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 entry door lock system includes an energy storage device (27) to permit unlatching if unlatching movement of a door handle occurs before the latch has been unlocked. The device (27) is passive if unlocking occurs before unlatching movement of the door handle. The invention avoids the need for repeat movement of the door handle in cases where unlocking follows initial door handle movement.

Abstract: A latch arrangement including a latch, a release mechanism a manually actuable element and a control means, the latch being operable to releasably retain a striker in use, the release mechanism being capable of being moved by the manually actuable element from a rest position through an unlocked position to a release position wherein it unlatches the latch, the control means having a locked condition at which actuation of the manually actuable element does not cause unlatching of the latch and an unlocked condition at which during an initial movement of the manually actuable element, the release mechanism achieves the unlocked position and during subsequent movement of the manually actuable element, the release mechanism achieves the unlatch position.

Abstract: A latch assembly includes a latch bolt, a retaining member and an actuator. The latch bolt is moveable between a closed position at which it is capable of retaining a striker and an open position at which the striker is released. The retaining member is moveable between a retained position at which it retains the latch bolt in at least its closed position and released position at which the latch bolt can move between its opened and closed positions. The actuator is capable of moving the retaining means from its engaged position to its released position, in which, under normal operating conditions of the latch, the actuator is the sole means of releasing the latch.

Abstract: An actuator including a rotatable gear wheel reversibly drivable by a motor, the gear wheel being operably connectable to an output element by a drive transfer device, the output element being moveable between a first and second position, in which the drive transfer device is operably disconnectable from the output lever to allow independent movement of the output lever.

Abstract: A latch arrangement includes a latch, a manually actuable element, a release mechanism and an electromagnet. The latch is operable to releasably retain a striker. The release mechanism is capable of being moved by the manually actuable element from a latched position to an unlatched position such that the manually actuable element unlatches the latch. The electromagnet includes first, second and third conditions. The first condition is a non-powered condition and actuation of the manually actuable element does not cause the release mechanism to unlatch the latch. The second condition is a powered condition and actuation of the manually actuable element does not cause the release mechanism to unlatch the latch. The third condition is in a non-powered condition and actuation of the manually actuable element causes the release mechanism to unlatch the latch.

Abstract: A latch mechanism includes a power actuator that does not require back driving of the drive train. The latch mechanism includes a latch bolt movable between a primary latched position and an open position. A first pawl secures and releases the latch bolt by moving between a latched position and released position. A release device moves between an engaged position, which allows the first pawl to reach an engaged position, and a released position, which retains the first pawl in its released position. A second pawl moves between an engaged position, which retains the release device in its released position, and a released position, which releases the release device.

Abstract: A latch including bolt moveable between a latched position at which it is capable of retaining a striker in an engaged position an and unlatched position at which at the striker is free to move between the engaged position and a remote position and a first retaining means moveable between a retaining position at which it retains the latch bolt in its latched position and a released position at which it releases the latch bolt from its latched position and a second retaining means for releasably retaining the first retaining means in its released position following unlatching of the latch, the second retaining means further retaining the first retaining means in its released position following movement of a striker from the remote position to the engaged position.

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 assembly (10, 110, 210, 310) for releasably securing a door in a closed position, the assembly comprising an actuator (15, 115, 215, 315) with an actuator output, the actuator having a first relatively fast acting low force output mode and a second relatively slow acting high force output mode, the actuator output being interconnected with a latch bolt (46, 146, 246, 346) of the assembly such that the latch bolt may be relatively rapidly released by the actuator operating in its first output mode when the load required to unlatch the latch bolt is relatively low, but relatively slowly unlatched by the second output mode when the load required to unlatch the latch bolt is relatively high.

Abstract: A cable linkage comprising a cable partially housed within a sheath and a fitting for securement to a linkage member, a length of cable between the fitting and the sheath being exposed when the cable is extended in use, wherein the fitting has a guide follower arranged to follow a guide so as to substantially inhibit kinking of the exposed length of cable.

Abstract: A lock mechanism (10, 110) including a lock gear lever (12, 112) movable between unlocked, locked and superlocked positions, the lock lever being connected to further components of the lock mechanism to provide for corresponding unlocked, locked and superlocked conditions of the lock mechanism, the lock lever being operably movable between the unlocked, locked and superlocked positions by a stepper motor (22, 122) (FIG. 7).

Abstract: An actuator including a device for providing a magnetic field including a magnetic field generator, the actuator further including an output element being moveable between a first position where it blocks or breaks an associated mechanical transmission path and a second position where it unblocks or forms part of an associated mechanical transmission path, the output element being moveable as a result of changes in its local magnetic field as generated by the magnetic field generator, at least a part of the device being moveable to change said local magnetic field to effect movement of the output element.

Abstract: A vehicle incorporating a switch, a window operable by a first power actuator, and a door having a child safety locking device operable by a second power actuator, the vehicle further including an associated window operating switch and an inside door opening handle for normal use by an occupant sitting adjacent the door, in which the switch is arranged to operate the second power actuator to put the child safety locking device into a child safety on condition, prevent the first power actuator from opening the window in response to operation of the associated window operating switch, and prevent the second power actuator from operating in response to operation of the inside door opening handle.

Abstract: A vehicle door latch assembly has an unlatching mechanism that includes an input member and an output member that are releasably drive connected together. An overriding element carries the input member and the output member into and out of drive connection and is urged in a clutch disconnecting condition. If the overriding element is displaced into a clutch connecting condition, power actuation of the input member is possible after a manually operable release member is shifted to disengage a latching pawl out of engagement from a latch. The overriding element prevents disengagement of the latch if there is a malfunction in the power actuator and ensures that power unlatching can be initiated only by the release member.

Abstract: An entry door lock system includes an energy storage device (27) to permit unlatching if unlatching movement of a door handle occurs before the latch has been unlocked. The device (27) is passive if unlocking occurs before unlatching movement of the door handle. The invention avoids the need for repeat movement of the door handle in cases where unlocking follows initial door handle movement.

Abstract: A drive system (10) operable to drive vehicle door functions comprises a drive member (20) mounted for rotation about a drive axis by a drive motor (12), a rocker (24) operable by the drive member (20), and translation means (16), (18), (22) operable to move the drive member (20) to a predetermined position on the drive axis.

Abstract: A latch assembly including a latch bolt moveable between a closed position at which it is capable of retaining a striker and a open position at which it is capable of releasing a striker, the latch assembly further including a pawl moveable between a retaining position at which it is capable of retaining the latch bolt in at least it closed position and a released position at which the latch bolt is free to move between its open and closed position, in which the pawl is rotatably mounted via a rotating element bearing.

Abstract: A latch mechanism includes a latch bolt having an open position for releasing a striker in use, and a closed position for retaining a striker in use, and a pawl having a retaining position for retaining the latch bolt in at least its closed position, and a release position for allowing the latch bolt to move between its open and closed positions, a release element having a rest position and an actuated position, a release link having an engaging position and a disengaged position, movement of the release element between its rest position and its activated position causing movement of the release link, movement of the release element from the rest position to the actuated position when the release link is in its engaging position causing the pawl to move to its release position, and movement of the release element from the rest position to the actuated position when the release link is in its disengaged position allowing the pawl to remain in its retaining position, and a locking member having a locked positio

Abstract: A vehicle door latch assembly including a pivotally mounted latch claw (10) having a mouth operatively co-acting with a striker as the door nears its closed position, a latching pawl (16) self-engaging with the claw to hold it in a latched condition retaining the door, and unlatching means selectively operable to disengage the latching pawl for opening the door: characterised in that the unlatching means comprises a pawl lifter (20) movable from a position of rest to carry the latching pawl out of engagement with the claw, a power output member (24) movable to engage and displace the pawl lifter from said position of rest, an input member (30) power actuated between first and second positions, clutch means (28,32) releasably drive connecting the input member to the output member to cause shifting of the latter as the input member moves to its second position, and an overriding element (36) carrying the clutch means into and out of drive connection, said overriding element being operatively coupled to the pawl