Patent ID: 8376419
Filing Date: 2013-02-19
Classification: E05B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A vehicle door latch device, comprising: a housing structured to be provided in a vehicle door; a latch rotatably supported by the housing, wherein a striker provided in the vehicle body can be fitted to the latch; a pawl having a shaft portion rotatably supported by the housing, wherein the pawl is engageable with the latch to restrict rotation of the latch; a helical torsion spring having a helical portion through which the shaft portion is passed, a first engaging leg extending radially outward in relation to the helical portion, and a second engaging leg extending radially outward in relation to the helical portion, wherein the first engaging leg is engaged with the pawl, and the second engaging leg is engaged with the housing, the helical torsion spring always urging the pawl to rotate to an engagement position where the pawl can be engaged with the latch; and a projecting wall formed in the housing, the projecting wall contacting an outer circumferential surface of the helical portion, wherein the housing has a support hole with an inner circumferential surface, wherein the pawl shaft portion has an outer circumferential surface smaller than the inner circumferential surface of the support hole so that the pawl slides and rotates in the support hole to allow latching and unlatching of the device, wherein a clearance is provided between the outer circumferential surface of the shaft portion and the inner circumferential surface of the support hole, the clearance allowing the shaft portion to rotate relative to the support hole, and wherein the projecting wall contacts the helical portion, so as to maintain the clearance to a constant size.