Patent GB-1032669-A (GB)
Title: Locks
Inventor: HALL LESLIE
IPC: E05B65/32
Filed: 1964-03-05
Abstract: 1,032,669. Latch fastenings. FORD MOTOR CO. Ltd. March 5, 1964, No. 9320/64. Heading E2A. A lock for locking together two parts comprises a lock member 1 rotatable between a release position and a locking position, a striker 3 pivotable between a locking position and a release position and a mechanism for rotating the lock member from its locking position into its release position and in which when the lock member has been rotated into its locking position and the two parts are locked together by interengagement of the striker and locking member the resultant force between the engagement surfaces of the striker and lock member passes through the centre of rotation of the lock member or to the side of the latter centre so as to tend to rotate the lock member further into its locking position and through the pivoting axis of the striker or to the side of the striker pivoting axis so as to tend to pivot the latter further into its locking position, the pivotal actions of the striker being so located in relation to the pivotal axis of the lock member that the lock member when being rotated to the release position by the mechanism through the angle required to move the engagement surface of the lock member clear of the engagement surface of the striker pivots the striker so that the tendency of the striker engagement surface to obstruct initial rotation of the lock member is less than it would be if the striker were not pivotable. In the construction shown in Fig. 1 the lock member 1 is mounted on a spindle which passes through the base of a channel shaped member 5 having a closed end 7; the mechanism (not shown) is mounted on the opposite side of the base of the channel shaped member and may be similar to that disclosed in Specification 864,305. The striker 3 is pivotally mounted on a plate 6 on which is also mounted upper and lower guides 7 and 9. The lock member 1 is biased clockwise by a spring (not shown) and has a guide portion 11 which during closing movement of a door on which the member 5 is mounted engages a corner 18 of the guide 7 so that the lock member is rotated anticlockwise to clear the corner 18. As the portion 11 clears the corner 18 a surface 19 of the lock member engages the surface 21 of the striker and rotates it clockwise to abut a stop (not shown) in its coupling position. This position of the lock member is the safety latching position. Further closing movement of the door moves the surface 19 clear of the surface 21 and the lock member is then rotated by its spring into the position shown in Fig. 1 in which the engagement surfaces 15 and 17 are in contact. It will be seen that the centre of rotation 23 of the lock member and the pivotal axis 25 of the striker are arranged so that any opening force on the door does not tend to rotate the lock member. The lock member is provided with an extension 13 which in the coupling position of the lock member and striker engages a surface of the striker and hence when the lock member is rotated anticlockwise by the mechanism to releasing position the extension 13 turns the striker. In a modification the surface 21 is omitted from the striker and the extension 13 from the lock member and the striker is pivoted to its releasing position by the force exerted between the surfaces 15 and 17.