The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 13, 2021
Filed:
Mar. 16, 2018
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Plano, TX (US);
Josh D. Fraley, Saline, MI (US);
TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC., Plano, TX (US);
Abstract
A door latch assembly includes a door handle, a latch release lever operatively coupled to the door handle and having a plane of rotation, and a latch release lever blocking structure operable to block rotation of the latch release lever through the plane of rotation. The latch release lever blocking structure includes a bracket body and a catch arm extending from the bracket body to a catch end. The latch release lever blocking structure is spaced from the plane of rotation of the latch release lever during normal operating conditions. The latch release lever blocking structure is configured to deform in the vehicle longitudinal direction when acted upon by an impact force such that the catch arm moves into the plane of rotation of the latch release lever and the catch end catches the latch release lever to prevent the latch release lever from rotating to an unlatched position.