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: A power actuator assembly for a latch includes first and second articulated levers. The first lever includes cam follower surfaces and the second lever includes at least one stop member which pivots between first and second positions as each lever travels between first and second positions. A motor-driven cam having driving members and stop members drives the first lever. More particularly, each driving member has a path of travel that engages one of the cam follower surfaces for a portion of the travel path to drive the first and second levers and is in disengaging alignment with the cam follower for another portion of travel. The cam stop members abut the stop member of the second lever when the cam driving members are in the non-aligned position, whereby the levers may be activated without driving the cam. The assembly can be employed, inter alia, in a lock application or a power release application so as to preclude the necessity of having to backdrive the power actuator.

Abstract: A vehicle latch has a housing and a ratchet pivotally mounted to the housing. The ratchet is operable to move between an unlatched position, a secondary latched position, and a primary latched position. A release lever is pivotally mounted to the housing and operatively connects to the ratchet for unlatching the ratchet from either of the secondary or primary latched positions. The operative connection has a guide pin. A cinching lever has a cam surface that slidingly engages the guide pin. The cam surface defines a predetermined path of travel as the cinching lever is drivingly reciprocated in a cinching cycle. The predetermined path enables the cinching lever to be initially out of the path of travel of the ratchet, to engage the ratchet when the ratchet is in the secondary position and drivingly rotating the ratchet to the primary latched position, and thereafter move out of the path of travel of the ratchet.

Abstract: A vehicle latch has a housing with a detent and a stop. A lever is pivotally connected to the housing and movable from an install position engaging the housing to an active position pivoted away from the housing. A spring extends from the lever to the housing applying a biasing force to the lever urging the lever to the install position. The spring has a tail portion, a coil section and an opposite end. The opposite end engages the lever. The tail end is moveable to engage either the stop or detent. In the install position, the tail end engages the detent and also engages the lever. In this position, the spring increases the biasing force holding the lever in the install position. The tail end is removable from the detent to engage the stop when the lever is first pivoted away from the install position. This disengages the tail end from the lever and also reduces the biasing force on the lever.

Abstract: A power actuator assembly for a latch includes first and second articulated levers. The first lever includes cam follower surfaces and the second lever includes at least one stop member which pivots between first and second positions as each lever travels between first and second positions. A motor-driven cam having driving members and stop members drives the first lever. More particularly, each driving member has a path of travel that engages one of the cam follower surfaces for a portion of the travel path to drive the first and second levers and is in disengaging alignment with the cam follower for another portion of travel. The cam stop members abut the stop member of the second lever when the cam driving members are in the non-aligned position, whereby the levers may be activated without driving the cam. The assembly can be employed, inter alia, in a lock application or a power release application so as to preclude the necessity of having to backdrive the power actuator.

Abstract: A vehicle latch has a housing with a detent and a stop. A lever is pivotally connected to the housing and movable from an install position engaging the housing to an active position pivoted away from the housing. A spring extends from the lever to the housing applying a biasing force to the lever urging the lever to the install position. The spring has a tail portion, a coil section and an opposite end. The opposite end engages the lever. The tail end is moveable to engage either the stop or detent. In the install position, the tail end engages the detent and also engages the lever. In this position, the spring increases the biasing force holding the lever in the install position. The tail end is removable from the detent to engage the stop when the lever is first pivoted away from the install position. This disengages the tail end from the lever and also reduces the biasing force on the lever.

Abstract: A vehicle latch has a housing and a ratchet pivotally mounted to the housing. The ratchet is operable to move between an unlatched position, a secondary latched position, and a primary latched position. A release lever is pivotally mounted to the housing and operatively connects to the ratchet for unlatching the ratchet from either of the secondary or primary latched positions. The operative connection has a guide pin. A cinching lever has a cam surface that slidingly engages the guide pin. The cam surface defines a predetermined path of travel as the cinching lever is drivingly reciprocated in a cinching cycle. The predetermined path enables the cinching lever to be initially out of the path of travel of the ratchet, to engage the ratchet when the ratchet is in the secondary position and drivingly rotating the ratchet to the primary latched position, and thereafter move out of the path of travel of the ratchet.

Abstract: A vehicle door latch (10) has a release lever (22) is mounted to the housing and operably connected to a pawl (62) by a clutch lever (94) extending therebetween. The clutch lever (94) is moveable between an engaged position operably connecting the release lever (22) to the pawl (62) effecting movement of the pawl toward the released position and a disengaged position operably disconnecting the release lever from the pawl. A locking lever (100) is mounted to the housing for moving the clutch lever (94) between the engaged and disengaged positions. The clutch lever (94) moves in a first plane (19) to effect movement of the pawl and the locking lever moves the clutch lever out the first plane (19) to effect movement between the engaged and said disengaged positions.

Abstract: A power drive assembly moves a liftgate (12) of a motor vehicle (10) between its open and closed positions. The motor vehicle (10) defines an opening and the liftgate (12) closes the opening when the liftgate (12) is in its closed position. The power drive assembly (22) includes a base (24) that is fixedly secured to the motor vehicle (10) at a position in spaced relation to the opening. A drive mechanism (38) is fixedly secured to the guide. The drive mechanism (38) converts electrical energy into a linear force. The power drive assembly (22) includes a translation linkage (58) connected to the drive mechanism (38) for receiving the linear force and translating it into a nonlinear force to move the liftgate (12) between the open position and the closed position. A nut (52), secured to the translation linkage (58), moves the translation linkage (58) as it travels along a lead screw (50) that is rotated by a motor (40).

Abstract: A power liftgate drive assembly automatically moves the liftgate of a vehicle between its open and closed positions. The drive assembly is secured to the vehicle at a position near the top of the liftgate. The drive assembly includes a motor that drives a sector gear between two positions. A guide rod is secured to the sector gear to translate the rotational movement of the sector gear into the pivotal movement of the liftgate. A slot extends through the sector gear that allows the liftgate to be moved manually. A latch locks the guide rod in position with respect to the sector gear for automated movement whereas the latch releases the guide rod to move in the slot for manual operation.

Abstract: A latch assembly (10) has a housing having a mouth. A ratchet (12) is pivotally mounted to the housing and is movable to cooperate with the mouth to pivot between an open condition, a primary closed condition and a secondary closed condition for receiving, engaging and cinching a keeper of a striker. The ratchet (12) is biased to the open condition. A pivotally mounted pawl (40) is biased into engagement with the ratchet for releasably retaining the ratchet in the primary closed condition. A secondary release arm (20) is mounted to rotate about a first axis and a second axis. The secondary release arm (20) is rotatable about the first axis between a retracted position and an extended position, and is rotatable out the second axis between an engaging position and a disengaging position. The secondary release arm (20) is biased to the retracted position and biased to the engaging position.

Abstract: A vehicle door latch (10) has a housing (2) having a mouth (4) for receiving a striker. A ratchet (56) is pivotally mounted to the housing for rotation between latched and unlatched conditions. The ratchet (56) cooperates with the mouth (4) to selectively retain a striker. A pawl (62) is mounted to the housing (2) for releasably engaging the ratchet (56). The pawl (62) is moveable relative to the ratchet (56) between a rest position engaging the ratchet to block movement of the ratchet toward the unlatched condition and a released position disengaging the ratchet to allow movement of the ratchet toward the unlatched condition. A release lever (22) is mounted to the housing and operably connected to the pawl (62) by a clutch lever (94) extending therebetween.

Abstract: A power liftgate drive assembly automatically moves the liftgate of a vehicle between its open and closed positions. The drive assembly is secured to the vehicle at a position near the top of the liftgate. The drive assembly includes a motor that drives a sector gear between two positions. A guide rod is secured to the sector gear to translate the rotational movement of the sector gear into the pivotal movement of the ligtgate. A slot extends through the sector gear that allows the liftgate to be moved manually. A latch locks the guide rod in position with respect to the sector gear for automated movement whereas the latch releases the guide rod to move in the slot for manual operation.

Abstract: A control assembly for releasing a latch has a base plate (26) for mounting components of the control assembly. A pivotally mounted (28) input lever is movable between a ready position and a release position. The input lever (28) connects to a release handle (22). A pivotally mounted output lever (30) connects to a latch (14, 16) and transmits a releasing force. A pivotally mounted locking lever (34) is rotatable between a locked position and an unlocked position. A link (98) slidably engages the output lever (30) and pivotally engages the locking lever (34). When the locking lever (34) moves between the locked and unlocked positions, the link (98) responsively decouples and couples the input lever (28) and the output lever (30) to allow independent and dependent rotation thereof, respectively, selectively transferring the releasing force from the release handle (22) to the latch (14, 16).

Abstract: A hood latch assembly (10) has a housing (14) having a mouth (13). A ratchet (16) is pivotally mounted within the housing (14) to cooperate with the mouth (13) to pivot between an open, a secondary closed and a primary closed condition for receiving, engaging and cinching a keeper of a striker (80). The ratchet (16) is biased to the open condition. A pivotally mounted primary pawl (18) is biased for engagement with the ratchet (16) to releasably retain the ratchet (16) in the primary closed condition. A pivotally mounted secondary pawl (62) is biased for engagement with the ratchet (16) to releasably retain the ratchet (16) in the secondary closed condition. The secondary pawl (62) has a release lever (20) which rotates between a deployed position and a retracted position. As the ratchet (16) engages the striker (80), the ratchet (16) will rotate in a latching sense from the open condition to the secondary closed condition.

Abstract: A secondary release mechanism for a vehicle hood latch has a pivotally mounted secondary latch which is rotatable between a latching position and a unlatching position and biased towards the latching position. A pivotally mounted release arm is rotatable between a retracted position, a deployed position and a releasing position and biased to the standby position. A pivotally mounted release lever is rotatable between a release position, a standby position and a retract position. The release lever has a cam surface for engaging a hood of the vehicle as the hood moves between the fully latched condition and a secondary latched condition responsively rotating the release lever between the standby position and the retract position. The release lever operably engages the secondary latch as the release lever rotates from the standby position to the release position.

Abstract: A door latch assembly has a housing defining a mouth. A detent fork is pivotally mounted within the housing to cooperate with the mouth to pivot between an open and closed condition for receiving, engaging and cinching a keeper of a striker. The detent fork is biased in the open condition. A pivotally mounted pawl is biased into engagement with the detent fork for retaining the detent fork in the closed condition. A pivotally mounted inside release lever is movable between a stand-by position and a release position and biased to the stand-by position. A pivotally mounted outside release lever is movable between a stand-by position and a release position, and biased to the stand-by position. A pivotally mounted locking cam operably engages the pawl for positioning the pawl to selectively engage the release levers.

Abstract: A flexible link connects a release pawl of a latch to key cylinder. The link has a connector at each end thereof for connecting to the release pawl at one end and for connecting to the key cylinder at the opposite end. The link has a flexing section intermediate of the ends. The flexing section has a bias for deflecting in a predetermined direction.