Patent ID: 8146964
Filing Date: 2012-04-03
Classification: E05B,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A latch mechanism moveable between a first latch position, a second latch position and a third latch position, the latch mechanism comprising: a latch bolt moveable between an open position, a first safety position and a closed position; and a power closure system operable to move the latch bolt from the first safety position to the closed position, the power closure system having a transmission path including a drive lever rotatable about a drive lever axis and being engageable with a drive surface of a further transmission path component, the transmission path being operable to connect a power actuator to the latch bolt, wherein when the latch mechanism is in the first latch position the latch bolt is in the first safety position, the drive lever axis is in a first drive lever axis position, and the drive lever is engaged with the drive surface of the further transmission path component, wherein when the latch mechanism is in the second latch position the latch bolt is in the closed position, the drive lever axis is in the first drive lever axis position, and the drive lever is engaged with the drive surface of the further transmission path component, and wherein when the latch mechanism is in the third latch position the latch bolt is in the open position, the drive lever axis is in a second drive lever axis position, and the drive lever is disengaged from the drive surface of the further transmission path component, and wherein the latch mechanism is stationary in the open position, the first safety position and the closed position; a support mechanism to hold the drive lever axis in the first drive lever axis position when the latch mechanism is in the first latch position and in the second latch position, and the support mechanism allows the drive lever axis to move to the second drive lever axis position when the latch mechanism moves to the third latch position, wherein the latch mechanism has a chassis, and the support mechanism includes: a first link pivotally attached to the chassis about a first rotational axis, a second link pivotally attached to the first link about a second rotational axis, and a third link pivotally attached to the second link about a third rotational axis, the third link having a load application point defined by the drive lever axis and being remote from the third rotational axis, wherein the first rotational axis and the second rotational axis define a first link axis, the second rotational axis and the third rotational axis define a second link axis, and the third rotational axis and the load application point define a third link axis, wherein the support mechanism has a first support mechanism position when the drive lever axis is in the first drive lever axis position for supporting a load applied at the load application point in a direction of the third link axis, and the first link axis and the second link axis are generally parallel and the first rotational axis and the third rotational axis are generally in line, and the support mechanism has a second support mechanism position when the drive lever axis is in the second drive lever axis position and the third rotational axis is generally remote from the first rotational axis, wherein a portion of the third link remote from the third rotational axis is constrained to move along a predetermined path between the first latch position and the second latch position, and wherein the predetemined path is an arcuate path, and a guide link has a first guide link portion pivotally mounted on the chassis and a second guide link portion pivotally mounted at the portion of the third link via a guide pivot having a guide pivot axis to guide the portion of the third link in the arcuate path.