Universal global latch system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A latch system for a door of a vehicle comprising:
- a latch assembly for maintaining the door in a closed location, the latch assembly including a catch and a pawl, the catch having a closed position wherein the catch is configured to grasp a portion of the vehicle to maintain the door in the closed location and an open position wherein the catch is configured to release the portion of the vehicle to allow the door to move to an open location, the pawl being configured to maintain the catch in the closed position;
an actuatable inside handle;
a powered actuator engaged with the latch assembly, the powered actuator being configured to be activated by actuation of the inside handle;
an emergency release lever being movable between an on position and an off position, the emergency release lever being engaged with the actuatable inside handle, wherein the emergency release lever can be manually actuated from within an interior of a vehicle when the door is in a closed position;
wherein the catch is configured to be moved to the open position after actuation of the inside handle by activating the powered actuator to thereby cause powered movement of the pawl to stop the pawl from maintaining the catch in the closed position when the vehicle has power;
wherein the catch is configured to be moved to the open position after actuation of the inside handle by moving the emergency release lever to the on position to mechanically interconnect the inside handle with the pawl to stop the pawl from maintaining the catch in the closed position to permit the door to be opened, and wherein the emergency release lever resets to the off position when the door is closed; and
wherein the inside handle is not mechanically interconnected to the pawl when the emergency release lever is in the off position such that actuation of the inside handle will not mechanically move the pawl when the emergency release lever is in the off position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A latch system for a door of a vehicle including a latch assembly having a catch and a pawl, an actuatable inside handle, and an actuator engaged with the pawl and being configured to be activated by actuation of the inside handle. The catch is configured to be moved to an open position by activating the actuator to thereby move the pawl to stop the pawl from maintaining the catch in the closed position. The catch is also configured to be moved to the open position after actuation of the inside handle by having the inside handle mechanically move the toggle lever to stop the pawl from maintaining the catch in the closed position to when the vehicle does not have power.
58 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A latch system for a door of a vehicle comprising:
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a latch assembly for maintaining the door in a closed location, the latch assembly including a catch and a pawl, the catch having a closed position wherein the catch is configured to grasp a portion of the vehicle to maintain the door in the closed location and an open position wherein the catch is configured to release the portion of the vehicle to allow the door to move to an open location, the pawl being configured to maintain the catch in the closed position; an actuatable inside handle; a powered actuator engaged with the latch assembly, the powered actuator being configured to be activated by actuation of the inside handle; an emergency release lever being movable between an on position and an off position, the emergency release lever being engaged with the actuatable inside handle, wherein the emergency release lever can be manually actuated from within an interior of a vehicle when the door is in a closed position; wherein the catch is configured to be moved to the open position after actuation of the inside handle by activating the powered actuator to thereby cause powered movement of the pawl to stop the pawl from maintaining the catch in the closed position when the vehicle has power; wherein the catch is configured to be moved to the open position after actuation of the inside handle by moving the emergency release lever to the on position to mechanically interconnect the inside handle with the pawl to stop the pawl from maintaining the catch in the closed position to permit the door to be opened, and wherein the emergency release lever resets to the off position when the door is closed; and wherein the inside handle is not mechanically interconnected to the pawl when the emergency release lever is in the off position such that actuation of the inside handle will not mechanically move the pawl when the emergency release lever is in the off position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of controlling a location of a door of a vehicle comprising:
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providing a latch assembly for maintaining the door in a closed location, the latch assembly including a catch and a pawl, the catch having a closed position wherein the catch is configured to grasp a portion of the vehicle to maintain the door in the closed location and an open position wherein the catch is configured to release the portion of the vehicle to allow the door to move to an open location, the pawl being configured to maintain the catch in the closed position; providing an actuatable inside handle; engaging a powered actuator with the latch assembly; providing an emergency release lever being movable between an on position and an off position, the emergency release lever being engaged with the actuatable inside handle, wherein the emergency release lever can be manually actuated from within an interior of a vehicle when the door is in a closed position; opening the door when the vehicle has power by moving the catch to the open position by actuating the inside handle to activate the powered actuator such that the powered actuator causes the pawl to move to stop the pawl from maintaining the catch in the closed position; and opening the door by moving the catch to the open position after actuation of the inside handle by moving the emergency release lever within the interior of the vehicle to the on position and mechanically interconnecting the inside handle with the pawl to stop the pawl from maintaining the catch in the closed position; closing the door; resetting the emergency release lever to the off position when the door is closed; wherein the inside handle is not mechanically interconnected to the pawl when the emergency release lever is in the off position such that actuation of the inside handle will not mechanically move the pawl when the emergency release lever is in the off position. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A latch system for a door of a vehicle comprising:
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a latch assembly for maintaining the door in a closed location, the latch assembly including a catch and a pawl, the catch having a closed position wherein the catch is configured to grasp a portion of the vehicle to maintain the door in the closed location and an open position wherein the catch is configured to release the portion of the vehicle to allow the door to move to an open location, the pawl being configured to maintain the catch in the closed position, the latch assembly having a locked condition wherein the pawl is prevented from releasing the catch; an actuatable inside handle; an actuatable outside handle; a powered actuator engaged with the latch assembly, the powered actuator being configured to be activated by actuation of the inside handle and actuation of the outside handle; an emergency release lever being movable between an on position and an off position, the emergency release lever being engaged with the actuatable inside handle, wherein the emergency release lever can be manually actuated from within an interior of a vehicle when the door is in a closed position; wherein the catch is configured to be moved to the open position after actuation of the inside handle by activating the powered actuator to thereby move the pawl to stop the pawl from maintaining the catch in the closed position when the vehicle has power; wherein the catch is configured to be moved to the open position after actuation of the inside handle by moving the emergency release lever to the on position to mechanically interconnect the inside handle with the pawl to stop the pawl from maintaining the catch in the closed position to permit the door to be opened, and wherein the emergency release lever resets to the off position when the door is closed; wherein the inside handle is not mechanically interconnected to the pawl when the emergency release lever is in the off position such that actuation of the inside handle will not mechanically move the pawl when the emergency release lever is in the off position; if the latch assembly is in the locked condition, the powered actuator prevents actuation of the inside handle from actuating the pawl to stop the pawl from maintaining the catch in the closed position; and wherein the catch is configured to be moved to the open position after actuation of the outside handle by activating the powered actuator to thereby move the pawl to stop the pawl from maintaining the catch in the closed position when the vehicle has power and when the latch assembly is in the locked condition. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification