Abstract: An operator including an extensible strut, a power drive unit and at least one drive cable connected between the power drive unit and the extensible strut is provided for powered opening and closing of pivotable vehicle closure elements such as doors, hoods, liftgates, tailgates, and hatches

Abstract: A vehicle door latch system including a deadbolt locking mechanism. The deadbolt locking mechanism is disengaged manually from outside the vehicle using the key cylinder. The manual deadbolt disengagement mechanism is effective in disengaging the deadbolt in the event of total vehicle power loss. The deadbolt mechanism includes a power driven rack.

Abstract: A latch release disabling device for use in a vehicle. The device can be applied to the release mechanism of latches on passenger doors, hoods, deck lids and similar features such as latch locks. The device is useful in preventing the unlatching or unlocking of a latch by disabling the latch or lock release mechanism. The device is responsive to electrical control means and can be remotely activated.

Abstract: A door check arrangement for a van door is provided which, in a preferred embodiment, includes an arm connected to the door and translationally connected to the vehicle along an end; a track mounted within the vehicle receiving the arm and having a striker plate and an entrapment section; a support connected to the arm second end and having a first slot with first and second ends and a second slot with first and second surfaces angled from one another; a detent plate having a surface inclined with respect to the striker plate and also having first and second pivot pins mounted within the first and second slots; and a spring biasing the detent plate to place the first pivot pin toward the first slot first end and the second pivot pin on the first surface of the second slot, whereby motion of the door from a closed to a checked open position causes the detent plate inclined surface to contact the striker and to pivot the detent plate in a first angular direction and wherein further movement of the door toward a

Abstract: A door lock actuator having unlock, lock and superlock modes includes a rotary input member that positions a pivotally mounted output lever in an unlock position, a lock position or a superlock position. The door lock actuator also includes a pivotally mounted superlock lever that has a bypass position and a block position. The rotary input member maintains the superlock lever in the bypass position when the actuator is changed between lock and unlock modes so that the output lever can be moved back and forth between the locked and unlocked positions and moves the superlock lever from the bypass position to the block position when the actuator is changed to a superlock mode so that the superlock lever is moved to the block position to prevent the output lever being moved to the unlock position.

Abstract: A vehicle door check is provided including an arm connected with the door along a first end and with the vehicle along a second end, the arm adjacent the second end having a slot with first and second ends; a track of the vehicle for receiving the arm second end having a striker plate and an entrapment section; a rotary detent plate slidably mounted in the arm slot having its own first and second arms and a locking member; a spring for biasing rotation of the detent plate in a first angular direction and toward the slot first end; a contact surface fixed upon the arm interacting with the detent plate second arm whereby motion of the door from a closed position to a checked open position causes the detent plate locking member to contact the striker and pivot the detent plate in a second angular direction opposite the first angular direction and to move the detent plate toward the slot second end and wherein further movement of the door toward a checked open position causes the detent plate to pivot again in th

Abstract: This vehicle door latch assembly incorporates a blocker bar which has a follower operatively mounted within a conical recess of an upstanding block so that when subjected to an unbalancing force of predetermined magnitude, the block will be tilted and the bar moved to a block position in which a transfer lever of the latch assembly is inhibited from turning. An associated intermittent lever is resultantly immobilized so that a connected detent lever cannot be moved from a holding position with respect to a spring biased locking bolt. With the locking bolt so held, it cannot be moved from a latching position with respect to a striker to thereby prevent door opening. When door opening is subsequently desired, an unblocking lever system can be actuated to cam the blocker bar to a release position allowing the transfer lever to be turned by a pull handle and a connected release rod to effect the spring biased movement of the locking bolt to an unlatching position with respect to the striker.

Abstract: A sliding door in a van is mounted on tracks for sliding movement between open and closed positions. At the closed position a weather strip is compressed and a door latch is latched. A cable is attached to the door and routed through the vehicle body via pulleys so that pulling the first cable end opens the door and pulling the second cable end closes the door. A motorized drive mechanism includes first and second reels mounted concentrically and having the cable ends wrapped respectively about the reels in opposite directions. A motor drives in one direction rotating the first reel to open the door and is reversible to rotate the second reel to close the door.

Abstract: A hood latch engages a striker for latching a hood panel movable between open and closed positions relative to a body panel. The striker is mounted on one of the panels. A housing is mounted on the other panel. A pop-up lever is pivotally mounted to the housing for movement between lowered and raised positions. A pop-up spring bias the pop-up lever to the raised position. A latch lever has a hook for latching engagement with the striker. The latch lever is pivotally mounted to the pop-up lever for movement between latched and unlatched positions and has a handle for manually moving the latch lever. A latch spring acts between the pop-up lever and the latch lever to rotate the latch lever towards the latched position. A detent lever pivotally mounts to the housing for releasably engaging and retaining the pop-up lever in the lowered position and preventing rotation to the raised position.

Abstract: A sliding door in a van is mounted on tracks for sliding movement between open and closed positions. At the closed position a weather strip is compressed and a door latch is latched. A cable is attached to the door and routed through the vehicle body via pulleys so that pulling the first cable end opens the door and pulling the second cable end closes the door. A motorized drive mechanism includes first and second reels mounted concentrically and having the cable ends wrapped respectively about the reels in opposite directions. A motor drives in one direction rotating the first reel to open the door and is reversible to rotate the second reel to close the door.

Abstract: A deck lid release actuator in which a uni-directional motor is mounted on a housing and rotatably drives a screw having high lead threads. The screw is rotatably journaled in a housing and a saddle nut threadedly engages the high lead threads of the screw so that rotation of the screw drives the saddle nut along the screw. An actuator member operably engages the detent lever of the deck lid latch and is mounted on the housing by a slide track extending parallel with the screw. When energization of the motor turns the screw, the saddle nut abuts against the actuator member to move the actuator member along the slide track and unlatch the deck lid latch. A spring acts on the actuator member to return the actuator member along the slide track thereby pushing the saddle nut axially along the screw as permitted by rotary back-drive of the screw and motor by the effort of the spring.

Abstract: A hood latch assembly for latching and unlatching a hood for an automotive vehicle comprises a housing for receiving a striker on the hood, a locking lever spring biased toward an unlatched position in which it releases the striker, but movable to a latched position in reponse to the hood being closed, a detent lever for holding the locking lever in its latched position, a cable release and a release lever disposed between the detent lever and locking lever. The release lever is connected to the cable release and engages the detent lever to provide a high mechanical advantage to the detent lever, when actuated to release the hood, to reduce hood opening effort and the locking lever automatically returns the release lever and cable release to their original positions when moved to its unlatched position whereby no spring return for the cable release is required.

Abstract: An actuating means for a vehicle body closure latch includes a driver or passenger controlled electric motor driving a reciprocable rack through a gear train. The rack is resiliently biased to a neutral position and shifts an actuator from neutral to an operating position when the rack is moved from the neutral position to a driving position. The actuator is engageable with a latch operator to control movement of the latch bolt to unlatched position when the actuator moves to an operating position. When the actuator reaches the operating position, the actuator is positively stopped to stall the motor or power operator. When the power is removed from the stalled motor or power operator by the driver or passenger releasing a switch, the bias of the resilient centering means returns the rack to its initial neutral or starting position and back drives the motor through the gear train.

Abstract: A venting arrangement for an automotive vehicle is provided in which its rear closure is automatically raised to a slightly open position in response to opening a door of the vehicle so that upon closing the door, entrapped air in the vehicle can escape through the rear to reduce door closing effort. The arrangement includes a latch and pull down mechanism for the rear closure of the vehicle to move the same between a partially open and a closed position and a control means including door jamb switches for energizing the pull down unit to raise the rear closure to its partially open position in response to opening movement of the door and to return the same to its fully closed position in response to closing of the door.

Abstract: An electronic door lock/unlatch control in which the latching mechanisms latch mechanically upon door closing and include electric motor driven unlatching mechanisms but no mechanical locking apparatus. Locking is accomplished electronically for each door by a flip-flop which enables or disables a power MOSFET connected in series with the unlatch motor and unlatch switch for the door and an electric power source. The flip-flop for each door also controls lock status indicating lights. A rear door unlatch disable switch is included additionally in series with the rear door unlatch switch to allow operator disabling of the rear doors.

Abstract: A releasable connection device for connecting a motor driven drive cable to a closure includes a pin attached to the closure and having a head supported by a necked down stem. A cylindrical housing member has an opening in a lateral wall thereof which receives the pin. A slide member is attached to the drive cable and is reciprocably carried by the housing member. The slide member has an open ended slot smaller than the head of the pin and receiving the necked down stem. A spring acts between the housing member and the slide member to urge the members to relative positions in which the head of the pin is captured to effect a connection between the drive cable and the closure. The spring yields upon imposition of force to permit energy absorbing limited relative movement between the members and yields further to permit withdrawal of the open ended slot of the slide member beyond the head of the pin so that the pin is released from the housing member.

Abstract: A control for a motorized deck lid pull down mechanism which does not require the use of mechanically activated limit switches for detecting deck lid positions or the presence of closing or sealing obstructions. Detection of specified pull down conditions as well as the presence of deck lid obstructions is achieved by monitoring the magnitude of motor current in relation to various predefined motor current thresholds. Engagement of the deck lid with obstructions during the pull down sequence will cause the motor current to exceed the closing and sealing thresholds, terminating or reversing the respective function.

Abstract: Each vehicle door in which a retractor is mounted includes a jamb switch mounted in the door jamb for sensing actual opening of the door, and a lock switch mounted in the door lock assembly for sensing actuation of the interior or exterior door handles. When door opening or closure is indicated, locking of the retractors is inhibited for a predetermined interval. Logical agreement between the lock and jamb switches is required to maintain the inhibit beyond the predetermined interval while the door is open. If agreement is not achieved within the interval, a switch failure is presumed, and the inhibit is removed to permit normal locking of the retractors. If such agreement is achieved, the inhibit is maintained until closure of the door, and thereafter for another predetermined interval. If the switches fail to remain in agreement after closure of the door, further operation of the inhibit on subsequent opening of the door is disabled.

Abstract: A vehicle body compartment is selectively closed by a spring loaded closure panel movable between an open position and a closed position. A latch assembly is mounted on the panel and has a latch bolt spring biased to an unlatched position and normally maintained in the latched position by a key releasable detent lever. A pull down mechanism includes a housing mounted on a vehicle body and a striker mounted thereon by a motorized vertically reciprocating drive unit for moving the striker between extended position and a retracted position. When the panel is moved toward the closed position, the latch bolt engaes with the extended striker to interconnect the panel with the striker. The drive unit is energized and retracts the striker, thereby pulling the panel to its fully closed position. A cam acts between the detent lever of the latch assembly and the housing of the pull down mechanism.

Abstract: A vehicle body compartment is selectively closed by a spring loaded closure panel movable between an open position and a closed position. A latch assembly is mounted on the panel and has a latch bolt spring biased to an unlatched position and normally maintained in the latched position by a key releasable detent lever. A pull down mechanism includes a housing mounted on a vehicle body and a striker mounted thereon by a motorized vertically reciprocating drive unit for moving the striker between extended position and a retracted position. When the panel is moved toward the closed position, the latch bolt engaes with the extended striker to interconnect the panel with the striker. The drive unit is energized and retracts the striker, thereby pulling the panel to its fully closed position. A cam acts between the detent lever of the latch assembly and the housing of the pull down mechanism.