TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present subject matter described herein, in general, relates to a door handle mechanism, and particularly, to a door lock assembly of a vehicle which prevents opening of a vehicle door in the event of a side crash.
BACKGROUND
[0002] A handle is provided on a door of a vehicle for the purpose of unlocking. The vehicle door handle is connected to one end of a lever assembled inside door panel. The other end of the lever is connected to a door latch mechanism through a latch rod. In order to open the vehicle door from vehicle outside during normal usuage, a user pulls the door handle which in turn rotates the lever. This results in downward movement of the latch rod which activates the door latch mechanism and opens the vehicle door.
[0003] Referring Fig. 1, a door handle (101) is provided on the exterior side of a vehicle door (not shown in figure). The handle (101) is connected to a latch mechanism (202) by means of a latch rod (201) as shown in Fig. 2. A lever (102) is operated by pulling the handle (101) and thereby activating the latch mechanism (202) to release the door from a latched to an unlatched configuration.
[0004] At the time of collision, the latch rod (201) remains attached to the lever (102) and therefore, the latch rod (201) that actuates the latch mechanism (202) result in door opening. However, as per safety regulation, during side crash of the vehicle, the door should not open.
[0005] More specifically, during the time of the side impact, the force of inertia linked to the mass of the handle (101) can reach, or even exceed, the force which is usually required at the time when the door is opened in normal usuage. As a result, the door handle (101) moves in upward direction due to inertia which pushes the latch rod (201) in downward direction, thus activating the latch

mechanism (202). Thus, due to the impact, the door accidentally opens up and endangers the safety of the occupant(s).
[0006] In a prior art, an arrangement for preventing the accidental opening of the vehicle door during an impact situation is disclosed. The arrangement comprises a heavy duty spring that is provided in an association with the vehicle door handle. In this particular arrangement, a heavy duty spring is attached in conjuction with the door handle and the spring is sized to prevent the door handle from opening in case of crash but only upto 30 G's of impact force.
[0007] The disadvantage of the abovementioned solution is that the extent of the side impact force that the door handle will be able to withstand is limited by the strength of the door handle spring. Therefore, if the door handle spring is able to resist 30 G's of impact force, any more impact force than that would result in undesirable door opening.
[0008] However, the solutions in the form of installations or configurations as available in state-of-the-art cannnot be applied without significant changes to an automobile door lock assembly to be opened by means of the pull handle. The pull door handle has got to be built sturdy and must include a robust pivot bearing support since it not only has the task to tug open the locking mechanism of the door, but also to bring the door into its opened position.
[0009] It is therefore, an urgent need and of utmost importance to provide a door lock assembly with a simplified configuration and least external intervention which prevents opening of the door in case of side impact of the vehicle.
[0010] The above information is presented as background information only to assist with an understanding of the present disclosure. No determination has been made, and no assertion is made, as to whether any of the above might be applicable as prior art with regard to the present invention.
OBJECTS OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0011] It is therefore an object of the present disclosure to overcome the aforementioned and other drawbacks in prior method/product/apparatus.

[0012] It is a primary object of the present disclosure to provide a door lock assembly preventing opening of the door in case of side impact of the vehicle.
[0013] It is another object of the present disclosure to provide a breakable door lock assembly during side crash.
[0014] It is another object of the present disclosure to provide the door lock assembly which is simple in construction, reliable in operation, and is particularly suited for flap type door handles.
[0015] These and other objects and advantages of the present subject matter will be apparent to a person skilled in the art after consideration of the following detailed description taken into consideration with accompanying drawings in which preferred embodiments of the present subject matter are illustrated.
SUMMARY
[0016] A solution to one or more drawbacks of existing technology and additional advantages are provided through the present disclosure. Additional features and advantages are realized through the technicalities of the present disclosure. Other embodiments and aspects of the disclosure are described in detail herein and are considered to be a part of the claimed disclosure.
[0017] The present disclosure provides a solution in the form of a door lock assembly for a vehicle door that remains locked during side crash. The assembly includes a handle installed on an outer side panel of the vehicle door, a lever integrally formed with the handle and extending in an upward direction, wherein an extended portion is integrally formed on the lever, and an additional weight fixed on the extended portion of the lever, wherein the lever breaks at the region (X) due to inertial force of the additional weight on the lever and the inertial force of the handle during the side crash.
[0018] In an aspect of the invention, the additional weight is fixed on upper area of the extended portion of the lever.

[0019] In an aspect of the invention, due to the breakage of the lever at the region (X), the connection between the handle and the lever disengages.
[0020] In another aspect of the invention, the direction of inertial force of the additional weight and the inertial force of the handle are in counter direction to the impact during side crash.
[0021] The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
[0022] It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of the present subject matter and are therefore not to be considered for limiting of its scope, for the present disclosure may admit to other equally effective embodiments. The detailed description is described with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures, a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The same numbers are used throughout the figures to reference like features and components. Some embodiments of system or methods or structure in accordance with embodiments of the present subject matter are now described, by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:
[0023] Fig. 1 is an illustrative view of a door handle with a lever in accordance with the prior art.
[0024] Fig. 2 is a perspective view depicting the connection of latch rod with a lever and a latch mechanism in accordance with the prior art.
[0025] Fig. 3 is a perspective inner view of a door handle with a lever in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.

[0026] Fig. 4 is a side view of the door handle with the lever during side impact in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.
[0027] The figures depict embodiments of the present subject matter for illustration only. A person skilled in the art will easily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0028] The detailed description of various exemplary embodiments of the disclosure is described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the embodiments are described herein in such details as to communicate the disclosure. However, the amount of details provided herein is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments; on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
[0029] It is also to be understood that various arrangements may be devised that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the present disclosure, as well as specific examples, are intended to encompass equivalents thereof.
[0030] It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions/acts noted may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two figures shown in succession may be executed concurrently or may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts involved.
[0031] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which example embodiments belong. It will be further

understood that terms, e.g., those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
[0032] In the following detailed description of the embodiments of the disclosure, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the disclosure may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the disclosure, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The following description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.
[0033] Hereinafter, a description of an embodiment with several components in communication with each other does not imply that all such components are required. On the contrary, a variety of optional components are described to illustrate the wide variety of possible embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0034] Referring Fig. 1, there is disclosed a door lock assembly for a vehicle as available in state-of-the-art. The door lock assembly includes a handle (101) that is installed on the outer side panel of the vehicle door. The handle (101) is a pull type handle where the door is opened by pulling the handle (101) in a half rotation. The handle (101) is fixed to the door by means of a hinge.
[0035] The handle (101) of the door lock assembly has a lever (102). The lever (102) protrudes like an arm from the handle (101) and extends in an upward direction. A mounting point is provided on the lever for coupling a latch rod (201), as shown in Fig. 2. The latch rod (201) if remained linked or coupled to the lever (102), opens the door when the handle (101) is rotated in upward direction.
[0036] According to an embodiment of the present subject matter, the lever (102) includes an extended portion (302) in the upward direction, as shown in Fig. 3.

The extended portion (302) acts as a base for an additional weight (301) that is fixedly mounted on upper area of the extended portion (302) of the lever (102).
[0037] In a further embodiment, the door lock assembly with the lever (102) which breaks during a side impact or crash is provided, as illustrated in Fig. 4. At the time of the crash, the inertial force (Fl) of the additional weight (301) due to its mass and the inertial force (F2) of the handle (101) due to its mass act in counter direction to the impact during side crash.
[0038] The inertial force (Fl) and the inertial force (F2) acting in counter direction to the impact and due to the positioning of additional weight (301) and the handle (101), the stresses induced in the lever (102) exceed the load bearing capacity of the lever (102). As a result, the lever (102) breaks at weak region (X) thus breaking the connection between the lever (102) and the handle (101).
[0039] As the connection between the lever (102) and the handle (101) breaks, the connection between the latch rod (201) which is connected to the lever (102) and the handle also breaks. Thus, during side impact, even if the door handle (101) moves in upward direction due to inertial force (F2), the mechanism of the latch rod (201) actuating the latch mechanism (202) of the vehicle door to unlock the vehicle door does not occur and the door remains closed at the time of impact.
TECHNICAL ADVANTAGES
[0040] With the help of the solution as proposed herein in the context of the present disclosure, the door lock assembly reliably enables detachment of the door handle and the latch rod in the event of a side impact, thus preventing door opening.
[0041] The present disclosure further provides for an easy assembly, with minimal inclusion of the additional components, thereby satisfying various structural and operational requirements and parameters.

[0042] It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as "open" terms (e.g., the term "including" should be interpreted as "including but not limited to," the term "having" should be interpreted as "having at least," the term "includes" should be interpreted as "includes but is not limited to," etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation, no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases "at least one" and "one or more" to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles "a" or "an" limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to disclosures containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases "one or more" or "at least one" and indefinite articles such as "a" or "an" (e.g., "a" and/or "an" should typically be interpreted to mean "at least one" or "one or more"); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. Also, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of "two recitations," without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to "at least one of A, B, and C, etc." is used, in general, such construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., "a system having at least one of A, B, and C" would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances, where a convention analogous to "at least one of A, B, or C, etc." is used, in general, such construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., "a system having at least one of A, B, or C" would include

but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms or both terms. For example, the phrase "A or B" will be understood to include the possibilities of "A" or "B" or "A and B."
[0043] It will be further appreciated that functions or structures of a plurality of components or steps may be combined into a single component or step, or the functions or structures of one-step or component may be split among plural steps or components. The present disclosure contemplates all of these combinations. Unless stated otherwise, dimensions and geometries of the various structures depicted herein are not intended to be restrictive of the disclosure, and other dimensions or geometries are possible. Also, while a feature of the present disclosure may have been described in the context of only one of the illustrated embodiments, such feature may be combined with one or more other features of other embodiments, for any given application. It will also be appreciated from the above that the fabrication of the unique structures herein and the operation thereof also constitute methods in accordance with the present disclosure. The present disclosure also encompasses intermediate and end products resulting from the practice of the methods herein. The use of "comprising" or "including" also contemplates embodiments that "consist essentially of or "consist of the recited feature.

We claim;

1. A door lock assembly for a vehicle door, the assembly comprising:
a handle (101) installed on an outer side panel of the vehicle door;
a lever (102) integrally formed with the handle (101) and extending in an upward direction, wherein an extended portion (302) is integrally formed on the lever (102);
an additional weight (301) fixed on the extended portion (302) of the lever (102),
wherein the lever (102) breaks at the region (X) due to inertial force (Fl) of the additional weight (301) on the lever (102) and the inertial force (F2) of the handle (101) during the side crash.
2. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the additional weight (301) is fixed on upper area of the extended portion (302) of the lever (102).
3. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein due to the breakage of the lever (102) at the region (X), the connection between the handle (101) and the lever (102) disengages.
4. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the direction of inertial force (Fl) of the additional weight (301) and the inertial force (F2) of the handle (101) are in counter direction to the impact during the side crash.