Waterproof structure for door latch device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11898381-B2
Application number	US-202117469607-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 8, 2021
Priority date	Sep 10, 2020
Publication date	Feb 13, 2024
Grant date	Feb 13, 2024

Abstract

A waterproof structure of a door latch device, in which one end part of a cable is connected to an input lever including one end part projecting toward outside of a case, includes a cover including: a cover main body having a box shape with a cover opening, the cover main body being configured to house the one end part of the input lever and the one end part of the cable via the cover opening when the cover main body abuts on the case; and a cover supporting body extending from the cover main body. The cover is attached to the case via the cover supporting body in a state in which the cover main body is movable between a closed position at which the cover main body abuts on the case and an opened position at which the cover main body is separated from the case.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A waterproof structure for a door latch device in which one end part of a cable is connected to an input lever, the input lever including one end part projecting toward outside of a case, and an operation force is transmitted to the input lever via the cable to operate a latch mechanism disposed inside the case, the waterproof structure comprising:
a cover including:
a cover main body having a box shape with a cover opening, the cover main body being configured to house the one end part of the input lever and the one end part of the cable via the cover opening when the cover main body abuts on the case; and
a cover supporting body extending from the cover main body;

a plurality of mutual engagement parts disposed around a circular mounting hole at regular intervals;
a positioning pin and a locking piece provided in one of the cover main body and the case; and
a positioning hole and a locking reception part provided in another one of the cover main body and the case,
wherein the cover is attached to the case via the cover supporting body in a state in which the cover main body is movable between a closed position at which the cover main body abuts on the case and an opened position at which the cover main body is separated from the case,
the plurality of mutual engagement parts are disposed between the cover supporting body and the cover main body, the plurality of mutual engagement parts being configured to restrict movement of the cover main body to the opened position by engaging with each other when the cover main body is arranged at the closed position,
the positioning pin and the positioning hole are engaged with each other and the locking piece and the locking reception part are locked with each other at the closed position,
the input lever is provided in a rotatable manner between a latch housing part of the case and a cable bracket,
the cover main body further houses the cable bracket, and
the cover main body is formed of a single member.

2. The waterproof structure according to claim 1 , further comprising:
an engagement member configured to attach the cover supporting body to the case; and
a cover engagement part disposed on the cover main body, the cover engagement part being configured to restrict movement of the cover main body to the opened position by engaging with the engagement member when the cover main body is arranged at the closed position.

3. The waterproof structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the cover supporting body includes a plurality of supporting plate elements coupled to each other in a foldable manner, and
the cover main body is moved between the closed position and the opened position by changing folded states of the supporting plate elements.

4. The waterproof structure according to claim 3 , wherein,
the cover supporting body includes two supporting plate elements configured to be overlapped with each other when the cover main body is arranged at the closed position, and
the waterproof structure further comprising a supporting plate engagement part disposed between one of the supporting plate elements and another one of the supporting plate elements, the supporting plate engagement part being configured to restrict movement in a direction for releasing the overlapped state by making engagement in a detachable manner when the supporting plate elements are overlapped with each other.

5. The waterproof structure according to claim 1 , further comprising a temporary holding piece disposed on the cover main body, the temporary holding piece being configured to be engaged with the case in a detachable manner when the cover main body is arranged at the opened position.

6. The waterproof structure according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a continuous sealing member disposed at an abutting portion of the case and the cover main body; and
a continuous pressing projection part disposed on at least one of the case and the cover main body, the pressing projection part being configured to press the sealing member over a total length when the cover main body is arranged at the closed position.

7. The waterproof structure according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of mutual engagement parts are configured to project from an inner peripheral surface of the mounting hole.

8. The waterproof structure according to claim 7 , wherein the plurality of mutual engagement parts are elastically deformed, and gaps formed among projecting end parts of the plurality of mutual engagement parts are widened.

9. The waterproof structure according to claim 7 , wherein the plurality of mutual engagement parts and the mounting hole are disposed on an attachment wall part.

10. The waterproof structure according to claim 3 , wherein the plurality of supporting plate elements are directly connected with each other.

11. The waterproof structure according to claim 9 , wherein
the cover supporting body includes a plurality of supporting plate elements coupled to each other in a foldable manner,
the cover main body is moved between the closed position and the opened position by changing folded states of the supporting plate elements, and
the plurality of supporting plate elements as a whole are disposed on one side of the attachment wall part.

Assignees

• Mitsui Kinzoku Act Corp

Inventors

• Kitamura Yosuke
• Takayama Tatsuya

Classifications

• E05B77/34 Primary

  Protection against weather or dirt, e.g. against water ingress (closures or guards for keyholes E05B17/14) · CPC title

• E05B79/20

  using flexible connections, e.g. Bowden cables · CPC title

• E05B85/02

  Lock casings · CPC title