Vehicle door latch
First Claim
1. A vehicle door latch assembly comprising:
- a latch;
a latching pawl self-engaging with said latch to hold said latch in a latched condition;
an unlatching mechanism selectively operable to disengage said latching pawl, said unlatching mechanism including a pawl lifter movable from a position of rest to carry said latching pawl out of engagement with said latch, a manually operable release member operatively linked to a door handle for movement to engage and displace said pawl lifter from said position of rest, a power output member movable to engage and displace said pawl lifter from said position of rest, an input member power actuated between a first position and a second position, said input member being releasably drive connected to said output member to cause shifting of said output member as said input member moves to said second position, and an overriding element carrying said input member and said output member into and out of drive connection and being urged to a clutch disconnecting condition, wherein said release member includes a formation capable of co-acting with said overriding element to maintain said overriding element in a clutch connecting condition only when said release member is in an actuated position, thereby preventing power actuation of the output member by the input member unless said release member is actuated.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle door latch assembly has an unlatching mechanism that includes an input member and an output member that are releasably drive connected together. An overriding element carries the input member and the output member into and out of drive connection and is urged in a clutch disconnecting condition. If the overriding element is displaced into a clutch connecting condition, power actuation of the input member is possible after a manually operable release member is shifted to disengage a latching pawl out of engagement from a latch. The overriding element prevents disengagement of the latch if there is a malfunction in the power actuator and ensures that power unlatching can be initiated only by the release member.
83 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A vehicle door latch assembly comprising:
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a latch;
a latching pawl self-engaging with said latch to hold said latch in a latched condition;
an unlatching mechanism selectively operable to disengage said latching pawl, said unlatching mechanism including a pawl lifter movable from a position of rest to carry said latching pawl out of engagement with said latch, a manually operable release member operatively linked to a door handle for movement to engage and displace said pawl lifter from said position of rest, a power output member movable to engage and displace said pawl lifter from said position of rest, an input member power actuated between a first position and a second position, said input member being releasably drive connected to said output member to cause shifting of said output member as said input member moves to said second position, and an overriding element carrying said input member and said output member into and out of drive connection and being urged to a clutch disconnecting condition, wherein said release member includes a formation capable of co-acting with said overriding element to maintain said overriding element in a clutch connecting condition only when said release member is in an actuated position, thereby preventing power actuation of the output member by the input member unless said release member is actuated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A vehicle door latch assembly comprising:
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a latch;
a latching pawl self-engaging with said latch to hold said latch in a latched condition;
an unlatching mechanism selectively operable to disengage said latching pawl, said unlatching mechanism including a pawl lifter movable from a position of rest to carry said latching pawl out of engagement with said latch, a manually operable release member operatively linked to a door handle for movement to engage and displace said pawl lifter from said position of rest, a power output member movable to engage and displace said pawl lifter from said position of rest, a power actuator motor;
an input member actuatable by said power actuator motor between a first position and a second position, said input member being releasably drive connected to said output member to cause shifting of said output member as said input member moves to said second position, and an overriding element carrying said input member and said output member into and out of drive connection and being urged to a clutch disconnecting condition, wherein said release member includes a formation capable of co-acting with said overriding element to displace said overriding element in a clutch connection condition and wherein the power actuator motor power actuates said input member after shifting of said release member to displace the pawl lifter from said position of rest. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification