Abstract: A supporting assembly for a lock of a motor vehicle having a shell made of plastic material, which defines a housing for a part of the mobile members of the lock and with at least one metal element, which supports respective pins for hinging the aforesaid mobile members. The shell, which is made of plastic material, is co-molded on the metal element.

Abstract: The latch includes a ratchet and pawl operable to move between an engaged position to hold a striker and a released position to permit the striker from exiting the latch. In addition, a release lever and a lock lever are pivotally mounted to the opposite surface of the latch housing. A lock link lever connects the release lever to the lock lever, having a first end pivotally mounted to the lock lever and a second end slidably located in a slot on the release lever. Actuating the release lever while the second end of the lock link lever is in its locked position pivots the lock link lever in a first arc and actuating the release lever while the lock link lever is in its unlocked position pivots the lock link lever in a second arc to actuate the pawl into its released position.

Abstract: A power-release door lock system for an automotive door having a latch, including a ratchet (18) and pawl (20), and an electro-mechanical exterior latch release mechanism (220) for actuating the pawl to release the ratchet. The system includes a controller (210) and a pressure sensitive switch (216) mounted to an outside door handle (214) of the automotive door and electrically connected to the controller. The controller is programmed to disable the pressure sensitive switch in response to a predetermined “lock” signal and enable the pressure sensitive switch in response to a pre-determined “unlock” signal, in which case the controller energizes the exterior latch release mechanism to release the ratchet in the event the pressure sensitive switch is actuated. The system eliminates the need for an exterior lock assembly and its attendant inside lock button or rod.

Abstract: The latch includes a ratchet and pawl operable to move between an engaged position to hold a striker and a released position to permit the striker from exiting the latch. In addition, a release lever and a lock lever are pivotally mounted to the opposite surface of the latch housing. A lock link lever connects the release lever to the lock lever, having a first end pivotally mounted to the lock lever and a second end slidably located in a slot on the release lever. Actuating the release lever while the second end of the lock link lever is in its locked position pivots the lock link lever in a first arc and actuating the release lever while the lock link lever is in its unlocked position pivots the lock link lever in a second arc to actuate the pawl into its released position.

Abstract: The latch includes a ratchet and pawl operable to move between an engaged position to hold a striker and a released position to permit the striker from exiting the latch. In addition, a release lever and a lock lever are pivotally mounted to the opposite surface of the latch housing. A lock link lever connects the release lever to the lock lever, having a first end pivotally mounted to the lock lever and a second end slidably located in a slot on the release lever. Actuating the release lever while the second end of the lock link lever is in its locked position pivots the lock link lever in a first arc and actuating the release lever while the lock link lever is in its unlocked position pivots the lock link lever in a second arc to actuate the pawl into its released position.

Abstract: A lock is provided for a door of a motor vehicle. The lock includes a closing mechanism designed for coupling with a lock striker along a direction of relative coupling. The closing mechanism includes a supporting body having a housing seat for receiving an engagement portion of the lock striker. An elastically compliant buffer delimits the housing seat at least in the aforesaid direction of relative coupling in order to define a damped arrest of the engagement portion of the lock striker. The buffer is coated on its surface, in an area of interaction with the engagement portion of the lock striker by a rigid protective shield. The shield is fixedly secured to the buffer.

Abstract: A power-release door lock system for an automotive door having a latch, including a ratchet (18) and pawl (20), and an electro-mechanical exterior latch release mechanism (220) for actuating the pawl to release the ratchet. The system includes a controller (210) and a pressure sensitive switch (216) mounted to an outside door handle (214) of the automotive door and electrically connected to the controller. The controller is programmed to disable the pressure sensitive switch in response to a predetermined “lock” signal and enable the pressure sensitive switch in response to a pre-determined “unlock” signal, in which case the controller energizes the exterior latch release mechanism to release the ratchet in the event the pressure sensitive switch is actuated. The system eliminates the need for an exterior lock assembly and its attendant inside lock button or rod.

Abstract: A vehicle latch having a ratchet; a pawl, interacting with the ratchet; an outside release lever (66); a link (80) for selectively coupling the outside release lever (66) to the pawl; a lock link lever (116) for actuating the link (80) between an unlocked position, where the outside release lever (66) is kinematically coupled to the pawl, and a locked position, where the outside release lever (66) is not coupled to the pawl; and a key cylinder lever (120) for actuating the lock link lever (116). The key cylinder lever (120) has a lost motion connection with the lock link lever (116) so as to define a neutral position for a key cylinder.

Abstract: A vehicle latch has a housing and a ratchet pivotally mounted to the housing. The ratchet is operable to move between an unlatched position, a secondary latched position, and a primary latched position. A release lever is pivotally mounted to the housing and operatively connects to the ratchet for unlatching the ratchet from either of the secondary or primary latched positions. The operative connection has a guide pin. A cinching lever has a cam surface that slidingly engages the guide pin. The cam surface defines a predetermined path of travel as the cinching lever is drivingly reciprocated in a cinching cycle. The predetermined path enables the cinching lever to be initially out of the path of travel of the ratchet, to engage the ratchet when the ratchet is in the secondary position and drivingly rotating the ratchet to the primary latched position, and thereafter move out of the path of travel of the ratchet.

Abstract: A vehicle latch has a housing with a detent and a stop. A lever is pivotally connected to the housing and movable from an install position engaging the housing to an active position pivoted away from the housing. A spring extends from the lever to the housing applying a biasing force to the lever urging the lever to the install position. The spring has a tail portion, a coil section and an opposite end. The opposite end engages the lever. The tail end is moveable to engage either the stop or detent. In the install position, the tail end engages the detent and also engages the lever. In this position, the spring increases the biasing force holding the lever in the install position. The tail end is removable from the detent to engage the stop when the lever is first pivoted away from the install position. This disengages the tail end from the lever and also reduces the biasing force on the lever.

Abstract: A clip and a vehicle latch is provided for properly positioning an operational lever of the latch. The latch has a housing with an aperture. The clip is mounted on the lever. The clip has a base portion hingedly connected to a top portion and pivots between a closed condition and an open condition. The top portion has a hook that engages the aperture of the housing when the lever is in a predetermined position and when the top portion is in the open condition. The clip properly positions the lever for properly connecting the lever to a rod to operatively connect the latch to a release handle.

Abstract: A latch assembly selectively engages a striker for latching a door to a motor vehicle body. The latch assembly includes a housing. A ratchet is rotatably mounted to the housing for movement between an engaged position engaging the striker and a release position. A ratchet-engaging pawl is rotatably mounted to the housing and engageable with the ratchet to retain the ratchet in the engaged position. An inertia mechanism is operably connected to the ratchet-engaging pawl to prevent the ratchet-engaging pawl from pivoting out of engagement with the ratchet when the ratchet-engaging pawl begins to pivot due to inertial forces acting thereupon.

Abstract: A latch assembly is provided for selectively engaging a striker in order to latch a door to a motor vehicle body. The latch assembly includes a housing. A ratchet is rotatably mounted to the housing for movement between an engaged position engaging the striker and a release position. A pawl is rotatably mounted to the housing and engageable with the ratchet to retain the ratchet in the engaged position. An inertia catch is coupled to the housing and is operably connected to the pawl for preventing the pawl from moving out of engagement with the ratchet in the event of a motor vehicle impact.

Abstract: A lock for a door of a motor vehicle is provided having: a closing mechanism designed for coupling with a lock striker along a direction of relative coupling; a supporting body of the closing mechanism presenting a housing seat for an engagement portion of the lock striker; and elastically compliant arrest means delimiting the housing seat at least in the aforesaid direction of relative coupling in order to define a damped arrest of the engagement portion of the lock striker. The arrest means are coated on their surface, in the area of interaction with the engagement portion of the lock striker by a rigid protective shield.

Abstract: A supporting assembly for a lock of a motor vehicle having a shell made of plastic material, which defines a housing for a part of the mobile members of the lock and with at least one metal element, which supports respective pins for hinging the aforesaid mobile members. The shell, which is made of plastic material, is co-molded on the metal element.

Abstract: A vehicle latch has a housing with a detent and a stop. A lever is pivotally connected to the housing and movable from an install position engaging the housing to an active position pivoted away from the housing. A spring extends from the lever to the housing applying a biasing force to the lever urging the lever to the install position. The spring has a tail portion, a coil section and an opposite end. The opposite end engages the lever. The tail end is moveable to engage either the stop or detent. In the install position, the tail end engages the detent and also engages the lever. In this position, the spring increases the biasing force holding the lever in the install position. The tail end is removable from the detent to engage the stop when the lever is first pivoted away from the install position. This disengages the tail end from the lever and also reduces the biasing force on the lever.

Abstract: A vehicle latch having a ratchet; a pawl, interacting with the ratchet; an outside release lever (66); a link (80) for selectively coupling the outside release lever (66) to the pawl; a lock link lever (116) for actuating the link (80) between an unlocked position, where the outside release lever (66) is kinematically coupled to the pawl, and a locked position, where the outside release lever (66) is not coupled to the pawl; and a key cylinder lever (120) for actuating the lock link lever (116). The key cylinder lever (120) has a lost motion connection with the lock link lever (116) so as to define a neutral position for a key cylinder.

Abstract: A clip and a vehicle latch is provided for properly positioning an operational lever of the latch. The latch has a housing with an aperture. The clip is mounted on the lever. The clip has a base portion hingedly connected to a top portion and pivots between a closed condition and an open condition. The top portion has a hook that engages the aperture of the housing when the lever is in a predetermined position and when the top portion is in the open condition. The clip properly positions the lever for properly connecting the lever to a rod to operatively connect the latch to a release handle.

Abstract: A vehicle latch has a housing and a ratchet pivotally mounted to the housing. The ratchet is operable to move between an unlatched position, a secondary latched position, and a primary latched position. A release lever is pivotally mounted to the housing and operatively connects to the ratchet for unlatching the ratchet from either of the secondary or primary latched positions. The operative connection has a guide pin. A cinching lever has a cam surface that slidingly engages the guide pin. The cam surface defines a predetermined path of travel as the cinching lever is drivingly reciprocated in a cinching cycle. The predetermined path enables the cinching lever to be initially out of the path of travel of the ratchet, to engage the ratchet when the ratchet is in the secondary position and drivingly rotating the ratchet to the primary latched position, and thereafter move out of the path of travel of the ratchet.

Abstract: A vehicle door latch (10) has a release lever (22) is mounted to the housing and operably connected to a pawl (62) by a clutch lever (94) extending therebetween. The clutch lever (94) is moveable between an engaged position operably connecting the release lever (22) to the pawl (62) effecting movement of the pawl toward the released position and a disengaged position operably disconnecting the release lever from the pawl. A locking lever (100) is mounted to the housing for moving the clutch lever (94) between the engaged and disengaged positions. The clutch lever (94) moves in a first plane (19) to effect movement of the pawl and the locking lever moves the clutch lever out the first plane (19) to effect movement between the engaged and said disengaged positions.