Abstract: A power latch assembly for a vehicle door of a motor vehicle includes a ratchet configured for movement between striker capture and striker release positions, wherein the ratchet is biased toward the striker release position, and a pawl configured for movement between a ratchet holding position, whereat the pawl maintains the ratchet in the striker capture position, and a ratchet releasing position, whereat the pawl releases the ratchet to the striker release position. A powered actuator is energizable to move in a first direction to move the pawl under a first release torque from the ratchet holding position to the ratchet releasing position and the powered actuator is energizable to move in a second direction to move the pawl under a second release torque from the ratchet holding position to the ratchet releasing position, wherein the second release torque is greater than the first release torque.

Abstract: A gear arrangement comprising: a housing having a gear axis and a housing stop, the housing stop having a first and second abutment; a rotatable member mounted on the gear axis having a first side having a first stop and a second having a second stop, the first stop is positioned between the first abutment and the second abutment; and a gear mounted on the gear axis having a first gear side, and a second gear side having a gear stop, the gear stop is engageable and disengageable with the second stop during rotation of the gear about the gear axis, the rotatable member positioned between the housing and the gear; wherein said rotation of the gear is hindered while the gear stop and the second stop are engaged when the first stop enters into engagement with either the first abutment or the second abutment.

Abstract: A latch assembly for a closure system having first and second closure members each movable between open and closed positions and method of operation are provided. The assembly includes a primary latch mechanism that has a primary actuation group to control actuation of the first closure member. The latch assembly also includes a secondary latch mechanism that has a secondary actuation group operable to control actuation of the second closure member. A controller unit is coupled to the primary and secondary actuation groups and determines which of the primary actuation group and the secondary actuation group to actuate and controls actuation of at least one of the primary actuation group and the secondary actuation group accordingly. The primary and secondary latch mechanisms, primary and secondary actuation groups, and controller unit are all integrated into the housing.

Abstract: A power latch assembly for a vehicle door of a motor vehicle includes a ratchet configured for movement between striker capture and striker release positions, wherein the ratchet is biased toward the striker release position, and a pawl configured for movement between a ratchet holding position, whereat the pawl maintains the ratchet in the striker capture position, and a ratchet releasing position, whereat the pawl releases the ratchet to the striker release position. A powered actuator is energizable to move the pawl from the ratchet holding position to the ratchet releasing position, wherein a multistage reduction mechanism operably connects an output of the powered actuator to the pawl to provide a first release torque on pawl during normal use and a greater second release torque on pawl during emergency use.

Abstract: A closure latch assembly for installation in a vehicle door and method of construction thereof is provided. The closure latch assembly has at least one ratchet, a primary pawl, and an auxiliary pawl. At least one ratchet is moveable between a striker capture position and a striker release position. The primary pawl is moveable between a closed position and an open position. The auxiliary pawl is moveable between a closed position and an open position. An auxiliary pawl release lever is moveable between a rest position, whereat the auxiliary pawl is located in its closed position and the primary pawl is located in its closed position, and an engaged position, whereat the auxiliary pawl is moved to its open position and the primary pawl is moved to its open position.

Abstract: A latch assembly for a motor vehicle closure system having a latch mechanism, a latch release mechanism and a power cinching mechanism. The latch mechanism is operable in a released state when a closure panel is located in an open position, in a secondary closed state when the closure panel is located in a partially-closed position, and in a primary closed state when the closure panel is located in a fully-closed position. The cinching mechanism interacts with the latch mechanism to establish the secondary closed state and is actuated for shifting the latch mechanism from its secondary closed state into its primary closed state.

Abstract: A latch assembly for a vehicle includes a latch housing, a ratchet, a main pawl, and a cinch mechanism including a cinch pawl and a cinch link lever. When the ratchet moves to a secondary striker capture position, the cinch pawl moves into a blocking position to hold the ratchet. The cinch pawl is actuatable by a cinch lever to move the ratchet to a cinched striker capture position and the main pawl to ratchet checking position. The cinch pawl may be blocked by a stop feature formed in the latch housing in the secondary striker capture position, which resists an opening force exerted on the ratchet. The cinch pawl may be coupled to the cinch link lever, and the cinch link lever may pivot about the same post as the ratchet designed to resist high loads.

Abstract: A closure latch assembly for a dual-door closure system in a motor vehicle includes an anti-chucking mechanism and cinching mechanism in cooperation with a latch mechanism. The anti-chucking mechanism cooperates with the latch mechanism to provide an anti-chucking feature, while the cinching mechanism cooperates with the latch mechanism to provide a cinching feature, wherein an anti-chucking cancellation mechanism prevents interference of the anti-chucking mechanism with the cinching mechanism.

Abstract: A closure latch assembly includes a latch module having a ratchet and a pawl, with the ratchet being moveable between a striker capture position and a striker release position and the pawl being moveable between a ratchet holding position, whereat the ratchet is maintained in the striker capture position, the a ratchet release position, whereat the ratchet is biased toward the striker release position. An actuator module including a power actuator is operably coupled to a drive gear. The drive gear has an actuation feature fixed thereto. A latch release mechanism operably couples the actuation feature to the pawl, wherein rotation of the drive gear via energization of the power actuator causes the latch release mechanism to move the pawl between the ratchet holding position and the ratchet release position.

Abstract: A closure panel for a motor vehicle having a power-operated latch assembly with a mechanical emergency release system and method of mechanical actuation of the power-operated latch assembly is provided. The mechanical emergency release system of power-operated latch assembly has a manually actuatable release lever and a cover for hiding the manually actuatable release lever from a user within an interior cabin of the motor vehicle. The manually actuatable release lever is accessible to the user in the interior cabin for activation after the cover has been moved.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a closure latch assembly and system for a vehicle closure panel equipped with a latch mechanism having a latched position and an unlatched position and a power release mechanism moveable between home position, a release position and a double pull position and/or a child lock position, wherein a single motor is operable to move the power release mechanism between from the home position to the release position and from the home position to the double pull position and/or the child lock position.

Abstract: A closure latch assembly, operable in one of a normal operating mode and an emergency mode, has a power release motor, a ratchet and a pawl, with the ratchet being moveable between a striker capture position and a striker release position and the pawl being moveable between a ratchet holding position, whereat ratchet is maintained in the striker capture position, and a ratchet release position, whereat ratchet is biased toward the striker release position. The power release motor is configured to operate using primary control signals received from a primary controller external to closure latch assembly during the normal operating mode of closure latch assembly and to operate using secondary control signals received from a secondary controller internal to closure latch assembly during the emergency operating mode of closure latch assembly and not operate using the secondary control signals received from secondary controller during the normal operating mode.

Abstract: A closure latch assembly for a motor vehicle closure system having a latch mechanism, a latch release mechanism for releasing the latch mechanism, and an outside backup release mechanism operable, in cooperating with the latch mechanism and the latch release mechanism, to provide an external latch release function and a separate and distinct latch reset function. The external latch release function is initiated by a first-key actuation operation associated with a door-mounted key release mechanism. The latch reset function is initiated, after the external latch release function, via a second key-actuated operation associated with a reset device on the closure latch assembly.

Abstract: A closure latch assembly and method for cinching a closure panel from a partially closed position to a fully closed position without pinching an object between the closure panel and a structural portion of a motor vehicle are provided. The latch assembly has a latch cinch mechanism including a cinch lever operably moveable from a cinch start position to a cinch stop position to cause a cinch link to move a ratchet from a secondary striker capture position to a primary striker capture position. A power-operated cinch actuator receives a first signal to move the cinch lever from the cinch start position to the cinch stop position and receives a second signal, in response to an object detected between the closure panel and the structural portion, to stop moving the cinch lever from the cinch start position toward the cinch stop position.

Abstract: A system for detecting an obstacle between a closure panel and a body of a vehicle, comprising: an actuator for moving the closure panel from a partially closed position to a closed position; a sensor for sensing a position of the closure panel between the partially closed and the closed position; and a controller for receiving position signals from the sensor and for controlling operation of the actuator; wherein the controller is adapted to inhibit moving of the closure panel when the sensor detects an improper change in the position of the closure panel during operation of the actuator.

Abstract: A door system and related method for a passenger door for a motor vehicle is provided for preventing inadvertent movement of the passenger door from a presented position toward an open position and a closed position until desired. The system includes latch with a safety catch and a door presenter. The latch and door presenter are configured for coordinated movement to allow the door to move from the closed position to the presented position and to be maintained in the presented position. The safety catch blocks the door from moving to the open position, and the door presenter blocks the door from moving to the closed position. Subsequent actuation releases the safety catch or retracts the door presenter to allow the door to open or close from the presented position.

Abstract: A system for controlling a motion of a door of a vehicle comprising: at least one user interface device comprising a control device, the control device being in operable communication with a door check mechanism configured for resisting the motion of the door relative to a vehicle body, wherein operation of the control device controls operation of the door check mechanism. The door check mechanism can comprise: a linkage coupled between a vehicle body and the door, the linkage configured to pivot about an axis; and a brake assembly coupled to the linkage for applying a resistive force to the linkage to resist rotation of the linkage about the axis.

Abstract: An isolated fixing system for attaching an actuator to a vehicle door including an actuator fixing clip having a head portion, an engagement portion, and a guide portion, an isolation grommet with a flange and a receiving portion configured to engage the fixing clip, and a receiver integrated with the actuator to secure the actuator to a vehicle. The system may include an actuator fixing clip, a head portion, an engagement portion, and a guide portion of the actuator fixing clip that may be configured to engage an opening in a vehicle door and that, when inserted into the vehicle door, may be rotatable via the head portion from an unlocked position to a locked position, fixing the actuator to the vehicle door.

Abstract: A vehicle hood latch and method of unlatching a vehicle hood is provided. The vehicle hood latch includes a housing; a ratchet pivotally mounted on the housing; a pawl pivotally mounted on the housing and biased into engagement with the ratchet; a pin fixed for conjoint movement with the pawl; a double pull lever operably mounted to the housing and having an abutment surface configured for operable engagement with the pin, and a primary safety catch lever operably mounted to the housing. The primary safety catch lever is configured to pivot from a locked first position to an unlocked second position. The primary safety catch lever moves from the first locked position to the second unlocked position in response to translational movement of the double pull lever caused by engagement of the pin with the abutment surface of the double pull lever.

Abstract: A door latch system is provided for a motor vehicle having a front door having a forward portion configured for sealed engagement with an A-pillar and a rear door having a rearward portion configured for sealed engagement with a C-pillar, the front and rear doors being configured for movement relative to a vehicle body of the motor vehicle to bring respective rearward and forward portions into sealed engagement with one another to close off a B-pillarless opening bounded by the vehicle body. The door latch system includes a retractable striker assembly and/or retractable ratchet assembly attached to one of the front and rear doors and includes a respective retractable striker and/or retractable ratchet movable between extended and retracted positions.