Patent ID: 8240723

Claim:
A door latch apparatus for a vehicle, the door latch apparatus comprising: a base member fixed in a door, the base member having a surface extending in a lateral direction of the vehicle from an outer edge to an inner edge; an engagement mechanism mounted to the base member, and arranged to be engaged with a striker of a vehicle body; an open lever which is located nearer to the inner edge of the base member than to the outer edge of the base member in the lateral direction of the vehicle, the open lever being operatively connected to the engagement mechanism for disengaging the engagement mechanism from the striker to open the door; a sub lever which is located nearer to the inner edge of the base member than to the outer edge of the base member in the lateral direction of the vehicle, and which is arranged to be abutted on the open lever; and an outside lever pivotably mounted to the base member, and connected through an operating force transmitting member to an outside handle provided to an outer door panel of the door, the outside lever being pivoted in accordance with an operation of the outside handle so as to move the sub lever to abut the open lever and release the engagement between the engagement mechanism and the striker, the outside lever including a connection portion connected with the operating force transmitting member, wherein the base member comprises a first threaded hole located nearer to the outer edge of the base member than to the inner edge of the base member and a second threaded hole located nearer to the inner edge of the base member than to the outer edge of the base member, the first and second threaded holes being adapted to receive a bolt to secure the base member to the door, wherein the base member defines a region between the first and second threaded holes, and the connection portion is disposed within the region such that the outside lever is protected when an impact force is applied to the outer door panel.