Vehicle door latch security tether

A security tether for a vehicle door of a vehicle, where the vehicle door is provided with a latch assembly and a lock assembly, both the latch assembly and the lock assembly are configured to couple to the vehicle door, wherein the latch assembly selectively secures the vehicle door to the vehicle and the lock assembly selectively prevents the latch assembly from selectively releasing the vehicle door from the vehicle when the lock assembly is in a locked condition, wherein the lock assembly having a lock lever with the lock lever being movable between the locked condition and an unlocked condition, such that when the lock lever is located in the locked condition, the lock lever engages a pawl at a first location so the pawl is prevented from moving to a pawl unlatched condition, and when the lock lever is in the unlocked condition, the lock lever is disengaged from the first location so the pawl is not prevented from moving to an unlatched condition, and the security tether limits movement of the lock lever of the lock assembly when the lock assembly is in the locked condition, the security tether comprising:

• a plate configured to be non-movably attached to the latch assembly;
• wherein the plate includes at least one opening disposed therein configured to receive at least a portion of the lock lever of the lock assembly;
• wherein the at least one opening has a periphery;
• and
• wherein the periphery of the at least one opening of the plate includes a stop surface configured to limit movement of the lock lever when the lock assembly is in the locked condition.

A security tether for a vehicle door of a vehicle, where the vehicle door is provided with a latch assembly and a lock assembly, both the latch assembly and the lock assembly are configured to couple to the vehicle door, wherein the latch assembly selectively secures the vehicle door to the vehicle and the lock assembly selectively prevents the latch assembly from selectively releasing the vehicle door from the vehicle when the lock assembly is in a locked condition, wherein the lock assembly having a lock lever with the lock lever being movable between the locked condition and an unlocked condition, such that when the lock lever is located in the locked condition, the lock lever engages a pawl at a first location so the pawl is prevented from moving to a pawl unlatched condition, and when the lock lever is in the unlocked condition, the lock lever is disengaged from the first location so the pawl is not prevented from moving to an unlatched condition, and the security tether limits movement of the lock lever of the lock assembly when the lock assembly is in the locked condition, the security tether comprising:

• a plate configured to be non-movably attached to the latch assembly;
• wherein the plate includes at least one opening disposed therein configured to receive at least a portion of the lock lever of the lock assembly;
• wherein the at least one opening extends through the plate;
• wherein the at least one opening also extends outwardly from the plate;
• wherein the at least one opening has a periphery;
• wherein the periphery of the at least one opening of the plate terminates where the at least one opening extends outwardly from the plate;
• and
• wherein the periphery of the at least one opening of the plate includes a stop surface configured to limit movement of the lock lever when the lock assembly is in the locked condition.