Abstract: A power actuator arrangement including a power drive assembly having a first powered position and a second powered position and an output device, the output device being unmoveable by the power drive assembly between a first detent position corresponding to the first powered position and a second detent position corresponding to the second powered position following powered operation, the output device being retained in the first or second detent positions by a detent bias force provided by a detent arrangement, the output device being independently movable by an independent force between the first and second detent positions, the independent force acting to overcome the detent bias force such that during independent movement the independent force substantially does not move the power drive assembly between its first powered and second powdered positions.

Abstract: A power actuator for shifting a vehicle door lock or other closure mechanism selectively between a locked condition and an unlocked condition by powered operation while also permitting manual operation with the actuator providing indexing of manual shifting between said conditions comprising: a) an operatively fixed housing; b) a motor driven driver annulus journalled in or on said mounting for powered rotation and having interior control formations, a first set of said formations being within first axial zone of the annulus and including spaced radially extending control notches separated by peripheral control lands, and a second set of said formations being within a second axial zone of the annulus and including a plurality of angularly spaced radially inwardly projecting camming lobes, each lobe being diametrically opposite but axially offset from a respective notch; c) an elongate index element movable within the annulus, a head part of said element carrying a drive formation co-acting with the second set

Abstract: A door mechanism including self-acting latching means operatively holding the door closed and including a latch release member selectively moveable from a neutral position to a release position freeing the door for opening. Locking means act to secure the latched door by preventing release actuation of the latching means and including a lock drive member selectively moveable between locked and unlocked positions. The latch release member has a path of travel extending between said release position and a door secure position, said neutral position being in an intermediate part of said path. The release member and the lock drive member are coupled by motion transmitting means including a first formation on one of said members co-acting via a connecting means with a second formation on the other of said members to shift the lock drive member to the locked position on movement of the release member from its neutral position to its door secure position.

Abstract: A passenger vehicle door latch assembly (10) includes a cam e.g. (90a) rotating in common with a latching claw (30) which is retained by a pawl (34) at first safety and fully closed positions of an associated door, the shaping of the cam controlling operation of locking mechanism of the assembly. Lobes, e.g. (92a,92b) on the cam co-act to shift a release lever (64) of the mechanism back to an active position at which it will free the pawl by operation of a door handle for opening of the door even if it has previously been set to a disabled condition at which the door would otherwise be locked so as to prevent inadvertent slam locking of the door Different cams (90a, 90b, 90c or 90d) may be substituted in an otherwise common assembly to provide a selection of logic sequences of self-cancelling or prevention of locking operations.

Abstract: A vehicle door latch mechanism including a latch bolt adapted to releasably secure a striker. In use, the latch bolt is pivotably mounted to a chassis of the latch mechanism and movable between an open position and a closed position. The latch mechanism further includes a detent mechanism adapted to releasably maintain the latch bolt in the open position. By providing such a detent mechanism the need for a dedicated latch bolt, a return spring is eliminated.

Abstract: A vehicle door latch mechanism including safety structural components. The latch mechanism includes a latch bolt having a closed condition capable of retaining a striker and an open condition capable of releasing the striker, a pawl which in use releasably secures the latch bolt in its closed condition, and a retention plate. The retention plate includes at least one mouth which co-operates with a retention means to releasably retain the striker in the mouth, at least one pivot pin hole defining a pivot pin hole surface for a pivot pin which is secured to the retention plate in the hole or is pivotally mounted in the hole, and at least one fixing means for fixing a latch mechanism in its operating position. The latch bolt, pawl and retention plate co-operate in use to releasably retain a striker in which at least one of the said safety critical structural components is made from a plurality of structural laminations of material.

Abstract: An actuator assembly including an actuator drivingly connected by a transmission path to an output member, the actuator being capable of moving the output member in a first direction from a rest condition to an actuated condition, and also being capable of moving the output member in a second direction from the actuated condition to the rest condition. The actuator assembly further including an energy storing means, in which movement of the output member by the actuator in the first direction is assisted by the energy storing means and movement of the output member in the second direction by the actuator stores energy in the energy storing means.