Electrical vehicle latch
First Claim
1. An electrical vehicle latch comprising:
- a support assembly;
a releasable closure mechanism carried by said support assembly and adapted to releasably engage a striker;
an electrically-operated actuator assembly carried by said support assembly and which can be selectively activated to release said closure mechanism from said striker or to lock said closure mechanism in a condition of engagement with the striker; and
an electrical control unit comprising a printed circuit board for controlling operation of said actuator assembly;
wherein said closure mechanism comprises;
a ratchet movable between a release position, wherein the ratchet is positioned to receive or release said striker, and at least one lock position, wherein the ratchet is positioned to retain said striker; and
a releasable locking mechanism cooperating with said ratchet to prevent disengagement between the striker and the ratchet; and
wherein said support assembly comprises a first support body carrying at least said ratchet in a position parallel to a first plane; and
a second support body carrying at least said printed circuit board in a position parallel to a second plane transverse to said first plane; and
wherein said locking mechanism further comprises;
a primary pawl movable between a ratchet checking position, wherein the primary pawl is positioned to keep said ratchet in the lock position, and a ratchet release position, wherein the primary pawl permits the movement of said ratchet out of said lock position;
an auxiliary ratchet operatively connected to said primary pawl and movable between an enabling position, in which the primary pawl is enabled to move to its ratchet checking position, and a disabling position, in which the auxiliary ratchet positions the primary pawl to its ratchet release position; and
a secondary pawl movable between an auxiliary ratchet holding position, in which the secondary pawl is positioned to hold said auxiliary ratchet in its enabling position, and an auxiliary ratchet release position, in which the secondary pawl is positioned to permit movement of said auxiliary ratchet to its disabling position.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electrical vehicle latch including a support assembly, a releasable closure mechanism carried by the support assembly and adapted to releasably engage a striker, an electrically-operated actuator assembly carried by the support assembly and which can be selectively activated to release the closure mechanism from the striker or to lock the closure mechanism in a condition of engagement with the striker, and an electrical control unit having a printed circuit board for controlling operation of the actuator assembly. The support assembly including a first support body carrying at least a ratchet of the closure mechanism in a position parallel to a first plane (P1), and a second support body carrying at least the printed circuit board in a position parallel to a second plane (P2) transvere to the first plane (P1).
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. An electrical vehicle latch comprising:
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a support assembly; a releasable closure mechanism carried by said support assembly and adapted to releasably engage a striker; an electrically-operated actuator assembly carried by said support assembly and which can be selectively activated to release said closure mechanism from said striker or to lock said closure mechanism in a condition of engagement with the striker; and an electrical control unit comprising a printed circuit board for controlling operation of said actuator assembly; wherein said closure mechanism comprises; a ratchet movable between a release position, wherein the ratchet is positioned to receive or release said striker, and at least one lock position, wherein the ratchet is positioned to retain said striker; and
a releasable locking mechanism cooperating with said ratchet to prevent disengagement between the striker and the ratchet; andwherein said support assembly comprises a first support body carrying at least said ratchet in a position parallel to a first plane; and
a second support body carrying at least said printed circuit board in a position parallel to a second plane transverse to said first plane; andwherein said locking mechanism further comprises; a primary pawl movable between a ratchet checking position, wherein the primary pawl is positioned to keep said ratchet in the lock position, and a ratchet release position, wherein the primary pawl permits the movement of said ratchet out of said lock position; an auxiliary ratchet operatively connected to said primary pawl and movable between an enabling position, in which the primary pawl is enabled to move to its ratchet checking position, and a disabling position, in which the auxiliary ratchet positions the primary pawl to its ratchet release position; and a secondary pawl movable between an auxiliary ratchet holding position, in which the secondary pawl is positioned to hold said auxiliary ratchet in its enabling position, and an auxiliary ratchet release position, in which the secondary pawl is positioned to permit movement of said auxiliary ratchet to its disabling position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification