Abstract: A power latch assembly is disclosed having a latch mechanism, a power release mechanism for selectively releasing the latch mechanism using an electric actuator, and a key cylinder mechanical release mechanism configured to release the latch mechanism in response to two distinct user input activation movements.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention is directed to a closure latch for a vehicle door. The closure latch includes a ratchet movable between an open position and a closed position, a first door release lever operatively connected to the ratchet, a second door release lever, and a lock lever movable along a lock lever path including a first lock lever position wherein the second door release lever is operatively disconnected from the first door release lever, a second lock lever position wherein the lock lever operatively connects the second door release lever to the first door release lever, and a third lock lever position wherein the lock lever carries out an additional function.

Abstract: The latch includes a ratchet and pawl operable to move between an engaged position to hold a striker and a released position to permit the striker from exiting the latch. In addition, a release lever and a lock lever are pivotally mounted to the opposite surface of the latch housing. A lock link lever connects the release lever to the lock lever, having a first end pivotally mounted to the lock lever and a second end slidably located in a slot on the release lever. Actuating the release lever while the second end of the lock link lever is in its locked position pivots the lock link lever in a first arc and actuating the release lever while the lock link lever is in its unlocked position pivots the lock link lever in a second arc to actuate the pawl into its released position.

Abstract: The latch includes a ratchet and pawl operable to move between an engaged position to hold a striker and a released position to permit the striker from exiting the latch. In addition, a release lever and a lock lever are pivotally mounted to the opposite surface of the latch housing. A lock link lever connects the release lever to the lock lever, having a first end pivotally mounted to the lock lever and a second end slidably located in a slot on the release lever. Actuating the release lever while the second end of the lock link lever is in its locked position pivots the lock link lever in a first arc and actuating the release lever while the lock link lever is in its unlocked position pivots the lock link lever in a second arc to actuate the pawl into its released position.

Abstract: A sensor assembly which can be used in a power actuated child lock system includes a resilient sensor arm which functions as both a switch and spring to bias a switch cam to a desired position. The sensor arm extends from a base unit containing a plunger, and the sensor arm extends over the plunger to a distal end. A motor drives the switch cam to a desired position along the sensor arm, and the sensor arm biases the switch cam to maintain the switch cam in that desired position. When the switch cam engages a first segment of the sensor arm, the switch cam presses the sensor arm and plunger, which is referred to as an unlocking position. When the switch cam is moved to a second segment of the sensor arm, the switch cam releases the sensor arm and plunger, referred to as a locking position.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a latch includes a ratchet and pawl. A lock includes a link pivotable between unlocked and locked positions wherein a release lever operates the pawl, and the lever disconnects from the pawl respectively. A cam rotates between unlocking and locking positions wherein the link can move to the unlocked position, and the link pivots to the locked position respectively. An override member rotates between actuatable and non-actuatable positions wherein the lever can engage the override member to unlock the cam, and the lever disconnects from the override member respectively. The lock is positionable in an unlocked state wherein the link is unlocked, a locked state wherein the link is locked, the cam is in the locking position and the override member is actuatable, and a second locked state wherein the link is locked, the cam is in the locking position and the override member is non-actuatable.

Abstract: In one aspect a vehicle latch is provided having a ratchet, a primary pawl, an auxiliary ratchet and a secondary pawl, and further including a gear that is movable to a secondary pawl locking position wherein the gear directly blocks movement of the secondary pawl and locks the secondary pawl in an auxiliary ratchet holding position to prevent premature or unintended opening of the latch.

Abstract: A closure latch assembly for a vehicle door comprising a lock link operatively connected to a ratchet is provided. The latch assembly is configured to quickly move the lock link to an unlocking position and thus the ratchet to an open position when a user activates a motor of the latch assembly, for example using a key fob. Thus, an impatient passenger can quickly open the door, even while other components of the latch assembly are still moving toward their respective unlocking positions.

Abstract: A lost motion cam assembly for a vehicle lock. The assembly includes a lever, pivotally mounted to the housing and movable between locked and unlocked positions. A motor drives a gear mounted to a shaft in the housing. A cam is also rotatably mounted to the shaft, and includes a pair of opposing cam arms. When a cam arm engages a first interaction surface on the lever, the lever actuates. A second interaction surface on the lever stops the cam. The cam is operably connected to the gear by a lost motion connection that defines a range of free travel of the cam relative to the gear. Manually pivoting the lever while one of the pair of cam arms is in contact with the first interaction surface on the lever causes the cam to rotate within the range of free travel.

Abstract: A lost motion cam assembly for a vehicle lock. The assembly includes a lever, pivotally mounted to the housing and movable between locked and unlocked positions. A motor drives a gear mounted to a shaft in the housing. A cam is also rotatably mounted to the shaft, and includes a pair of opposing cam arms. When a cam arm engages a first interaction surface on the lever, the lever actuates. A second interaction surface on the lever stops the cam. The cam is operably connected to the gear by a lost motion connection that defines a range of free travel of the cam relative to the gear. Manually pivoting the lever while one of the pair of cam arms is in contact with the first interaction surface on the lever causes the cam to rotate within the range of free travel.

Abstract: In an embodiment, the door latch system is provided. A ratchet is movable between closed and open positions. A pawl is movable between ratchet locking and ratchet release positions. A release lever is movable between rest and pawl release positions. A lock link is movable between engagement and disengagement positions to transfer of not transfer movement of the release lever to the pawl release position into movement of the pawl to the ratchet release position. A double lock lever is movable between two positions to permit or prevent disengagement of the lock link. A double lock override lever is movable between two positions to permit or prevent the double lock lever from being in the double locking position. The ratchet can move the double lock override lever to the first position upon opening.

Abstract: A closure latch includes a ratchet movable between an open position and a closed position. A pawl is provided and is movable between a ratchet locking position wherein the pawl holds the ratchet in the closed position and a ratchet release position. An inside door release lever is operatively connectable to the pawl. A lock includes a lock link movable between an unlocked position wherein the lock link operatively connects the inside door release lever to the pawl, and a locked position wherein the inside door release lever operatively disconnects the inside door release lever from the pawl. A lock lever cam rotatable between an unlocking range wherein the lock lever cam permits the lock link to move to the unlocked position, and a locking range wherein the lock lever moves the lock link to the locked position.

Abstract: A lost motion cam assembly for a vehicle lock. The assembly includes a lever, pivotally mounted to the housing and movable between locked and unlocked positions. A motor drives a gear mounted to a shaft in the housing. A cam is also rotatably mounted to the shaft, and includes a pair of opposing cam arms. When a cam arm engages a first interaction surface on the lever, the lever actuates. A second interaction surface on the lever stops the cam. The cam is operably connected to the gear by a lost motion connection that defines a range of free travel of the cam relative to the gear. Manually pivoting the lever while one of the pair of cam arms is in contact with the first interaction surface on the lever causes the cam to rotate within the range of free travel.

Abstract: A lost motion cam assembly for a vehicle lock. The assembly includes a lever, pivotally mounted to the housing and movable between locked and unlocked positions. A motor drives a gear mounted to a shaft in the housing. A cam is also rotatably mounted to the shaft, and includes a pair of opposing cam arms. When a cam arm engages a first interaction surface on the lever, the lever actuates. A second interaction surface on the lever stops the cam. The cam is operably connected to the gear by a lost motion connection that defines a range of free travel of the cam relative to the gear. Manually pivoting the lever while one of the pair of cam arms is in contact with the first interaction surface on the lever causes the cam to rotate within the range of free travel.

Abstract: The latch includes a ratchet and pawl operable to move between an engaged position to hold a striker and a released position to permit the striker from exiting the latch. In addition, a release lever and a lock lever are pivotally mounted to the opposite surface of the latch housing. A lock link lever connects the release lever to the lock lever, having a first end pivotally mounted to the lock lever and a second end slidably located in a slot on the release lever. Actuating the release lever while the second end of the lock link lever is in its locked position pivots the lock link lever in a first arc and actuating the release lever while the lock link lever is in its unlocked position pivots the lock link lever in a second arc to actuate the pawl into its released position.

Abstract: The latch includes a ratchet and pawl operable to move between an engaged position to hold a striker and a released position to permit the striker from exiting the latch. In addition, a release lever and a lock lever are pivotally mounted to the opposite surface of the latch housing. A lock link lever connects the release lever to the lock lever, having a first end pivotally mounted to the lock lever and a second end slidably located in a slot on the release lever. Actuating the release lever while the second end of the lock link lever is in its locked position pivots the lock link lever in a first arc and actuating the release lever while the lock link lever is in its unlocked position pivots the lock link lever in a second arc to actuate the pawl into its released position.

Abstract: In a particular embodiment, the closure latch includes a ratchet movable between an open position and a closed position and biased towards the open position. A pawl is provided and is movable between a ratchet locking position wherein the pawl holds the ratchet in the closed position and a ratchet release position wherein the pawl permits the ratchet to move to the open position, and wherein the pawl is biased towards the ratchet locking position. An inside door release lever is operatively connectable to the pawl. A lock includes a lock link movable between an unlocked position wherein the lock link operatively connects the inside door release lever to the pawl, and a locked position wherein the inside door release lever operatively disconnects the inside door release lever from the pawl, wherein the lock link is biased towards the unlocked position.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention is directed to a closure latch for a vehicle door. The closure latch includes a ratchet movable between an open position and a closed position, a first door release lever operatively connected to the ratchet, a second door release lever, and a lock lever movable along a lock lever path including a first lock lever position wherein the second door release lever is operatively disconnected from the first door release lever, a second lock lever position wherein the lock lever operatively connects the second door release lever to the first door release lever, and a third lock lever position wherein the lock lever carries out an additional function.

Abstract: The latch includes a ratchet and pawl operable to move between an engaged position to hold a striker and a released position to permit the striker from exiting the latch. In addition, a release lever and a lock lever are pivotally mounted to the opposite surface of the latch housing. A lock link lever connects the release lever to the lock lever, having a first end pivotally mounted to the lock lever and a second end slidably located in a slot on the release lever. Actuating the release lever while the second end of the lock link lever is in its locked position pivots the lock link lever in a first arc and actuating the release lever while the lock link lever is in its unlocked position pivots the lock link lever in a second arc to actuate the pawl into its released position.

Abstract: In a particular embodiment, the door latch system includes a ratchet, a pawl, a release lever, a lock link, a double lock lever and a double lock override lever. The ratchet is movable between a closed position for holding a striker, and an open position. The pawl is movable between a ratchet locking position wherein the pawl holds the ratchet in the closed position, and a ratchet release position wherein the pawl permits the ratchet to move to the open position. The release lever is movable between a rest position and a pawl release position. The lock link is movable between an engagement position and a disengagement position. In the engagement position the lock link is positioned to transfer movement of the release lever to the pawl release position into movement of the pawl to the ratchet release position. In the disengagement position the lock link does not transfer movement of the release lever to the pawl release position into movement of the pawl to the ratchet release position.