Magna Closures Inc.

Intier Automotive Closures Inc.

Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Krystof Peter Jankowski

Ehab Kamal

James Joseph Loschiavo

Lynn DaDeppo

Venkatesh Krishnan

Lynn David Dadeppo

Igor Pereverzev

Raymond E Zeller

Oscar Renautt

David Vern Cieglo

Carl Stanek

Carsten C Buettner

Troy S Lukas

Robert E Tait

Ehab Khalid Kamal

In a vehicle door latch, a motion restriction device is coupled to an auxiliary pawl that is connected to the pawl of a ratchet and pawl combination. The auxiliary pawl must be actuated by one or more release levers in order to actuate the pawl and release the ratchet from a striker-containing position and open the latch. Because the only criterion for selectively prohibiting movement of the auxiliary pawl is its speed, it is possible to prevent the latch from unintentionally opening in a crash situation regardless of the direction the inertial forces of the crash are applied to the latch or the release levers therein or the outside or inside handles.

Vehicle door latch with motion restriction device prohibiting rapid movement of opening lever

In a first aspect, the invention is directed to a closure latch for a vehicle closure panel, having at least three lock states all of which are achieved using a single control member. The control member may be movable to at least three positions to achieve the lock states. A single motor may be used to move the control member between the positions. In a second aspect, the invention is directed to a closure latch that is movable to a safety locking position, wherein the inside and outside door levers are disabled and wherein the pawl is prevented from releasing the ratchet. The safety locking position may be used when the vehicle controller senses an impending crash or that a crash is occurring as a way of inhibiting inadvertent opening of the vehicle closure panel (e.g. a vehicle door). After the crash, if it is desired to exit the vehicle, structure may be provided that permits an occupant to move the inside door lever once to move the pawl blocking member to the pawl unblocking position and a second time to open the vehicle closure panel.

Safety locking device for vehicle door

A locking device for a handle assembly of a motor vehicle door including a base and a handle portion includes a lock cup fixedly secured to the base and having a plurality of teeth. A spool is rotatably coupled to the lock cup and operably connected to the handle portion. The spool has a pawl rotatably mounted thereto and includes a pawl pin extending out therefrom. An inertia element is disposed within the lock cup and is rotatable out of a rest position upon rotation of the spool. The inertia element includes an elongated slot extending between first and second ends for receiving the pawl pin therewithin. A spring extends between the spool and the inertia element. The spring biases the inertia element towards the rest position.

Rotary locking mechanism for outside vehicle door handle

A motion restriction device is provided for selectively preventing movement of a structural member. The motion restriction device includes a container abutting against the structural member. The container is at least partially filled with a velocity-dependent material that transitions between a fluid-like state when the structural member moves at a velocity below a predetermined threshold to permit movement thereof and a solid-like state when the structural member moves at a velocity above a predetermined threshold to block movement thereof.

Safety device for vehicle door latch systems

A handle assembly selectively allows the door latch of a door of a motor vehicle to be released. The handle assembly includes a base fixedly secured to the door. The handle assembly also includes a handle portion and a lock trigger. The handle portion is operatively connected to a door latch mechanism effectuating the opening of the door. The lock trigger is movably engaged with the handle portion to allow or disallow the movement of the handle assembly and hence the opening of the door.

Lock out mechanism for vehicle door outside handles

An improved latch assembly () is provided for securing a vehicle door () in a closed position. Specifically, in one embodiment, the improved latch assembly () is intended to secure a first door fastener () to an opposing second door fastener () when the vehicle door () is subjected to a substantial acceleration. In this embodiment, the improved latch assembly () includes a release lever () coupled to the first door fastener (). This release lever () is intended to selectively disengage the first door fastener () from the opposing second door fastener () thereby releasing the vehicle door () from its closed position. The Improved latch assembly () further includes an inertia-actuated detent lever () that is intended to block a predetermined path of the release lever () and prevent the release lever () from unlatching the vehicle door () from its closed position.

Latch assembly for a vehicle door

A locking device is provided for preventing a motor vehicle door from opening when a handle portion of a handle assembly moves with acceleration above a predetermined threshold relative to a base thereof. The locking device includes a lock cup fixedly secured to the base and having a plurality of teeth. The locking device also includes a spool rotatably coupled to the lock cup and operably connected to the handle portion. The spool includes a pawl rotatably mounted thereto. The locking device further includes an inertia element disposed between the lock cup and the spool. The inertia element is coupled to the pawl such that upon the acceleration above the predetermined threshold the inertia element lags rotation of the spool and forces the pawl into engagement with one of the plurality of teeth to stop movement of the handle portion relative to the base and prevent the door from opening.

Growing community of inventors

Waterford, MI, United States of America

Krystof Peter Jankowski