Door latch with fast unlock

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10370879-B2
Application number	US-201514691670-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 21, 2015
Priority date	Apr 25, 2014
Publication date	Aug 6, 2019
Grant date	Aug 6, 2019

Abstract

A closure latch assembly for a vehicle door comprising a lock link operatively connected to a ratchet is provided. The latch assembly is configured to quickly move the lock link to an unlocking position and thus the ratchet to an open position when a user activates a motor of the latch assembly, for example using a key fob. Thus, an impatient passenger can quickly open the door, even while other components of the latch assembly are still moving toward their respective unlocking positions.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A latch assembly for use with a striker and a lock knob assembly within a vehicle, the latch assembly comprising:
a ratchet moveable between a closed position in which the striker is retained within the ratchet and an open position in which the ratchet releases the striker from the ratchet;
a lock link operatively coupled to said ratchet and being movable between a locking position holding said ratchet in said closed position and an unlocking position allowing said ratchet to move to said open position;
an inside lock lever operatively coupled to said ratchet and moveable between a door lock position and a door unlock position for connecting to the lock knob assembly for moving the lock knob assembly and the ratchet in response to rotation of said inside lock lever;
an intermittent link configured for movement between a locked position and an unlocked position and to engage said lock link for moving said lock link between said locking position and said unlocking position;
a transfer assembly interconnecting said lock link and said inside lock lever and including a first gear and a second gear operably connected to said inside lock lever, said first gear having a first side and a second side and being rotatable about a first axis, wherein a protrusion extends from said first side of said first gear along said first axis for engagement with said second gear to rotatably drive said second gear in response to rotation of said first gear, and wherein a gear tab extends from said second side of said first gear for engagement with said intermittent link to cause said movement of said intermittent link between said locked position and said unlocked position and to move said lock link between said locking position and said unlocking position;
wherein said second gear rotates about a second axis extending parallel to said first axis; and
further including an actuator operatively coupled to said first gear and said second gear for providing rotational movement to both of said first gear and said second gear with a plurality of teeth disposed between said first side and said second side of said first gear, said actuator includes a motor and a worm gear connected to said motor and rotatable about a worm axis, and said worm gear presents a plurality of worm teeth spirally disposed therealong and engaging said plurality of teeth of said first gear for causing rotation of said first gear as said worm gear is rotated about said worm axis.

2. A latch assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said actuator engages said first gear to provide rotating movement to said first gear, and said second gear engages said first gear to provide rotational movement to said second gear in response to said rotational movement of said first gear.

3. A latch assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said protrusion has a cylindrical shape.

4. A latch assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said protrusion has a protrusion radius being smaller than an outer radius of said first gear.

5. A latch assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said worm axis extends perpendicularly to said first axis and said second axis.

6. A latch assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein a plurality of teeth extend radially from said protrusion and are spaced circumferentially about said protrusion, and said second gear presents a plurality of drive teeth engaging said plurality of teeth of said protrusion for causing rotation of said inside lock lever about said second axis as said first gear rotates about said first axis and causes rotation of said second gear about said second axis.

7. A latch assembly as set forth in claim 1 further including a biasing member biasing said intermittent link toward said unlocked position, and said intermittent link presents a protuberance for engaging said gear tab of said first gear for holding said intermittent link in said locked position until said first gear has rotated a predetermined distance to move said protuberance out of alignment with said gear tab.

8. A latch assembly as set forth in claim 7 further including a projection extending from said second side of said first gear, and said projection includes an overhang for engaging and guiding said protuberance during said movement of said intermittent link.

9. A latch assembly for use with a striker and a lock knob assembly within a vehicle, the latch assembly comprising:
a ratchet moveable between a closed position in which the striker is retained within the ratchet and an open position in which the ratchet releases the striker from the ratchet;
a link operatively coupled to said ratchet and movable between a lock position holding said ratchet in said closed position and an unlocked position allowing said ratchet to move to said open position;
an inside lock lever operatively coupled to said ratchet and moveable between a door lock position and a door unlock position for connecting to the lock knob assembly for moving the lock knob assembly and the ratchet in response to rotation of said inside lock lever; and
a transfer assembly interconnecting said link and said inside lock lever and including a first gear being rotatable and having a first radius and connected to said link for providing said movement of said link, and a second gear rotatable and having a second radius and connected to said inside lock lever for providing said movement of said inside lock lever, and wherein said second radius of said second gear is larger than said first radius of said first gear for rotating said first gear at a higher speed and with lower torque than said second gear to quickly move the link and for rotating said second gear at a lower speed and with higher torque than said first gear to forcefully move said inside lock lever;
an actuator operatively coupled to said first gear and said second gear for providing rotational movement to both of said first gear and said second gear, wherein said first gear has a first side and a second side and rotates about a first axis, a protrusion extends from said first side of said first gear along said first axis, and said second gear engages said protrusion for providing rotational movement to said second gear in response to said rotational movement of said first gear; and
wherein a gear tab extends axially from said second side of said first gear from a position being radially outwardly from said first axis for engaging said link for transmitting movement from said first gear to said link.

10. A latch assembly as set forth in claim 9 further including a biasing member biasing said link toward said unlocked position, and said link presents a protuberance for engaging said gear tab of said first gear for holding said link in said locked position until said first gear has rotated a predetermined distance to move said protuberance out of alignment with said gear tab.

11. A latch assembly as set forth in claim 10 further including a projection extending from said second side of said first gear, and said projection includes an overhang for engaging and guiding said protuberance during said linear movement of said link.

12. A latch assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein said projection has a generally cylindrical shape and extends along said first axis.

13. A latch assembly for use with a striker and a lock knob assembly within a vehicle, the latch assembly comprising:
a ratchet moveable between a closed position in which the striker is retained within the ratchet and an open position in which the ratchet releases the striker from the ratchet;
a lock link operatively coupled to said ratchet and being movable between a locking position holding said ratchet in said closed p

Assignees

• Magna Closures Inc

Inventors

• Tomaszewski Kris

Classifications

• E05B81/16

  operating on locking elements for locking or unlocking action · CPC title

• E05B85/20 Primary

  Bolts or detents · CPC title

• E05B77/28 Primary

  for anti-theft purposes, e.g. double-locking or super-locking · CPC title

• E05B77/32

  allowing simultaneous actuation of locking or unlocking elements and a handle, e.g. preventing interference between an unlocking and an unlatching action · CPC title

• E05B81/36

  Geared sectors, e.g. fan-shaped gears · CPC title