Abstract: A latch assembly having: a chassis; a latch bolt, movably mounted to the chassis for movement between a closed position for retaining a striker in the latch assembly and an open position for releasing the striker from the latch assembly; a pawl rotatably mounted to the latch assembly via a pawl pivot pin for rotation between an engaged position wherein the pawl retains the latch bolt in the closed position and a disengaged position wherein the pawl is disengaged from the latch bolt such that the latch can move to the open position; and wherein the pawl rotates about a surface of the pawl pivot pin comprising a first arcuate portion and a second arcuate portion, wherein a radius of the first arcuate portion is smaller than a radius of the second arcuate portion.

Abstract: A latch assembly includes a chassis, a latch bolt movably mounted on the chassis and having a closed position for retaining a striker and an open position for releasing the striker, and a pawl having an engaged position at which the pawl is engaged with the latch bolt to hold the latch bolt in the closed position and a disengaged position at which the pawl is disengaged from the latch bolt thereby allowing the latch bolt to move to the open position. The pawl is rotatably mounted via a pawl pivot pin about a pawl axis, and the pawl pivot pin includes a first arcuate portion having a first radius about the pawl axis. A cross-sectional area of the pawl pivot pin, taken perpendicular to the pawl axis, is greater than an area of a circle having the first radius.

Abstract: A latch assembly having: a chassis; a latch bolt, movably mounted to the chassis for movement between a closed position for retaining a striker in the latch assembly and an open position for releasing the striker from the latch assembly; a pawl rotatably mounted to the latch assembly via a pawl pivot pin for rotation between an engaged position wherein the pawl retains the latch bolt in the closed position and a disengaged position wherein the pawl is disengaged from the latch bolt such that the latch can move to the open position; and wherein the pawl rotates about a surface of the pawl pivot pin comprising a first arcuate portion and a second arcuate portion, wherein a radius of the first arcuate portion is smaller than a radius of the second arcuate portion.

Abstract: A latch assembly includes a chassis, a latch bolt movably mounted on the chassis and having a closed position for retaining a striker and an open position for releasing the striker, and a pawl having an engaged position at which the pawl is engaged with the latch bolt to hold the latch bolt in the closed position and a disengaged position at which the pawl is disengaged from the latch bolt thereby allowing the latch bolt to move to the open position. The pawl is rotatably mounted via a pawl pivot pin about a pawl axis, and the pawl pivot pin includes a first arcuate portion having a first radius about the pawl axis. A cross-sectional area of the pawl pivot pin, taken perpendicular to the pawl axis, is greater than an area of a circle having the first radius.

Abstract: A latch assembly includes a chassis, a latch bolt, movably mounted on the chassis and having a closed position for retaining a striker and an open position for releasing the striker, and a pawl having an engaged position at which the pawl is engaged with the latch bolt to hold the latch bolt in the closed position and a disengaged position at which the pawl is disengaged from the latch bolt thereby allowing the latch bolt to move to the open position. The pawl is rotatably mounted via a pawl pivot pin about a pawl axis, and the pawl pivot pin includes a first arcuate portion having a first radius about the pawl axis. A cross-sectional area of the pawl pivot pin, taken perpendicular to the pawl axis, is greater than an area of a circle having the first radius.

Abstract: A latch mechanism includes a latch chassis, a latch bolt having a closed position and an open position, a pawl having an engaged position at which the pawl holds the latch bolt in the closed position and a disengaged position at which the pawl allows the latch bolt to move to the open position, and a first release handle operably connected to the pawl via a transmission path to selectively move the pawl from the engaged position to the disengaged position. The transmission path includes a toggle linkage having a first link pivotable about a first axis and a second link pivotable about a second axis, the first link and the second link being pivotable relative to each other about a common axis. The latch mechanism includes a stop to limit rotation of the second link in a first direction relative to the first link.

Abstract: An actuator includes an electromagnetic coil arrangement that is movable relative to a magnetic field generator between a first position and a second position of the actuator. The actuator is arranged such that when the actuator is in the first position, a pulse of current through the electromagnetic coil arrangement produces a region of magnetic field that repels the magnetic field generator from the first position and attracts the magnetic field generator towards the second position to move the actuator to the second position.

Abstract: An electronic door lock system for a vehicle includes a driver-operable child safety locking arrangement for rear passenger doors that disables interior door release handles. A separate unlocking arrangement is provided to temporarily override the child safety locking arrangement to allow opening of the rear passenger doors by their interior handles. The override, unlocking arrangement is operable by a driver and requires the simultaneous operation of the rear passenger door handle. The child safety locking arrangement is automatically reset upon release of the rear passenger door handle, without requiring any further action by the driver.

Abstract: An entry door lock system includes an energy storage device (27) to permit unlatching if unlatching movement of a door handle occurs before the latch has been unlocked. The device (27) is passive if unlocking occurs before unlatching movement of the door handle. The invention avoids the need for repeat movement of the door handle in cases where unlocking follows initial door handle movement.

Abstract: A latch arrangement including a latch, a release mechanism a manually actuable element and a control means, the latch being operable to releasably retain a striker in use, the release mechanism being capable of being moved by the manually actuable element from a rest position through an unlocked position to a release position wherein it unlatches the latch, the control means having a locked condition at which actuation of the manually actuable element does not cause unlatching of the latch and an unlocked condition at which during an initial movement of the manually actuable element, the release mechanism achieves the unlocked position and during subsequent movement of the manually actuable element, the release mechanism achieves the unlatch position.

Abstract: A latch arrangement includes a latch bolt having a closed position and an open position. An actuator moves a driving abutment to move a detent between an engaged position retaining the latch bolt in the closed position and a release position freeing the latch bolt. A clutch member selectively couples a driving abutment with the detent. When in the latched closed position, the clutch member lies in a first position. The actuator causes the clutch member to selectively couple the driving abutment with the driven abutment to move the latch arrangement to the unlatched closed position, causing the clutch member to follow a first path. Movement of the latch arrangement to the unlatched open position causes the clutch member to follow a second path. Movement of the latch arrangement to the latched closed position causes the clutch member to follow a third path. The first path, the second path and the third path are different.

Abstract: A latch arrangement includes a latch, a manually actuable element, a release mechanism and an electromagnet. The latch is operable to releasably retain a striker. The release mechanism is capable of being moved by the manually actuable element from a latched position to an unlatched position such that the manually actuable element unlatches the latch. The electromagnet includes first, second and third conditions. The first condition is a non-powered condition and actuation of the manually actuable element does not cause the release mechanism to unlatch the latch. The second condition is a powered condition and actuation of the manually actuable element does not cause the release mechanism to unlatch the latch. The third condition is in a non-powered condition and actuation of the manually actuable element causes the release mechanism to unlatch the latch.

Abstract: A latch arrangement includes a latch bolt having a closed position and an open position. An actuator moves a driving abutment to move a detent between an engaged position retaining the latch bolt in the closed position and a release position freeing the latch bolt. A clutch member selectively couples a driving abutment with the detent. When in the latched closed position, the clutch member lies in a first position. The actuator causes the clutch member to selectively couple the driving abutment with the driven abutment to move the latch arrangement to the unlatched closed position, causing the clutch member to follow a first path. Movement of the latch arrangement to the unlatched open position causes the clutch member to follow a second path. Movement of the latch arrangement to the latched closed position causes the clutch member to follow a third path. The first path, the second path and the third path are different.

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: An aperture closure system including a primary closure, a secondary closure, a disabling member, and at least one latch, the secondary closure being releasably retained in a closed position by the at least one latch, the secondary closure having an inside release lever operable via a first transmission path to release the at least one latch, the secondary closure including an external release lever operable to release the at least one latch via a second transmission path, the external release lever being connected to the disabling member, in which when the primary closure and the secondary closure are in their closed positions the primary closure cooperates with the external release lever to move the disabling member, such that the first transmission path is blocked or broken by the disabling member thus preventing the inside release lever from releasing the at least one latch.

Abstract: A cable linkage comprising a cable partially housed within a sheath and a fitting for securement to a linkage member, a length of cable between the fitting and the sheath being exposed when the cable is extended in use, wherein the fitting has a guide follower arranged to follow a guide so as to substantially inhibit kinking of the exposed length of cable.

Abstract: A hinge for pivotally mounting a first door to a door pillar of a vehicle body of a vehicle. The hinge having been provided thereon one portion of a co-operating latching arrangement for releasably securing in a closed position a second door.

Abstract: An entry door lock system includes an energy storage device (27) to permit unlatching if unlatching movement of a door handle occurs before the latch has been unlocked. The device (27) is passive if unlocking occurs before unlatching movement of the door handle. The invention avoids the need for repeat movement of the door handle in cases where unlocking follows initial door handle movement.

Abstract: An entry door lock system includes an energy storage device (27) to permit unlatching if unlatching movement of a door handle occurs before the latch has been unlocked. The device (27) is passive if unlocking occurs before unlatching movement of the door handle. The invention avoids the need for repeat movement of the door handle in cases where unlocking follows initial door handle movement.

Abstract: A latch mechanism includes a latch bolt having an open position for releasing a striker in use, and a closed position for retaining a striker in use, and a pawl having a retaining position for retaining the latch bolt in at least its closed position, and a release position for allowing the latch bolt to move between its open and closed positions, a release element having a rest position and an actuated position, a release link having an engaging position and a disengaged position, movement of the release element between its rest position and its activated position causing movement of the release link, movement of the release element from the rest position to the actuated position when the release link is in its engaging position causing the pawl to move to its release position, and movement of the release element from the rest position to the actuated position when the release link is in its disengaged position allowing the pawl to remain in its retaining position, and a locking member having a locked positio