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US 8,701,817 B2Granted
Impact sensitive latch actuation link for vehicle door
AssigneeChrysler Group LLC
InventorRobert M Schoen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus may include a latch mechanism, an actuator, and an actuation link. The latch mechanism may be movable to allow and restrict movement of a vehicle door relative to a vehicle frame. The actuator may be configured to be movable by a user to cause corresponding movement of the latch mechanism. The actuation link may interconnect the latch mechanism and the actuator. The actuation link may include a portion that is laterally compliant to absorb a lateral force and axially rigid to transmit motion of the actuator to the latch mechanism.
Claims18
An apparatus comprising:
- a latch mechanism movable to allow and restrict movement of a vehicle door relative to a vehicle frame;
- an actuator configured to be movable to cause corresponding movement of the latch mechanism;
- a continuous actuation link interconnecting the latch mechanism and the actuator, the actuation link having a portion that is laterally compliant to absorb a lateral force and axially rigid to transmit motion of the actuator to the latch mechanism;
- and
- a clip engaging the portion and maintaining the portion in a partially compressed condition,
- wherein the portion of the actuation link includes a single uninterrupted length of rod.
3 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a latch mechanism movable to allow and restrict movement of a vehicle door relative to a vehicle frame;
- a first actuator configured to be movable to cause corresponding movement of the latch mechanism;
- a continuous first actuation link interconnecting the latch mechanism and the first actuator, the first actuation link having a portion that is laterally compliant to absorb a lateral force and axially rigid to transmit motion of the first actuator to the latch mechanism, the portion of the first actuation link including a single uninterrupted length of rod;
- a second actuator;
- a second actuation link coupled with the second actuator;
- and
- a retainer engaging first and second portions of the second actuation link and allowing motion of the first portion in a first direction to be transferred to the second portion, the retainer breaking in response to motion of the first portion in a second direction to restrict motion of the first portion in the second direction from being transferred to the second portion.
4 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a latch mechanism movable to allow and restrict movement of a vehicle door relative to a vehicle frame;
- an actuator configured to be movable to cause corresponding movement of the latch mechanism;
- and
- a continuous actuation link interconnecting the latch mechanism and the actuator, the actuation link having first and second ends and a folded portion disposed therebetween, the folded portion being laterally compliant to absorb a lateral force by unfolding to increase the length of the actuation link in response to an intrusion event without moving the first and second ends, the folded portion being axially rigid to transmit motion of the actuator to the latch mechanism.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.