Vehicle door latch assembly and latch therefor

A vehicle door latch assembly, comprising:

• a latch lever connectable to a latch mechanism;
• a latch rod coupled to the latch lever;
• and
• a user-actuatable door handle operative to effect movement of the latch rod along a generally vertical axis to unlatch the latch mechanism via actuation of the latch lever;
• wherein the latch rod comprises a first member operatively connected to the door handle, and a second member pivotally connected to the first member, the second member coupled to the latch lever, and the second member being pivotally movable with the latch lever laterally in a direction away from the first member in response to a sufficient force associated with a side-impact event.

A vehicle door latch assembly, comprising:

• a user-actuatable door handle coupled to a bellcrank;
• a latch lever;
• and
• a latch rod coupled to the latch lever and the bellcrank, the latch rod operable by the door handle to move along a generally vertical axis to unlatch a latch mechanism via actuation of the latch lever, and the latch rod removably connected to the bellcrank;
• and
• wherein, in response to a sufficient force associated with a side-impact event, the latch rod is disconnected from the bellcrank.

A vehicle door latch assembly, comprising:

• a user-actuatable door handle connected to a handle framework;
• a latch lever;
• and
• a latch rod coupled to the latch lever and operatively connected to the door handle, the latch rod operable by the door handle to unlatch a latch mechanism via actuation of the latch lever, the latch rod configured to be deformed by the door handle framework in response to a sufficient force associated with a side-impact event.

A vehicle door latch assembly, comprising:

• a user-actuatable door handle connected to a handle framework;
• a latch lever;
• and
• a latch rod coupled to the latch lever and operatively connected to the door handle, the latch rod operable by the door handle to unlatch a latch mechanism via actuation of the latch lever, the latch rod including a generally vertically-extending slot dimensioned to receive and capture the latch lever therein, the slot defining an opening through the latch rod that is oriented so that an imaginary line extending through the opening extends in the direction of the handle;
• and
• the latch lever including at least a terminal member that is oriented to extend through the slot;
• wherein, in response to a sufficient force associated with a side-impact event, the at least terminal member of the latch lever is freely moveable within the slot along an axis extending through the opening.