Abstract: The latch assembly of the present invention is adapted for use on motor vehicles, such as agricultural and construction vehicles, recreation vehicles, utility and emergency vehicles, and heavy-duty trucks. The latch assembly includes a housing with a rotor and catch rotatably mounted therein for movement between open and closed positions for releasing and retaining a striker bolt on the door. Holes in the housing allow the housing to be mounted either internally or externally to the door frame. The rotor and catch are impregnated with a lubricant to minimize friction and extend the life of the latch assembly. A grease block is also provided within the housing to inhibit entry of contaminants, such as dirt, water, and the like, so as to further extend the life of the latch assembly.

Abstract: The universal logic assembly of the present invention is non-handed so as to be adapted for use both left-hand and right-hand vehicle door structures. The logic assembly includes a mounting bracket adapted to be attached to the inside of the door structure, with the latch assembly sandwiched therebetween. A plurality of lever arms are pivotally mounted on the bracket, with each arm having opposite front and back sides. A plurality of clips are mounted on the lever arms to receive rods and/or cables from the door handles and lock mechanism so as to control the opening and closing of the latch. The clips can be mounted from both the front and back sides of the arms, such that the logic assembly is a non-handed universal product.

Abstract: A latch and logic assembly is provided for a vehicle door which precludes the door from being accidentally locked. The latch includes a catch and a rotor movable between open and closed positions. The logic is mounted on the latch and is connected to the inside and outside handles of the door, and to the sill button on the door. The logic senses the position of the latch rotor and precludes movement of the sill button to the locked position when the rotor is in the open position, thus providing a no-lock-out function.

Abstract: A control mechanism for operating a latch. The control mechanism has a frame and a first arm attached to the frame for pivoting movement relative to the frame around a first axis between first and second positions. The first arm has a first edge and a first connecting portion. The first connecting portion is connectable to a latch to effect operation of the latch connected to the first connecting portion as an incident of the first arm moving from the first position into the second position. An actuator assembly is translatable relative to the frame between normal and actuating positions along a line that is transverse to the first axis. The actuator assembly engages the first edge and causes the first arm to move from the first position into the second position as an incident of the actuator assembly moving from the normal position into the actuating position.

Abstract: A lock assembly having a housing and a plunger assembly guided for movement relative to the housing between a latched position and an unlatched position with the plunger assembly and housing in assembled relationship. A tab is provided on one of the plunger assembly and housing and is repositionable from an assembly position into a holding position. With the tab in the assembly position, the plunger assembly and housing can be placed in and taken out of, their assembled relationship. In the holding position, the tab maintains the plunger assembly and housing in assembled relationship.

Abstract: A latch assembly for releasably holding a strike element. The latch assembly has a release lever, a housing with a body defining a receptacle for the release lever and having a wall bounding the receptacle, structure for mounting the release lever to the housing for movement relative to the housing between a) a normal position and b) a release position, a latch mechanism on the housing for cooperating with a strike element and movable selectively relative to the housing between a) a latched position wherein the latch position will hold a strike element and b) an unlatched position wherein a strike element held by the latch mechanism with the latch mechanism in its locked position can be released from the latch mechanism, and structure operatively connecting between the release lever and the latch mechanism for moving the latch mechanism from its latched position into its unlatched position as an incident of the release lever moving from its normal position into its release position.

Abstract: A door closure assembly is disclosed that has a latch assembly, a housing assembly and a interior panel assembly. The latch assembly is easily mounted to a door and can have a tab that cooperates with a boss on the housing assembly to facilitate alignment of the housing assembly with the latch assembly. The housing assembly is designed to minimize water entry into the door closure assembly, minimize the number of parts that operate on the latch assembly and help identify the key to be used to operate one of the two locks thereof. The inside panel assembly is designed to reduce the number of parts required to operate the latch assembly and is designed so that the handle assembly extending therefrom can be partially rotated before operating the latch assembly.

Abstract: A latch assembly for releasably securing a closure element with a striker element in a closed position. The latch assembly consists of a housing with a body, a release lever mounted for movement relative to the housing between (a) a normal position and (b) a release position; first and second latch elements mounted to the housing for movement relative to each other and the housing, with the first latch element being movable relative to the housing between a latched position in which it maintains the closure in its closed position and a release position in which the closure can be moved out of its closed position, and cooperating structure on the release lever and first and second latch elements for moving the second latch element relative to the housing and, in response thereto, causing the first latch element to move from its latched position to its release position as an incident of the release lever moving from its normal position to its release position.