Vehicle door auxiliary latch release

• US 8,915,524 B2
• Filed: 03/08/2007
• Issued: 12/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Charnesky, Scott P., Granny, Robert D., Rodgers, Jeffrey D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lugo, Carlos
• Application Number:
  US11/683,474
• Publication Number:
  US 20080217955A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,847 Days
• Field of Search: 292/201, 292/216, 292/336.3
• US Class Current: 292/216
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 79/20 using flexible connections, e.g. Bowden cables
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/90 Manual override in case of power failure
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 85/045 for bifurcated bolts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1047 Closure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/57 Operators with knobs or handles

Abstract

An auxiliary latch release assembly, and method of operation, for use with a vehicle having a body defining a cargo area, a door, and a door latch mounted in the door and including an auxiliary latch release. The assembly may comprise a handle that is accessible in the cargo area, a release cable having a first end engaging the handle and a second end extending in the body adjacent to the door having the door latch, and an e-latch override assembly mounted in the body that engages the second end of the release cable and includes a latch release member. The latch release member can be actuated by the e-latch override assembly to engage the auxiliary latch release to release the door latch.

Claims

1. An auxiliary latch release assembly for use with a vehicle having a body with a front, a rear and a pair of sides extending from the front to the rear, the body defining a cargo area, a pivotable side door mounted on one of the sides, and a door latch mounted in the door and including an auxiliary latch release, the assembly comprising:

a handle configured to be accessible in the cargo area;

a release cable having a first end operatively engaging the handle and an opposed second end configured to extend in the body adjacent to the door having the door latch; and

an e-latch override assembly configured to be mounted in the body and operatively engaging the second end of the release cable and including a latch release member actuable by the e-latch override assembly to engage the auxiliary latch release to thereby release the door latch, wherein the latch release member is configured to extend outboard from the side having the door in a lateral direction from the body to actuate the auxiliary latch release.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the e-latch override assembly includes a cable attachment connected to the second end of the cable, a rigid body connected to the cable attachment and configured to be axially fixed but pivotable relative to the body, and an outboard and a laterally extending push arm pivotally connected to the rigid body and having the latch release member thereon that is configured to be outboard and laterally extendable from the body into contact with the auxiliary latch release.

3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the e-latch override assembly includes a pulley attached to the second end of the cable, a gear rotationally coupled to the pulley, and a gear shaft having gear teeth operatively engaging the gear, and the latch release member is integral with the gear shaft.

4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the e-latch override assembly includes a support cylinder adapted to be mounted to the body and extend outward toward the door, a release pin mounted in and extending from the support cylinder and attached to the second end of the release cable, with the release pin including the latch release member, and a pivot joint mounted to the support cylinder and operatively engaging the release cable to redirect the release cable toward the release pin.

5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the e-latch override assembly includes a fixed track having a curved portion and being adapted to be mounted to the body and extend outward toward the door, and a release pin slidable along the fixed track and connected to the second end of the release cable, the latch release member mounted on the release pin.

6. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the e-latch override assembly includes a pulley attached to the second end of the release cable, and a rotary shaft mounted to and rotatable by the pulley and adapted to be rotatably mounted to the body and extend outward toward the door, with the rotary shaft including the latch release member.

7. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the handle is a pull handle and the cargo area is a trunk.

8. A vehicle having a body with a front, a rear and a pair of sides extending from the front to the rear, a pivotable side door mounted on one of the sides of the body and a cargo area comprising:

an electronic door latch mounted in the door and including an auxiliary latch release and an electronic latch releaser; and

an auxiliary latch release assembly including a handle accessible in the cargo area, a release cable having a first end operatively engaging the handle and an opposed second end extending adjacent to the door having the electronic door latch, and an e-latch override assembly mounted in the body and operatively engaging the second end of the release cable and including a latch release member configured to extend outboard from the side having the door in a lateral direction from the body and be actuable by the e-latch override assembly to engage the auxiliary latch release to thereby release the electronic door latch.

9. The vehicle of claim 8 wherein the cargo area is a trunk.

10. The vehicle of claim 8 wherein the electronic latch releaser is an electronic touch pad.

11. The vehicle of claim 8 wherein the e-latch override assembly includes a cable attachment connected to the second end of the cable;

a rigid body connected to the cable attachment and axially fixed but pivotable relative to the body; and

a push arm pivotally connected to the rigid body, extending laterally outboard from the body toward the door, and having the latch release member thereon that is movable in an outboard direction to be selectively engageable with the auxiliary latch release to release the electronic door latch.

12. The vehicle of claim 8 wherein the e-latch override assembly includes a pulley that is axially fixed but rotatable relative to the body and attached to the second end of the cable;

a gear rotationally coupled to the pulley; and

a gear shaft having gear teeth operatively engaging the gear and extending from the body toward the door, with the latch release member being integral with the gear shaft and movable toward the auxiliary latch release when the pulley is rotated.

13. The vehicle of claim 8 wherein the e-latch override assembly includes a fixed track mounted to the body and extending outward toward the door and having a curved portion, and a release pin slidable along the fixed track and connected to the second end of the release cable, the latch release member mounted on the release pin and engageable with the auxiliary latch release when the release pin is slid toward the curved portion.

14. The vehicle of claim 8 wherein the auxiliary latch release includes a security and release mechanism mounted in the door, with the security and release mechanism selectively operable as a child security mechanism.

15. The vehicle of claim 8 wherein the auxiliary latch release assembly includes a return spring operatively engaging the e-latch override assembly to bias the latch release member away from the auxiliary latch release.

16. A method of releasing an electronic pivotable side door latch mounted in a side door of a vehicle having a body with a front, rear and a pair of sides extending from the front to the rear, with the electronic door latch including an auxiliary latch release, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) manually actuating a release cable from a cargo area of the vehicle, wherein the release cable extends in the body adjacent to the door having the electronic door latch;

(b) actuating an e-latch override assembly, mounted in the body, with the release cable;

(c) bridging a gap between the door and the body in an outboard extending lateral direction with a latch release member of the e-latch override assembly that contacts the auxiliary latch release; and

(d) releasing the electronic door latch by moving the auxiliary latch release with the latch release member.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein step (c) is further defined by extending a member linearly outboard in a lateral direction from the body into contact with the auxiliary latch release.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein step (c) is further defined by rotating a member, extending outward from the body toward the door, to operatively engage the auxiliary latch release.