Locking device of opening and closing members for vehicles

Claim 1

A vehicle body having an opening defined by a surrounding frame, a closure for the opening, a locking device for the closure wherein the locking device comprises a striker on the closure, bracket means of the frame defining a striker slot for receiving the striker, a locking member rotatably mounted on the bracket means for rotation about a pivot axis adjacent the striker slot, the locking member having opposed tongue portions defining a locking slot therebetween, the locking member having a striker-receiving position wherein one of said tongue portions is disposed for engagement by the striker when entering the striker slot whereby movement of the striker into the slot is effective for rotating the locking member to bring the locking member into a locking position with the other of said tongue portions over the striker, an engaging member pivotally mounted on the bracket means, a cam portion on the locking member, an engagement portion on the engaging member for engaging with the cam portion when the locking member is in the locking position and preventing rotation of the locking member from the locking position to the striker-receiving position thereby preventing release of the striker until the engaging member is pivotally moved out of engagement with the locking member, a jack plate rotatably mounted on the bracket means about said pivot axis, the jack plate having a tongue substantially aligned with said one of said tongue portions of the locking member, and spring means biasing said tongue of the jack plate towards the other tongue portion of the locking member for engagement of the tongue with the striker when the locking member is in the locking position so as to take up play between the striker and the respective tongue portions of the locking member and reduce rattles in the locking device.