Abstract:
A door handle and actuation assembly for opening a door of a vehicle includes a striker and a latch assembly. The latch assembly includes a latch biased to engage the striker to secure the vehicle door in a closed position. A first latch actuator is configured to receive an electronic signal for disengaging the latch from the striker. A second latch actuator is redundant to the first latch actuator and a power source is available for providing an electrical signal to the second latch actuator. The second latch actuator includes a shape memory alloy having a first configuration and a second configuration that different from the first configuration when subject to an electrical current. The second configuration is cooperable with the latch assembly for disengaging the latch from the striker.
Abstract:
A vehicle door latch assembly includes a latch lever connectable to a latch mechanism, a latch rod coupled to the latch lever, and a door handle operative to effect movement of the latch rod to unlatch the latch mechanism via actuation of the latch lever. The latch rod is configured so as to attenuate vertical motion of the latch rod in response to a sufficient force associated with a side-impact event. In one embodiment, the latch rod has a first member operatively connected to the door handle, and a second member pivotally connected to the first member. The second member is coupled to the latch lever, and the-second member is pivotally movable with the latch lever laterally in a direction away from the first member in response to a sufficient force associated with a side-impact event.
Abstract:
A side-view mirror assembly for a vehicle, the side-view mirror assembly comprising: a housing for securement to a side of a vehicle, the housing defining an internal cavity opening toward a rear of the housing; a mirror disposed in the internal cavity, the mirror comprising a reflective element substantially occupying and being visible through the opening of the housing, and the reflective element supported on a first surface of a backplate, the backplate including at least one light-transmissive portion positioned proximate a peripheral edge of the reflective element; and one or more light sources disposed within the housing and operable to selectively illuminate the at least one light-transmissive portion so that the illumination is visible from outside the side-view mirror assembly in an area defined between the peripheral edge of the reflective element and the opening of the housing.
Abstract:
A vehicular door handle assembly (800) comprises a secondary latch with a default active condition for preventing inadvertent opening of a door during an impact, such as a collision. The door handle assembly comprises a primary actuator (22) and a secondary actuator in operative communication with the secondary latch for selective deactivation thereof . When the user's hand grasps and pulls the primary actuator in a normal fashion to open the vehicle door, the user's hand simultaneously grasps the secondary actuator and moves the secondary actuator to deactivate the secondary latch and allow movement of the primary actuator and thereby open the vehicular door.
Abstract:
A resettable inertia lock assembly may include a chassis configured to be mounted within an access closure of a motor vehicle, a cassette, a reset structure defined on one of the chassis and the cassette, a resettable locking apparatus carried by the cassette and including an inertia-activated member and an engagement coupler, the engagement coupler movable between a first position securing the inertia- activated member in an inertia-activated position and a second position in which the engagement coupler does not secure the inertia-activated member in the inertia- activated position, and a movement device for producing a relative movement between the chassis and the cassette to cause the reset structure to engage and move the engagement coupler from the first position to the second position thereof to allow the inertia-activated member to move from the inertia-activated position to a home position.
Abstract:
An electronic latch assembly secures a vehicle door to a vehicle frame with a striker and a catch assembly. The striker is attached to the vehicle frame. The catch assembly secures the vehicle door to the vehicle frame when the vehicle door is disposed in a closed position. The catch assembly includes a catch pivotally affixed to a mount at a first axis in an orientation enabling engagement and disengagement of the catch with the striker. The catch is pivotable between a latched disposition and an unlatched disposition. An indicator member is cooperably affixed to the mount with the catch. The catch translates movement to the indicator member when the catch pivots around the first pivot axis between the latched disposition and the unlatched disposition. The indicator member includes an indicator for indicating a disposition of the catch between the latched disposition and unlatched disposition.
Abstract:
A side-view mirror assembly for a vehicle, the side-view mirror assembly comprising: a housing for securement to a side of a vehicle, the housing defining an internal cavity opening toward a rear of the housing; a mirror disposed in the internal cavity, the mirror comprising a reflective element substantially occupying and being visible through the opening of the housing, and the reflective element supported on a first surface of a backplate, the backplate including at least one light-transmissive portion positioned proximate a peripheral edge of the reflective element; and one or more light sources disposed within the housing and operable to selectively illuminate the at least one light-transmissive portion so that the illumination is visible from outside the side-view mirror assembly in an area defined between the peripheral edge of the reflective element and the opening of the housing.
Abstract:
A keyless entry system has a handle housing (38) and a grip cover (36) defining a door handle grip (39), a keyless entry pad (32) defining a plurality of keys (33), each identified with a corresponding symbol, a plurality of sensors (82) in proximity to the keys (33) for detecting an object in the vicinity of the keys (33), an illumination source (44) to selectively illuminate the sensors (82) and symbols, and a light-controlling finish 46 extending over the keyless entry pad (32). Entering a keyless entry code into the keyless entry pad (32) by selecting keys (33) in a predetermined sequence enables a latch to be selectively disposed in either a locked condition or an unlocked condition. In ambient light, the light-controlling finish (46) renders the symbol invisible. When the illumination source (44) illuminates the sensor and the symbol, the light-controlling finish (46) renders the symbol visible.
Abstract:
An inertial blocking member subassembly is activated by an inertial force vector. A release handle assembly has a framework, a door handle grip, and a bell crank actuator. The subassembly has a blocking member and a biasing element. The blocking member is associated with the framework, and movable in at least one of rotation about an axis of rotation and translation. The biasing element is associated with the blocking member for biasing the blocking member to a first position. The blocking member center of gravity is offset from the axis of rotation. When the force vector acts on the center of gravity, the blocking member can rotate into a second position. When the center of gravity, axis of rotation, and force vector are aligned, the blocking member remains in the second position until the force vector has attenuated. The biasing element can rotate the blocking member to the first position.
Abstract:
A door handle assembly (10) for a motor vehicle which acts to preclude inadvertent unlatching of the door in response to a side impact. The door handle assembly (10) includes a bezel housing (28) and a handle member (30) including a handle portion (30a) positioned in a bowl portion (28a) of the bezel housing (28) and a crank arm portion (30b) extending outwardly and upwardly through a slot (28b) in the bowl portion (28a) for connection to a pivot shaft (32). A sliding, spring biased weight (42) is mounted on the bowl portion (28a) of the bezel (28) proximate the location where the crank arm (30b) of the handle (30) passes through the slot (28b) in the bowl portion (28a). The weight (42) moves slideably into coaction with a detent structure (30e) on the crank arm (30b) of the handle member (30) in response to a side impact to preclude pivotal movement of the handle member (30) in an unlatching direction.