Vehicle subassembly

• US 6,938,921 B2
• Filed: 11/20/2002
• Issued: 09/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Meritor Technology, Inc. (Cummins Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Arvinmeritor Light Vehicle Systems FRA (Meritor, Inc. (Nevada))
• Inventors: Fisher, Sidney E.
• Primary Examiner(s): English, Peter C.
• Application Number:
  US10/300,462
• Publication Number:
  US 20030094793A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,021 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.2, 280/730.1, 280/735, 280/728.3, 180/281, 292/92, 292/93, 292/21, 292/DIG.23, 292/DIG.65, 491/41
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/21 in vehicle side panels, e.g. doors pillar mounted arrangements B60R21/213
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 77/02 for accident situations
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 79/20 using flexible connections, e.g. Bowden cables
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/06 using rotary motors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 292/23 Vehicle door latches
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 292/65 Emergency or safety
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/0908 Emergency operating means

Abstract

A vehicle subassembly includes a door latch and an emergency release mechanism for use in unlatching the door latch. The mechanism includes a release arranged so as to act on a latch input and to supply an increased unlatching force relative to that normally capable of being supplied to the door latch. An engagement member is actuable by a person to operate the release. In a first non-emergency condition the engagement member is substantially prevented from being actuated, and in a second emergency condition actuation the engagement member is allowed.

Claims

1. A vehicle subassembly comprising a door latch and an emergency release mechanism for use in unlatching the door latch, the emergency release mechanism comprising a release means arranged so as to act on a latch input and to supply an unlatching force to the door latch and an engagement means actuatable by a person to operate the release means, the subassembly further comprising a cover and an actuator, wherein in a first non-emergency condition of an associated vehicle, the engagement means is substantially prevented from being actuated by the person due to the position of the cover, and in a second emergency condition of the associated vehicle the cover is displaced by the actuator to allow actuation of the engagement means by the person.

2. The subassembly according to claim 1 wherein the release means is arranged so as to act directly on a pawl lifter of the door latch.

3. The subassembly according to claim 1 wherein the release means comprises a device in which energy is stored while in the first non-emergency condition for the selective release thereof to cause unlatching of the door latch in the second emergency condition.

4. The subassembly according to claim 3 wherein the release means comprises a resilient member.

5. The subassembly according to claim 1 wherein the release means is configured to provide a mechanical advantage to a force provided by the person to the engagement means so as to effect unlatching.

6. A vehicle subassembly comprising a door latch and an emergency release mechanism for use in unlatching the door latch, the emergency release mechanism comprising a release means arranged so as to act on a latch input and to supply an unlatching force to the door latch and an engagement means actuatable by a person to operate the release means, the subassembly further comprising a cover and an actuator, wherein in a first non-emergency condition of an associated vehicle the engagement means is substantially prevented from being actuated by the person due to a position of the cover, and in a second emergency condition of the associated vehicle, the cover being displaced by the actuator to permit actuation of the engagement means by the person, wherein the actuator is an airbag and the cover is also a cover for obscuring the airbag provided on the associated vehicle in the first non-emergency condition.

7. A vehicle subassembly comprising a door latch and an emergency release mechanism for use in unlatching the door latch, the emergency release mechanism comprising a release means arranged so as to act on a latch input and to supply an unlatching force to the door latch and an engagement means actuatable by a person to operate the release means, the subassembly further comprising a cover and an actuator, wherein in a first non-emergency condition of an associated vehicle the engagement means is substantially prevented from being actuated by the person due to a position of the cover, and in a second emergency condition of the associated vehicle, the cover being displaced by the actuator to permit actuation of the engagement means by the person, wherein a controller is provided so as to signal the actuator to displace the cover when a vehicle impact is detected.

8. A door assembly including a door latch and an emergency release mechanism for use in unlatching the door latch, the emergency release mechanism comprising a release means arranged so as to act on a latch input and to supply an unlatching force to the door latch and an engagement means actuatable by a person to operate the release means, the assembly further comprising a cover and an actuator, wherein in a first non-emergency condition of an associated vehicle, the engagement means is substantially prevented from being actuated by the person due to the position of the cover, and in a second emergency condition of the associated vehicle the cover is displaced by the actuator to allow actuation of the engagement means by the person.

9. A vehicle incorporating a subassembly including a door latch and an emergency release mechanism for use in unlatching the door latch, the emergency release mechanism comprising a release means arranged so as to act on a latch input and to supply an unlatching force to the door latch and an engagement means actuatable by a person to operate the release means, the subassembly further comprising a cover, and an actuator, wherein in a first non-emergency condition of the vehicle, the engagement means is substantially prevented from being actuated by the person due to the position of the cover, and in a second emergency condition of the vehicle, the cover being displaced by the actuator to allow actuation of the engagement means by the person.

10. An emergency release assembly comprising:

a release for unlatching a door latch; and

an engagement device actuatable for operating said release, access to said engagement device provided responsive to actuation of a vehicle emergency system, wherein a cover prevents access to said engagement device and actuation of the vehicle emergency system displaces the cover providing access to said engagement device.