Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Delphi Technologies, Inc.

Thomas Joseph Kowalewski

Robert Milne

Thomas Grzanka

Matthew John Karl

Vasanth Suratkal

Eric Michael Fischer

Steven J Sabol

Daniel William Danko

Gregory J Hunter

A self-aligning latch for a closure panel includes a base member adapted to be attached to either one of a closure panel or vehicle structure and an attaching flange extending transversely along a side of the base member, such that the attaching flange includes an alignment slot. The self-aligning latch also includes an alignment plate pivotally mounted to the attaching flange. The self-aligning latch further includes a striker receiving member operatively mounted to the alignment plate and having a striker lead-in portion for receiving a striker attached to either one of the vehicle structure or the closure panel. The self-aligning latch includes an alignment member disposed within the alignment slot for positioning the alignment plate relative to the attaching flange to align the closure panel relative to the vehicle structure.

Self-aligning latch

Latch release mechanism for a latch of the lid of a trunk storage compartment of an automobile. A detent retains the latch in a latching position holding the lid closed. The detent can be withdrawn from the latch-retaining position enabling the latch to be moved by a spring to the release position permitting the lid to be opened. A cable within the trunk can be used to withdraw the detent. An electric charge storage device is charged in response to movement of the trunk lid from closed to open position. A light-emitting device is energized by the electric charge storage device to illuminate the trunk for a period of time after the trunk lid is closed to make it easy for a person to find and operate the cable.

Automotive vehicle storage compartment release mechanism

A trunk lid has an externally operated key lock cylinder that operates a latch mechanism inside the trunk by a cable assembly. The key lock cylinder is connected to the cable assembly by a universal actuator assembly including a housing having a ferrule for attachment to a sheath of the cable assembly. The universal actuator assembly further includes an attachment sleeve that is attached to the key lock cylinder in a predetermined angular orientation. The attachment sleeve has one end disposed in the chamber of the housing, with the one end having a plurality of radial teeth that engage radial lugs in the housing to index the sleeve with respect to the housing in a selected angular orientation to reduce the length of the cable assembly that is required. A rotor rotatably disposed in the housing has a central drive aperture for being driven by the key lock cylinder and an eccentric connector aperture for driving the cable assembly. A plurality of eccentric connector apertures may be provided to increase versatility.

Universal actuator assembly

A deck lid may be released via rotation of a latch release shaft. A pinion gear is operably connected with the release shaft for rotating the release shaft. An electric motor has a gear meshing with the pinion gear and is energizable to rotate the pinion gear. An electrical switch is located inside the vehicle for energizing the electric motor. According to the invention, a blocking member is movably mounted on the latch and movable between a normal disengaged position, permitting rotation of the pinion gear by the motor, and a blocking position in which the blocking member engages the pinion gear to block rotation thereof by the electric motor. In a preferred embodiment, the blocking member is slidably mounted on the latch and the pinion gear has a toothed periphery with a cutout into which the blocking member is slid to block rotation of the pinion gear, thereby causing the motor to stall.

Growing community of inventors

Rochester Hills, MI, United States of America

Thomas Joseph Kowalewski