Automotive door latch system

• US 7,780,207 B2
• Filed: 09/13/2005
• Issued: 08/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitsui Kinzoku Act Corporation (Mitsui Mining & Smelting Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Mitsui Mining and Smelting Company Limited
• Inventors: Gotou, Shingo, Inoue, Jiro, Okawa, Shintaro, Hamaguchi, Osamu
• Primary Examiner(s): Lugo; Carlos
• Application Number:
  US11/224,136
• Publication Number:
  US 20060076788A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,806 Days
• Field of Search: 292/336.3, 292/201, 292/DIG.23, 292/DIG.25, 292/DIG.30, 292/DIG.42, 292/216, 493/02
• US Class Current: 292/336.3
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 79/20 using flexible connections, e.g. Bowden cables
• 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: Y10S 292/23 Vehicle door latches
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 292/42 Trunk latches
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1047 Closure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1082 Motor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/57 Operators with knobs or handles

Abstract

A door latch system of a motor vehicle comprises a latch unit mounted to the vehicle body. The latch unit has a latch condition to latch the door at a closed position and an unlatch condition to unlatch the door thereby to release the door. The system further comprises a power latch canceling mechanism mounted to the vehicle body. The power latch canceling mechanism includes an actuator that, when energized, enforcedly causes the latch unit to assume the unlatch condition. The system further comprises a manual latch canceling mechanism mounted to the vehicle body. The manual latch canceling mechanism includes a handle member that is placed at a position other than a vehicle cabin of the vehicle and a power transmitting member that transmits a movement of the handle member to the latch unit. The manual latch canceling mechanism causes the latch unit to assume the unlatch condition when the handle member is manipulated.

Claims

1. A door latch system of a motor vehicle having a vehicle body, a side sill and a cabin side door, comprising:

a striker fixed to the cabin side door;

a latch unit comprising a latch plate which engages the striker and a locking pawl member that is able to restrain the latch plate at a latch position, the latch unit being mounted to the vehicle body and having a latch condition to latch the cabin side door and an unlatch condition to unlatch the cabin door thereby to release the door;

a power latch canceling mechanism mounted to the vehicle body, the power latch canceling mechanism comprising an electric actuator which, when electrically energized, enforcedly causes the latch unit to assume the unlatch condition; and

a manual latch canceling mechanism mounted to the vehicle body, the manual latch canceling mechanism comprising an emergency handle placed in a trunk room of the vehicle and a cable which transmits a movement of the emergency handle to the latch unit, the manual latch canceling mechanism causing the latch unit to assume the unlatch condition when the emergency handle is manipulated, and

another manual latch canceling mechanism that is mounted to the vehicle body and comprises a handle member that is installed in the side sill of the vehicle in a manner to be controllable from the interior vehicle and a cable that transmits a movement of the handle member to the latch unit, the another manual latch canceling mechanism causing the latch unit to assume the unlatch condition when the handle member is manipulated;

wherein the cable of the manual latch canceling mechanism is arranged in the vehicle body and extends substantially horizontally between the latch unit and the emergency handle in a direction corresponding to the length of the vehicle body, to cause the latch unit to assume the unlatch condition when the emergency handle is pulled away from the latch unit;

wherein the trunk room of the vehicle is equipped with a pivotally movable trunk lid, the trunk lid being equipped with a lock device by which the trunk lid is locked to the trunk room while assuming its close position;

the emergency handle of the manual latch canceling mechanism is arranged at a mouth area of the trunk room;

the locking pawl member of the latch unit is moved by the electric actuator of the power latch canceling mechanism, and the power transmitting member of the another manual latch canceling mechanism is a cable that is led and connected to the locking pawl member of the latch unit;

the cable of the manual latch canceling mechanism is led and connected to the locking pawl member of the latch unit; and

the emergency handle of the manual latch canceling mechanism has a T-shaped construction.

2. A door latch system of a motor vehicle having a vehicle body, a side sill and a cabin side door, comprising:

a striker fixed to the cabin side door;

a latch unit comprising a latch plate which engages the striker and a locking pawl member that is able to restrain the latch plate at a latch position, and is mounted to the vehicle body, the latch unit having a latch condition to latch the cabin side door at a closed position through the striker and an unlatch condition to unlatch the cabin side door through the striker thereby to release the cabin side door;

a first latch canceling mechanism mounted to the vehicle body, the first latch canceling mechanism comprising an electric actuator that, when electrically energized, enforcedly causes the latch unit to assume the unlatch condition;

a second latch canceling mechanism mounted to the vehicle body, the second latch canceling mechanism comprising an inner handle member that is installed in the side sill of the vehicle in a manner to be controllable from the interior of the vehicle and a cable that transmits a movement of the inner handle to the latch unit, the second latch canceling mechanism causing the latch unit to assume the unlatch condition when the inner handle member is manipulated; and

a third latch canceling mechanism mounted to the vehicle body, the third latch canceling mechanism including an emergency handle that is placed in a trunk room of the vehicle and a cable arranged substantially horizontally in a direction corresponding to the length of the vehicle body, that transmits a movement of the emergency handle to the latch unit, the third latch canceling mechanism causing the latch unit to assume the unlatch condition when the cable is pulled away from the latch unit;

wherein the trunk room of the vehicle is equipped with a pivotally movable trunk lid, the trunk lid being equipped with a lock device by which the trunk lid is locked to the trunk room while assuming its close position;

the emergency handle of the third latch canceling mechanism is arranged at a mouth area of the trunk room;

the locking pawl member of the latch unit is moved by the electric actuator of the first latch canceling mechanism, and the cable of the second latch canceling mechanism is led and connected to the locking pawl member of the latch unit;

the cable of the third latch canceling mechanism is led and connected to the locking pawl member of the latch unit; and

the emergency handle of the third latch canceling mechanism has a T-shaped construction.