# US 9,435,145 B2 · Apparatus and method for preventing movement of release mechanism of a vehicle latch > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,435,145 B2 - Document ID: US9435145B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/159,515 - Filed: 2014-01-21 - Published: 2014-07-24 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-21 - Assignees: Inteva Products, LLC - Applicants: Francisco Javier Lujan; Francisco Javier Vazquez - Inventors: Francisco Javier Lujan; Francisco Javier Vazquez - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9435145B2 ## CPC - E05B 77/36: Noise prevention; Anti-rattling means - E05B 81/00: Power-actuated vehicle locks - E05B 81/04: Electrical (electrical circuits E05B81/54) - E05B 81/06: using rotary motors - E05B 81/14: operating on bolt detents, e.g. for unlatching the bolt - E05B 81/20: for assisting final closing or for initiating opening - E05B 81/42: Cams - Y10T 292/1048: Lever - E05B: LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A latch is provided including a fork bolt configured to rotate between an unlatched position and a latched position. A bellcrank lever is operably coupled to the fork bolt via a detent lever. The bellcrank lever has an engagement ledge located adjacent a slot of the bellcrank lever. The engagement shelf prevents movement of a gear configured to move the detent lever via movement of the bellcrank lever. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A latch comprising: a forkbolt configured to rotate between an unlatched position and a latched position; a gear rotatably mounted about a shaft; a bellcrank lever pivotally mounted to the latch and operably coupled to the fork bolt via a detent lever, wherein rotational movement of the gear causes pivotal movement of the bellcrank lever and the pivotal movement of the bellcrank lever causes pivotal movement of the detent lever, the bellcrank lever having an engagement ledge located adjacent a slot of the bellcrank lever, wherein the engagement ledge prevents rotational movement of the gear when the forkbolt is in the unlatched position, and wherein the engagement ledge does not prevent rotational movement of the gear when the forkbolt is in the latched position and the shaft is received within the slot; and a power release mechanism configured to selectively apply a force to a portion of the bellcrank lever via the gear in order to move the detent lever. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The latch according to claim 1, wherein the detent lever is configured to cooperate with the fork bolt to retain the fork bolt in a latched position. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The latch according to claim 2, wherein a second end of the bellcrank lever is positioned adjacent a first portion of the detent lever. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The latch according to claim 3, wherein the first portion of the detent lever is a protrusion extending generally perpendicular from a planar surface of the detent lever. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The latch according to claim 1, wherein the engagement ledge extends parallel to an axis of rotation of the bellcrank lever. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The latch according to claim 1, wherein the engagement ledge extends towards a surface of the gear. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The latch according to claim 1, wherein the power release mechanism comprises: a motor; and wherein the gear has a gear protrusion configured to contact a portion of the bellcrank lever to move the bellcrank lever and the detent lever, wherein the portion is not the engagement ledge. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The latch according to claim 7, wherein the gear protrusion contacts a first end of the bellcrank lever to move the bellcrank lever and the detent lever. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The latch according to claim 7, wherein when the fork bolt is in an unlatched position, the gear protrusion is arranged adjacent the engagement ledge of the bellcrank lever. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The latch according to claim 7, further comprising a second gear protrusion arranged 180 degrees apart from the gear protrusion. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The latch according to claim 1, wherein the fork bolt includes a fork bolt protrusion. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The latch according to claim 11, wherein when the fork bolt is in an unlatched position, the fork bolt protrusion rotates the detent lever and the bellcrank lever to an overtravel position. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The latch according to claim 11, wherein the fork bolt protrusion has a width of about 1.5 mm. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The latch according to claim 13, wherein the fork bolt protrusion is formed on the over molded plastic. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The latch according to claim 11, wherein the fork bolt is made from metal over molded in plastic. ### Claim 16 A latch, comprising: a forkbolt configured to rotate between an unlatched position and a latched position, wherein the forkbolt has a forkbolt protrusion; a gear rotatably mounted about a shaft; a bellcrank lever pivotally mounted to the latch and operably coupled to the fork bolt via a detent lever, wherein rotational movement of the gear causes pivotal movement of the bellcrank lever and the pivotal movement of the bellcrank lever causes pivotal movement of the detent lever, the bellcrank lever having an engagement ledge located adjacent a slot of the bellcrank lever, wherein the engagement ledge prevents rotational movement of the gear when the forkbolt is in the unlatched position, and wherein the engagement ledge does not prevent rotational movement of the gear when the forkbolt is in the latched position and the shaft is received within the slot; a power release mechanism configured to selectively apply a force to a portion of the bellcrank lever via the gear in order to move the detent lever; and wherein when the fork bolt is in an unlatched position, the fork bolt protrusion rotates the detent lever and the bellcrank lever to an overtravel position such that the engagement ledge prevents movement of the gear by contacting a protrusion of the gear.