Patent Publication Number: US-8967683-B2

Title: Automotive door latch device

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to an automotive door latch device. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     As one of the automotive door latch devices, there is an automotive door latch device described in, for example, Patent Document 1 below. In the automotive door latch device, a latch adapted to be pushed to rotate by a striker on a vehicle body side is housed in a housing part formed on one side of a body, and is rotatably supported via a first support shaft on a base plate adapted to be arranged so as to cover the housing part of the body on one side thereof and assembled to a door. Further, the latch is biased toward its return position by a latch return spring. A pawl engageable with the latch to inhibit the latch to pivot in a door opening direction is housed in the housing part of the body at a position below the latch, and is rotatably supported on the base plate via a second support shaft. Further, the pawl is biased toward its return position by a pawl return spring. 
     PRIOR ART DOCUMENT 
     Patent Document 
     
         
         Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (kokai) No. 2006-37655 
       
    
     In the automotive door latch device described in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, the pawl return spring is not arranged on an axial extension line of the pawl, but is arranged below the latch and the pawl in the housing part (space) of the body that houses the latch and the pawl. Therefore, the pawl return spring can be arranged with an ensured degree of freedom, which is suitable for a case where a mounting space for the pawl return spring is hard to be ensured on the axial extension line of the pawl. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
     In the automotive door latch device described in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, however, the pawl return spring is arranged below the pawl in its vicinity in the housing part (space) of the body that houses the latch and the pawl. Therefore, dust or the like entering the housing part (space) of the body that houses the latch and the pawl is hindered by the pawl return spring from being discharged out of the body, and may consequently be deposited in the housing part (space) described above. 
     Solution to Problem 
     The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problem, and therefore provides an automotive door latch device, including: a base plate adapted to be assembled to a door; a body including a housing part formed on one side thereof, the housing part being covered with the base plate on one side thereof; a latch housed in the housing part of the body and rotatably supported on the base plate via a first support shaft, the latch being adapted to be pushed to rotate by a striker on a vehicle body side; a latch return spring housed in the housing part of the body, for biasing the latch toward a return position thereof; a pawl housed in the housing part of the body at a position below the latch and rotatably supported on the base plate via a second support shaft, the pawl being engageable with the latch to inhibit the latch to pivot in a door opening direction; and a pawl return spring for biasing the pawl toward a return position thereof, in which the housing part of the body is opened downward at a position below the pawl, and in which the pawl return spring is assembled to a spring mounting part formed on another side of the body at a position spaced downward from a rotational support part of the pawl, the pawl return spring includes a pawl-side end part that enters the housing part of the body through a through hole provided in the body, and engages with the pawl. 
     In this case, the pawl return spring includes: a coil part provided at a middle portion thereof; the pawl-side end part provided at one end portion thereof; and a body-side end part provided at another end portion thereof. Further, the spring mounting part formed on the body includes: a retaining part for retaining the coil part; and a lock part engaging with the body-side end part. Further, the through hole may have a long hole shape elongated so as to allow movement of the pawl-side end part of the pawl return spring in a movement direction, in which the pawl-side end part moves when the pawl pivots to allow the pivot of the latch, beyond a range in which the pawl-side end part moves when the pawl pivots. 
     When carrying out the present invention described above, the second support shaft that rotatably supports the pawl may be made of a metal. Further, the automotive door latch device may further include a lift lever made of a metal, the lift lever including an insertion hole, through which the second support shaft is insertable, the lift lever being assembled to the second support shaft so as to be rotatable integrally with the pawl. Further, the body may be made of a resin, and further include an extending part, which extends along the second support shaft and is inserted through the insertion hole of the lift lever so that the extending part is interposed between the lift lever and the second support shaft and rotatably supports the lift lever. In this case, the extending part may be formed into a cylindrical shape, and surround an entire circumference of the second support shaft. 
     In those cases, the base plate may non-rotatably support the second support shaft on one end side thereof. Further, the automotive door latch device may further include a sub-base plate, which is assembled on the another side of the body and is positioned by the extending part, the sub-base plate non-rotatably supporting the second support shaft at another end portion thereof. Further, the pawl and the lift lever may be rotatably supported on the second support shaft. Further, the body may further include a support part extending in a circumferential direction from the extending part on the base plate side thereof. Further, the lift lever may be disposed between the support part of the body and the sub-base plate. 
     Further, in those cases, the lift lever may further include a projecting part bent toward the pawl to pass through the body. Further, the pawl may include a depressed part fittable to the projecting part. Further, the body may further include an opening part that allows passage and rotation of the projecting part. Further, the projecting part may pass through the opening part and be fitted to the depressed part so that the lift lever and the pawl are rotatable integrally with each other. 
     When carrying out the present invention described above, the pawl may further include an engagement projecting part. Further, the automotive door latch device may further include a stopper mounted to the body so as to be arranged above the engagement projecting part, the stopper abutting against the engagement projecting part to define the return position of the pawl. 
     Advantageous Effects of Invention 
     In the automotive door latch device according to the present invention, the housing part of the body is opened downward at the position below the pawl. Further, the pawl return spring is assembled to the spring mounting part formed on another side of the body at the position spaced downward from the rotational support part of the pawl. The pawl-side end part of the pawl return spring enters the housing part of the body through the through hole provided in the body, and engages with the pawl. Therefore, the size of the opening formed below the housing part of the body is not reduced due to the pawl return spring and the spring mounting part of the body. Accordingly, an opening having a necessary and sufficient size can be formed in the body. Thus, dust or the like entering the housing part of the body can be discharged out of the body with higher efficiency, and thus troubles that may occur along with deposition of the dust or the like can be suppressed effectively. 
     Further, the pawl return spring is assembled to the spring mounting part formed on another side of the body at the position spaced downward from the rotational support part of the pawl. Accordingly, the pawl return spring can be arranged with a higher degree of freedom than in the case where the pawl return spring is coaxially assembled to the rotational support part (shaft part) of the pawl. 
     When carrying out the present invention described above, in the cases where the pawl return spring includes the coil part provided at the middle portion thereof, the body-side end part provided at one end portion thereof, and the pawl-side end part provided at another end portion thereof, and where the spring mounting part formed on the body includes the retaining part for retaining the coil part, and the lock part engaging with the body-side end part, under a sub-assembly state obtained by combining the components other than the pawl return spring (body, base plate, latch, pawl, support shaft of the latch, support shaft of the pawl, latch return spring, and the like), the pawl-side end part of the pawl return spring is passed through and inserted into the through hole of the body so that the pawl-side end part is engaged with the lock part of the pawl. Subsequently, the coil part of the pawl return spring is assembled to the retaining part of the spring mounting part formed on the body, and finally, the body-side end part of the pawl return spring is assembled to the lock part provided in the spring mounting part. Consequently, the pawl return spring can be assembled. Therefore, the biasing force of the pawl return spring does not hinder the assembly of the components when the sub-assembly is obtained by combining the components other than the pawl return spring, and thus the components can be assembled with satisfactory efficiency when the sub-assembly is obtained. 
     Further, when carrying out the present invention described above, in the case where the through hole provided in the body has the long hole shape as described above, the pawl-side end part of the pawl return spring is easily assembled to the body, and thus the pawl return spring can be assembled with enhanced efficiency. 
     Further, when carrying out the present invention described above, in the cases where the second support shaft is made of a metal, where the lift lever assembled so as to be rotatable integrally with the pawl is made of a metal, and where the body is made of a resin and includes the above-mentioned extending part, a bush (resin bearing) function can be imparted to the extending part of the body that is made of a resin, and thus metallic contact between the lift lever and the second support shaft can be eliminated without adding components. Therefore, noise due to the metallic contact occurring when the lift lever is actuated can be prevented. In that case, when the extending part is formed into a cylindrical shape and surrounds the entire circumference of the second support shaft, the above-mentioned noise due to the metallic contact can be prevented more suitably. 
     Further, when carrying out the present invention described above, in the cases where the base plate non-rotatably supports the second support shaft on one end side thereof, where the sub-base plate, which is assembled on the another side of the body and is positioned by the extending part, non-rotatably supports the second support shaft at another end portion thereof, where the pawl and the lift lever are rotatably supported on the second support shaft, where the body includes the support part extending in the circumferential direction from the extending part on the base plate side thereof, and where the lift lever is disposed between the support part of the body and the sub-base plate, the lift lever can be prevented from being sandwiched between the support part of the body and the sub-base plate, and thus smooth rotation of the lift lever can be guaranteed. Further, in that case, a part of the pawl and a part of the lift lever are fitted to each other in the axial direction. Accordingly, the pawl and the lift lever can be coupled to each other so as to be rotatable integrally with each other. Therefore, manufacturability can be enhanced as compared to a case where, for example, the pawl and the second support shaft are integrated, the lift lever is fixed to the second support shaft by caulking or the like, and the second support shaft is rotatably coupled to the base plate and the sub-base plate. 
     Further, when carrying out the present invention described above, in the cases where the lift lever includes the projecting part bent toward the pawl to pass through the body, where the pawl includes the depressed part fittable to the projecting part, where the body includes the opening part that allows the passage and rotation of the projecting part, and where the projecting part passes through the opening part and is fitted to the depressed part so that the lift lever and the pawl are rotatable integrally with each other, the pawl and the lift lever can be coupled to each other so as to be rotatable integrally with each other without providing a separate component, such as a coupling pin, to the lift lever, and thus the pawl and the lift lever can be formed simply at low cost. 
     Further, when carrying out the present invention described above, in the cases where the pawl includes the engagement projecting part, and where the stopper is mounted to the body so as to be arranged above the engagement projecting part, the engagement projecting part of the pawl abuts against the lower surface of the stopper to define the return position of the pawl. Therefore, dust or the like is not easily deposited between the engagement projecting part of the pawl and the stopper, and accordingly shift of the return position of the pawl due to the dust or the like can be suppressed. Thus, the function of the pawl (function of inhibiting the rotation of the latch in the door opening direction at a predetermined position) can be obtained stably for a long period of time. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view for illustrating an automotive door latch device together with a door according to an embodiment (first embodiment) of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of the automotive door latch device illustrated in  FIG. 1  at the time when a latch is held in a door close state. 
         FIG. 3  is a rear view of the automotive door latch device illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a bottom view of the automotive door latch device illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of the automotive door latch device illustrated in  FIG. 2  in a state in which a base plate is removed therefrom. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a body of the automotive door latch device illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 5  as seen from an upper side of a rear surface thereof. 
         FIG. 7  is a rear view of the body illustrated in  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8  is a side view of the body illustrated in  FIG. 7  as seen from a right side thereof. 
         FIG. 9  is a side view of the body illustrated in  FIG. 7  as seen from a left side thereof. 
         FIG. 10  is a bottom view of the body illustrated in  FIG. 7  as seen from a lower side thereof. 
         FIG. 11  is a front view of the automotive door latch device illustrated in  FIG. 2  at the time when the latch is held in an improperly closed door state. 
         FIG. 12  is a front view of the automotive door latch device illustrated in  FIG. 11  in a state in which the base plate is removed therefrom. 
         FIG. 13  is a front view of the automotive door latch device illustrated in  FIG. 2  at the time when the latch is held in a door open state. 
         FIG. 14  is a front view of the automotive door latch device illustrated in  FIG. 13  in a state in which the base plate is removed therefrom. 
         FIG. 15  is a rear view corresponding to  FIG. 3 , for illustrating an automotive door latch device according to another embodiment (second embodiment) of the present invention. 
         FIG. 16  is an end view cut along the line X-X of  FIG. 15 . 
     
    
    
     MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
     Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the drawings.  FIGS. 1 to 5  illustrate an automotive door latch device according to an embodiment (first embodiment) of the present invention. An automotive door latch device  10  of this embodiment is mounted together with a door lock device (not shown) to a door  20  (see the imaginary lines of  FIG. 1 ) equipped on a front right side of an automobile. The automotive door latch device  10  includes a body  11  made of a resin, a base plate  12  made of a steel plate, and a sub-base plate  13  made of a steel plate, and further includes a latch  14  made of a metal, a latch return spring S 1  made of spring steel, a pawl  15  made of a metal, a pawl return spring S 2  made of spring steel, a stopper  16  made of rubber, and a lift lever  17  made of a steel plate (metal). 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 5 to 10 , the body  11  includes housing parts  11   a   1  and  11   a   2  for housing the latch  14  and the pawl  15 , respectively, and the housing parts  11   a   1  and  11   a   2  are formed on one side of a longitudinal wall W (side on which the base plate  12  is assembled) interposed between the base plate  12  and the sub-base plate  13 . The body  11  further includes a spring mounting part  11   b  for assembling the pawl return spring S 2 , and the spring mounting part  11   b  is formed on another side of the longitudinal wall W (side on which the sub-base plate  13  is assembled). Further, the body  11  includes a striker insertion groove  11   c , two support shaft insertion holes  11   d  and  11   e , three bolt insertion holes  11   f ,  11   g , and  11   h , and a stopper mounting part  11   i , and further includes a cutout  11   j , a through hole  11   k , and a projection  11   m.    
     As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the upper housing part  11   a   1  houses the latch  14  so that the latch  14  is pivotable by a predetermined amount, and the projection  11   m  projects inward to define a return position of the latch  14  (see  FIG. 14 ). As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the lower housing part  11   a   2  houses the pawl  15  so that the pawl  15  is rotatable by a predetermined amount, and communicates to the upper housing part  11   a   1  at a portion at which the pawl  15  engages with the latch  14 . Note that, the housing parts  11   a   1  and  11   a   2  are partially covered with the base plate  12  on one side thereof. 
     The spring mounting part  11   b  is formed on another side of the body  11  at a position spaced obliquely downward from a rotational support part (support shaft  19 ) of the pawl  15 , and as illustrated in  FIGS. 3 ,  6 , and  7 , the spring mounting part  11   b  includes a shaft part  11   b   1  and an arc-like wall part  11   b   2  (retaining part) for retaining a coil part S 2   a  of the pawl return spring S 2 , and a lock part  11   b   3  engaging with a body-side end part S 2   b  of the pawl return spring S 2 . Note that, the lock part  11   b   3  is formed so as to project from an end portion of the arc-like wall part  11   b   2 . 
     The striker insertion groove  11   c  is a groove where a known striker  30  (see the imaginary lines of  FIGS. 5 ,  12 , and  14 ) assembled on a vehicle body side relatively enters and exits when the door  20  is opened and closed, and is formed horizontally at a center of the body  11 . The upper support shaft insertion hole  11   d  is a through hole, through which a support shaft  18  (first support shaft) for rotatably supporting the latch  14  is inserted. On the other hand, the lower support shaft insertion hole  11   e  is a through hole, through which the support shaft  19  (second support shaft) rotatable integrally with the pawl  15  is inserted. 
     The three bolt insertion holes  11   f ,  11   g , and  11   h  are insertion holes, through which, when the door latch device  10  is assembled to the door  20  with three bolts  21 ,  22 , and  23  (see  FIG. 1 ), tip end portions of the bolts  21 ,  22 , and  23  are inserted while being screwed into bolt fixing hole parts (internal thread parts)  12   a ,  12   b , and  12   c  provided in the base plate  12 . As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the stopper mounting part  11   i  is provided at a portion projecting in a canopy shape between the housing parts  11   a   1  and  11   a   2  described above, and the stopper  16  is fitted and fixed to the stopper mounting part  11   i.    
     As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the cutout  11   j  is provided at one lower side portion of the body  11 , and as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , forms an opening part A together with the base plate  12 . The opening part A opens the housing parts  11   a   1  and  11   a   2  downward at a position below the pawl  15 , and as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the opening part A is formed into a rectangular shape as seen from the lower side. The through hole  11   k  is formed into an arc shape in the longitudinal wall W at a position between the housing part  11   a   2  and the spring mounting part  11   b  described above, and a pawl-side end part S 2   c  of the pawl return spring S 2  is insertable into the through hole  11   k.    
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the base plate  12  includes the bolt fixing hole parts (internal thread parts)  12   a ,  12   b , and  12   c  described above, and further includes fitting holes  12   d  and  12   e  for the support shafts  18  and  19 , and a striker insertion slit  12   f . The base plate  12  is coupled to the sub-base plate  13  via the support shafts  18  and  19 . As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the sub-base plate  13  includes fitting holes  13   a  and  13   b  for the support shafts  18  and  19 , and is arranged so that the body  11  and the lift lever  17  are sandwiched between the base plate  12  and the sub-base plate  13 . 
     The latch  14  is rotatably supported on the base plate  12  and the sub-base plate  13  via the support shaft  18 . The latch  14  includes a fitting hole  14   a , a striker retaining groove  14   b , a half latch claw  14   c , and a full latch claw  14   d , and further includes a spring lock hole  14   e  and an engagement projecting part  14   f . The latch  14  is pushed to rotate by the striker  30  when the door  20  is closed, and is biased by the latch return spring S 1  toward the return position illustrated in  FIGS. 13 and 14  (position at which the engagement projecting part  14   f  abuts against the projection  11   m  of the body  11 ). The latch return spring S 1  is coaxially assembled to the support shaft  18 , and is housed in the housing part  11   a   1  of the body  11  together with the latch  14 . One end of the latch return spring S 1  is locked at the body  11  and another end thereof is locked at the spring lock hole  14   e  of the latch  14 . 
     The fitting hole  14   a  is provided so as to rotatably assemble the latch  14  to the support shaft  18 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 5 ,  12 , and  14 , the striker retaining groove  14   b  is a groove where the striker  30  relatively enters and exits, and slidably engages when the door  20  is opened and closed, and as illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 12 , the striker retaining groove  14   b  can retain the striker  30  together with the striker insertion slit  12   f  of the base plate  12 . 
     The half latch claw  14   c  slidably engages with an engagement part  15   a  of the pawl  15  under a state between a door open state illustrated in  FIGS. 13 and 14  and an improperly closed door state illustrated in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , and under the improperly closed door state illustrated in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , rotation of the half latch claw  14   c  in a clockwise direction of  FIG. 12  (rotation toward the return position of the latch  14 ) is restricted by the engagement part  15   a  of the pawl  15  situated at its return position. 
     The full latch claw  14   d  slidably engages with the engagement part  15   a  of the pawl  15  under a state between a nearly closed door state and a door close state illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 5 , and under the door close state illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 5 , rotation of the full latch claw  14   d  in the clockwise direction of  FIG. 5  (rotation toward the return position of the latch  14 ) is restricted by the engagement part  15   a  of the pawl  15  situated at its return position. 
     The pawl  15  is rotatably supported on the base plate  12  and the sub-base plate  13  via the support shaft  19  together with the lift lever  17 . The pawl  15  includes the engagement part  15   a  described above, and further includes a spring lock part  15   b  and an engagement projecting part  15   c . Further, the pawl  15  is biased by the pawl return spring S 2  toward the return position illustrated in  FIGS. 5 ,  12 , and  14  (position at which the engagement projecting part  15   c  abuts against the stopper  16  assembled to the body  11 ). Under the state illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 12 , the pawl  15  engages with the latch  14  at the engagement part  15   a  to inhibit the rotation of the latch  14  toward its return position (in the door opening direction). As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the engagement projecting part  15   c  is abuttable against a lower surface of the stopper  16  in a state of being inclined down toward a tip end thereof. 
     Note that, the pawl  15  and the support shaft  19  are integrally formed, and the lift lever  17  is assembled to the support shaft  19  so as to be rotatable integrally therewith. Therefore, when the lift lever  17  is rotated in a counterclockwise direction of  FIG. 3  via the door lock device (not shown) along with a door opening operation of an outside door handle (not shown) and an inside door handle (not shown) provided to the door  20 , the pawl  15  and the support shaft  19  are rotated from the return position illustrated in  FIGS. 5 ,  12 , and  14  in the clockwise direction illustrated in  FIGS. 5 ,  12 , and  14  against a biasing force of the pawl return spring S 2 . 
     The pawl return spring S 2  is assembled to the spring mounting part  11   b  formed on another side of the body  11  at a position spaced obliquely downward by a predetermined amount from the rotational support part (support shaft  19 ) of the pawl  15 . The pawl return spring S 2  includes the coil part S 2   a  provided at a middle portion thereof, the body-side end part S 2   b  provided at one end portion thereof, and the pawl-side end part S 2   c  provided at another end portion thereof. The pawl-side end part S 2   c  enters the housing part  11   a   2  of the body  11  through the through hole  11   k  provided in the body  11 , and engages with the spring lock part  15   b  of the pawl  15 . Thus, the pawl return spring S 2  is supported on the body  11  under a state in which the coil part S 2   a  is arranged outside the housing parts  11   a   1  and  11   a   2  (on another side of the body  11 ) partially covered with the base plate  12 . 
     In the above-mentioned door latch device  10  of this embodiment, the cutout  11   j  of the body  11  that forms the opening part A together with the base plate  12  is provided at one lower side portion of the body  11 , and the housing parts  11   a   1  and  11   a   2  of the body  11  that house the latch  14  and the pawl  15 , respectively, are opened downward at the position below the pawl  15 . Further, the pawl return spring S 2  is assembled to the spring mounting part  11   b  formed on another side of the body  11  at the position spaced downward from the rotational support part of the pawl  15 . The pawl-side end part S 2   c  of the pawl return spring S 2  enters the housing part  11   a   2  of the body  11  through the through hole  11   k  provided in the body  11 , and engages with the spring lock part  15   b  of the pawl  15 . 
     Therefore, the size of the opening (see the opening part A of  FIG. 4 ) formed below the housing parts  11   a   1  and  11   a   2  of the body  11  is not reduced due to the pawl return spring S 2  and the spring mounting part  11   b  of the body  11 . Accordingly, an opening having a necessary and sufficient size can be formed in the body  11 . Thus, dust or the like entering the housing parts  11   a   1  and  11   a   2  of the body  11  can be discharged out of the body  11  with higher efficiency, and thus troubles that may occur along with deposition of the dust or the like can be suppressed effectively. 
     Further, the pawl return spring S 2  is assembled to the spring mounting part  11   b  formed on another side of the body  11  at the position spaced obliquely downward from the rotational support part (support shaft  19 ) of the pawl  15 . Accordingly, the pawl return spring S 2  can be arranged with a higher degree of freedom than in the case where the pawl return spring is coaxially assembled to the rotational support part (support shaft  19 ) of the pawl  15 . 
     Further, in the door latch device  10  of this embodiment, the pawl return spring S 2  includes the coil part S 2   a  provided at the middle portion thereof, the body-side end part S 2   b  provided at one end portion thereof, and the pawl-side end part S 2   c  provided at another end portion thereof. Further, the spring mounting part  11   b  formed on the body  11  includes the shaft part  11   b   1  and the arc-like wall part  11   b   2  (retaining part) for retaining the coil part S 2   a , and the lock part  11   b   3  engaging with the body-side end part S 2   b.    
     Accordingly, under a sub-assembly state obtained by combining the components other than the pawl return spring S 2  (body  11 , base plate  12 , sub-base plate  13 , latch  14 , pawl  15 , stopper  16 , lift lever  17 , support shaft  18  of the latch, support shaft  19  of the pawl, latch return spring S 1 , and the like), the pawl-side end part S 2   c  of the pawl return spring S 2  is passed through the through hole  11   k  of the body  11 , and is inserted into the housing part  11   a   2  of the body  11  so that the pawl-side end part S 2   c  is engaged with the spring lock part  15   b  of the pawl  15 . Subsequently, the coil part S 2   a  of the pawl return spring S 2  is assembled to the retaining part ( 11   b   1  and  11   b   2 ) of the spring mounting part  11   b  formed on the body  11 , and finally, the body-side end part S 2   b  of the pawl return spring S 2  is assembled to the lock part  11   b   3  provided in the spring mounting part  11   b . Consequently, the pawl return spring S 2  can be assembled. Therefore, the biasing force of the pawl return spring S 2  does not hinder the assembly of the components when the sub-assembly is obtained by combining the components other than the pawl return spring S 2 , and thus the components can be assembled with satisfactory efficiency when the sub-assembly is obtained. 
     Further, in the door latch device  10  of this embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the stopper  16  that defines the return position of the pawl  15  is assembled to the stopper mounting part  11   i  of the body  11  (at the portion projecting in a canopy shape between the housing parts  11   a   1  and  11   a   2 ). Further, the stopper  16  is arranged above the engagement projecting part  15   c  of the pawl  15  that is biased by the pawl return spring S 2  in the counterclockwise direction of  FIG. 5 , and the engagement projecting part  15   c  of the pawl  15  is abuttable against the lower surface of the stopper  16  in a state of being inclined down toward the tip end thereof. Therefore, dust or the like is not easily deposited between the engagement projecting part  15   c  of the pawl  15  and the stopper  16 , and accordingly shift of the return position of the pawl  15  due to the dust or the like can be suppressed. Thus, the function of the pawl  15  (function of inhibiting the rotation of the latch  14  in the door opening direction at a predetermined position) can be obtained stably for a long period of time. 
     In the embodiment described above, the present invention is carried out by providing, in the spring mounting part  11   b  of the body  11 , the shaft part  11   b   1  and the arc-like wall part  11   b   2  (retaining part) for retaining the coil part S 2   a  of the pawl return spring S 2 , but the shape of the retaining part for retaining the coil part S 2   a  of the pawl return spring S 2  may be modified as appropriate, and the present invention may be carried out by omitting, for example, any one of the shaft part  11   b   1  and the arc-like wall part  11   b   2 . 
       FIGS. 15 and 16  illustrate an automotive door latch device according to another embodiment (second embodiment) of the present invention. As in the above-mentioned automotive door latch device  10  illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 5 , an automotive door latch device  110  of this embodiment is mounted together with a door lock device (not shown) to a door (see the imaginary lines of  FIG. 1 ) equipped on a front right side of an automobile. The automotive door latch device  110  includes a body  111  made of a resin, a base plate  112  made of a steel plate, and a sub-base plate  113  made of a steel plate, and further includes a latch  114  made of a metal and having a surface partially coated with a resin, a latch return spring S 11  made of spring steel, a pawl  115  made of a metal and having a surface partially coated with a resin, a pawl return spring S 12  made of spring steel, a stopper (formed similarly to the stopper  16  of the above-mentioned embodiment) made of rubber, and a lift lever  117  made of a steel plate (metal). 
     The body  111  includes a housing part  111   a  for housing the latch  114  and the pawl  115 , respectively, and the housing part  111   a  is formed on one side of a longitudinal wall W (side on which the base plate  112  is assembled) interposed between the base plate  112  and the sub-base plate  113 . The body  111  further includes a spring mounting part  111   b  for assembling the pawl return spring S 12 , and the spring mounting part  111   b  is formed on another side of the longitudinal wall W (side on which the sub-base plate  113  is assembled). Further, the body  111  includes a striker insertion groove  111   c , two support shaft insertion holes  111   d  and  111   e , three bolt insertion holes  111   f ,  111   g , and  111   h , and a stopper mounting part (formed similarly to the stopper mounting part  11   i  of the above-mentioned embodiment), and further includes a cutout  111   j  (see  FIG. 16 ), a through hole  111   k , and a projection (formed similarly to the projection  11   m  of the above-mentioned embodiment). 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 16 , the housing part  111   a  houses the latch  114  and the pawl  115  so that the latch  114  and the pawl  115  are each pivotable by a predetermined amount, and is partially covered with the base plate  112  on one side of the housing part  111   a  (left side of  FIG. 16 ). The spring mounting part  111   b  is formed on another side of the body  111  at a position spaced obliquely downward from a rotational support part (support shaft  119 ) of the pawl  115 , and as illustrated in  FIG. 15 , the spring mounting part  111   b  includes a shaft part  111   b   1  and a projection  111   b   2  (retaining part) for retaining a coil part S 12   a  of the pawl return spring S 12 , and a lock part  111   b   3  engaging with a body-side end part S 12   b  of the pawl return spring S 12 . Note that, the lock part  111   b   3  is formed separately from the projection  111   b   2  in a projecting manner. 
     The striker insertion groove  111   c  is a groove where a known striker (not shown) assembled on a vehicle body side relatively enters and exits when the door is opened and closed, and is formed horizontally at a center of the body  111 . The upper support shaft insertion hole  111   d  is a through hole, through which a support shaft  118  (first support shaft) made of a metal for rotatably supporting the latch  114  is inserted. On the other hand, the lower support shaft insertion hole  111   e  is a through hole, through which the support shaft  119  (second support shaft) which is made of a metal and rotatably supports the pawl  115  is inserted. 
     The three bolt insertion holes  111   f ,  111   g , and  111   h  are insertion holes, through which, when the door latch device  110  is assembled to the door ( 20 ) with three bolts (see the bolts  21 ,  22 , and  23  of  FIG. 1 ), tip end portions of the bolts are inserted while being screwed into bolt fixing hole parts (internal thread parts) provided in the base plate  112 . The stopper mounting part formed similarly to the stopper mounting part  11   i  of the above-mentioned embodiment, and the stopper ( 16 ) is fitted and fixed to the stopper mounting part as in the above-mentioned embodiment. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 16 , the cutout  111   j  is provided at one lower side portion of the body  111 , and forms an opening part A together with the base plate  112 . The opening part A opens the housing part  111   a  downward at a position below the pawl  115 , and is formed into a rectangular shape as seen from the lower side. The through hole  111   k  is formed into an arc shape in the longitudinal wall W at a position between the housing part  111   a  and the spring mounting part  111   b  described above, and a pawl-side end part S 12   c  of the pawl return spring S 12  is insertable into the through hole  111   k . Further, the through hole  111   k  has a long hole shape (longitudinal end portions of the long hole are indicated by the broken lines in  FIG. 15 ) elongated so as to allow movement of the pawl-side end part S 12   c  of the pawl return spring S 12  in a movement direction, in which the pawl-side end part S 12   c  moves when the pawl  115  pivots to allow the pivot of the latch  114 , beyond a range in which the pawl-side end part S 12   c  moves when the pawl  115  pivots. 
     The base plate  112  includes the bolt fixing hole parts (internal thread parts) described above, and further includes fitting holes  112   d  and  112   e  for non-rotatably supporting the support shafts  118  and  119  on one end side thereof (left end side in  FIG. 16 ), respectively, and a striker insertion slit  112   f . The base plate  112  is coupled to the sub-base plate  113  via the support shafts  118  and  119 . The sub-base plate  113  includes fitting holes  113   a  and  113   b  for non-rotatably supporting the support shafts  118  and  119  on another end side thereof (right end side in  FIG. 16 ), respectively, and is arranged so that the body  111  is sandwiched between the base plate  112  and the sub-base plate  113  and the lift lever  117  is retained therebetween. 
     The latch  114  is rotatably supported by the support shaft  118 , which is non-rotatably supported by the base plate  112  and the sub-base plate  113 . The latch  114  includes a fitting hole  114   a  (which is coated with a resin over its entire circumference) for rotatably assembling the latch  114  to the support shaft  118 , and further includes a striker retaining groove, a half latch claw, a full latch claw, a spring lock hole, and an engagement projecting part corresponding to the striker retaining groove  14   b , the half latch claw  14   c , the full latch claw  14   d , the spring lock hole  14   e , and the engagement projecting part  14   f  of the above-mentioned embodiment. The latch  114  is pushed to rotate by the striker when the door is closed, and as in the above-mentioned embodiment, is biased by the latch return spring S 11  toward the return position. The latch return spring S 11  is coaxially assembled to the support shaft  118 , and is housed in the housing part  111   a  of the body  111  together with the latch  114 . One end of the latch return spring S 11  is locked at the body  111  and another end thereof is locked at the spring lock hole of the latch  114 . 
     The pawl  115  is rotatably supported by the support shaft  119 , which is non-rotatably supported by the base plate  112  and the sub-base plate  113 . The pawl  115  includes an engagement part, a spring lock part, and an engagement projecting part corresponding to the engagement part  15   a , the spring lock part  15   b , and the engagement projecting part  15   c  of the above-mentioned embodiment. Further, as in the above-mentioned embodiment, the pawl  15  is biased by the pawl return spring S 12  toward the return position. The pawl  115  engages with the latch  114  at the engagement part (not shown) to inhibit the rotation of the latch  114  toward its return position (in the door opening direction). As in the above-mentioned embodiment (see  FIG. 5 ), the engagement projecting part (not shown) is abuttable against a lower surface of the stopper assembled to the body  111  in a state of being inclined down toward a tip end thereof. 
     Further, in this embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 15 and 16 , the body  111  includes a cylindrical extending part  111   n  and a cylindrical support part  111   p  illustrated in  FIG. 16 , and further includes a rectangular opening part  111   r  illustrated in  FIG. 15 . Further, the lift lever  117  includes an insertion hole  117   a  (see  FIG. 16 ), through which the support shaft  119  illustrated in  FIG. 15  is insertable, and further includes a projecting part  117   b  (see  FIG. 15 ) bent toward the pawl  115  to pass through the opening part  111   r  of the body  111 . 
     The extending part  111   n  of the body  111  rotatably supports the lift lever  117 . The extending part  111   n  extends along the support shaft  119 , and is inserted through the insertion hole  117   a  of the lift lever  117  so that the extending part  111   n  is interposed between the lift lever  117  and the support shaft  119  and surrounds the entire circumference of the support shaft  119 . The support part  111   p  of the body  111  extends in a radially outer direction and in an axial direction by a predetermined amount and extends in a circumferential direction from the extending part  111   n  on the base plate side thereof. Therefore, the lift lever  117  rotatably supported on the extending part  111   n  of the body  111  is disposed between the support part  111   p  of the body  111  and the sub-base plate  113 . Further, the sub-base plate  113  is positioned in the axial direction by the extending part  111   n  of the body  111 . 
     The projecting part  117   b  of the lift lever  117  passes through the opening part  111   r  of the body  111 , and is fittable to a depressed part provided in an end surface of the pawl  115  on the sub-base plate  113  side (formed similarly to an I-shaped depressed part  15   d  provided in the pawl  15  of  FIG. 5 ). Further, when the projecting part  117   b  of the lift lever  117  is fitted to the above-mentioned depressed part ( 15   d ) of the pawl  115 , the lift lever  117  and the pawl  115  can rotate integrally with each other, and the rotation (rotation corresponding to the rotation of the pawl  115  for separating from the stopper) is allowed through the opening part  111   r  of the body  111 . Note that, the above-mentioned depressed part ( 15   d ) of the pawl  115  may be formed as a through hole. 
     In the embodiment configured as described above, which is illustrated in  FIGS. 15 and 16 , the following actions and effects can be obtained as well as the actions and effects similar to those of the above-mentioned embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 14 . In this embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 15 and 16 , the through hole  111   k  provided in the body  111  has the long hole shape as described above. Accordingly, the pawl-side end part S 12   c  of the pawl return spring S 12  is easily assembled to the body  111 , and thus the pawl return spring S 12  can be assembled with enhanced efficiency. 
     Further, in this embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 15 and 16 , the support shaft  119  is made of a metal, and the lift lever  117  assembled so as to be rotatable integrally with the pawl  115  is also made of a metal. The body  111  is made of a resin and includes the above-mentioned extending part  111   n . Accordingly, a bush (resin bearing) function can be imparted to the extending part  111   n  of the body  111  that is made of a resin, and thus metallic contact between the lift lever  117  and the support shaft  119  can be eliminated without adding components. Therefore, noise due to the metallic contact occurring when the lift lever  117  is actuated can be prevented. In particular, in this embodiment, the extending part  111   n  is formed into a cylindrical shape and surrounds the entire circumference of the support shaft  119 , and thus the above-mentioned noise due to the metallic contact can be prevented more suitably. 
     Further, in this embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 15 and 16 , the base plate  112  non-rotatably supports the support shaft  119  on one end side thereof, and the sub-base plate  113 , which is assembled on another side of the body  111  and is positioned by the extending part  111   n , non-rotatably supports the support shaft  119  at another end portion thereof. Further, the pawl  115  and the lift lever  117  are rotatably supported on the support shaft  119 . Further, the body  111  includes the support part  111   p  extending in the circumferential direction from the extending part  111   n  on the base plate side thereof, and the lift lever  117  is disposed between the support part  111   p  of the body  111  and the sub-base plate  113 . Therefore, the lift lever  117  can be prevented from being sandwiched between the support part  111   p  of the body  111  and the sub-base plate  113 , and thus smooth rotation of the lift lever  117  can be guaranteed. 
     Further, in this embodiment, a part of the pawl  115  (depressed part) and a part of the lift lever  117  (projecting part  117   b ) are fitted to each other in the axial direction. Accordingly, the pawl  115  and the lift lever  117  can be coupled to each other so as to be rotatable integrally with each other. Therefore, manufacturability can be enhanced as compared to a case where, for example, the pawl ( 115 ) and the support shaft ( 119 ) are integrated, the lift lever ( 117 ) is fixed to the support shaft ( 119 ) by caulking or the like, and the support shaft ( 119 ) is rotatably coupled to the base plate  112  and the sub-base plate  113 . 
     Further, in this embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 15 and 16 , the lift lever  117  includes the projecting part  117   b  bent toward the pawl  115  to pass through the body  111 , and the pawl  115  includes the depressed part ( 15   d ) fittable to the projecting part  117   b . Further, the body  111  includes the opening part  111   r  that allows the passage and rotation of the projecting part  117   b . The projecting part  117   b  passes through the opening part  111   r  and is fitted to the depressed part ( 15   d ) so that the lift lever  117  and the pawl  115  are rotatable integrally with each other. Therefore, the pawl  115  and the lift lever  117  can be coupled to each other so as to be rotatable integrally with each other without providing a separate component, such as a coupling pin, to the lift lever  117 , and thus the pawl  115  and the lift lever  117  can be formed simply at low cost. 
     In the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 15 and 16 , the present invention is carried out by integrally providing the projecting part  117   b  to the lift lever  117 , but the present invention may be carried out by using a separate member such as a pin (member fastened to the lift lever  117  and fittable to the depressed part ( 15   d ) of the pawl  115 ) instead of the projecting part  117   b . Further, in the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 15 and 16 , the present invention is carried out by forming the extending part  111   n  into a cylindrical shape (arranging the extending part  111   n  on the entire circumference), but the present invention may be carried out by arranging the extending part ( 111   n ) partially in the circumferential direction (for example, providing a plurality of extending parts in the circumferential direction at regular intervals).