Abstract:
An improved modular vehicle door lock and latch system is disclosed which includes a door latch mechanism, an inside door latch and door lock handle, and a unique outside door handle and door lock interface member, all of which are assembled into a pre-connected configuration together with all necessary control cables, thereby significantly reducing the labor required to assemble the lock and latch system into a door of a motor vehicle and correspondingly resulting in a significant cost reduction. A first module includes the inside door handle, the outside and inside locks, the door latch, and an outside door lock and door handle interface member, as well as linkages between these components. A second component is an outside door handle assembly which will be operatively connected to the outside door lock and door handle interface member. The outside door handle of the preferred embodiment has a lock plate which installs the outside door handle in position by merely placing it into position in an opening in the vehicle door and moving the handle from its non-actuated position to its actuated position.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to vehicle door locking and latching apparatus, and more particularly to an improved modular vehicle door lock and latch system which includes the door latch mechanism, the inside door release and door lock handles, and a unique outside door lock and door handle interface member, all of which may be assembled into a pre-connected configuration together with all necessary control cables, thereby significantly reducing the labor required to assemble these components into a door of a motor vehicle and correspondingly resulting in a significant cost reduction. 
     The mass production of motor vehicles continues to represent a challenge to manufacturers to continue to achieve additional cost savings both at the component level and in the amount of labor required to manufacture the motor vehicles. Manufacturers which fall behind are at a tremendous disadvantage in the marketplace with respect to other manufacturers which excel both at achieving this type of savings and in passing it on to the ultimate consumers of the motor vehicles. This pressure has in turn been exerted by motor vehicle manufacturers upon their suppliers, which must either find ways to reduce the cost of the components they supply or reduce the labor their components require the manufacturers to expend to assemble the components into the motor vehicles, or both, or face the loss of supply contracts to other vendors who can do so. 
     Motor vehicle manufacturers have continued to address this issue in part by reducing the number of parts which they must integrate during the assembly of the motor vehicles. This has particularly been true in the design and manufacture of more inexpensive motor vehicles such as compact and subcompact cars, but it has been expanded to include the entire lineup of motor vehicles manufactured. One area of motor vehicle manufacture which has remained particularly labor-intensive is the assembly of components into the doors of motor vehicles. 
     Vehicle doors typically consist of a structural framework including the outer skin of the door, and are typically made of steel segments which are welded together. This structural framework of the vehicle door has a number of components mounted therein or thereto, with such components including the door&#39;s locks and latches, the window assembly, audio system speakers, weather-stripping, and trim components, with all of these components being assembled to the structural framework of the vehicle door one by one. This assembly procedure requires an assembly operator to first insert, locate, and fasten each component to the mounting surfaces of the structural framework of the vehicle door, and then to make any necessary connections such as electrical or mechanical linkages. 
     It will at once be appreciated by those skilled in the art that this assembly process is slow and cumbersome, both because of the large number of components that need to be individually assembled into or onto the structural framework of the vehicle door, and also because the access to the inside of the structural framework of the vehicle door is very limited. It is common for some of the components or their connections to be incorrectly assembled because of the awkward accessibility and poor visibility into the structural framework of the vehicle door. It is also common for injuries to occur because of the need to reach far into the structural framework of the vehicle door through openings that have sharp sheet metal edges. Additionally, assembly methods currently used to assemble components into and onto the structural framework of the vehicle door require a large number of fasteners and specialized tools to mount the components in place. 
     Virtually without exception, the one of these groups of components which requires the largest amount of labor is the door locking and latching system. The components included in a typical vehicle door for locking and latching that door include a door latch mechanism, an inside door handle, an inside lock actuating lever or knob, an outside door handle, an outside key-operated lock, and a combination of levers, rods, and/or cables interconnecting these components. A large percentage of motor vehicles also include a power locking mechanism, and potentially an additional lever or rod or other type of mechanism interconnecting the power lock motor with the door latch mechanism. 
     It is accordingly the primary objective of the present invention that it provide a locking and latching system of modular construction such that the components of the system are preassembled to the greatest extent possible prior to their installation into the structural framework of a vehicle door. It is a related objective of the lock and latch system of the present invention that its modular components include the outside and inside door handles, the outside and inside locks, the door latch itself, as well as all necessary linkages between these components. It is an additional objective of the present invention that the modular components further facilitate the assembly process by being designed such that the process of installing them into the structural framework of a vehicle door be as simple as is possible, and that it not require the use of specialized tools, thereby further reducing the labor costs associated with assembly. It is another objective of the present invention that it substantially enhance the security of the vehicle by providing a lock and latch system which has an enhanced level of resistance to manipulation by jimmying with a “slim jim” or similar tool of the type commonly used by car thieves 
     It is a further objective of the lock and latch system of the present invention that it include the outside door handle as a separate modular component, thereby allowing outside door handles to be manufactured in a variety of colors to match exterior vehicle paint colors while allowing the other modular components of the system to be of a single type and color. It is yet a further objective of the present invention that the preassembled nature of the modular components eliminate the requirement for adjustments to be made during the assembly of the components of the lock and latch system into the structural framework of a vehicle door, thereby further minimizing assembly costs while simultaneously enhancing vehicle quality. It is still a further objective of the lock and latch system of the present invention that its modular components be adaptable for use on a variety of different vehicles by merely switching outside door handles and providing different size linkages between the various modular components. 
     The lock and latch system of the present invention must also be of a construction which is both durable and long lasting, and it should also require little or no maintenance to be provided by the user throughout its operating lifetime. In order to enhance the market appeal of the lock and latch system of the present invention, it should also be of inexpensive construction to thereby afford it the broadest possible market. Finally, it is also an objective that all of the aforesaid advantages and objectives of the lock and latch system of the present invention be achieved without incurring any substantial relative disadvantage. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The disadvantages and limitations of the background art discussed above are overcome by the present invention. With this invention, a lock and latch system is manufactured in three modular assemblies, the first of which includes the inside door handle, the inside lock, the door latch, and an outside door lock and door handle interface member, as well as linkages between these components. The second component is an outside door lock which is easily installed in the outside door lock and door handle interface member. The third component is an outside door handle assembly which will be operatively connected to the outside door lock and door handle interface member. 
     In an alternate embodiment, the inside door handle and the inside lock together comprise a fourth component which is not initially connected to the rest of the first component (the door latch, the outside door lock and door handle interface member, and the linkages between components). In this embodiment, the first component does, however, include the linkage members which will be connected to the mechanism of the inside door handle of the inside door lock. Typically, while the rest of the first component is installed in the structural framework of the vehicle door, these linkage members will extend out of the vehicle door to allow them to be connected to the inside door handle in the inside door lock. Thus, in this embodiment, following the connection of the first and fourth components together, the inside door handle in the inside door lock will be installed into the structural framework of the vehicle door. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the outside door handle is installable in the manner described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,706,554, to Rukert et al., by merely placing the outside door handle assembly into position in an opening in the outer skin of the structural framework of the vehicle door and moving the handle from its non-actuated position to its actuated position. U.S. Pat. No. 5,706,554 is hereby incorporated herein by reference. Alternately, a conventional design door handle of either the paddle type or the pull strap type could be used instead of the type of door handle taught by the &#39;554 patent. Either of these types of door handles may either be mounted and pivot with respect to an outside door handle housing member which is a part of the second component, the sheet metal of the outer skin of the structural framework of the vehicle door, or the outside door lock and door handle interface member. 
     The outside door lock and door handle interface member is designed to be installed in or close adjacent to the opening in the outer skin of the structural framework of the vehicle door. In the preferred embodiment, the outside door lock and door handle interface member installs into the opening without using tools, with the outside door handle assembly retaining the outside door lock and door handle interface member in position when the outside door handle assembly is installed into the opening. In this embodiment, the housing of the outside door lock and door handle interface member may be made of a die-cast zinc element which interlocks with the sheet metal of the outer skin of the structural framework of the vehicle door. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that such a mounting arrangement will result in an enhanced level of security for the lock and latch system of the present invention since the all-metal designed makes it substantially more difficult for a thief to pop the door lock out and thereby open the vehicle door. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the outside door lock and door handle interface member is connected to two cables, although other types of linkage well known to those skilled in the art or a combination of such linkage elements and cables can also be used. For example, one cable may be used together with another type of mechanical linkage such as a pin. In such an arrangement, the cable may be used to connect the outside door handle to the latch while the pin is used to connect the outside lock to the door latch. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the use of cables substantially enhances the level of security afforded by the lock and latch system of the present invention since such cables are not susceptible to jimmying by a thief using a “slim jim.” 
     The outside door lock, which, as mentioned above, is installed into the outside door lock and door handle interface member, will be accessible through the outside door handle assembly when these components are installed into the opening in the outer skin of the structural framework of the vehicle door. One of the cables in the outside door lock and door handle interface member is driven by an outside door lock cable actuator which is in turn driven by the outside door lock. The outside door handle assembly includes a mechanical linkage which connects the outside door handle to an outside door handle cable actuator in the outside door lock and door handle interface member when the outside door handle assembly is installed. The other cable in the outside door lock and door handle interface member is driven by the outside door handle cable actuator, which is in turn driven by the linkage in the outside handle assembly. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the inside door handle and the inside door lock actuator are both contained in a single assembly. Also, in the preferred embodiment, the inside door handle and inside door lock assembly is connected to two cables. One of the cables is driven by the inside door handle, and the other cable is driven by the inside door lock cable actuator. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that other types of linkage or a combination of such linkage elements and cables could instead be used. 
     All four of the cables, from the outside door lock and door handle interface member and the inside door handle and inside door lock assembly, are connected to the door latch. In the preferred embodiment, the door latch used is the device described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/408,993, entitled “Electronic Latch Apparatus and Method,” to Dimig, filed on Sep. 29, 1999, and assigned to the assignee of the present patent application, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/263,415, to Dimig, filed on Mar. 5, 1999, also assigned to the assignee of the present patent application. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/408,993 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/263,415, in their entirety, are hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
     That electronic door latch is actuated by two cables, with the cable from the inside door handle operating a first control element in the electronic door latch, and the cable from the outside door handle operating a second control element in the electronic door latch. A solenoid-actuated pin is used to lock the electronic door latch, preventing it from being opened from the outside handle if the solenoid has retracted a pin from the second control element. 
     The lock and latch system of the present invention thus uses the second preferred embodiment of the electronic door latch illustrated in FIGS. 17-31 of the above incorporated by reference U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/408,993, with two cables being respectively operatively connected to the solenoid armature such that movements of either of the cables may also be used to extend or retract the pin from the solenoid. Accordingly, the cables from either the inside door lock cable actuator or the outside door lock cable actuator are operatively connected to the solenoid such that either of them can extend or retract the pin from the second control element. It will also be apparent to those skilled in the art that two solenoids could instead be used, one with each of the control elements, with the cables operating the inside and outside locks being directly connected to drive two pins, one of which is associated with each of the solenoids. 
     As mentioned above, the lock and latch system of the present invention is assembled into three modules which are delivered to the motor vehicle manufacturer. The first module thus includes the outside door lock and door handle interface member, the inside door handle and inside door lock assembly, the electronic door latch, and the four cables connecting the first three components. In the preferred embodiment, this module is preassembled in its entirety. The second module is the outside door lock, which is typically a cylinder-type lock which is included in a set of identically-keyed locks for installation into the doors, the ignition switch, and the trunk of the vehicle. The third module is the outside door handle assembly, which includes the outside door handle itself and the mechanical linkage which will be used to connect it to the handle cable actuator in the outside door lock and door handle interface member. The third module also includes the outside handle mounting mechanism which secures the outside door handle assembly in place when the door handle is actuated for the first time. Part of this third module will also be located outside and partially overlying the lock cylinder, with the lock cylinder being accessible through this third module. 
     In an additional enhancement which is optional, a mounting bracket may be used to support the outside door lock and door handle interface member in a spaced relationship with respect to the electronic door latch. This mounting bracket is both small and flexible, and further facilitates the installation of the components supported therefrom into the structural framework of the vehicle door. In an alternate embodiment, the mounting bracket can also extend between the inside door handle and inside door lock assembly and the electronic door latch to establish a spaced relationship therebetween. 
     It may therefore be seen that the present invention teaches a locking and latching system of modular construction in which the components of the system are preassembled to the greatest extent possible prior to their installation into the structural framework of a vehicle door. The modular construction of the lock and latch system of the present invention includes the outside and inside door handles, the outside and inside locks, the door latch itself, as well as all necessary linkages between these components. The modular components of the present invention further facilitate the assembly process by being of a design which makes the process of installing them into the structural framework of a vehicle door be as simple as is possible, without requiring the use of specialized tools, thereby further reducing the labor costs associated with assembly. The lock and latch system of the present invention substantially enhances the security of the vehicle by providing a lock and latch system which by virtue of its design has an enhanced level of resistance to manipulation by jimmying with a “slim jim” or similar tool of the type commonly used by car thieves. 
     Advantageously, the lock and latch system of the present invention includes the outside door handle as a separate modular component, thereby allowing outside door handles to be manufactured in a variety of colors to match exterior vehicle paint colors while allowing the other modular components of the system to be of a single type and color. The preassembled nature of the modular components eliminates the requirement for adjustments to be made during the assembly of the components of the lock and latch system into the structural framework of a vehicle door, thereby further minimizing assembly costs while simultaneously enhancing vehicle quality. The modular components of the lock and latch system of the present invention are also adaptable for use on a variety of different vehicles by merely switching outside door handles and providing different size linkages between the various modular components. 
     The lock and latch system of the present invention is of a construction which is both durable and long lasting, and which will require little or no maintenance to be provided by the user throughout its operating lifetime. The lock and latch system of the present invention is also of inexpensive construction to enhance its market appeal and to thereby afford it the broadest possible market. Finally, all of the aforesaid advantages and objectives of the lock and latch system of the present invention are achieved without incurring any substantial relative disadvantage. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     These and other advantages of the present invention are best understood with reference to the drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the structural framework of a vehicle door from the outside, showing an opening in which the outside handle and outside lock will be mounted; 
     FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the structural framework of the vehicle door illustrated in FIG. 1 from the inside, with the locations at which the door latch, the outside handle and outside lock, and the inside handle and inside lock will be mounted highlighted; 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded view of an outside handle assembly constructed according to the teachings of the present invention, showing an aperture and a ball connector at the location at which an outside door lock and door handle interface member will be mounted; 
     FIG. 4 is a side view of the outside handle assembly illustrated in FIG. 3 from a first side and with the door handle in its normally retracted position, showing the linkage used to move the ball connector when the door handle is opened, and also showing a retention mechanism in a preinstalled position; 
     FIG. 5 is a side view of the outside handle assembly similar to the view illustrated in FIG. 4 but with the door handle in its extended position, showing the movement of the linkage and the ball connector, and also showing the retention mechanism in its installed position; 
     FIG. 6 is a side view of the outside handle illustrated in FIGS. 3 through 5 from a second side and with the door handle in its retracted position following movement of the retention mechanism to its installed position; 
     FIG. 7 is a plan view of an outside lock assembly from a first side, showing a pin extending from the rear end thereof; 
     FIG. 8 is a plan view of a portion of the outside lock assembly illustrated in FIG. 7 from a second side, showing the spring-loaded retention mechanism used to retain the outside lock assembly in place; 
     FIG. 9 is a plan view of the outside lock assembly illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 from the front end thereof; 
     FIG. 10 is a plan view of the outside lock assembly illustrated in FIGS. 7 through 9 from the rear end thereof; 
     FIG. 11 is a front plan view of an outside door lock and door handle interface member from the front side thereof, showing portions of two cables connected to the assembly, the interface member having a recess therein for receiving the outside lock assembly illustrated in FIGS. 7 through 10, the recess having an outside door lock cable actuator attached to one of the cables contained therein, and also showing a pivotable outside door handle cable actuator attached to the other of the cables at one end thereof and having a U-shaped fork at the other end thereof; 
     FIG. 12 is a side plan view of the outside door lock and door handle interface member illustrated in FIG. 11, showing a recess located about the periphery of the housing of the interface member which will be used to mount the interface member; 
     FIG. 13 is a plan view of the cable actuator illustrated in FIG. 11 in the recess in the outside door lock and door handle interface member; 
     FIG. 14 is an isometric view of the outside door handle cable actuator illustrated in FIG. 11 as being pivotally mounted on the outside door lock and door handle interface member, showing a centrally-located aperture extending therethrough, the curved end for attachment to the cable, and the U-shaped fork which is the other end thereof; 
     FIG. 15 is a front plan view of the outside door lock and door handle interface member illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 15 from the front side thereof, showing the outside lock assembly illustrated in FIGS. 7 through 10 installed therein; 
     FIG. 16 is a plan view of the portion of the outer skin of the structural framework of the vehicle door  40  (shown in FIG. 1) having the opening  42  therein, showing the installation and placement of the outside door lock and door handle interface member (shown in FIGS. 11,  12 , and  15 ); 
     FIG. 17 is an isometric view of a door latch assembly from the front side, showing portions of four cables connected to the door latch assembly; 
     FIG. 18 is a rear isometric view of the door latch assembly showing how a striker mounted on the vehicle body is engaged and retained by a ratchet in the door latch assembly; 
     FIG. 19 is a plan view of an inside door handle and inside door lock assembly, showing portions of two cables connected to the assembly; 
     FIG. 20 is a plan view depicting the door latch assembly illustrated in FIGS. 17 and 18 and the outside door lock and door handle interface member illustrated in FIGS. 11,  12 , and  15  with two cables interconnecting them, also showing two cables interconnecting the door latch assembly and the inside door handle and inside door lock assembly illustrated in FIG. 19, and also showing the outside door lock and door handle interface member positioned in engagement with the outside handle illustrated in FIGS. 3 through 6; 
     FIG. 21 is a schematic depiction from the side of a mounting bracket used to interconnect the door latch assembly illustrated in FIGS. 17 and 18 with the outside door lock and door handle interface member illustrated in FIGS. 11,  12 , and  15 , showing in dotted lines an optional extension of the door bracket which may be used to interconnect the door latch and the inside door handle and inside door lock assembly illustrated in FIG. 19, with the cables being omitted for clarity; and 
     FIG. 22 is a schematic depiction of the mounting bracket similar to that illustrated in FIG. 21, but from the top. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The preferred embodiment of the lock and latch system of the present invention consists of three modules which are preassembled prior to delivery to the manufacturer assembling the motor vehicles into which the lock and latch system will be incorporated. The first module consists of three primary components, namely an outside door lock and door handle interface member, an inside door handle and inside door lock assembly, and an electronic door latch, with four cables being used to connect these three components. These three components will be discussed separately, prior to a discussion about their incorporation into a single module. The second module is the outside lock, which in the preferred embodiment is a cylinder-type lock. The third module is the outside door handle assembly, which will also be discussed by itself. 
     Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, the structural framework of a vehicle door  40  is illustrated from the outside in FIG.  1  and from the inside in FIG.  2 . The structural framework of the vehicle door  40  has an opening  42  in the outer skin of the structural framework of the vehicle door  40  (best illustrated in FIG. 1, illustrated schematically in FIG. 2) into which an outer handle assembly and an outside door lock (neither of which are illustrated in FIGS. 1 or  2 ) will be mounted. The structural framework of the vehicle door  40  also has the location at which an inside door handle and inside door lock assembly (not illustrated in FIGS. 1 or  2 ) will go indicated by the reference numeral  44  and the location at which a door latch (not illustrated in FIGS. 1 or  2 ) will go indicated by the reference numeral  46 . 
     Referring next to FIGS. 3 through 6, the construction of the outside door handle assembly  50  which is used in the preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. All of the various components of the outside door handle assembly  50  are assembled onto an outside door handle housing member  52 , which is of a size and configuration to fit partially into the opening  42  in the outer skin of the structural framework of the vehicle door  40  (shown in FIG.  1 ). The outer periphery of the outside door handle housing member  52  is larger than the opening  42  in the outer skin of the structural framework of the vehicle door  40 . 
     Located near one side of the outside door handle housing member  52  is an aperture  54  which will receive the proximal end (the end next to or nearest the point of attachment or origin) of an outside door lock (not illustrated in FIGS.  3  through  6 ). Located intermediate the aperture  54  and the other end of the outside door handle housing member  52  is a concave portion  56  which will receive an outside door handle  58  therein in a flush manner when the outside door handle  58  is not actuated. 
     The outside door handle  58  has two support arms  60  and  62  located near opposite ends thereof. The support arm  60  has an aperture  64  located near the end thereof remote from the point of attachment of the support arm  60  to the outside door handle  58 . The support arm  62  has an aperture  66  located near the end thereof remote from the point of attachment of the support arm  62  to the outside door handle  58 . 
     The support arm  60  has an extension  68  projecting in the same plane as the support arm  60  from the end thereof remote from the point of attachment of the support arm  60  to the outside door handle  58 . The distal end (the end situated away from the point of attachment or origin) of the extension  68  has an aperture  70  located therein. The support arm  62  has a projection  72  extending from the side thereof near the end thereof remote from the point of attachment of the support arm  62  to the outside door handle  58 . 
     The outside door handle housing member  52  has two openings  74  and  76  located near opposite ends of the concave portion  56  to admit the support arms  60  and  62 , respectively, therethrough. Extending from the outside door handle housing member  52  on the back side of the concave portion  56  immediately outside the openings  74  and  76  are two handle mounting arms  78  and  80 . The handle mounting arms  78  and  80  have apertures  82  and  84 , respectively, located near their ends which are remote from their point of attachment to the outside door handle housing member  52 . 
     The mechanism used to mount the outside door handle assembly  50  is similar to the apparatus taught by U.S. Pat. No. 5,706,554, which has been incorporated by reference above. A cam member  86  having an aperture  88  extending therethrough is mounted adjacent the handle mounting arm  80  using a pin  90 . Also mounted on the pin  90  is a spring  92 , which bears against the support arm  60  of the outside door handle  58  and the inside surface of the outside door handle housing member  52 , and operates to keep the outside door handle  58  in its flush position with respect to the outside door handle housing member  52 . 
     The pin  90  extends sequentially through the aperture  84  in the handle mounting arm  80 , the aperture  66  in the support arm  62  of the outside door handle  58 , the aperture  88  in the cam member  86 , the spring  92 , the aperture  64  in the support arm  60 , and the aperture  82  in the handle mounting arm  78 . In the preferred embodiment, the pin  90  has an interference fit with one or both of the apertures  82  and  84  in the handle mounting arms  78  and  80 , respectively, although other ways of retaining the pin  90  in place will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. 
     Extending from the back side of the concave portion  56  of the outside door handle housing member  52  is an essentially square lock support post  96 , which is located between and slightly below the level of the handle mounting arms  78  and  80 . Extending from the distal end of the lock support post  96  is a threaded post  98 . Mounted on the threaded post  98  is a lock plate  100  which has a vertical slot  102  therein through which the threaded post  98  extends. A nut  104  and a washer  106  are used to retain the lock plate  100  in place on the threaded post  98 , although, as can best be seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, the nut  104  is not fully tightened on the threaded post  98 . Other matters of retaining the lock plate  100  in place on the threaded post  98  which will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art may alternatively be used. 
     The lock plate  100  may be seen as having three primary portions, namely two planar portions  108  and  110  which are both connected to an irregular central portion  112 , the vertical slot  102  being located in the irregular central portion  112 . The two planar portions  108  and  110  are at an angle of approximately 60 degrees with respect to each other, and each have small outwardly extending flanges  114  and  116  located at their respective distal edges. A slot  118  is located in the distal edge of the planar portion  108  to admit the end of the spring  92  which bears on the outside door handle housing member  52 . 
     Note that when the lock plate  100  is in the position illustrated in FIG. 4 (the installation position), the flange  114  on the planar portion  108  of the lock plate  100  is spaced slightly away from the top edge of the outside door handle housing member  52 , and the flange  116  on the planar portion  110  of the lock plate  100  is spaced well away from the bottom edge of the outside door handle housing member  52 . In this position, the outside door handle assembly  50  can be installed into place in the opening  42  in the outer skin of the structural framework of the vehicle door  40  (shown in FIG.  1 ). 
     The irregular central portion  112  is configured such than when the lock plate  100  is moved downward from the position illustrated in FIG. 4 to the position illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 (the installed position), the flanges  114  and  116  will move into close contact with the top and bottom edges of the outside door handle housing member  52 . Once in this position, a finger  120  extending from the planar portion  110  near its point of attachment to the irregular central portion  112  will prevent the lock plate  100  from returning to its former position, thereby gripping the steel surrounding the opening  42  in the outer skin of the structural framework of the vehicle door  40  (shown in FIG. 1) tightly. 
     The lock plate  100  is moved from its installation position to its installed position by the clockwise rotation of the cam member  86  when viewed along the axis of the pin  90  from the perspective of the handle mounting arm  78 . This movement of the cam member  86  occurs when the outside door handle  58  is actuated (pulled outwardly from the concave portion  56  in the outside door handle housing member  52 ). The projection  72  on the support arm  62  of the outside door handle  58  bears against a pin  122  extending from the side of the cam member  86  facing the handle mounting arm  80 , causing the cam member  86  to rotate against the planar portion  108  of the lock plate  100 , pushing it downward from the installation position to the installed position. 
     A T-shaped linkage member  124  is mounted onto the support arm  60  which extends from the outside door handle  58 . The T-shaped linkage member  124  has apertures  126  and  128  extending through opposite ends of the top of the T. The end of the pin  90  preferably extends beyond the aperture  64  in the support arm  60  and into the aperture  126  in the T-shaped linkage member  124 . 
     A bolt  130  extends through the aperture  70  in the support arm  60  and the aperture  128  in the T-shaped linkage member  124 , and is secured in place by a nut  132 . The base of the T is curved, as best seen in FIG.  4 . Extending from the side of the T-shaped linkage member  124  at the bottom of the T is a mounting post  134  which has a threaded distal tip. 
     A linkage support arm  136  extends from the back of the outside door handle housing member  52  well below the position of the handle mounting arm  78 . Extending from the side of linkage support arm  136  near the distal end thereof is a mounting post  138  which has a threaded distal tip. 
     Mounted on the mounting post  138  is an intermediate linkage member  140  which is shaped like a hockey stick. Mounted on the side of the lower end of the intermediate linkage member  140  at the distal tip thereof is a ball  142  which will interface with an outside door lock and door handle interface member (not illustrated in FIGS.  3  through  6 ). Located in the side of the intermediate linkage member  140  from the top to a position about two-thirds of the way down the “handle” is a slot  144 . Also located on the side of the lower end of the intermediate linkage member  140  proximally from the ball  142  is an aperture  146 . 
     The intermediate linkage member  140  is mounted onto the linkage support arm  136  with the mounting post  138  extending through the aperture  146  in the intermediate linkage member  140 . The mounting post  134  of the T-shaped linkage member  124  extends through the slot  144  in the intermediate linkage member  140 . A nut  148  is screwed onto the threaded distal tip of the mounting post  138  to retain the intermediate linkage member  140  in place on the mounting post  138 . A nut  150  is screwed onto the threaded distal tip of the mounting post  134  to retain the mounting post  134  in the slot  144  of the intermediate linkage member  140 . 
     Referring now particularly to FIGS. 4 and 5, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the ball  142  on the intermediate linkage member  140  moves vertically (and to a lesser extent horizontally) as the outside door handle  58  goes from a fully retracted position in FIG. 4 to a fully actuated position in FIG.  5 . This movement of the ball  142  will be used to operate a handle cable actuator in the outside door lock and door handle interface member (not illustrated in FIGS.  3  through  6 ). 
     Finally, FIGS. 4 through 6 also show a mounting gasket  152  which is placed on the inside of the outside door handle housing member  52  around the perimeter thereof. The mounting gasket  152  will be located intermediate the inside of the outside door handle housing member  52  and the steel of the outer skin of the structural framework of the vehicle door  40  (shown in FIG. 1) when the outside door handle assembly  50  is installed on the structural framework of the vehicle door  40 . In the preferred embodiment, the outside door handle housing member  52  and the outside door handle  58  can both be made of molded plastic material. 
     While the outside door handle  58  illustrated herein is of the paddle type, it will be readily appreciated to those skilled in the art that either the paddle type or the pull strap type door handle could be used in conjunction with the lock and latch system of the present invention. In addition, either of these types of door handles could alternately be mounted and pivot with respect either to an outside door handle housing member which is a part of the second component, to the sheet metal of the outer skin of the structural framework of the vehicle door, or to the outside door lock and door handle interface member. Such changes and substitutions will certainly be readily apparent to one skilled in the art once the principles of the present invention have been made known to that person. 
     Referring next to FIGS. 7 through 10, an outside door lock  160  is illustrated. The outside door lock  160  illustrated is a cylinder-type lock having a proximal end (best shown in FIG. 9) into which a key (not shown herein) may be inserted. It the correct key is inserted into the outside door lock  160 , a cylindrical projection  162  located at the distal end of the outside door lock  160  will turn. Located on one side of the cylindrical projection  162  (best shown in FIG. 10) is a pin  164  which extends from the distal end of the cylindrical projection  162  and rotates with the cylindrical projection  162  when the correct key is inserted into the outside door lock  160  and turned. 
     Located on one side of the outside door lock  160  is a small projection  166 , while located on the other side of the outside door lock  160  is a larger projection  168 . The larger projection  168  is wider than is the small projection  166 , as best shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. This ensures the proper orientation of the outside door lock  160  when it is inserted into an outside door lock and door handle interface member (not illustrated in FIGS.  7  through  10 ). Extending from one side of the larger projection  168  is a spring-loaded tapered projection  170  which will be used to retain the outside door lock  160  in the outside door lock and door handle interface member when it is so installed 
     Referring now to FIGS. 11 through 15, an outside door lock and door handle interface member  172  (and, in FIGS. 13 and 14, two components thereof) is illustrated. The outside door lock and door handle interface member  172  serves three functions: it provides a mounting location for the outside door lock  160  (shown in FIGS.  7  through  10 ); it provides a coupling mechanism for interfacing rotary motion of the cylinder lock in the outside door lock  160  to linear motion in an outside door lock cable  174 ; and it provides a coupling mechanism for interfacing movement of the ball  142  of the intermediate linkage member  140  (best illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, which occurs when the outside door handle  58  is actuated) to linear motion in an outside door release cable  176 . 
     The outside door lock and door handle interface member  172  includes a housing member  178  which is hollow at one end to receive the outside door lock  160  (illustrated in FIGS. 7 through 10) therein. The end of the housing member  178  which has the opening therein has an enlarged head portion  180  which has a contoured recess  182  located in a portion of the sides thereof. This contoured recess  182  is configured to precisely fit the opening  42  in the outer skin of the structural framework of the vehicle door  40  (shown in FIGS.  1  and  16 ), with the portions of the enlarged head portion  180  which surround the recess on both sides thereof acting to retain the outside door lock and door handle interface member  172  in place in the opening  42 . 
     Referring for the moment to FIG. 16, the outside door lock and door handle interface member  172  is installed into the opening  42  in the outer skin of the structural framework of the vehicle door  40  (illustrated in FIG. 1) by placing it into the center of the opening  42  (which is wider than at the ends of the opening  42 ) where it is shown in phantom lines, and sliding it (in the direction of the arrows) into place at an end of the opening  42 . In this position, the sheet metal at the right side of the opening  42  in the outer skin of the structural framework of the vehicle door  40  will be engaged within the contoured recess  182  of the outside door lock and door handle interface member  172 . The outside door handle assembly  50  (illustrated in FIGS. 3 through 6) may then be installed into the opening  42 , where it will engage the outside door lock and door handle interface member  172  and retain it in place. 
     Referring again to FIGS. 11 through 15, the opening in the outside door lock and door handle interface member  172  has a cylindrical opening portion  184  which is centrally located therein, with a narrower rectangular opening portion  186  on one side thereof and a wider rectangular opening portion  188  on the other side thereof. A retaining bar  190  (as best seen in FIG. 12) is located on one side of the cylindrical opening portion  184  to engage the spring-loaded tapered projection  170  of the outside door lock  160  when it is installed in the outside door lock and door handle interface member  172 . 
     It may be seen in FIG. 12 that the outside door lock  160 , when installed in the outside door lock and door handle interface member  172 , extends slightly above the surface of the enlarged head portion  180 . This portion of the outside door lock  160  will fit into the aperture  54  of the outside door handle housing member  52  (illustrated in FIG. 3) when the outside door lock and door handle interface member  172  and the outside door handle housing member  52  are installed into the opening  42  in the outer skin of the structural framework of the vehicle door  40  (as illustrated in FIG.  16 ). It will be appreciated by those skill in the art that typically the outside door lock  160  is included in a set of identically-keyed locks for installation into the doors, the ignition switch, and the trunk of the vehicle. Accordingly, the outside door lock  160  will not be installed into the outside door lock and door handle interface member  172  until the lock and latch system is being installed into a motor vehicle. 
     Located in the back of the cylindrical opening portion  184  in the housing member  178  is an outside door lock cable actuator  192  (which is best shown in FIG.  13 ). The outside door lock cable actuator  192  is U-shaped, with the middle of one side of the U being connected to one end of a cable wire  194 . The cable wire  194  is located inside the outside door lock cable  174 . The pin  164  on the cylindrical projection  162  of the outside door lock  160  (best illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 10) will fit inside the interior of the U (which is identified by the reference number  195 ) when the outside door lock  160  is installed into the outside door lock and door handle interface member  172 . Thus, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that when a key (not illustrated herein) is placed into the outside door lock  160  and rotated, rotating the cylindrical projection  162  and the pin  164 , the pin  164  will actuate the outside door lock cable actuator  192  and cause the cable wire  194  to be moved inside the outside door lock cable  174 . 
     Also mounted on the outside door lock and door handle interface member  172  is an outside door handle cable actuator  196  (which is best shown in FIG.  14 ). The outside door handle cable actuator  196  has an aperture  197  which is centrally located therein, and is pivotally mounted on a pivot pin  198  extending from the side of the housing member  178 . One end of the outside door handle cable actuator  196  is U-shaped (as identified by the reference numeral  199 ), and this U-shaped end  199  will engage the ball  142  on the intermediate linkage member  140  of the outside door handle assembly  50  (illustrated in FIGS.  4  and  5 ). The other end of the outside door handle cable actuator  196  (which is indicated generally by the reference numeral  200 ) is connected to one end of a cable wire  202 . The cable wire  202  is located inside the outside door lock cable  176 . The outside door lock cable  176  is secured to the outside door lock and door handle interface member  172  by a bracket  204 . 
     Thus, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that when the outside door handle  58  of the outside door handle assembly  50  (illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5) is actuated, the ball  142  on the intermediate linkage member  140  will move, causing a corresponding movement of the outside door handle cable actuator  196 . As the outside door handle cable actuator  196 , moves, the cable wire  202  inside the outside door release cable  176  will move as well. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 17 and 18, an electronic door latch  210  is illustrated which is the second preferred embodiment of the electronic door latch illustrated in FIGS. 17-31 of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/408,993, which has been incorporated by reference above. The preferred embodiment electronic door latch  210  of the present invention uses two cables which are respectively operatively connected to the solenoid such that movements of the cables may also be used to extend or retract the pin from the second control element. Rather than repeat the extensive technical description of the electronic door latch described in the incorporated by reference application, only the application of it will be described herein. 
     FIGS. 17 and 18 illustrate the electronic door latch  210 , which has a front cover  212 , a rear mounting plate  214 , and a housing  216  which together enclose the internal elements and mechanisms of the electronic door latch  210 . The rear mounting plate  214  has a plurality of threaded apertures  218  which may be utilized to secure the electronic door latch  210  to the structural framework of the vehicle door  40  (in the position illustrated in FIG.  2 ). 
     The electronic door latch  210  operates to secure the vehicle door  40  by releasably engaging and retaining a striker  220  mounted on a vehicle body (not illustrated herein) The electronic door latch  210  utilizes a ratchet  222  (also known as a fork bolt) which is rotatably mounted within the housing  216 . The electronic door latch  210 , like the electronic door latch described in the incorporated by reference patent application, has two control elements located therein, which are described in the above-incorporated by reference U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/408,993. 
     Two of the cables attached to the electronic door latch  210  are actuated by the outside door handle  58  (illustrated in FIG. 5) and the inside door handle (which has not yet been described herein), respectively. The outside door release cable  176  is secured to the housing  216 , and has a cable wire  202  contained therein. The end of the cable wire  202  is attached to the second control element, which is entirely contained within the housing  216 . An inside door release cable  222  is secured to the housing  216 , and has a cable wire  224  contained therein. The end of the cable wire  224  is connected to the first control element, which is also entirely contained within the housing  216 . 
     The outside door lock cable  174  is connected to the front cover  212 , and contains the cable wire  194 . An inside door lock cable  226  is also connected to the front cover  212 , and contains a cable wire  228 . In the preferred embodiment illustrated herein, the outside door lock cable  174  and the inside door lock cable  226  are both used to lock the second control element. When the second control element is locked, and the outside door release cable  176  is pulled, the electronic door latch  210  will not unlatch. When the second control element is unlocked, and the outside door release cable  176  is pulled, the electronic door latch  210  will unlatch. For more complete understanding of the operation of the electronic door latch  210 , the reader is referred to the above-incorporated by reference U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/408,993. In the embodiment illustrated herein, the first control element is never locked (although it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that it could be locked if the inside door lock cable  226  was connected to it instead of the second control element). 
     Referring next to FIG. 19, an inside door handle and inside door lock assembly  232  is illustrated for installation in the location  44  on the structural framework of the vehicle door  40  (illustrated in FIG.  2 ). The inside door handle and inside door lock assembly  232  has a base member  234  having a mounting stub  236  on the bottom edge thereof and a mounting tab  238  having an aperture  240  therethrough on the left side edge thereof. An inside door handle  242  is hingedly mounted onto the base member  234 , and is biased into the position illustrated in FIG.  19 . 
     Actuating the inside door handle  242  is accomplished by pulling its unconnected end outwardly from the base member  234 , which pulls the cable wire  224  from the end of the inside door release cable  222  shown in FIG.  19 . An inside door lock actuator  244  is also shown in FIG. 19 to be of the rocker type. Pushing on its right side (as shown in FIG. 19) pulls the cable wire  228  from the end of the inside door lock cable  226  shown in FIG. 19, locking the electronic door latch  210  (shown in FIGS.  17  and  18 ). Pushing on the left side of the inside door lock actuator  244  pushes the cable wire  228  back into the inside door lock cable  226 , unlocking the electronic door latch  210 . The mechanisms used to connect the inside door handle  242  to the inside door release cable  222  and the inside door lock actuator  244  to the inside door lock cable  226  are not shown in greater detail since they are of a simple nature which will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art. In addition, one skilled in the art will also appreciate that instead of the inside door handle and inside door lock assembly  232  being used, a separate inside door handle assembly (not illustrated herein) and inside door lock assembly (not illustrated herein) could instead be used. 
     In another alternative embodiment, the inside door handle and inside door lock assembly  232  may comprise a fourth component which is not initially connected to the rest of the first component (the electronic door latch  210 , the outside door handle assembly  50 , and the cables between components  174 ,  176 ,  222 , and  226 ). In this alternate embodiment, the first component would, however, include cables  222  and  226  which will be connected to the mechanism of the inside door handle and inside door lock assembly  232 . Typically, while the rest of the first component is installed in the structural framework of the vehicle door  40 , these cables  222  and  226  will extend out of the vehicle door  40  to allow them to be connected to the inside door handle and inside door lock assembly  232 . Thus, in this alternate embodiment, following the connection of the first and fourth components together, the inside door handle and inside door lock assembly  232  would be installed into the structural framework of the vehicle door  40 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 20, the entire lock and latch system of the present invention is illustrated in an assembled form. Note particularly the four cables between the components. The outside door lock cable  174  and the outside door release cable  176  extend between the outside door lock and door handle interface member  172  and the electronic door latch  210 , and the inside door release cable  222  and the inside door lock cable  226  extend between the inside door handle and inside door lock assembly  232  and the electronic door latch  210 . All four of the cables in the preferred embodiment of the present invention are Bowden cables which transfer the motions of the various handles and lock mechanisms to the door latch. 
     It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that other types of linkage or a combination of such other types of linkage elements together with cables could be used instead of an all cable system. For example, a substitute which may be made for one of the cables is another type of mechanical linkage such as a pin. In such an arrangement, the pin may be used, for example, to connect the outside lock to the door latch instead of using the outside door lock cable  174 . It will, however, be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the use of cables substantially enhances the level of security afforded by the lock and latch system of the present invention since such cables are not susceptible to jimmying by a thief using a “slim jim.” 
     Referring finally to FIGS. 21 and 22, a sheet metal mounting support bracket  246  is schematically illustrated as extending between the outside door lock and door handle interface member  172  and the electronic door latch  210 . The mounting support bracket  246  is used to properly space the outside door lock and door handle interface member  172  and the electronic door latch  210  apart, and in the preferred embodiment will be different for each different vehicle door configuration. Accordingly, the mounting support bracket  246  may have a plurality of bends and curves contained therein which are arranged and configured in accordance with the particular vehicle door configuration as well as to accommodate the various components to be assembled into the vehicle door. 
     In a permutation of the mounting support bracket  246 , an additional segment of mounting support bracket  248  may extend between the inside door handle and inside door lock assembly  232  and the electronic door latch  210 . The mounting support bracket  248  is used to properly space the inside door handle and inside door lock assembly  232  and the electronic door latch  210  apart, and in the preferred embodiment will again be different for each different vehicle door configuration. In addition, the mounting support bracket  248  may also have a plurality of bends and curves contained therein which are again arranged and configured in accordance with the particular vehicle door configuration as well as to accommodate the various components to be assembled into the vehicle door. 
     It may therefore be appreciated from the above detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the present invention that it teaches a locking and latching system of modular construction in which the components of the system are preassembled to the greatest extent possible prior to their installation into the structural framework of a vehicle door. The modular construction of the lock and latch system of the present invention includes the outside and inside door handles, the outside and inside locks, the door latch itself, as well as all necessary linkages between these components. The modular components of the present invention further facilitate the assembly process by being of a design which makes the process of installing them into the structural framework of a vehicle door be as simple as is possible, without requiring the use of specialized tools, thereby further reducing the labor costs associated with assembly. The lock and latch system of the present invention substantially enhances the security of the vehicle by providing a lock and latch system which by virtue of its design has an enhanced level of resistance to manipulation by jimmying with a “slim jim” or similar tool of the type commonly used by car thieves. 
     Advantageously, the lock and latch system of the present invention includes the outside door handle as a separate modular component, thereby allowing outside door handles to be manufactured in a variety of colors to match exterior vehicle paint colors while allowing the other modular components of the system to be of a single type and color. The preassembled nature of the modular components eliminates the requirement for adjustments to be made during the assembly of the components of the lock and latch system into the structural framework of a vehicle door, thereby further minimizing assembly costs while simultaneously enhancing vehicle quality. The modular components of the lock and latch system of the present invention are also adaptable for use on a variety of different vehicles by merely switching outside door handles and providing different size linkages between the various modular components. 
     The lock and latch system of the present invention is of a construction which is both durable and long lasting, and which will require little or no maintenance to be provided by the user throughout its operating lifetime. The lock and latch system of the present invention is also of inexpensive construction to enhance its market appeal and to thereby afford it the broadest possible market. Finally, all of the aforesaid advantages and objectives of the lock and latch system of the present invention are achieved without incurring any substantial relative disadvantage. 
     Although an exemplary embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described with reference to particular embodiments and applications thereof, it will be apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art that a number of changes, modifications, or alterations to the invention as described herein may be made, none of which depart from the spirit or scope of the present invention. All such changes, modifications, and alterations should therefore be seen as being within the scope of the present invention.