Method and system for guiding a drive rod in a door after an impact to the door

A method and system for guiding a drive rod in a door after an impact to the door. An automobile having a door with a door handle, a drive rod, a latching system, a striker, and a drive rod guiding member. The drive rod guiding member can be positioned adjacent to the drive rod. Upon impact to the door, the drive rod can be disengaged from the door handle or the latching system. The drive rod guiding member guides the drive rod away from the door handle or the latching system. By guiding the drive rod away the door handle or the latching system, the drive rod guiding member can prevent the drive rod from re-engaging with the door handle or the latching system. This maintains the door in the closed position instead of the open position.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a method and system for guiding a drive rod in a door after an impact to the door.

2. Description of the Related Art

A conventional automobile includes a conventional door that opens in an outward direction. The conventional door is opened using a handle, a drive rod, a latching system, and a striker. Actuation of the handle moves the drive rod, which in turn controls the latching system to engage or disengage from the striker. During an accident where there is an impact to the door, the door can be deformed and compressed. The deformation and compression move the latching system closer to the handle such that the drive rod permanently controls the latching system to disengage from the striker, causing the door to be in a permanent or semi-permanent open position. Having the door be left permanently or semi-permanently open is undesirable.

Thus, there is a need for a method and system for guiding a drive rod in a door after an impact to the door.

SUMMARY

The present invention is a method and system for guiding a drive rod in a door after an impact to the door. The present invention includes an automobile having a door with a door handle, a drive rod, a latching system, a striker, and a drive rod guiding member. The drive rod guiding member can be positioned adjacent to the drive rod. Upon impact to the door, the drive rod can be disengaged from the door handle or the latching system. The drive rod guiding member guides the drive rod away from the door handle or the latching system. By guiding the drive rod away the door handle or the latching system, the drive rod guiding member can prevent the drive rod from re-engaging with the door handle or the latching system. This maintains the door in the closed position instead of the open position.

In one embodiment, the present invention is a door latch system including a door, a door handle located on the door, a latch release unit located in the door, a drive rod engaged with the door handle and the latch release unit, and a drive rod guiding member located in the door, wherein upon impact to the door causing deformation of the door, the drive rod disengages from the door handle or the latch release unit and the drive rod guiding member guides the drive rod away from the door handle or the latch release unit.

In another embodiment, the present invention is an automobile including a frame, a striker located in the frame, and a door connected to the frame and selectively engaged with the striker. The door can include a latch unit selectively engaged with the striker, a latch release unit connected to the latch unit, wherein actuation of the latch release unit controls the engagement of the latch unit with the striker, a drive rod engaged to the latch release unit, a door handle engaged to the drive rod wherein the drive rod actuates the latch release unit based on a movement of the handle, and a drive rod guiding member wherein upon impact to the door causing deformation of the door, the drive rod disengages from the door handle or the latch release unit and the drive rod guiding member guides the drive rod away from the door handle or the latch release unit.

In yet another embodiment, the present invention is a method for guiding a drive rod in a door after an impact to the door including disengaging the drive rod from a door handle or a latch release unit, and guiding the drive rod away from the door handle or the latch release unit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Apparatus, systems and methods that implement the embodiments of the various features of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. The drawings and the associated descriptions are provided to illustrate some embodiments of the present invention and not to limit the scope of the present invention. Throughout the drawings, reference numbers are re-used to indicate correspondence between referenced elements.

As seen inFIG. 1, a transportation device such as an automobile100includes a door102, a door lock assembly104, a striker106, and a frame128. The automobile100can be, for example, a car, a hybrid car, a car with an internal combustion engine, or any other type of vehicle which can be used to transport objects. The striker106is connected to the frame128of the automobile100. The door102includes the door lock assembly104, which is selectively engaged to the striker106. The door102can be, for example, a sliding door, or a hinged door. When the door lock assembly104is engaged with the striker106, the door102is secured to the frame128. When the door lock assembly104is not engaged with the striker106, the door102can be opened.

The door lock assembly104can be seen, for example inFIGS. 2 and 3.FIG. 2is a perspective view of the door102without an outer panel, whileFIG. 3is a side view of the door102. The door102inFIG. 3includes a first panel118and a second panel120. InFIG. 2, only the second panel120is shown. The first panel118can be, for example, an outer panel, while the second panel120can be, for example, an inner panel.

InFIGS. 2 and 3, the door lock assembly104can include a door handle108, a drive rod110, a drive rod guiding member116and/or a latching system112. The door handle108is connected to the first panel118, and is engaged with the drive rod110. The drive rod110can be engaged with the door handle108, for example, at an engagement point142. The drive rod110is engaged to the latching system112while the latching system112is connected to the striker106(FIG. 1). The drive rod110can be engaged to the latching system112, for example, at an engagement point140.

The latching system112can be located in the door102and can be between, for example, the first panel118and/or the second panel120. In one embodiment, the latching system112is connected to the second panel120. The latching system112can include, for example, a latch release unit122and a latch unit114. The latch release unit122and the latch unit114can be separate units or the same unit. In addition, the latch release unit122and the latch unit114can be integrated together. Furthermore, in one embodiment, the drive rod110, the latch release unit122, and/or the latch unit114can form a bell crank.

The drive rod guiding member116is located in the door102and is positioned adjacent to the drive rod110. InFIG. 2, the drive rod guiding member116can include, for example, an attachment portion130, and a guiding protrusion132. The guiding protrusion, for example, can have a triangular shape. However, the drive rod guiding member116including the guiding protrusion132can be formed from any shape or size such that it is capable of guiding the drive rod110away from the door handle108and/or the latching system112. The drive rod guiding member116can be formed, for example, from steel, plastic, aluminum, an alloy, or any other suitable material with sufficient rigidity to guide the drive rod110away from the door handle108and/or the latching system112.

In one embodiment, the drive rod guiding member116can be connected to the first panel118. The drive rod guiding member116can also be located on the second panel120. In another embodiment, the drive rod guiding member116can be located on or adjacent to the latching system112. For example, the drive rod guiding member116can be integrated into the latching system112. In yet another embodiment, the drive rod guiding member116can be located on or adjacent to the door handle108. For example, the drive rod guiding member116can be integrated into the door handle108.

Generally, the drive rod guiding member116can be located anywhere in or on the door102, including anywhere on the first panel118and/or the second panel120, such that it can guide or contact the drive rod110after the drive rod110disengages from the door handle108and/or the latching system112. The drive rod110can disengage from the door handle108and/or the latching system112when the door102is impacted by an object.

The drive rod guiding member116can contact the drive rod110at any point along the drive rod110which is sufficient to guide the drive rod110from the door handle108and/or the latching system112. For example, the drive rod guiding member116can contact the drive rod110at a point close to the handle108, a point close to the latching system112, and/or a point between the handle108and the latching system112. In one embodiment the drive rod guiding member116can contact the drive rod110at a point close to the door handle108when the drive rod110disengages from the door handle108.

In another embodiment, the drive rod guiding member116can contact the drive rod110at a point close to the latching system112when the drive rod110disengages from the latching system112.

In operation, the door handle108can be actuated to move the drive rod110. The movement of the drive rod110moves the latch release unit122, and the latch release unit122moves the latch unit114. The latch unit114can be moved to engage with the striker106or disengage with the striker106. The drive rod guiding member116ensures that the drive rod110remains disengaged from the latching system112after impact to the automobile100and/or the door102.

In one embodiment, upon impact to the automobile100and/or the door102, the drive rod110disengages from the door handle108and/or the latching system112. The drive rod guiding member116contacts the drive rod110and guides the drive rod110away from the door handle108and/or the latching system112. For example, the drive rod guiding member116can guide the drive rod110away from the engagement point140when the drive rod110is disengaged from the latching system112. The drive rod guiding member116can guide the drive rod110away from the engagement point142when the drive rod110is disengaged from the door handle108. By guiding the drive rod110away from the engagement point142, the door handle108, the engagement point140, and/or the latching system112, the drive rod guiding member116prevents the drive rod110from re-engaging with the door handle108and/or the latching system112.

Since the drive rod110is disengaged from the latching system112and/or the door handle108, the drive rod110will not cause the latching system112to disengage from the striker106. This is advantageous when the door102deforms and/or compresses such that the door handle108is closer to the latching system112. The reduced distance may cause the drive rod110to force the latching system112to disengage from the striker106in a conventional door. This can simulate, for example, an actuation of the door handle108, and lead to the opening of the door. However, since the drive rod110is disengaged from the door handle108and/or the latching system112in the present invention, the drive rod110will not cause the latching system112to disengage from the striker106. This can prevent the door102from undesirably opening during or after an accident. This can improve the safety to the occupants within the automobile100and/or prevent further damage to the automobile100.

Similarly, if the drive rod110is disconnected from the latching system112, any actuations of the door handle108will only move the drive rod110without causing the latching system112to disengage from the striker106. Since the movement of the drive rod110does not affect the latching system112, it does not cause the latching system112to disengage from the striker106. This can prevent the door102from undesirably opening during or after an accident, for example, through unintended actuations of the door handle108.

FIGS. 4-13depict simulations of the door102prior to, during, and after an impact with an object124. The object124can be mounted, for example, to an object126. The object124can protrude from the object126. The objects124and/or126can simulate an impact with real life objects such as another automobile, a wall, a tree, or any other object which can cause damage to the door102.

FIGS. 4,5A and5B depict the door102prior to the impact with the object124.FIG. 5Ais a top-down view ofFIG. 4along the line5-5showing the drive rod guiding member116coupled to a first panel118of the door102. See alsoFIG. 5Bshowing the drive rod guiding member116coupled to a second panel120of the door102. As can be seen inFIG. 4, the drive rod110is engaged with the door handle108and the latching system112. The drive rod guiding member116, for example, has not impacted the drive rod110. Thus, actuating the door handle108can cause the latching system112to be disengaged with the striker106(FIG. 1).

FIGS. 6A and 7depict the door102immediately after impact with the object124.

FIG. 7is a top-down view ofFIG. 6Aalong the line7-7. The first panel118begins to deform due to the impact with the object124. The deformation of the first panel118causes the latching system112to move closer to the second panel120. The deformation of the first panel118can also cause the latching system112to move closer to the door handle108. The drive rod110disengages from the latching system112. For example, the drive rod110can separate from the latch release unit122in the latching system112. In one embodiment, the drive rod110can separate from the latching system112at the engagement point140, for example, from inertia and/or the movement of the latching system112. See alsoFIG. 6Bshowing that the drive rod110can separate from the door handle108, for example, at the engagement point142.

FIGS. 8 and 9depict the door102with greater deformation from the impact with the object124.FIG. 9is a top-down view ofFIG. 8along the line9-9. As can be seen, the drive rod110moves or swings away from the latching system112. The drive rod110can move or swing due to the inertia, and/or the movement of the latching system112from to the deformation of the first door panel118and/or the second door panel120. The drive rod110moves or swings such that it contacts the drive rod guiding member116.

FIGS. 10 and 11depict the door102at a time afterFIGS. 8 and 9.FIG. 11is a top-down view ofFIG. 10along the line11-11. As can be seen, the drive rod guiding member116guides the drive rod110away from the latching system112. For example, the drive rod guiding member116can guide the drive rod110away from the engagement point140in the latching system112.

FIGS. 12 and 13depict the door102after the door102has completed its deformation from its impact with the object124.FIG. 13is a top-down view ofFIG. 12along the line13-13. As can be seen, the door102has suffered compression along the arrows138. The door handle108is now closer to the latching system112. However, the drive rod guiding member116prevents the drive rod110from re-engaging with the latching system112. In a conventional door102, the compression along the arrows138could cause the drive rod110to force the latching system112to disengage from the striker106. However, in the present invention, the drive rod110is prevented from re-engaging with the latching system112since it is guided away from the engagement point140. Furthermore, the drive rod110does not actuate the latch release unit122and/or the latch unit114in the latching system112due to the compression along the arrows138. In addition, actuation of the door handle108will not actuate the latch release unit122and/or the latch unit114in the latching system112since the drive rod110is disengaged from the latching system112.

In one embodiment, the present invention is a process as disclosed inFIG. 14. In Step S1402, the drive rod is disengaged from a door handle or a latch release unit. For example, the drive rod110can disengage from the door handle108or the latch release unit122. In Step S1404, the drive rod is guided away from the door handle or the latch release unit. For example, the drive rod guiding member116guides the drive rod110away from the door handle108or the latch release unit122. In Step S1406, the drive rod is prevented from re-engaging with the door handle or the latch release unit. For example, the drive rod guiding member116guides the drive rod110to a location where the drive rod110is prevented from re-engaging with the door handle108or the latch release unit122. In Step S1408, the door is maintained in a closed position. For example, the door102is maintained in a closed position even when the door handle108is actuated.

The previous description of the disclosed examples is provided to enable any person of ordinary skill in the art to make or use the disclosed methods and apparatus. Various modifications to these examples will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the principles defined herein may be applied to other examples without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosed method and apparatus. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive and the scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.