VEHICLE DOOR LATCH
First Claim
1. A door latch comprising:
- a forkbolt that has a movement between a latched position and an unlatched position;
a detent that has movement on a travel path between a first position and a second position, said detent engaging and holding said forkbolt in said latched position when said detent is in said first position, said detent releasing the forkbolt for movement to said unlatched position when said detent is in said second position;
a detent spring eccentrically engaging said detent relative to said detent travel path and biasing the detent toward the first position; and
a release mechanism for moving the detent against the bias of the detent spring to said second position to release the forkbolt and produce a non-linear torque on said detent.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A door latch comprising a forkbolt that has a movement between a latched position and an unlatched position is provided. A detent is included that has movement on a travel path between a first position and a second position, the detent engaging and holding the forkbolt in the latched position when the detent is in the first position. The detent releases the forkbolt for movement to the unlatched position when the detent moves to the second position. A detent spring eccentrically engages the detent relative to the detent travel path and biases the detent toward the first position. A release mechanism is also included for moving the detent against the bias of the detent spring to the second position, thus releasing the forkbolt and producing a non-linear torque on the detent.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A door latch comprising:
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a forkbolt that has a movement between a latched position and an unlatched position; a detent that has movement on a travel path between a first position and a second position, said detent engaging and holding said forkbolt in said latched position when said detent is in said first position, said detent releasing the forkbolt for movement to said unlatched position when said detent is in said second position; a detent spring eccentrically engaging said detent relative to said detent travel path and biasing the detent toward the first position; and a release mechanism for moving the detent against the bias of the detent spring to said second position to release the forkbolt and produce a non-linear torque on said detent. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A door latch comprising:
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a forkbolt that has a movement between a latched position and an unlatched position; a detent that has movement along a travel path between a first position and a second position, said detent engaging and holding said forkbolt in said latched position when said detent is in said first position, said detent releasing said forkbolt for movement to said unlatched position when said detent is in said second position; a detent spring biasing said detent toward said first position; an unlatching lever pivotably engaging said detent for moving said detent against the bias of said detent spring to said second position to release the forkbolt, said detent spring eccentrically engaging said detent relative to said travel path. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification