Cinching latch

• US 6,341,448 B1
• Filed: 09/05/2000
• Issued: 01/29/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Atoma International Corp.
• Original Assignee: Atoma International Corp.
• Inventors: Frommer, Thomas P., Murray, Shawn, Daniels, Andrew R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen, Curtis A.
• Application Number:
  US09/655,313
• Time in Patent Office: 511 Days
• Field of Search: 119/280, 119/281, 119/282, 119/283, 292/201, 292/216
• US Class Current: 49/280
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 79/20 using flexible connections, e.g. Bowden cables
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/20 for assisting final closing or for initiating opening
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/21 with means preventing or detecting pinching of objects or body parts
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/638 allowing or involving a secondary movement of the wing, e.g. rotational or transversal
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/22 Locks
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/434 Electromotors; Details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/531 Doors

Abstract

A power sliding door for a motor vehicle comprises a door structure, a power drive assembly, a latch assembly, and a single motor for operating both the latch assembly and the power drive assembly. The door structure is mounted on a track associated with the motor vehicle, the door structure being movable along the track between opened and closed positions. The power drive assembly is connected with the door and capable of being driven to move the door along the track between the opened and closed positions. The latch assembly is mounted on the door and movable between latched and unlatched positions. The single motor is mounted on the door structure operatively connected with both the power drive assembly and the latch assembly. The motor drives the power drive assembly and thus enables the power drive assembly to move the door along the track between the opened and closed positions. The motor assists movement of the latch assembly to the latched position after the power drive assembly moves the door to the closed position.

Claims

1. A latch assembly for a motor vehicle door and adapted to receive a door latch striker mounted to a door opening frame, said latch assembly comprising:

a striker retaining member having a slot for receiving said striker and first and second lock engaging surfaces, said retaining member being mounted for rotational movement about a pivot axis and biased to a full open position;

a locking arm member mounted for rotational movement and biased into engagement with said retaining member;

a cinch cable arm having one end connected to said retaining member by a coupler member such that said cinch cable arm is coaxially pivotable with said retaining member about said pivot axis, said cinch cable arm having an opposite end coupled to a motor;

a clutch assembly constructed and arranged to couple said motor with said cinch cable arm, said clutch assembly including a cinch cable which is connected to said cinch cable arm and adapted to be tensioned by said motor;

wherein said retaining member being moved to an initial latching position by said striker which engages said retaining member and moves into said slot causing said retaining member to rotate in a latching sense against the bias thereof thereby trapping said striker within said slot, said locking arm member having a retaining member engaging surface which is configured and positioned to engage said second lock engaging surface and hold said retaining member in said initial locking position,

said retaining member being moved to a primary locking position by said cinch cable which is tensioned by said motor after said retaining member is moved to said initial latching position, said tensioned cinch cable rotates said cinch cable arm in a cinching position which rotates said retaining member through said coupler in a latching position against the bias thereof thereby further trapping said striker within said slot, said retaining member engaging surface of said locking arm member engaging said first lock engaging surface to hold said retaining member in said primary locking position;

said locking arm member being movable against the bias thereof away from said first and second lock engaging surfaces of said retaining member such that said retaining member may rotate in a releasing sense under the bias thereof to said full open position to release said striker from said slot.

2. A latch assembly according to claim 1, wherein said latch assembly is configured to engage the striker to said initial latching position by a lower drive assembly.

3. A latch assembly according to claim 2, wherein said clutch assembly comprises:

a gear train coupled to said motor;

a clutch coupled to said gear train; and

a cable pulley coupled to said clutch, said cable pulley including said cinch cable having an end connected to said cinch cable arm;

said clutch being capable of engaging said gear train to said cable pulley or disengaging said gear train from said cable pulley.

4. A latch assembly according to claim 3, wherein said latch assembly further comprises a first contact switch which engages a cam surface of said retaining member to signal to a microprocessor that said latch assembly is in said full open position.

5. A latch assembly according to claim 4, wherein said cam surface of said retaining member further includes a recessed portion which releases said retaining member from engagement with said first contact switch to signal to said microprocessor that said initial latching position has been reached, whereby said microprocessor signals to disengage said lower drive assembly and energize said clutch and said motor, said clutch couples said gear train to said cable pulley and said motor drives said gear train to rotate said coupled cable pulley which tensions said cinch cable.

6. A latch assembly according to claim 5, wherein said cam surface of said retaining member further includes a protruding portion which engages a second contact switch of said latch assembly to signal to said microprocessor that said primary locking position has been reached, thereby shutting off said motor and disengaging said clutch from said gear train so that said cable pulley releases tension on said cinch cable.

7. A latch assembly according to claim 6, wherein said latch assembly is released from said primary locking position by said microprocessor which signals to actuate a linear actuator, said linear actuator being operatively connected to said locking arm member to rotate said locking arm member away from said retaining member such that said retaining member may rotate in said releasing sense to said full open position, whereby said cinch cable arm and said cinch cable coupled thereto is moved into said full open position by said retaining member.

8. A latch assembly according to claim 1, wherein a manual closing force imparted to said door is sufficient to cause said retaining member to engage said striker and to rotate into said primary locking position.