FIELD OF INVENTION:
[001] The present subject matter described herein, relates to a back door opening lever in vehicles, and, in particular, a locking mechanism for restricting free 5 operation of the back door opening lever. More particularly, the present subject matter relates to a locking device mechanism which locks and unlocks movement of the back door opening lever for latching and unlatching the back door.
BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART:
[002] Generally, a back door or rear door has two points for unlatching. One is 10 manually by key or by remote key and other is by an opening lever which is provided inside the vehicle cabin. Generally, the back door opening lever is provided beneath driver seat for easy access by the driver to open the back door along with the fuel tank lid. The back door opening lever is mounted on floor panel of the vehicle. The back door opening lever is generally a metal part. 15
[003] Fig. 1 illustrates the structure of the back door opening lever 100. The back door opening lever 100 has a lever 102 which is pivoted with a pin 103. The lever 102 rotates about the pin for unlatching the back door upon pull force. Front portion of the lever 102 comprises a handle portion 101, the user holds the handle portion 101 to pull the lever 102 in upward direction F1. On the handle portion 20 101, a plastic cover is provided for aesthetic appearance and efficient grip of the handle. Further, the latch cable 104 is coupled with other end after the pivot pin 103 of the lever 103. To unlatch the lever or open the back door, the user holds the handle portion 101 and pulls up the lever 102 by Force F1. Upon applying the upward force F1, the lever 102 rotates about the pivot point 103 and pulls the 25 latch cable 104 with force F2 and releases the back door latch. This is general mechanism to open the back door by back door opening lever 100.
[004] Japanese Patent Publication JP 2000103245 (A) discloses a lid opener for the vehicle. The opener lever part is installed in the front wall part of a floor cross
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member on the driver's seat side of an underbody. The opener lever part has a fuel lid opener lever and a back door opener lever. A fuel lid opener cable is connected to the fuel lid opener lever, and a back door opener cable is connected to the back door opener lever. These cables are wired to rearward of a vehicle in a centre side position of the under body. This present Japanese patent publication discloses 5 general presence of the fuel lid opener and the back door opener at the under body of the vehicle which is generally under the seat of the driver. Further, this provides a mechanism to solve technical problem to avoid damage of the lever by the driver’s feet.
[005] Technical problem associated with the existing back door lever opener is 10 that the lever does not have any locking mechanism to avoid accidental opening of the back door. For example, while refueling the fuel tank, the driver accidently pulls the back door opening lever which opens the back door. Further, there are safety regulations, for example, ECE R 11 which make it necessary to have a lock which should be unlocked before pulling the lever. It is two step process, i.e., 15 unlock and pull for opening the back door. This makes the vehicle safer.
[006] The present invention has been conceived in view of the aforementioned circumstances. It is an object of the present invention to provide a locking mechanism for back door opening lever.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION: 20
[007] The principal objective of the present invention is to provide a back door opening lever with a locking mechanism.
[008] Another object of the present subject matter is to provide a back door opening lever with L shaped locking device having a spring which needs to be unlocked first by pulling the knob portion in sideways direction towards unlock 25 direction and then pulling the knob portion in upward direction to unlock the back door.
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[009] Yet another object of the present subject matter is to provide a simple, effective, and cost efficient back door opening lever with a locking mechanism. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:
[0010] The subject matter disclosed herein relates to a back door opening lever assembly with a locking mechanism. The back door opening lever assembly 5 comprises a lever arm pivoted with a pin on body of vehicle. The lever arm rotates about the pin while applying pull force. The lever arm has a locking device which has a knob portion at front end which is pulled by user to open the back door. The locking device is mounted with the lever arm through pin and bush arrangement. The locking device is L shaped locking device, where vertical plate is hinged with 10 the lever arm and horizontal plate has knob portion at distal end. Further, a rectangular portion extends from the transverse surface of the vertical plate and engaged with slot of the lever arm. The horizontal plate has a Z shaped locking key structure where base rectangular portion engages with slot of bracket to lock the lever arm. The locking device has a spring which is coupled with the locking 15 device and the lever arm. The spring brings back the locking device to its original position after release. To unlock the lever arm and to open the back door, the user unlocks the locking device by first pulling the knob portion in lateral/sideways direction and then pulling the knob portion in upward direction to open the back door. In the initial movement, the rectangular portion of the vertical plate moves 20 in the slot of the lever arm until the Z shaped locking key structure completely disengaged from the slot of the bracket. Once the disengagement is complete, the locking device makes direct contact with the lever arm and transfers further applied pull force on the lever arm to pull the cable of the back door latch.
[0011] In order to further understand the characteristics and technical contents of 25 the present subject matter, a description relating thereto will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the drawings are illustrative only but not used to limit scope of the present subject matter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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[0012] 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 invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments. The detailed description is described with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number 5 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 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: 10
[0013] Fig. 1 illustrates structure of back door opening lever as known in the art;
[0014] Fig. 2 illustrates assembly of the back door opening lever with locking device coupled with spring, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter;
[0015] Fig. 3 illustrates front view of the assembly of the back door opening lever 15 with locking device in locked condition, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter; and
[0016] Fig. 4 illustrates side view of the assembly of the back door opening lever with locking device, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. 20
[0017] The figures depict embodiments of the present subject matter for the purposes of 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. 25
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS:
[0018] The subject matter disclosed herein relates to a back door opening lever assembly with a locking mechanism. The back door opening lever assembly comprises a lever arm pivoted with a pin on body of vehicle. The lever arm rotates
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about the pin while applying pull force. The lever arm has a locking device which has a knob portion at front end which is pulled by user to open the back door. The locking device is hinged with the lever arm. The locking device is L shaped locking device, where vertical plate is hinged with the lever arm and horizontal plate has knob portion at distal end. Further, a rectangular portion extends from 5 the transverse surface of the vertical plate and engaged with slot of the lever arm. The horizontal plate has a Z shaped locking key structure where base rectangular portion engages with slot of bracket to lock the lever arm. The locking device has a spring which is coupled with the locking device and the lever arm. The spring brings back the locking device to its original position after release. To unlock the 10 lever arm and to open the back door, the user unlocks the locking device by first pulling the knob portion in lateral/sideways direction and then pulling the knob portion in upward direction to open the back door. In the initial movement, the rectangular portion of the vertical plate moves in the slot of the lever arm until the Z shaped locking key structure completely disengaged from the slot of the 15 bracket. Once the disengagement is complete, the locking device makes direct contact with the lever arm and transfers further applied pull force on the lever arm to pull the cable of the back door latch.
[0019] In another embodiment of the present subject matter, a rectangular bracket is mounted on floor of the vehicle. The rectangular bracket is in L shape where 20 horizontal portion is welded with the floor of the vehicle. The rectangular bracket has a slot to receive rectangular base plate of the Z shaped locking key structure of the locking device. In the locked condition, the rectangular base plate of the Z shaped locking key structure engages with the slot of the rectangular bracket and locks the back door opening lever. 25
[0020] It should be noted that the description and figures merely illustrate the principles of the present subject matter. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present subject matter. It should also be appreciated by those 30
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skilled in the art that by devising various assembly that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the present subject matter and are included within its scope. Furthermore, all examples recited herein are principally intended expressly to be for pedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the principles of the present subject matter and the concepts 5 contributed by the inventor(s) to furthering the art, and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the present subject matter, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description when 10 considered in connection with the accompanying figures.
[0021] These and other advantages of the present subject matter would be described in greater detail with reference to the following figures. It should be noted that the description merely illustrates the principles of the present subject matter. It will thus be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to devise 15 various arrangements that, although not explicitly described herein, embody the principles of the present subject matter and are included within its scope.
[0022] Fig. 2, 3, and 4 illustrates various views of the back door opening lever assembly with locking mechanism, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. Referring to figure 2, the back door opening lever 20 assembly 200 comprises a lever arm 202, locking device 300, a knob portion 201, a pivot joint 203, and a cutout portion 204. The back door opening lever is an integrated device. Further, the back door opening lever can be angled as per requirements of the vehicle design. Generally, the knob portion 201 and the pivot joint 203 are perpendicular to each other. Further, angular dimensions of the lever 25 can be optimized based on the force requirement and design of the vehicle floor.
[0023] The lever arm 202 is pivoted with a pin 203 on the vehicle structure. The pivot joint with pin 203 allows rotation of the lever arm upon application of force in upward direction and free fall. Further, the back opening lever assembly 200 has a spring which allows rotation of the lever arm 202 upon application of force 30
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and regaining its original position. Further, the lever arm 202 connected to the knob portion 201 via locking device 300. The knob portion 201 is used by the user to hold and pull the lever arm 202 in upward direction. The knob portion 201 is covered by a plastic layer to increase the holding area and grip. The cutout portion 204 configured to connect with the back door opener cable 208. When pulling 5 force applied on the lever arm 202, the lever arm transfers the force on the back door opener cable to open the back door.
[0024] The lever arm 202 has a slot 202a at distal end to receive lug of the locking device for latching the back door. Further, the lever arm 202 has a vertically projecting lug 202c from base surface 202b of the lever 202 to receive 10 one end of spring (explained in below paragraphs in detail) of the locking device 300.
[0025] Referring to figure 2, the locking device 300 is hinged with the lever arm 202 by a hinge pin 308. The locking device 300 rotates about the hinge pin 308 for locking and unlocking the lever arm. The locking device 300 is L shaped 15 locking device. The locking device 300 has a vertical plate 301 and a horizontal plate 302 which extend perpendicularly from lower end 301c of the vertical plate 301 in forward direction (in XZ plane). The vertical plate 301 is hinged by the hinge pin 308. A rectangular portion 303 which is narrower than the width of the vertical plate 301 extends away from middle of upper surface 301b or transverse 20 side upper end of the vertical plate 301. The rectangular portion 303 bents perpendicularly and extend in rearward direction as rectangular portion 304 which engages with the slot 202a of the lever arm 202. The slot 202a restricts movement of the locking device 300 beyond the specified angular distance. From longitudinal side or side surface 301a of the vertical plate 301, a rectangular 25 portion 305 extends forwardly (in XY plane) to mount a spring 306 with the projecting lug 202c of the lever arm 202. The rectangular portion 305 has an orifice for receiving one end of the spring 305.
[0026] The horizontal plate 302 has side surface 302a and end surface 302b. The knob portion 201 is connected with the end surface 302b for pulling the locking 30
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device 300 and subsequently the lever arm 202 coupled with the locking device 300. A rectangular plate 307a extends forwardly from the side surface 302a of the horizontal plate 302. The rectangular plate 307a bends perpendicularly and extends in downward direction as rectangular plate 307b. After a distance, the rectangular plate 307b bends perpendicularly and extends forwardly as rectangular 5 plate 307c. The rectangular plates 307a, 307b, and 307c combine with each other and form a ‘¯|_’ or ‘Z’ shaped locking key structure 307 where base portion (rectangular plate 307c) engages with the slot 206a of the bracket 206 for locking and unlocking of the lever arm 202.
[0027] The spring 306 is connected in between the locking device 300 and the 10 lever arm 202. One end of the spring 306 is connected with the orifice of the rectangular portion 305 of the locking device 300 and other end of the spring 306 is connected with the projecting lug 202c of the lever arm 202.
[0028] In another embodiment of the present subject matter as illustrated in the figures 3 and 4, the rectangular bracket 206 is mounted on floor of the vehicle. 15 The rectangular bracket 206 is in L shape where horizontal portion is welded with the floor of the vehicle. The rectangular bracket 206 has a rectangular slot 206a to receive the rectangular plate 307c of the locking key structure 307. In the locked condition, the rectangular plate 307c of the locking key structure 307 engages with the rectangular slot 206a of the rectangular bracket 206 and locks the back 20 door opening lever as shown in the figure 3. The rectangular bracket 206 has a tapered profile at upper side above the rectangular slot 206a. When the back door opening lever 200 comes back to original position after opening the back door, the tapered profile guides the rectangular plate 307c of the locking key structure 307 to the rectangular slot 206a for locking. 25
[0029] Referring to figure 3, in order to unlock the lever arm 202 from the bracket 206 locking, the knob portion 201 is moved to unlock direction. Upon rotation, the rectangular plate 307c of the locking key structure 307 disengaged from the rectangular slot 206a. The locking device 300 rotates about the hinge point 308. Further, the rectangular portion 304 moves inside the slot 202a of the lever arm 30
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202 during unlocking. The rectangular portion 304 moves inside the slot 202a till disengagement of the rectangular plate 307c of the locking key structure 307 from the rectangular slot 206a. Once the rectangular plate 307c of the locking key structure 307 disengages from the slot 206a, the rectangular portion 304 touches with inner surface of the slot 202a and makes a direct contact with the lever arm 5 202 to transfer the applied force on the lever arm 202. After unlocking, the locking device 300 coupled with the lever arm 202 in the slot 202a transfers pull force F1 onto the lever arm 202 for rotation about hinge pin 203 and pulls cable of the back door latch. After latching, the rectangular plate 307c of the locking key structure 307 strikes with tapered profile of the bracket 206 which guides the 10 rectangular plate 307c to the slot 206a for lock condition. Force stored in the spring 306 due to elongation forces the locking device 300 to regain its original position.
[0030] In the back door opening lever assembly 200, the knob portion 201 is moved to unlock position by rotating the locking device 300 about the hinge 308. 15 Once the rectangular plate 307c of the locking key structure 307 is disengaged from the slot 206a of the bracket 206, the knob portion 201 is pulled by force F1 which is transferred by the locking device 300 to the lever arm 202 for rotation about pivot point 203. The lever arm 202 pulls the back door latch cable 208 with Force F2 and releases the back door latch. The lock position is retained by the 20 spring 306 which pulls the locking device 300 back into the slot 206a of the bracket 206 as shown in the figure 3.
[0031] The present back door opening lever assembly with locking mechanism compiles with the ECE R11 requirements. Further, the present back door opening lever assembly eliminates accidental opening of the back door by the driver. The 25 back door opening lever assembly is simple to manufacture and effective in use.
[0032] The term “vehicle” as used throughout this detailed description and in the claims refers to any moving vehicle that is capable of carrying one or more human occupants and is powered by any form of energy. The term “vehicle” is a motor
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vehicle which includes, but is not limited to: cars, trucks, vans, minivans, hatchback, sedan, MUVs, and SUVs.
[0033] 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 5 or components. The present invention 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 invention, and other dimensions or geometries are possible. In addition, while a feature of the present invention may have been described in the context of only one of the illustrated 10 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 invention. The present invention also encompasses intermediate and end products resulting from the 15 practice of the methods herein. The use of “comprising” or “including” also contemplates embodiments that “consist essentially of” or “consist of” the recited feature.
[0034] Although embodiments for the present subject matter have been described in language specific to structural features, it is to be understood that the present 20 subject matter is not necessarily limited to the specific features described. Rather, the specific features and methods are disclosed as embodiments for the present subject matter. Numerous modifications and adaptations of the system/component of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and thus it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such modifications and adaptations 25 which fall within the scope of the present subject matter.

We claim:
1. A back door opening lever assembly (200) with a locking mechanism comprising:
a lever arm (202) pivoted with a pin (203) which allows rotation of the lever arm (202); 5
a cutout portion (204) provided at distal end of the lever arm (202) to couple with back door opener cable (208);
characterized in that
a locking device (300) hinged with the lever arm (202), wherein a knob portion (201) is provided at distal end of the locking device 10 (300) for unlocking the locking device (300) from a bracket (206).
2. The back door opening lever assembly (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locking device (300) comprises:
a vertical plate (301) having a rectangular portion (304) extending 15 away from upper surface (301b) and having a rectangular portion (305) extending forwardly from longitudinal side surface (301a), wherein the rectangular portion (304) engages with a slot (202a) of the lever arm (202); and
a horizontal plate (302) which extend perpendicularly in forward 20 direction from base of the vertical plate (301), wherein the knob portion (201) is provided at distal end of the horizontal plate (302), and a locking key structure (307) extends forwardly from side surface (302a) of the horizontal plate (302).
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3. The back door opening lever assembly (200) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the locking key structure (307) has a Z shaped structure where upper portion is connected with the side surface (302a) of the horizontal plate (302) and lower portion (307c) of the locking key structure (307) is engaged with the slot (206a) of the bracket (206). 30
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4. The back door opening lever assembly (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a spring (306) is provided in between the locking device (300) and the lever arm (202).
5. The back door opening lever assembly (200) as claimed in claim 4, wherein 5 one end of the spring (306) is connected with a rectangular portion (305) of the locking device (300) and other end of the spring is connected with a vertical projecting lug (202b) of the lever arm (202).
6. The back door opening lever assembly (200) as claimed in claim 2 wherein 10 the rectangular portion (304) moves in the slot (202a) during unlocking.
7. The back door opening lever assembly (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bracket (206) is L shaped bracket, where horizontal end of the bracket (206) is mounted on floor of the vehicle and vertical end has a slot (206a) to 15 receive a rectangular plate (307c) of a locking key structure (307) of the locking device (300).
8. The back door opening lever assembly (200) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the spring (306) is helical spring.. 20
9. The back door opening lever assembly (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locking device (300) makes direct connect with the lever arm (202) after unlocking and transfers pull force on the knob portion (201) to the lever arm (202) and cable of the back door latch.