Patent ID: 6540271
Filing Date: 2003-04-01
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 vehicle door nears a closed position; a pawl self-engaging said claw to hold said claw in a latched condition retaining said door; and an unlatching mechanism selectively operable to disengage said pawl to open said door, said unlatching mechanism including: a pawl lifter movable from a rest position to carry said pawl out of engagement with said claw, an output member movable to engage and displace said pawl lifter from said rest position, an input member actuatable by a power actuator between a first position and a second position, said input member being releaseably 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 connected to said input member to move said input member and said output member into and out of drive connection and being operatively coupled to said pawl to maintain manual operability of said pawl lifter if the power actuator fails to actuate the input member.