The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 30, 1990
Filed:
Oct. 16, 1987
Lee S Weinerman, Medina, OH (US);
Joel T Vargus, Middleburg Heights, OH (US);
The Eastern Company, Cleveland, OH (US);
Abstract
A vehicle door lock system includes a rotary latch having an elongate housing with opposed ends that are tapered so as to be securely received, when 'latched,' within an elongate U-shaped striker assembly that has a pair of spaced, inwardly facing wedge blocks at opposed ends. As the rotary latch releasably engages the striker to effect 'latching,' the tapered end regions of the latch housing are wedgingly engaged by the wedge blocks of the striker to guide the latch into properly aligned engagement with the striker, and to maintain proper alignment of the rotary latch with the striker while 'latched.' By this arrangement, a strong, racking-resistant type of latched connection is provided that will assist in preventing undesired relative movements of a door and a door frame on which the latch and striker are mounted, respectively. Handle assemblies are connected to the rotary latch to operate the latch to effect 'unlatching' of the latch and the striker. 'Locking' and 'unlocking' of the latch is effected by selectively enabling and disabling driving connections between the handle assemblies and the rotary latch.