Patent ID: 7938458
Filing Date: 2011-05-10
Classification: E05B,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An improved door latch and striker combination for a vehicle door mounted to a door frame, including a latch assembly mounted on the door so as to reside between the frame and the door, the latch assembly having a rotor pivotal between open and closed positions; and a striker assembly mounted on the door frame so as to reside between the frame and the door, the striker assembly having a striker bolt, the improvement comprising: a pivotal cam on the striker assembly between the frame and the door; the latch assembly, during closing of the door, engaging and pivoting the cam before the rotor engages the striker bolt so as to lift the door and the latch assembly for alignment of the rotor and striker bolt; the cam having an upper planar surface which moves during pivotal rotation of the cam between a lowered inclined position when the door is open and a substantially raised horizontal position when the door is closed; and the latch assembly having a striker block adapted to engage the planar surface of the cam to define an area of support when the door is closed.