DOOR LOCK FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE

Abstract: A door lock for a motor vehicle provided with a body having one or more doors, wherein the lock has a locking cylinder (6) accommodated in or near a window pillar in a sheet metal part located there.

Description: The invention relates to a door lock for a motor vehicle provided with a body having one or more doors. Door locks of this type are generally provided with a cylinder and a matching key whereby the vehicle can be locked and unlocked. The lock cylinder is generally mounted either in the immediate vicinity of or integral with the handle whereby the door is opened. These locations of the cylinder have several disadvantages. Thus, the fairly low positioning implies that one must generally stoop in order to insert the key into the lock and, in addition, the door has as a rule to be reinforced at the location of the handle by means of special bracings. Also, the paintwordk on the outer panel of the door is liable to local damage. According to the invention the lock cylincer is mounted in or near a pillar of the door in a sheet metal part present there, which cylinder co-operates with a locking lever with which the lock can be opened and closed. This location ensures that the cylinder is accommodated in a pillar which is per se non-deformable and moreover, located at a short distance from that part of the lock which links up anyway with the pillar, so that an effective separation is achieved between the actual locking function and the opening and shutting of the door. The invention is elucidated more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 schematically shows a part of a motor vehicle provided with a lock cylinder mounted according to the invention; Figure 2 is a sectional view of a possible constructional embodiment; and Figure 3 represents a preferred embodiment in which the lock cylinder is mounted near a window post of the door. In the figures, 1 denotes a car door provided with a handle 2 for opening and shutting on the outside and with a handle 3 for the same purpose, but operable from within. A centre pillar 4 of the body accommodates the fixed part of lock 5. The moving part is connected to the door and not represented. Near the window pillar 13 the lock cylinder 6 is accommodated in a sheet metal part 14 which cylinder allows the lock 5 to be engaged by means of a locking lever 7. A cover plate 10 on the outside and a cover plate 11 on the inside enclose the lock 6. By means of the key the lever 12 is turned which causes the locking lever 7 to move up and down for the engagement or disengagement of the lock 5.

Claims: A door lock for a motor vehicle provided with a body having one or more doors, characterized in that the lock (5) has a locking cylinder (6) which is accommodated in or near a window pillar (13) in a sheet metal part (14) present there, which cylinder co-operates with a locking lever (7) with which the lock can be opened and closed.

Inventors: VAN OIJEN, LAMBERTUS JOHANNES, WILLEMS, FOKKE
Applicants: VOLVO CAR B.V.
Application year: 1986
Main classification: E05B65
IPC codes: B60J5, E05B65