Smart latch assembly with double pawl latch mechanism having flexible connection to release mechanism

A closure latch assembly, comprising:

• a primary ratchet movable between a striker capture position whereat the primary ratchet is positioned to retain a striker and a striker release position whereat the primary ratchet is positioned to release the striker, wherein the primary ratchet is biased towards its striker release position;
• a primary pawl movable between a ratchet holding position whereat the primary pawl is positioned to hold the primary ratchet in its striker capture position and a ratchet releasing position whereat the primary pawl permits the movement of the primary ratchet out of its striker capture position, wherein the primary pawl is biased towards its ratchet holding position;
• an auxiliary ratchet movable between a primary pawl enabling position whereat the auxiliary ratchet permits the primary pawl to be biased toward its ratchet holding position and a primary pawl disabling position whereat the auxiliary ratchet positions the primary pawl in its ratchet releasing position, wherein the auxiliary ratchet is biased towards its primary pawl disabling position;
• an auxiliary pawl movable between an auxiliary ratchet holding position whereat the auxiliary pawl is positioned to hold the auxiliary ratchet in its primary pawl enabling position and an auxiliary ratchet releasing position whereat the auxiliary pawl is positioned to permit movement of the auxiliary ratchet to its primary pawl disabling position, wherein the auxiliary pawl is biased towards the auxiliary ratchet holding position;
• a release lever moveable from a non-actuated position into an actuated position for moving the auxiliary pawl from its auxiliary ratchet holding position into its auxiliary ratchet releasing position;
• a spring member interconnecting the release lever to the auxiliary ratchet to facilitate movement of the auxiliary ratchet from its primary pawl enabling position to its primary pawl disabling position when the release lever is moved from its non-actuated position into its actuated position;
• and
• an actuator for moving the release lever from its non-actuated position into its actuated position to provide a latch release operation, and for moving the release lever from its actuated position into its non-actuated position to provide a ratchet reset operation,
• wherein the spring member is loaded to a pre-loaded state as the release lever moves relative to the auxiliary ratchet from its non-actuated position toward its actuated position, and wherein the pre-loaded state of the spring member assists in moving the auxiliary ratchet toward its primary pawl disabling position during the latch release operation.

A method of facilitating movement of a primary ratchet of a closure latch assembly from striker capture position to a striker release position during a release operation of the closure latch assembly, comprising:

• providing the closure latch assembly having a primary pawl movable between a ratchet holding position whereat the primary pawl is positioned to hold the primary ratchet in the striker capture position and a ratchet releasing position whereat the primary pawl permits the movement of the primary ratchet out of the striker capture position;
• an auxiliary ratchet movable between a primary pawl enabling position whereat the auxiliary ratchet permits the primary pawl to be biased toward its ratchet holding position and a primary pawl disabling position whereat the auxiliary ratchet positions the primary pawl in its ratchet releasing position;
• an auxiliary pawl movable between an auxiliary ratchet holding position whereat the auxiliary pawl is positioned to hold the auxiliary ratchet in its primary pawl enabling position and an auxiliary ratchet releasing position whereat the auxiliary pawl is positioned to permit movement of the auxiliary ratchet to its primary pawl disabling position;
• providing a release lever moveable from a non-actuated position into an actuated position for moving the auxiliary pawl from its auxiliary ratchet holding position into its auxiliary ratchet releasing position;
• operably connecting the release lever to the auxiliary ratchet with a spring member to facilitate movement of the auxiliary ratchet from its primary pawl enabling position to its primary pawl disabling position when the release lever is moved from its non-actuated position into its actuated position;
• and
• loading the spring member to a pre-loaded state as the release lever moves relative to the auxiliary ratchet from its non-actuated position toward its actuated position, wherein the pre-loaded state of the spring member assists in moving the auxiliary ratchet toward its primary pawl disabling position.