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. 13, 2009
Filed:
May. 16, 2006
Franco Giovanni Ottino, S. Giuliano Terme, IT;
Luca Bigazzi, Ponsacco, IT;
Franco Giovanni Ottino, S. Giuliano Terme, IT;
Luca Bigazzi, Ponsacco, IT;
Intier Automotive Closures S.p.A., Cascine Vica Rivoli, IT;
Abstract
A vehicle door lock () having a fork () which rotates about a first axis (A) between a release position and at least one lock position engaging a fixed striker (), and a latch () which rotates about a second axis (B), is loaded elastically towards the fork (), and has a catch portion () which clicks onto a tooth () of the fork () to lock the fork () releasably in the lock position. The fork () is defined by a main body () made of rigid material, and by an outer coating () made of relatively yielding material and having, adjacent to the tooth (), a slot () defining a peripheral edge () which flexes inwards of the slot () when struck by the catch portion () of the latch () engaging the tooth () of the fork (). The main body () has a recess () close to the root of the tooth (); and the slot () is at least partly superimposed over the recess () to allow the peripheral edge () to flex inwards of the slot () wherever the catch portion () of the latch () strikes the fork ().