Abstract: A latch is disclosed herein. The latch having: a fork bolt movably mounted to the latch for movement between an open position and a closed position; a detent lever movably mounted to the latch for movement between a latched position and a released position, wherein the detent lever prevents the fork bolt from moving from the closed position to the open position when the detent lever is in the latched position; a hold open lever configured to engage and retain the detent lever when it moves from the latched position to the released position; and wherein the fork bolt is configured to disengage the hold open lever from the detent lever when the fork bolt travels away from the closed position.

Abstract: A latch includes a housing, a fork bolt operably coupled to the housing and pivotal between an unlatched position, a primary latched position, and a secondary latched position, and a detent lever operably coupled to the housing and arranged to cooperate with the fork bolt. A drive link is operatively connected to the fork bolt and to the detent lever. An override lever is operably coupled to the drive link. A manual release lever is operably coupled to the override lever. The manual release lever is movable between a rest position and a release position. The drive link is automatically moved out of a path of rotation of the fork bolt when the manual release lever is moved to the release position.

Abstract: A vehicle door latch assembly is disclosed herein, having: a fork bolt movably secured to the latch assembly; a detent lever movably secured to the latch assembly, the detent lever being capable of movement between an engaged position and a disengaged position, the detent lever retains the fork bolt in a latched position when the detent lever is in the engaged position and an engagement surface of the detent lever contacts an engagement surface of the fork bolt; an inertia block out assembly for preventing the detent lever from moving into the disengaged position when the inertia block out assembly is in a blocking position; and a manual override mechanism for the inertia block out assembly, wherein the manual override mechanism requires at least three independent actions to be performed to move the inertia block out assembly from the blocking position to an unblocking position.

Abstract: A latch includes a housing, a fork bolt, and a detent lever. The fork bolt is coupled to the housing and is movable between an unlatched position, a primary latched position, and a secondary latched position. The detent lever is operably coupled to the housing and is arranged to cooperate with the fork bolt. A drive link is operatively connected to the fork bolt and to the detent lever. The drive link is movable in a first direction to engage the detent lever to open the latch and is movable in a second direction to engage the fork bolt to cinch the latch.

Abstract: A carrier for electrical traces of an actuator for a latch is provided. The carrier is configured to receive a plurality of electrical traces; and wherein the carrier has features for receiving and retaining at least one switch, wherein the carrier is configured for use in at least two distinct configurations each of which being different from the other.

Abstract: A vehicle door latch assembly is provided, the latch assembly having: a fork bolt movably secured to the latch assembly, the fork bolt being capable of movement between a latched position and an unlatched position; a detent lever movably secured to the latch assembly, the detent lever being capable of movement between an engaged position and a disengaged position, the detent lever retains the fork bolt in the latched position when the detent lever is in the engaged position and a engagement surface of the detent lever contacts an engagement surface of the fork bolt; and a spring member integrally formed with the detent lever, the spring member being deflected by a bumper secured to the latch assembly when the detent lever is moved to the engaged position.

Abstract: A vehicle latch is provided. The vehicle latch having: a frame; a pawl rotatably mounted to the frame for movement between an engaged position and a disengaged position; a claw rotatably mounted to the frame for movement between a latched position and an open position, wherein pawl is configured to impede rotational movement of the claw from the latched position to the open position when the pawl is in the engaged position; a release lever rotatably mounted to the frame; and a worm wheel having a plurality of cam lobes, wherein each of the cam lobes are located in separate and distinct planes with respect to each other, wherein the release lever operably couples the pawl to the worm wheel such that rotational movement of the worm wheel rotates the pawl.

Abstract: A cable conduit end for securing a cable to a cable abutment of a latch is provided. The cable conduit end having: a housing; an alignment feature incorporated into a surface of the housing; a flexible retention feature integrally formed with the conduit end, wherein the flexible retention feature is spring biased away from the housing to a first position; and a radial retention feature extending outwardly away from the housing, wherein the flexible retention feature is located proximate to a first end of the housing and the radial retention feature is located proximate to a second end of the housing.

Abstract: A system is provided. The system having: a pair of levers; and an over center spring secured to each of the pair of levers such that each leg of the over center spring is received by features on each respective lever, wherein opposing forces on each leg of the over center spring creates a negative torque on a first one of the pair of levers and a positive torque on a second one of the pair of levers when the system is in a first position and wherein the system when in a second position approximately half way to a final position from the first position provides zero torque to the pair of levers and wherein the system when in the final position creates a positive torque on the first one of the pair of levers and a negative torque on the second one of the pair of levers when the system is in the final position.

Abstract: A worm drive system is provided. The worm drive system having: a motor for rotating a worm, the worm having a bearing surface rotatably received by a bearing surface integral with a housing the worm is located in, wherein a lubrication reservoir is located proximate to the bearing surface of the worm such that lubricants located in the reservoir are dispersed onto the bearing surface of the worm.

Abstract: An actuator for a shift by wire system is provided. The actuator having: a motor; a rack; a gear train configured to cause linear movement of the rack in response to rotational movement of the motor; a clutch mechanism for coupling and decoupling the rack to the motor; and a manual override for operating the clutch mechanism.

Abstract: A latch assembly is provided herein. The latch assembly having: a lock lever rotatably mounted to the latch assembly for movement between a first position and a second position; a switch positioned to detect movement of the lock lever between the first position and the second position, the switch being located in a carrier; an actuating lever rotatably mounted to the carrier for movement between a first position and a second positon, wherein the actuating lever is operably coupled to the lock lever such that movement of the lock lever from the first position to the second position causes the actuating lever to move from the first position to the second position; and wherein the switch is located in a first plane along with at least one other switch and the lock lever rotates in a second plane that is different from the first plane.

Abstract: A vehicle door latch assembly is disclosed herein, having: a fork bolt movably secured to the latch assembly; a detent lever movably secured to the latch assembly, the detent lever being capable of movement between an engaged position and a disengaged position, the detent lever retains the fork bolt in a latched position when the detent lever is in the engaged position and an engagement surface of the detent lever contacts an engagement surface of the fork bolt; an inertia block out assembly for preventing the detent lever from moving into the disengaged position when the inertia block out assembly is in a blocking position; and a manual override mechanism for the inertia block out assembly, wherein the manual override mechanism requires at least three independent actions to be performed to move the inertia block out assembly from the blocking position to an unblocking position.

Abstract: A device and method for manually controlling a system including a first lever movable between multiple positions and a movable component. The method including: activating a manual engagement device; engaging a manual control to couple a first lever and a movable component; disengaging an automatic control coupling the first lever and the movable component; and moving the movable component by moving the first lever.

Abstract: A latch having: a fork bolt movably mounted to the latch for movement between an open position and a closed position; a detent lever movably mounted to the latch for movement between a latched position and a released position, wherein the detent lever prevents the fork bolt from moving from the closed position when the detent lever is in the latched position; a hold open lever configured for movement between a first position and a second position wherein the hold open lever has a feature configured to engage a feature of the detent lever such that the detent lever is retained in the disengaged position by the hold open lever when it is in the first position, wherein the hold open lever moves in a plane or directions that are angularly oriented to a plane or directions in which the fork bolt and the detent lever move.

Abstract: A latch having: a fork bolt; a detent lever; and a bell crank lever, wherein the bell crank lever moves the detent lever from a latched position to a released position as the bell crank lever moves from a first position to a second position; and an over center spring secured to the bell crank lever at one end and a portion of a housing of the latch at another end, wherein the over center spring is configured to provide a biasing force to the bell crank lever in a first direction towards first position when the bell crank lever is in the first position and the over center spring is configured to provide a biasing force to the bell crank lever in a second direction towards the second position when the bell crank lever is in the second position.

Abstract: A vehicle door latch assembly is disclosed herein, having: a fork bolt movably secured to the latch assembly; a detent lever movably secured to the latch assembly, the detent lever being capable of movement between an engaged position and a disengaged position, the detent lever retains the fork bolt in a latched position when the detent lever is in the engaged position and an engagement surface of the detent lever contacts an engagement surface of the fork bolt; an inertia block out assembly for preventing the detent lever from moving into the disengaged position when the inertia block out assembly is in a blocking position; and a manual override mechanism for the inertia block out assembly, wherein the manual override mechanism requires at least three independent actions to be performed to move the inertia block out assembly from the blocking position to an unblocking position.

Abstract: An actuator for a latch is provided, the actuator having: a motor operatively coupled to a gear train; and a sector gear pivotally mounted to the actuator and operatively coupled to the gear train, wherein rotational movement of the sector gear is translated into linear movement of a link operatively coupled to the sector gear and wherein linear movement of the link causes a linear movement of a portion of a lock lever operatively coupled to the actuator.

Abstract: A carrier for electrical traces of an actuator for a latch is provided. The carrier is configured to receive a plurality of electrical traces; and wherein the carrier has features for receiving and retaining at least one switch, wherein the carrier is configured for use in at least two distinct configurations each of which being different from the other.

Abstract: A latch, having: an actuator housing configured to be coupled to a latch housing of the latch by only a single screw. A lock/unlock actuator of a vehicle latch having an actuator housing that is secured to a latch housing via a single screw and at least two pairs of integral features formed in the actuator housing and the latch housing.