Patent Publication Number: US-8979145-B2

Title: Door lock apparatus

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a door lock apparatus installed to a door of a vehicle. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     This kind of door lock apparatus is provided with a latch mechanism having a fork holding a striker provided in a vehicle body side, and a claw engaging with the fork so as to hold an engaged state of the striker by the fork. Further, the door lock apparatus is provided with a link which is set to be movable from an unlock position capable of engaging with the claw to a lock position incapable of engaging with the claw. If a lock plate is actuated by an operation of a key inserted to a cylinder key and a driving of an actuator by a remote control operation, the link is moved to the lock position and the unlock position by the lock plate. 
     Further, in a case where the door is opened, a door handle inside the vehicle or outside the vehicle is operated in a state where the link is moved from the lock position to the unlock position via the lock plate by the key operation or the remote control operation. Accordingly, the link is activated to open by an open lever coupled to the door handle to actuate the claw, thereby cancelling the engagement between the claw and the fork and canceling the held state of the striker by the fork. 
     However, in this door lock apparatus, since the link comes into contact with a side surface of an operation receiving portion of the claw in a case where the door handle has been already operated at a time of carrying out the lock cancellation (the unlocking operation) by the key operation or the remote control operation, the link can not be moved to the unlock position. As a result, the lock plate can not move to the unlock position. In this case, hereinafter, this state is called “panic state”. In this case, there is a problem that the door can not be opened until the unlocking operation is carried out again after the operation of the door handle is stopped temporarily, and the door handle is thereafter operated. 
     As a related art publication information of the door lock apparatus which is structured such as to dissolve the problem mentioned above, there exists a Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2004-44360. 
     A door lock apparatus in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2004-44360 is structured such that a lock plate (a locking lever) is constructed by a main lever, and a sub lever arranged so as to be relatively movable with respect to the main lever. Further, a spring for moving to an initial energized position before a relative movement is arranged between the main lever and the sub lever. 
     In the door lock apparatus in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2004-44360, if a door handle is operated in an unlock state, a link is actuated and the link comes into contact with a claw (a lift lever) so as to rotate the claw, thereby canceling a held state of a striker and making the door openable. Further, if the door handle is operated in a lock state, the link is actuated. However, since the link is rotated to a position at which it can not come into contact with the claw, the held state of the striker can be maintained. 
     On the other hand, in a case where the door handle is operated in the lock state and the unlocking operation is carried out, the link is further unlock activated in a state where the link is activated to be opened by the operation of the door handle, thereby coming into contact with the claw. However, since the lock plate is constructed by the main lever and the sub lever which are relatively movable, the main lever is rotated to a normal unlock position. On the other hand, since the link is inhibited from rotating, the sub lever can not be rotated to a normal unlock position, and is relatively moved with respect to the main lever against an energizing force of the spring. Further, if the operation of the door handle is cancelled, the door opening actuation with respect to the link is cancelled. Accordingly, the link is moved to a non-open actuation position. At this time, the sub lever is moved to the initial energized position before the relative movement by the energizing force of the spring. As a result, the link is securely moved to the non-open actuation position and the unlock position. 
     As mentioned above, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2004-44360 is structured such that the unlock state can be securely set by canceling the operation of the door handle, even if the unlocking actuation is carried out by the key operation or the remote control operation in a state where the door handle is operated in the lock state (an anti-panic mechanism). 
     However, in the door lock apparatus of Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2004-44360, since the lock plate is constructed by a pair of main lever and sub lever, and the spring is arranged for energizing them to the initial energized positions before the relative movement, there is a disadvantage that the parts number is increased, and a manufacturing cost becomes high. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is made by taking the conventional problem into consideration, and an object of the present invention is to provide a door lock apparatus which can suppress an increase of parts to a minimum, and can avoid a panic state by a simple structure. 
     In order to solve the above problems, a door lock apparatus of the present invention includes: a latch mechanism engaging with a striker provided in a vehicle body so as to freely engage and disengage, and having an operation receiving portion for canceling the engaging state; a link being movable between an unlock position capable of engaging with the operation receiving portion of the latch mechanism, and a lock position incapable of engaging with the operation receiving portion; a lock plate moving the link to the unlock position and the lock position; and an open lever interlocking with a door handle provided inside a vehicle or outside the vehicle of a door, engaging with the link so as to activate the link, and structured such that the link engages with the operation receiving portion of the latch mechanism so as to cancel the lock of the striker at a time when the link is at the unlock position, and the link can not engage with the operation receiving portion of the latch mechanism so as to maintain the lock of the striker at a time when the link is at the lock position, wherein the lock plate or the like is provided with an energizing member coupling the lock plate and the link so as to be relatively movable in a direction to the unlock position and the lock position, and energizing the link with respect to the lock plate toward the unlock position. 
     In this door lock apparatus, since the link can not engage with the operation receiving portion of the latch mechanism in a case where the link is activated to open the door via the open lever in a state where the link is moved to the lock position via the lock plate, the door can not be opened. Further, if the unlock operation is carried out in the operated state of the open lever, and the link is moved to the unlock position via the lock plate, the link comes into contact with the operation receiving portion similar to the related art. 
     However, in the present invention, since the lock plate and the link are held so as to be relatively movable by the energizing member, the lock plate can be moved to the unlock position by elastically contracting the energizing member in a case where the link comes into contact with the operation receiving portion. Further, if the opening operation of the door is canceled in this state, the link is returned to the non-open actuation position before the door opening actuation via the open lever. Accordingly, the link is moved to the unlock position by the energizing force of the energizing member. As a result, the door can be opened by operating the door handle to open without carrying out the unlocking operation again. 
     As mentioned above, the door lock apparatus in accordance with the present invention can construct the anti-panic mechanism only by being engaged and attached in the state where the link is energized toward the unlock position with respect to the lock plate by the energizing member. In other words, since the anti-panic mechanism can be constructed by the simple structure in which the energizing member is additionally arranged, without necessity of divisionally constructing the lock plate, it is possible to suppress an increase of the manufacturing cost. 
     In the door lock apparatus, it is preferable that the energizing member is arranged in the lock plate, and the link and the energizing member are coupled by a slide groove provided in the link in such a manner as to extend along a door opening actuation direction by the open lever, and a coupling portion provided in the energizing member in such a manner as to be inserted to the slide groove. In accordance with this structure, the coupling mechanism can be constructed by the simple structure. 
     Further, it is preferable that the lock plate is provided with a stopper portion regulating the link to an initial energized position in the unlock position side. In accordance with this structure, it is possible to prevent the displacement of the link, and it is possible to securely hold the link at the initial position. 
     Further, it is preferable that the energizing member is provided with an arm portion protruding from an annular winding portion, and is provided with the coupling portion in a leading end of the arm portion, and wherein the lock plate is provided with a regulating portion in which the arm portion of the energizing member is inserted movably in the direction to the unlock position and the lock position, and which regulates a movement toward the link. In accordance with this structure, it is possible to securely guide the movement (the displacement) of the energizing member by the regulating portion. Further, even if the link is activated via the open lever by the operation of the door handle, it is possible to prevent the link from interfering with the energizing member by the regulating portion. Accordingly, it is possible to securely prevent a malfunction of the link. 
     Further, it is preferable that the lock plate is provided with an attaching portion outwardly fitting and holding the winding portion of the energizing member, and the attaching portion is provided with a retention portion preventing the winding portion of the energizing member from coming off. In accordance with this structure, it is possible to maintain the assembled state without falling away the energizing member from the lock plate, and it is possible to improve an assembling workability of the door lock apparatus. 
     In the door lock apparatus in accordance with the present invention, the lock plate and the link can be engaged and attached so as to be relatively movable only by additionally arranging the energizing member in the lock plate or the link, thereby constructing the anti-panic mechanism. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress an increase of the parts number, and it is possible to suppress an increase of the manufacturing cost. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front elevational view showing a lock mechanism of a door lock apparatus in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 2A and 2B  show a latch mechanism of the door lock apparatus, in which  FIG. 2A  is a side elevational view showing a door open state, and  FIG. 2B  is a side elevational view showing a door close state; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view showing a construction of the door lock apparatus; 
         FIG. 4  is a front elevational view showing a lock mechanism arranged portion of a main case; 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of a link, a lock plate, a knob lever and an inner open lever; 
         FIGS. 6A and 6B  show the lock plate and a link energizing spring, in which  FIG. 6A  is a front elevational view and  FIG. 6B  is a cross sectional view of a substantial part; 
         FIG. 7  is a front elevational view showing a door open actuation state of the door lock apparatus; 
         FIG. 8  is a front elevational view showing a lock state of the door lock apparatus; 
         FIG. 9  is a front elevational view showing an unlock actuation state in a door open actuation state of the door lock apparatus; 
         FIGS. 10A and 10B  are schematic process views showing an unlock actuation state in a door open actuation state of the door lock apparatus; and 
         FIGS. 11A ,  11 B and  11 C are schematic process views showing the unlock actuation state in the door open actuation state of the door lock apparatus coming next to  FIGS. 10A and 10B . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     A description will be given below of an embodiment in accordance with the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       FIGS. 1 to 3  show a door lock apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The door lock apparatus is installed in an openable door of a vehicle, and engages with and disengages from a striker  1  arranged in a vehicle body. In the door lock apparatus, a latch mechanism engages with the striker  1 , and a lock mechanism is capable of unlocking so as to cancel the engaging state of the striker  1  by the latch mechanism or locking so as to be incapable of canceling the enabling state are arranged in a casing  10 . 
     The casing  10  is provided with a main case  11  arranging each of parts constructing the lock mechanism, a sub case  20  arranging each of parts constructing the latch mechanism, and a cover  25  covering a lock mechanism arranging surface in the main case  11 . 
     The main case  11  in accordance with the present embodiment has an L-shaped form in a plan view which is provided with a lock mechanism arranging portion  12  and a latch mechanism cover portion  17 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . The lock mechanism arranging portion  12  is provided with attaching shaft portions  13   a  and  13   b  rotatably attaching a lock plate  43  and an inner open lever  68  mentioned below, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 4 . Further, a shaft hole  14  for rotatably arranging a knob lever  61  is provided in a left side portion of the attaching shaft portion  13   b  of the inner open lever  68 , in the drawing. A drive motor arranging portion  15  and a cam member arranging portion  16  are provided further in an upper left side of the shaft hole  14 . The latch mechanism cover portion  17  covers an opening portion of the sub case  20  arranging the latch mechanism. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the latch mechanism cover portion  17  is provided with a first attaching hole portion  18  for rotatably installing a first key lever  74  and a key shaft  76 . Further, there is provided a second attaching hole portion  19  for rotatably installing an outer open lever  82  by swaging a rivet or the like. 
     The sub case  20  is installed to the latch mechanism cover portion  17  of the main case  11 , is provided with a metal reinforcing plate  21  in a surface opposed to the latch mechanism cover portion  17 , and is provided with a surface plate  22  in a surface in an opposite side, as shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B  and  FIG. 3 . The surface plate  22  is provided with an insertion groove (not shown) inserting the striker  1 , and is provided with an attaching hole portion (not shown) for rotatably installing a fork  30  and a claw  33  constructing the latch mechanism by swaging. Further, the sub case  20  is provided with an insertion hole  23  through which an operation receiving portion  36  of the claw  33  passes so as to protrude into the lock mechanism arranging portion  12 . Further, an insertion concave portion  24  concaved toward the latch mechanism cover portion  17  is provided at a corresponding position to the insertion groove of the surface plate  22 . 
     The cover  25  is installed to the lock mechanism arranging portion  12  of the main case  11 , and is provided with a first insertion portion  26  through which a lock knob connection portion  63  of a knob lever  61  passes so as to protrude to an outer side, and a second insertion portion  27  through which an inner door handle coupling portion  70  of an inner open lever  68  passes so as to protrude to an outer side, as shown in.  FIG. 3 . Further, the cover is provided with a concave portion  28  for securing a rotation region of the knob lever  61 , and a connector connection port  29  through which a connector (not shown) for electrically connecting a signal line of a lock state or the like, a power line and the like passes. 
     Further, the latch mechanism in accordance with the present embodiment which is assembled in the sub case  20  is provided with the fork  30  engaging with and disengaging from the striker  1 , and the claw  33  engaging with the fork  30  so as to maintain a state where the fork  30  holds the striker  1 , as shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B . 
     The fork  30  has an approximately U-shaped form and is attached rotatably to the surface plate  22 . An engaging groove  31  capable of inserting the striker  1  thereto is provided in the fork  30 , and is energized to an open position corresponding to an illustrated state by a spring (not shown). Further, the fork  30  is provided with an engaging portion  32  in a leading end portion in a clockwise direction of open ends of the engaging groove  31 . 
     The claw  33  is attached rotatably to the surface plate  22  in the same manner as the fork  30 . The claw  33  is provided with an engagement receiving portion  34  with which the engaging portion  32  of the fork  30  engages, and is energized to an engaging position corresponding to an illustrated state by a spring  35 . Further, the claw  33  is provided with an operation receiving portion  36  passing through the insertion hole  23  of the sub case  20  so as to be positioned within the lock mechanism arranging portion  12 . The operation receiving portion  36  is provided in such a manner as to protrude to an opposite side with respect to the engagement receiving portion  34 , and is structured such as to cancel the engaging state of the striker  1  by being pressed upward in the drawing by a link  37  mentioned below within the lock mechanism arranging portion  12 . 
     If the striker  1  moves into the engaging groove  31  of the fork  30  by closing the door so that the striker  1  is pressed by a door closing actuation force, the latch mechanism is rotated in a counterclockwise direction in the drawing. Further, as shown in  FIG. 2B , the engaging groove  31  is positioned so as to extend approximately in an orthogonal direction to the insertion concave portion  24 , and the engaging portion  32  engages with the engagement receiving portion  34  of the claw  33  in this state, thereby maintaining the engaging state of the striker  1  by the fork  30 . If the operation receiving portion  36  of the claw is activated upward in this state, the claw  33  is rotated in a clockwise direction, whereby the engagement between the engagement receiving portion  34  and the engaging portion  32  of the fork  30  is cancelled. As a result, the fork  30  is rotated to an open position shown in  FIG. 2A  by an energizing force of a spring (not shown), and cancels the engagement of the striker  1 . Further, if the upward actuation force of the operation receiving portion  36  is canceled, the claw  33  is restored to the engaging position by the energizing force of the spring  35 . 
     Further, the lock mechanism in accordance with the present embodiment which is assembled in the main case  11  is provided with a link  37  for activating the claw  33  in an engagement canceling direction, and a lock plate  43  for enabling or disenabling the actuation of the claw  33  by the link  37 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . Further, a knob lever  61  activating to lock and unlock the link  37  via the lock plate  43  is arranged as an inner lock operation system, and an inner open lever  68  activating to open the latch mechanism via the link  37  is arranged as an inner door handle operation system. Further, first and second key levers  74 ,  79  and a key shaft  76  activating to lock and unlock the link  37  via the lock plate  43  are arranged as an outer lock operation system, and an outer open lever  82  activating to open the latch mechanism via the link  37  is arranged as an outer door handle operation system. Further, a drive motor  86  and a cam member  88  are arranged as a motor-driven lock operation system. 
     The link  37  is structured such as to be moved in an upward direction by receiving an actuation force of the inner open lever  68  or the outer open lever  82 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 5 , thereby coming into contact with the operation receiving portion  36  of the claw  33  so as to rotate the claw  33 , and canceling the engagement of the fork  30 . The link  37  has a one end coupled to the lock plate  43  and the other end coupled to the outer open lever  82 , and is moved (oscillated) between an unlock position capable of engaging with the operation receiving portion  36  of the claw  33  and a lock position incapable of engaging therewith, by the rotation of the lock plate  43 . Specifically, the link  37  is provided with a receiving portion  38  receiving the rotation of the inner open lever  68  at a lower end. The receiving portion  38  is provided with a coupling hole  39 , and is structured such as to be capable of receiving the rotation of the outer open lever  82  by the outer open lever  82  being coupled to the coupling hole  39 . An upper portion of the receiving portion  38  is provided with an operation portion  40  coming into contact with the operation receiving portion  36  of the claw  33 . Further, a lock plate coupling portion  41  is continuously provided beside the operation portion  40  in such a manner as to extend approximately as a J-shaped form. The lock plate coupling portion  41  is provided with a slide groove  42  in such a manner as to be movable relatively with respect to the lock plate  43  at a time of receiving the actuation force of the inner open lever  68  or the outer open lever  82  so as to slidably move upward. In other words, the lock plate coupling portion  41  and the slide groove  42  are provided in such a manner as to extend in a door opening actuation direction of the link  37 . 
     On the lock plate  43  is arranged a link energizing spring  56  mentioned below so that the lock plate  43  is structured such as to engage with the link  37  via the link energizing spring  56 , and move the link  37  to the unlock position and the lock position. Specifically, the lock plate  43  is provided with a tubular attaching portion  44  which is rotatably attached to the attaching shaft portion  13   a  of the main case  11 , and is formed as an approximately fan shape having the attaching portion  44  as a top portion. The lock plate  43  is provided with a spring receiving portion  46  receiving an action spring  45  for positioning and holding a state at a time when it is moved to the lock position and the unlock position. 
     Further, the lock plate  43  is provided with a stopper portion  47  in a side in which the link  37  is arranged, as shown in  FIG. 5  and  FIGS. 6A and 6B . The stopper portion  47  comes into contact with a link energizing spring  56  so that the link  37  is regulated at an initial energized position in the unlock position side by the link energizing spring  56 . The stopper portion  47  is constructed by a wall surface protruding from a side edge in the lock plate  43  formed as a circular arc shape to an upward direction corresponding to a side in which the link  37  is arranged. Further, the lock plate  43  is provided with a regulating portion  48  protruding from the stopper portion  47  toward a lock rotating side. The regulating portion  48  is structured so that an arm portion  59  of the link energizing spring  56  is inserted so as to be movable in a direction to the unlock position and the lock position, and regulate the movement toward the link  37 . Accordingly, the regulating portion  48  is protruded from a protruding end of the stopper portion  47 , and is structured such that an insertion portion  49  having a predetermined width is formed with respect to the lock plate  43 . An upper surface of the regulating portion  48  is provided with a convex portion  50  protruding further upward, and the convex portion  50  prevents the link  37  arranged above from interfering with the link energizing spring  56 . 
     Further, the lock plate  43  is provided with retention portions for preventing the link energizing spring  56  from coming off. The first retention portion is constructed by a retention pawl portion  51  provided in an outer peripheral portion of the attaching portion  44 . Further, the second retention portion is constructed by the regulating portion  48  regulating one end of the link energizing spring  56 . Further, the third retention portion is constructed by a spring engaging portion  52  engaging with the other end of the link energizing spring  56 . The spring engaging portion  52  is constructed by a pawl protruding from a bulge portion  53  provided in the vicinity of the attaching portion  44  toward an unlock rotation side. Further, the bulge portion  53  serves as an engaging wall with which an end portion of the link energizing spring  56  engages so as to be positioned. 
     Further, the lock plate  43  is provided with a knob lever engaging and attaching portion  54  formed approximately as a U-shaped form, in a side in which a knob lever  61  is arranged in an inverse side to the stopper portion  47 . Further, the attaching portion  44  is provided in a protruding manner with an unlock actuation receiving portion  55  receiving an unlock actuation by a second key lever  79 . In this case, an edge in a side in which the stopper portion  47  is provided in the lock plate  43  constructs a lock actuation receiving portion receiving a lock actuation by the second key lever  79 . 
     The link energizing spring  56  is arranged in the lock plate  43 , and is an energizing member energizing the link  37  toward the unlock position with respect to the lock plate  43 . The link energizing spring  56  is provided with a winding portion  57  which is wound so as to form an annular shape with an inner diameter outward fitting the attaching portion  44 . A coupling portion  58  for coupling to the link  37  is provided in the link energizing spring  56  so as to protrude via the arm portion  59 . In other words, one end of a wire rod protruding from the winding portion  57  extends on the lock plate  43 , and is formed as the arm portion  59  extending to an outer end edge of the regulating portion  48  while passing through the insertion portion  49 . Further, in a leading end of the arm portion  59 , there is formed a coupling portion  58  which is curved so as to form an approximately horizontal U-shaped form, and is inserted to the slide groove  42  of the link  37  protruding from the convex portion  50  so as to be positioned in an upper portion. The arm portion  59  constructed as mentioned above is movable in the direction to the unlock position and the lock position, within the insertion portion  49 , that is, in the lower portion of the regulating portion  48 . Accordingly, the link  37  and the lock plate  43  which are engaged and attached by the link energizing spring  56  are coupled so as to be relatively movable in the direction to the unlock position and the lock position. Further, in the link energizing spring  56 , the other end of the wire rod protruding from the winding portion  57  is formed as an engaging end portion  60  engaged with the spring engaging portion  52  of the lock plate  43 . Note that the link energizing spring  56  in accordance with the present embodiment is structured such as to make the energizing force energizing the link  37  to the initial energizing position directed to the unlock position smaller than the energizing force holding the lock plate  43  at the unlock position by the action spring  45 . 
     The knob lever  61  is coupled to a lock knob (not shown) provided inside the vehicle of the door by a wire or the like, and is engaged with the lock plate  43 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 5 . Further, the knob lever  61  is structured such as to activate the lock plate  43  interlocking with the operation of the lock knob, and move the link  37  to the lock position or the unlock position. The knob lever  61  is provided with a rotation shaft portion  62  for attaching to the shaft hole  14  of the main case  11 . Further, the knob lever  61  is provided with a lock knob connection portion  63  protruding in a diametrical direction from the rotation shaft portion  62  and protruded to an outer side of the casing  10  from the first insertion portion  26  of the cover  25 . Further, the knob lever  61  is provided with a coupling arm portion  64  extending approximately as an L-shaped form toward the knob lever engaging and attaching portion  54  of the lock plate  43  so as to protrude from the rotation shaft portion  62 , and a leading end of the coupling arm portion  64  is provided with an engaging protruding portion  65  inserted and engaged with the groove of the knob lever engaging and attaching portion  54 . Further, the coupling arm portion  64  is provided with a cam receiving portion  66  engaging with a cam groove  90  of a cam member  88  positioned at a back portion in a protruding manner. Further, the knob lever  61  in accordance with the present embodiment is provided with an engagement receiving portion  67  receiving a rotating motion of the inner open lever  68  only in a state in which the knob lever  61  is moved to the lock position. 
     The inner open lever  68  is coupled to an inner door handle (not shown) provided inside the vehicle of the door, is engaged (brought into contact) with the receiving portion  38  of the link  37 , and is structured such as to activate (slide) the link  37  toward the side of the operation receiving portion  36  of the claw  33 . This inner open lever  68  is provided with an attaching portion  69  which is rotatably attached to the attaching shaft portion  13   b  of the main case  11 . The inner open lever  68  is provided with an inner door handle coupling portion  70  extending so as to protrude from the second insertion portion  27  of the cover  25  to an outer side of the casing  10  and coupled to the inner door handle. Further, the inner open lever  68  is provided with an approximately J-shaped link actuation portion  71  in such a manner that the receiving portion  38  of the link  37  is positioned on a rotation locus around the attaching portion  69  in an assembled state. A leading end of the link actuation portion  71  is formed as a contact surface portion  72  which is bent for securing a sufficient contact area with respect to the receiving portion  38 . Further, the inner open lever  68  is provided with an engagement portion  73  engaging with the engagement receiving portion  67  of the knob lever  61  so as to move the link  37  to the unlock position via the knob lever  61  and the lock plate  43 , in a state in which the knob lever  61  is positioned at the lock position. 
     The first key lever  74  is coupled to a cylinder lock which is arranged in such a manner as to expose to a vehicle outer side of the door, and is rotatably attached together with the key shaft  76  to the first attaching hole portion  18  of the latch mechanism cover portion  17  of the main case  11 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . The first key lever  74  is provided with a square shaped coupling hole  75  in such a manner as to disenable the relative rotation with respect to the key shaft  76 . 
     The key shaft  76  is arranged in an inner portion side while holding a wall surface of the latch mechanism arranging portion therebetween with respect to the first key lever  74 , and has an L-shaped form which is provided in one end with a first coupling portion  77  which is coupled to the coupling hole  75 . A second coupling portion  78  which is coupled to a second key lever  79  is provided in the other end of the key shaft  76 , and is structured such as to transmit a rotating force of the first key lever  74  to the second key lever  79  in which a rotating direction is an orthogonal direction. 
     The second key lever  79  is attached to the attaching shaft portion  13   a  attaching the lock plate  43 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , and is provided with a coupled portion  80  coupling the second coupling portion  78  of the key shaft  76 . The coupled portion  80  constructs a lock actuation portion which comes into contact with a side edge of the lock plate  43  and activates to lock the lock plate  43 . Further, the second key lever  79  is provided with a contact point portion  81  for detecting a rotation position of the second key lever  79 , and a lower portion thereof constructs an unlock actuation portion which comes into contact with the unlock actuation receiving portion  55  of the lock plate  43  and activates to unlock the lock plate  43 . 
     The outer open lever  82  is arranged so as to pass through the lock mechanism arranging portion  12  inside and outside, and is rotatably attached to the second attaching hole portion  19  of the latch mechanism cover portion  17 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . The outer open lever  82  is provided with an outer door handle connection portion  83  connecting an outer door handle (not shown) provided outside the vehicle of the door, in a portion protruding to an outer portion from the lock mechanism arranging portion  12 . Further, the outer open lever  82  is provided with a link coupling portion  84  coupled to (engaged with) the coupling hole  39  of the like  37 , in an end portion arranged within the lock mechanism arranging portion  12 . Further, the outer open lever  82  in accordance with the present embodiment is energized in a direction in which the link  37  comes away from the operation receiving portion  36  of the claw  33 , by an energizing spring  85 . 
     The drive motor  86  is structured such as to rotate forward and backward the cam member  88 , and a worm  87  is attached to an output shaft thereof, as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     The cam member  88  is arranged rotatably in such a manner as to be positioned in a lower portion of the cam receiving portion  66  of the knob lever  61 , and an outer peripheral portion thereof is provided with a worm wheel portion  89  engaging with the worm  87 . In this cam member  88 , a cam groove  90  is provided in a concave manner in an upper surface side opposed to the side of the knob lever  61 , in such a manner that a distance from the center is expanded little by little from the center side toward the outer peripheral portion. Further, the cam member  88  is positioned (energized) to a neutral position by an energizing spring (not shown), and is structured such as to activate to lock the link  37  via the knob lever  61  and the lock plate  43  by the rotation of the cam receiving portion  66  so as to move to the center side, and thus to activate to unlock the link  37  via the knob lever  61  and the lock plate  43  by the rotation of the cam receiving portion  66  so as to move to an outer peripheral side. 
     Next, a description will be given of a motion of the lock mechanism in the door lock apparatus. 
     First of all, in the unlock state shown in  FIG. 1 , if the outer door handle is operated, the outer open lever  82  is rotated as shown in  FIG. 7 . Accordingly, the link  37  is moved in the vertical direction along the slide groove  42  extending in the vertical direction, whereby the operation portion  40  of the link  37  engages (comes into contact) with the operation receiving portion  36  of the claw  33 . As a result, the movement of the link  37  causes the operation receiving portion  36  to be pressed and allows the claws to be rotated, canceling the engaging state of the striker  1  by the fork  30 . 
     Further, if the inner door handle is operated, the inner open lever  68  is rotated in the counterclockwise direction, thereby coming into contact with the receiving portion  38  of the link  37 . Further, in the same manner as mentioned above, the link  37  is moved in the vertical direction and the operation portion  40  is engaged with the operation receiving portion  36  of the claw  33  to rotate the claw  33 , canceling the engaging state of the striker  1  by the fork  30 . 
     On the other hand, if the cylinder lock outside the vehicle is operated in this unlock state, the lock plate  43  is rotated in the clockwise direction by the first key lever  74 , the key shaft  76  and the second key lever  79 , and the link  37  rotates in the counterclockwise direction interlocking with the lock plate  43  to become the lock state as shown in  FIG. 8 . Further, if the lock knob inside the vehicle is operated to be locked, the knob lever  61  is rotated in the counterclockwise direction, whereby the lock plate  43  is rotated in the clockwise direction, and the link  37  is rotated to the lock position interlocking with the lock plate  43 . Further, if the lock operation is carried out by the remote control or the like, the cam member  88  is rotated by the drive motor  86 , whereby the knob lever  61  and the lock plate  43  are rotated in the same manner, and the link  37  is rotated to the lock position interlocking with the lock plate  43 . 
     In this lock state, the link  37  comes to a state in which it is moved toward a left upward direction, by the rotation in the clockwise direction of the lock plate  43 . Accordingly, if the outer door handle is operated, and the outer open lever  82  is rotated, the receiving portion  38  of the link  37  is pressed upward, and the link  37  is moved diagonally upward along the slide groove  42  which extends obliquely so as to come away from the operation receiving portion  36 . Therefore, the operation portion  40  of the link  37  can not engage with the operation receiving portion  36  of the claw  33 . As a result, since it is impossible to press the operation receiving portion  36  so as to rotate the claw  33  in the movement of the link  37  in this state, it is impossible to cancel the engaging state of the striker  1  by the fork  30 . 
     On the other hand, in the door lock apparatus in accordance with the present embodiment, since an override function is constructed by the engagement receiving portion  67  provided in the knob lever  61 , and the engagement portion  73  provided in the inner open lever  68 , it is possible to open the door in a case where the inner door handle is operated in the lock state. In this case, the override function is applied in such a manner that it is provided, for example, only in the door of the driver seat, and the other doors are not provided with the engagement receiving portion  67  of the knob lever  61  and the engagement portion  73  of the inner open lever  68  (are not provided with the override function). 
     First of all, in the door lock apparatus which is not provided with the override function, if the inner door handle is operated in the lock state, the inner open lever  68  is rotated, and the link  37  is pressed upward, however, the link  37  is moved diagonally upward in the same manner as mentioned above. Accordingly, since the operation portion  40  of the link  37  can not engage with the operation receiving portion  36  of the claw  33 , and can not rotate the claw  33 , it is impossible to cancel the engaging state of the striker  1  by the fork  30 . 
     Further, in the door lock apparatus in accordance with the present embodiment which is provided with the override function, if the inner door handle is operated in the lock state, the inner open lever  68  is rotated in the counterclockwise direction in a state shown in  FIG. 8 , whereby the engagement portion  73  of the inner open lever  68  comes into contact (engages) with the engagement receiving portion  67  of the knob lever  61 . Further, since the inner open lever  68  is rotated further in this state, the knob lever  61  receives the rotating force, and the knob lever  61  is rotated in the clockwise direction. As a result, the lock plate  43  and the link  37  are rotated to the unlock position. As a result, in the same manner as a case where the inner door handle is operated in the unlock state, it is possible to cancel the lock of the striker  1  by the fork  30  by bringing the operation portion  40  of the link  37  into contact with the operation receiving portion  36  of the claw  33 , and activating the claw  33 . 
     Further, in the door lock apparatus in accordance with the present embodiment, since the anti-panic mechanism is constructed by engaging and attaching the link  37  and the lock plate  43  by the link energizing spring  56  so as to be relatively movable, it is possible to securely set the unlock state even if the unlocking operation is carried out in a case where the outer door handle is operated in the lock state, as shown in  FIG. 9 . In this case, in the door lock apparatus which is not provided with the override function, same applies to the unlocking operation in the case where the inner door handle is operated in the lock state. 
     Specifically, in the lock state, there is formed a state in which the link  37  is inclined left upward in such a manner that the link  37  comes away from the operation receiving portion  36  of the claw  33 , by the rotation of the lock plate  43 , as shown in  FIG. 10A . If the outer door handle is operated in this state, the link  37  is moved left upward on the basis of the rotation of the outer open lever  82 , as shown in  FIG. 10B . In this state, the operation portion  40  of the link  37  is positioned above the operation receiving portion  36  of the claw  33 . 
     Accordingly, in this state, if the cylinder lock outside the vehicle is operated to be unlocked, or if the lock knob inside the vehicle is operated to be unlocked, or if it is operated to be unlocked on the basis of the remote control, the lock plate  43  is rotated to the unlock position. As a result, as shown in  FIG. 11A , the lower side surface of the operation portion  40  in the link  37  comes into contact with the side surface of the operation receiving portion  36  of the claw  33 . 
     Further, since the link  37  comes into contact with the claw  33  in this state, it can not move further to the unlock position side from this contact position. However, in the present embodiment, the energizing force holding the lock plate  43  to the lock position by the action spring  45  is larger than the energizing force energizing the link  37  to the initial energized position in the unlock position side by the link energizing spring  56 . Accordingly, the lock plate  43  relatively moves with respect to the link  37  while elastically contracting the link energizing spring  56 , and rotates to the unlock position. 
     In this state, if the user cancels the opening operation of the outer door handle, the outer open lever  82  is returned to the non-open actuation position before the door opening actuation by the energizing force of the energizing spring  85 . Therefore, the link  37  moves downward while coming into slidable contact with the operation receiving portion  36  of the claw  33 , while interlocking with the downward movement of the outer open lever  82 , as shown in  FIG. 11B . 
     Further, if the operation portion  40  of the link  37  moves downward to the lower side of the operation receiving portion  36  of the claw  33 , as shown in  FIG. 11C , the link  37  is rotated to the unlock position by the energizing force of the link energizing spring  56 , and is returned to the non-open actuation position before the door opening actuation. Further, this rotation stops at the initial energized position at which the arm portion  59  of the link energizing spring  56  comes into contact with the stopper portion  47  of the lock plate  43 . 
     This state is a normal lock state shown in  FIG. 8  in which none of the outer door handle and the inner door handle is operated, and is no different from the unlock state shown in  FIG. 1  in which the cylinder lock, the lock knob and the remote control are operated to be unlocked. Accordingly, it is possible to open the door by operating to open the door handles outside the vehicle and inside the vehicle without carrying out the unlocking operation again. 
     As mentioned above, the door lock apparatus in accordance with the present embodiment can construct the anti-panic mechanism only by engaging and attaching the link  37  with respect to the lock plate  43  in a state of energizing the link  37  toward the unlock position by the link energizing spring  56 . In other words, since it is not necessary to construct the lock plate  43  divisionally, and the anti-panic mechanism can be constructed by the simple structure that the link energizing spring  56  is additionally arranged, it is possible to suppress an increase of the manufacturing cost. 
     Further, in the present embodiment, since the link energizing spring  56  is arranged in the lock plate  43 , and the link  37  and the link energizing spring  56  are constructed only by inserting the coupling portion  58  provided in the link energizing spring  56  to the slide groove  42  provided in the link  37 , the coupling mechanism can be constructed by the simple structure. 
     Further, since the lock plate  43  is provided with the stopper portion  47  regulating the link  37  to the initial energized position in the unlock position side via the link energizing spring  56 , it is possible to prevent the displacement of the link  37  so as to securely hold the link  37  at the initial position. Further, since the lock plate  43  is provided with the regulating portion  48  regulating the arm portion  59  of the link energizing spring  56 , it is possible to securely guide the movement (the displacement) of the link energizing spring  56 . Further, even if the link  37  is activated via the open levers  68  and  82  by the operation of the door handle, it is possible to prevent the link  37  from interfering with the link energizing spring  56  by the regulating portion  48 . Therefore, it is possible to securely prevent a malfunction of the link  37 . 
     Further, the link energizing spring  56  is structured such as to hold the lock plate  43  by three retention portions including the retention pawl portion  51 , the regulating portion  48  and the spring engaging portion  52 . Accordingly, it is possible to securely prevent the link energizing spring  56  from coming off from the lock plate  43 , and it is possible to improve a workability at a time of assembling. 
     In this case, the door lock apparatus in accordance with the present invention is not limited to the structure in accordance with the embodiment, but can be modified variously. 
     For example, in the embodiment mentioned above, the coupling portion  58  is formed by applying the bending work to one end of the link energizing spring  56 , however, a coupling portion inserted to the slide groove of the link  37  may be provided as a separate member and be fixed to one end of the link energizing spring  56 . 
     Further, in the embodiment mentioned above, the link energizing spring  56  is arranged with respect to the lock plate  43  by three retention portions including the retention pawl portion  51 , the regulating portion  48  and the spring engaging portion  52 , however, may be held by at least one retention portion. 
     Further, in the embodiment mentioned above, the energizing member coupling the lock plate  43  and the link  37  so as to be relatively movable is constructed by the link energizing spring  56  formed by winding the wire rod, however, may be constructed by a band-like leaf spring. In this case, one end of the leaf spring is provided with the coupling portion  58  inserted to the slide groove  42  of the link  37  integrally or separately, and the other end thereof is fixed to the lock plate  43  by a pin or the like. 
     Further, in the embodiment mentioned above, the link energizing spring  56  corresponding to the energizing member is arranged in the lock plate  43 , however, may be arranged with respect to the link  37 .