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:
Jan. 27, 2009
Filed:
Oct. 25, 2006
Marcus Merideth, Westland, MI (US);
Kelly Kohlstrand, Grosse lle, MI (US);
James Loschiavo, Livonia, MI (US);
Venky Krishnan, Wayne, MI (US);
Mahmoud Ghannam, Windsor, CA;
Marcus Merideth, Westland, MI (US);
Kelly Kohlstrand, Grosse lle, MI (US);
James Loschiavo, Livonia, MI (US);
Venky Krishnan, Wayne, MI (US);
Mahmoud Ghannam, Windsor, CA;
Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US);
Abstract
A blocking apparatus is cooperable with the latch lever of a vehicle door latching mechanism to prevent the latch lever from moving during a crash event, which prevents the latching mechanism from allowing the vehicle door to open. The blocking apparatus includes a housing supporting a linearly movable plunger engagable with a cam surface on the latch lever and a blocking member pivotally mounted for movement between a normal position and a blocking position. The blocking member moves into the blocking position due to the imposition of crash forces on the blocking member during a crash event. A centering spring mechanism biases the blocking member into the normal position and can return the blocking member into the normal position to permit movement of the latch lever after the crash event has occurred. The plunger is biased into engagement with the latch lever so as to move with the cam surface.