Abstract:
A latch assembly for providing travel of a closure panel of a vehicle away from a latch during a collision event, the latch assembly compromising: a mounting plate of the latch for mounting a set of latch components thereon including a ratchet coupled to a pawl for retaining and releasing a mating latch component with respect to a slot of the latch, the mating latch component mounted to the closure panel, the latch components further including a secondary catch, the mounting plate connected to a body of the vehicle; a support plate coupled to the mounting plate by a support connector, the support connector providing a sliding connection between the support plate and the mounting plate along an axis; a blocking member mounted to one of the support plate and the mounting plate, such that engagement of the blocking member limits relative displacement between the support plate and the mounting plate along the axis; an actuation system mounted on the support plate, the actuation system for moving by the travel the closure panel between a primary latched position and a secondary latched position during actuation of the actuation system; wherein disengagement of the blocking member subsequent to the actuation of the actuation system provides for the relative displacement between the support plate and the mounting plate along the axis opposite to the direction of the travel of the closure panel.
Abstract:
A hood latch system for a motor vehicle includes a vehicle hood latch assembly configured in operable communication with a gearshift member. The vehicle hood latch assembly is prevented from unintended release of a vehicle hood striker, fixed to a hood of the motor vehicle, from a ratchet of the latch assembly when the gearshift member is shifted into a non-parked mode. When the gear shift member is selectively actuated in a park mode, the vehicle hood latch assembly is actuated to release the striker from the ratchet, thereby allowing the hood to be opened.
Abstract:
An actuated hinge assembly for facilitating pivoting movement of a door, the hinge assembly including: a first hinge member; a second hinge member pivotally coupled to the first hinge member; a powered actuator operatively coupled to the first hinge member, the actuator configured to drive relative rotation of the first hinge member and the second hinge member with respect to each other; wherein one hinge of the first hinge member and the second hinge member is configured for mounting to the door and the other of the first hinge member and the second hinge member is configured for mounting to a door frame of the door. Also included is a controller unit configured to control actuation of a powered latch assembly and/or the actuated hinge assembly using control signals received from a transponder.
Abstract:
A latch for a closure panel of a vehicle, the latch comprising: a housing; a ratchet mounted to the housing for releasably securing a striker in a slot; a catch mounted to the housing for releasably securing a secondary striker; and a linkage connecting the catch to the ratchet; wherein the ratchet and the catch move in tandem with one another via the linkage.
Abstract:
A power actuator for a latch of a motor vehicle closure panel has an electric motor to rotate a lead screw about an axis. A nut is disposed about the lead screw for selective translation along the lead screw. A clutch plate is configured for selective rotation about the axis when engaged with the nut, with a biasing member biasing the nut out of engagement with the clutch plate when the electric motor is de-energized. A carrier member is coupled with the nut to cause the nut to translate into engagement with the clutch plate during rotation of the lead screw, whereupon the nut and carrier member co-rotate with the clutch plate and leadscrew. A driven member is operably coupled with the clutch plate and with the latch via a cable/rod, such that the driven member maintains the latch in a cinched state when the electric motor is energized.
Abstract:
A latch travel mechanism for a closure panel of a vehicle, the mechanism comprising: a mounting plate for mounting a latch, the latch for retaining the closure panel; a support plate coupled to the mounting plate by a pair of linkages, the support plate for connecting to a body of the vehicle, the pair of linkages including a pair of arms and a pair of meshed gears coupled to one another; and an actuation mechanism for mounting on at least one of the support plate or the body for extending the pair of linkages in order to move the mounting plate relative to the support plate from a home position to an extended position; wherein the mounting plate is moved from the home position to the extended position during operation of the actuation mechanism.
Abstract:
A latch travel mechanism for a closure panel of a vehicle, the mechanism comprising: a mounting plate for mounting a latch, the latch for retaining the closure panel; a support plate coupled to the mounting plate, the support plate for connecting to a body of the vehicle; and an actuation mechanism mounted on at least one of the support plate or the body and coupled to either the closure panel or the mounting plate to move the mounting plate relative to the support plate from a home position to an extended position; wherein the latch is moved from the home position to the extended position when mounted on the mounting plate. The latch travel mechanism also has a locking member mounted on the support plate and configured for retaining the mounting plate in a home position when engaged with the one or more linkages and for disengaging from the one or more linkages when operated.
Abstract:
A latch assembly for a closure panel of a vehicle, the latch assembly comprising: a mounting plate; a ratchet and pawl pivotally mounted to the mounting plate, the ratchet for retaining a mating latch component in a primary latched position in a slot of the mounting plate, the ratchet released from the primary latched position by movement of the pawl; a secondary catch coupled to the mounting plate for retaining the mating latch component in a secondary latched position after the mating latch component being released from the ratchet; an active secondary catch coupled to the mounting plate by a pivot connection, the active secondary catch for retaining the mating latch component in a travel position after said mating latch component being released from the ratchet, the travel position being further from the slot than the secondary latched position, the active secondary catch having a slot providing for translation of the pivot connection therein; a lift lever mounted to the mounting plate, the lift lever for moving the mating latch component past the secondary latched position to the travel position as the pivot connection travels along the slot; wherein actuation of the lift lever by an actuation system causes movement of the secondary catch away from the slot in order to inhibit retention of the mating latch component thereby and to deploy the active secondary catch towards the slot in a deployed position in order to facilitate retention of the mating latch component thereby.
Abstract:
A latch assembly for driving a closure panel from a closed panel position to an open panel position. The latch assembly comprises: a latch mechanism having a first latch element for retaining a mating latch component in a latched position and for moving the mating latch component from the latched position to an unlatched position when released, the movement of the first latch element biased towards the unlatched position by a latch biasing element; and an actuation system having: a mechanical energy storage system having a device for storing mechanical potential energy for assisting the latch biasing element in moving the mating latch component from the latched position to the unlatched position; a mechanical advantage system having a plurality of advantage elements for engaging the device, such that movement of the plurality of advantage elements is associated with a trigger force and cooperation of the plurality of advantage elements provides for amplification of the trigger force as an initiating force to release the stored mechanical potential energy; and a trigger system configured to provide the trigger force to release the stored mechanical potential energy.
Abstract:
A latch assembly for driving a closure panel from a closed panel position to an open panel position. The latch assembly comprises: a latch mechanism having a first latch element for retaining a mating latch component in a latched position and for moving the mating latch component from the latched position to an unlatched position when released, the movement of the first latch element biased towards the unlatched position by a latch biasing element; and an actuation system having: a mechanical energy storage system having a device for storing mechanical potential energy for assisting the latch biasing element in moving the mating latch component from the latched position to the unlatched position; a mechanical advantage system having a plurality of advantage elements for engaging the device, such that movement of the plurality of advantage elements is associated with a trigger force and cooperation of the plurality of advantage elements provides for amplification of the trigger force as an initiating force to release the stored mechanical potential energy; and a trigger system configured to provide the trigger force to release the stored mechanical potential energy.