LATCH MECHANISM
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;
a linkage assembly mechanically linked between the inside handle and the latch assembly; and
an actuator interconnected to the pawl, the actuator being configured to be activated by actuation of the inside handle;
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 also configured to be moved to the open position after actuation of the inside handle by having the inside handle mechanically move the linkage assembly 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 after actuation of the inside handle by having the inside handle mechanically move the linkage assembly to stop the pawl from maintaining the catch in the closed position 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 a latch assembly having a catch and a pawl, an actuatable inside handle, a linkage assembly mechanically linked between the inside handle and the latch assembly, and an actuator interconnected to the pawl and being configured to be activated by actuation of the inside handle. The catch is configured to be moved to the open position by activating the actuator to thereby move the pawl to stop the pawl from maintaining the catch in the closed position or by actuating the inside handle when the vehicle has power. The catch is also configured to be moved to the open position after actuation of the inside handle by having the inside handle mechanically move the linkage assembly to stop the pawl from maintaining the catch in the closed position when the vehicle does not have power.
74 Citations
23 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; a linkage assembly mechanically linked between the inside handle and the latch assembly; and an actuator interconnected to the pawl, the actuator being configured to be activated by actuation of the inside handle; 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 also configured to be moved to the open position after actuation of the inside handle by having the inside handle mechanically move the linkage assembly 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 after actuation of the inside handle by having the inside handle mechanically move the linkage assembly to stop the pawl from maintaining the catch in the closed position when the vehicle does not have power. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. 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 inside handle configured to actuate the pawl to stop the pawl from maintaining the catch in the closed position to thereby allow the door to move to the open location; a linkage assembly mechanically linked between the inside handle and the latch assembly whereby the inside handle can be used to move the pawl; and an actuator interconnected to the pawl, the actuator being configured to be activated by actuation of the inside handle; wherein, 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 until the vehicle does not have power. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of controlling a location of a door of a vehicle comprising:
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providing a 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 a 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; providing an actuatable inside handle; mechanically linking a linkage assembly between the inside handle and the latch assembly; and interconnecting an actuator to the pawl; wherein, when the vehicle has power, allowing the door to move to the open location by actuating the inside handle to activate the actuator to move the pawl to thereby stop the pawl from maintaining the catch in the closed position; wherein, when the vehicle has power, allowing the door to move to the open location by actuating the inside handle to directly mechanically move the linkage assembly to thereby stop the pawl from maintaining the catch in the closed position; and wherein, when the vehicle does not have power, allowing the door to move to the open location by actuating the inside handle to directly mechanically move the linkage assembly to thereby stop the pawl from maintaining the catch in the closed position. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of controlling a location of a door of a vehicle comprising:
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providing a 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 a 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 latch assembly having a locked condition wherein the pawl is prevented from releasing the catch; providing an inside handle configured to actuate the pawl to stop the pawl from maintaining the catch in the closed position to thereby allow the door to move to the open location; mechanically linking a linkage assembly between the inside handle and the latch assembly whereby the inside handle can be used to move the pawl; interconnecting an actuator with the pawl; providing the latch assembly with a locked condition wherein the pawl is prevented from releasing the catch; and preventing actuation of the inside handle from actuating the pawl to stop the pawl from maintaining the catch in the closed position with the actuator until the vehicle does not have power if the latch assembly is in the locked condition.
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21. A system for a vehicle'"'"'s door comprising:
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an assembly for maintaining the door closed; a handle; a linkage between the handle and the assembly; an actuator interconnected to the assembly and being activated by the handle; the assembly opening after actuation of the handle via the actuator or via the linkage when the vehicle has power; and the assembly opening after actuation of the handle via the linkage when the vehicle does not have power.
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22. A system for a vehicle'"'"'s door comprising:
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an assembly for maintaining the door closed and being lockable; a handle for allowing the door to open; a linkage between the handle and the assembly for allowing the door to open; an actuator interconnected to the assembly and being activated by the handle; if the assembly is locked, the actuator prevents actuation of the handle from opening the door until the vehicle does not have power.
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23. A method of controlling a vehicle'"'"'s door comprising:
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providing an assembly for maintaining the door in a closed location; providing a handle; linking a linkage between the handle and the assembly; interconnecting an actuator to the assembly; opening the door after actuation of the handle via the actuator or via the linkage when the vehicle has power; opening the door after actuation of the handle via the linkage when the vehicle does not have power.
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Specification