Patent ID: 7066500

Claim:
A lock for a vehicle having a door having an exterior surface and a fixed part proximate the door, the lock comprising a housing with a front wall and a rear wall, attached to the vehicle door with said rear wall proximate said exterior surface of said door; latch means comprising a hook, said latch means being mounted in said housing, for rotational movement about an axis, between a first rotational position, wherein said hook engages the part to secure the door in the closed position and a second rotational position wherein said hook is remote from the part such that the door can be opened; a latch rotation preventing member linearly moveable relative to said housing, in a direction substantially parallel to said axis of rotation of said latch means, between a position spaced from said rear wall of said housing, remote from the path of movement of said latch means and a position proximate to said rear wall of said housing, intersecting the path of said latch means, to retain said latch means in its said first rotational position; and means for biasing said member toward said position proximate said rear wall of said housing, further comprising means for locking said member in said position proximate said rear wall of said housing, wherein said locking means comprises a key actuated lock cylinder mounted for movement between a locked position and an unlocked position, and wherein said locking means further comprises a linkage part connected for movement with said lock cylinder and comprising a cam surface, where said locking means is axillary offset from said latch rotation preventing member.