Memory levers for latch mechanisms of vehicle compartment closure assemblies

A motor vehicle comprising:

• a vehicle body with a compartment;
• a compartment closure assembly movably mounted to the vehicle body to transition between an open position, providing access to the compartment, and a closed position, obstructing access to the compartment;
• a striker attached to either the vehicle body or the compartment closure assembly;
• a release mechanism located within the passenger compartment;
• and
• a latch mechanism, including:
• a latch housing mounted to either the compartment closure assembly or the vehicle body;
• a forkbolt rotatably mounted to the latch housing to selectively rotate about a first axis between a latched position, whereat the forkbolt engages the striker and thereby latches the compartment closure assembly in the closed position, and an unlatched position, whereat the forkbolt disengages the striker such that the compartment closure assembly is movable to the open position;
• a detent lever rotatably mounted to the latch housing adjacent the forkbolt to rotate about a second axis, substantially perpendicular to the first axis, between a locked position, whereat the detent lever engages and locks the forkbolt in the latched position, and an unlocked position, whereat the release mechanism disengages the detent lever from the forkbolt;
• and
• a rigid memory lever rotatably mounted to the latch housing adjacent the detent lever to rotate about a third axis, substantially parallel to the second axis, between a catching position, whereat the memory lever engages and catches the detent lever in the unlocked position, and a releasing position, whereat the memory lever disengages the detent lever,
• wherein the forkbolt, when moving from the unlatched position to the latched position, disengages the detent lever from the memory lever and concurrently moves the memory lever from the catching position to the releasing position.

A method of assembling a latch mechanism for a compartment closure assembly of a motor vehicle, the compartment closure assembly being movably mounted to a vehicle body of the motor vehicle to transition between an open position and a closed position, the motor vehicle including a striker attached to the vehicle or the compartment closure assembly, the method comprising:

• attaching a forkbolt to the motor vehicle to rotate about a first axis between a latched position, whereat the forkbolt engages the striker and thereby latches the compartment closure assembly in the closed position, and an unlatched position, whereat the forkbolt disengages the striker such that the compartment closure assembly is movable to the open position;
• attaching a detent lever to the motor vehicle adjacent the forkbolt to rotate about a second axis, substantially perpendicular to the first axis, between a locked position, whereat the detent lever engages and locks the forkbolt in the latched position, and an unlocked position, whereat the detent lever disengages the forkbolt;
• and
• attaching a rigid memory lever to the motor vehicle adjacent the forkbolt to rotate about a third axis, substantially parallel to the second axis, between a catching position, whereat the memory lever engages and catches the detent lever in the unlocked position, and a releasing position, whereat the memory lever disengages the detent lever,
• wherein the forkbolt, when moving from the unlatched position to the latched position, moves the memory lever from the catching position to the releasing position.