VEHICLE DOOR LOCK DEVICE

Abstract

 The door lock apparatus includes a lift lever 2 for pushing a latch mechanism provided at the door and engaged with a striker provided at the vehicle body and enabling to release the engagement of the latch mechanism with the striker, an opening link 3 for pushing the lift lever 2 by contacting therewith, an opening lever 4 operated by a handle for pushing the lift lever 2 by the opening link 3 by driving the same and an active lever for driving the opening link 3 to a lever non-drivable position where the pushing of the lift lever by the opening link 3 is disenabled. One-way driving portion 6 of the active lever 5 drives the opening link 3 only in a direction towards the lever non-drivable position side and restricts the driving in the opposite direction.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] This invention relates to a door lock apparatus for vehicles and more particularly, to a door lock apparatus for vehicles which prevents non-manipulability condition of unlocking operation.

BACKGROUND OF THE TECHNOLOGY

[0002] As an example of a vehicle door lock apparatus for locking a vehicle door to a vehicle body is disclosed in the patent document 1. The door lock apparatus disclosed in the patent document includes a striker (member to be hooked) provided at the vehicle body side and a latch mechanism (latch and pawl) provided at the vehicle door side and the door is kept in a closed condition by engaging a latch of the latch mechanism with the striker. A lift lever is provided in order to have the latch mechanism to be in a releasable condition from the latched condition. Further, an opening link is provided as a member for pushing the lift lever. Further, an opening member is disposed for transmitting a door handle operation force to the opening link. Further, the door lock apparatus has an unlocking condition in which the lift lever is operable and a locking condition in which the lift lever is not operable by switching over the position of the opening link by an active lever. The active lever is generally operated by operating a locking knob provided in the inside of the door or by key operation from the outside of the door. However, the active lever is also operated by an actuator including an electric motor as a drive source.

[0003] Recently, a smart entry system for operating a locking operation or an unlocking operation of the door lock apparatus by remote- and electrical-controlling or an intelligent key system in which the locking and unlocking operations are automatically performed are becoming popular. In the smart entry system, a key with a wireless transmitting function is used and when a driver, owning the key with him or her, approaches the vehicle, or when a driver with the key just pushes a button provided on the vehicle, an unlocking command is transmitted to the vehicle side by radio. On the other hand, the vehicle side is provided with a wireless receiving function and when the unlocking command is received at the vehicle side, the actuator is activated and the active lever changes the condition of the door lock apparatus from locking to unlocking condition. Then, the driver approaches from a distance to the vehicle door, the door can be opened by just operating a door opening handle. This facilitates the door opening operation using the key.
Patent Document 1: JA 2007-100318A

[0004] When an automatic locking system is adapted to the door lock apparatus disclosed in the patent document 1, for example, the door lock apparatus sometimes, but not very often becomes in trouble with incapability or non-manipulability of opening operation. This incapability or non-manipulability of opening operation occurs when the driver or a passenger of the vehicle manually operates the door handle of the vehicle door while the automatic unlocking operation is being performed by switching over the locking condition to unlocking condition by the actuator. In detail, the opening link is driven during the transition from the locking condition to the unlocking condition, and accordingly, the transition to the unlocking condition is interfered by the lift lever. After such interference occurs, the switching over operation from the lock condition to the unlocking condition of the opening link for door opening operation cannot be performed and the door lock apparatus falls in a non-manipulability condition of unlocking operation, a so-called in "a state of panic".

[0005] Such non-manipulability condition of unlocking operation can be restored by re-locking operation or unlocking operation manually or using the automatic unlocking system to drive the active lever. However, such operation is cumbersome and accordingly, in order to avoid such non-manipulability condition, the opening link or active lever is divided into several pieces and then connected together by spring or the like. This, however, increases the number of part and the structure becomes complicated and it may lead to increase of manufacturing cost.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED

[0006] The present invention was made in consideration with the above problems and the object of the invention is to provide a door lock apparatus for vehicles which can avoid an occurrence of non-manipulability condition of the unlocking operation without major changing of the structure and without adding any additional parts.

MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEM

[0007] The vehicle door lock apparatus of this invention made for solving the above problems is characterized in that the door lock apparatus includes a lift lever provided at a vehicle door and capable of releasing an engagement of a latch mechanism with a striker provided at a vehicle body,
an opening link for pushing the lift lever by contacting therewith, an opening lever for pushing the lift lever by the opening link by actuating the same and an active lever for driving the opening link to a lever non-drivable position for disenabling the pushing of the lift lever by the opening link, wherein the active lever includes a one-way driving portion for driving the opening lever only in a direction towards the lever non-drivable position and disenabling the driving of the opening link in the opposite direction when the opening link is driven by the opening lever.

BRIEF EXPLANATION OF ATTACHED DRAWINGS

[0008] Fig. 1 is a side view of a vehicle door lock according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0009] Fig. 2 indicates the vehicle door lock apparatus of the embodiment viewed from right side in Fig. 1.

[0010] Fig. 3 is a view explaining the shape of an active lever according to the embodiment of the invention.

[0011] Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but showing a conventional active lever.

[0012] Fig. 5 is an explanatory view of an operation of a conventional door lock apparatus.

[0013] Fig. 6 is an explanatory view of the door lock apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention, explaining the operation of a non-manipulability condition of the unlocking operation.

THE BEST MODE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0014] The best mode embodiments of the invention will be explained hereinafter with reference to the attached drawings of Figs. 1 through 6. Fig. 1 is a side view of the vehicle door lock apparatus to be accommodated in a vehicle door according to an embodiment of the invention. The vehicle door lock apparatus 1 for vehicles is formed by a lift lever 2 supported by a housing 80 (Fig. 2), an opening link 3, an opening lever 4, an active lever 5 and a cancelling lever 7.
Fig. 1 shows the door lock apparatus viewed from inside of the vehicle door under the opening link 3 being driven by the opening lever 4 while the locking operation is being changed to unlocking operation.
Fig. 2 shows the door lock apparatus 1 for vehicles seen from the right side in Fig. 1 and indicates the lift lever 2, a striker and a latch mechanism (latch 82 and pawl 83).

[0015] As shown in Fig. 2, the lift lever 2 is provided at the vehicle door and is used for releasing an engagement between the rod shaped striker 81 provided at the vehicle body and the pawl 83 forming a part of the latch mechanism. The lift lever 2 is rotatably supported on the housing 80 and connected to the pawl 83 of the latch mechanism. The pawl 83 engages with a latch 82 forming a part of the latch mechanism which is in engagement with the rod shaped striker 81. The latch 82 includes projections 820 and 821.

[0016] The lift lever 2 is biased in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2 by a biasing member (not shown) and held to the original position. When the lift lever 2 is pushed by the opening link 3, the pawl 83 is rotated in a clockwise direction to release the engagement between the latch 82 and the pawl 83. Thus the door becomes in openable (opening possible) condition. The latch 82, released from the engagement, is rotated in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2 to a released position 82A as indicated with two-dotted chain line. Under this situation, the striker 81 is in a position 81A and is releasable in the left direction. Thus the door can be opened.

[0017] As shown in Fig. 1, the opening link 3 is oblong rod-shaped member and disposed within the vicinity of the lift lever 2. The opening link 3 is supported by the opening lever 4 and the active lever 5. An engaging hole 31 is provided at one end of the opening link 3. The engaging hole 31 is of oblong (elongated) shape having a constricted portion at the central portion thereof. An engaging lever 44 is formed on the opening lever 4 and inserted into and engaged with the engaging hole 31. A guide pin 32 is provided at and projected from the opening link 3 functioning as an engaging projection portion. As is shown in Fig. 1, the guide pin 32 is inserted into a guide hole 6 formed on the active lever 5 and engaged therewith. The other end of the opening link 3 is provided with a pushing portion 33.

[0018] The opening lever 4 is provided in a width direction relative to the door and rotatably supported by the housing 80. In more detail, the opening lever 4 has a pivot hole 41 at the central portion thereof and pivotally supported by the housing 80 of the door lock apparatus 1 at the pivot hole 41. The opening lever 4 further includes an outwardly extending arm extending from the central portion and an inwardly extending arm extending from the central portion and arranged opposite to the outwardly extending arm. As shown in Fig. 1, an end portion of the outwardly extending arm is bent in approximately horizontal direction to form one side portion 42a having a connecting hole 42 therein. The connecting hole 42 is connected to a door outside handle 100 for opening the door via connecting means. When the outside handle 100 is manually operated, the connecting hole 42 is pushed down as viewed in Fig. 1.

[0019] The inwardly extending arm of the opening lever 4 is branched to two branch portions in a vertical direction at one end and one of the branch portions is approximately bent in a horizontal direction to form a portion to be pressed 43 and the other branch portion serves as an engaging lever portion 44. The engaging lever portion 44 is inserted into the engaging hole 31 of the opening link 3 and engaged therewith. Accordingly, the engaging lever portion 44 can actuate the opening link 3 in an upward direction as viewed in Fig. 1. And further, the engaging lever portion 44 serves as a fulcrum point for rotation of the opening link 3 between an upright position as indicated by reference (1) in Fig. 5 and an inclined position as indicated by reference (2) in Fig. 5. The portion to be pressed 43 formed at the opening lever 4 is connected to an inside handle 101 via connecting means, such as cables.

[0020] When the inside handle 101 for door opening is operated manually, the portion to be pressed 43 is pushed upwardly as viewed in fig. 1. The opening lever 4 is held at the original position thereof by a vertically downwardly rotational movement of the engaging lever portion 44 by the biasing force of a biasing means (not shown) as viewed in Fig. 1. The engaging lever portion 44 moves upward to push the opening link 3 upwardly only when the outside handle 100 or the inside handle 101 is manually operated.

[0021] As shown in Fig. 1, the active lever 5 is rotatably supported by the housing 80 for operating the opening link 3 to switch over from the unlocking condition to locking condition. It is noted here that the unlocking condition means the condition that the opening link 3 can push the lift lever 2 and that the locking condition means the condition that the opening link 3 cannot push the lift lever 2, in other words, the opening link 3 is positioned where the lever cannot be actuated.

[0022] Fig. 3 indicates the shape of the active lever 5 which will be explained with reference to Fig. 3. The active lever 5 has a pivot hole 51 and the pivot hole 51 of the active lever 5 is rotatably supported by the housing 80 in a direction indicated by arrows CA and CB. The active lever 5 includes a first arm 52, a second arm 54 and a third arm 56 formed integrally. The first arm 52 is provided with a connecting hole 53 at the tip end thereof. The connecting hole 53 is connected to a locking knob 103 provided inside of the door via a connecting means such as rod member or the like. The second arm 54 of the active lever 5 is provided with a contact portion 55 formed at the tip end thereof and is connected to a locking device 104 provided outside of the door. Accordingly, the active lever 5 can be rotated by operation of the locking knob 103 from the inside of the door, by operation of the locking device 104 outside of the door using a key. An engaging groove 57 is formed on the third arm 56 of the active lever 5 at an upper left side portion as viewed in Fig. 1 and is engageable with an actuator 105 driven by the electric motor.

[0023] The electric motor of the actuator 105 is remote-controlled by an automatic locking/unlocking system, for example, a smart entry system. Accordingly, when the electric motor (actuator 105) is actuated in the automatic locking/unlocking system, the active lever 5 can swing centering on the pivot hole 51. Thus, the active lever 5 can be operated by any of the locking knob 103 provided inside of the door, the locking device 104 provided outside of the door and the electric motor (actuator 105). Then the active lever 5 is rotated in a clockwise direction (in the arrow CA direction) around the pivot hole 51 by the unlocking operation and in a counterclockwise direction (in the arrow CB direction) by the locking operation. The active lever 5 is urged to the locking condition position and the unlocking condition position to keep each position by a biasing means (not shown).

[0024] As shown in Fig. 3, the third arm 56 of the active lever 5 has a guide hole 6 which corresponds to the one-way driving portion in claim of the invention. Outer brim of the guide hole 6 is formed by a sliding brim portion 61 extending in an up/down direction as viewed in Fig. 3, a pushing brim portion 62 expanding consecutively from one end of the sliding brim portion 61 in upward direction, and a return brim portion 63 extending consecutively from the pushing brim portion 62 and extending from an upper end which expands towards left as viewed in the drawing to the other end of the sliding brim portion 61 with an inclination. The guide pin 32 of the opening link 3 is inserted into the guide hole 6. Inside of the guide hole 6 is expanded to have a diameter larger than that of the guide pin 32 and a free movement range 64 is provided around the center of the hole.

[0025] As shown in Fig. 3, the width of the guide hole 6 is indicated as X in the rotational direction (directions indicated with arrows CA and CB) of the active lever 5 centering on the pivot hole 51 and the length of the guide hole 6 is indicated as Y in a direction crossing over the rotational direction of the active lever 5. The guide hole 6 is more elongated in a rotational direction (directions indicated with arrows CA and CB) of the active lever 5 than that of an elongated hole 96 (Fig. 4) of an active lever 95 used in a conventional door lock apparatus, which will be explained later. Accordingly, within a space defined by the free movement range 64, the guide pin 32 of the opening link 3 is movable in the length direction Y and in the width direction X. The width X in the free movement range 64 is set to be larger than the diameter of the guide pin 32.

[0026] As shown in Fig. 1, the canceling lever 7 corresponds to the pushing mechanism and is a member, which pushes the left side of the opening link 3 in a right direction as viewed in fig. 1. The canceling lever 7 as the pushing mechanism pushes one side surface of the opening link 3 in an arrow H direction to move the guide pin 32 of the opening link 3 to be in a sliding contact with the sliding brim portion 61 of the guide hole 6 of the active lever 5. As shown in Fig. 1, the cancelling lever 7 includes a pivot hole 71 at the center thereof. The cancelling lever 7 is shaped as a bent member.

[0027] The cancelling lever 7 is formed with a pushing portion 72. The pushing portion 72 is always urged by a biasing member 73 to push the left side surface of the opening link 3 towards right (in the arrow H direction). When the door is closed under the locking condition, the cancelling lever 7 cancels the locking condition to resume the unlocking condition by the lift lever 2. The biasing force of the biasing member 73 is set to be smaller than the biasing force of the biasing means for biasing the active lever 5.

[0028] Before explaining the operation of the door lock apparatus according to the embodiment, the structure and operation of the conventional door lock apparatus, as well as the non-manipulability condition of the unlocking operation will be explained first. The conventional door lock apparatus 9 has the same structure and components of the door lock apparatus of the embodiment and numerals are commonly referenced, except the structure of the active lever 5. Fig. 4 indicates the active lever 95 used in the conventional door lock apparatus 9. Instead of using the guide hole 6 as used in the invention, an elongated slit shaped hole 96 with a narrower width diameter is provided.

[0029] As shown in Fig. 4, the elongated hole 96 is formed extending in an up/down direction as viewed in Fig. 4 and includes a right side brim portion as viewed in Fig. 4 formed at the same position with the sliding brim portion 61 of the embodiment of the invention. In practice, the guide hole 6 of the embodiment is formed by expanding the elongated hole 96 to the left. The width of hole 96 in right and left direction corresponds to the length of diameter of the guide pin 32. In other words, the guide pin 32 is guided only in an up/down direction (towards elongated direction) within the elongated hole 96. The guide pin 32 cannot move in a width direction. When the active lever 95 is rotated and the elongated hole 96 is accordingly rotated in the right/left direction as viewed in fig. 4, the guide pin 32 is rotated in both right and left directions due to the engagement with the elongated hole 96.

[0030] Fig. 5 shows an operation explanation view of the conventional door lock apparatus 9. For better understanding, the bold lines are illustrated in an overlapping manner. In Fig. 5, the unlocking condition is indicated as condition (1) and the locking condition is indicated as condition (2). The reference numeral (3) indicates the condition where the unlocking operation by door opening handle is carried out while the unlocking operation is being carried out from the locking condition to the unlocking condition. The reference numeral (4) indicates the non-manipulability condition of the unlocking operation.

[0031] Under the unlocking condition (1) indicated in Fig. 5, the active lever 5 is rotated around the pivot hole 51 in a clockwise direction (in the arrow CA direction) and the guide pin 32 is moved to the right (arrow CA direction) by the elongated hole 96. The opening link 3 is positioned upright. When the door opening handle is operated for opening the door under the opening link 3 being in upright position, the opening link 3 moves upward by the opening lever 4. Then the guide pin 32 is guided by the elongated hole 96 in an upright direction to move the opening link 3 directly above as indicated with an arrow A direction. Then the pushing portion 33 of the opening link 3 pushes the lift lever 2 up to release the engagement between the latch 82 and the pawl 83 and the door is ready for open.

[0032] Under the locking condition (2) in Fig. 5, the active lever 95 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction (arrow CB direction) around the pivot hole 51. As the result, the guide pin 32 is moved to the left (arrow CB direction) by the elongated hole 96 and the opening link 3 is in a tilted position not in upright position. Under the locking condition (2) in Fig. 5, the elongated hole 96 is also in a tilted position and under this condition when the door opening handle is operated to open the door, the opening link 3 moves upward by the opening lever 4. The guide pin 32 is guided towards the upward left (as viewed in Fig. 5 (2) condition). Accordingly, the opening link 3 is operated to move upward with an inclination as viewed in an arrow B. Thus the opening link 3 does not contact with the lift lever 2. In other words, the latch 82 and the pawl 83 keep the engagement therebetween. Thus the door is not opened.

[0033] The active lever 95 receives a biasing force in a clockwise direction by the cancelling lever 7 via the guide pin 32 of the opening lever 3. Since the biasing force of the biasing member 73 of the cancelling lever 7 is set to be smaller than the biasing force by the biasing means of the active lever 95, the active lever 95 can keep its locking condition position.

[0034] Next, in the locking condition (2) of Fig. 5 according to the conventional door lock apparatus 9, the operation of the unlocking condition to the locking condition by receipt of command from the automatic locking/unlocking system will be explained hereinafter. In the automatic locking/unlocking system, usually the actuator 105 is operated for a predetermined period for rotating the active lever 95 around the pivot hole 51 in a clockwise direction (arrow CA direction) to move to the unlocking condition (1) in Fig. 5. The opening link 3 becomes upright position and the door is under unlocking condition to be able to open the door.

[0035] However, in Fig. 5, when the door opening handle is manually operated on the way to the locking condition (1) from the condition (2), the condition may be moved to the condition (3). Under the condition (3) in Fig. 5, the rotation movement of the active lever 95 in a clockwise direction indicated with the arrow C and the driving operation of the opening lever 4 (door handle operation) indicated with the arrow D are applied to the opening link 3 in an overlapping manner. Then the opening link 3 driven to move upwardly with an inclination is pushed by the active lever 95 to be driven to the right.

[0036] As the result, as shown in the condition (4) in Fig. 5, the opening link 3 may be brought into contact with the lift lever 2 from the side direction. This may fall into a non-manipulability condition of unlocking operation.

[0037] Next, the operation of the door lock apparatus 1 for vehicles according to the embodiment of the invention will be explained hereinafter. First, the situation that the door opening handle is operated when the door lock apparatus 1 is under the locking condition or unlocking condition will be explained. As explained above, according to the door lock apparatus 1 of the invention, the cancelling lever 7 is always urging the opening link 3 to the right as viewed in Fig. 6 (in the arrow H direction in condition (1) of Fig. 6). For this reason, the guide pin 32 of the opening link 3 is pushed and in contact with the right side of the sliding brim portion 61 of the guide hole 6. Accordingly, by the operation of the door opening handle, the opening link 3 is pushed upward and then the guide pin 32 slides along the sliding brim portion 61 of the guide hole 6 to move upward. Thus, the opening link 3 is operated as similar to the conventional device 9 indicated in (1) and (2) in Fig. 5.

[0038] Next, the locking operation of the door lock apparatus 1 from unlocking condition to the locking condition will be explained. This locking operation is carried out similar to the locking operation of the conventional device 9. The right side sliding brim portion 61 of the guide hole 6 formed on the active lever 5 pushes the guide pin 32 of the opening link 3 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction (arrow CB direction). In other words, the guide hole 6 (in detail the right side sliding brim portion 61) as the one-way driving portion enables the rotation in a counterclockwise direction (arrow CB direction) as is the case of the conventional door lock apparatus 9.

[0039] Next, the unlocking operation of the door lock apparatus 1 from locking condition to the unlocking condition will be explained. This unlocking operation is carried out different from the unlocking operation of the conventional device 9.

[0040] In other words, the unlocking operation from the locking condition to the unlocking condition according to the door lock apparatus 1, the active lever 5 is rotated centering on the pivot hole 51 in a clockwise direction (arrow F direction of Fig. 6) to drive the opening link 3 to move from the locking condition to unlocking condition. At this time, the sliding brim portion 61 of the guide hole 6 formed on the active lever 5 is operated preceding the operation of guide pin 32.

[0041] In other words, the active lever 5 is rotated in a clockwise direction (arrow F direction, unlocking direction), keeping the guide pin 32 of the opening link 3 to the position. In this case, the guide pin 32 can be relatively displaceable in a width X direction (Fig. 3) of the guide hole 6 relative to the active lever 5. Accordingly, the guide pin 32 is not operated by the wall forming the guide hole 6. The guide pin 32 is freely movable within the space defined by the free movement range 64 as long as no force is applied to the opening link 3 from any other members.

[0042] A biasing force for returning the opening lever 4 to its original position and a pushing force by the cancelling lever 7 are applied to the opening link 3. Accordingly, in Fig. 6, the opening link 3 is pushed both in downward direction and rightward direction and therefore, the guide pin 32 of the opening link 3 is driven to the unlocking condition, stopping at the lower portion of the sliding brim portion 61 of the guide hole 6.

[0043] Finally, the operation of the door opening handle being operated while the unlocking operation from the locking condition to the unlocking condition is being carried out in the automatic locking /unlocking system for the door lock apparatus 1 of the embodiment will be explained. In other words, the case in which the unlocking operation by the automatic locking/unlocking system and the driving operation from the opening lever 4 (manual operation by door opening handle) are carried out to operate the opening link 3 with the overlapped manner will be explained.

[0044] Fig. 6 shows the avoidance of the non-manipulability condition for unlocking operation of the door lock apparatus 1 according to the embodiment. The condition (1) in Fig. 6 shows the condition in which the door opening handle is manually operated on the way of unlocking operation. The condition (2) in Fig. 6 shows the unlocking condition after avoiding the non-manipulability condition for unlocking operation. According to the door lock apparatus 1 of the embodiment, the opening link 3 is driven to move upward by the opening lever 4 and then the opening link 3 is driven to the right by the active lever 5. The operation that the opening link 3 makes the contact with the lift lever 2 from side direction is the same with the conventional door lock apparatus.

[0045] However, the guide hole 6 formed on the active lever 5 in the door lock apparatus 1 of the embodiment is relatively expanded in the rotational direction (the arrow CA direction and CB direction) relative to the active lever 5 compared to the corresponding hole (elongated hole 96 as seen in Fig. 4) of the conventional structure. For this reason, the guide pin 32 of the opening link 3 is freely movable within the free movement range 64 formed at the inside of the guide hole 6 without being restrained by the guide hole 6 of the active lever 5. Accordingly, as shown in the condition (1) in Fig. 6, the active lever 5 is rotated in a clockwise direction shown with the arrow F until reaching the final position. According to the embodiment, the active lever 5 can be moved from the locking condition position to the unlocking condition position without having any problems.

[0046] In the condition (1) in Fig. 6, when the door opening handle is released from the hand of the operator, no upward pushing force by the opening lever 4 is applied to the opening link 3 and instead, a biasing force is applied to the opening lever 4 in a direction indicated with the arrow G towards the original position of the opening lever 4 at the lower position. As shown in the condition (1) in Fig. 6, a pushing force by the pushing portion 72 of the cancelling lever 7 in the arrow H direction towards the right is applied to the opening link 3.

[0047] The guide pin 32 of the opening link 3 is moved downward driven by the two forces as freely moving in the space defined by the free movement range 64 of the guide hole 6 of the active lever 5 or sliding along the returning brim portion 63 of the guide hole 6. The opening link 3 returns to the original position located at the lower side. As understood from the condition (2) in Fig. 6, the opening link 3 is finally pushed by the pushing portion 72 of the cancelling lever 7 in the arrow H direction and the guide pin 32 of the opening link 3 becomes in contact with the sliding brim portion 61. Then as shown in the condition (2) in Fig. 6, the opening link 3 positions upright at the lower side of the lift lever 2 and returns to the unlocking condition. In other words, the non-manipulability condition for unlocking operation of the door lock apparatus 1 can be avoided.

[0048] As explained, according to the embodiment, the conventional elongated hole 96 of the active lever 5 into which the guide pin 32 of the opening link 3 is inserted is expanded along the rotation direction of the active lever 5 (in the arrow F direction and opposite to the arrow F direction, i.e., in the arrows CA and CB directions) so that the width of the hole is enlarged to form the guide hole 6. Thus, without any major design change or the addition of the components, the non-manipulability condition for the unlocking operation can be avoided.

[0049] In the embodiment described above, the portion of the guide hole 6, in which the free movement range 64 is formed in the rotation direction of the active lever may, be formed only at the portion where the guide pin 32 is positioned within the guide hole 6, when the opening link 3 is driven upwardly by the opening lever 4. In other words, the portion where the guide pin 32 is positioned within the guide hole 6 when the opening link 3 is not driven upwards by the opening lever 4. Namely, the lower side portion of the guide hole 6 is not necessarily expanded to form the free movement range 64.

[0050] As explained above, by providing a lever for rotating the active lever 5 by operation of the inside door handle 101, a guide hole 6 functions as an element of a so-called double pull function which achieves both unlocking and door-opening operations by operation of the inside door handle 101.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0051] This invention can be utilized for the vehicle door lock apparatus.

Claims

1. A door lock apparatus for vehicles, comprising:

a lift lever provided at a vehicle door and capable of releasing an engagement of a latch mechanism with a striker provided at a vehicle body;

an opening link for pushing the lift lever by contacting therewith;

an opening lever for pushing the lift lever by the opening link by actuating the the opening link; and

an active lever for driving the opening link to a lever non-drivable position for disenabling the pushing of the lift lever by the opening link, wherein;

the active lever includes a one-way driving portion for driving the opening lever only in a direction towards the lever non-drivable position and disenabling the driving of the opening link in the opposite direction when the opening link is driven by the opening lever.

2. The door lock apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the one-way
driving portion is formed on
the active lever and includes a guide hole into which a guide pin formed on the opening link is freely movably inserted.

3. The door lock apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the guide
hole includes a sliding
brim portion at an opposite side to the lever non-drivable position and wherein the guide pin slides along the sliding brim portion when the opening link pushes the lift lever.

4. The door lock apparatus according to claim 3, further including
a pushing mechanism for slidingly
contacting the guide pin with the sliding brim portion of the guide hole by pushing one side surface of the opening link.

5. The door lock apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the pushing
mechanism includes a
pushing member rotatably supported by the vehicle door and a biasing member for biasing one end of the opening link towards the one side surface of the opening link.

Drawing