Abstract:
A locking device is provided for preventing an outside door handle assembly, having a handle, a stem extending out from the handle, and a counterweight operably connected between the handle and a release rod, from activating the release rod in response to a motor vehicle impact. The locking device includes a catch fixedly secured to the counterweight and engageable with the stem in response to the motor vehicle impact in order to prevent the handle from activating the release rod.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application claims all the benefits and priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/704,400 filed on Aug. 1, 2005. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The invention relates to a door latch for a motor vehicle. More particularly, the invention relates to a locking device for preventing release of a door latch during a motor vehicle impact.  
       DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART  
       [0003]     In a motor vehicle impact, in particular a side impact, a door latch of the motor vehicle may inadvertently release, which results in the opening of a motor vehicle door. The opening of the door in such circumstances is undesirable. Thus, there remains a need for a simple locking device that prevents a door latch from releasing during a motor vehicle impact.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     According to one aspect of the invention, a locking device is provided for preventing an outside door handle assembly, having a handle, a stem extending out from the handle, and a counterweight operably connected between the handle and a release rod, from activating the release rod in response to a motor vehicle impact. The locking device includes a catch fixedly secured to the counterweight and engageable with the stem in response to the motor vehicle impact in order to prevent the handle from activating the release rod.  
         [0005]     According to another aspect of the invention, a locking device is provided for preventing inadvertent release of a latch release lever of a door latch mechanism during a motor vehicle impact. The locking device includes a collapsible bracket fixedly secured to the door latch mechanism at a location adjacent the latch release lever. The collapsible bracket is foldable into engagement with the latch release lever in response to the motor vehicle impact in order to prevent the latch release lever from releasing the door latch mechanism.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]     Advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:  
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an outside door handle assembly including a locking device according to one embodiment of the invention;  
         [0008]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a locking device or collapsible bracket according to another embodiment of the invention;  
         [0009]      FIG. 3  is a fragmentary, perspective view of the collapsible bracket mounted along a metal plate of a door latch mechanism; and  
         [0010]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the collapsible bracket including first and second walls folded over a latch release lever of the door latch mechanism. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0011]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , an outside door handle assembly, generally shown at  10 , for a motor vehicle door is operatively connected to a door latch mechanism. The outside door handle assembly  10  includes a handle  12  and a stem  14  extending out from the handle  12 . A counterweight  16  is rotatably mounted on a pivot rod  17  along a base (not shown) of the outside door handle assembly  10 . The counterweight  16  includes a leg  18  abutting a distal end projection  30  on the stem  14  and a locking device  20  spaced apart from the leg  18  and located on the opposing side of the projection  30  such that the projection  30  is straddled by the legs  18 ,  20 . A biasing member  19 , or coil spring, is coupled between the counterweight  16  and the pivot rod  17  for biasing the counterweight  16  in the counterclockwise direction shown in  FIG. 1 . In the current embodiment, the locking device  20  is a catch or second leg. The counterweight  16  also includes a protrusion  22  having an aperture  24  for receiving one end  26  of a release rod  28 .  
         [0012]     During normal operation, when a user pulls the handle  12 , the stem  14  moves axially in the direction of arrow A. As a result, the stem  14  pushes against the leg  18  to initiate rotational movement of the counterweight  16  in the direction of arrow B, thereby pushing the release rod  28  downwards for releasing the door latch mechanism. In such normal operation of the outside door handle assembly  10 , the catch  20  simply rotates around one end  30  of the stem  14  as the stem  14  urges rotational movement of the counterweight  16 . More specifically, the catch  20  has a specific configuration or curvature that allows the axial movement of the handle  12  to proceed unimpeded. It is appreciated that the particular configuration or curvature of the catch  20  may vary.  
         [0013]     However, during a motor vehicle impact, the catch  20  lockingly or abuttingly engages the end  30  of the stem  14  to prevent axial movement thereof in the direction of arrow A. As a result, the counterweight  16  cannot be urged into rotation by the stem  14 , which in turn prevents the release rod  28  from moving downwards to release the door latch mechanism. More specifically, during a motor vehicle impact, inertia urges the counterweight  16  to rotate clockwise about the pivot rod  17  against the biasing force of the spring  19 . However, such rotation of the counterweight  16  causes the locking device  20 , or leg, to abut the projection  30  on the distal end of the stem  14  and prevents further rotation of the counterweight  16 . Without actuation of the handle  12  to move the stem  14 , the counterweight  16  is prevented from further rotation and thus unable to actuate the release rod  28  to release the door latch mechanism.  
         [0014]     Referring to  FIGS. 2-4 , according to another embodiment of the invention, a door latch mechanism, generally indicated at  32 , includes a metal plate  34  for housing and protecting a ratchet and pawl from outside interference. The door latch mechanism  32  also includes a latch release lever  36  that is coupled to one end of the release rod  28 , best shown in  FIG. 4 . Actuation of the release rod  28  causes the latch release lever  36  to disengage from the pawl, which in turn releases the door latch mechanism  32 .  
         [0015]     A locking device or collapsible bracket, generally indicated at  40 , is fixedly secured to the metal plate  34 . More specifically, the collapsible bracket  40  is positioned along the metal plate  34  so as to cover the end of the latch release lever  36  coupled to the release rod  28 . The collapsible bracket  40 , which is preferably a stamped metal component, includes a flange  42  secured to the metal plate  34 . Preferably, the flange  42  is secured to the metal plate  34  using a structural adhesive. It is, however, appreciated that the flange  42  may be mounted along the metal plate  34  in any of numerous ways.  
         [0016]     The collapsible bracket  40  includes a first wall  44  extending out from the flange  42 , and a second wall  46  extending out perpendicularly from the first wall  44 . The first wall  44  includes indentations  48  along each side adjacent the flange  42 . A pair of elongated recesses  50 ,  52  are formed along the collapsible bracket  40  and extend along each of the first  44  and second  46  walls. The indentations  48  and elongated recesses  50 ,  52  facilitate crumpling of the collapsible bracket  40 .  
         [0017]     During a motor vehicle impact, in particular a side impact, the collapsible bracket  40  folds over the latch release lever  36 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . More specifically, each of the first  44  and second  46  walls collapse against the latch release lever  36  and fix the latch release lever  36  in place. Thus, the latch release lever  36  is not able to move into a release position for disengaging the pawl from the ratchet. As a result, the door is not able to open.  
         [0018]     Finally, it should be appreciated that although the collapsible bracket  40  has been described as having collapsing first  44  and second  46  walls, the particular configuration of the collapsible bracket  40  may vary so long as the collapsible bracket  40  protects the latch release lever  36  by fixing the latch release lever  36  in place during a motor vehicle impact.  
         [0019]     The invention has been described in an illustrative manner. It is to be understood that the terminology, which has been used, is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation. Many modifications and variations of the invention are possible in light of the above teachings. Therefore, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described.