Abstract: A vehicle door latch device comprises a locking lever displaceable between locked and unlocked positions, an antitheft member displaceable between an antitheft position for disabling an unlocking operation of an inside locking button and an antitheft cancelling position, a motor for changing the locking lever into the locked position by a predetermined amount of normal rotation thereof and for changing the antitheft member into the antitheft position by a continuous normal rotation thereof beyond the predetermined amount, a controller for carrying out a locking operation and an antitheft operation, and a power supplying circuit having a normal rotation circuit for supplying power to the motor for normal rotation and a brake circuit for causing the motor to generate electrical brake. The motor is connected to the brake circuit after the locking lever is changed into the locked position by the locking operation.

Abstract: A latch system for a trunk lid of an automobile comprises a latch, a ratchet, a key lever for releasing the ratchet from the latch, a key cylinder connected to the key lever and having a locked position, a neutral position, an open position and an unlocked position, a trunk opener or a motorized actuator, an open lever operated by the trunk opener or motorized actuator, a locking mechanism displaced between unlocked and locked states. The ratchet lever is released from the latch when the key cylinder is shifted to the open position. The locking mechanism is displaced into the locked state when the key cylinder is shifted to the locked position, and the locked state is continuously kept until the key cylinder is shifted to the unlocked position. The open position of the key cylinder is set between the neutral position and the unlocked position. The neutral position of the key cylinder is set between the open position and the locked position.

Abstract: A vehicle door latch device comprises a latch body provided at a front side thereof with a recess for accommodating a latch and a ratchet, a metal front plate fixed to the front side of the latch body, a metal back plate fixed to a rear side of the latch body, a lock lever rotatably mounted on the latch body by a first shaft, an actuator for rotating the lock lever. The back plate includes a rear plate substantially parallel to the latch body and a first angled plate projecting backward from the rear plate. The front plate has a cover plate for substantially covering the recess and a second angled plate projecting backward from the cover plate. The actuator is fixed to both of the first and second angled plate.

Abstract: A vehicle back door latch device has a striker fixed to a vehicle body, and a latch assembly fixed to a vehicle back door. The latch assembly comprises a main metal plate having a vessel-shaped storing portion for storing a latch, a sub metal plate fixed to the main metal plate so as to cover an upper opening of the storing portion. The storing portion is defined by a bottom wall, a front wall, a rear wall, a right-hand wall and a left-hand wall. A main notch portion and a sub notch portion are respectively formed in the bottom wall and the front wall for receiving the striker when the back door is closed. The rear wall is formed into an arc shape swelling backward. Engaging portions are respectively formed on both sides of the sub notch portion of the front wall, and studs which are engaged with the engaging portions when the back door is closed are fixed to the striker.

Abstract: A latch device on a vehicle tailgate having upper and lower doors comprises an open handle assembly for releasing a lower latch assembly from a lower striker, a key cylinder for releasing an upper latch assembly and an upper striker, a coupling mechanism displaceable between a locked position for disabling an opening operation of the handle assembly and an unlocked position for enabling the opening operation of the handle assembly. The upper latch assembly has a latch and a ratchet. The ratchet is displaceable between an engaging position for engaging with the latch located in a door-closed position and an initial position for making contact with the latch located in a door-open position. The coupling mechanism is displaced to the locked position when the ratchet is in the engaging position and displaced to the unlocked position when the ratchet is in the initial position.

Abstract: A vehicle door latch device has an improved door-holding force. The device comprises a latch accommodated in a housing which has a parallel plate parallel to a rotational plane of the latch and an approach path formed on the parallel plate for receiving the striker. The parallel plate has a first plate and a second plate partitioned with the approach path as a boundary. The latch is attached to the first plate. The second plate has a raised portion projecting toward the latch, and the latch has a hook which is engageably opposed to the raised portion when the door is in a door-closed position.

Abstract: An outer open handle assembly for a vehicle door comprises a handle base secured to a door outer panel by means of a first fastener, an outer opening handle rotatably attached to the handle base, a cylindrical attaching portion integrally formed with a rear surface of the handle base, a door key cylinder inserted into the attaching portion, and a U-shaped retainer having a first leg part, a second leg part, a U-shaped engaging part. The attaching portion has a first slit, and the key cylinder has a second slit. The handle base has a supporting portion to which a tip end of the first leg part is rotatably attached by a second fastener, and a boss part with which the first fastener is engaged. The engaging part is engaged with the first and second slits to secure the key cylinder to the attaching portion when the retainer is rotated about the second fastener as a center. A tip end of the second leg part is supported on the first and second slits.

Abstract: A vehicle door latch device comprises a longitudinal open link having an upper end connected to an open lever and a lower end connected to a lock lever. The open link is displaced into a locked position when it moves toward an exterior side of a latch body and is not overlapped with a raised portion of the latch body. A self-canceling lever is attached to the latch body by a first shaft and has a first arm connected to an ratchet pin and a second arm extending toward the open link. The second arm restores the open link to an unlocked position by when a ratchet is rotated by a contact with a latch. The first shaft is located on an exterior side of the ratchet pin. The second arm is overlapped with the open link when the open link is in the locked position.

Abstract: A device for holding a vehicle sliding door at full-open position comprises a striker fixed to a vehicle body and a latch rotatably mounted on the sliding door. The latch has a U-shaped groove for engaging with the striker when the sliding door is fully opened. The latch is displaceable between a first position in which the U-shaped groove is disengaged with the striker and second position in which the U-shaped groove is engaged with the striker. A resilient member is disposed at a location between the latch and the sliding door for holding the latch in either one of the first position and the second position by resilient force thereof. The resilient member is always in contact with the latch directly.

Abstract: An automotive door latch device comprises a latch rotatably mounted to a latch body by a latch shaft and engageable with a striker, a ratchet rotatably mounted to the body by a ratchet shaft and engageable with the latch, an opening mechanism for releasing the ratchet from the latch for opening the door, a lock lever switched between an unlocked position and a locked position, a block lever rotatably mounted to the latch body by a block shaft and engaging with the lock lever when the latch is in an unlatched position so as to prevent the lock lever from moving from the unlocked position to the locked position. The latch, the ratchet and the block lever are arranged on the same plane. The block lever and the ratchet are arranged along a lateral direction of the latch body.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a latch device for a tailgate of a vehicle having a motorized unit rotatably located on the tailgate along with a manually operated handle. The motorized unit selectively and through mechanical connections rotates either the main open lever to the latch and unlatch the tailgate or the sub open lever to latch or unlatch the window hatch in the tailgate.

Abstract: A powered closing device for a vehicle door comprises a latch engageable with a striker, a ratchet for maintaining the engagement between the latch and the striker, an output member rotated by a motor when the latch comes into a half-latched position, an intermediate lever connected to the latch for displacing the latch from the half-latched position to a full-latched position, a connecting member provided between the output member and the intermediate lever, a cancelling lever having a first arm connected to an opening handle of the door and a second arm in which a cancelling cam surface is formed. The cancelling cam surface is brought into contact with the connecting member to disconnect the output member and the intermediate lever when the opening handle is operated. The cancelling cam surface is overlapped with the output member when the opening handle is not operated and moved in a direction apart from the first shaft when the opening handle is operated.

Abstract: A cable anchoring apparatus for detachably attaching a wire cable to a movable member comprises a cable head fixed to the wire cable, a substantially semi-circular-shaped hook formed in the movable member and engageable with the cable head, and a retainer fixed on the movable member. The hook has a first slit and a space for accommodating the cable head. The retainer has an opening overlapped with the space, a notch for communicating the opening to an outside of the retainer, a pair of claws with a sufficient elasticity, and a second slit formed between the claws and communicated with the notch. The gap of the notch and the gap of the second slit are substantially equal to the gap of the first slit. A path is formed between an edge of the opening and the claws and is narrower than the diameter of the cable head. The claws extend distantly from the space.

Abstract: An initially opening device for a vehicle sliding door comprises an output member rotated by a motor, a winch lever rotated from a stand-by position to an initial-open position, a connecting lever for connecting the output member to the winch lever, a press member provided in the sliding door and connected to the winch lever, a ratchet lever connected to a latch unit provided at rear portion of the door for engaging a striker fixed to a vehicle body, and a contact surface formed in the ratchet lever and brought into contact with the winch lever for rotating the ratchet lever when the winch lever is rotated toward the initial-open position. The press member is brought into contact with the vehicle body to move the rear portion of the sliding door in an initial opening direction when the winch lever is displaced from the stand-by position to the initial-open position.

Abstract: A powered sliding device for a sliding door comprises a wire drum rotated by a motor, a wire cable connecting the wire drum and the sliding door, a clutch mechanism provided between the wire drum and the motor. The clutch mechanism has a first coupling state for opening the door, a second coupling state for closing the door, and an uncoupling state. The wire drum has a cylindrical shape having a substantially closed end and an opposite open end, and an inner space formed inside thereof. The clutch mechanism is substantially provided within the inner space. The clutch mechanism is displaced into the first coupling state when the motor rotates in a given direction and displaced into the second coupling state when the motor rotates in a direction opposite to the given direction.

Abstract: An apparatus for transmitting power from a motor to a movable member comprises a drum connected to the movable member, a cam member rotated around a center shaft by the motor, a clutch member displaced from a standby position to a full engagement position through an initial engagement position when the cam member is rotated, a return spring for urging the clutch member from the full engagement position toward the standby position, and a brake member for applying a predetermined frictional resistance to the clutch member. The clutch member moves the brake member from a braking position to a non-braking position when the clutch member is moved from the initial engagement position toward the full engagement position. The cam member has a cam face which moves the clutch member from the standby position to the full engagement position and a holding face which disables the clutch member from returning from the full engagement position to the standby position.

Abstract: An automotive door latch device comprises a latch body having a horizontal passage into which a striker enters, a latch rotatably mounted to the latch body by a latch shaft, a ratchet rotatably mounted to the latch body by a ratchet shaft, a lock lever switched between an unlocked position and a locked position, a block lever rotatably mounted to the latch body by a block shaft and engaging with the lock lever when the latch is in an unlatched position to prevent the lock lever from moving from the unlocked position to the locked position. The latch and the ratchet is substantially arranged along a vertical direction. A straight line connecting the ratchet shaft and the block shaft is substantially in parallel to the horizontal passage of the latch body. The block lever is connected to the ratchet lever by a connection pin.

Abstract: A relay assembly for a vehicle sliding door comprises an outer opening lever mounted on a base plate for releasing a latch unit by operation of an outside open handle, a locking lever mounted on the base plate and having an unlocked position and a locked position, an inner opening lever mounted on the base plate for releasing the latch unit by operation of an inside open handle, a child-proof lever mounted on the base plate and having a non-proof position and a proof position, and a ratchet lever mounted on the base plate and coupled to the latch unit through a rod or wire. The locking lever and child-proof lever are pivotally mounted on the base plate by a first shaft, and are provided on opposite sides of the base plate, respectively. The inner opening lever and outer opening lever are pivotally mounted on the base plate by a second shaft parallel to the first shaft, and are provided on opposite sides of the base plate, respectively.

Abstract: A powered sliding device for sliding a vehicle sliding door along a guide rail comprises a base plate fixed to the vehicle body, a wire drum rotatably mounted on the base plate and rotated by a motor, a wire cable provided between the wire drum and the sliding door, a first holder provided in the vicinity of one end of the guide rail and having a first pulley making contact with the wire cable, a second holder provided in the vicinity of the other end of the guide rail and having a second pulley making contact with the wire cable, a tension roller provided on the base plate for making contact with the wire cable by resiliency of a spring, a flexible cable sheath covering the outer periphery of the wire cable between the first holder and the base plate and having one end to be connected to the first holder, a supporting member connected to the other end of the cable sheath. The supporting member is slidably mounted to the base plate in parallel with a running direction of the wire cable.

Abstract: A vehicle door latch device comprises a latch assembly fixed to a vehicle back door and a motorized closure assembly attached to the latch assembly. The latch assembly includes a housing, a latch accommodated in the housing by a latch shaft, and a ratchet accomodated in the housing by a ratchet shaft. The motorized closure assembly has an electric motor and a rotating lever for displacing the latch from a half-latched position to a full-latched position. The latch has a latch arm which substantially extends toward an outer panel of the door and overlaps with a rotating locus of the rotating lever.