Vehicle door collision plate and latch

Claim 2

A vehicle door collision plate and latch for a vehicle which comprises: a. a collision plate having a collision plate hole removably mounted inside the vehicle door; b. a vehicle body member having a vehicle body member hole aligned with the collision plate hole when the door is closed mounted to the vehicle frame; c. a latching rod mounted for reciprocating movement in the door for moving in and out of the aligned collision plate hole and the vehicle body member hole for latching and unlatching the collision plate to the vehicle body member; and d. a handle connected to the latching rod for manually reciprocating the latching rod.

Claim 3

A vehicle door collision plate and latch for a vehicle which comprises: a. a collision plate having a collision plate hole removably mounted inside the vehicle door; b. a vehicle body member having a vehicle body member hole aligned with the collision plate hole when the door is closed mounted to the vehicle frame; c. a latching rod mounted for reciprocating movement in the door for moving in and out of the aligned collision plate hole and the vehicle body member hole for latching and unlatching the collision plate to the vehicle body member; and d. a handle connected to the latching rod for manually reciprocating the latching rod.

Claim 4

A vehicle door collision plate and latch for a vehicle which comprises: a. a collision plate having a collision plate hole removably mounted inside the vehicle door; b. a vehicle body member having a vehicle body member hole aligned with the collision plate hole when the door is closed mounted to the vehicle frame; c. a latching rod mounted for reciprocating movement in the door for moving in and out of the aligned collision plate hole and the vehicle body member hole for latching and unlatching the collision plate to the vehicle body member; and d. a handle connected to the latching rod for manually reciprocating the latching rod.

Claim 5

A vehicle door collision plate and latch for a vehicle which comprises: a. a collision plate having a collision plate hole removably mounted inside the vehicle door; b. a door frame latching member having a door frame latching member hole aligned with the collision plate hole when the door is closed mounted to the vehicle frame; c. a latching rod mounted for reciprocating movement in the door for moving in and out of the aligned collision plate hole and the door frame latching member hole for latching and unlatching the collision plate to the door frame latching member; and d. a handle connected to the latching rod for manually reciprocating the latching rod.

Claim 6

A vehicle door collision plate and latch for a vehicle which comprises: a. a collision plate having a collision plate hole removably mounted inside the vehicle door; b. a door frame latching member having a door frame latching member hole aligned with the collision plate hole when the door is closed mounted to the vehicle frame; c. a latching rod mounted for reciprocating movement in the door for moving in and out of the aligned collision plate hole and the door frame latching member hole for latching and unlatching the collision plate to the door frame latching member; and d. a handle connected to the latching rod for manually reciprocating the latching rod.

Claim 7

A vehicle door collision plate, latch and inside latching rod operating mechanism for a vehicle which comprises: a. a collision plate having a collision plate hole removably mounted inside the vehicle door; b. a door frame latching member having a door frame latching member hole aligned with the collision plate hole when the door is closed mounted to the vehicle frame; c. a latching rod mounted for reciprocating movement in the door for moving in and out of the aligned collision plate hole and the door frame latching member hole for latching and unlatching the collision plate to the door frame latching member; d. an actuating rod mounted to the latching rod; e. an Inside handle pivotally mounted to the door inside panel; f. a link member securely mounted to the inside handle; g. a latching rod actuating member having a hook pivotally mounted to the door inside panel with the hook positioned underneath the actuating rod; and h. a connecting rod connected to and linking the link member and latching rod actuating member so that when the inside handle is rotated downwardly the hook moves upwardly causing the latching rod to move upwardly; i. a handle connected to the latching rod for manually reciprocating the latching rod.

Claim 8

A vehicle door collision plate, latch and inside latching rod operating mechanism for a vehicle which comprises: a. a collision plate having a collision plate hole removably mounted inside the vehicle door; b. a door frame latching member having a door frame latching member hole aligned with the collision plate hole when the door is closed mounted to the vehicle frame; c. a latching rod mounted for reciprocating movement in the door for moving in and out of the aligned collision plate hole and the door frame latching member hole for latching and unlatching the collision plate to the door frame latching member; d. an actuating rod mounted to the latching rod; e. an Inside handle pivotally mounted to the door inside panel; f. a link member securely mounted to the inside handle; g. a latching rod actuating member having a hook pivotally mounted to the door inside panel with the hook positioned underneath the actuating rod; and h. a connecting rod connected to and linking the link member and latching rod actuating member so that when the inside handle is rotated downwardly the hook moves upwardly causing the latching rod to move upwardly; i. a handle connected to the latching rod for manually reciprocating the latching rod.

Claim 9

A vehicle door collision plate, latch and outside latching rod operating mechanism for a vehicle which comprises: a. A collision plate having a collision plate hole removably mounted inside the vehicle door; b. a door frame latching member having a door frame latching member hole aligned with the collision plate hole when the door is closed mounted to the vehicle frame; c. a latching rod having a first rack formed on the latching rod mounted for reciprocating movement in the door for moving in and out of the aligned collision plate hole and the door frame latching member hole for latching and unlatching the collision plate to the door frame latching member; d. a support mounted to the door outside panel; e. a rack body having a second rack formed on the rack body mounted for reciprocating movement in the support; f. an outside handle mounted to the rack body for reciprocating the rack body; g. a shaft rotatably mounted in the vehicle door; h. a first gear mounted on the shaft and operatively engaged with the first rack on the latching rod; and i. a second gear mounted on the shaft and operatively engaged with the second rack on the rack body so that reciprocating movement of the rack body rotates the shaft causing reciprocating movement of the latching rod.

Claim 10

A vehicle door collision plate, latch and outside latching rod operating mechanism for a vehicle which comprises: a. A collision plate having a collision plate hole removably mounted inside the vehicle door; b. a door frame latching member having a door frame latching member hole aligned with the collision plate hole when the door is closed mounted to the vehicle frame; c. a latching rod having a first rack formed on the latching rod mounted for reciprocating movement in the door for moving in and out of the aligned collision plate hole and the door frame latching member hole for latching and unlatching the collision plate to the door frame latching member; d. a support mounted to the door outside panel; e. a rack body having a second rack formed on the rack body mounted for reciprocating movement in the support; f. an outside handle mounted to the rack body for reciprocating the rack body; g. a shaft rotatably mounted in the vehicle door; h. a first gear mounted on the shaft and operatively engaged with the first rack on the latching rod; and i. a second gear mounted on the shaft and operatively engaged with the second rack on the rack body so that reciprocating movement of the rack body rotates the shaft causing reciprocating movement of the latching rod.

Claim 11

A vehicle door collision plate, latch and outside latching rod operating mechanism for a vehicle which comprises: a. a collision plate having a collision plate hole removably mounted inside the vehicle door; b. a door frame latching member having a door frame latching member hole aligned with the collision plate hole when the door is closed mounted to the vehicle frame; c. a latching rod having a first rack formed on the latching rod mounted for reciprocating movement in the door for moving in and out of the aligned collision plate hole and the door frame latching member hole for latching and unlatching the collision plate to the door frame latching member; and d. outside latching rod operating means for moving the latching rod to the unlatched position from outside the vehicle, holding the latching rod in the unlatched position while the door is open although an outside handle is released, and releasing the latching rod and biasing the latching rod to the latched position when the door is closed.

Claim 12

A vehicle door collision plate, latch and outside latching rod operating mechanism for a vehicle which comprises: a. a collision plate having a collision plate hole removably mounted inside the vehicle door; b. a door frame latching member having a door frame latching member hole aligned with the collision plate hole when the door is closed mounted to the vehicle frame; c. a latching rod having a first rack formed on the latching rod mounted for reciprocating movement in the door for moving in and out of the aligned collision plate hole and the door frame latching member hole for latching and unlatching the collision plate to the door frame latching member; and d. outside latching rod operating means for moving the latching rod to the unlatched position from outside the vehicle, holding the latching rod in the unlatched position while the door is open although an outside handle is released, and releasing the latching rod and biasing the latching rod to the latched position when the door is closed.

Claim 13

A vehicle collision plate, latch, outside latching rod operating mechanism, and inside latching rod operating mechanism for a vehicle which comprises: a. a collision plate having a collision plate hole removably mounted inside the door; b. a door frame latching member having a door frame latching member hole aligned with the collision plate hole when the door is closed mounted to the vehicle frame; c. a latching rod having a first rack formed on the latching rod mounted for reciprocating movement in the door for moving in and out of the aligned collision plate hole and the door frame latching member hole for latching and unlatching the collision plate to the door frame latching member; d. outside latching rod operating means for moving the latching rod to the unlatched position from outside the vehicle, holding the latching rod in the unlatched position while the door is open although an outside handle is released, and for releasing the latching rod and biasing the latching rod to the latched position when the door is closed; and e. inside latchIng rod operating means for moving the latching rod into the held unlatched position from inside the vehicle.

Claim 14

A vehicle collision plate, latch, outside latching rod operating mechanism, and inside latching rod operating mechanism for a vehicle which comprises: a. a collision plate having a collision plate hole removably mounted inside the door; b. a door frame latching member having a door frame latching member hole aligned with the collision plate hole when the door is closed mounted to the vehicle frame; c. a latching rod having a first rack formed on the latching rod mounted for reciprocating movement in the door for moving in and out of the aligned collision plate hole and the door frame latching member hole for latching and unlatching the collision plate to the door frame latching member; d. outside latching rod operating means for moving the latching rod to the unlatched position from outside the vehicle, holding the latching rod in the unlatched position while the door is open although an outside handle is released, and for releasing the latching rod and biasing the latching rod to the latched position when the door is closed; and e. inside latchIng rod operating means for moving the latching rod into the held unlatched position from inside the vehicle.

Claim 15

A vehicle door latching rod operating mechanism for operating a latching rod having a first rack formed thereon which comprises: a. a support mounted to the door outside panel; b. a rack body having a second rack formed on the rack body and a lug formed on the rack body mounted for reciprocating movement in the support; c. a door outside handle mounted to the rack body for reciprocating the rack body; d. a rack body spring mounted between the door outside panel and the rack body for biasing the rack body rearwardly; e. a flat spring having a flat spring recess mounted to the door outside panel for engaging the lug when the rack body is in the full forward position to hold the rack body in the full forward position until released by a rearward force applied to the rack body; f. a shaft rotatably mounted in the vehicle door; g. a first gear mounted on the shaft and operatively engaged with the first rack on the latching rod; h. a second gear mounted on the shaft and operatively engaged with the second rack on the rack body so that reciprocating movement of the rack body rotates the shaft causing reciprocating movement of the latching rod; i. a striker mounted to the end of the shaft adjacent the door rear panel; and j. a striker plate mounted to the door frame rear for striking the striker so that when the door is closed and the door outside handle is pulled forward, the rack body is moved forward until the lug engages the flat spring recess which holds the rack body forward and the latching rod in a first position until the door is closed, upon which the striker strikes the striker plate which forces the lug from the flat spring recess and allows the rack body spring to bias the rack body rearward to move the latching rod to a second position.

Claim 16

A vehicle door latching rod operating mechanism for operating a latching rod having a first rack formed thereon which comprises: a. a support mounted to the door outside panel; b. a rack body having a second rack formed on the rack body and a lug formed on the rack body mounted for reciprocating movement in the support; c. a door outside handle mounted to the rack body for reciprocating the rack body; d. a rack body spring mounted between the door outside panel and the rack body for biasing the rack body rearwardly; e. a flat spring having a flat spring recess mounted to the door outside panel for engaging the lug when the rack body is in the full forward position to hold the rack body in the full forward position until released by a rearward force applied to the rack body; f. a shaft rotatably mounted in the vehicle door; g. a first gear mounted on the shaft and operatively engaged with the first rack on the latching rod; h. a second gear mounted on the shaft and operatively engaged with the second rack on the rack body so that reciprocating movement of the rack body rotates the shaft causing reciprocating movement of the latching rod; i. a striker mounted to the end of the shaft adjacent the door rear panel; and j. a striker plate mounted to the door frame rear for striking the striker so that when the door is closed and the door outside handle is pulled forward, the rack body is moved forward until the lug engages the flat spring recess which holds the rack body forward and the latching rod in a first position until the door is closed, upon which the striker strikes the striker plate which forces the lug from the flat spring recess and allows the rack body spring to bias the rack body rearward to move the latching rod to a second position.

Claim 17

A vehicle door latching rod operating mechanism for operating a latching rod having a first rack formed thereon which comprises: a. a support mounted to the door outside panel; b. a rack body having a second rack formed on the rack body and lug formed on the rack body mounted for reciprocating movement in the support; (c) a first handle lever and second handle lever having first ends pivotally mounted to the door outside panel; d. a door outside handle mounted to the first handle lever and second handle lever; e. a first headed pin and second headed pin mounted on opposite sides of the rack body; f. a first slotted link having a first slot and a second slotted link having a second slot and having first ends pivotally mounted to the second ends of the first handle lever and second handle lever respectively, and having the first slot and the second slot slidably mounted between the first headed pin and the rack body and the second headed pin and the rack body respectively; g. a lever spring mounted between and to the first handle lever and second handle lever and the support to bias the first handle lever and second handle lever rearwardly so that when the door outside handle is pulled forward the rack body is moved forward but when the outside handle is released the outside handle is biased and moves rearwardly but the rack body can remain forward; h. a rack body spring mounted between the door outside panel and the rack body for biasing the rack body rearwardly; i. a flat spring having a flat spring recess mounted to the door outside panel for engaging the lug when the rack body is in the full forward position to hold the rack body in the full forward position until release by a rearward force applied to the rack body; j. a shaft rotatably mounted in the vehicle door; k. a first gear mounted on the shaft and operatively engaged with the first rack on the latching rod; l. a second gear mounted on the shaft and operatively engaged with the second rack on the rack body so that reciprocating movement of thE rack body rotates the shaft causing reciprocating movement of the latching rod; m. a striker mounted to the end of the shaft adjacent the door rear panel; and n. a striker plate mounted to the door frame rear for striking the striker so that when the door is closed and the door outside handle is pulled forward the rack body is moved forward until the lug engages the flat spring recess which holds the rack body forward and the latching rod in a first position until the door is closed, upon which the striker strikes the striker plate which forces the lug from the flat spring recess and allows the rack body spring to bias the rack body rearward to move the latching rod to a second position.

Claim 18

A vehicle door latching rod operating mechanism for operating a latching rod having a first rack formed thereon which comprises: a. a support mounted to the door outside panel; b. a rack body having a second rack formed on the rack body and lug formed on the rack body mounted for reciprocating movement in the support; (c) a first handle lever and second handle lever having first ends pivotally mounted to the door outside panel; d. a door outside handle mounted to the first handle lever and second handle lever; e. a first headed pin and second headed pin mounted on opposite sides of the rack body; f. a first slotted link having a first slot and a second slotted link having a second slot and having first ends pivotally mounted to the second ends of the first handle lever and second handle lever respectively, and having the first slot and the second slot slidably mounted between the first headed pin and the rack body and the second headed pin and the rack body respectively; g. a lever spring mounted between and to the first handle lever and second handle lever and the support to bias the first handle lever and second handle lever rearwardly so that when the door outside handle is pulled forward the rack body is moved forward but when the outside handle is released the outside handle is biased and moves rearwardly but the rack body can remain forward; h. a rack body spring mounted between the door outside panel and the rack body for biasing the rack body rearwardly; i. a flat spring having a flat spring recess mounted to the door outside panel for engaging the lug when the rack body is in the full forward position to hold the rack body in the full forward position until release by a rearward force applied to the rack body; j. a shaft rotatably mounted in the vehicle door; k. a first gear mounted on the shaft and operatively engaged with the first rack on the latching rod; l. a second gear mounted on the shaft and operatively engaged with the second rack on the rack body so that reciprocating movement of thE rack body rotates the shaft causing reciprocating movement of the latching rod; m. a striker mounted to the end of the shaft adjacent the door rear panel; and n. a striker plate mounted to the door frame rear for striking the striker so that when the door is closed and the door outside handle is pulled forward the rack body is moved forward until the lug engages the flat spring recess which holds the rack body forward and the latching rod in a first position until the door is closed, upon which the striker strikes the striker plate which forces the lug from the flat spring recess and allows the rack body spring to bias the rack body rearward to move the latching rod to a second position.

Claim 19

A vehicle door collision plate and latch for a vehicle which comprises: a. a collision plate having a collision plate hole removably mounted inside the vehicle door; b. a vehicle body member having a vehicle body member hole aligned with the collision plate hole when the door is closed mounted to the vehicle frame; c. a latching rod mounted for reciprocating movement in the door for moving in and out of the aligned collision plate hole and the vehicle body member hole for latching and unlatching the collision plate to the vehicle body member; d. inside latching rod operating means for moving the latching rod into the unlatched position from inside the vehicle; and e. a handle connected to the latching rod for manually reciprocating the latching rod.

Claim 20

A vehicle door collision plate and latch for a vehicle which comprises: a. a collision plate having a collision plate hole removably mounted inside the vehicle door; b. a vehicle body member having a vehicle body member hole aligned with the collision plate hole when the door is closed mounted to the vehicle frame; c. a latching rod mounted for reciprocating movement in the door for moving in and out of the aligned collision plate hole and the vehicle body member hole for latching and unlatching the collision plate to the vehicle body member; d. inside latching rod operating means for moving the latching rod into the unlatched position from inside the vehicle; and e. a handle connected to the latching rod for manually reciprocating the latching rod.