Shielded striker for a vehicle latch

[57] ABSTRACT

The striker includes a pin-type keeper shielded by an L-shaped guard which is effective to deflect the clothing from being snagged and torn by the keeper. The guard also supports the outer end of the keeper to increase the resistance of the keeper to bending and breaking under heavy transverse loading.

Claims, 10 Drawing Figures

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PATENTEDAUG 1 1972

SHEET 1 OF 2

3,680.902

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PATENTEDm lira

SHEET 2 OF 2

3,680.902

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3,680,902

SHIELDED STRIKER FOR A VEHICLE LATCH

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a striker adapted for mounting on the frame member of an automotive vehicle and engageable with a latching device on the vehicle door to hold the door in a closed position. More particularly, the invention relates to a striker with an elongated keeper pin which extends outwardly from the frame member and projects a short distance into the doorway of the vehicle. A striker of this general type is disclosed in Martens U.S. Pat. No. 3,350,128.

SUMMARY OF THE IN VENTION

The present invention aims to provide a new and improved striker of the above character which is guarded in a unique and relatively simple manner to prevent the occupants of the vehicle from snagging their clothing on the keeper pin as they enter and leave the vehicle through the doorway and which, at the same time, is comparatively high in strength when compared with prior strikers of the same general type.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a new and improved striker embodying the novel features of the present invention and showing the striker attached to a vehicle frame member.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the striker.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the striker.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross-section taken along the line 4—4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary croSs-section taken substantially along the line 5—5 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a modified striker incorporating the features of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of still another striker constructed in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the striker shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of the striker shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a cross-section taken along the line 10—10 of FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As shown in the drawings for purposes of illustration, the invention is embodied in a striker 15 mounted on a frame member such as the upright door pillar 16 of an automotive vehicle and coacting with a latch 17 housed within the vehicle door 19 (FIG. 5) so as to hold the door in a closed position. The striker includes a keeper pin 20 projecting outwardly from the pillar and extending a short distance into the doorway of the vehicle so as to be disposed in the path followed by a forked latching element 21 as the door is swung closed. The latching element is mounted pivotally within the case 23 (FIG. 5) of the latch and is rotated into interlocking engagement with the keeper pin as an incident to closing the door, both the case of the latch and the end panel 24 of the door being formed with openings 25 for receiving the pin. A latch of the type with which the striker is adapted for use is described in more detail in Shay U.S. Pat. No. 3,365,226.

In accordance with the present invention, the keeper pin 20 is attached to a mounting plate 30 which, in turn, is joined to a unique guard 31 for shielding the keeper pin to avoid any danger of the occupants of the vehicle snagging and tearing their clothing on the pin as ¹⁰ they step into and out of the vehicle through the doorway. Moreover, the guard 31 braces the outer end portion of the keeper pin and thus reduces the likelihood of the pin bending or fracturing under the application 1₃ of transverse impact forces and bending stresses occurring during vehicular collisons.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the plate 30 is simply a flat member made of heavy gauge steel and adapted to be positioned face-to-face with the 20 outer side of the pillar 16. Formed in the plate are two vertically spaced and horizontally extending holes 33 (FIG. 3) for receiving fasteners such as bolts 34 (FIG. 1), the latter being threaded into a fixed tapping plate 35 (FIG. 5) inside of the pillar thereby to attach the 25 plate 30 to the pillar. A third hole 36 (FIG. 4) is formed in the plate 30 between the holes 33 and receives the inner end portion of the keeper pin 20.

As shown in FIG. 4, the keeper pin 20 comprises a cylindrical body 37 whose inner end portion is attached 30 to the plate 30 by a connector in the form of a rivet 39 extending through the hole 36. Formed integrally with the outer end of the body is an enlarged cylindrical head 40 which is adapted to engage a slidable wedge 41 (FIGS. 1 and 5) housed within the case 23 of the latch ³⁵ 17 and coacting with the latching element 21 to hold the door 19 tightly closed. Preferably, but not necessarily, an inner rubber sleeve 43 (FIG. 4) and an outer metal sleeve 44 are telescoped over the body 37 to help hold the latching element 21 tightly against the keeper pin 20 and to help reduce noise and vibration.

The guard 31 is generally L-shaped and comprises a comparatively short leg 45 (FIGS. 2 and 5) formed integrally with and projecting outwardly from the end 45 portion of the plate 30 disposed adjacent the inside of the vehicle. The leg 45 is approximately the same length as the body 37 of the keeper pin 20 and extends parallel to the pin as shown in FIG. 2. Formed integrally with the outer end of the leg 45 is a longer leg 50 46 which parallels and extends alongside the plate 30 and which terminates just beyond the body 37 of the keeper pin 20. A hole 47 (FIG. 4) is formed in the free end portion of the leg 46 and receives the outer end of the body 37 with the head 40 being positioned adjacent 55 the outer side of the leg. The body 37 is inserted into the hole 47 from the outer side of the leg 46 before the inner end of the body is connected to the plate 30 by the rivet 39. When the striker is installed, the head of the rivet is received in a hole (not shown) formed in the pillar 16.

As shown in FIG. 1, the shorter leg 45 is spaced generally horizontally from the keeper pin 20 and thus serves to shield the pin and to deflect clothing away from the pin as a person leaves the vehicle. In addition, the long leg 46, being connected to the outer end portion of the pin 20, prevents clothing from being snagged on the pin as a person steps into the vehicle.

3,680,902

The free end portion of the long leg 46 is rounded and is approximately the same diameter as the head 40 of the keeper pin so as to engage the wedge 41 and to avoid the presence of any sharp protrusions upon which clothing might be caught. Also, it will be seen in FIG. 5 that the outer sleeve 44 is positioned closely adjacent the free end of the long leg 46 and, in effect, forms a continuation of such end between the leg 46 and the plate 30 as to prevent clothing from being snagged on the leg.

Advantageously, the legs 45 and 46 brace the outer end portion of the keeper pin 20 and help prevent failure of the pin in case the vehicle is involved in an accident. That is, instead of simply being supported cantilever fashion on the pillar 16, the pin 20 is held against transverse deflection by the leg 46 and thus is less likely to bend and break. To increase the resistance of the plate 30 and the legs 45 and 46 to bending, depressions 50 (FIG. 2) are formed in the inner surface of the plate and the outer surface of the leg 46 and gradually merge into the outer surface of the leg 45 so as to form gussets between the legs and the plate.

Another embodiment of a striker embodying the features of the invention is shown in FIG. 6 in which parts corresponding to those of the first embodiment are indicated by the same but primed reference numerals. Herein, the inner end of the body 37' of the keeper pin 20' extends through the hole 36' in the plate 30' and is formed integrally with an enlarged head 51 which lies flush against the pillar 16 by virtue of being fitted into a depression 52 formed in the inner side of the plate. The outer end of the body 37' is received in the hole 47' in the leg 46' and, after being fitted into the hole, is spun over as indicated at 53 so as to captivate the keeper pin in the holes 36'and 47'.

Still another embodiment of a new and improved striker 15 is shown in FIGS. 7 to 10 in which parts corresponding to those of the first embodiment are indicated by the same but double primed reference numerals. In this instance, the keeper pin 20” itself is used to help connect the striker to the pillar 16 so that, at most, only a single bolt 34” is required to effect rigid anchoring of the striker.

More particularly, the striker 15” comprises a mounting plate 30” which is formed with a hole 33” for receiving the bolt 34” and with a hole 36” for receiving the inner end portion of the keeper pin 20”. An L-shaped guard 31” is formed integrally with the plate 30 and includes a short leg 45 projecting outwardly from the plate and a long leg 46” paralleling the plate. The plate and the long leg are shaped identically, and the latter is formed with a hole 55 which is alined horizontally with the hole 33” so as to receive the bolt 34”. Also, a hole 47” is formed in the free end portion of the leg 46” for receiving the outer end of the keeper pin 20”.

The keeper pin 20” comprises a bolt 60 (FIGS. 8 and 10) which extends through the holes 36 and 47 and whose inner end is formed with threads 61 so that the bolt may be threaded into the pillar 16 to cooperate with the bolt 34” in holding the striker 15 attached to the pillar. At its outer end, the bolt 60 is formed with a frusto-conical head 63 which seats in a countersunk portion of the hole 47” and which is formed with a recess adapted to receive a driving tool for turning the bolt during installation of the striker. A metal sleeve 64 is telescoped over the bolt 60 and, as shown in FIG. 10, is advantageously fitted into counterholes 65 formed in the outer side of the plate 30” and the inner side of the leg 46 adjacent the holes 36” and 47”. Being fitted in the counterholes, the sleeve increases the resistance of the keeper pin to transverse bending. The sleeve is fixed in place between the plate 30 and the leg 46” as an incident to bending the leg into parallel relation with ⁰ the plate.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the present invention brings to the art new and improved strikers having pin-type keepers which are effectively ₁₅ shielded by guards to prevent clothing from being snagged and torn on the keepers. While being relatively simple in construction, the strikers are comparatively strong as a result of the guards performing the additional function of bracing the outer ends of the keeper 20 P^ins-