Vehicle door lock

Abstract

A vehicle door lock (1) is provided having a lock mechanism (3) cooperating with a striker (5) of a motor vehicle. The lock mechanism (3) has a fork (11), which can be set to a release position, in which it permits engagement and release of a respective seat (15) by the striker (5), and at least one lock position, in which it retains the striker (5) in, and prevents release of, the respective seat (15); a latch (12), which clicks onto the fork (11) to lock it releasably in the lock position; a release member (6) operated selectively to release the latch (12) from the fork (11) and allow the fork (11) to move into the release position; and interacting portions (42, 43) whereby the fork (11) and the release member (6) interact to define different indicating positions of the release member (6) corresponding to the release position and lock position of the fork (11) respectively.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred, non-limiting embodiment of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, with parts removed for clarity, of a vehicle door lock in accordance with the present invention and in a full-lock position;

FIGS. 2 and 3 show opposite side views of the lock of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 4 and 5 show opposite side views of the lock of FIG. 1 in a release position; and

FIGS. 6 and 7 show opposite side views of the lock of FIG. 1 in a pre-lock position.

Claims

1. A vehicle door lock (1) comprising a lock mechanism (3) cooperating with a striker (5), said lock mechanism (3) comprising: a fork (11) which can be set to a release position, in which said fork permits engagement and release of a respective seat (15) by the striker (5), and at least one lock position, in which the fork retains the striker (5) in, and prevents release of, the respective seat (15);a latch (12) which engages said fork (11) to lock it releasably in said lock position; anda release member (6) operated selectively to release said latch (12) from said fork (11) and allow the fork (11) to move into said release position;characterized by also comprising interacting members (42, 43) whereby said fork (11) and said release member (6) interact to define different indicating positions of said release member (6) corresponding to said release position and said lock position of said fork (11) respectively.

2. A lock as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said release member (6) is loaded by a bias member (36) into a rest position, and is moved, in opposition to said bias member (36), into a work position in which said release member releases said latch (12) from said fork (11); at least one of said indicating positions of said release member (6) being interposed between said rest position and said work position.

3. A lock as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the other of said indicating positions of said release member (6) coincides with said rest position.

4. A lock as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that said interacting members (42, 43) comprise a first interacting member (44) carried by said release member (6); and a second interacting member (45) carried by said fork (11) and cooperating with said first interacting member (44).

5. A lock as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that said first and second interacting member (44, 45) cooperate with each other in at least one of said release and lock positions of said fork (11).

6. A lock as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that said first interacting member is defined by an arm (44) of said release member (6), and said second interacting member comprises a cam (45) integral with said fork (11) and cooperating in sliding manner with said arm (44) along at least part of the movement of said fork (11).

7. A lock as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that said fork (11) can also be set to a prelock position, with respect to said latch (12), interposed between said release position and said lock position; and said first and second interacting member (44, 45) also cooperate with each other in said prelock position of said fork (11).

8. A lock as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that said latch (12) and said release member (6) comprise coupling means (23, 40) which are only active along part of the movement of said release member (6) from said rest position to said work position.

9. A lock as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that said coupling means comprise an opening (23) and a male member (40), which are carried selectively by said latch (12) and said release member (6), respectively, and which engage loosely in the direction of their relative movement.