Patent GB-878246-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in latch mechanisms
IPC: E05B85/24
Filed: 1958-12-31
Abstract: 878,246. Latches. FORD MOTOR CO. Ltd. Dec. 31, 1958 [Feb. 25, 1958], No. 42143/58. Class 44. In a latch mechanism for a swinging door, e.g. of a motor vehicle, a pair of latch plates 13, 13 Figs. 3 and 5a, which are adapted to engage a keeper 102, are pivotally mounted to move about spaced axes on a flanged plate 11 adapted to be secured to a free edge of the door ; the latch plates 13, 13 are integral with their respective pivots 14, 14 which have secured thereto control plates 21, 22, respectively, provided with teeth 26, Fig. 1, which intermesh so that the latch plates 13, 13 move in unison. The control plate 21, which is spring-biased to the door-unlatched position, is provided with two ratchet teeth 33, 34 for engagement by a pivoted, spring-loaded detent 36 to retain the plates 13, 13 in a safety door-latched or final door-latched position, respectively, and a pivoted spring-loaded release lever 42, which is operable by an outside pushbutton, is provided with a lug 44 for engaging an arm 41 of the detent 36 to move the latter clear of the teeth 33. 34. An arm 39 of the detent 36 has its end engaged by a bifurated arm 68 of a bell-crank lever 66, Fig. 2, pivoted at 62 to the flange 12 of the plate 11, the other arm 67 of the lever 66 being engaged by a pivoted lever 61 operatively connected to inside control mechanism by a link 57. For blocking the release lever 42 against operation a pivoted lever 73 is provided having an arm 74 with a flanged end 79 adapted to be disposed opposite an arm 48 of the lever 42. The lever 73 is adapted to be moved to its blocking position by operation of an inside button (not shown) or an outside-controlled key-operated mechanism (not shown) and is moved to a non-blocking position by operation from inside the vehicle of the lever 61 to door-unlatched position, the arm 67 of the lever 66 engaging an appendage 81 of the lever 73 or, if the lever 73 is in blocking position when the door is open, by closing of the door, this causing the plate 21 to move the detent 36 and so the lever 66, an over-centre spring 89 biases the lever 73 to its blocking or non-blocking position. The keeper 102 comprises a pin 112 carrying a rubber sleeve 117 encompassed by a longitudinally split resilient metal sleeve 118 the free diameter of which is greater than the distance between the engaging surfaces of the latch plates 13, 13 so that the door is tightly held against movement laterally of the pin 112. An enlarged head portion 116 on the pin 112 co-operates with the latch plates 13, 13 to prevent disengagement thereof in a direction longitudinally of the pin 112 in the event of a collision. In a modification, Fig. 4 (not shown), the latch mechanism is locked from both inside and outside, operation ; the appendage 81 on the lever 73 is dispensed with and the latter is provided with an arm which is adapted to be disposed opposite a hook-like extension 64 on the lever 61 to prevent movement thereof. In this modification the outside controlled key-operated mechanism is dispensed with. In a second modification, Fig. 6 (not shown) both the control plates 21 and 22 are spring-biased and the pivots 14, 14 are journalled in rubber bushings, the split in the sleeve 118 being dispensed with. Specification 878,270 is referred to. Reference has been directed by the Comptroller to Specification 800,437.