GB2203479A

GB2203479A - Mounting locks

Info

Publication number: GB2203479A
Application number: GB08708918A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Joseph Anthony Lucid
Original assignee: Ford Motor Co
Current assignee: Ford Motor Co
Priority date: 1987-04-14
Filing date: 1987-04-14
Publication date: 1988-10-19
Also published as: GB8708918D0; EP0292088A1

Description

.DTD:

2203479 MOTOR VEHICLE BODY CLOSURE PANEL This invention relates to motor vehicle body closure panels.

.DTD:

i0 Motor vehicle body closure panels such as doors and tailgates are usually provided with apertures for housing a lock. Normally the aperture is non- circular in shape, so that lock, which is complementary in shape to the aperture, cannot be rotated relative to the panel. For example, one known aperture is in the form of a circle with four rectangular recesses disposed in the shape of a cross.

.DTD:

With apertures of this shape however, a determined thief may gain entry to the vehicle with the aid of a wrench by twisting the lock within the aperture with sufficient force to deform or break the edges of the recesses that normally prevent the lock from rotating. Although the resistance to rotation of the lock may be increased by increasing the radial depth of the recesses, the formation of such recesses by a stamping operation can result in 20 rapid wear to the stamping tools.

.DTD:

According to the present invention, there is provided a motor vehicle body closure panel having a non-circular aperture for a lock, characterised in that the aperture has first and second sides extending parallel to each other, third and fourth sides disposed symmetrically about a centre line of the aperture extending along straight lines generally at right angles to the first and second sides and converging towards the second side, fifth and sixth sides extending along straight lines and connecting the first side with the third and fourth sides respectively, and seventh and eighth sides connecting the second side with the third and fourth sides, the seventh and eighth sides each having a curved section and a straight section extending tangentially from the curved section.

.DTD:

Apertures of this shape not only increase the resistance to rotation of a lock of complementary shape, but can also be produced in a stamping operation without producing excessive wear in the stamping tool aperture.

.DTD:

A preferred embodiment of a motor vehicle body panel in accordance with the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- i0 Figure 1 is a plan view of an outer panel of a motor vehicle tailgate; and Figure 2 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale of the region marked II in Figure i.

Referring to the drawings, an outer panel 1 for a motor vehicle tailgate is provided towards its lower edge with a non-circular aperture 2, best illustrated in Figure 2, for housing a lock (not shown).

.DTD:

The aperture 2 is eight-ided, and is symmetrical about a centre line 3. A first side ii extends parallel to a second side 12, which is equal in length to the first side ii. Third and fourth sides 13, 14, which are disposed on opposite sides of the centre line 3, extend along staight lines generally at right angles to the first and second sides, but converge towards the second side 12. The third and fourth sides 13, 14 are equal in length but longer than the first and second sides 12,13. Fifth and sixth sides 15, 16 of the aperture also extent along straight lines and connect the first side ii with the third and fourth sides respectively. Seventh and eighth sides 17, 30 18 of the aperture 2 connect the second side 12 with the third and fourth sides respectively and are each composed of a curved section 17a, 18a and a straight section 17b, i0 18b extending along tangents from the curved sections.

.DTD:

When a lock complementary in shape to the aperture 2 is mounted in the aperture, the long straight edges and the angular configuration of the aperture prevent the lock from rotating, and require the application of extremely high torques before the panel deforms. The panel therefore increases the security of the vehicle in which it is incorporated. Nevertheless, the aperture contains no inwardly-directed corners of the kind that cause rapid wear in stamping tools.

.DTD:

Claims

CLAIMS i0 i. A motor vehicle body closure panel (i) having a noncircular

aperture (2) for a lock, characterised in that the aperture (2) has first and second sides (11,12) extending parallel to each other, third and fourth (13,14) sides disposed symmetrically about a centre line (3) of the aperture (2), extending along straight lines generally at right angles to the first and second sides (11,12) and converging towards the second side (12), fifth and sixth sides (15,16) extending along straight lines and connecting the first side (ii) with the third and fourth sides (13,14) respectively, and seventh and eighth sides (17,18) connecting the second side (12) with the third and fourth sides (13,14), the seventh and eighth sides (17, 18) each having a curved section (17a, 18) and a straight section (17b, 18 b) extending tangentially from the curved section (17a, 18).

.CLME:
2. A panel according to Claim 1 wherein the first and second sides (11, 12) are equal in length.

.CLME:
3. A panel according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the third and fourth sides (13,14) are equal in length.

.CLME:
4. A panel according to any one of Claim s 1 to 3 wherein the third and fourth (13,14) sides are longer than the first and second sides (11,12).

.CLME:
5. A motor vehicle body panel having an aperture for a lock substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

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Publhed 1988 at The Patent Office, State House, 86/71 High Holborn, London WC1R 4TP. Further copies may be ohm[ned from The Patent Office, Sales Branch, St Mary Cray, 0rpington, Kent BR8 3KD. PrLnted by Multiplex techniques lt St Mary Cray, Kent. Con. 1/87.

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