Patent Application
20210140203
The subject disclosure relates generally to vehicle doors, and in particular to child safety lock systems of vehicle doors.
Vehicle doors, especially vehicle rear doors are equipped with a lock system referred to as a child safety lock, that when engaged prevents opening of the door via normal activation of the door inside handle. This prevents opening of the door by a rear seat passenger, such as a child. The child safety lock may be engaged by, for example, a switch on the door, which is not accessible when the door is closed. Also, the child safety lock may be engaged or disengaged by a switch located at the driver's seat position, such as on the driver's door panel or on the instrument panel. This allows for engagement and/or disengagement of the child safety lock by the driver.
When adults ride in the rear seat, however, the child lock may be engaged and leave the adult with no way to open the rear door in an emergency situation. Accordingly, it would be desirable in the industry to provide an apparatus to override the child safety lock which can be used by an adult, but that would be difficult for a child to understand and use, thus preventing disengaging of the child safety lock by a child rear seat passenger.
In one embodiment, a vehicle door assembly includes a door latch configured to secure the vehicle door in a closed position, and an inside door handle assembly operably connected to the door latch and configured, when operated m a first door handle mode, to release the door latch thus allowing for movement of the vehicle door from the closed position toward an open position. A lock post is operably connected to the door latch and configured, when operated in a first lock post mode, to lock the door latch. A child safety lock switch is operably connected to the door latch and configured such that, when activated, the child safety lock switch prevents releasing of the door latch via operation of the inside door handle in the first door handle mode. One or more of the inside door handle or the lock post is configured for operation in a second mode wherein the second mode deactivates the child safety lock switch.
Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments the second mode includes engaging a deactivation switch located at the inside door handle, and operating the inside door handle after engaging the deactivation switch.
Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments operating the inside door handle includes one of pulling the inside door handle past a second door handle detent or pulling the inside door handle multiple times.
Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments the deactivation switch is one of a button or a slider located at the inside door handle.
Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments the second mode includes operating the lock post in a second lock post mode.
Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments the second lock post mode includes pulling the lock post past a first lock post detent, and squeezing the lock post to enable pulling of the lock post upward past a second lock post detent.
Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments the second lock post mode includes pulling the lock post past a second lock post detent, and turning the lock post about a lock post axis.
Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments the second mode includes simultaneously operating the lock post in a second lock post mode and operating the inside door handle in a second inside door handle mode.
Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments the second lock post mode includes one or more of touching the lock post, thereby activating a capacitance sensor disposed thereat or pulling the lock post upward past a second lock post detent.
Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments the second inside door handle mode includes one or more of pulling the inside door handle past a second door handle detent or pulling the inside door handle multiple times.
In another embodiment, a method of deactivating a child safety lock switch of a vehicle door includes operating one or more of an inside door handle operably connected to a door latch of the vehicle door or a lock post operably connected to the door latch in a second mode different from a first, normal operating mode thereby deactivating the child safety lock switch.
Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments the second mode includes engaging a deactivation switch located at the inside door handle, and operating the inside door handle after engaging the deactivation switch.
Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments operating the inside door handle includes one of pulling the inside door handle past a second door handle detent or pulling the inside door handle multiple times.
Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments the deactivation switch is one of a button or a slider located at the inside door handle.
Additionally or alternatively, m this or other embodiments the second mode includes operating the lock post in a second lock post mode.
Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments the second lock post mode includes pulling the lock post past a first lock post detent, and squeezing the lock post to enable pulling of the lock post upward past a second lock post detent.
Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments the second lock post mode includes pulling the lock post past a second lock post detent, and turning the lock post about a lock post axis
Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments the second mode includes simultaneously operating the lock post in a second lock post mode and operating the inside door handle in a second inside door handle mode.
Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments the second lock post mode includes one or more of touching the lock post, thereby activating a capacitance sensor disposed thereat, or pulling the lock post upward past a second lock post detent.
Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments the second inside door handle mode includes one or more of pulling the inside door handle past a second door handle detent or pulling the inside door handle multiple times.
The above features and advantages, and other features and advantages of the disclosure are readily apparent from the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.
Other features, advantages and details appear, by way of example only, in the following detailed description, the detailed description referring to the drawings in which:
The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, its application or uses.
It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features.
In accordance with an exemplary embodiment,
The vehicle door 10 illustrated is a rear passenger door. The vehicle door 10 includes an inner door panel 12 and an outer door panel 14 (shown best in
Referring again to
Referring again to
Referring now to
In some instances, such as when an adult is seated in a rear seat of the vehicle and there is an emergency situation, it is desirable to allow for an override or deactivation of the child safety lock switch 32 to allow the vehicle door 10 to be opened by the adult for egress from the vehicle. Such an override may include a combination of actions or steps to deactivate the child safety lock switch 32 by the passenger.
An exemplary apparatus to deactivate or override the child safety lock switch 32 is illustrated in
Another embodiment is illustrated in
Another embodiment is illustrated in
In some embodiments, deactivating the child safety lock switch 32 requires two simultaneous actions at two components. For example, in one embodiment the lock post 52 is touched to activate a capacitance sensor 64 at the lock post 52. Simultaneously, the inner door handle 30 is pulled past the second door handle detent, or multiple pulls past the first door handle detent, to deactivate the child safety lock switch 32. In another embodiment, the lock post 52 is pulled up past the second lock post detent 58 while the inner door handle 30 is simultaneously pulled past the second door handle detent, or multiple pulls past the first door handle detent.
The embodiments disclosed herein provide apparatus and methods of overriding or deactivating the child safety lock switch 32, allowing for egress from the vehicle 10 when the child safety lock switch 32 has been engaged. The two-step processes, however, are difficult or non-intuitive for a child, so that a child typically will not be able to deactivate the child safety lock switch 32.
While the above disclosure has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from its scope. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the disclosure without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the present disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but will include all embodiments falling within the scope thereof.
