Latch assembly having self re-latching feature

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11339591-B2
Application number	US-201916273821-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 12, 2019
Priority date	Feb 12, 2019
Publication date	May 24, 2022
Grant date	May 24, 2022

Abstract

A latch assembly having primary position, a secondary position, and an unlatched position is disclosed. The latch assembly includes a striker and a retention member. A slot of the retention member is shaped to receive the striker when the latch assembly is in the primary position. The latch assembly includes a detent lever defining a catch configured to engage with the retaining feature of the retention member to secure the latch assembly in the secondary position. The latch assembly includes a linking member coupled to the detent lever, a memory lever moveable about a pivot axis, and a release lever. The memory lever defines a retention surface configured to engage with the linking member when the latch assembly is in the unlatched position. The release lever is rotatable about a shared axis of rotation and operatively connected to the memory lever when the latch assembly is in the unlatched position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A latch assembly having primary position, a secondary position, and an unlatched position, the latch assembly comprising:
a striker;
a retention member defining a retaining feature and a slot, wherein the slot of the retention member is shaped to receive the striker when the latch assembly is in the primary position, and wherein the retaining feature includes both a primary shoulder and a secondary shoulder;
a detent lever defining a catch that is configured to engage with the secondary shoulder of the retaining feature of the retention member to secure the latch assembly in the secondary position, wherein the detent lever is rotatable about a shared axis of rotation;
a linking member coupled to the detent lever;
a memory lever moveable about a pivot axis, wherein the memory lever defines a coupling feature and a lower engagement surface configured to engage with the linking member when the latch assembly is in the unlatched position, and wherein engagement between the lower engagement surface of the memory lever and the linking member prevents the catch of the detent lever from engaging with the retaining feature of the retention member to actuate the latch assembly into the secondary position;
a release lever rotatable about the shared axis of rotation and operatively connected to the memory lever when the latch assembly is in the unlatched position, wherein rotation of the release lever about the shared axis of rotation when the latch assembly is in the unlatched position moves the memory lever about the pivot axis and urges the linking member out of engagement with the lower engagement surface of the memory lever to actuate the latch assembly into the secondary position, and wherein the release lever includes a first end, a second end, and an aperture disposed between the first end and the second end and at the shared axis of rotation; and
a coupling operably connecting the release lever to the coupling feature of the memory lever when the latch assembly is in the unlatched position, the coupling defining one or more bypass features, a first end, and a second end, wherein the first end of the coupling is rotatably connected to the second end of the release lever about an axis of rotation and the second end of the coupling is a floating end not permanently attached to another component of the latch assembly.

2. The latch assembly of claim 1 , wherein the coupling feature of the memory lever is configured to disengage with the coupling as the latch assembly actuates from the unlatched position and into the secondary position.

3. The latch assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second end of the coupling defines a bypass feature that is shaped to selectively engage with the memory lever.

4. The latch assembly of claim 1 , wherein the detent lever defines a leg and the retention member defines a pin.

5. The latch assembly of claim 4 , wherein the leg of the detent lever engages with the pin of the retention member as the latch assembly is actuated out of the primary position and into the secondary position.

6. The latch assembly of claim 1 , wherein the memory lever defines an arcuate surface shaped to correspond with a sliding surface of the retention member.

7. The latch assembly of claim 6 , wherein the arcuate surface of the memory lever engages with the sliding surface of the retention member when the latch assembly is in the primary position.

8. A latch assembly for securing a hood of a vehicle, the latch assembly having primary position, a secondary position, and an unlatched position, the latch assembly comprising:
a release cable;
a striker located along an underside of the hood of the vehicle;
a retention member defining a retaining feature and a slot, wherein the slot of the retention member is shaped to receive the striker when the latch assembly is in the primary position, and wherein the retaining feature includes both a primary shoulder and a secondary shoulder;
a detent lever defining a catch configured to engage with the secondary shoulder of the retaining feature of the retention member to secure the latch assembly in the secondary position, wherein the detent lever is rotatable about a shared axis of rotation;
a linking member coupled to the detent lever;
a memory lever moveable about a pivot axis, wherein the memory lever defines a lower engagement surface configured to engage with the linking member when the latch assembly is in the unlatched position, and wherein engagement between the lower engagement surface of the memory lever and the linking member prevents the catch of the detent lever from engaging with the retaining feature of the retention member to actuate the latch assembly into the secondary position;
a release lever connected to the release cable and rotatable about the shared axis of rotation, wherein the release lever is operatively connected to the memory lever when the latch assembly is in the unlatched position, wherein rotation of the release lever about the shared axis of rotation when the latch assembly is in the unlatched position moves the memory lever about the pivot axis and urges the linking member out of engagement with the lower engagement surface of the memory lever to actuate the latch assembly into the second position, and wherein the release lever includes a first end, a second end, and an aperture disposed between the first end and the second end of the release lever at the shared axis of rotation; and
a coupling operably connecting the detent lever to the release lever when the latch assembly is in the unlatched position, the coupling defining one or more bypass features, a first end, and a second end, wherein the first end of the coupling is rotatably connected to the second end of the release lever about an axis of rotation and the second end of the coupling is a floating end not permanently attached to another component of the latch assembly.

9. The latch assembly of claim 8 , further comprising an actuator, wherein the release cable operably connects the actuator to the latch assembly.

10. The latch assembly of claim 9 , further comprising a control module in electronic communication with the actuator.

11. The latch assembly of claim 10 , wherein the control module executes instructions to:
receive as input one or more positional signals indicating a position of both the retention member and the detent lever;
determine that the retention member and the detent lever are not engaged with one another and the hood is lowered into an ajar position but is unsecured based on the one or more position signals; and
in response to determining the retention member and the detent lever are not engaged with one another, determine the latch assembly is in the unlatched position.

12. The latch assembly of claim 11 , wherein the control module executes instructions to:
receives one or more signals indicating the vehicle is about to be driven;
determine the vehicle is about to be driven based on the one or more signals; and
in response to determining the latch assembly is in the unlatched position and that the vehicle is about to be driven, instruct the actuator to pull on the release cable.

13. The latch assembly of claim 8 , wherein the memory lever defines a coupling feature that is configured to selectively engage with the coupling.

14. The latch assembly of claim 13 , wherein the coupling feature of the memory lever is configured to disengage with the coupling as the latch assembly actuates from the unlatched position and into the secondary position.

15. The latch assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second end of the coupling include a bypas

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Nelsen James N

Classifications

• E05B81/04

  Electrical (electrical circuits E05B81/54) · CPC title

• Y10S292/23

  Vehicle door latches · CPC title

• E05B83/243 Primary

  Hood clamps, i.e. individually actuated, usually yielding hooks · CPC title

• Y10S292/42

  Trunk latches · CPC title

• E05B83/18

  for car boot lids or rear luggage compartments · CPC title