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 position, 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 position 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 position, the pawl being configured to maintain the catch in the closed position;
an actuatable inside handle movable from a rest position to an actuated position;
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, when the vehicle has power, 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;
wherein, 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; and
wherein, when the vehicle does not have power, the catch is configured to be moved to the open position by having the inside handle mechanically move the linkage assembly to stop the pawl from maintaining the catch in the closed position upon first and second actuations of the inside handle, each of the first and second actuations comprising movement of the inside handle from the rest position to the actuated position, whereby the catch is allowed to move the open position upon the second actuation of the inside handle.
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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.
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Citations
9 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 position, 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 position 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 position, the pawl being configured to maintain the catch in the closed position; an actuatable inside handle movable from a rest position to an actuated position; 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, when the vehicle has power, 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; wherein, 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; and wherein, when the vehicle does not have power, the catch is configured to be moved to the open position by having the inside handle mechanically move the linkage assembly to stop the pawl from maintaining the catch in the closed position upon first and second actuations of the inside handle, each of the first and second actuations comprising movement of the inside handle from the rest position to the actuated position, whereby the catch is allowed to move the open position upon the second actuation of the inside handle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of controlling a position 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 position 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 position; providing an actuatable inside handle movable from a rest position to an actuated position; 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 position 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 position 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 position by actuating the inside handle a first time by moving the inside handle from the rest position to the actuation position and a second time by moving the inside handle from the rest position to the actuation position to mechanically move the linkage assembly to thereby stop the pawl from maintaining the catch in the closed position and allow the catch to move to the open position. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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9. A vehicle door system comprising:
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an assembly for maintaining a door closed; a handle mechanically connected to the assembly; an actuator interconnected to the assembly; the assembly being placed in an open condition after actuation of the handle via the actuator or mechanically when the vehicle has power; and the handle mechanically placing the assembly in the open condition only after two full actuations of the handle when the vehicle does not have power.
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Specification