Patent ID: 6341448
Filing Date: 2002-01-29
Classification: E05B,E05F,E05Y

Abstract:
A latch assembly for a motor vehicle door and adapted to receive a door latch striker mounted to a door opening frame, said latch assembly comprising:a striker retaining member having a slot for receiving said striker and first and second lock engaging surfaces, said retaining member being mounted for rotational movement about a pivot axis and biased to a full open position; a locking arm member mounted for rotational movement and biased into engagement with said retaining member; a cinch cable arm having one end connected to said retaining member by a coupler member such that said cinch cable arm is coaxially pivotable with said retaining member about said pivot axis, said cinch cable arm having an opposite end coupled to a motor; a clutch assembly constructed and arranged to couple said motor with said cinch cable arm, said clutch assembly including a cinch cable which is connected to said cinch cable arm and adapted to be tensioned by said motor; wherein said retaining member being moved to an initial latching position by said striker which engages said retaining member and moves into said slot causing said retaining member to rotate in a latching sense against the bias thereof thereby trapping said striker within said slot, said locking arm member having a retaining member engaging surface which is configured and positioned to engage said second lock engaging surface and hold said retaining member in said initial locking position, said retaining member being moved to a primary locking position by said cinch cable which is tensioned by said motor after said retaining member is moved to said initial latching position, said tensioned cinch cable rotates said cinch cable arm in a cinching position which rotates said retaining member through said coupler in a latching position against the bias thereof thereby further trapping said striker within said slot, said retaining member engaging surface of said locking arm member engaging said first lock engaging surface to hold said retaining member in said primary locking position; said locking arm member being movable against the bias thereof away from said first and second lock engaging surfaces of said retaining member such that said retaining member may rotate in a releasing sense under the bias thereof to said full open position to release said striker from said slot.