Patent ID: 6520549
Filing Date: 2003-02-18
Classification: E05B,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
A vehicle door latch assembly comprising a pivotally mounted latch claw having a mouth operatively co-acting with a striker as a door on which the vehicle door latch assembly is secured nears its closed position, a latching pawl self-engaging with the claw to hold it in latched condition retaining a door on which the vehicle door latch assembly is secured, and unlatching means selectively operable to disengage the latching pawl to allow opening of a door on which the vehicle door latch assembly is secured, wherein the unlatching means comprises a pawl lifter movable from a position of rest to carry the latching pawl out of engagement with the claw, a power output member movable to engage and displace the pawl lifter from said position of rest, an input member power actuated between first and second positions, clutch means releasably drive connecting the input member to the output member to cause shifting of the latter as the input member moves to its second position, an overriding element carrying the clutch means into and out of drive connection, said overriding element being operatively coupled to manually operable release means to ensure that manual operation of the pawl lifter is not obstructed by failure or malfunction of power actuation of the input member,said vehicle door latch assembly further comprising an actuator motor for moving the power output member.