Door latch assembly
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsSiddharthan Selvasekar, Dylan Mandelbaum, Michael M. Azzouz, Alvin Chu, Brian Ka-Bo Ngo, Nicholas Phan, Steven Imoek
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A latch feature for a door includes an input body that is operable to move linearly between first and second positions relative to the door. The latch feature also includes an output body. The output body is coupled to the input body by a pivot member that is configured to pivot relative to the output body and the input body to allow the output body to move linearly toward the input body from an outboard position to an inboard position as the input body moves from the first position to the second position.
Claims20
A door latch assembly, comprising:
- a door operable between open and closed positions;
- a housing coupled to the door;
- and
- a latch feature coupled to the housing and operable, in the closed position of the door, between an engaged condition, wherein the latch feature is engaged with a receiver to retain the door in the closed position, and a disengaged condition, the latch feature comprising:
- an input body operably coupled to at least one of the housing and the door and pivotable about an input body pivot axis between first and second positions, wherein movement of the input body between the first and second positions is constrained to pivotal movement by at least one of the housing and the door;
- and
- an output body coupled to the input body by at least one pivot member configured to pivot to allow the output body to move toward the input body from an outboard position to an inboard position as the input body pivots from the first position to the second position, wherein movement of the output body from the outboard position to the inboard position is constrained to substantially linear movement by the housing and causes the latch feature to enter the disengaged condition in the closed position of the door.
A latch feature, comprising:
- an input body operable to pivot relative to at least one of a housing and a door about an input body pivot axis between first and second positions;
- a first output body coupled to the input body by at least one first pivot member configured to pivot to allow the first output body to move from a first outboard position to a first inboard position as the input body pivots from the first position to the second position, wherein movement of the first output body from the first outboard position to the first inboard position is constrained to substantially linear movement by the housing;
- and
- a second output body coupled to the input body by at least one second pivot member that is configured to pivot to allow the second output body to move from a second outboard position to a second inboard position as the input body pivots from the first position to the second position, wherein movement of the second output body from the second outboard position to the second inboard position is constrained to substantially linear movement by the housing.
A latch feature for a door, comprising:
- an input body operable to pivot between first and second positions relative to the door;
- and
- an output body coupled to the input body by a pivot member configured to pivot relative to the output body and the input body to allow the output body to move from an outboard position to an inboard position as the input body pivots from the first position to the second position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.