Patent ID: 8485570

Claim:
A door lock assembly for a vehicle door comprising: a door inner panel including a stop; and a bell crank assembly including a bell crank main plate mounted adjacent to the door inner panel and configured to be pivotable about a bell crank pivot axis, a door lock rod extending generally vertically from the bell crank main plate and including a remote end configured to be accessible by a vehicle occupant, a latch rod extending generally horizontally from the bell crank main plate and including a remote end configured to engage a latch for locking and unlocking the latch, and an inertial pendulum having a first end affixed to the bell crank main plate and an opposed second, free end cantilevered from the bell crank main plate, the first end being spaced from the bell crank pivot axis, and the inertial pendulum configured so that inertia on the inertial pendulum causes the second, free end to engage the stop to prevent rotation of the bell crank main plate in a predetermined direction during a predetermined vehicle impact event.