Vehicle latch with partially decoupled key cylinder lever

• US 7,264,283 B2
• Filed: 12/09/2004
• Issued: 09/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intier Automotive Closures, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Intier Automotive Closures, Inc.
• Inventors: Cetnar, Roman, Stoof, Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): Lugo; Carlos
• Application Number:
  US11/007,946
• Publication Number:
  US 20050140148A1
• Time in Patent Office: 999 Days
• Field of Search: 292/201, 292/216, 292/DIG.23
• US Class Current: 292/216
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 17/04 Devices for coupling the turning cylinder of a single or a double cylinder lock with the bolt operating member
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/64 Monitoring or sensing, e.g. by using switches or sensors
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/66 the bolt position, i.e. the latching status
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/72 the lock status, i.e. locked or unlocked condition
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 83/36 Locks for passenger or like doors
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 85/243 with a bifurcated bolt
• 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 vehicle latch having a ratchet; a pawl, interacting with the ratchet; an outside release lever (66); a link (80) for selectively coupling the outside release lever (66) to the pawl; a lock link lever (116) for actuating the link (80) between an unlocked position, where the outside release lever (66) is kinematically coupled to the pawl, and a locked position, where the outside release lever (66) is not coupled to the pawl; and a key cylinder lever (120) for actuating the lock link lever (116). The key cylinder lever (120) has a lost motion connection with the lock link lever (116) so as to define a neutral position for a key cylinder.

Claims

1. A vehicle latch, comprising:

a ratchet;

a pawl, interacting with said ratchet;

an auxiliary pawl (64) operatively coupled to said pawl;

an outside release lever (66) including a slot (84) extending between an open end and a closed end;

a link (80) for selectively coupling said outside release lever (66) to said auxiliary pawl (64), said link (80) extending between a first end (82) and an opposing second end (134); and

a lock link lever (116) coupled to said second end (134) of said link (80) for actuating said link (80) between an unlocked position, where said first end (82) is disposed in said slot (84) adjacent said open end whereby rotation of said outside release lever (66) causes said first end (82) to engage said auxiliary pawl (64) causing said auxiliary pawl (64) and said pawl to rotate, and a locked position, where said first end (82) is disposed in said slot (84) adjacent said closed end thereby decoupling said outside release lever (66) such that rotation of said outside release lever (66) does not cause said first end (82) to engage said auxiliary pawl (64) and said auxiliary lever (64) and said pawl do not rotate.

2. A latch according to claim 1, further comprising a key cylinder lever (120) for actuating said lock link lever (116), wherein said key cylinder lever (120) has a lost motion connection with said lock link lever (116) so as to define a neutral position for a key cylinder.

3. A latch according to claim 2, further comprising a housing and a three-position rocker switch (136) having an input arm (138) mounted in an internal pocket (137) of said housing, wherein said key cylinder lever (120) actuates said rocker switch so that said input arm is in a middle position when said key cylinder lever (120) is in its portion of lost motion relative to said lock link lever (116).

4. A latch according to claim 3, wherein said housing includes a channel (100) extending from the interior of said housing to the exterior thereof, thereby providing a water outlet.

5. A latch according to claim 4, wherein said link lock lever (116) includes a shelf (128) defined by a pair of spaced apart side ridges (130) and said key cylinder lever (120) seats in said shelf (128) and has an angular range of motion relative to said link lock lever (116) before engaging one of said side ridges (130).

6. A vehicle latch, comprising:

a ratchet;

a pawl, interacting with said ratchet;

an auxiliary pawl (64) operatively coupled to said pawl, said auxiliary pawl (64) including an abutment (86) and a void (88);

an outside release lever (66) including a slot (84) extending between an open end and a closed end;

a link (80) for selectively coupling said outside release lever (66) to said auxiliary pawl (64), said link (80) extending between an end having a tab (82) and an opposing end having a projection (134);

a lock link lever (116) coupled to said projection (134) of said link (80) for actuating said link (80) between an unlocked position where said tab (82) is in a first position disposed in said slot (84) adjacent said open end whereby rotation of said outside release lever (66) causes said tab (82) to engage said abutment (86) of said auxiliary pawl (64) causing said auxiliary pawl (64) and said pawl to rotate, and a locked position where said tab (82) is in a second position disposed in said slot (84) adjacent said closed end thereby decoupling said outside release lever (66) such that rotation of said outside release lever (66) causes said tab (82) to engage said void (88) of said auxiliary pawl (64) and said auxiliary pawl (64) and said pawl do not rotate; and

a key cylinder lever (120) for actuating said lock link lever (116), wherein said key cylinder lever (120) has a lost motion connection with said lock link lever (116) 50 as to define a neutral position for a key cylinder.