Closure latch assembly with child lock having asymmetrical toggle spring arrangement

A child lock mechanism of a latch assembly for a passenger door of a motor vehicle for selectively moving a release link of the latch between a coupled position, whereat an inside door handle is operable to open the passenger door, and a decoupled position, whereat the inside door handle is inoperable to open the passenger door, comprising:

• a child lock knob and a child lock lever coupled for fixed rotation with one another about a child lock axis, said child lock knob being configured for selective rotation between an on position whereat the release link is in the decoupled position and an off position whereat the release link is in the coupled position, said child lock lever having a body fixed to said child lock knob with a drive arm extending from said body to pivot the release link between the coupled position and decoupled position in response to selective rotation of said child lock knob, a spring system extending from said body, said spring system including an inside spring member spaced outwardly from said body by a first gap and an outside spring member spaced outwardly from said inside spring member by a second gap such that said inside spring member is between said outside spring member and said body, wherein while said child lock knob is in the off position, a first spring force of said inside spring member must be overcome to move said child lock knob to the on position, and wherein while said child lock knob is in the on position, a second spring force of said inside spring member must be overcome to move said child lock knob to the off position, said second spring force being greater than said first spring force.

A method of indicating to a user that a child lock mechanism of a latch assembly for a passenger door of a motor vehicle is being moved toward an on position, whereat the passenger door is unable to be opened by via actuation of an inside door handle, and an off position, whereat the passenger door is able to be opened by via actuation of the inside door handle, comprising:

• providing the child lock mechanism with a child lock lever fixed for conjoint movement with a child lock knob that is accessible on the passenger door to a user for selective movement of the child lock knob to place the child lock mechanism in one of the on position and off position;
• providing child lock lever having a body configured to be fixed to the child lock knob and having a drive arm extending from the body for pivoting a release link between a coupled position, whereat the child lock mechanism is in the off position, and a decoupled position, whereat the child lock mechanism is in the on position, in response to selective movement of the child lock knob;
• and
• providing the child lock lever having a spring system extending from the body for engagement with a detent of the latch assembly and configuring the spring system to impart a first resistance to movement on the detent while the child lock knob is being moved from the off position to the on position and to impart a second resistance to movement on the detent while the child lock knob is being moved from the on position to the off position, with the second resistance to movement being different from the first resistance to movement.