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 clip and a vehicle latch is provided for properly positioning an operational lever of the latch. The latch has a housing with an aperture. The clip is mounted on the lever. The clip has a base portion hingedly connected to a top portion and pivots between a closed condition and an open condition. The top portion has a hook that engages the aperture of the housing when the lever is in a predetermined position and when the top portion is in the open condition. The clip properly positions the lever for properly connecting the lever to a rod to operatively connect the latch to a release handle.

Abstract: A drive mechanism assembly for enabling driving and manual movement of a sliding side door. The assembly has a track assembly mounted to a vehicle body at a predetermined height and a drive mechanism mounted to the sliding side door so as to be proximate to a door latching mechanism. The drive mechanism has an input drive motor driving an output gear assembly engaging the track assembly and a transmission gear assembly with a sliding gear which selectively couples the input drive motor and an input gear assembly to the output gear assembly between an engaged position for driving movement or disengaged position for manual movement of the sliding side door. In this way, the slide side door may be moved manually between open and closed positions without having to overcome the effort required of rotating the drive motor.

Abstract: A latch has a unidirectional power release mechanism. The mechanism has a rotatable gear with a boss on the gear, a motor for rotating the gear to orbit the gear boss through an operating cycle of the mechanism, a ratchet movable from a latched position to an unlatched position, a pawl lever, a pawl, and a toggle which moves between a first toggle position and a second toggle position to set the limits of the operating cycle of the mechanism. The toggle pivots in response to the orbiting gear boss and presents a stop for the gear boss at the end of the operating cycle. The gear boss effects movement of the pawl lever to effect unlatching and stops the orbiting gear boss when it encounters the stop. The toggle is pivoted back removing the stop in response to the ratchet rotating to the latched position.

Abstract: A sector gear is formed as one of a pair of mirror image gears (12, 14). Each of the sector gears has an arcuate portion (16) having a series of teeth (18) on an outer periphery thereof, and a V-shaped base portion (20) having a first leg (22), a second leg (24) and an apex portion (26). The first leg (22) has an S-shaped configuration and connects with the arcuate portion (16) at a first end thereof. The second leg (24) has an inverted S-shape and connects with the arcuate portion (16) near an arcuate mid-length of the arcuate portion (16). The first leg (22) and second leg (24) merge smoothly with the apex portion (26). The apex portion (26) has an aperture (30) at a radial center of the arcuate portion (16). Each of the gears has an inner periphery (28) that enables complementary nesting of the pair of sector gears (12, 14).

Abstract: A power drive assembly (110) for controlling movement of a closure panel (102, 105) of a vehicle includes a closure panel (102, 105) that moves relative to the vehicle between open and closed positions, and a latch (108, 115) for cinching the closure panel (102, 105) to the vehicle. The drive assembly (110) includes an actuator (134), a first torque output (136) coupled to effect movement of the closure panel (102, 105), a second torque output (138) coupled to the latch (115), and a clutch assembly (144, 150) coupled between the actuator (134) and the torque outputs (136, 138) for selectively transferring torque between the actuator (134) and the torque outputs (136, 138).

Abstract: A closure panel assembly selectively covers an opening formed in a roof of a motor vehicle. The closure panel assembly includes a frame disposed around the opening of the roof. The frame has a longitudinal wall including a guide slot extending between a forward end and a rearward end. A lead screw is disposed adjacent the longitudinal wall and is movable with respect thereto. A panel is movable relative to the lead screw for selectively covering the opening. A sliding bracket is secured to the panel and includes a drive nut extending through the guide slot to threadingly engage the lead screw. The rotation of the lead screw allows for movement of the drive nut to move the panel between an open position and a closed position.

Abstract: A drive assembly moves a vehicle closure panel from an open to a closed condition. The drive assembly has a housing and a motor mounted on the housing. A drum and gear assembly is rotatably mounted on the housing. The drum and gear assembly has a drum having a helical groove, a gear in driving engagement with the motor, and a spring biasing the drum in a winding direction relative to the gear. The drum and gear have a lost motion connection therebetween. A cable has an end connected to the closure panel and an opposite end connected to the drum about the helical groove in the winding direction. The drum rotates in the winding direction relative to the stationary gear as the closure panel is manually moved from the open to the closed condition with the spring maintaining a cable tension. The drum and gear rotate together in the winding direction upon energizing the motor effecting powered movement of the closure panel to the closed condition.

Abstract: A quiet apply push to release control pedal system includes a frame to mount the system to a vehicle. The frame also includes a geared rack and a pedal arm and a quiet apply carriage are rotatably mounted to the frame. The quiet apply carriage has a geared quiet apply mechanism which engages the geared rack and a cable carrier to which a control cable can be attached. Pushing the pedal moves the carriage to tension a control cable attached thereto by rotating the quiet apply mechanism along the geared rack. The quiet apply mechanism includes a clutch which prevents the gear from rotating in a direction to release the tension in the cable unless the clutch is released. The carriage also includes a pawl and toggle mechanism which locks the pedal arm to rotate with the carriage to tension the cable when the pedal is first pressed.

Abstract: A handle assembly selectively releases a door latch (28) of a door. The handle assembly has a housing (22) and an actuator such as a key cylinder (24) secured to the housing. The key cylinder (24) has a bell crank (124) rotatable relative to the housing between a neutral position to a locking position upon rotation in a locking sense and between a neutral position and an unlocking position upon rotation in an unlocking sense, opposite the locking sense. A handle (30) is pivotally mounted to the housing. A pull lever (46) is pivotally mounted to the housing and connects to the door latch (28). A link (42) has one end (44) pivotally connected to the pull lever (46) and an opposite end (40) slidingly connected to the bell crank (124). The pull lever (46) slidingly engages the handle (30) between a lock position wherein the pull lever (46) slides relative to the handle (30) and an unlocked position wherein the pull lever (46) is coupled to the handle (30) and handle movement is translated to the pull lever.

Abstract: A lock, particularly a boot or tailgate lock for a motor vehicle having a drive (14) and a lock mechanism operated by the drive (14), the drive (14) being in the form of an electric motor of reversible construction, wherein the drive (14) acts on a gear wheel (16) operatively connected to at least two clutches (18, 19), while when the drive (14) is actuated in a first driving direction a first clutch (18) couples the drive to first components (20, 22, 24, 30) of the lock mechanism in order to activate at least a first function of the lock mechanism, and when the drive (14) is actuated in a second driving direction a second clutch (19) couples the drive (14) to second components (40, 28, 24) of the lock mechanism in order to activate at least a second function of the lock mechanism.

Abstract: A door module assembly for a motor vehicle door has a plate-like carrier holding a plurality of door hardware components in a pre-configured orientation, including one or more window regulator rails. The carrier seals the motor vehicle door and includes a flap that provides at least partial access to the window regulator rails. A first trim panel is pre-fixed to the carrier. A second trim panel articulates with respect to the first trim panel between an initial position generally parallel to the first trim panel and an installed position generally in-line with the first trim panel. With the carrier storing substantially all of the hardware required for the door and the trim panels covering substantially the entire surface area of the door, handling and assembly operations are minimized.

Abstract: A handle assembly unlatches a door latch to open a door of a motor vehicle. The handle assembly includes a housing secured to the door. The housing defines a well. A handle is pivotally secured to the housing for movement between a rest position and actuating positions into and out of the well. The handle assembly also includes a bell crank that is pivotally mounted to the housing and operatively engaged with the handle. In addition, the handle assembly includes a release lever that is pivotally mounted to the housing and selectively coupled to the bell crank. The release lever is operatively connected to the door latch. Movement of the handle in either direction from its rest position pivots the bell crank and the release lever together relative to the housing to unlatch the door.

Abstract: A controller for a vehicular power accessory includes an elongate sensor electrode (102), a capacitive shield (104) extending significantly beyond the sensor electrode (102). A dielectric (106) is disposed between the capacitive shield (104) and the sensor electrode (102) to isolate the sensor electrode (102) from the capacitive shield (104). A sensor processor (114) is in electrical communication with the sensor electrode (102) for processing sense data received from the sensor electrode (102). A power actuator (202) is in electrical communication with the sensor processor (114) for effecting movement of the power accessory in accordance with the processed sense data. The sensor electrode (102) can be applied to various vehicle locations with the purpose of detecting obstacles and activating an alarm or display.

Abstract: An actuating device, particularly for a vehicle door lock, having a cam wheel (11) comprising at least one cam (13), the cam wheel being selectively rotatable about a rotation axis (11a) in two directions, and an adjustment lever (12) comprising a dog (14), the lever (12) being pivotable about a rotation axis (12a) by interaction between the at least one cam (13) and the dog (14), between two stop or end positions. The dog (14) has a first actuation curve (14a) and at least one second actuation curve (14b). Interaction between the at least one cam (13) and the first actuation curve (14a) on the dog (14) causes no pivoting of the adjustment lever (12), and interaction of the at least one cam (13) with the at least one second actuation curve (14b) on the dog (14) initiates pivoting of the adjustment lever (12) between the two stops.

Abstract: A window regulator (10) for operating a window pane of vehicle comprises a base plate (12) having a guide rail (20). A lifter plate (26) is slidably coupled to the guide rail (20) and adapted for supporting the window pane. A motor assembly (32) is secured to the base plate (12) and includes a drive housing and a power motor. A drive shaft, rotatably journaled to the drive housing, has a disc flange supporting a cylindrical shaft and a key shaft spaced from and parallel to the cylindrical shaft. The top and bottom cable drums (34, 36) are supported on the drive shaft, with each of the cable drums including a key slot for aligning with and receiving the key shaft therethrough. The lifter plate is secured to a cable (38) between first and second pulleys (22, 24). At least one compression spring is coupled to one of the cable drums to maintain tension on the cable.

Abstract: A window-regulating assembly selectively moves a window of a vehicle door between an open position and a closed position. The window-regulating assembly includes a rail that is fixedly secured to the vehicle door. The rail extends through a radius of curvature. A lift plate is slidably engaged with the rail. The lift plate is also secured to the window. The lift plate moves the window between the open and closed positions. A lead screw is secured to the rail. The lift plate travels along the lead screw to move the window between the open and closed positions. A drive motor is secured to lift plate. The drive motor receives electrical energy and converts the electrical energy into a selectively bidirectional rotational force to drive the lift plate over the lead screw. A pivot mount extends between the drive motor and the lift plate allowing the drive motor to move through the radius of curvature as the lift plate slides along the rail.

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: An electromagnetic clutch assembly (10) has a housing (12, 14) and shaft (16) rotatably supported by the housing. At least one of the shaft extends out of the housing. A clutch plate (22) is mounted on the shaft (16) for rotation therewith. An armature plate (20) is mounted in the housing (12, 14). A gear (24) is rotatable and slidably mounted on the shaft (26). A spring assembly (88, 89) extends between the clutch plate (22) and the gear (24) to bias the gear (24) out of engagement with the clutch plate (22). A coil assembly (18) is mounted on the shaft (16) for sliding movement therealong. The coil assembly (18) engages the gear (24). Energizing the coil assembly moves the coil assembly (18) into engagement with the armature plate (20) and responsively effects movement of the gear (24) into engagement with the clutch plate (22), coupling the gear (24) and the clutch plate (22).