Lock structure for a door panel between cargo and passenger compartments
View Patent ↗A lock structure for a door panel has a back panel for separating a passenger compartment and a cargo bed of a vehicle, in which an opening portion is formed to communicate the passenger compartment with the cargo bed. The door panel is provided for opening or closing the opening portion. The lock structure comprises a lock mechanism mounted in the back panel and at an edge of the opening portion, a striker mounted on the door panel for engaging with the lock mechanism, and an unlock mechanism mounted in both the back panel and the door panel for disengaging between the lock mechanism and the striker. According to the structures, the thickness of the door panel can be decreased to ensure the space of the passenger compartment, so that the design or layout of the door panel and the space of the rear seat is not restricted. Further, the user can easily open the door panel.
1. A lock structure of a door panel provided on an opening of a back panel for separating a passenger compartment and a cargo bed of a vehicle, and for communicating the passenger compartment with the cargo bed, comprising:
a single lock mechanism mounted in the back panel and at a top edge of an opening portion;
a striker mounted on a top edge of the door panel for engaging with the lock mechanism; and
an unlock mechanism mounted in both the back panel and the door panel for disengaging the lock mechanism from the striker.
2. The lock structure according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a lever member mounted in the door panel for being rotatable by a predetermined angle; and
a linking member mounted in the back panel for being rotatable by a rotation of the lever member and for unlocking the lock mechanism.
3. The lock structure according to claim 2 , further comprising:
a rod member mounted in the back panel for connecting the linking member and the lock mechanism,
wherein a counter clockwise rotation of the linking member is transmitted to the lock mechanism through the rod member so as to unlock the lock mechanism, and
wherein a clockwise rotation of the linking member for operating the lock mechanism is transmitted through the rod member.
4. The lock structure according to claim 1 , wherein the single lock mechanism is mounted at a center position in a widthwise direction of the top edge of the opening portion.