Latch mechanism

• US 20050035604A1
• Filed: 08/12/2004
• Published: 02/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Inteva Products USA LLC (Intevac)
• Original Assignee: Meritor Technology, Inc. (Cummins Incorporated)
• Inventors: Coleman, Peter, Kalsi, Gurbinder
• Granted Patent: US 7,325,843 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 292/216
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 77/28 for anti-theft purposes, e.g. double-locking or super-locking
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/06 using rotary motors
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/14 operating on bolt detents, e.g. for unlatching the bolt
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/90 Manual override in case of power failure
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 85/26 Cooperation between bolts and detents
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 292/23 Vehicle door latches
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1047 Closure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1082 Motor

Abstract

A latch mechanism for a vehicle door includes a latch bolt, a pawl biased into engagement with the latch bolt to maintain the latch bolt in a latched condition, and a manual release lever for operable linkage to a vehicle door handle. A power release member is movable to displace the pawl from an engaged position where the pawl engages the latch bolt to a disengaged position where the pawl does not engage the latch bolt. A clutch member is mounted such that movement of the pawl causes movement of the clutch member. The clutch member is movable by the manual release lever between a first rest position at which a break is created in a transmission path from the power release member to the pawl and a second position at which power actuation of the power release member moves the pawl from the engaged position to the disengaged position

Claims

1. A latch mechanism for a vehicle door, the latch mechanism comprising:

a latch bolt;

a pawl biased into engagement with the latch bolt to maintain the latch bolt in a latched condition, wherein the pawl has an engaged position where the pawl engages the latch bolt and a disengaged position;

a manual release lever for operable linkage to a vehicle door handle,

a power release member movable to displace the pawl from the engaged position to the disengaged position; and

a clutch member, wherein movement of the pawl moves the clutch member, the clutch member being movable by the manual release lever between a first rest position at which a break is created in a transmission path from the power release member to the pawl and a second position at which power actuation of the power release member moves the pawl from the engaged position to the disengaged position.

2. The latch mechanism according to claim 1 wherein the clutch member is pivotally mounted.

3. The latch mechanism according to claim 1 further including a pawl lifter that shifts the pawl between the engaged position and the disengaged position, wherein the clutch member is mounted to the pawl lifter.

4. The latch mechanism according to claim 1 wherein the clutch member is mounted directly to the pawl.

5. The latch mechanism according to claim 1 further including a power release actuator, and wherein the power release member is operatively connected to the power release actuator.

6. The latch mechanism according to claim 1 wherein the power release member is a power release lever.

7. The latch mechanism according to claim 1 wherein the clutch member is resiliently biased into the second position.

8. The latch mechanism according to claim 7 wherein the clutch member is held in the first rest position by the manual release lever when the manual release lever is in a rest position.

9. The latch mechanism according to claim 1 wherein the clutch member is resiliently biased into the first rest position.

10. The latch mechanism according to claim 9 further including a cam and follower arrangement on the manual release lever and the clutch member, wherein the cam and follower arrangement shifts the clutch member between the first rest position and the second position.

11. The latch mechanism according to claim 9 wherein the clutch member is shiftable to a third position to permit the pawl to move to the disengaged position if the power release member obstructs shifting of the clutch member to the second position.

12. The latch mechanism according to claim 11 wherein the clutch member is pivotable about a first pivot point to achieve the second position and the clutch member is pivotable about a second pivot point to achieve the third position.

13. The latch mechanism according to claim 1 further comprising a back-up manual release mechanism.

14. A latch for a vehicle door comprising:

a latch mechanism including;

a latch bolt,

a pawl biased into engagement with the latch bolt to maintain the latch bolt in a latched condition, wherein the pawl has an engaged position where the pawl engages the latch bolt and a disengaged position,

a manual release lever for operable linkage to a vehicle door handle,

a power release member movable to displace the pawl from the engaged position to the disengaged position, and

a clutch member, wherein movement of the pawl moves the clutch member, the clutch member being movable by the manual release lever between a first rest position at which a break is created in a transmission path from the power release member to the pawl and a second position at which power actuation of the power release member moves the pawl from the engaged position to the disengaged position.

15. A vehicle comprising:

a vehicle door; and

a latch mechanism to lock the vehicle door, the latch mechanism including;

a latch bolt,

a pawl biased into engagement with the latch bolt to maintain the latch bolt in a latched condition, wherein the pawl has an engaged position where the pawl engages the latch bolt and a disengaged position,

a manual release lever for operable linkage to a vehicle door handle,

a power release member movable to displace the pawl from the engaged position to the disengaged position, and

a clutch member, wherein movement of the pawl moves the clutch member, the clutch member being movable by the manual release lever between a first rest position at which a break is created in a transmission path from the power release member to the pawl and a second position at which power actuation of the power release member moves the pawl from the engaged position to the disengaged position.