Vehicle door lock

1. A vehicle door lock ( 1 ) comprising a lock mechanism ( 3 ) cooperating with a striker ( 5 ), said lock mechanism ( 3 ) comprising:

a fork ( 11 ) having a seat ( 15 ), said fork ( 11 ) can be set to a release position, in which said fork permits engagement and release of the seat ( 15 ) by the striker ( 5 ), and a full-lock position, in which the fork retains the striker ( 5 ) in, and prevents release of, the respective seat ( 15 ), said fork ( 11 ) including a cam projection ( 45 ) defining a surface having a first end and an opposed second end;

a latch ( 12 ) which engages said fork ( 11 ) to lock it releasably in said full-lock position; and

a release member ( 6 ) movable between a first rest position and a second rest position, said release member ( 6 ) operated selectively to release said latch ( 12 ) from said fork ( 11 ) and allow the fork ( 11 ) to move into said release position, said release member ( 6 ) including an arm ( 44 ) projecting therefrom having a free end;

when said fork ( 11 ) is in said release position, said free end of said arm ( 44 ) contacts said cam projection ( 45 ) proximate said first end thereof to maintain said release member ( 6 ) in said second rest position, and when said fork ( 11 ) is in said full-lock position, said free end of said arm ( 44 ) does not contact said cam projection ( 45 ) and said release member ( 6 ) moves into said second rest position which indicates that said fork ( 11 ) is in said full-lock position.

2. A lock as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that said release member ( 6 ) is loaded by a bias member ( 36 ) into said first rest position, and is moved, in opposition to said bias member ( 36 ), into said second rest position in which said release member releases said latch ( 12 ) from said fork ( 11 ) to move said fork ( 11 ) from said full-lock position to said release position.

3. A lock as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that said fork ( 11 ) can also be set to a prelock position, with respect to said latch ( 12 ), interposed between said release position and said full-lock position; and said arm and said cam projection also cooperate with each other in said prelock position of said fork ( 11 ).

4. A lock as claimed in claim 3 , characterized in that said latch ( 12 ) and said release member ( 6 ) comprise coupling means ( 23 , 40 ) which are only active along part of the movement of said release member ( 6 ) from said first rest position to said second rest position.

5. A lock as claimed in claim 4 , characterized in that said coupling means comprise an opening ( 23 ) and a male member ( 40 ), which are carried selectively by said latch ( 12 ) and said release member ( 6 ), respectively, and which engage loosely in the direction of their relative movement.

6. A lock as claimed in claim 1 , including a transmission device ( 28 ) connecting said release member ( 6 ) to a control member for transmitting mechanically to the control member the position of said fork ( 11 ) based on the position of said release member ( 6 ).

7. A vehicle door lock ( 1 ) comprising a lock mechanism ( 3 ) cooperating with a striker ( 5 ), said lock mechanism ( 3 ) comprising:

a fork ( 11 ) movable between a release position, in which said fork does not retain the striker ( 5 ), a pre-lock position, and a full-lock position, in which the fork retains the striker ( 5 ), said fork ( 11 ) including a cam projection ( 45 ) defining a surface having a first end and an opposed second end;

a latch ( 12 ) engageable with said fork ( 11 ) to retain said fork in one of said pre-lock and full-lock positions; and

a release member ( 6 ) movable between a first rest position and a second rest position, said release member ( 6 ) operably coupled to said latch to selectively release said latch ( 12 ) from said fork ( 11 ) when said fork ( 11 ) is in said full-lock position to allow said fork ( 11 ) to move into said release position, said release member ( 6 ) including an arm ( 44 ) extending out therefrom having a free end;

when said fork ( 11 ) is in said release position said free end of said arm ( 44 ) contacts said cam projection ( 45 ) proximate said first end to maintain said release lever ( 6 ) in said second rest position, when said fork ( 11 ) is in said pre-lock position said free end of said arm ( 44 ) contacts said cam projection ( 45 ) proximate said second end to maintain said release lever ( 6 ) in said second rest position, and when said fork ( 11 ) is in said full-lock position said free end of said arm ( 44 ) does not contact said cam projection ( 45 ) and said release lever ( 6 ) moves into said first rest position which indicates that said fork ( 11 ) is in said full-lock position.

8. A lock as claimed in claim 7 wherein said release member ( 6 ) is loaded by a bias member ( 36 ) into a first rest position and is moved in opposition to said bias member ( 36 ) into a second rest position, in which said release member releases said latch ( 12 ) from said fork ( 11 ).

9. A lock as claimed in claim 8 wherein said latch ( 12 ) and said release member ( 6 ) include coupling means ( 23 , 40 ) which are only active along part of the movement of said release member ( 6 ) from said first rest position to said second rest position.

10. A lock as claimed in claim 9 wherein said coupling means includes an opening ( 23 ) and a male member ( 40 ) carried by said latch ( 12 ) and said release member ( 6 ) respectively for selective engagement during movement of said release member ( 6 ) and said latch ( 12 ).

11. A lock as claimed in claim 8 including a transmission device ( 28 ) connecting said release member ( 6 ) to a control member for transmitting mechanically to the control member the position of said fork ( 11 ) based on the position of said release member ( 6 ).