Patent ID: 9366062
Filing Date: 2016-06-14
CPC Classification: E05B,Y10T

Claim Text:
1. A vehicle door comprising: an outer door panel joined to an inner door panel; a door handle assembly mounted in the outer door panel, the door handle assembly including handle frame and a handle supported by the handle frame for movement relative to the handle frame; a door lock assembly mounted between the outer door panel and the inner door panel; an actuator pin located between the outer door panel and the inner door panel, the actuator pin coupled to the door lock assembly, and movable from a first position corresponding to a latched condition of the door lock assembly and a second position in which the actuator pin unlatches the door lock assembly to allow opening of the vehicle door; a fork located between the outer door panel and the inner door panel in a space between the door handle assembly and the door lock assembly, the fork coupled with the handle for movement with movement of the handle relative to the handle frame, and with its movement, engageable with the actuator pin to move the actuator pin to its second position; and a plate coupled to the handle frame, the plate having a major surface across the handle frame, and carrying an upright flange with the same cross-sectional thickness as the major surface projecting from the major surface at an angle into the space between the door handle assembly and the door lock assembly to limit relative movement between the handle frame and the door lock assembly under lateral forces exerted on the outer panel to prevent the fork from moving the actuator pin to its second position, and thereby prevent the door lock assembly from unlatching.