Patent ID: 8936284
Filing Date: 2015-01-20
Classification: E05B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A vehicle comprising: a body having a forward end and a rearward end spaced from the forward end along a longitudinal axis, and defining a door opening disposed on a side of the body, laterally offset from the longitudinal axis; a door attached to the body and disposed within the door opening, wherein the door is pivotably moveable between an open position allowing access to an interior compartment of the body, and a closed position sealing the door opening; wherein the door and the body cooperate to define a gap therebetween extending laterally relative to the longitudinal axis; a latch mechanism internally mounted to the door within an interior cavity of the door, wherein the latch mechanism is moveable in response to an electronic signal between an unlocked position allowing movement of the door between the open position and the closed position, and a locked position for securing the door relative to the body in the closed position; and a release lever internally mounted to the body within an interior cavity of the body, wherein the release lever is manually rotatable about a first rotation axis between a disengaged position in which the release lever is fully disposed within the interior cavity of the body, and an engaged position in which an arm portion of the release lever traverses across the gap into engagement with the latch mechanism to move the latch mechanism into the unlocked position; wherein the door defines a guide ramp operable to engage the arm portion of the release lever as the door moves from the closed position into the open position to rotate the arm portion about the first rotation axis into the disengaged position.