Motor vehicle door latch

Claim 2

A latch for a door engageable with a doorpost, said latch comprising: a bolt extending from said doorpost and having an axis; a U-shaped housing on said door having a flat central web formed with a laterally open notch and two flat legs extending from said web toward said door; a cover plate bridging said legs of said housing; a pivot pin extending axially between said web and said plate; a pivotal flat locking pawl on said pin having a pair of arms separated by a bight, said bolt being engageable with one of said arms adjacent said bight to pivot said pawl; a keeper pivoted between said web and said plate and engageable with at least one of said arms to prevent pivoting of said pawl in one direction to retain said bolt behind said pawl in said notch; and a pair of outwardly resiliently deflectable ramps between said plate and said web and next to said pawl, said ramps converging toward a plane described by the axis of said bolt in the direction of insertion thereof, said bolt being engageable with both of said ramps on entrance along said plane into said notch, said ramps being in continuous engagement with said bolt throughout the movement thereof in said housing and said pawl being dimensioned to prevent engagement of said bight with said bolt.

Claim 3

The latch defined in claim 1 wherein said ramps are provided directly against said plate.

Claim 4

A latch for a door engageable with a doorpost, said latch comprising: a bolt extending from said doorpost and having an axis; a U-shaped housing on said door having a flat central web formed with a laterally open notch and two flat legs extending from said web toward said door; a cover plate bridging said legs of said housing; a pivot pin extending axially between said web and said plate; a pivotal flat locking pawl on said pin having a pair of arms separated by a bight, said bolt being engageable with one of said arms adjacent said bight to pivot said pawl; a keeper pivoted between said web and said plate and engageable with at least one of said arms to prevent pivoting of said pawl in one direction to retain said bolt behind said pawl in said notch; and a pair of outwardly resiliently deflectable ramps between said plate and said web and next to said pawl, said ramps converging toward a plane described by the axis of said bolt in the direction of insertion thereof, said bolt being engageable with both of said ramps on entrance along said plane into said notch, said bolt being formed with an enlarged head, said head being engageable with said ramps, said head being formed with a pair of flanks converging in said direction and flatly engageable with said ramps.

Claim 5

A latch for a door engageable with a doorpost, said latch comprising: a bolt extending from said doorpost and having an axis; a U-shaped housing on said door having a flat central web formed with a laterally open notch and two flat legs extending from said web toward said door; a cover plate bridging said legs of said housing; a pivot pin extending axially between said web and said plate; a pivotal flat locking pawl on said pin having a pair of arms separated by a bight, said bolt being engageable with one of said arms adjacent said bight to pivot said pawl; a keeper pivoted between said web and said plate and engageable with at least one of said arms to prevent pivoting of said pawl in one direction to retain said bolt behind said pawl in said notch; and a pair of outwardly resiliently deflectable ramps between said plate and said web and next to said pawl, said ramps converging toward a plane described by the axis of said bolt in the direction of insertion thereof, said bolt being engageable with both of said ramps on entrance along said plane into said notch, said bolt being formed with an enlarged head, said head being engageable with said ramps, said head being formed with a pair of flanks converging in said direction and flatly engageable with said ramps.

Claim 6

A latch for a door engageable with a doorpost, said latch comprising: a bolt extending from said doorpost and having an axis; a U-shaped housing on said door having a flat central web formed with a laterally open notch and two flat legs extending from said web toward said door; a cover plate bridging said legs of said housing; a pivot pin extending axially between said web and said plate; a pivotal flat locking pawl on said pin having a pair of arms separated by a bight, said bolt being engageable with one of said arms adjacent said bight to pivot saiD pawl; a keeper pivoted between said web and said plate and engageable with at least one of said arms to prevent pivoting of said pawl in one direction to retain said bolt behind said pawl in said notch; and a pair of outwardly resiliently deflectable ramps between said plate and said web and next to said pawl, said ramps converging toward a plane described by the axis of said bolt in the direction of insertion thereof, said bolt being engageable with both of said ramps on entrance along said plane into said notch, said latch further comprising a shield extending over said keeper and laterally covering same, said shield being at least partially formed as a sleeve, said keeper being pivotal in said sleeve.

Claim 7

A latch for a door engageable with a doorpost, said latch comprising: a bolt extending from said doorpost and having an axis; a U-shaped housing on said door having a flat central web formed with a laterally open notch and two flat legs extending from said web toward said door; a cover plate bridging said legs of said housing; a pivot pin extending axially between said web and said plate; a pivotal flat locking pawl on said pin having a pair of arms separated by a bight, said bolt being engageable with one of said arms adjacent said bight to pivot saiD pawl; a keeper pivoted between said web and said plate and engageable with at least one of said arms to prevent pivoting of said pawl in one direction to retain said bolt behind said pawl in said notch; and a pair of outwardly resiliently deflectable ramps between said plate and said web and next to said pawl, said ramps converging toward a plane described by the axis of said bolt in the direction of insertion thereof, said bolt being engageable with both of said ramps on entrance along said plane into said notch, said latch further comprising a shield extending over said keeper and laterally covering same, said shield being at least partially formed as a sleeve, said keeper being pivotal in said sleeve.

Claim 8

A latch for a door engageable with a doorpost, said latch comprising; a bolt extending from said doorpost and having an axis; a U-shaped housing on said door having a flat central web formed with a laterally open notch and two flat legs extending from said web toward said door; a cover plate bridging said legs of said housing; a pivot pin extending axially between said web and said plate; a pivotal flat locking pawl on said pin having a pair of arms separated by a bight, said bolt being engageable with one of said arms adjacent said bight to pivot said pawl; a keeper pivoted between said web and said plate and engageable with at least one of said arms to prevent pivoting of said pawl in one direction to retain said bolt behind said pawl in said notch; and a pair of outwardly resiliently deflectable ramps between said plate and said web and next to said pawl, said ramps converging toward a plane described by the axis of said bolt in the direction of insertion thereof, said bolt being engageable with both of said ramps on entrance along said plane into said notch, said latch further comprising a shield extending over said keeper and laterally covering same, said shield being formed unitarily with one of said ramps and extending over said keeper to one of said legs of said housing.

Claim 9

A latch for a door engageable with a doorpost, said latch comprising; a bolt extending from said doorpost and having an axis; a U-shaped housing on said door having a flat central web formed with a laterally open notch and two flat legs extending from said web toward said door; a cover plate bridging said legs of said housing; a pivot pin extending axially between said web and said plate; a pivotal flat locking pawl on said pin having a pair of arms separated by a bight, said bolt being engageable with one of said arms adjacent said bight to pivot said pawl; a keeper pivoted between said web and said plate and engageable with at least one of said arms to prevent pivoting of said pawl in one direction to retain said bolt behind said pawl in said notch; and a pair of outwardly resiliently deflectable ramps between said plate and said web and next to said pawl, said ramps converging toward a plane described by the axis of said bolt in the direction of insertion thereof, said bolt being engageable with both of said ramps on entrance along said plane into said notch, said latch further comprising a shield extending over said keeper and laterally covering same, said shield being formed unitarily with one of said ramps and extending over said keeper to one of said legs of said housing.

Claim 10

A latch for a door engageable with a doorpost, said latch comprising: a bolt extending from said doorpost and having an axis; a U-shaped housing on said door having a flat central web formed with a laterally open notch and two flat legs extending from said web toward said door; a cover plate bridging said legs of said housing; a pivot pin extending axially between said web and said plate; a pivotal flat locking pawl on said pin having a pair of arms separated by a bight, said bolt being engageable with one of said arms adjacent said bight to pivot said pawl; a keeper pivoted between said web and said plate and engageable with at least one of said arms to prevent pivoting of said pawl in one direction to retain said bolt behind said pawl in said notch; and a pair of outwardly resiliently deflectable ramps between said plate and said web and next to said pawl, said ramps converging toward a plane described by the axis of said bolt in the direction of insertion thereof, said bolt being engageable with both of said ramps on entrance along said plane into said notch, said latch further comprising at least one elastomeric cushion received between at least one of said ramps and the respective leg of said housing.

Claim 11

A latch for a door engageable with a doorpost, said latch comprising: a bolt extending from said doorpost and having an axis; a U-shaped housing on said door having a flat central web formed with a laterally open notch and two flat legs extending from said web toward said door; a cover plate bridging said legs of said housing; a pivot pin extending axially between said web and said plate; a pivotal flat locking pawl on said pin having a pair of arms separated by a bight, said bolt being engageable with one of said arms adjacent said bight to pivot said pawl; a keeper pivoted between said web and said plate and engageable with at least one of said arms to prevent pivoting of said pawl in one direction to retain said bolt behind said pawl in said notch; and a pair of outwardly resiliently deflectable ramps between said plate and said web and next to said pawl, said ramps converging toward a plane described by the axis of said bolt in the direction of insertion thereof, said bolt being engageable with both of said ramps on entrance along said plane into said notch, said latch further comprising at least one elastomeric cushion received between at least one of said ramps and the respective leg of said housing.

Claim 12

The latch defined in claim 6, further comprising at least one elastomeric cushion fixed in said housing at the base of said notch.

Claim 13

The latch defined in claim 6 wherein said notch is slightly wider than and overlies the mouth formed by said ramps.

Claim 14

A motor-vehicle door latch comprising: a housing of U-configuration comprising a vertical web, a pair of horizontal legs formed unitarily with said web, and a plate bridging said web legs, said web being formed with a slot opening along an edge of the web in the direction of a bolt receivable in said latch; a bifurcated pawl pivotally mounted in said housing about an axis perpendicular to said web and at a location offset from the bight of said pawl, the arms of said pawl being constructed and arranged to straddle said bolt upon insertion thereof in said housing to an end position; at least one resiliently deflectable guide ramp in said housing for intercepting said bolt substantially immediately upon such insertion and supporting same to and in said end position, the pawl being constructed and arranged to engage said bolt only along inner flanks of the arms thereof at locations spaced from said bight; and a keeper engageable with said pawl for retaining same upon entrainment of said pawl by said bolt into said end position, said keeper being provided along the lower leg at the front of said housing, said ramp being formed with an apron overlying said keeper and extending to said lower leg for preventing entry of a tool between said ramp and said keeper to trip the latter.

Claim 15

A motor-vehicle door latch comprising: a housing of U-configuration comprising a vertical web, a pair of horizontal legs formed unitarily with said web, and a plate bridging said web legs, said web being formed with a slot opening along an edge of the web in the direction of a bolt receivable in said latch; a bifurcated pawl pivotally mounted in said housing about an axis perpendicular to said web and at a location offset from the bight of said pawl, the arms of said pawl being constructed and arranged to straddle said bolt upon insertion thereof in said housing to an end position; at least one resiliently deflectable guide ramp in said housing for intercepting said bolt substantially immediately upon such insertion and supporting same to and in said end position, the pawl being constructed and arranged to engage said bolt only along inner flanks of the arms thereof at locations spaced from said bight; and a keeper engageable with said pawl for retaining same upon entrainment of said pawl by said bolt into said end position, said keeper being provided along the lower leg at the front of said housing, said ramp being formed with an apron overlying said keeper and extending to said lower leg for preventing entry of a tool between said ramp and said keeper to trip the latter.

Claim 16

The latch defined in claim 9 wherein said pawl is flat and is disposed directly adjacent said web, said ramp being disposed between said pawl and said plate and lying directly adjacent the latter.

Claim 17

The latch defined in claim 10 wherein said bolt is provided with a shank and a head larger than said shank and adapted to ride upon said ramp whereby said shank engages only said arms of said pawl as said bolt moves through said housing into said end position.