Abstract: A door latch mechanism for a vehicle comprising a release lever operable by a door handle and a transmission path linkage containing a resiliently biased inertia device. During normal operation, the inertia device is biased to form a transmission path that transmits an unlatching movement from the release lever to release a latch bolt of the latch. If an impact on the vehicle creates an acceleration force above a predetermined level, the inertia device moves to break the transmission path, preventing the latch from being unlatched.

Abstract: A latch mechanism includes a chassis and a latch bolt movably mounted on the chassis. The chassis includes an abutment, and the latch bolt is moveable between an open position in which the latch bolt can receive a striker of a vehicle, a closed position at which the striker is capable of being retained by the latch bolt, and an over-travel position. The latch mechanism includes a buffer having a displacing element and an engagement portion. The buffer is capable of operably acting between the abutment and the latch bolt to absorb over-travel of the latch bolt. The displacing element is capable of moving frictionally against the engagement portion during over-travel to generate a frictional force to absorb over-travel energy of the latch bolt.

Abstract: A door latch mechanism for a vehicle comprising a release lever operable by a door handle and a transmission path linkage containing a resiliently biased inertia device. During normal operation, the inertia device is biased to form a transmission path that transmits an unlatching movement from the release lever to release a latch bolt of the latch. If an impact on the vehicle creates an acceleration force above a predetermined level, the inertia device moves to break the transmission path, preventing the latch from being unlatched.

Abstract: A door latch mechanism for a vehicle comprising a release lever operable by a door handle and a transmission path linkage containing a resiliently biased inertia device. During normal operation, the inertia device is biased to form a transmission path that transmits an unlatching movement from the release lever to release a latch bolt of the latch. If an impact on the vehicle creates an acceleration force above a predetermined level, the inertia device moves to break the transmission path, preventing the latch from being unlatched.

Abstract: A latch mechanism includes a chassis and a latch bolt movably mounted on the chassis. The chassis includes an abutment, and the latch bolt is moveable between an open position in which the latch bolt can receive a striker of a vehicle, a closed position at which the striker is capable of being retained by the latch bolt, and an over-travel position. The latch mechanism includes a buffer having a displacing element and an engagement portion. The buffer is capable of operably acting between the abutment and the latch bolt to absorb over-travel of the latch bolt. The displacing element is capable of moving frictionally against the engagement portion during over-travel to generate a frictional force to absorb over-travel energy of the latch bolt.

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 door latch mechanism for a vehicle comprising a release lever operable by a door handle and a transmission path linkage containing a resiliently biased inertia device. During normal operation, the inertia device is biased to form a transmission path that transmits an unlatching movement from the release lever to release a latch bolt of the latch. If an impact on the vehicle creates an acceleration force above a predetermined level, the inertia device moves to break the transmission path, preventing the latch from being unlatched.

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.