UNIVERSAL GLOBAL LATCH SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A latch system for a door of a vehicle comprising:
- a latch assembly for maintaining the door in a closed location, the latch assembly including a catch and a pawl, the catch having a closed position wherein the catch is configured to grasp a portion of the vehicle to maintain the door in the closed location and an open position wherein the catch is configured to release the portion of the vehicle to allow the door to move to an open location, the pawl being configured to maintain the catch in the closed position;
an actuatable inside handle not mechanically connected to the pawl;
an actuator engaged with the latch assembly, the actuator being configured to be activated by actuation of the inside handle;
an emergency release lever being movable between an on position and an off position, the emergency release lever being configured to be engaged with the latch assembly;
wherein the catch is configured to be moved to the open position after actuation of the inside handle by activating the actuator to thereby move the pawl to stop the pawl from maintaining the catch in the closed position when the vehicle has power; and
wherein the catch is configured to be moved to the open position by moving the emergency release lever to the on position to thereby move the pawl to stop the pawl from maintaining the catch in the closed position when the vehicle has power and when the vehicle does not have power.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A latch system for a door of a vehicle including a latch assembly having a catch and a pawl, an actuatable inside handle, and an actuator engaged with the pawl and being configured to be activated by actuation of the inside handle. The catch is configured to be moved to an open position by activating the actuator to thereby move the pawl to stop the pawl from maintaining the catch in the closed position. The catch is also configured to be moved to the open position after actuation of the inside handle or a toggle lever to stop the pawl from maintaining the catch in the closed position to when the vehicle does not have power.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A latch system for a door of a vehicle comprising:
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a latch assembly for maintaining the door in a closed location, the latch assembly including a catch and a pawl, the catch having a closed position wherein the catch is configured to grasp a portion of the vehicle to maintain the door in the closed location and an open position wherein the catch is configured to release the portion of the vehicle to allow the door to move to an open location, the pawl being configured to maintain the catch in the closed position; an actuatable inside handle not mechanically connected to the pawl; an actuator engaged with the latch assembly, the actuator being configured to be activated by actuation of the inside handle; an emergency release lever being movable between an on position and an off position, the emergency release lever being configured to be engaged with the latch assembly; wherein the catch is configured to be moved to the open position after actuation of the inside handle by activating the actuator to thereby move the pawl to stop the pawl from maintaining the catch in the closed position when the vehicle has power; and wherein the catch is configured to be moved to the open position by moving the emergency release lever to the on position to thereby move the pawl to stop the pawl from maintaining the catch in the closed position when the vehicle has power and when the vehicle does not have power. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of controlling a location of a door of a vehicle comprising:
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providing a latch assembly for maintaining the door in a closed location, the latch assembly including a catch and a pawl, the catch having a closed position wherein the catch is configured to grasp a portion of the vehicle to maintain the door in the closed location and an open position wherein the catch is configured to release the portion of the vehicle to allow the door to move to an open location, the pawl being configured to maintain the catch in the closed position; providing an actuatable inside handle, with the actuatable inside handle not being mechanically connected to the pawl; engaging an actuator with the latch assembly; providing an emergency release lever being movable between an on position and an off position, the emergency release lever being configured to be engaged with the latch assembly; opening the door when the vehicle has power by moving the catch to the open position by actuating the inside handle to activate the actuator to thereby move the pawl to stop the pawl from maintaining the catch in the closed position; and opening the door when the vehicle has or does not have power by moving the emergency release lever to the on position to thereby move the pawl to stop the pawl from maintaining the catch in the closed position. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A latch system for a door of a vehicle comprising:
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a latch assembly for maintaining the door in a closed location, the latch assembly including a catch and a pawl, the catch having a closed position wherein the catch is configured to grasp a portion of the vehicle to maintain the door in the closed location and an open position wherein the catch is configured to release the portion of the vehicle to allow the door to move to an open location, the pawl being configured to maintain the catch in the closed position, the latch assembly having a locked condition wherein the pawl is prevented from releasing the catch; an actuatable inside handle not mechanically connected to the pawl; an actuatable outside handle not mechanically connected to the pawl; an actuator engaged with the latch assembly, the actuator being configured to be activated by actuation of the inside handle and actuation of the outside handle; an emergency release lever being movable between an on position and an off position, the emergency release lever configured to be engaged with the latch assembly; wherein the catch is configured to be moved to the open position after actuation of the inside handle by activating the actuator to thereby move the pawl to stop the pawl from maintaining the catch in the closed position when the vehicle has power; wherein the catch is configured to be moved to the open position by moving the emergency release lever to the on position to thereby move the pawl to stop the pawl from maintaining the catch in the closed position when the vehicle has power and when the vehicle does not have power; if the latch assembly is in the locked condition, the actuator prevents actuation of the inside handle from actuating the pawl to stop the pawl from maintaining the catch in the closed position; and wherein the catch is configured to be moved to the open position after actuation of the outside handle by activating the actuator to thereby move the pawl to stop the pawl from maintaining the catch in the closed position when the vehicle has power and when the latch assembly is in the locked condition. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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21. A latch system for a vehicle'"'"'s door comprising:
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an assembly having a closed position for maintaining the door in a closed location; a handle not mechanically connected to the assembly; a lever engagable with the assembly; wherein the assembly is opened after actuation of the handle when the vehicle has power; and wherein the assembly is opened by moving the lever when the vehicle has power and when the vehicle does not have power.
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22. A method of controlling a location of a door of a vehicle comprising:
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providing an assembly for maintaining the door in a closed location; providing a handle not being mechanically connected to the assembly; providing a lever being engagable with the assembly; opening the door when the vehicle has power by actuating the handle; and opening the door when the vehicle has or does not have power by moving the lever.
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Specification