GB2452373A - Door lock with double action mechanism and child lock mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

A door lock apparatus includes a double action mechanism 33, 39 and a child lock mechanism 40. The double action mechanism 33, 39, when an inside door handle IDH arranged inside a vehicle is open-operated while a lock mechanism 30 is in a locked state, switches the lock mechanism 30 from the locked state to an unlocked state, without transmitting the open-operation of the inside door handle IDH to a latch mechanism (figure 6, 20). The child lock mechanism 40 is disposed between the inside door handle IDH, and the latch mechanism and the lock mechanism 30, and is configured to switch between a transmitting state that transmits the open-operation of the inside door handle IDH to the latch mechanism, and a non-transmitting state that does not transmit the open-operation of the inside door handle IDH to the latch mechanism and the double action mechanism 33, 39.

Description

DOOR LOCK APPARATUS

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a door lock apparatus applied to a vehicle, such as a four wheel automobile.

More particularly, the present invention relates to a door lock apparatus that includes a latch mechanism and a lock mechanism. The latch mechanism, when a door is in a closed position with respect to a vehicle main body, restricts movement of the door in an open direction by being latched.

The lock mechanism is disposed between a door handle and the latch mechanism. When the door handle is open-operated (i.e. operated in order to open the door) in an unlocked state, the lock mechanism cancels the latched state by transmitting such open-operation of the door handle to the latch mechanism, and allows the movement of the door in the open direction. When in a locked state, the lock mechanism maintains the latched state of the latch mechanism, even if the door handle is open-operated.

Description of the Related Art

As is known in the art, some of door lock apparatuses applied to vehicles include a child lock mechanism to prevent a child from doing mischief. The child lock mechanism is switchably configured between a transmitting state that transmits an open-operation of an inside door handle to a latch mechanism, and a non-transmitting state that does not transmit the open-operation of the inside door handle to the latch mechanism.

United States Patent No. 6010165 discloses the door lock apparatuses that include a mechanism called a one-motion or a double-action. These mechanisms switch a lock mechanism in a locked state to an unlocked state, by open-operating the inside door handle without operating a lock operating member such as an inside lock button, and are very effective to simplify an unlock operation of the lock mechanism. In particular, in the door lock apparatus that includes the one-motion mechanism, even if the lock mechanism is in the locked state, the lock mechanism is turned in the unlocked state by open-operating the inside door handle, thereby cancelling the latch mechanism subsequently. In the door lock apparatus that includes the double-action mechanism, when the inside door handle is once open-operated while the lock mechanism is in the locked state, the lock mechanism is turned in the unlocked state, thereby cancelling the latch mechanism by open-operating the inside door handle once again.

As in the United States Patent No. 6010165, with the door lock apparatus that includes the child, lock mechanism, and the one-motion or the double-action mechanism, when the child lock mechanism is in the transmitting state, the lock mechanism can be switched from the locked state to the unlocked state, by the open-operation of the inside door handle, and the latch mechanism can also be cancelled, thereby improving the operability. When the child lock mechanism is in the non-transmitting state, the lock mechanism is switched from the locked state to the unlocked state by the first open-operation of the inside door handle, but the following open-operation of the inside door handle becomes invalid, thereby not transmitting the open-operation to the latch mechanism. Therefore, when the child lock mechanism is in the non-transmitting state, the latch mechanism will not be cancelled even if a child in a vehicle tampers with the inside door handle, thereby ensuring safety while driving.

However, the door lock apparatus may have a risk of undercutting the reliability of an anti-theft function. In other words, even if the lock mechanism is in the locked state while the child lock mechanism is in the transmitting state, when the inside door handle is open-operated once or twice, the lock mechanism is switched from the locked state to the unlocked state, thereby cancelling the latch mechanism. Accordingly, for example, if a malicious person breaks a door glass and operates the inside door handle, the vehicle is easily broken into. Moreover, even if the child lock mechanism is in the non-transmitting state, when the inside door handle is operated once, the lock mechanism is switched from the locked state to the unlocked state.

Accordingly, if a malicious person breaks a door glass, turns the lock mechanism in the unlocked state by operating the inside door handle once, and then open-operates an outside door handle from outside the vehicle, the latched state of the latch mechanism will be cancelled, thereby allowing to break into the vehicle. Therefore, to assure the anti-theft function of the vehicle, it is difficult to apply the mechanism that simplifies the unlock operation, such as the one-motion mechanism and the double-action mechanism.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to seek to at least partially solve the problems in the conventional technology.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a door lock apparatus includes: a latch mechanism that restricts movement of a door in anopen direction by latching when the door is in a closed position with respect to a vehicle main body; a lock mechanism that allows the movement of the door in the open direction by cancelling a latched state and transmitting an open-operation of a door handle to the latch mechanism when the door handle is open-operated in an unlocked state, and maintains the latched state of the latch mechanism even if the door handle is open-operated when in a locked state, the lock mechanism being disposed between the door handle and the latch mechanism; a lock actuator that switches the lock mechanism between the locked state and the unlocked state; a double action mechanism that switches the lock mechanism from the locked state to the unlocked state, without transmitting the open-operation of the inside door handle to the latch mechanism, when an inside door handle arranged inside a vehicle is open-operated while the lock mechanism is in the locked state; and a child lock mechanism that is configured to switch between a transmitting state and a non-transmitting state, the transmitting state transmits the open-operation of the inside door handle to the latch mechanism, a non-transmitting state does not transmit the open-operation of the inside door handle to the latch mechanism and to the double action mechanism, the child lock mechanism being disposed between the inside door handle, and the latch mechanism and the lock mechanism.

The above and other objects, features, advantages and technical and industrial significance of this invention will be better understood by reading the following detailed description of presently preferred embodiments of the invention, when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRPWINGS

Fig. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a door lock apparatus according to an einbodinient of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a conceptual diagram of a child lock mechanism in a non-transmitting state in the door lock apparatus shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a conceptual diagram when a manual operating portion of a child lever is moved to a third position in a door lock apparatus shown in Fig. 1, according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 4 is a conceptual diagram of a state when an operating force of the manual operating portion in the child lever is removed from the state shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a conceptual diagram of a latch mechanism applied to the door lock apparatus shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along a line VI-VI in Fig. 1; Fig. 7 is an elevation view of an open lever applied to the door lock apparatus shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 8A is an elevation view of a main inside handle lever applied to the door lock apparatus shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 8B is a fragmentary view of the main inside handle lever shown in Fig. 8A taken in the direction of an arrow C; Fig. 9 is an elevation view of a sub-inside handle lever applied to the door lock apparatus shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 1OA is an elevation view of a sector lever applied to the door lock apparatus shown in Fig. 1; Fig. lOB is a fragmentary view of the sector lever shown in Fig. 1OA taken in the direction of an arrow D; Fig. hA is an elevation view of a second link lever applied to the door lock apparatus shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 11B is a fragmentary view of the second link lever shown in Fig. hA taken in the direction of an arrow Fig. 12 is an elevation view of a link lever applied to the door lock apparatus shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 13 is an elevation view of a connecting lever applied to the door lock apparatus shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 14A is a conceptual diagram of a child lever applied to the door lock apparatus shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 14B is a fragmentary view of the child lever shown in Fig. 14A taken in the direction of an arrow F; Fig. 15A is a conceptual diagram of a child pin applied to the door lock apparatus shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 15B is a fragmentary view of the child pin shown in Fig. 15A taken in the direction of an arrow G; Fig. 16A is a sectional view taken along a line A-A in Fig. 1; Fig. 16B is a sectional view taken along a line B-B in Fig. 1; Fig. 17 is a conceptual diagram when a lock mechanism is in a locked state in the door lock apparatus shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 18 is a conceptual diagram of a state when an inside door handle is open-operated in the state shown in Fig. 4; Fig. 19 is a conceptual diagram of a state when an operating force of the inside door handle is removed from the state shown in Fig. 18; Fig. 20 is a conceptual diagram of a state when the inside door handle is open-operated in the state shown in Fig. 19; Fig. 21 is an enlarged conceptual diagram of an essential part of the door lock apparatus shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 22 is an enlarged conceptual diagram of an essential part of the door lock apparatus shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 23 is an enlarged conceptual diagram of an essential part of the door lock apparatus shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 24 is an enlarged conceptual diagram of an essential part of the door lock apparatus shown in Fig. 4; Fig. 25 is a conceptual diagram when a child lock mechanism is in a non-transmitting state, and the lock mechanism is in the locked state, in the door lock apparatus shown in Fig. 1; and Fig. 26 is a conceptual diagram of a state when the inside door handle is open-operated in the state shown in Fig. 25.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Exemplary embodiments of a door lock apparatus according to the present invention will now be explained in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figs. 1 to 4 are conceptual diagrams of a door lock apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 5, the door lock apparatus explained here is provided in a door (rear door) D that has a front hinge disposed at a right rear seat of a vehicle main body B of a four-wheel automobile. As shown in Fig. 1, the door lock apparatus includes a latch mechanism 20 in a latch case 21 mounted on a main body case 10.

The latch mechanism 20, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, meshes and holds a striker S included in the vehicle main body B, and as shown in Fig. 6, includes a latch 22 and a ratchet 23.

The latch 22 is rotatably arranged at a position above a striker introducing groove 21a formed in a latch case 21, about a latch shaft 24 extending horizontally along a front-rear direction of the vehicle main body B. The latch 22 includes a meshing groove 22a, a hooking portion 22b, and an engaging portion 22c. The meshing groove 22a is formed towards the latch shaft 24 from an outer peripheral surface of the latch 22, and formed in a width that can accommodate the striker S. The hooking portion 22b is a portion positioned interior side than the meshing groove 22a, when the meshing groove 22a is opened downwards. The hooking portion 22b, as shown in a solid line in Fig. 6, stops at a position to cut across the striker introducing groove 21a of the latch case 21, when the latch 22 is rotated to the maximum anti-clockwise extent. Moreover, as shown in the two-point chain line in Fig. 6, the hooking portion 22b is formed so as to stop at a position to open the striker introducing groove 21a, when the latch 22 is rotated to the maximum clockwise extent. The engaging portion 22c is a portion positioned exterior side of the vehicle than the meshing groove 22a, when the meshing groove 22a is opened downwards. The engaging portion 22c, as shown in the two-point chain line in Fig. 6, is formed to stop in the state to cut across the striker introducing groove 21a, when the latch 22 is rotated to the maximum clockwise extent, and gradually inclined upwards towards the back side (outside of the vehicle) of the striker introducing groove 21a. Although not shown, a latch spring that continuously biases the latch 22 in a clockwise direction in Fig. 6 is provided between the latch 22 and the latch case 21.

The ratchet 23 is rotatably arranged at a position below the striker introducing groove 21a of the latch case 21 and interior side of the vehicle than the latch shaft 24, about a ratchet shaft 25 that extends horizontally along the front-rear direction of the vehicle main body B. The ratchet 23 includes an engaging portion 23a and an acting portion 23b. The engaging portion 23a is a portion that extends radially outwards towards the outside of the vehicle from the ratchet shaft 25. I'ioreover, the engaging portion 23a can be detachably engaged to the hooking portion 22b and the engaging portion 22c of the latch 22, via the protruding facet by rotating about the ratchet shaft 25. The acting portion 23b is a portion that extends radially outwards towards the inside of the vehicle from the ratchet shaft 25. The ratchet 23 includes a ratchet lever 26 that integrally rotates about the center of the ratchet shaft 25 with the ratchet 23 at a front side of the vehicle. The ratchet lever 26 includes an abutting portion 26a that extends towards the same direction as the acting portion 23b of the ratchet 23 from the ratchet shaft 25.

Although not shown, a ratchet spring that càntinuously biases the ratchet 23 in an anti-clockwise direction in Fig. is provided between the ratchet 23 and the latch case 21.

The latch mechanism 20 formed as the above, as shown in the two-point chain line in Fig. 5, when a door D is in an open state with respect to the vehicle main body B, as shown in the two-point chain line in Fig. 6, the latch 22 is disposed at a position to open the striker introducing groove 21a. From this state, as shown in the solid line in Fig. 5, when the door D is moved to a closed position, the striker S provided on the vehicle main body B, as shown in Fig. 6, enters the striker introducing groove 21a of the latch case 21, and then the striker S abuts to the engaging portion 22c of the latch 22. As a result, the latch 22 rotates in an anti-clockwise direction in Fig. 6, against the elastic force of the latch spring (not shown). During this time, because the protruding facet of the engaging portion 23a slides on the outer peripheral surface of the latch 22, by the elastic force of the ratchet spring (not shown), the ratchet 23 appropriately rotates about the center of the ratchet shaft 25 corresponding to the shape of the outer peripheral surface of the latch 22. When the door D is further moved to the closed direction from the above-mentioned state, the entering amount of the striker S with respect to the striker introducing groove 21a increases gradually, and then the engaging portion 23a of the ratchet 23 reaches the meshing groove 22a of the latch 22. Then, as shown in the solid line in Fig. 6, the hooking portion 22b of the latch 22 is abutted to the engaging portion 23a of the ratchet 23, thereby preventing the clockwise rotation of the latch 22, against the elastic restoring force of the latch spring (not shown). At this state, the hooking portion 22b of the latch 22 is disposed so as to cut across the striker introducing groove 21a, thereby preventing the striker S from moving towards a direction to detach from the rear side (outside of the vehicle) of the striker introducing groove 21a by the hooking portion 22b. Asa result, the door D is maintained in the closed state with respect to the vehicle main body B (latched state) When the abutting portion 26a of the ratchet lever 26 is rotated upwards in Fig. 6, against the elastic force of the ratchet spring (not shown) from the latched state, the abutting/engaging state between the hooking portion 22b of the latch 22 and the engaging portion 23a of the ratchet 23 is cancelled, thereby making the latch 22 to rotate in.a clockwise direction in Fig. 6, by the elastic restoring force of the latch spring (not shown). As a result, as shown in the two-point chain line in Fig. 6, the striker introducing groove 21a is opened, and the striker S can move in a direction to disengage from the striker introducing groove 21a. Accordingly, the door D can be opened and moved with respect to the vehicle main body B. The door lock apparatus, as shown in Fig. 1, includes an open lever ii, an inside handle lever 12, and a lock mechanism 30 in the main body case 10. A state shown in Fig. 1 will now be explained as an initial position of each component member.

An open lever 11, as shown in Figs. 1 and 7, is rotatably arranged about an open lever shaft ha that extends horizontally along a front-rear direction of a vehicle main body B, and includes an open acting end lib, an open-operating end lic, and a pressure-receiving portion lid.

The open acting end lib, as shown in Fig. 7, is a portion that extends radially outwards (radial direction around the open lever shaft ha) towards an outside of a vehicle from the open lever shaft ha, and although not shown, the extended end is protruded outside a main body case 10. The portion that protrudes outside the main body case 10 in the open acting end llb is connected with an outside door handle connecting portion lie, such as a link connected to an outside door handle ODH provided to a door D. The open-operating end lic is a portion that extends radially outwards towards an inside of the vehicle from the open lever shaft ha, and the extended end is positioned at a lower region of an abutting portion 26a in a ratchet lever 26 in the main body case 10. The pressure-receiving portion lid of the open lever 11 is a portion that bends towards the front from a lower rim of the open lever 11, and positioned below the open-operating end lic. The open lever 11, when the outside door handle ODH is open-operated, rotates via the outside door handle connecting portion lie, thereby moving the open-operating end lic and the pressure-receiving portion lid upwards in Fig. 1. Although not shown, an open lever spring that continuously biases the open-operating end lic and the pressure-receiving portion lid downwards in Fig. 1, is provided between the open lever ii and the main body case 10.

The inside handle lever 12 is swingably arranged at a front region of the vehicle than the open lever 11 as shown in Fig. 1, about an inside lever shaft 15 that extends horizontally along a left-right direction of the vehicle main body B. The inside handle lever 12 includes two levers of a main inside handle lever 13 and a sub-inside handle lever 14.

The main inside handle lever 13, as shown in Fig. 8A, includes a main inside handle lever base 13a (hereinafter, "base 13a"), an inside door handle connecting portion 13b, and a sub-lever connecting portion 13c.

The base 13a includes an inside lever shaft hole 13d in the center thereof to penetrate the inside lever shaft 15. The inside lever shaft hole 13d is a hole that has an outer diameter of which the inside lever shaft 15 can be inserted therein.

The inside door handle connecting portion 13b, as shown in Figs. 1, 8A, and 8B, is a portion that extends downwards from the inside lever shaft 15 (inside lever shaft hole 13d). The inside door handle connecting portion 13b includes a bending portion 13e that bends towards the inside of the vehicle from the surface at the inside of the vehicle, at a middle region between the inside lever shaft hole 13d and the tip end of the inside door handle connecting portion 13b. Although not shown, the tip end (a portion below the bending portion 13e) is extended to the outside of the main body case 10, through an opening formed in the main body case 10. The tip end of the inside door handle connecting portion 13b is appropriately connected to an inside door handle IDH (see Fig. 5) via the link. The inside door handle connecting portion 13b, when the inside door handle IDH is open-operated, is formed so as the main inside handle lever 13 swings in a clockwise direction in Fig. 1.

The sub-lever connecting portion 13c, when the inside door handle connecting portion 13b is disposed at the position shown in Fig. 1, is a portion that extends towards the rear of the vehicle from the rear side end of the vehicle of the base].3a. The sub-lever connecting portion 13c, as shown in Fig. 8A, includes a child pin engaging hole 13f (hereinafter, "pin engaging hole 13f") to insert a child pin 46, which will be explained later, and a child pin pressing portion 131. The pin engaging hole 13f includes a first hole 13g that extends in a radial direction around the inside lever shaft 15 and a second hole 13h that extends in a circumferential direction around the inside lever shaft 15. The pin engaging hole 13f, in the first hole 13g, is formed so as the second hole 13h extends from the end of the inside closest to the inside lever shaft 15. The child pin pressing portion 13i is a wide portion formed above the first hole 13g.

The sub-inside handle lever 14, when a passenger inside thevehicle operates the inside door handle IDH, while a lock mechanism, which will be explained later, is in a locked state, and a child mechanism, which will be explained later, is in a transmitting state, swings with the main inside handle lever 13. The sub-inside handle lever 14 is a lever to transmit the open-operation of the inside door handle IDH to the lock mechanism, which will be explained later. The sub-inside handle lever 14 is swingably provided to the main body case 10 to rotate around the center of the inside lever shaft 15, so as to overlap with the main inside handle lever 13. As. shown in Fig. 9, the sub-inside handle lever 14 includes a sub-inside handle lever base 14a (hereinafter, "base 14a"), and an inside handle lever connecting portion 14b and a sector lever abutting portion 14c that extend in two directions from the base 14a.

The base 14a includes an inside lever shaft hole 14d in the center thereof. The inside lever shaft hole l4d is a hole that has an outer diameter of which the inside lever shaft 15 can be inserted therein.

The inside handle lever connecting portion 14b, in a state that the sub-inside handle lever 14 is disposed in the main body case 10 as shown in Fig. 1, is a portion that extends the base 14a towards the rear side of the vehicle.

The inside handle lever connecting portion 14b includes a sub-pin engaging hole 14e that is a long hole to insert the child pin 46, which will be explained later. The sub-pin engaging hole 14e is formed in the inside handle lever connecting portion 14b, so as the shape and the size are made equal to the first hole 13g of the main inside handle lever 13, and the distance from the center of the inside lever shaft 15 is made equal to that of the first hole 13g.

As shown in Fig. 1, with respect to a moving range when the child pin pressing portion 13i of the main inside handle lever 13 moves about the inside lever shaft 15, the end of the rear side of the vehicle in the sub-pin engaging hole 14e is included therein, and the end of the front side of the vehicle in the sub-pin engaging hole 14e is deviated from the moving range of the child pin pressing portion 131.

Because the pin engaging hole 13f of the main inside handle lever 13 and the sub-pin engaging hole 14e of the sub-inside handle lever 14 are formed as the above, as shown in Fig. 1, when the child pin 46, which will be explained later is disposed at the rear end of the vehicle of the first hole 13g and the rear end of the vehicle of the sub-pin engaging hole 14e (when a child lock mechanism, which will be explained later, is in the transmitting state), the child pin 46 is disposed in the moving range of the child pin pressing portion 131 of the main inside handle lever 13. In other words, this is the state when the main inside handle lever 13 and the sub-inside handle lever 14 are connected by the child pin 46, and the main inside handle lever 13 and the sub-inside handle lever 14 can be interlocked with each other. Therefore, when the main inside handle lever 13 swings about the inside lever shaft 15 in a clockwise direction by the open-operation of the inside door handle IDH, the sub-inside handle lever 14 also swings in a clockwise direction.

When the child pin 46, as shown in Fig. 2, is disposed at a front end of the vehicle of the first hole 13g, and at the front end of the vehicle of the sub-pin engaging hole 14e (when the child lock mechanism, which will be explained later, is in a non-transmitting state), the child pin 46 is disposed outside the moving range of the child pin pressing portion 13i of the main inside handle lever 13. Therefore, even if the main inside handle lever 13 swings about the inside lever shaft 15 in a clockwise direction, the child pin 46 will not be pressed by the child pin pressing portion 13i. Therefore, the swinging of the main inside handle lever 13 will not be transmitted to the sub-inside handle lever 14, and the sub-inside handle lever 14 maintains the initial position. The initial position is the position shown in Fig. 1.

The lock mechanism 30 is formed so as to switch between an unlocked state and a locked state. The unlocked state transmits the rotation of the open lever 11 by the open-operation of the outside door handle ODH to the latch mechanism 20. The locked state does not transmit the rotation of the open lever 11 by the open-operation of the outside door handle ODH to the latch mechanism 20. The lock mechanism 30 includes a worm wheel 31, a sector lever 32, a link lever 33 (double action mechanism), and a second link lever 39 (double action mechanism). A link lever 33 is fixed to a second link lever 39, and the second link lever 39 is connected to a sector lever 32. A worm wheel 31, the sector lever 32, the second link lever 39, and the link lever 33 will sequentially be explained.

The worm wheel 31 is rotatably arranged at a position in the front of the vehicle than the inside handle lever 12 about a wheel shaft 34 that extends horizontally along the left-right direction of the vehicle main body B. The worm wheel 31 is meshed with a worm 36 fixed to an output shaft 35a of an electric motor (lock actuator) 35. An intermittent gear wheel 37 is fixed on the same shaft center of the worm wheel 31. The intermittent gear wheel 37 forms an intermittent power transmitting unit of only one direction with respect to an intermittent driven gear 32d of the sector lever 32, which will be explained later.

As shown in Fig. 16B, a neutral return spring 31a to maintain the worm wheel 31 in a predetermined neutral state is provided between the worm wheel 31 and the main body case 10.

The sector lever 32 is rotatably arranged at a rear position of the vehicle than the worm wheel 31 about a sector lever shaft 38 that extends horizontally along the left-right direction of the vehicle main body B. The sector lever 32 includes a sector portion that gradually expands and opens towards the front of the vehicle. The sector lever 32, as shown in Fig. 1OA, includes a sector lever base 32a, a spring connecting pin 32b, a second link lever connecting pin 32c, the intermittent driven gear 32d, and a sub-inside handle lever abutting portion 32e.

The sector lever base 32a includes a sector lever shaft hole 32f in the center thereof to penetrate the sector lever shaft 38. The spring connecting pin 32b, as shown in Fig. lOB, is a protrusion that protrudes towards the outside of the vehicle from the facet of the out side of the vehicle, at the tip end of a portion that extends towards the rear side of the vehicle of the sector lever base 32a. An over-center biasing spring 71 is provided between the spring connecting pin 32b and the main body case 10. The over-center biasing spring 7]. biases the sector lever 32 towards either one of an unlock position of which the sector lever 32 is swung about the center of the sector lever shaft 38 in an anti-clockwise direction, as shown in Fig. 1, and a lock position of which the sector lever 32 is swung in a clockwise direction, as shown in Fig. 3. The second link lever connecting pin 32c, as shown in Fig. lOB, is a columnar protrusion that extends horizontally along the left-right direction of the vehicle main body B, from an outside facet of the vehicle below the rear side of the vehicle of the sector lever base 32a. The intermittent driven gear 32d is a gear formed at an outer peripheral surface of a portion that extends towards the front of the vehicle from the front-side end of the vehicle of the sector lever base 32a, and meshed with the intermittent gear wheel 37 of the worm wheel 31. The sub-inside handle lever abutting portion 32e is a portion projected towards the inside of the vehicle from the rim of the rear side of the vehicle of the sector lever base 32a.

The sub-inside handle lever abutting portion 32e, when the sub-inside handle lever 14 swings in a clockwise direction in Fig. 1, is formed so as to abut to the sector lever abutting portion l4c.

Although not shown, the intermittent power transmitting portion formed between the intermittent driven gear 32b of the sector lever 32 and the intermittent gear wheel 37 of the worm wheel 31 can swing the sector lever 32 in any direction, by rotating the worm wheel 31 in an appropriate direction. Because the power does not transmit to the intermittent gear wheel 37 from the intermittent driven gear 32b, the intermittent power transmitting portion is formed so as to swing the sector lever 32 in any direction, without rotating the worm wheel 31.

The second link lever 39 is provided between the sector lever 32 and the link lever 33, as shown in Fig. 1.

As shown in Figs. hA and 11B, the second link lever 39 includes a second link lever base 39a, a sector lever connecting portion 39b, an abutting wall 39c, a locking pin 39d, and a lock lever portion 39e.

The second link lever base 39a has a shaft hole 39f in the center thereof, and the shaft hole 39f is fitted with a connecting tool 61 by a measure such as a press fit. By inserting and holding the open-operating end lic of the open lever 11 in an engaging groove 62 of the connecting tool 61, the open lever 11 and the second link lever 39 are connected to each other via the connecting tool 61. In other words, the second link lever 39 can swing about the shaft center of the connecting tool 61. Moreover, when the outside door handle ODH is open-operated, the second link lever 39 moves upwards, with the upward movement of the open-operating end lic and the pressure-receiving portion lid in Fig. 1. When the open-operation of the outside door handle ODH is removed, the second link lever 39 also moves downwards with the open-operating end lic and the pressure-receiving portion lid.

The sector lever connecting portion 39b is a portion that extends upwards from the second link lever base 39a.

The sector lever connecting portion 39b includes a connecting hole 39g, which is a slit opening that extends along a vertical direction. The connecting hole 39g movably insert the second link lever connecting pin 32c of the sector lever 32 in a vertical direction.

The abutting wall 39c is a step portion between the second link lever base 39a and the sector lever connecting portion 39b, and a portion that protrudes towards the inside from the. surface of the inside of the vehicle, in a base end of the sector lever connecting portion 39b. The abutting wall 39c is a wall that abuts to a second link lever abutting portion 33e of the link lever 33, which will be explained later. The locking pin 39d is formed so as to protrude to the outside from the outside facet of the vehicle of the sector lever connecting portion 39b, and locks an end of a link lever spring 73, which will be explained later.

The lock lever portion 39e is a portion of which the end of the front side of the vehicle is bent towards the inside of the vehicle, after extending the second link lever base 39a towards below the shaft hole 39f. The lock lever portion 39e includes an operating and abutting surface 39h of which a lock operating portion 42f of a child lever 42, which will be explained later, is abutted thereto. The operating and abutting surface 39h, when in an unlocked state as shown in Fig. 1, is formed so as to incline slightly forward.

The link lever 33, as shown in Fig. 12, is a lever member that includes a shaft hole 33b at a lower end of a link main body 33a. The link lever 33 is fixed to the second link lever 39 via the connecting tool 61, by installing the connecting tool 61 to the shaft hole 33b.

In a state that the connecting tool 6]. is fitted to the link lever 33, a connecting tool engaging clip 63 prevents the connecting tool 61 from disengaging from the link lever 33. As shown in Fig. 1, in a state that the open-operating end lic of the open lever 11 is inserted and held into the engaging groove 62 of the connecting tool 61, the link lever 33 is vertically movably supported with the second link lever 39, the open-operating end l].c, and the pressure-receiving portion lid. The link lever 33 is also swingably supported about the shaft center along the left-right direction of the vehicle main body B with respect to the open-operating end lic. The link lever 33 includes a spring engaging portion 33c, the second link lever abutting portion 33e, and a ratchet driving portion 33f.

The spring engaging portion 33c is a portion protruded towards the rear side of the vehicle from the rear side end of the vehicle of the link main body 33a, and extends the tip end portion towards the rear side of the vehicle, after bending the tip end portion towards the outside of the vehicle. As shown in Fig. 1, the link lever spring 73 is locked to the spring engaging portion 33c. An end of the link lever spring 73 is locked to the locking pin 39d of the second link lever 39 shown in Fig. hA. The other end of the link lever spring 73 is locked to a locking piece 33d formed below the spring engaging portion 33c as shown in Fig. 12. The link lever spring 73 biases so as the second link lever abutting portion 33e and the abutting wall 39c of the second link lever 39 are constantly abutted to each other. The second link lever abutting portion 33e is a portion that bends towards the outside of the vehicle, after protruding towards the front of the vehicle from the side of the front of the vehicle of the link main body 33a.

As described above, the second link lever abutting portion 33e, by the bias force of the link lever spring 73, is abutted to the abutting wall 39c of the second link lever 39. The ratchet driving portion 33f is an abutting and engaging portion formed on the upper end of the link main body 33a. The ratchet driving portion 33f, in the unlocked state shown in Fig. 1, is provided so as to closely oppose to the lower facet of the abutting portion 26a in the ratchet lever 26.

The door lock apparatus, as shown in Fig. 1, also includes a child lock mechanism 40 in the main body case 10.

The child lock mechanisin 40 is disposed between the inside door handle IDH, and a latch mechanism 20 and a lock mechanism 30, and switchably configured between a transmitting state and a non-transmitting state. The transmitting state transmits the open-operation of the inside door handle IDH to the latch mechanism 20. The non-transmitting state does not transmit the open-operation of the inside door handle IDH to the latch mechanism 20 and a double action mechanism (link lever 33 and second link lever 39). The child lock mechanism 40 includes a connecting lever 41, the child lever 42, and the child pin 46.

The connecting lever 41, as shown in Figs. 1 and 13, is swingably arranged about a connecting lever shaft 43 that extends horizontally along the left-right direction of the vehicle main body B. The connecting lever 41 includes a connecting lever shaft hole 41a, a connecting pressure-receiving portion 41b, and a connecting pressing portion 41c. The connecting lever shaft hole 41a is a hole formed in the center of the connecting lever 41 and has an outer diameter of which the connecting lever shaft 43 can be inserted therein. The connecting pressure-receiving portion 41b, in a state that the connecting lever 41 is disposed in the initial position as shown in Fig. 1, is a portion positioned at the front side of the vehicle than the connecting lever shaft hole 41a. As shown in Fig. 21, at the side end of the upper side of the connecting pressure-receiving portion 41b, the child pin 46 that penetrates through the first hole 13g of the main inside handle lever 13 and the sub-pin engaging hole 14e of the sub-inside handle lever 14 are abutted thereto. The connecting pressing portion 41c, in a state that the connecting lever 41 is disposed in the initial position as shown in Fig. 1, is a portion positioned at the rear side of the vehicle than the connecting lever shaft hole 41a.

The end of the connecting pressing portion 41c is extended upwards, after slightly inclined downwards towards the rear of the vehicle. The extended end of the connecting pressing portion 41c is disposed at a lower region of the pressure-receiving portion lid in the open lever 11.

The child lever 42, as shown in Fig. 1, is swingably arranged in an arc about the shaft center along the left-right direction of the vehicle main body B, and movably arranged along the front-rear direction of the vehicle main body B, between the connecting lever 41 and the main body case 10 so as to overlap with the connecting lever 41. The child lever 42, as shown in Figs. 14A and i4B, includes a child lever base 42a, a connecting lever shaft slide hole 42b, a child pin engaging hole 42c, a child lever shaft engaging hole 42d, a manual operating portion 42e, the lock operating portion 42f, a return spring abutting portion 42g, and a power child pin engaging hole. 42h.

The connecting lever shaft slide hole 42b (hereinafter, "slide hole 42b") is a triangular opening to insert the connecting lever shaft 43 of the connecting lever 41 therein. The slide hole 42b, as shown in Fig. 14A, includes an unlock portion 421 positioned at the upper side in the slide hole 42b, a child lock portion 42j positioned below the unlock portion 42i and at the rear side of the vehicle in the slide hole 42b, and an emergency lock portion 42k positioned below the unlock portion 42i and at the front side of the vehicle in the slide hole 42b. The unlock portion 421, the child lock portion 42j, and the emergency lock portion 42k, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, when the connecting lever shaft 43 moves in the slide hole 42b, are portions that the connecting lever shaft 43 is alternatively disposed.

The child pin engaging hole 42c is a slit opening as shown in Fig. 14A, and a hole to insert the child pin 46, which will be explained later. The child pin engaging hole 42c is formed towards the front of the vehicle from the upper region in the child lever 42, along the extending direction of the child lever 42.

The child lever shaft engaging hole 42d is a slit opening formed at the front region of the vehicle than the connecting lever shaft 43, and a hole to insert a child lever shaft lOb that extends horizontally along the left-right direction of the vehicle main body B, from a surface positioned inside the vehicle in the main body case 10.

The child lever shaft engaging hole 42d is formed so as the child lever shaft lOb can only move along the extending direction of the child lever shaft engaging hole 42d.

The manual operating portion 42e is a columnar portion that extends horizontally along the left-right direction of the vehicle main body B, from the facet inside the vehicle in the rear side of the vehicle of the child lever 42. The manual operating portion 42e, as shown in Fig. 16A, protrudes outside through an operating hole lOa provided to the main body case 10 and an operating opening DPO provided to a panel DP of the door D. The manual operating portion 42e swingably operates the child lever 42 in an arc about the shaft center along the left-right direction of the vehicle main body B, and also movably operates the child lever 42 along the front-rear direction of the vehicle main body B, from the outside of the door ID. However, in the present embodiment, as shown in Fig. 5, the manual operating portion 42e is provided at a position at the inside surface of the door ID, and at a sealed position when the door D is in a closed position. The operating hole lOa provided to the main body case 10, as shown in Fig. 1, is an L-shaped opening made of a long hole along the front-rear direction of the vehicle main body B, and a long hole along the arc about the child lever shaft lOb, that intersects with the end of the front side of the vehicle of the long hole along the front- rear direction of the vehicle main body B. The operating hole lOa defines the position of the manual operating portion 42e in the child lever 42.

As shown in Fig. 2, a first position of the manual operating portion 42e is a position at the upper side in the operating hole lOa of the main body case 10. From the state shown in Fig. 2, a position where the manual operating portion 42e is swung to the lower side in an arc about the shaft center along the left-right direction of the vehicle main body B, as shown in Fig. 1, is a second position of the manual operating portion 42e. From the state shown in Fig. 1, the manual operating portion 42e can further move towards the rear side of the vehicle, to a position shown in Fig. 3. As shown in Fig. 3, the position at the rear of the vehicle in the operating hole ba of the main body case 10 is a third position of the manual operating portion 42e.

The lock operating portion 42f, as shown in Fig. 14B, is formed on a surface at the rear side of the vehicle, in a portion positioned at the rear side of the vehicle than the slide hole 42b in the child lever base 42a, which is bent towards the inside of the vehicle. The lock operating portion 42f, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, when the manual operating portion 42e of the child lever 42 is disposed at the second position and the first position, is disposed at a position separated from the operating and abutting surface 39h of the lock lever portion 39e of the second link lever 39. Moreover, the lock operating portion 42f, as shown in Fig. 3, when the manual operating portion 42e of the child lever 42 is disposed at the third position, is provided at a position where the second link lever 39 and the link lever 33 can be rotated in an anti-clockwise direction by abutting to the operating and abutting surface 39h, and can switch the lock mechanism 30 in a locked state.

The return spring abutting portion 42g is a portion that a rim of the child lever shaft engaging hole 42d is projected towards the outside of the vehicle. The power child pin engaging hole 42h, as shown in Fig. 1, is a slit opening formed at the end positioned below the rear side of the vehicle in the child lever base 42a, and a hole to insert a power child pin 51, which will be described later.

A return spring 45 is provided between the child lever 42 and the main body case 10, as shown in Fig. 1. The return spring 45 continuously biases the child lever 42 towards an anti-clockwise direction about a return spring shaft lOc that extends horizontally along the left-right direction of the vehicle main body B, from the surface positioned at the inside of the vehicle in the main body case 10. The return spring 45 is arranged by supporting an engaging portion (not shown) to the return spring shaft lOc, and includes a spring acting portion 45a. The spring acting portion 45a is a portion that presses the return spring abutting portion 42g of the child lever 42 towards an anti-clockwise direction about the return spring shaft lOc, by the elastic restoring force of the return spring 45.

The child pin 46, as shown in Fig. 1, is installed on the child lever 42. The child pin 46, as shown in Figs. 15A and 15B, includes a base portion 46a, a first transmitting portion 46b, and a second transmitting portion 46c. The base portion 46a, as shown in Fig. 16B, is a portion sandwiched between the child lever 42 and the sub-inside handle lever 14.

*The first transmitting portion 46b, as shown in Figs. 15B and l6B, is a columnar protrusion that extends horizontally along the left-right direction of the vehicle main body B, from a facet positioned at the inside of the vehicle in the base portion 46a. Because the sub-pin engaging hole 14e of the sub-inside handle lever 14 *and the pin engaging hole 13f of the main inside handle lever 13 are inserted through the first transmitting portion 46b, the child pin 46 can move along the extending direction of the pin engaging hole 13f and the sub-pin engaging hole 14e.

When the manual operating portion 42e of the child lever 42 is disposed at the second position and the third position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the first transmitting portion 46b is disposed at a moving range of the child pin pressing portion 13i in the main inside handle lever 13. When the manual operating portion 42e of the child lever 42 is disposed at the first position, as shown in Fig. 2, the first transmitting portion 46b is disposed outside the moving range of the child pin pressing portion 13i.

The second transmitting portion 46c, as shown in Figs. 15B and 16B, is a columnar protrusion that extends horizontally along the left-right direction of the vehicle main body B, from the facet positioned outside the vehicle in the base portion 46a. The second transmitting portion 46c penetrates through the child pin engaging hole 42c of the child lever 42, and the protruding end reaches a position that exceeds the outside surface of the connecting pressure-receiving portion 41b in the connecting lever 41.

As described above, when the first transmitting portion 46b is disposed in the moving range of the child pin pressing portion 13i, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the second transmitting portion 46c moves along the child pin engaging hole 42c, with the swinging of the main inside handle lever 13 and the sub-inside handle lever 14 in a clockwise direction, and presses the connecting pressure-receiving portion 41b downwards. When the first transmitting portion 46b is disposed outside the moving range of the child pin pressing portion 13i, as shown in Fig. 2, the first transmitting portion 46b will not be pressed by the child pin pressing portion 131. Accordingly, the first transmitting portion 46b is not interlocked with the main inside handle lever 13. A position of the child pin 46, when the first transmitting portion 46b is disposed in the moving range of the child pin pressing portion 13i will be called an "interlocking position", and a position of the child pin 46, when the first transmitting portion 46b is disposed outside the moving range of the child pin pressing portion 131 will be called a "non-interlocking position".

The power child pin 51 is inserted through the power child pin engaging hole 42h of the child lever 42, as shown in Fig. 1. The power child pin 51 is a columnar protrusion that extends radially outwards from the center of an output shaft 53a of an electric motor 53. The power child pin 51, when a worm 54 fixed to the output shaft 53a of the electric motor 53 is rotated, is movably formed along the extending direction of the worm 54.

In the lock mechanism 30 formed as the above, the state shown in Fig. 1 is the unlocked state, and the ratchet driving portion 33f of the link lever 33 is disposed vertically above the shaft hole 33b. Accordingly, the ratchet driving portion 33f is closely opposed to the lower facet of the abutting portion 26a in the ratchet lever 26. Therefore, from this state, when a passenger in the vehicle open-operates the outside door handle ODH, the link main body 33a of the link lever 33 moves upwards by the rotating operation of the open lever 11. Subsequently, the ratchet driving portion 33f is abutted to the abutting portion 26a of the ratchet lever 26 in the latch mechanism 20, thereby moving the latch mechanism 20 upwards. As a result, even if the latch mechanism 20 is in the latched state, the latched state will be cancelled, thereby allowing the door D to open and move with respect to the vehicle main body B. From the unlocked state shown in Fig. 1, when the electric motor 35 is driven and the worm wheel 31 is rotated in an anti-clockwise direction, the sector lever 32 swings about the sector lever shaft 38 in a clockwise direction. As a result, the link lever 33 swings about the shaft hole 33b in an anti-clockwise direction, with the second link lever 39 engaged via the second link lever connecting pin 32c. Therefore, the lock mechanism 30 is turned in the locked state shown in Fig. 17.

In the locked state, the ratchet driving portion 33f deviates from the position opposed to the lower facet of the abutting portion 26a in the ratchet lever 26.

Accordingly, even if the outside door handle ODH is open-operated, and the link main body 33a of the link lever 33 moves upwards by the rotating operation of the open lever 11, the ratchet driving portion 33f does not abut to the abutting portion 26a of the ratchet lever 26 in the latch mechanism 20. As a result, when the latch mechanism 20 is in the latched state, the latched state is maintained, thereby maintaining the door D in the closed position with respect to the vehicle main body B. When the electric motor 35 drives and rotates the worm wheel 31 in a clockwise direction from the locked state shown in Fig. 17, the sector lever 32 swings in an anti-clockwise direction about the sector lever shaft 38. As a result, the link lever 33 swings about the shaft hole 33b in a clockwise direction, with the second link lever 39 engaged to the sector lever 32 via the second link lever connecting pin 32c. Therefore, the lock mechanism 30 returns again to the unlocked state shown in Fig. 1.

In the child lock mechanism 40 formed as the above, the state shown in Figs. 1 and 21 is the transmitting state, and the first transmitting portion 46b of the child pin 46 is disposed in the moving range of the child pin pressing portion 13i, in the pin engaging hole 13f of the main inside handle lever 13. From this state, when the passenger inside the vehicle open-operates the inside door handle IDH, the main inside handle lever 13 and the sub-inside handle lever 14 swing in a clockwise direction by being interlocked. Because the child pin pressing portion 131 presses the first transmitting portion 46b, the second transmitting portion 46c presses the connecting pressure-receiving portion 41b of the connecting lever 41 downwards.

As a result, the connecting lever 41 swings in an anti-clockwise direction in Figs. 1 and 21, and the connecting pressing portion 41c moves upwards. Accordingly, the link lever 33 also moves upwards via the pressure-receiving portion lid of the open lever ii. Therefore, when the lock mechanism 30 is in the unlocked state, the link lever 33 abuts to the abutting portion 26a of the ratchet lever 26 in the latch mechanism 20, thereby enabling to cancel the latched state. In other words, the door D can be opened and moved by the open-operation of the inside door handle I DH.

When the manual operating portion 42e of the child lever 42 is moved from the second position shown in Figs. 1 and 21, to the first position shown in Figs. 2 and 22, by swinging upwards in an arc about the shaft center along the left-right direction of the vehicle main body B, the child lever 42 swings about the child lever shaft lOb in an anti-clockwise direction in Figs. 1 and 21. Accordingly, the connecting lever shaft 43 is disposed at the child lock portion 42j. In this state, the child lock mechanism 40 is turned in the non-transmitting state. In the non-transmitting state, the first transmitting portion 46b of the child pin 46 is disposed outside the moving range of the child pin pressing portion 131 in the main inside handle lever 13. Therefore, even if the main inside handle lever 13 swing in a clockwise direction by open-operating the inside door handle IDH, the child pin 46 remains in the non-interlocking position. Because the second transmitting portion 46c of the child pin 46 does not press the connecting pressure-receiving portion 41b of the connecting lever 41, the connecting lever 4]. will not swing. As a result, the door D cannot be opened and moved by the open-operation of the inside door handle IDH. Moreover, when the child lock mechanism 40 is in the non-transmitting state, the main inside handle lever 13 and the sub-inside handle lever 14 will not be connected by the child pin 46.

Therefore, when the inside door handle IDH is open-operated, only the main inside handle lever 13 of the inside handle lever 12, swings in a clockwise direction, and the sub-inside handle lever 14 maintains the initial position without interlocking therewith.

When the manual operating portion 42e of the child lever 42 is moved from the second position shown in Figs. 1 and 21 to the third position shown in Figs. 3 and 23, by moving towards the rear side of the vehicle against the elastic restoring force of the return spring 45, the child lever 42 moves to the rear side of the vehicle, thereby disposing the connecting lever shaft 43 to the emergency lock portion 42k. When the child lever 42 moves to the rear side of the vehicle, the lock operating portion 42f of the child lever 42 presses the lock lever portion 39e of the second link lever 39. This movement makes the link lever 33 rotate in an anti-clockwise direction with the second link lever 39, and the lock mechanism 30 is turned in the locked state. In the locked state, the ratchet driving portion 33f deviates from the position opposed to the lower facet of the abutting portion 26a in the ratchet lever 26. Accordingly, even if the outside door handle ODH is open-operated and the link main body 33a of the link lever 33 is moved upwards by the rotating operation of the open lever 11, the ratchet driving portion 33f will not be abutted to the abutting portion 26a of the ratchet lever 26 in the latch mechanism 20. As a result, when the latch mechanism 20 is in the latched state, the latched state will be maintained. Accordingly, the closed position of the door D with respect to the vehicle main body B will be maintained.

From the state shown in Figs. 3 and 23, when the operating force of the manual operating portion 42e in the child lever 42 is removed, the child lever 42 moves towards the front side of the vehicle, by the elastic restoring force of the return spring 45, thereby turning in the state shown in Figs. 4 and 24. When the child lever 42 is moved to the position shown in Figs. 4 and 24, the connecting lever shaft 43 is disposed at the unlock portion 42i again, and the manual operating portion 42e of the child lever 42 moves to the second position.

An operation of the double action mechanism will now be explained. As shown in Fig. 24, when the lock mechanism is in the locked state, and also when the child lock mechanism 40 is in the transmitting state, the first transmitting portion 46b of the child pin 46 is disposed in the moving range of the child pin pressing portion 13i in the main inside handle lever 13. From this state, when the passenger inside the vehicle open-operates the inside door handle IDH, the main inside handle lever 13 and the sub-inside handle lever 14 swing in a clockwise direction by being interlocked. At this time, the child pin pressing portion 13i moves the child pin 46 downwards, and the sector lever abutting portion 14c moves the sector lever 32 towards the rear of the vehicle, by abutting to the sub-inside handle lever abutting portion 32e of the sector lever 32, thereby turning in the state shown in Fig. 18.

This state will now be explained in detail. When the child pin 46 moves downwards along the child pin engaging hole 42c of the child lever 42, the connecting pressure-receiving portion 41b of the connecting lever 41 is pressed, and the connecting lever 41 swings in an anti-clockwise direction in Figs. 4 and 24. Accordingly, the connecting pressing portion 41c moves upwards, and the link lever 33 also moves upwards via the pressure-receiving portion lid of the open lever 11. When the sub-inside handle lever abutting portion 32e moves to the rear of the vehicle, the sector lever 32 swings in an anti-clockwise direction in Figs. 4 and 24, and the second link lever connecting pin 32c moves to the rear of the vehicle. Accordingly, the second link lever 39 also moves in a clockwise direction in Figs. 4 and 24. At this time, as shown in Fig. 18, the ratchet driving portion 33f of the link lever 33 is abutted to the abutting portion 26a of the ratchet lever 26 from the front side of the vehicle. Subsequently, the second link lever 39 cancels the abutting state with the second link lever abutting portion 33e of the link lever 33, against the elastic restoring force of the link lever spring 73, and swings in a clockwise direction in Figs. 4 and 24, thereby turning in the state shown in Fig. 18.

From this state, when the open-operating force of the inside door handle IDH is removed, the link lever 33 moves so as to abut the second link lever abutting portion 33e to the abutting wall 39c of the second link lever 39 again, by the elastic restoring force of the link lever spring 73.

Moreover, the open-operating end lic and the pressure-receiving portion lid of the open lever 11 move downwards, by the elastic restoring force of the open lever spring (not shown). When the open-operating end lic and the pressure-receiving portion lid move downwards, as shown in Fig. 19, the connecting pressing portion 41c of the connecting lever 41 is moved downwards, via the pressure-receiving portion lid of the open lever ii. When the second link lever abutting portion 33e of the link lever 33 moves so as to abut to the abutting wall 39c of the second link lever 39, as shown in Fig. 19, the ratchet driving portion 33f of the link lever 33 is disposed vertically above the shaft hole 33b. Accordingly, the ratchet driving portion 33f is closely opposed to the lower facet of the abutting portion 26a in the ratchet lever 26, thereby turning the lock mechanism 30 in the unlocked state. In this state, when the passenger inside the vehicle open-operates the inside door handle IDH, the child pin pressing portion 13i presses the first transmitting portion 46b of the child pin 46, and the child pin 46 moves downwards. At this time, the connecting lever 41 swings in an anti-clockwise direction in Fig. 19, because the second transmitting portion 46c of the child pin 46 presses the connecting pressure-receiving portion 41b. Accordingly, the link lever 33 also moves upwards via the pressure-receiving portion lid of the open lever 11, because the connecting pressing portion 41c moves upwards. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 20, the ratchet driving portion 33f is abutted to the abutting portion 26a of the ratchet lever 26 in the latch mechanism 20, thereby enabling to cancel the latched state. In other words, the door D can be opened and moved by the open-operation of the inside door handle IDH. This is how the double action mechanism operates.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 22, when the electric motor 35 is driven while the child lock mechanism 40 is in the non-transmitting state, and the lock mechanism 30 is in the unlocked state, the lock mechanism 30 is turned in the locked state as shown in Fig. 25. As described above, when the child lock mechanism 40 is in the non-transmitting state, the child pin 46 is disposed at the non-interlocking position. Therefore, from this state, when the passenger inside the vehicle open-operates the inside door handle IDH, as shown in Fig. 26, only the main inside handle lever 13 swings in a clockwise direction. The sub-inside handle lever 14 does not interlock with the main inside handle lever 13, thereby remaining in the initial position.

Therefore, because the sector lever abutting portion 14c of the sub-inside handle lever 14 does not abut to the sub-inside handle lever abutting portion 32e of the sector lever 32, the sector lever 32 will not swing in an anti-clockwise direction. Subsequently, the second link lever 39 and the link lever 33 connected via the second link lever connecting pin 32c of the sector lever 32 will not swing. In other words, the open-operation of the inside door handle IDH is not transmitted to the double action mechanism. Therefore, the lock mechanism 30 is maintained in the locked state.

In Fig. 26, when the child pin 46 is disposed in the non-interlocking position, the child pin pressing portion 131 does not press the first transmitting portion 46b of the child pin 46. Accordingly, the connecting lever 41 does not swing in an anti-clockwise direction, and remains in the initial position. Therefore, the swinging of the connecting lever 41 will not be transmitted to the pressure-receiving portion lid of the open lever 11, and the link lever 33 does not move upwards. Accordingly, when the latch mechanism 20 is in the latched state, the latched state will not be cancelled.

As explained in the above, the door lock apparatus according to the present embodiment includes the double action mechanism (link lever 33 and second link lever 39) and the child lock mechanism 40. The double action mechanism, when the inside door handle IDH arranged inside the vehicle is open-operated while the lock mechanism 30 is in the locked state, switches the lock mechanism 30 from the locked state to the unlocked state, without transmitting the open-operation of the inside door handle IDH to the latch mechanism 20. The child lock mechanism 40 is disposed between the inside door handle IDH, and the latch mechanism 20 and the lock mechanism 30, and switchably configured between the transmitting state and the non-transmitting state. The transmitting state transmits the open-operation of the inside door handle IDH to the latch mechanism 20, and the non-transmitting state does not transmit the open-operation of the inside door handle IDH to the latch mechanism 20 and the double action mechanism. In other words, in the present embodiment, the inside handle lever 12 is formed by two levers of the main inside handle lever 13 and the sub-inside handle lever 14.

When the inside door handle IDH is open-operated while the child lock mechanism 40 is in the non-transmitting state, the sub-inside handle lever 14 does not interlock with the main inside handle lever 13. Therefore, the sector lever abutting portion 14c of the sub-inside handle lever 14 is not abutted to the sub-inside handle lever abutting portion 32e of the sector lever 32, and the second link lever 39 and the link lever 33 connected via the second link lever connecting pin 32c of the sector lever 32 do not swing.

Accordingly, when the lock mechanism 30 is in the locked state, the locked state will be maintained. As a result, even if a door glass is broken and the inside door handle IDH is operated, when the child lock mechanism 40 is switched to the non-transmitting state, the lock mechanism cannot be switched from the locked state to the unlocked state. Subsequently, even if the outside door handle ODH is open-operated afterwards, the latched state of the latch mechanism 20 will not be cancelled. In this manner, an anti-theft function of the vehicle can be improved significantly.

If the child lock mechanism 40 is switched to the transmitting state, the operation of the inside door handle IDH becomes valid. Accordingly, the lock mechanism 30 can be switched from the locked state to the unlocked state by the first open-operation of the inside door handle IDH, and the latch mechanism 20 in the latched state can be cancelled by the second open-operation of the inside door handle IDH. Therefore, the anti-theft function of the vehicle can be assured, while improving the operability.

In the door lock apparatus according to the present embodiment, when a failure occurs to the electric motor 35 or when the electric motor 35 does not drive due to the charged voltage of a battery, which is not shown, is low and the like, the manual operating portion 42e can be moved from the second position shown in Figs. 1 and 21, to the third position shown in Figs. 3 and 23, by moving to the front side of the vehicle against the elastic restoring force of the return spring 45, while the door D is being opened. When the manual operating portion 42e is operated in this manner, the child lever 42 moves towards the rear side of the vehicle in Figs. 1 and 21, and the connecting lever shaft 43 is disposed at the emergency lock portion 42k. At this time, the second link lever 39 and the link lever 33 swing via the lock operating portion 42f, and the lock mechanism 30 is switched to the locked state shown in Figs. 3 and 23. The child lever 42 also moves due to the action of the return spring 45. However, the lock mechanism 30 once in the locked state continuously maintains the locked state, thereby assuring the anti-theft function of the vehicle. Therefore, even if the above-mentioned state occurs when a lock operating member inside the vehicle is omitted, the anti-theft function of the vehicle can be assured. Because the direction to move the manual operating portion 42e of the child lever 42 from the second position to the third position, intersects with the direction to move the manual operating portion 42e of the child lever 42 from the first position to the second position, the risk of operating the manual operating portion 42e to the third position by mistake, while operating from the first position to the second position, can be prevented.

The transition of the child lock mechanism 40 from the transmitting state to the non-transmitting state, does not necessarily need to be carried out by operating the manual operating portion 42e, but may be carried out by driving the electric motor 53 at a normal usage, from the state shown in Fig. 1. By driving the electric motor 53, the power child pin 51 moves to the front of the vehicle along the extending direction of the worm 54, via the output shaft 53a and the worm 54. Accordingly, the child lever 42 is disposed at the first position, and the child lock mechanism 40 is turned in the non-transmitting state.

According to the present invention, a door lock apparatus includes: a latch mechanism that restricts movement of a door in an open direction by latching when the door is in a closed position with respect to a vehicle main body; a lock mechanism that allows the movement of the door in the open direction by cancelling a latched state and transmitting an open-operation of a door handle to the latch mechanism when the door handle is open-operated in an unlocked state, and maintains the latched state of the latch mechanism even if the door handle is open-operated when in a locked state, the lock mechanism being disposed between the door handle and the latch mechanism; a lock actuator that switches the lock mechanism between the locked state and the unlocked state; a double action mechanism that switches the lock mechanism from the locked state to the unlocked state, without transmitting the open-operation of the inside door handle to the latch mechanism, when an inside door handle arranged inside a vehicle is open-operated while the lock mechanism is in the locked state; and a child lock mechanism that is configured to switch between a transmitting state and a non-transmitting state, the transmitting state transmits the open-operation of the inside door handle to the latch mechanism, a non-transmitting state does not transmit the open-operation of the inside door handle to the latch mechanism and to the double action mechanism, the child lock mechanism being disposed between the inside door handle, and the latch mechanism and the lock mechanism. Therefore, even if a door glass is broken and the inside door handle IDH is operated, when the child lock mechanism 40 is switched to the non-transmitting state, the lock mechanism 30 cannot be switched from the locked state to the unlocked state.

Accordingly, the anti-theft function of the vehicle can be improved significantly. When the child lock mechanism is switched to the transmitting state, the operation of the inside door handle becomes valid. Therefore, the lock mechanism can be switched from the locked state to the unlocked state by the open-operation of the inside door handle, and the latch mechanism in the latched state can be cancelled. Accordingly, the anti-theft function can be assured, while improving the operability.

Although the invention has been described with respect to specific embodiments for a complete and clear disclosure, the appended claims are not to be thus limited but are to be construed as embodying all modifications arid alternative * constructions that may occur to one skilled in the art that fairly fall within the basic teaching herein set forth.

Claims (1)

1. What is claimed is: 1. A door lock apparatus comprising: a latch mechanism that restricts movement of a door in an open direction by latching when the door is in a closed position with respect to a vehicle main body; a lock mechanism that allows the movement of the door in the open direction by cancelling a latched state and transmitting an open-operation of a door handle to the latch mechanism when the door handle is open-operated in an unlocked state, and maintains the latched state of the latch mechanism even if the door handle is open-operated when in a locked state, the lock mechanism being disposed between the door handle and the latch mechanism; a lock actuator that switches the lock mechanism between the locked state and the unlocked state; a double action mechanism that switches the lock mechanism from the locked state to the unlocked state, without transmitting the open-operation of the inside door handle tothe latch mechanism, when an inside door handle arranged inside a vehicle is open-operated while the lock mechanism is in the locked state; and a child lock mechanism that is configured to switch between a transmitting state and a non-transmitting state, the transmitting state transmits the open-operation of the inside door handle to the latch mechanism, a non-transmitting state does not transmit the open-operation of the inside door handle to the latch mechanism and to the double action mechanism, the child lock mechanism being disposed between the inside door handle, and the latch mechanism and the lock mechanism.