Mitsui Minings & Melting Co., Ltd.

Yoshihiko Fujihara

Mikio Ichinose

A latch engages with a striker fixed to a vehicle when a door of the vehicle is closed. A latch lever that turns together with the latch has an engagement portion. A closing lever forced by a spring has a pressing portion and has the same axis as a sector gear driven by a motor. If the door is incompletely closed or in a half-latched position, the closing lever turns by the sector gear driven by the motor, so that the pressing portion contact and press the engagement portion of the latch lever to allow the door to close completely. Even if the pressing portion inadvertently engages with the engagement portion, the sector gear and the closing lever can return to the original position independently. Then, the door can normally be closed.

Door closing device

One actuator selectively operates a latch lever linked to a latch and a ratchet lever, a push rod, a bell crank and a pull rod linked to a ratchet. When the front door and the rear door of a car having the center pillarless design are closed, the actuator operates the latch lever causing the latch to engage with a striker to connect the front door and the rear door. When the front door and the rear door are connected and a passenger opens either of the two doors, the actuator operates the ratchet lever, the push rod, the bell crank, and the pull rod causing the latch and the striker to be disengaged to disconnect the front door and the rear door.

Growing community of inventors

Kai, Japan

Yoshihiko Fujihara