Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Ford Motor Company Limited

Daniel Carl Bejune

Kosta Papanikolaou

John Robert Van Wiemeersch

Robert Bruce Kleve

Marwan Ahmad Elbkaily

Ronald Patrick Brombach

John Thomas Ricks

Lisa Therese Boran

Noah Barlow Mass

Muhsin M Hamdoon

H Paul Tsvi Linden

Yalla Mussa Abushawashi

Jim Michael Weinfurther

Bruce Richard Ghastin

Mark Brown

Leonard Anthony Shaner

Thomas Michael Herline

Bakhtyar Baig

Marcus Edward Merideth

Barton Heldke

Huanan Tong

Jason Sobick

Charles Gregory Bambanek

A latch system for vehicle doors includes a powered latch including a powered actuator that is configured to unlatch the powered latch. An interior unlatch input feature such as an unlatch switch can be actuated by a user to provide an unlatch request. The system may include a controller that is operably connected to the powered actuator of the powered latch. The controller is configured such that it does not unlatch the powered latch if a vehicle speed is greater than a predefined value unless the interior latch feature is actuated at least two times according to predefined criteria.

Powered latch system for vehicle doors and control system therefor

A vehicle door includes a latch mechanism having a fork-bolt that is configured to engage a striker and prevent opening of the vehicle door when the latch mechanism is in a latched configuration. The latch mechanism includes a lock mechanism that disconnects an exterior door handle from the latch mechanism when the latch mechanism is locked. The lock mechanism includes a lock lever having a center of mass that is spaced apart from an axis of rotation of the lock lever whereby the lock lever rotates and locks the latch mechanism in the event of a side impact.

Vehicle door latch with inertial lock

An exemplary closure system includes, among other things, a striker assembly, a latch assembly, and a hooked structure. In response to the striker assembly and the latch assembly being laterally displaced from each other, the hooked structure engages one of the striker assembly or the latch assembly to block separation of the striker assembly from the latch assembly. An exemplary latching method includes, among other things, engaging a hooked structure in response to a striker assembly being laterally displaced relative to a latch assembly. The engaging blocks the striker assembly from separating relative to the latch assembly.

Closure system that resists separation when laterally loaded

A locking device is provided for a motor vehicle door. The locking device includes a body having a base, a stake, a lever, a gusset and a rotational axis. A method of locking a motor vehicle door closed in response to a side impact is also provided.

Device and method for locking a motor vehicle door closed in response to a side impact

A locking device is provided for a door of a motor vehicle. That locking device includes a pin having a first end fixed to the door and a second end including an enlarged head. The locking device also includes a receiver on a rocker panel of the motor vehicle. When the door is subjected to a side impact the pin extends into the receiver and is captured to lock the door closed. A related method is also disclosed.

Crash safety locking device for a motor vehicle door

A vehicle door latch assembly for maintaining the vehicle door in a closed position including during an angled impact to the door latch of the vehicle. The latch assembly includes a catch, a pawl, and an actuator coupled to a door latch base. The catch is movable to and from a closed position wherein the catch is configured to grasp a portion of a striker coupled to the vehicle to maintain the door closed. The catch is also movable to and from an open position wherein the catch is configured to release the striker to allow the door to open. The pawl is configured to maintain the catch in the closed position until the door handle is actuated. The latch assembly includes a blocking plate including an extension member which is deformable during an impact to align with one of or both a pawl lifter and the pawl member to prevent their rotation and thereby maintain the latch assembly and the vehicle door in a latched position during such an impact.

Door latch assembly

An exterior handle assembly for a vehicle door includes a movable handle member and a mounting structure. The mounting structure includes a predefined fracture line or line of weakening, whereby the reinforcing structure fractures along the line of weakening in the event a large external force is applied to the reinforcing structure. The handle assembly also includes a push surface that pushes against an inertia lock lever after fracture of the reinforcing structure to thereby push the inertia lock lever into a locked position to prevent unlatching of a vehicle door.

Deformation driven blocking mechanism for an automobile

A door handle assembly for an automotive vehicle including a handle chassis and a handle strap having a lever actuator. A rotatable lever in contact with the lever actuator is mounted upon a release pivot attached to the handle chassis. A cable assembly includes a sheath having a first end which is held stationary, and a flexible core attached to the rotatable lever and to a door latch. A dimension control link maintains a predetermined distance between the first end of the cable sheath and the release pivot, so as to avoid unintentional operation of the door latch which could result from a crushing load imposed upon an outer portion of a vehicle door including the door handle assembly.

Door handle assembly for automotive vehicle

A liftgate assembly for an automotive vehicle includes an outer panel having an external periphery and a skeletonized, trussform inner panel joined to the outer panel at their mutual external peripheries. A latch assembly is mounted within a latch cavity defined by a section of the trussform inner panel and a facing portion of the outer panel. At least one standoff structure is interposed between the outer panel and the inner panel at a location adjacent to the latch cavity so as to resist deformation of the outer panel and consequent reduction in size of the latch cavity in the event that an impact is imposed upon the outer panel at a location near the latch cavity.

Liftgate assembly for automotive vehicle

A door latch system for an automotive vehicle includes a latch having a housing mounted to a door inner panel and a release lever operated by a release rod connected to a handle. An impact-responsive release lever immobilizer mounted within the door is responsive to deformation of the door in the event of an impact such that the release lever will be blocked and prevented from moving to its unlatched position.

Door latch system for automotive vehicle

A fastener system (210) for adjustably attaching or mounting an automotive vehicle window channel member or guide rail (214) to or upon an automotive vehicle inner door panel (212) so that the automotive vehicle window channel member or guide rail (214) can be disposed at a predetermined position with respect to the automotive vehicle inner door panel (212) includes a nut member (234) mounted upon the inner door panel (212), and a shaft or rod portion (264) of the window channel member or guide rail (214) is inserted through the nut member (234). A tubular fastener screw or bolt (224) is inserted over the shaft or rod portion (264) of the window channel member or guide rail (214) so as to also be inserted within the nut member (234). When the tubular fastener screw or bolt (224) is threadedly engaged with the nut member (234), the tubular fastener screw or bolt (224) is forced to tightly engage the shaft or rod portion (264) of the window channel member or guide rail (214) so as to lockingly retain the window channel member or guide rail (214) at the predetermined position with respect to the automotive vehicle inner door panel (212).

Growing community of inventors

Southfield, MI, United States of America

Daniel Carl Bejune