Abstract: A latch mechanism comprises a latch bolt rotatably mounted about a pivot on a chassis. The latch bolt is movable from an open condition, in which it is free to receive a striker of a motor vehicle, to a closed condition in which the striker is retained by the latch bolt. The latch bolt comprises an overmold of elastomeric material, which defines first, second and third buffers. The third buffer is adapted to cooperate with an abutment on the chassis to absorb over-travel of the striker when the door of a motor vehicle carrying the latch mechanism is closed.

Abstract: An electro-mechanical latch mechanism of a lock includes a latch claw that can move to close and release the latch mechanism and a pawl adapted to keep the latch claw in a closed position. Cooperating means have a point of action that can be operated on by a release lever, as well as a point of action that can be operated on by an electric motor. The pawl is linked to the latch claw by a unidirectional linkage that can be coupled-in and coupled-out electrically. Starting out from this core design, a whole range of locks can be built up by a suitable choice of release levers and electric motors and by suitable programming of the electric motor for coupling in and coupling out the unidirectional linkage between the pawl and the latch claw.

Abstract: A latch of a vehicle door includes a retention plate having a shut face portion and a perpendicular inside face portion. The latch further includes a rotatable claw, a pawl resiliently biased into contact with the claw, and an intermediate release lever. The intermediate release lever has an axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to the axes of rotation of the claw and the pawl. During power release of the latch, a controller signals a power release actuator to rotate the intermediate release lever. The power release actuator is positioned in the plane of the inner face portion of the retention plate. As the intermediate release lever rotates, the cam surface of the intermediate release lever operatively rotates the pawl to disengage the claw and release the striker. If there is a failure of the power release mechanism, the mechanical linkage from the inside or outside door handle can be used to rotate the intermediate release lever and release the claw.

Abstract: This invention relates to a latch mechanism. The latch mechanism comprises a latch bolt rotatably mounted about a pivot on a chassis. The latch bolt is movable from an open condition, in which it is free to receive a striker of a motor vehicle, to a closed condition in which the striker is retained by the latch bolt. The latch bolt comprises an overmold of elastomeric material, which defines first, second and third buffers. The third buffer is adapted to cooperate with an abutment on the chassis to absorb over-travel of the striker when the door of a motor vehicle carrying the latch mechanism is closed.

Abstract: This invention relates to a latch mechanism. The latch mechanism comprises a latch bolt rotatably mounted about a pivot on a chassis. The latch bolt is movable from an open condition, in which it is free to receive a striker of a motor vehicle, to a closed condition in which the striker is retained by the latch bolt. The latch bolt comprises an overmold of elastomeric material, which defines first, second and third buffers. The third buffer is adapted to cooperate with an abutment on the chassis to absorb over-travel of the striker when the door of a motor vehicle carrying the latch mechanism is closed.

Abstract: A latch of a vehicle door includes a retention plate having a shut face portion and a perpendicular inside face portion. The latch further includes a rotatable claw, a pawl resiliently biased into contact with the claw, and an intermediate release lever. The intermediate release lever has an axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to the axes of rotation of the claw and the pawl. During power release of the latch, a controller signals a power release actuator to rotate the intermediate release lever. The power release actuator is positioned in the plane of the inner face portion of the retention plate. As the intermediate release lever rotates, the cam surface of the intermediate release lever operatively rotates the pawl to disengage the claw and release the striker. If there is a failure of the power release mechanism, the mechanical linkage from the inside or outside door handle can be used to rotate the intermediate release lever and release the claw.

Abstract: A latch assembly is constructed from a plurality of modular sub-assemblies, such as a retention module sub-assembly, a release module sub-assembly, and an actuator module sub-assembly. Each of the sub-assemblies may incorporate various functional characteristics, such as motorized operation. Combining sub-assemblies having different functions allows construction of different latch assemblies while taking advantage of common sub-assembly parts, eliminating the need to construct completely new latch assembly designs to accommodate different functions.

Abstract: A vehicle door latch control system detects latch malfunctions via a closed loop system that includes a first switch that is triggered by operation of a door handle and a second switch that indicates whether a latch is in a fully latched position. A controller monitors the operating states of the first and second switches and interprets these operating states to determine door and latch operation as well as detect a latch malfunction.

Abstract: A latch arrangement including a latch bolt having at least an open and closed position for releasably retaining a striker in use, the latch bolt being releasably held in at least a closed position by a pawl, the pawl being operably connected to an actuator by a transmission path, such that powered actuation of the actuator causes the pawl to release the latch bolt for opening, the latch arrangement further including means operable to return the actuator to a rest position, independent of movement of the pawl, wherein there is a lost motion connection in the transmission path to provide for the return of the actuator to the rest position independent of movement of the pawl, the lost motion connection being in the form of an abutment on a nut in lost motion connection with a further abutment of the transmission path.

Abstract: A latch arrangement including a latch bolt having at least an open and closed position for releasably retaining a striker in use, the latch bolt being releasably held in at least a closed position by a pawl, the pawl being operably connected to an actuator by a transmission path, such that powered actuation of the actuator causes the pawl to release the latch bolt for opening, the latch arrangement further including means operable to return the actuator to a rest position, independent of movement of the pawl, wherein there is a lost motion connection in the transmission path to provide for the return of the actuator to the rest position independent of movement of the pawl, the lost motion connection being in the form of an abutment on a nut in lost motion connection with a further abutment of the transmission path.

Abstract: This invention relates to a latch mechanism. The latch mechanism comprises a latch bolt rotatably mounted about a pivot on a chassis. The latch bolt is movable from an open condition, in which it is free to receive a striker of a motor vehicle, to a closed condition in which the striker is retained by the latch bolt. The latch bolt comprises an overmold of elastomeric material, which defines first, second and third buffers. The third buffer is adapted to cooperate with an abutment on the chassis to absorb over-travel of the striker when the door of a motor vehicle carrying the latch mechanism is closed.