Abstract: A modular latch assembly is disposed in a sliding van door for unlatching the van from a closed position and actuating a roller latch release so that the door can be moved from the fully open position. The latch assembly includes interior and exterior handles pivotally mounted relative to a mounting plate. The handles alternately engage and forcibly rotate a crank bar supported on the mounting plate. A motion transmitting core element extends from the crank bar to a rear latch supported on the door for controlling the rear latch. An interior lock button and an exterior lock cylinder move the crank bar into and out of operative engagement with the interior and exterior handles. The interior and exterior actuator handles also control a roller latch release mechanism supported on the mounting plate.

Abstract: A vehicle door assembly has a framed door and a window which is movable between open and closed positions. The window is biased outwardly toward an outer flange on the framed door by a first seal and is guided via pin guides secured to its side lower end by guide channels which include outwardly curved upper guide track sections which are supported for limited movement relative to the stationary lower guide tracks. The upper curved guide track sections are movable by the pin guides as the window approaches its closed position so the window will be substantiallly flush on all four sides with the door frame and outer door panel and thus this flushness is achieved irrespective of the tolerance variatons in the height of the frame and window.

Abstract: A vehicle body compartment is closed by a closure panel movable between an open position and a closed position. A latch assembly has a latch bolt spring biased to an unlatched position and normally maintained in the latched position by a detent lever. A pull down mechanism includes a housing mounted on a vehicle body panel and mounting the latch assembly on the housing body for movement by a motorized vertically reciprocating drive unit between an extended position and a retracted position. When the closure panel is moved toward the closed position, a striker carried by the closure panel engages with the extended latch assembly to interconnect the closure panel with the latch assembly. The drive unit is energized and retracts the latch assembly, thereby pulling the closure panel to its fully closed position. To open the closure panel, the operator energizes the drive unit to move the latch assembly from the retracted position to the extended position.

Abstract: A connector assembly for connecting a linearly shiftable cable to a lock structure includes a plastic housing which mounts a plastic lever, one arm of which is connected to the cable. The other leg of the lever has an abutment for engaging a release lever of the lock structure when the lever is rotated to operated position. A coil torsion spring surrounds a hub of the lever and has its legs engaging anchors on the arms of the lever. After the desired length of the cable is established and the cable secured to the one arm of the lever, installation of the connector assembly, the anchor of the one leg of the spring to the arm of the lever is broken so that the one leg of the spring can engage the housing and bias the lever to non-operated position.

Abstract: A latch control arrangement includes a transfer lever coupled to the locking lever of a door latch for movement therewith between locked and unlocked positions to place the door latch in its locked or unlocked conditions. A power operator is coupled to the transfer lever. A manual operator is movable from a neutral position to either of a pair of first operating positions to actuate the power operator. Continued movement of the operator from a first operating position to either of a pair of second operating positions mechanically couples the operator to the transfer lever.

Abstract: A vehicle door assembly having a frameless window and a window guide and lift module arrangement which includes a pair of side pin guides slidably guided in a pair of guide channels and a collapsible central guide means which extends when the window is raised to provide a connection point located beneath the bottom edge of the window to stabilize the same when in its closed position but which is collapsible when the window is lowered to allow it to be fully received within the door assembly.

Abstract: An attachment for readily connecting and disconnecting a tensioned cable of a cable drive window regulator mechanism to a movable window of a vehicle door assembly comprises a ferrule secured to the cable which is guided for movement in opposite directions along a guide track and a slider or sash plate which is molded to the window and slidably supported on the guide rail. The sash plate has an integrally molded boss portion defining a ferrule receiving pocket and a through slot to enable the cable to be pulled therethrough against its tension bias and the sash plate to then be positioned behind the ferrule to align the pocket with the ferrule whereupon the cable can be released and with the tension bias causing the ferrule to be moved within the pocket to drivingly connect the same to the sash plate.

Abstract: A closure latch control mechanism includes separately operable levers connected to inside and outside operating handles and to a coupling member for relatively shifting cable and sheath members connected to a cable operated closure latch. A locking lever controls the position of the coupling member to couple and uncouple this member and the cable and sheath members.

Abstract: A release handle assembly for vehicle closure latches includes a release handle mounted within a recess of a housing for operation of a closure latch. A blocking member blocks insertion of the operator's fingers behind the handle when the closure latch is in locked position to provide the operator with a sensory indication of the position of the closure latch.

Abstract: A striker assembly includes a reinforcement bracket having a threaded stud, a receptacle, and laterally spaced-apart opposed-facing cam shoulders. The reinforcement bracket is welded onto the vehicle body rear panel with the threaded stud at a precise vertical and transverse location determined by a locating fixture which seats against the compartment lid opening of the vehicle body. A striker bracket has the striker rod mounted thereon, an end which fits within the receptacle of the reinforcement bracket, and an aperture which fits over the threaded stud. Flanges bent from the striker bracket define cam faces which overlie the cam shoulders of the reinforcement bracket. As a nut is threaded onto the threaded stud, the striker bracket is forced into overlying engagement with the reinforcement bracket.

Abstract: A latch release arrangement for vehicle bodies which includes drive and driven members interconnected by a flexible cable for conjoint rotation. A key operated member releases the first latch directly or actuates the drive member to release the second latch through the driven member. An actuator can also operate the drive member to release the second latch through the driven member.

Abstract: A release arrangement for releasing the detent of a latch for an exterior vehicle body closure from the inside of the body. The release arrangement includes a manually operable pivotal handle connected by a cable to an auxiliary release lever for the detent and a pull handle also connected to the release lever by another cable. The pivotal handle is mounted to a support within the body and the pull handle is releasably stored on the support. Separate housings of a common sheath house the cables.

Abstract: An isolated striker assembly for use with a closure means or hatchback, preferably a substantially glass hatchback, of an automotive vehicle is disclosed. The striker assembly includes an elastomeric means having a plurality of compressible projections thereon which serve to dampen vibrations emanating from the vehicle during certain driving conditions so as to reduce vibrations being imparted to the hatchback, which in turn reduces the noise level due to vibrations caused by flexing movement of the hatchback to and from its normal plane during these driving conditions.

Abstract: A manually operated actuator arrangement includes a pair of actuators mounted forwardly and rearwardly of a swingably mounted vehicle window and connected by a translatable flexible member movable within a flexible conduit for concurrent operation. One actuator is mounted forwardly of the window in a position to be operated by front seat occupants and the other is mounted adjacent the rearward free swinging edge portion of the window and connected thereto by an overcenter type toggle linkage.

Abstract: A tailgate for a conventional station wagon type vehicle supported by a biaxial multi-hinge and a pair of hinge-latches for opening movement about a substantially vertical axis, as a door, or about a substantially horizontal axis, as a drop gate. A main latch assembly is provided to release the door for opening movement and to simultaneously release one of the two multi-hinges. A release mechanism is provided including a handle-actuated lever which is free to pivot without releasing the main latch mechanism when a selectively set lock means is in a locked condition. When the lock means is in the unlocked condition, movement of the handle-actuated lever rotates the latch release mechanism to open the tailgate in the door mode of operation with the tailgate window up or down.