Vehicle door latch with cinching mechanism

• US 6,053,542 A
• Filed: 06/26/1998
• Issued: 04/25/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Strattec Power Access LLC (Strattec Security Corporation)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Bastien, Joseph Leon, Ostrowski, Artur Jerzy
• Primary Examiner(s): Boucher, Darnell M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vaterlaus, Clifford B
• Application Number:
  US09/105,891
• Time in Patent Office: 669 Days
• Field of Search: 292/201, 292/216, 292/341.16, 292/DIG. 23, 292/DIG. 46, 292/DIG. 62, 292/DIG. 27
• US Class Current: 292/201
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 79/20 using flexible connections, e.g. Bowden cables
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/20 for assisting final closing or for initiating opening
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/25 Actuators mounted separately from the lock and controlling the lock functions through mechanical connections
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 83/16 Locks for luggage compartments, car boot lids or car bonnets
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 292/23 Vehicle door latches
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 292/27 Disconnectable handle
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1047 Closure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1082 Motor

Abstract

A vehicle door latch has a rotatable forkbolt that is latched by a detent in a primary or an intermediate secondary latch position. The detent is operated via an intermittent lever that is operated by a transfer lever that is actuated by inside and outside door handles via suitable mechanical linkage. The door latch includes a locking lever that disables the door handles from operating the intermittent lever when it is in the locked position. The door latch also includes a cinching mechanism that automatically engages the forkbolt in the primary latch position when the intermediate secondary latch position is reached. The cinching mechanism includes a link that has one end connected to a cinch pawl and another end connected to the latch assembly. The link pulls on the pawl to disengage it from a cinching gear to allow the cinching gear to return to the standby or home position during an unlatching operation.

Claims

1. A cinching mechanism for a vehicle latch assembly, said cinching mechanism comprising:

a cinching gear rotatably mounted about an axis between standby and latched positions and operatively interacting with the latch assembly and including a notch radially spaced away from said axis;

a cinch pawl operably movable between corresponding standby and latched positions corrected to an actuator and biased against said cinching gear for engagement with the notch of the cinching gear and driving the cinching gear to its latched position and for retracting to its standby position for allowing said cinching gear to rotate back to its standby position;

a cinch drive lever pivotably mounting said cinch pawl along a first pivot axis and being pivotably mounted in proximity to said axis of said cinching gear, said cinch lever operably connected to an actuator for driving said cinch pawl between its standby and latched positions;

a link pivotably connected to said cinch pawl at a predetermined point near one end and extending to and connected near its other end to the latch assembly for pivotably disengaging said cinch pawl from said cinching gear in response to unlatching action of the latch assembly;

said link in proximity to said pivot axis of said cinching gear such that a line between its one and other end crosses said axis of said cinching gear during motion of said cinch pawl between its standby and latched positions.

2. A cinching mechanism as defined in claim 1 further characterized by:

said cinching gear and cinch drive lever being coaxially mounted.

3. A cinching mechanism as defined in claim 2 further characterized by:

said cinch lever having a connection to a cable operably connected to said cinching gear actuator in proximity to one end and a pivotable connection to said link near a second end.

4. A cinching mechanism as defined in claim 3 further characterized by:

said link having a slot near its other end for connection to said latch assembly.

5. A cinching mechanism as defined in claim 4 further characterized by:

a casing mounting said cinching gear, cinch lever, cinch pawl and latch assembly with said link positioned on the exterior of said casing.

6. A cinching mechanism as defined in claim 1 further characterized by:

a casing mounting said cinching gear, cinch lever, cinch pawl and latch assembly with said link positioned on the exterior of said casing.

7. A cinching mechanism in combination with a latch assembly comprising:

a forkbolt pivotably mounted in the latch assembly having a gear section and a primary detent and biased to rotate to an open position;

a detent lever engageable with said primary detent and operable to lock said forkbolt from rotating;

an operating lever pivotably mounted in the latch assembly;

an intermediate lever engageable with said operating lever and linked to said detent lever;

a cinching gear rotatable about an axis between standby and latched positions and operatively engaged with said gear section of said forkbolt and including a notch radially spaced away from said axis;

a cinch pawl operably movable between corresponding standby and latched positions and biased against said cinching gear for engagement with said notch of said cinching gear and driving said cinching gear to its latched position and for retracting to its standby position for allowing said cinching gear to rotate back to its standby position;

a cinch drive lever pivotally mounting said cinch pawl along a first pivot axis and being pivotably mounted in proximity to said axis of said cinching gear, said cinch lever operably connected to an actuator for driving said cinch pawl between its standby and latched positions;

a link pivotably connected to said cinch pawl at a predetermined point near one end and extending to and connected near its other end to the latch assembly for pivotably disengaging said cinch pawl from said cinching gear in response to unlatching action of the latch assembly;

said link in proximity to said axis of said cinching gear such that a line between its one and other end crosses said axis of said cinching gear during motion of said cinch pawl between its standby and latched positions.

8. A cinching mechanism in combination with a latch assembly as defined in claim 7 further characterized by:

a casing mounting said cinching gear, cinch lever, cinch pawl and latch assembly with said link positioned on the exterior of said casing.