Button assembly for a release system comprising a rack gear and a pinion gear

A release system for a vehicle, comprising:

• a latch configured to engage a striker, with the latch movable between an engagement position for abutting the striker and a disengagement position for inhibiting abutment with the striker;
• an extension member coupled to the latch, with movement of the extension member configured to move the latch between the engagement and disengagement positions;
• and
• an assembly comprising:
• a housing;
• an actuator coupled to the housing and translatable relative to the housing along a first axis, with the actuator comprising a contact surface configured for engagement by an operator to translate the actuator along the first axis, and a rack gear extending along the first axis and away from the contact surface;
• a pinion gear coupled to the housing and rotatable about a second axis, orthogonal to the first axis, with the pinion gear meshed with the rack gear and with the extension member coupled to the pinion gear;
• and
• a pulley coupled to the pinion gear and rotatable with the pinion gear, wherein rotation of the pulley corresponds with rotation of the pinion gear,
• wherein the extension member comprises a tube fixed to the housing and a cable extending through and beyond the tube between a pair of ends, with the cable coupled to the latch at one of the pair of ends and with the cable coupled to the pulley at the other one of the pair of ends, and
• wherein the mesh between the pinion gear and the rack gear facilitates rotation of the pinion gear as the rack gear translates, with the rotation of the pinion gear facilitating movement of the extension member and movement of the latch between the engagement and disengagement positions.

A door assembly movably coupled to a vehicle for selectively covering an opening between an interior and an exterior of a vehicle, the door assembly comprising:

• a door having an outer surface facing the exterior of the vehicle and an inner surface facing the interior of the vehicle;
• and
• a release system comprising:
• a latch configured to engage a striker fixed to the vehicle, with the latch movable between an engagement position for abutting the striker and retaining the door assembly in a closed position covering the opening, and a disengagement position for inhibiting abutment with the striker and facilitating movement of the door;
• an extension member coupled to the latch, with movement of the extension member configured to move the latch between the engagement and disengagement positions;
• and
• an assembly comprising:
• a housing;
• an actuator coupled to the housing and translatable relative to the housing along a first axis between a first position and a second position, with the actuator comprising a contact surface disposed along the inner surface of the door and configured for engagement by an operator to translate the actuator along the first axis, and a rack gear extending along the first axis and away from the contact surface;
• a pinion gear coupled to the housing and rotatable about a second axis, orthogonal to the first axis, with the pinion gear meshed with the rack gear and with the extension member coupled to the pinion gear;
• and
• a pulley coupled to the pinion gear and rotatable with the pinion gear, wherein rotation of the pulley corresponds with rotation of the pinion gear,
• wherein the extension member comprises a tube fixed to the housing and a cable extending through and beyond the tube between a pair of ends, with the cable coupled to the latch at one of the pair of ends and with the cable coupled to the pulley at the other one of the pair of ends, and
• wherein the mesh between the pinion gear and the rack gear facilitates rotation of the pinion gear as the rack gear translates, with the rotation of the pinion gear facilitating movement of the extension member and movement of the latch between the engagement and disengagement positions.