Patent ID: 6601883
Filing Date: 2003-08-05
Classification: E05B,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
A vehicle door latch assembly comprising:a latch; a latching pawl self-engaging with said latch to hold said latch in a latched condition; an unlatching mechanism selectively operable to disengage said latching pawl, said unlatching mechanism including a pawl lifter movable from a position of rest to carry said latching pawl out of engagement with said latch, a manually operable release member operatively linked to a door handle for movement to engage and displace said pawl lifter from said position of rest, a power output member movable to engage and displace said pawl lifter from said position of rest, an input member power actuated between a first position and a second position, said input member being releasably drive connected to said output member to cause shifting of said output member as said input member moves to said second position, and an overriding element carrying said input member and said output member into and out of drive connection and being urged to a clutch disconnecting condition, wherein said release member includes a formation capable of co-acting with said overriding element to maintain said overriding element in a clutch connecting condition only when said release member is in an actuated position, thereby preventing power actuation of the output member by the input member unless said release member is actuated.