponding position and an unlock corresponding position by rotating relative to the housing 31. The lock corresponding position of the active lever 47 is one end position of the movable range of the active lever 47, and is the position when the locking lever 44 and the locking link 45 are located at the lock corresponding position. The unlock corresponding position of the active lever 47 is the other end position of the movable range of the active lever 47, and is the position when the locking lever 44 and the locking link 45 are located at the unlock corresponding position.

[0061] The active lever 47 is elastically biased toward either the lock corresponding position or the unlock corresponding position by a not shown detent spring. Specifically, when the active lever 47 is located closer to the lock corresponding position than a predetermined position in the middle of the movable range, the active lever 47 is elastically biased toward the lock corresponding position by the detent spring. On the other hand, when the active lever 47 is located closer to the unlock corresponding position than the predetermined position in the middle of the movable range, the active lever 47 is elastically biased toward the unlock corresponding position by the detent spring.

[0062] The active lever 47 includes a locking link engaging portion 471 and a spring mounting portion 472. The locking link engaging portion 471 is a portion that rotatably engages (or can be said to be connected to) the other end of the locking link 45. The spring mounting portion 472 is a portion to which the open link biasing spring 48 is attached.

[0063] The open link biasing spring 48 is attached to a spring attachment portion 472 of the active lever 47. The open link biasing spring 48 is configured to hold the open link 34 in the locked position when the active lever 47 is positioned in the lock corresponding position, and to hold the open link 34 in the unlocked position when the active lever 47 is positioned in the unlock corresponding position. However, the open link biasing spring 48 is configured to allow the open link 34 to be positioned in the locked position by elastically deforming even when the active lever 47 is positioned in the unlock corresponding position.

[0064] The open link biasing spring 48 may be, for example, a torsion coil spring having an arm at each end. The two arms of the open link biasing spring 48 are substantially parallel, and the open link biasing spring 48 can elastically deform so as to widen the gap between these two arms. In this case, the spring engaging portion 342 of the open link 34 may have a protruding configuration that protrudes in a direction parallel to the axis of the open link 34 (the center line of rotation relative to the outside open lever 33). The spring engaging portion 342 of the open link 34 is located between the two arms of the open link biasing spring 48 (sandwiched between the two arms).

[0065] The knock cam 50 is an example of a restriction mechanism of the present invention. The knock cam 50 includes an outer tube 60, an inner tube 61 (see FIGS. 9A and 9B ), and a pin 62, and has an overall elongated rod-like shape. The pin 62 is an example of a first restriction member of the present invention. The inner tube 61 and the pin 62 are configured to be movable in the longitudinal direction relative to the outer tube 60. The pin 62 can be moved between a retracted position and a restricted position by moving in the longitudinal direction relative to the outer tube 60. The retracted position is an example of a seventh position of the present invention, and the restricted position is an example of an eighth position of the present invention. Specifically, the pin 62 is configured such that, by moving in the longitudinal direction relative to the outer tube 60, the protrusion dimension of one end of the pin 62 (the end located on the lower right side in FIG. 2 ) from one end of the outer tube 60 (the end located on the lower right side in FIG. 2 ) changes. The retracted position of the pin 62 is a position near one end of the movable range of the pin 62 where the protrusion dimension is smallest. The other end of the movable range of the pin 62, which is near the end on the side where the protrusion dimension is greatest, is the restricted position of the pin 62. In other words, the protrusion dimension when the pin 62 is in the restricted position is greater than the protrusion dimension when the pin 62 is in the retracted position.

[0066] The inner cylinder 61 includes a cam arm 612 that protrudes outside the outer cylinder 60. The cam arm 612 is configured to be engageable with and disengageable from the cam arm engaging portion 491 of the intermediate lever 49. The inner cylinder 61 is configured to be movable relative to the outer cylinder 60 among a non-switching position, a first switching position, and a second switching position. The non-switching position of the inner cylinder 61 is one end of the movable range of the inner cylinder 61, and is located at or near the end of the movable range of the pin 62 on the same side as the restricted position. The first switching position of the inner cylinder 61 is the other end of the movable range of the inner cylinder 61, and is located at or near the end of the movable range of the pin 62 on the same side as the retracted position. The second switching position of the inner cylinder 61 is located near the first switching position and is closer to the non-switching position than the first switching position. The knock-type cam 50 is configured to alternately switch between a state in which the pin 62 is in the retracted position and a state in which the pin 62 is in the restricted position each time the operation of "the inner cylinder 61 moving from the non-switching position to the first switching position and then returning to the non-switching position" is performed.

[0067] The knock cam 50 is attached to the housing 31 via the base 32. When the pin 62 is in the retracted position, the knock cam 50 allows the locking link 45 to move from the lock corresponding position to the unlock corresponding position, and when the pin 62 is in the restricting position, the knock cam 50 does not allow the locking link 45 to move from the lock corresponding position to the unlock corresponding position. Specifically, when the pin 62 is in the retracted position, the knock cam 50 is positioned such that the entire knock cam 50, including the pin 62, is positioned outside the movement locus of the locking link 45 when the lock corresponding position moves from the lock corresponding position to the unlock corresponding position. Furthermore, when the pin 62 is in the restricting position, the knock cam 50 is positioned such that one end of the pin 62 is positioned within the movement locus of the cam pin engaging portion 459 of the locking link 45 when the lock corresponding position moves from the lock corresponding position to the unlock corresponding position.

[0068] Furthermore, the knock cam 50 is disposed so that, when viewed from the common center line direction, the end of the inner cylinder 61 closer to the non-switching position is located closer to the locking link 45, and the end closer to the first switching position is located farther from the locking link 45. Furthermore, the knock cam 50 is disposed near the first rotating member 42 so that its axis is located on a plane perpendicular to the common center line.

[0069] With the knock cam 50 configured in this manner, when the pin 62 is in the retracted position, the locking link 45 can move from the lock corresponding position to the unlock corresponding position without being obstructed by the pin 62 of the knock cam 50. On the other hand, when the pin 62 is in the restricting position, one end of the pin 62 interferes with the cam pin engaging portion 459 of the locking lever 44, preventing the locking link 45 from moving from the lock corresponding position to the unlock corresponding position. Note that, to prevent the pin 62 from moving in the axial direction of the knock cam 50 when the cam pin engaging portion 459 of the locking link 45 comes into contact with the pin 62, the moving direction of the locking link 45 and the axial direction of the knock cam 50 preferably intersect each other and are substantially perpendicular to each other when viewed from the common center line direction.

[0070] The intermediate lever 49 is an example of a second operating member of the present invention. The intermediate lever 49 is a generally rod-shaped member formed, for example, from a metal plate. The intermediate lever 49 is disposed close to the first rotating member 42 on one side of the first rotating member 42 in the direction of the common center line, opposite the side on which the locking lever 44 and the locking link 45 are disposed. One longitudinal end of the intermediate lever 49 is rotatably supported relative to the housing 31 via the base 32. The intermediate lever 49 is rotatably supported coaxially with the first rotating member 42 and the locking lever 44. However, the intermediate lever 49 is not fixed to either the first rotating member 42 or the locking link 45, and can rotate independently of the first rotating member 42 and the locking link 45. A cam arm engaging portion 491 is provided at the other longitudinal end of the intermediate lever 49. The cam arm engaging portion 491 is configured to be able to engage and disengage with the cam arm 612 of the knock-type cam 50, and has a protruding configuration that protrudes to one side in the common center line direction (the side of the first rotating member 42).

[0071] The intermediate lever 49 can be moved between an initial position and an operating position by rotating with respect to the housing 31. The initial position of the intermediate lever 49 is an example of a ninth position of the present invention, and the operating position of the intermediate lever 49 is an example of a tenth position of the present invention. The initial position of the intermediate lever 49 is a position that allows the cam arm 612 (inner cylinder 61) to be positioned at the non-switching position. Specifically, the initial position of the intermediate lever 49 is a position closer to the locking link 45 than the cam arm 612 when the inner cylinder 61 is positioned at the non-switching position, and is a position farther from the locking link 45 than the intermediate lever engaging portion 422 when the first rotating member 42 is positioned at the lock corresponding position. The intermediate lever 49 is positioned so that the movement trajectory of the cam arm engaging portion 491 when moving between the initial position and the operating position is approximately parallel to the axial direction of the knock type cam 50 (the movement direction of the inner cylinder 61). According to this configuration, when the first rotating member 42 is positioned at any one of the neutral position, the unlock corresponding position, and the lock corresponding position, the intermediate lever 49 can be positioned at the initial position.

[0072] When the first rotating member 42 moves from the neutral position past the lock corresponding position to the cam operating position, the intermediate lever 49 is pushed by the intermediate lever engaging portion 422 of the first rotating member 42 and moves from the initial position to the operating position. Then, when the intermediate lever 49 moves from the initial position to the operating position, the cam arm engaging portion 491 of the intermediate lever 49 pushes the cam arm 612 of the knock type cam 50 toward the first switching position (in the direction away from the locking link 45), moving the inner cylinder 61 from the non-switching position to the first switching position.

[0073] Therefore, each time the operation of "the first rotating member 42 moves from the neutral position past the lock-corresponding position to the cam operating position by the driving force of the first electric motor 41, and then returns to the neutral position by the biasing force of the first rotating member biasing spring 43" is performed, the knock-type cam 50 alternates between a state in which the pin 62 is located in the restricted position and a state in which the pin 62 is located in the retracted position.

[0074] (Operation of Locking Mechanism and Double Locking Mechanism) Next, the operation of the locking mechanism 123 and the double locking mechanism 124 will be described. Figures 3A to 8B are diagrams showing the operation of the locking mechanism 123 and the double locking mechanism 124. Note that Figures 3A, 4A, 5A, 6A, 7A, and 8A are diagrams showing the locking mechanism 123 and the double locking mechanism 124 as viewed from the inside of the vehicle. Figures 3B, 4B, 5B, 6B, 7B, and 8B are diagrams showing the locking mechanism 123 and the double locking mechanism 124 as viewed from the outside of the vehicle.

[0075] First, the switching operation of the lock mechanism 123 from the unlocked state to the locked state will be described. Figures 3A and 3B show the unlocked state of the lock mechanism 123. Figure 3C is an enlarged view of part IIIC in Figure 3A. In the unlocked state of the lock mechanism 123, the locking lever 44, the locking link 45, and the active lever 47 are all in the unlocked position, and the open link 34 is in the unlocked position. When the open link 34 is in the unlocked position, the latch mechanism 111 can be switched from the latched state to the unlatched state by manually operating the outside door handle 914 or the inside door handle 915, as described above.

[0076] When the locking mechanism 123 is in the unlocked state, if the first electric motor 41 operates to move the first rotating member 42 from the neutral position to the lock corresponding position, the LL engaging portion 421 of the first rotating member 42 comes into contact with the lock side receiving portion 454 of the RL engaging portion 451 of the locking link 45, pushing the locking link 45 from the unlock corresponding position toward the lock corresponding position. Then, when the locking link 45 moves to the lock corresponding position, the locking mechanism 123 switches from the unlocked state to the locked state.

[0077] The specific operation of the locking mechanism 123 when switching from the unlocked state to the locked state is as follows. As shown in FIG. 3A , when viewed from the common center line direction, a line L is assumed to pass through the common center and the center of rotation of the active lever 47 relative to the housing 31. As shown in FIG. 3A , the center of rotation of the locking link 45 relative to the locking lever 44 and the center of rotation of the locking link 45 relative to the active lever 47 are located on opposite sides of the line L. Furthermore, the locking link restricting portion 321 of the base 32 is located on the same side as the center of rotation of the locking link 45 relative to the locking lever 44. The locking link biasing spring 46 constantly elastically biases the biasing spring engaging portion 458 of the locking link 45 in a direction toward the locking link restricting portion 321. Therefore, the locking link 45 is constantly elastically biased by the locking link biasing spring 46 in a direction away from the common center such that the RL engaging portion 451 moves away from the common center.

[0078] When the locking link 45 is positioned in the unlock-compatible position, the lock-side receiving portion 454 (lock-side receiving surface 456) of the RL engagement portion 451 of the locking lever 44 is positioned on the movement trajectory of the LL engagement portion 421 when the first rotating member 42 moves from the neutral position to the lock-compatible position. Therefore, when the first rotating member 42 moves from the neutral position toward the lock-compatible position, the LL engagement portion 421 comes into contact with the lock-side receiving surface 456 of the locking link 45. The locking link 45 is then pushed by the LL engagement portion 421 of the first rotating member 42, moving from the unlock-compatible position toward the lock-compatible position. Furthermore, the locking lever 44 moves from the unlock-compatible position toward the lock-compatible position in conjunction with the movement of the locking link 45 as the locking link engagement portion 442 is pushed by the unlock-side receiving portion 455 (unlock-side receiving surface 457) of the LL engagement portion 421 of the locking link 45.

[0079] When the locking link 45 moves from the unlock corresponding position toward the lock corresponding position, the center of rotation between the locking link 45 and the locking lever 44 (the locking link engaging portion 442 of the locking lever 44) and the center of rotation between the locking link 45 and the active lever 47 both move away from the locking link restricting portion 321 in a direction perpendicular to the line L when viewed from the common center line direction. Therefore, when the locking link 45 moves from the unlock corresponding position to the lock corresponding position, the biasing spring engaging portion 458 also moves in a direction away from the locking link restricting portion 321. Meanwhile, the locking link 45 is constantly elastically biased by the locking link biasing spring 46 in a direction in which the biasing spring engaging portion 458 approaches the locking link restricting portion 321.

[0080] For this reason, if the locking link 45 moves toward the unlock corresponding position ahead of the locking lever 44, the disengagement prevention portion 453 disengages from the LL engagement portion 421, and the locking link 45 moves (swings like a pendulum) in a direction in which the RL engagement portion 451 moves away from the common center, centered on the connection portion with the active lever 47. For this reason, in this case, the RL engagement portion 451 of the locking link 45 moves outside the movement locus of the LL engagement portion 421 of the first rotating member 42, and the locking link 45 is no longer pressed by the first rotating member 42.

[0081] However, the active lever 47 is elastically biased toward the unlock corresponding position or the lock corresponding position by the detent spring. Therefore, the locking link 45 is elastically biased toward the unlock corresponding position by the biasing force of the detent spring transmitted via the active lever 47 up to an intermediate position when the locking link 45 moves from the unlock corresponding position to the lock corresponding position. In other words, the locking link 45 does not move to the unlock corresponding position before the locking lever 44. Therefore, the RL engagement portion 451 is prevented from moving in a direction away from the common center, and the LL engagement portion 421 of the locking link 45 is maintained in a state where it is pressed by the LL engagement portion 421 of the first rotating member 42.

[0082] 4A and 4B are diagrams illustrating a state in which the first rotating member 42 has reached the locking position. As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B , when the first rotating member 42 is in the locking position, the locking lever 44, the locking link 45, and the active lever 47 are also in the locking position. Also, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B , when the LL engagement portion 421 of the locking link 45 is pressed by the LL engagement portion 421 of the first rotating member 42, the LL engagement portion 421 of the locking link 45 is located on the movement path of the LL engagement portion 421 of the first rotating member 42. The position of the locking link 45 when the LL engagement portion 421 is located on the movement path of the LL engagement portion 421 of the first rotating member 42 is an example of an eleventh position of the present invention.

[0083] When the locking link 45 and the active lever 47 move past a predetermined intermediate position between the unlock corresponding position and the lock corresponding position and become closer to the lock corresponding position, the direction of the biasing force of the detent spring switches to a direction that biases the active lever 47 toward the lock corresponding position. Therefore, the active lever 47, the locking link 45, and the locking lever 44 are held in the lock corresponding position by the biasing force of the detent spring.

[0084] When the operation of the first electric motor 41 stops after the first rotating member 42 has moved to the lock corresponding position, the first rotating member 42 moves from the lock corresponding position to the neutral position due to the biasing force of the first rotating member biasing spring 43. The LL engaging portion 421 of the first rotating member 42 can be engaged with and disengaged from the lock-side receiving surface 456 of the RL engaging portion 451 of the locking link 45. Therefore, the first rotating member 42 can move from the lock corresponding position to the neutral position while the locking link 45 remains in the lock corresponding position.

[0085] When the LL engagement portion 421 of the first rotating member 42 moves away from the lock-side receiving surface 456 and the release prevention portion 453 of the locking link 45, the biasing force of the locking link biasing spring 46 causes the locking link 45 to move in a direction in which the biasing spring engagement portion 458 approaches the locking link restricting portion 321 of the base 32. When the locking link 45 is in the lock corresponding position and the biasing spring engagement portion 458 is in contact with the locking link restricting portion 321, the RL engagement portion 451 of the locking link 45 is positioned outside the movement locus of the LL engagement portion 421 when the first rotating member 42 moves from the neutral position to the cam operating position (more specifically, on the side farther from the common center). The position of the locking link 45 when the LL engagement portion 421 is positioned outside the movement locus of the LL engagement portion 421 of the first rotating member 42 is an example of the twelfth position of the present invention.

[0086] This state is the locked state of the locking mechanism 123 and the DL-unset state of the double locking mechanism 124. Figures 5A and 5B show the locked state of the locking mechanism 123 and the DL-unset state of the double locking mechanism 124. As shown in Figures 5A and 5B, the locked state of the locking mechanism 123 is a state in which the locking lever 44, locking link 45, and active lever 47 are located in the lock corresponding position, and the open link 34 is located in the locked position. When the locking mechanism 123 is in the locked state, the open link 34 does not contact the release lever 40 even if the outside open lever 33 moves from the initial position to the operating position. Therefore, even if the outside door handle 914 or the inside door handle 915 is manually operated, the latch mechanism 111 does not switch from the latched state to the unlatched state.

[0087] When the double lock mechanism 124 is in the DL unlocked state, the pin 62 of the knock cam 50 is located in the retracted position. When the pin 62 of the knock cam 50 is located in the retracted position, one end of the pin 62 is located outside the movement trajectory of the cam pin engaging portion 459 when the locking link 45 moves from the lock corresponding position to the unlock corresponding position. Therefore, the locking link 45 can move from the lock corresponding position to the unlock corresponding position without being obstructed by the pin 62 of the knock cam 50.

[0088] Next, the switching operation between the DL-unset state and the DL-set state of the double lock mechanism 124 will be described. Figures 6A and 6B are diagrams illustrating the switching operation of the double lock mechanism 124 from the DL-unset state to the DL-set state, specifically, a state in which the first rotating member 42 has moved to the cam-operated position. The DL-unset state of the double lock mechanism 124 is a state in which the pin 62 of the knock-type cam 50 is positioned in the retracted position. When the lock mechanism 123 is in the locked state and the double lock mechanism 124 is in the DL-unset state, the first rotating member 42 moves from the neutral position to the cam-operated position due to the driving force of the first electric motor 41, and then returns to the neutral position due to the biasing force of the first rotating member biasing spring 43. This switches the double lock mechanism 124 from the DL-unset state to the DL-set state. Specifically, when the locking mechanism 123 is in the locked state, the RL engagement portion 451 of the locking link 45 is positioned outside (on the side farther from the common center) the movement trajectory of the LL engagement portion 421 of the first rotating member 42. Therefore, the first rotating member 42 can move from the neutral position through the lock corresponding position to the cam operating position without the LL engagement portion 421 coming into contact with the locking link 45.

[0089] When the first rotating member 42 passes through the lock corresponding position and moves toward the cam operating position, the intermediate lever engaging portion 422 of the first rotating member 42 comes into contact with the intermediate lever 49, moving the intermediate lever 49 from the initial position toward the operating position. When the intermediate lever 49 moves from the initial position toward the operating position, the cam arm engaging portion 491 of the intermediate lever 49 presses the cam arm 612 of the inner cylinder 61 of the knock type cam 50, so that the inner cylinder 61 moves from the non-switching position, past the second switching position, to the first switching position, as shown in Figures 6A and 6B.

[0090] Thereafter, when the operation of the first electric motor 41 stops, the first rotating member 42 returns from the cam operating position to the neutral position due to the biasing force of the first rotating member biasing spring 43. This causes the cam arm engaging portion 491 of the intermediate lever 49 to separate from the cam arm 612 of the inner cylinder 61, allowing the inner cylinder 61 to move from the first switching position to the non-switching position. Then, the inner cylinder 61 moves to the non-switching position due to the biasing force of the pin biasing spring 63 transmitted via the pin 62.

[0091] In this manner, the first rotating member 42 "moves from the neutral position to the cam operating position by the driving force of the first electric motor 41, and then returns to the neutral position by the biasing force of the first rotating member biasing spring 43," which causes the inner cylinder 61 to "moves from the non-switching position to the first switching position, and then returns to the non-switching position." Figures 7A and 7B are diagrams showing the state after the above-described operation is performed. As shown in Figures 7A and 7B, when the above-described operation is performed, the knock-type cam 50 switches from a state in which the pin 62 is in the retracted position to a state in which the pin 62 is in the restricted position. As described above, when the pin 62 is in the restricted position, the locking link 45 cannot move from the lock-compatible position to the unlock-compatible position. In other words, the double lock mechanism 124 is in the DL set state.

[0092] Note that the knock-type cam 50 switches the pin 62 from the retracted position to the restricted position each time the inner cylinder 61 moves from the non-switching position to the first switching position and then returns to the non-switching position. Therefore, when the lock mechanism 123 is in the locked state and the double lock mechanism 124 is in the DL set state, the above-described operation, i.e., the first rotating member 42 moves from the neutral position to the cam operating position by the driving force of the first electric motor 41 and then returns to the neutral position by the biasing force of the first rotating member biasing spring 43, switches the double lock mechanism 124 from the DL set state to the DL unset state. Thus, the operation of the first electric motor 41 and the first rotating member 42 for switching the double lock mechanism 124 from the DL unset state to the DL set state is the same as the operation for switching from the DL set state to the DL unset state.

[0093] Next, the operation for switching the locking mechanism 123 from the locked state to the unlocked state will be described. FIGS. 8A and 8B are diagrams illustrating the operation for switching the locking mechanism 123 from the locked state to the unlocked state. When the double locking mechanism 124 is in the DL unlocked state, the locking mechanism 123 can be switched from the locked state to the unlocked state by the driving force of the first electric motor 41. Specifically, the first electric motor 41 outputs a driving force in the direction opposite to the above operation, thereby moving the first rotating member 42 from the neutral position to the unlocked position. When the first rotating member 42 moves from the neutral position toward the unlocked position, as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B , the LL engaging portion 421 of the first rotating member 42 contacts the first rotating member engaging portion 441 of the locking lever 44, moving the locking lever 44 from the locked position to the unlocked position.

[0094] When the locking link 45 moves from the lock corresponding position toward the unlock corresponding position, the rotation center of the locking link 45 and the active lever 47 moves toward the locking link restricting portion 321 in a direction perpendicular to the line L. Furthermore, the biasing force of the locking link biasing spring 46 keeps the biasing spring engaging portion 458 of the locking link 45 in contact with the locking link restricting portion 321 of the base 32. Therefore, in this case, the locking link 45 rotates in a direction in which the RL engaging portion 451 approaches the common center, with the contact point between the biasing spring engaging portion 458 and the locking link restricting portion 321 as a fulcrum. When the locking link 45 is positioned at the unlock corresponding position, the lock side receiving portion 454 (lock side receiving surface 456) of the RL engaging portion 451 is positioned on the movement trajectory of the LL engaging portion 421 when the first rotating member 42 moves from the neutral position to the lock corresponding position.

[0095] Additionally, the locking link 45 is biased by the locking link biasing spring 46 in a direction that moves the RL engagement portion 451 away from the common center. However, the biasing spring engagement portion 458 of the locking link 45 comes into contact with the locking link restricting portion 321 of the base 32, thereby restricting movement of the RL engagement portion 451 in the direction that moves away from the common center. This prevents the locking link engagement portion 442 of the locking lever 44 from coming out of the engagement groove 452 of the locking link 45. Thereafter, when the operation of the first electric motor 41 stops, the biasing force of the first rotating member biasing spring 43 returns the first rotating member 42 from the unlock corresponding position to the neutral position. In other words, the locking mechanism 123 returns to the state shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B .

[0096] As described above, when the locking mechanism 123 is in the unlocked state, the first rotating member 42 is moved from the neutral position to the lock corresponding position by the driving force of the first electric motor 41, and then the operation of the first electric motor 41 is stopped, thereby switching the locking mechanism 123 to the locked state. Furthermore, when the locking mechanism 123 is in the locked state, the first rotating member 42 is moved from the neutral position to the unlock corresponding position by the driving force of the first electric motor 41, and then the operation of the first electric motor 41 is stopped, thereby switching the locking mechanism 123 to the unlocked state. Furthermore, when the locking mechanism 123 is in the locked state, the first rotating member 42 is moved from the neutral position to the cam operating position by the driving force of the first electric motor 41, and then the operation of the first electric motor 41 is stopped, thereby switching the double locking mechanism 124 from the DL unlocked state to the DL set state, or from the DL unlocked state to the DL set state.

[0097] The state of the locking mechanism 123 can be switched by switching the rotation direction of the drive force of the first electric motor 41 between forward and reverse (the rotation direction of the first rotating member 42). Furthermore, by changing the amount of rotation of the first rotating member 42 by the first electric motor 41, it is possible to switch the locking mechanism 123 from the unlocked state to the locked state and to alternately switch the double locking mechanism 124 between the DL unlocked state and the DL set state. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide separate drive power sources for switching the state of the locking mechanism 123 and for alternately switching the double locking mechanism 124 between the DL unlocked state and the DL set state, which prevents or minimizes an increase in the number of parts in the door lock device 10.

[0098] Furthermore, the latch mechanism 111 is switched from the latched state to the unlatched state by the driving force of the second electric motor 37, which is separate and independent from the first electric motor 41. Therefore, switching of the latch mechanism 111 from the latched state to the unlatched state is not limited by whether the lock mechanism 123 is in the locked state. In other words, even if the lock mechanism 123 is in the unlocked state, the latch mechanism 111 can be immediately switched from the latched state to the unlatched state by causing the second electric motor 37 to output a driving force in a predetermined direction (the direction in which the second rotating member 38 moves from the neutral position to the unlatched corresponding position).

[0099] (Manual DL Unsetting Operation) The double lock mechanism 124 is configured to be switchable from the DL set state to the DL unset state by manually operating the key cylinder 916. Specifically, this is as follows.

[0100] The door lock device 10 includes a key lever 51 and a key switch lever 52. The key lever 51 is a component that interfaces with the plug (inner cylinder 61) of the key cylinder 916 so as to rotate integrally therewith. The key switch lever 52 is rotatably supported relative to the housing 31. The key switch lever 52 can be moved relative to the housing 31 to a neutral position, an unlock operation position, and a lock operation position. The neutral position is the middle position within the range of rotation of the key switch lever 52. The unlock operation position is a position rotated in a predetermined direction from the neutral position. The lock operation position is a position rotated in the opposite direction from the neutral position. The key switch lever 52 moves from the neutral position to the unlock operation position or the lock operation position in conjunction with operation of the key cylinder 916 from outside the vehicle.

[0101] When the key switch lever 52 moves from the neutral position to the lock operation position, it pushes the cam arm 612 of the inner cylinder 61 of the knock-type cam 50, moving the inner cylinder 61 from the initial position to the second switching position. For example, although not shown, the key switch lever 52 is provided with a protrusion that protrudes toward the cam arm 612 on one side in the direction of the common center line, and this protrusion pushes the cam arm 612 of the inner cylinder 61, moving the inner cylinder 61 from the non-switching position to the second switching position. However, the key switch lever 52 is configured so that the inner cylinder 61 does not move beyond the second switching position to the first switching position.

[0102] With this configuration, when the double lock mechanism 124 is in the DL set state, manually operating the key cylinder 916 transmits the movement of the plug of the key cylinder 916 to the key switch lever 52 via the key lever 51, causing the key switch lever 52 to move from the neutral position to the lock operation position. The key switch lever 52 then presses the cam arm 612 of the knock cam 50, causing the inner cylinder 61 to move from the non-switching position to the second switching position. This causes the knock cam 50 to switch from a state in which the pin 62 is in the restricting position to a state in which it is in the retracted position. This allows the locking link 45 to move from the lock corresponding position to the unlock corresponding position.

[0103] Even when the key switch lever 52 is moved from the neutral position to the lock operating position, the inner cylinder 61 of the knock cam 50 does not move beyond the second switching position to the first switching position. Therefore, even if the key cylinder 916 is manually operated when the pin 62 is in the retracted position (i.e., when the double locking mechanism 124 is in the DL unlocked state), the knock cam 50 does not switch to a state where the pin 62 is in the restricted position. In other words, when the double locking mechanism 124 is in the DL unlocked state, the door lock device 10 does not switch from the DL unlocked state to the DL set state. Thus, when the double locking mechanism 124 is in the DL unlocked state, operating the key cylinder 916 switches the door lock device 10 to the DL unlocked state. However, when the double locking mechanism 124 is in the DL unlocked state, operating the key cylinder 916 does not switch from the DL unlocked state to the DL set state.

[0104] (Configuration and Operation of Knocking Cam) Next, the configuration and operation of the knocking cam 50 will be described. FIG. 9A is a partial cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the knocking cam 50. FIG. 9B is an exploded perspective view of the knocking cam 50. As shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B , the knocking cam 50 includes an outer tube 60 (fixed tube), an inner tube 61 (movable tube), a pin 62, and a pin-biasing spring 63. The knocking cam 50 has an overall long rod-like shape. For ease of explanation, one end of the knocking cam 50 in the longitudinal direction that is closer to the locking link 45 may be referred to as the "first end," and the opposite side may be referred to as the "second end." In each drawing, the first end of the knocking cam 50 is indicated by arrow F, and the second end is indicated by arrow S.

[0105] The outer cylinder 60 is an example of the main body of the restriction mechanism of the present invention. The outer cylinder 60 is a substantially cylindrical member that is open at both ends in the longitudinal direction (axial direction). An outer cylinder cam portion 601 (described later) is provided on the inner peripheral side of the outer cylinder 60. In addition, a slit 602 is provided near the first end of the outer cylinder 60, through which a cam arm 612 of the inner cylinder 61 can be inserted. The slit 602 communicates between the outer peripheral side and the inner peripheral side of the outer cylinder 60 and extends in the longitudinal direction of the outer cylinder 60.

[0106] The inner cylinder 61 is an example of a second restriction member of the restriction mechanism of the present invention. The inner cylinder 61 is a member including an inner cylinder cam portion 611 and a cam arm 612. The inner cylinder cam portion 611 is a substantially cylindrical portion that is open at both ends in the longitudinal direction. The cam arm 612 is a tongue-shaped portion that protrudes outward from the outer circumferential surface of the inner cylinder cam portion 611.

[0107] The inner tube 61 is arranged so that the inner tube cam portion 611 is housed inside the outer tube 60 and the cam arm 612 protrudes outward through the slit 602 of the outer tube 60. The inner tube 61 can be moved in the longitudinal direction (axial direction) relative to the outer tube 60 to move between a non-switching position, a first switching position, and a second switching position. However, the inner tube 61 cannot rotate relative to the outer tube 60. The non-switching position is, for example, a position near the end on the first end side of the movable range of the inner tube 61 relative to the outer tube 60. The first switching position is a position closer to the second end than the non-switching position, for example, a position near the end on the second end side of the movable range of the inner tube 61. The second switching position is an intermediate position between the non-switching position and the first switching position.

[0108] The pin 62 is a generally rod-shaped member, and a pin cam portion 621 (described later) is provided in the middle portion in the longitudinal direction of the pin 62. The middle portion in the longitudinal direction of the pin 62 is inserted through the outer tube 60 and the inner tube 61, and the end portion on the first end side of the pin 62 protrudes from the end face on the first end side of the outer tube 60. The pin 62 is reciprocable in the axial direction relative to the outer tube 60 and the inner tube 61, and is rotatable relative to the outer tube 60 and the inner tube 61.

[0109] The pin 62 can be moved linearly relative to the outer cylinder 60 to a retracted position (see FIGS. 3A and 3B) and a restricted position (see FIGS. 7A and 7B). The retracted position is a position near the end on the second end side of the movable range of the pin 62, and the restricted position is a position near the end on the first end side of the movable range of the pin 62. When the pin 62 is in the restricted position, the protruding length of the "first end side of the pin 62" from the "first end side end face of the outer cylinder 60" is longer than the protruding length when the pin 62 is in the retracted position.

[0110] The pin biasing spring 63 is housed inside the outer cylinder 60 and constantly elastically biases the pin 62 toward the first end side. A coil spring that is elastically compressible and deformable in the axial direction is used as the pin biasing spring 63.

[0111] When the inner cylinder 61 moves from the non-switching position to the first switching position and then returns to the non-switching position while the pin 62 is in the retracted position, the knock cam 50 switches to a state where the pin 62 is in the restricting position. Also, when the inner cylinder 61 moves from the non-switching position to the first switching position and then returns to the non-switching position while the pin 62 is in the restricting position, the knock cam 50 switches to a state where the pin 62 is in the retracted position. In other words, the knock cam 50 is configured to alternately switch between a state where the pin 62 is in the retracted position and a state where the pin 62 is in the restricting position each time a series of operations, "the inner cylinder 61 moves from the non-switching position to the first switching position and then returns to the non-switching position," is performed.

[0112] 10A to 10F are schematic diagrams showing the outer barrel cam portion 601, the inner barrel cam portion 611, and the pin cam portion 621 developed on a plane. For ease of explanation, one circumferential side may be referred to as the operating side, and the opposite side as the counter-operating side. In each figure, the operating side is indicated by arrow A, and the counter-operating side is indicated by arrow C.

[0113] The outer barrel cam portion 601 has a protrusion-like structure that protrudes inward from the inner peripheral surface of the outer barrel 60. A first cam surface 603, a first locking surface 606, a second cam surface 604, and a cam groove 605 are provided at the end portion on the second end side of the outer barrel cam portion 601, and are aligned in the circumferential direction in the above-described order from the counter-operation side to the operation side. Furthermore, multiple sets (three sets in this embodiment) of the first cam surface 603, the first locking surface 606, the second cam surface 604, and the cam groove 605 are provided and aligned in the circumferential direction.

[0114] The first cam surface 603 and the second cam surface 604 are both inclined surfaces inclined with respect to the axial direction and the circumferential direction. Specifically, they are surfaces extending from the second end side and the counter-operation side to the first end side and the operating side (they can also be referred to as surfaces facing the second end side and the operating side). The second end side and counter-operation side end P of the second cam surface 604 is located closer to the second end than the second end side and counter-operation side end Q of the first cam surface 603. The first locking surface 606 is a surface that is approximately parallel to the axial direction and faces the counter-operation side. The first locking surface 606 can also be referred to as a step surface between the first cam surface 603 and the second cam surface 604. The cam groove 605 is a groove that is open on the second end side and the inner circumferential side and closed on the first end side. The cam groove 605 extends in the axial direction and is configured to allow a protrusion 622 of the pin 62 (described later) to be inserted and removed from the second end side.

[0115] The end portion of the inner barrel cam portion 611 on the second end side is provided with a plurality of third cam surfaces 613, a plurality of fourth cam surfaces 614, a plurality of second locking surfaces 615, and a plurality of third locking surfaces 616. Like the first cam surface 603 and the second cam surface 604, the third cam surface 613 and the fourth cam surface 614 are inclined surfaces in the axial and circumferential directions, specifically extending from the second end side and the counter-operation side to the first end side and the operating side. The second locking surface 615 is located on the operating side of the third cam surface 613 and the counter-operation side of the fourth cam surface 614, and the third locking surface 616 is located on the counter-operation side of the third cam surface 613 and the operating side of the fourth cam surface 614. The second locking surface 615 and the third locking surface 616 are inclined surfaces in the axial and circumferential directions, specifically extending from the first end side and the operating side to the second end side and the counter-operation side. Then, from the reaction side toward the operating side, third cam surface 613, second locking surface 615, fourth cam surface 614, and third locking surface 616 are arranged in this order in the circumferential direction. Therefore, in inner cylinder cam portion 611, a substantially "V"-shaped notch that opens on the second end side formed by third cam surface 613 and second locking surface 615 and a substantially "V"-shaped notch that opens on the second end side formed by fourth cam surface 614 and third locking surface 616 are arranged alternately in the circumferential direction.

[0116] As shown in FIG. 10A, two straight lines M passing through the end of the third cam surface 613 on the reaction side and the end of the third cam surface 613 on the operation side are parallel to the axial direction. １ , M ２ Assuming that these two lines M １ , M ２ Between the first cam surface 614 and the fourth cam surface 614, there are included a part of one first cam surface 603 closer to the operating side, one first locking surface 606 located on the operating side of the one first cam surface 603, and a part of one second cam surface 604 closer to the reaction side and located on the operating side of the one first locking surface 606. In addition, two straight lines M ３ , M ４ Assuming that these two lines M ３ , M ４ Between these, a part of one cam groove 605 closer to the operating side and a part of the first cam surface 603 adjacent to the operating side of the one cam groove 605 closer to the reaction side are included.

[0117] The operation of such a knock-type cam 50 is as follows. Figure 10A shows the relationship between the outer barrel cam portion 601, the inner barrel cam portion 611, and the pin cam portion 621 when the pin 62 is located in the retracted position. As shown in Figure 10A, the pin 62 is located in the retracted position when the end face on the first end side of the protrusion 622 of the pin 62 contacts the first cam surface 603 of the outer barrel 60 and the side face on the operating side of the pin 62 contacts the first locking surface 606. Note that the biasing force of the pin biasing spring 63 (specifically, the component of this biasing force in a direction parallel to the second cam surface 604) acts to push the pin 62 toward the operating side and the first end side, so the pin 62 is maintained in the retracted position.

[0118] In this state, when the inner cylinder 61 moves toward the second end, the third cam surface 613 of the inner cylinder cam portion 611 contacts the end surface of the first end of the convex portion 622 and pushes the convex portion 622 toward the second end. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 10B , the pin 62 moves from the retracted position toward the second end. Then, when the convex portion 622 is positioned closer to the second end than the end P of the first locking surface 606, the pin 62 can rotate toward the operating side without being hindered by the first locking surface 606. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 10C , the pin 62 rotates toward the operating side due to the biasing force of the pin biasing spring 63 (specifically, the component of the biasing force parallel to the third cam surface 613), and stops at a position where the tip of the pin 62 fits into the deepest part (the end toward the first end) of the substantially "V"-shaped notch formed by the third cam surface 613 and the second locking surface 615. The pin 62 is held in this state by the biasing force of the pin biasing spring 63 .

[0119] When the inner cylinder 61 moves toward the first end in this state (or when the force applied to the inner cylinder 61 is released), the pin 62 moves toward the first end while maintaining this state due to the biasing force of the pin biasing spring 63. Then, as shown in FIG. 10D , the end face of the protrusion 622 on the first end side comes into contact with the second cam surface 604. When the inner cylinder 61 further moves toward the first end, the tip of the pin 62 separates from the third cam surface 613 (the deepest part of the approximately "V"-shaped notch formed by the third cam surface 613 and the second locking surface 615), allowing the pin 62 to rotate toward the operating side. Therefore, the pin 62 rotates toward the operating side due to the biasing force of the pin biasing spring 63 and fits into the cam groove 605, as shown in FIG. 10E . The convex portion 622 is held in a state where it is fitted into the cam groove 605 (a state where the end face on the first end side of the convex portion 622 is in contact with the bottom surface of the cam groove 605) by the biasing force of the pin biasing spring 63. The state shown in Fig. 10E is a state where the pin 62 is located in the restricted position.

[0120] The bottom surface of the cam groove 605 is located closer to the first end than the first cam surface 603. Therefore, the protruding length of the "first end side of the pin 62" from the "first end side of the outer cylinder 60" when the pin 62 is located at the restricted position is longer than the protruding length when the pin 62 is located at the retracted position.

[0121] In this state, when the inner cylinder 61 moves toward the second end, the fourth cam surface 614 of the inner cylinder 61 contacts the end surface of the first end of the protrusion 622 and pushes the protrusion 622 toward the second end, causing the pin 62 to move toward the second end and come out of the cam groove 605. The pin 62 then rotates in the rotation direction due to the biasing force of the pin biasing spring 63 (more specifically, the component of the biasing force parallel to the fourth cam surface 614). Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 10F , the tip of the pin 62 fits into the deepest part (the end on the first end side) of the substantially "V"-shaped notch formed by the fourth cam surface 614 and the third locking surface 616, thereby stopping the rotation. The pin 62 is then maintained in this state by the biasing force of the pin biasing spring 63.

[0122] Thereafter, when the inner cylinder 61 moves toward the first end, the end face on the first end side of the protrusion 622 of the pin 62 comes into contact with a portion of the first cam surface 603 closer to the reaction side. The pin 62 then rotates toward the operation side while moving toward the first end due to the biasing force of the pin biasing spring 63, and then stops when the side face of the operation side of the pin 62 comes into contact with the first locking surface 606. This returns the knock-type cam 50 to the state shown in FIG. 10A .

[0123] 10E , when the pin 62 is in the restricting position and the inner barrel cam portion 611 is separated from the pin cam portion 621 toward the first end, the position of the inner barrel 61 is the non-switching position of the inner barrel 61. The non-switching position is not a specific position, but a position that covers a certain range. The non-switching position can also be described as "a position that allows the pin 62 to be in the restricting position." Therefore, when the inner barrel 61 is in the non-switching position, the pin 62 is maintained in a state where it is in the restricting position or the retracted position.

[0124] In this way, when the following operation is performed with the pin 62 in the restricting position: "the inner cylinder 61 moves from the non-switching position toward the second end, the inner cylinder 61 presses the convex portion 622 to move the pin 62 toward the second end until the convex portion 622 exceeds position P, and then the inner cylinder 61 returns to the non-switching position," the knock-type cam 50 switches to a state in which the pin 62 is in the retracted position. Furthermore, the end portions P on the second end sides of the second cam surface 604 and the first locking surface 606 are located closer to the second end than the end portion Q on the second end side of the first cam surface 603. Therefore, when the above operation is performed with the pin 62 in the retracted position, the convex portion 622 exceeds position Q, and the pin 62 switches to a state in which it is in the restricting position.

[0125] On the other hand, when the pin 62 is in the restricting position and the operation of "the inner cylinder 61 moves from the non-switching position toward the second end, thereby moving the convex portion 622 to a position that exceeds position Q but does not exceed position P, and then the inner cylinder 61 returns to the non-switching position" is performed, the knocking cam 50 switches to a state in which the pin 62 is in the retracted position. However, when the pin 62 is in the retracted position and the operation of "the inner cylinder 61 moves from the non-switching position toward the second end, thereby moving the convex portion 622 to a position that exceeds position Q but does not exceed position P, and then the inner cylinder 61 returns to the non-switching position" is performed, the knocking cam 50 does not switch to a state in which the pin 62 is in the restricting position.

[0126] The position of the inner cylinder 61 at which the convex portion 622 can be held at a position closer to the second end than position P is the first switching position of the inner cylinder 61. It can also be said that the first switching position of the inner cylinder 61 is a position at which the third cam surface 613 is located closer to the second end than the second cam surface 604. The position of the inner cylinder 61 at which the convex portion 622 can be held at a position closer to the second end than position Q but closer to the first end than position P is the second switching position of the inner cylinder 61. It can also be said that the second switching position of the inner cylinder 61 is a position at which the fourth cam surface 614 is located closer to the second end than the first cam surface 603, but the third cam surface 613 is located closer to the first end than the second cam surface 604.

[0127] Summary of the embodiment (1) A vehicle door lock device (10) according to the present embodiment includes: a latch mechanism (111) that is switchable between a latched state that does not allow the vehicle door (90) to be opened and an unlatched state that allows the vehicle door (90) to be opened; a lock mechanism (123) that is switchable between a locked state that does not allow the latch mechanism (111) to be switched from the latched state to the unlatched state and an unlocked state that allows the latch mechanism (111) to be switched from the latched state to the unlatched state; and a double lock mechanism (124) that is switchable between a double lock set state that does not allow the lock mechanism (123) to be switched from the locked state to the unlocked state and a double lock unlock state that allows the lock mechanism (123) to be switched from the locked state to the unlocked state. a restriction mechanism (knock-type cam (50)) configured to be alternately switchable between a first state that does not allow the double lock mechanism (124) to switch from the double lock set state to the double lock unlock state and a second state that allows the double lock mechanism (124) to switch from the double lock set state to the double lock unlock state; a first rotating member (42) configured to be rotatable by a driving force output by a first driving force source (first electric motor (41)), and configured to switch the locking mechanism (123) from the locked state to the unlocked state when the locking mechanism (123) is moved to a second position (unlocked position) which is a position rotated in one direction from a first position (neutral position) while the locking mechanism (123) is in the locked state, to switch the locking mechanism (123) from the unlocked state to the locked state when the locking mechanism (123) is moved to a third position (locked position) which is a position rotated in the opposite direction from the first position (neutral position) while the locking mechanism (123) is in the unlocked state, and to alternately switch the restriction mechanism (knock-type cam (50)) between the first state and the second state each time the locking mechanism (123) is moved to a fourth position (cam operating position) which is a position rotated in the opposite direction from the first position (neutral position) beyond the third position (locked position).

[0128] According to this embodiment, when the locking mechanism (123) is in the locked state, if the first rotating member (42) is moved from the first position (neutral position) to the second position (unlocked position) by the driving force of the first driving force source (first electric motor (41)), the locking mechanism (123) switches from the locked state to the unlocked state. Also, when the locking mechanism (123) is in the unlocked state, if the first rotating member (42) is moved from the first position (neutral position) to the third position (locked position) by the driving force of the first driving force source (first electric motor (41)), the locking mechanism (123) switches from the unlocked state to the locked state. Furthermore, when the locking mechanism (123) is in a locked state, each time the first rotating member (42) moves from the first position (neutral position) past the third position (lock corresponding position) to the fourth position (cam operating position) by the driving force of the first driving force source (first electric motor (41)), the double locking mechanism (124) alternates between a double lock unlocked state and a double lock set state.

[0129] In this way, by switching the rotation direction of the first rotating member (42), in other words, by switching the direction of the driving force (rotational power) output by the first driving force source (first electric motor (41)), the state of the locking mechanism (123) can be switched. Furthermore, when the locking mechanism (123) is in the locked state, the state of the double locking mechanism (124) can be switched by changing (increasing) the amount of movement of the first rotating member (42). In this way, the single first driving force source (first electric motor (41)) can switch the state of the locking mechanism (123) and the state of the double locking mechanism (124). Therefore, since it is not necessary to provide separate driving force sources for switching the state of the locking mechanism (123) and the state of the double locking mechanism (124), the number of parts of the vehicle door lock device (10) can be reduced or an increase in the number of parts can be prevented or suppressed.

[0130] (2) The vehicle door lock device (10) according to this embodiment is capable of alternately moving between a fifth position (unlock-corresponding position) that allows the latch mechanism (111) to switch from the latched state to the unlatched state and a sixth position (lock-corresponding position) that does not allow the latch mechanism (111) to switch from the latched state to the unlatched state, and includes a first operating member (locking link (45)) that interacts with the first rotating member (42) so that the first operating member is located at the fifth position (unlock-corresponding position) when the first rotating member (42) moves from the first position (neutral position) to the second position (unlock-corresponding position) and is located at the sixth position (lock-corresponding position) when the first rotating member (42) moves from the first position (neutral position) to the third position (lock-corresponding position), The regulating mechanism (knock-type cam (50)) is configured so that when in the first state, it does not allow the first operating member (locking link (45)) to move from the sixth position (lock corresponding position) to the fifth position (unlock corresponding position), and when in the second state, it allows the first operating member (locking link (45)) to move from the sixth position (lock corresponding position) to the fifth position (unlock corresponding position).

[0131] In this manner, the locking mechanism (123) is configured to be in a locked state when the first operating member (locking link (45)) is located in the sixth position (lock corresponding position) and to be in an unlocked state when the first operating member (locking link (45)) is located in the fifth position (unlock corresponding position). When the restricting mechanism (knock-type cam (45)) is in the first state, the double locking mechanism (124) is in a DL set state, which does not allow the first operating member (locking link (45)) to move from the sixth position (lock corresponding position) to the fifth position (unlock corresponding position). When the restricting mechanism (knock-type cam (45)) is in the second state, the double locking mechanism (124) is in a DL unlocked state, which does not allow the first operating member (locking link (45)) to move from the sixth position (lock corresponding position) to the fifth position (unlock corresponding position). With this configuration, the double locking mechanism (124) can be switched between a DL set state and a DL unlocked state by switching between a state in which movement of the first operating member (locking link (45)) is restricted and a state in which movement of the first operating member is restricted.

[0132] (3) In the vehicle door lock device (10) according to this embodiment, the restriction mechanism (knock-type cam (50)) comprises: a first restriction member (pin (62)) configured to be movable between a seventh position (retracted position) that is positioned outside a movement locus of the first operating member (locking link (45)) from the sixth position (lock corresponding position) to the fifth position (unlock corresponding position) and thereby allows the first operating member (locking link (45)) to move from the sixth position (lock corresponding position) to the fifth position (unlock corresponding position), and an eighth position (restriction position) that is positioned a part of the movement locus and thereby does not allow the first operating member (locking link (45)) to move from the sixth position (lock corresponding position) to the fifth position (unlock corresponding position); a second regulating member (inner cylinder (61)) that is movable between a non-switching position and a switching position and that is configured so that the first regulating member (pin (62)) alternates between a state in which it is positioned at the seventh position (retracted position) and a state in which it is positioned at the eighth position (regulating position) each time it moves from the non-switching position to the switching position, and when the first rotating member (42) moves from the first position (neutral position) to the fourth position (cam operating position), it cooperates with the regulating mechanism (knock-type cam (50)) to move the second regulating member (inner cylinder (61)) from the non-switching position to the switching position.

[0133] According to this configuration, when the first stop member (pin (62)) is located at the eighth position (restricted position), the first stop member (pin (62)) interferes with the first operating member (locking link (45)). Therefore, the first operating member (locking link (45)) cannot move from the sixth position (locked position) to the fifth position (unlocked position). Therefore, according to this configuration, when the first stop member (pin (62)) is located at the eighth position (restricted position), the double lock mechanism (124) enters a DL set state, which does not allow the lock mechanism (123) to switch from the locked state to the unlocked state. Each time the first rotating member (42) is moved from the first position (neutral position) to the fourth position (cam operating position), the first stop member (pin (62)) can be switched between a state in which it is located at the seventh position (retracted position) and a state in which it is located at the eighth position (restricted position).

[0134] (4) The vehicle door lock device (10) according to this embodiment includes a second operating member (intermediate lever (49)) that is linked with the first rotating member (42) so as to be located at a ninth position when the first rotating member (42) is located between the second position and the third position, and is located at a tenth position when the first rotating member (42) is located at the fourth position, and that is linked with the regulating mechanism (knock-type cam (50)) so as to alternately switch the first regulating member (pin (62)) between a state where it is located at the seventh position and a state where it is located at the eighth position each time the first regulating member (pin (62)) moves from the ninth position to the tenth position.

[0135] The double locking mechanism (124) is required to be able to switch between the DL set state and the DL unlocked state when the locking mechanism (123) is in the locked state, but is not required to be able to switch between the DL set state and the DL unlocked state when the locking mechanism (123) is in the unlocked state. When the first rotating member (42) is located between the second position (unlocked position) and the third position (locked position), the second operating member (intermediate lever (49)) is located in the ninth position (initial position). Therefore, even if the locking mechanism (123) switches from the locked state to the unlocked state by moving the first rotating member (42) from the first position (neutral position) to the second position (unlocked position), the state of the restriction mechanism (knock-type cam (45)) does not change. In this way, the operation of switching the double locking mechanism (124) between the DL set state and the DL unlocked state and the operation of switching the locking mechanism (123) from the locked state to the unlocked state can be performed mutually exclusively.

[0136] (5) In the vehicle door lock device (10) according to this embodiment, the first rotating member (42) includes a first engaging portion (LL engaging portion (421)) that can be engaged with and disengaged from the first operating member (locking link (45)), and a second engaging portion (intermediate lever engaging portion (422)) that can be engaged with and disengaged from the second operating member (intermediate lever (49)), When the rotating member (first rotating member (42)) moves from the first position (neutral position) to the third position (lock-compatible position), the first engagement portion (LL engagement portion (421)) engages with the first operating member (locking link (45)) to move the first operating member (locking link (45)) from the fifth position (unlock-compatible position) to the sixth position (lock-compatible position), and when the first rotating member (42) moves from the first position (neutral position) past the third position (lock-compatible position) to the fourth position (cam operating position), the second engagement portion (intermediate lever engagement portion (422)) engages with the second operating member (intermediate lever (49)) to move the second operating member (intermediate lever (49)) from the ninth position (initial position) to the tenth position (operating position).

[0137] According to this configuration, when the locking mechanism (123) is in an unlocked state, the first rotating member (42) moves from the first position (neutral position) to the third position (lock-compatible position), thereby switching the locking mechanism (123) from the unlocked state to the locked state. Also, when the locking mechanism (123) is in a locked state, the first rotating member (42) moves from the first position (neutral position) past the third position (lock-compatible position) to the fourth position (cam-operated position), thereby switching the double locking mechanism (124) between the double lock unlocked state and the double lock set state. In other words, by rotating the first rotating member (42) in the same direction but by varying the amount of rotation (rotation angle), the locking mechanism (123) can be switched from the unlocked state to the locked state, and the state of the double locking mechanism (124) can be switched.

[0138] (6) When the first operating member (locking link (45)) is located at the third position (lock-compatible position), it is configured to be movable to an eleventh position located on the movement trajectory of the first engagement portion (LL engagement portion (421)) when the first rotating member (42) moves from the first position (neutral position) to the third position (lock-compatible position), and to a twelfth position located outside the movement trajectory, and is elastically biased toward the twelfth position by a biasing member (locking link biasing spring (46)).

[0139] According to this configuration, after the locking mechanism (123) switches from the unlocked state to the locked state, the first operating member (locking link (45)) moves to the twelfth position due to the biasing force of the biasing member (locking link biasing spring (46)). Therefore, when the locking mechanism (123) is in the locked state, the first rotating member (42) can move from the first position (neutral position) past the third position (lock corresponding position) to the fourth position (cam operating position) without being hindered by the first operating member (locking link (45)). Therefore, by rotating the first rotating member (42), the double locking mechanism (124) can be switched from the DL unlocked state to the DL set state, or from the DL set state to the DL unlocked state.

[0140] (7) In the vehicle door lock device (10) according to this embodiment, the first operating member (locking link (45)) includes a locking portion (disengagement prevention portion (453)) configured to restrict movement from the eleventh position to the twelfth position by engaging with the first engagement portion (LL engagement portion (421)) of the first rotating member (42), and when the first rotating member (42) is located at the fifth position (unlock-compatible position), the first operating member (locking link (45)) is pushed by the first engagement portion (LL engagement portion (421)) of the first rotating member (42) to move to the sixth position (lock-compatible position) and the eleventh position when the first operating member (locking link (45)) moves away from the first engagement portion (LL engagement portion (421)) to the third position (lock-compatible position), and is configured to move to the twelfth position by the biasing force of the biasing member (locking link biasing spring (46)).

[0141] According to this configuration, when the locking mechanism (123) is in the locked state and the first rotating member (42) rotates from the first position (neutral position) to the third position (lock-corresponding position), the first rotating member (42) engages with the locking portion (disengagement prevention portion (453)) of the first moving member (locking link (45)), thereby restricting the first moving member (locking link (45)) from moving from the eleventh position to the twelfth position. In other words, the engagement between the first rotating member (42) and the first moving member (locking link (45)) is prevented from being released. Therefore, the reliability of the switching operation of the locking mechanism (123) from the unlocked state to the locked state can be increased.

[0142] (8) A second driving force source (second electric motor (37)) that is separate and independent from the first driving force source (first electric motor (41)), and a second rotating member (38) that is configured to switch the latch mechanism (111) from the latched state to the unlatched state by rotating from a neutral position to an operating position by the driving force output by the second driving force source (second electric motor (37)).

[0143] According to a configuration in which the first driving force source (first electric motor (41)) for operating the locking mechanism (123) and the double locking mechanism (124) and the second driving force source (second electric motor (37)) for switching the latching mechanism (111) from the latched state to the unlatched state are separate and independent from each other, the latching mechanism (111) can be switched from the latched state to the unlatched state regardless of the state and operation of the locking mechanism (123) and the double locking mechanism (124).

[0144] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. Various modifications of the present invention are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and such modifications are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

[0145] For example, in each of the above embodiments, the open link 34 pushes the lift lever 114 via the release lever 40, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, the open link 34 may directly push the lift lever 114.

Claims

1. A latch mechanism configured to be switchable between a latched state that does not allow the vehicle door to be opened and an unlatched state that allows the vehicle door to be opened; a lock mechanism configured to be switchable between a locked state that does not allow the latch mechanism to be switched from the latched state to the unlatched state and an unlocked state that allows the latch mechanism to be switched from the latched state to the unlatched state; a double lock mechanism configured to be switchable between a double lock set state that does not allow the lock mechanism to be switched from the locked state to the unlocked state and a double lock unlocked state that allows the lock mechanism to be switched from the locked state to the unlocked state; and a restriction mechanism configured to be alternately switchable between a first state that does not allow the double lock mechanism to be switched from the double lock set state to the double lock unlocked state and a second state that allows the double lock mechanism to be switched from the double lock set state to the double lock unlocked state. a first rotating member configured to be rotatable by a driving force output by a first driving force source, and configured to switch the locking mechanism from the locked state to the unlocked state when the locking mechanism is moved to a second position that is rotated in one direction from a first position while the locking mechanism is in the locked state, to switch the locking mechanism from the unlocked state to the locked state when the locking mechanism is moved to a third position that is rotated in the opposite direction from the first position while the locking mechanism is in the unlocked state, and to alternately switch the restriction mechanism between the first state and the second state each time the locking mechanism is moved to a fourth position that is rotated in the opposite direction from the first position past the third position.

2. A door lock device for a vehicle as described in claim 1, which is alternately movable between a fifth position that allows the latch mechanism to switch from the latched state to the unlatched state and a sixth position that does not allow the latch mechanism to switch from the latched state to the unlatched state, and which comprises a first operating member that links with the first rotating member so that the first rotating member is located at the fifth position when the first rotating member moves from the first position to the second position, and is located at the sixth position when the first rotating member moves from the first position to the third position, and the restriction mechanism is configured so that when in the first state, the first operating member does not allow the first operating member to move from the sixth position to the fifth position, and when in the second state, the restriction mechanism allows the first operating member to move from the sixth position to the fifth position.

3. A door lock device for a vehicle as described in claim 2, wherein the regulating mechanism is a knock-type cam comprising: a first regulating member configured to be movable between a seventh position that is positioned outside the movement locus of the first operating member from the sixth position to the fifth position, thereby allowing the first operating member to move from the sixth position to the fifth position, and an eighth position that is partially positioned on the movement locus, thereby not allowing the first operating member to move from the sixth position to the fifth position; and a second regulating member that is movable between a non-switching position and a switching position, and is configured so that the first regulating member alternates between a state in which it is positioned at the seventh position and a state in which it is positioned at the eighth position each time it moves from the non-switching position to the switching position, and wherein the first rotating member cooperates with the regulating mechanism to move the second regulating member from the non-switching position to the switching position when it moves from the first position to the fourth position.

4. A door lock device for a vehicle as described in claim 3, comprising a second operating member that is linked with the first rotating member so as to be positioned at the ninth position when the first rotating member is positioned between the second position and the third position, and to be positioned at the tenth position when the first rotating member is positioned at the fourth position, and that is linked with the restricting mechanism so as to alternately switch the first restricting member between being positioned at the seventh position and being positioned at the eighth position each time the first restricting member moves from the ninth position to the tenth position.

5. A door lock device for a vehicle as described in claim 4, wherein the first rotating member has a first engagement portion that can be engaged and disengaged with the first operating member, and a second engagement portion that can be engaged and disengaged with the second operating member, and is configured so that when the first rotating member moves from the first position to the third position, the first engagement portion engages with the first operating member to move the first operating member from the fifth position to the sixth position, and when the first rotating member moves from the first position past the third position to the fourth position, the second engagement portion engages with the second operating member to move the second operating member from the ninth position to the tenth position.

6. A door lock device for a vehicle as described in claim 5, wherein the first operating member, when located at the third position, is configured to be movable to an eleventh position located on the movement trajectory of the first engagement part when the first rotating member moves from the first position to the third position, and to a twelfth position located outside the movement trajectory, and is elastically urged toward the twelfth position by a urging member.

7. A door lock device for a vehicle as described in claim 6, wherein the first operating member has a locking portion configured to restrict movement from the eleventh position to the twelfth position by engaging with the first engagement portion of the first rotating member, and the first operating member is configured such that when the first rotating member moves from the first position to the third position while the first operating member is located at the fifth position, it is pushed by the first engagement portion of the first rotating member to move to the sixth position and the eleventh position, and when it moves away from the first engagement portion, it moves to the twelfth position by the biasing force of the biasing member.

8. A door lock device for a vehicle as described in claim 1, comprising: a second driving force source separate and independent from the first driving force source; and a second rotating member configured to switch the latch mechanism from the latched state to the unlatched state by rotating from a neutral position to an operating position by the driving force output by the second driving force source.

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