Abstract:
Automotive door striker having a center-mounted hex nut integrally formed as part of the striker pin. A rotatable elastomeric sleeve is provided for noise reduction. A baseplate connects the striker pin to a mounting flange for a shock absorber.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. The Technical Field 
     The present invention is directed to automotive door strikers, to be mounted in the frames or door sills of vehicles, for engaging latching structures mounted in vehicle doors. 
     2. The Prior Art 
     Door strikers, for use in automotive applications, are known, and may be of the cantilevered pin or loop (also known variously as “bent wire”, “shielded”, or “guarded”) form. The loop style is typically more complicated and therefore more costly to construct, as well as often being heavier, than cantilevered pin style door strikers. 
     It would be desirable to provide a door striker which may be used in automotive applications, which is robust, easily installed, and configured to reduce noise and vibration during use. 
     These and other desirable characteristics of the present invention will become apparent in view of the present specification, including claims, and drawings. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention is directed in part to an automotive striker pin having a hex structure positioned midpoint along the pin, providing a drive point, in turn, facilitating the use of a recess cup washer, providing for a rubber bumper and a retainer for a trim panel, thus facilitating noise reduction and vibration. 
     Midpoint drive capability allows for installation of a polymer (or other material) sleeve for noise reduction and a cushioned fit of the door latch closing around the sleeve surface. 
     The striker sleeve is retained by a striker cap installed and retained by upsetting of the striker pin end protruding from the cap. 
     The combination of a polymer sleeve and a rubber bumper provides for reduction in latch to striker movement, thus also reducing vibration, squeaks and rattles of door to body during vehicle operation. 
     The polymer sleeve is free to rotate on the striker pin so as to is reduce noise during both closing and opening operations of the latch to striker. 
     The striker bumper is attached to the striker pin by a bracket thus enabling constant force of compression to the latch face and opening, thus maintaining a positive load on the striker pin. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the door striker of the present invention according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is another perspective view, showing the door striker of  FIG. 1  in engagement with a door. 
         FIG. 3  is another perspective view, showing the door striker of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is another perspective view, showing the door striker of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is another perspective view, showing the door striker of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is another perspective view, showing the door striker of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a door striker according to another embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a side view of the door striker of  FIG. 7 , shown in engagement with a door. 
         FIG. 9  is a top perspective view of a striker baseplate, according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 10  is a bottom perspective view of the striker baseplate of  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 11  is a bottom view of the striker baseplate of  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 12  is a side elevation of the striker baseplate of  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 13  is a top view of the striker baseplate of  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 13A  is a perspective view of a retention tool, according to an embodiment of the invention, for use in installing a striker assembly according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 14  is a side sectional view of the striker baseplate of  FIG. 9 , taken along line  14 - 14  of  FIG. 13 . 
         FIG. 15  is an end view of the striker baseplate of  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 16  is a perspective view of a pin cap for the door striker according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 17  is a top view of the pin cap of  FIG. 16 . 
         FIG. 18  is a side sectional view of the pin cap of  FIG. 16 , taken along line  18 - 18  of  FIG. 17 . 
         FIG. 19  is a perspective view of the pin sleeve for the door striker according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 20  is an end view of the pin sleeve of  FIG. 19 . 
         FIG. 21  is a side elevation of the pin sleeve of  FIG. 19 . 
         FIG. 22  is a side elevation of a striker pin of the door striker according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 23  is an end view of the striker pin of  FIG. 22 . 
         FIG. 24  is a perspective view of the striker pin of  FIG. 22 . 
         FIGS. 25-31  illustrate various additional views of the automotive door striker of the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-6 , in various stages of assembly and/or installation. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there are shown in the drawings and will be described in detail several specific embodiments, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiments illustrated. 
     The following description and drawings are illustrative and are not to be construed as limiting. Numerous specific details are described to provide a thorough understanding of the disclosure. However, in certain instances, well-known or conventional details are not described in order to avoid obscuring the description. References to one, or an, embodiment in the present disclosure can be, but not necessarily are, references to the same embodiment; and, such references mean at least one of the embodiments. 
     Reference in this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the disclosure. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, nor are separate or alternative embodiments mutually exclusive of other embodiments. Moreover, various features are described which may be exhibited by some embodiments and not by others. Similarly, various requirements are described which may be requirements for some embodiments, but not other embodiments. 
     The terms used in this specification generally have their ordinary meanings in the art, within the context of the disclosure, and in the specific context where each term is used. Certain terms that are used to describe the disclosure are discussed below, or elsewhere in the specification, to provide additional guidance to the practitioner regarding the description of the disclosure. For convenience, certain terms may be highlighted, for example using italics and/or quotation marks. The use of highlighting has no influence on the scope and meaning of a term; the scope and meaning of a term is the same, in the same context, whether or not it is highlighted. It will be appreciated that same thing can be said in more than one way. 
     Consequently, alternative language and synonyms may be used for any one or more of the terms discussed herein, nor is any special significance to be placed upon whether or not a term is elaborated or discussed herein. Synonyms for certain terms are provided. A recital of one or more synonyms does not exclude the use of other synonyms. The use of examples anywhere in this specification, including examples of any terms discussed herein, is illustrative only, and in no way limits the scope and meaning of the disclosure or of any exemplified term. Likewise, the disclosure is not limited to various embodiments given in this specification. 
     Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure pertains. In the case of conflict, the present document, including definitions will control. 
     Door striker assembly  25 , according to an embodiment of the invention, is shown in  FIGS. 1-6  and includes baseplate  27 , striker pin  29 , pin sleeve  31 , pin cap  33  and shock absorber  35 . Door striker assembly  25  is mounted in a door jamb or frame  38  of, e.g., an automobile (not shown), with the portion of striker pin  29  bearing pin sleeve  31  and pin cap  33  exposed and “facing” outwardly, so as to engage the latch portion of a vehicle door  37 . In a typical installation, body trim panel  39  will be positioned between door frame  38  and baseplate  27 , and the flange of baseplate  27  will bear against trim panel  39 , so as to place a slight compression on trim panel  39 , to reduce vibration and noise.  FIG. 6  illustrates this concept from a side view, in that typically, the outer surface of trim panel  39  will stand off from the outer surface of door jamb  38 , by virtue of various ribs  36 . As pin  29  is torqued down into the threaded aperture in door jamb  38 , the flange of baseplate  27  compresses trim panel  39 , until the lower surface of the bowl-like depression  69  bottoms out against the outer surface of door jamb  38 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 9-15 , striker baseplate  27  includes pin attachment region  41 , pin aperture  43 , shock absorber attachment flange  45 , web  47 , fastener aperture(s)  49  and shock absorber fastener aperture  51 . 
     Baseplate  27  may be fabricated from steel alloy, or any other suitable material having similar characteristics. Bowl-like depression or concavity  69  is configured to fit into a corresponding circular aperture (not shown) in trim panel  39 , with radially extending flange  81  provided to bear against trim panel  39 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 16-18 , pin cap  33  may be fabricated from steel or polymer, or any other suitable material having similar characteristics. Pin cap  33 , in an embodiment of the invention, includes bore  33 , at one end of which, corresponding to an end of striker pin  29 , includes chamfer  55 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 19-21 , pin sleeve  31  may be fabricated from polymer, Teflon, or any other suitable material having similar shock absorbing, vibration deadening and noise reducing characteristics. Typically, pin sleeve  31  may have a wall thickness on the order of 1.4 mm±0.25 mm. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 22-24 , striker pin  29  may be fabricated from steel alloy, or similar material. Striker Pin  29  includes mounting shaft portion  57 , drive hex  59 , and latch engaging shaft  61 , which are all monolithically formed as a single piece, e.g., by forging, casting, machining, etc. Mounting shaft portion  57  will be threaded, e.g., at  63 , for engagement with a suitably threaded portion of a vehicle door jamb or frame (not shown). Drive hex  59  is provided to give a ready point of engagement for a wrench or other tool, to drive striker pin  29  into the aforementioned threaded portion of a vehicle door jamb or frame. Latch engaging shaft  61  includes sleeve retaining portion  65 , which has a length which will be greater than the length of pin sleeve  31 . 
     Assembly of the striker is accomplished by sliding sleeve  61  onto pin  29 , and then positioning pin cap  33  onto cap retaining portion  65 , and swaging the end of cap retaining portion  65  of striker pin  29 . Next, bumper  35  is placed on flange  45 , by pulling or pushing barb-shaped tab  83  through fastener aperture  51 , until the flat side of barb portion  85  bears against flange  45 . Typically, the thickness of flange  45  and the length of tab  83 , between barb  85  and bumper  35  will be such that there will be tension in tab  83  sufficient to keep bumper  35  tightly in place on flange  45 . Pin attachment region  41  of baseplate  27  is then aligned with the aperture  43  in door jamb  38 . Threaded portion  63  of striker pin  29  is then inserted and threaded into aperture  43 , using hex  63  to tighten striker pin  29 . 
       FIGS. 25-32  illustrate various additional views of the automotive door striker of the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-6 , in various stages of assembly and/or installation. Specifically,  FIG. 25  shows door striker assembly  25  affixed to door jamb  38 , with trim plate  39  captured therebetween.  FIG. 26  is a similar view from a different angle showing the drive hex  59  received within the bowl-shaped portion  69  of the flange  41 .  FIG. 27  is an enlarged view of  FIG. 26 .  FIG. 28  is a reverse view, showing the rear side of bumper  35  and tab  83 .  FIG. 29  is a view of the bottom of bowl-shaped portion  69  as seen from “inside” the trim panel  38 .  FIG. 30  illustrates how threaded portion  63  projects through and beyond trim panel  38 .  FIG. 31  shows how striker assembly  25  (shown not affixed to a door jamb) may confront a typical door latch assembly. 
     An alternative embodiment of the door striker assembly of the present invention is shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . In door striker assembly  71 , baseplate  77  is slightly different from baseplate  27  of the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-6  in that instead of having a cup or bowl-like depression  69 , pin attachment region  77  is a flat circular plate. This may be employed in situations where there is no corresponding larger sized opening in the trim panel. However, because the bowl-shaped portion is absent, to prevent the striker assembly from undesirably deforming the trim panel, a spacer member may have to be positioned under the trim panel, through which the threaded portion of the striker pin has to pass, before engaging the threaded portion of the door jamb. Otherwise, the attachment of striker assembly is substantially similar to that described with respect to the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-6 . 
     The orientation of bumper  35 , relative to the vehicle door is important. Specifically, the face of bumper  35  needs to upright and parallel to the vehicle centerline. There may be a propensity for flange  27  to pivot, as pin  31  is tightened down. Accordingly, to prevent this undesired repositioning, flange  27  may be provided with one or more (typically two) retention apertures  85 . A retention tool  87 , having a forked configuration, with spaced apart prongs  89 , may be used to hold flange  27  and prevent pivoting while pin  31  is tightened. 
     The foregoing description and drawings merely explain and illustrate the invention, and the invention is not limited thereto, except as those skilled in the art who have the present disclosure before them will be able to make modifications and variations therein without departing from the scope of the invention.