Abstract:
A latch assembly including a latch bolt, a retaining means and an actuator, the latch bolt being moveable between a closed position at which it is capable of retaining a strike and an open position at which the striker is released, the retaining means being moveable between a retained position at which it retains the latch bolt in at least its closed position and released position at which the latch bolt can move between its opened and closed positions, the actuator being capable of moving the retaining means from its engaged position to its released position, in which, under normal operating conditions of the latch, the actuator is the sole means of releasing the latch.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to latch assemblies and vehicles including such latch assemblies, in particular latch assemblies for use in cars.  
           [0002]    Known latch assemblies for use in cars include mechanical arrangements to allow unlatching and locking/unlocking of the latch.  
           [0003]    Thus inside door handles are typically connected by rods or cables to the latch to allow opening of the door by operation of the inside door handle. Similarly outside door handles are mechanically connected to the latch, to allow opening of the door by operation of the outside door handle. Furthermore exterior key barrels, operable by keys are connected by mechanical linkages to the latch to allow locking and unlocking of the door from the outside and sill buttons and the like are again connect connected to the latch to allow locking and unlocking of the latch. Furthermore child safety mechanisms are typically mounted on rear doors on the vehicles so as to prevent opening of the door by operation of the inside door handle, independent of whether or not that door is locked.  
           [0004]    Thus known vehicles must include many mechanical elements to provide for a full range of functions relating to the door latches.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    An object of the present invention is to provide for a simplified door latch, requiring fewer components.  
           [0006]    Another object of the present invention is to provide for a vehicle having a door latch system with fewer components.  
           [0007]    Thus according to the present invention there is provided a latch assembly including a latch bolt, a retaining means and an actuator, the latch bolt being moveable between a closed position at which it is capable of retaining a striker and an open position at which the striker is released, the retaining means being moveable between a retained position at which it retains the latch bolt in at least its closed position and a released position at which the latch bolt can move between its opened and closed positions, the actuator being capable of moving the retaining means from its engaged position to its released position, in which, under normal operating conditions of the latch, the actuator is the sole means of releasing the latch.  
           [0008]    Advantageously this allows for simple switches to be connected by circuitry to the latch instead of inside and outside door handles connected by via mechanical linkages.  
           [0009]    According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a latch assembly including a latch bolt, a retaining means and an actuator, the latch bolt being moveable between a closed position at which it is capable of retaining a striker and an open position at which the striker is released, the retaining means being moveable between a retained position at which it retains the latch bolt in at least it closed position and a released position at which the latch can move between its open and closed positions, the actuator being capable of moving the retaining means from its engaged position to its released position, in which the actuator is biased towards an at rest position, wherein the retaining means is capable of achieving it retained position, by a resilient means.  
           [0010]    According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a latch assembly including a latch bolt, a retaining means, an actuator and a cam, the latch bolt being moveable between a closed position at which it is capable of retaining a striker and open position at which the striker is released, the retaining means being moveable between a retained position at which it retains the latch bolt in at least its closed position and a released position at which the latch bolt can move between its closed and open positions, the retaining means further including an actuation abutment, the actuator being operable to move the cam, the cam surface engaging the actuation abutment of the retaining means to move the retaining means to its released position.  
           [0011]    Advantageously this provides for a latch assembly of simplified design.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]    The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0013]    FIGS.  1  to  3  show part views of a latch assembly according to the present invention, in a latch, unlatched and open condition;  
         [0014]    FIGS.  4  to  8  show part views of a further embodiment of a latch assembly according to the present invention when it moves from a latched condition to an unlatched condition.  
         [0015]    FIGS.  9  to  13  show alternative embodiments of vehicles according to the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0016]    With reference to FIGS.  1  to  3  there is shown a latch assembly  10  including a latch bolt in the form of a rotating claw  12 , a retention means in the form of a pawl  14  an actuator in the form of an electric motor  16 , and a cam  18 .  
         [0017]    Rotating claw  12  is pivotable about claw pin  24  from a closed position as shown in FIG. 1 to an open position as shown in FIG. 3. Claw  12  includes a mouth  26  a closed abutment surface  28  and a first safety abutment surface  30 .  
         [0018]    Pawl  14  is pivotable about pawl pin  32  and includes a first arm  34  having a first abutment surface  36  and a second arm  38  having a second abutment surface  40 .  
         [0019]    Electric motor  16  includes an output shaft  42  upon which is directly mounted cam  18 .  
         [0020]    In this case cam surface  20  is circular but since cam  18  is mounted eccentrically relative to output shaft  42 , this arrangement provides for a single lobe cam.  
         [0021]    Operation of the latch assembly is as follows.  
         [0022]    Consideration of FIG. 1 shows a striker  22  retained in mouth  26 , with claw  12  being retained in its closed position by closed abutment surface  28  co-operating with first abutment  36 .  
         [0023]    Under these circumstances the door upon which striker  22  is mounted would be in a fully closed position.  
         [0024]    Note that it is possible for striker  22  to be retained in mouth  26  whilst first safety abutment surface  30  co-operates with first abutment surface  36 . Under such circumstances the associated door would be in a first safety position i.e. unable to be opened but nevertheless not in a fully closed position.  
         [0025]    It should be note from FIG. 1 that second abutment surface  40  is in contact with cam surface  20  but cam lobe  21  is remote from second abutment surface  40 , thus allowing engagement between closed abutment surface  28  and first abutment surface  36 .  
         [0026]    A pulse of current is fed to the motor such that it causes the cam to continuously rotate through 360°.  
         [0027]    Initial operation of the motor  16  causes the cam  18  to rotate to the position shown in FIG. 2 where cam lobe  21  is proximal second abutment surface  40  thus causing pawl  14  to rotate in a clockwise direction about pawl pin  32  hence disengaging first abutment surface  36  from closed abutment surface  28 .  
         [0028]    When the latch is passing through the position as shown in FIG. 2, elastomeric door seals acting between the associated door and the adjacent portion of the vehicle causes the door to open such that the striker  22  moves to the right as shown in the figure relative to the latch thereby causing the claw  12  to rotate in a clockwise direction with viewing FIG. 2, such that surface  31  of the claw moves to a position opposite surface  37  of the pawl.  
         [0029]    With continued rotation of the motor and hence cam surface  20 , the lobe  21  achieves the position as shown in FIG. 3, i.e. remote from second abutment surface  40  where upon the motor stops. It should be noted from FIG. 3 that cam surface  20  does not engage second abutment surface  40  since these two surfaces are being held apart by co-operation of surfaces  37  of pawl engaging surface  31  of the claw.  
         [0030]    When the door is closed, striker  22  enters mouth  26  causing claw  12  to rotate in a clockwise direction from the position shown in FIG. 3 to the position shown in FIG. 1 whereby surfaces  37  and  31  disengage thus allowing engagement of first abutment  36  with closed abutment surface  28 .  
         [0031]    In this case the motor  16  is the sole means of releasing the latch under normal operating conditions. The term normal operating conditions should be construed as meaning those conditions under which an end user of the vehicle would normally open and close the associated door.  
         [0032]    In this case an access path P (shown schematically) is provided in order to open the latch under abnormal operating conditions. Thus when a vehicle is being assembled on a assembly line an independent means such as a screwdriver or other generally elongate element can be passed through the access path in order to operate the pawl  14  to open the latch independent of operation of the motor. Thus advantageously the door can be fitted and aligned and checked for correct opening and closing in the absence of a power source such as the vehicle battery or a slave battery. The term access path should be construed to mean an arrangement of components that allows access of the independent means.  
         [0033]    With reference to FIGS.  4  to  8  there is shown part views of a further embodiment of a latch assembly  10 ′ including a retention means in the form of a pawl  14 ′ having a second arm  38 ′ Pawl  14 ′ is mounted similar to pawl  14 , and engages a rotating claw (not shown).  
         [0034]    Latch assembly  10 ′ further includes a cam  18 ′ having a cam surface  20 ′ with a cam lobe  21 ′. Cam  18 ′ is rotatable about axis A which in this case is coincident with an output shaft of an electric motor (not shown).  
         [0035]    In this case a resilient means in the form of a tension spring  44 ′ is secured under tension between fixing pin F mounted on a chassis of the latch assembly and connection pin C mounted on the cam  18 ′.  
         [0036]    Operation of the latch assembly  10  is as follows.  
         [0037]    Consideration of FIG. 4 shows the pawl  14 ′ in an engaged position, and in particular cam surface  21 ′ does not contact second abutment surface  40 ′.  
         [0038]    Operation of the motor causes the cam  18 ′ to rotate clockwise through 360°. During part of this 360° movement the cam lobe  21 ′ engages second abutment surface  40 ′ causing pawl  14 ′ to rotate clockwise when viewing the figures thus allowing the latch to open (see FIG. 8).  
         [0039]    Consideration of FIG. 4 shows that tension spring  44 ′ biases the cam  18 ′ to the position shown in FIG. 4 since this is the position at which the distance between connection pin C and fixing pin F is a minimum. In this position cam  18 ′ is in a stable equilibrium position i.e. a small rotation of cam  18 ′ clockwise or anticlockwise will result in the cam returning to the position as shown in FIG. 4.  
         [0040]    Consideration of FIG. 5 shows the cam having been rotated through 90° whereupon tension spring  44 ′ has been extended.  
         [0041]    Consideration of FIG. 6 show the tension spring being further extended with the cam having being rotated through 180°. In this case axis A is on a line joining connection pin C to fixing pin F. Whilst this position is being moves through transiently, nevertheless the cam  18 ′ is momentarily in an unstable equilibrium position. Thus should the motor fail in this position, the cam would remain in this position but should the cam be slightly displaced clockwise the spring would move the cam clockwise to the position as shown in FIG. 4 and should the cam be displaced slightly anticlockwise the spring would move the cam to anticlockwise to the position as shown in FIG. 4.  
         [0042]    Consideration of FIG. 7 shows that the cam has moved beyond the unstable equilibrium position of FIG. 6.  
         [0043]    It should be noted that during all the movement of the cam from FIG. 4 to the position shown in FIG. 7, the cam surface  20 ′ does not engage the second abutment surface  40 ′ of the pawl  14 ′.  
         [0044]    Thus it is only during the latter part of the rotation of the cam that the cam lobe  21 ′ engages second abutment surface  40 ′ to move the pawl  14 ′ to a disengaged position (as shown in FIG. 8).  
         [0045]    In particular the tension spring  44 ′ can be designed such that the amount of power required to move cam from the position shown in FIG. 4 to the position shown in FIG.  6  is greater than the amount of power required to open the latch. Thus under these circumstances if the motor was to fail such that it lost power, then subsequent operation of the motor to open the door would result in the motor being unable to move the cam from the position shown in FIG. 4 to the position shown in FIG. 6. Under these circumstances the door would remain closed which is preferred to a door that cannot be retained in a closed position.  
         [0046]    Furthermore the tension spring  44 ′ can also be designed such that if the motor loses all power when the cam is in the position as shown in FIG. 7, the tension spring has sufficient energy stored therein to move the cam from the position as shown in FIG. 7 to the position as shown in FIG. 4. Again this results in a door that can be held in a closed position.  
         [0047]    In further embodiments alternative latch bolts could be used, in particular non rotating latch bolts. Furthermore alternative retention means could be used. Furthermore alternative actuators such as pneumatic or hydraulic actuators could be used. Furthermore the cam need not be mounted directly on the actuator output shaft, for example a gear system could be used between the output shaft of the actuator and the cam.  
         [0048]    With reference to FIGS.  9  to  13  there is shown schematic views of vehicles V 1  to V 5  according to the present invention.  
         [0049]    For ease of reference the following references will be used, where appropriate on all FIGS.  9  to  13 .  
                                               B = Battery   CU = Control   M = Motion   P = Panic Switch           Unit   Switch       RL = Remote   O = Outside   I = Inside Switch   R = Remote Switch       Locking Switch   Switch       CS = Child   FRL = Front   FLL = Front Left   RRL = Rear Right       Safety Switch   Right Latch   Latch   Latch       RLL = Rear   K = Key   KL = Key   EPS = Emergency       Left Latch       Locking Switch   Power Socket       C = Circuit   BP = Bypass                  
 
         [0050]    The switches for fall into two classes. Thus the outside switches, insides switches, and remote switches are all biased to an open position with a positive action (either manual or from the remote control unit) required to close the switches. Thus these switches can be regarded as enabling switches.  
         [0051]    The motion switch, panic switch, remote locking switch and child safety switch are all bi-stable switches, that is to say they have a stable open position and a stable closed position and can be regarded as disabling switches.  
         [0052]    Consideration of FIGS.  9  to  13  shows in all cases four latches used to secure appropriate doors (not shown).  
         [0053]    Each latch has an associated outside switch manually operable from the outside of the vehicle and an associated inside switch manually operable from the inside of the vehicle. Typically the outside and inside switches would be located proximate associated doors.  
         [0054]    A child safety switch, typically located within reach of a driver of the vehicle, is operable to disable opening of the rear doors by operating the inside switches associated with those rear doors.  
         [0055]    A battery is provided to supply power to allow the latches to operate and a control unit is also supplied to co-ordinate latch opening.  
         [0056]    The components of the system are connected by circuitry, in this case an electric circuit.  
         [0057]    Specific features of vehicle V 1  are as follows:  
         [0058]    A key locking switch is provided in series with all latches, thus disabling the latches by operation of the key. Furthermore an emergency power socket is provided which is conveniently mounted on an outer surface of the vehicle such that emergency power can be supplied to the circuit in the event that the battery goes flat.  
         [0059]    It can be seen from FIG. 9 that with the key locking switch in the position shown in FIG. 9 the vehicle is effectively locked in a superlocked condition thus operation of any outside or inside switch will not open the associated door. To unlock the vehicle, the key can be used to move the key lock switch to a closed position whereupon operation of any inside or outside switch will open the door (provided the child safety switch is in the closed position).  
         [0060]    With the child safety in the open position as shown in FIG. 9 operation of the rear inside switches will never open the associated door.  
         [0061]    Specific features of vehicles V 2  are as follows:  
         [0062]    A motion switch is included in series with all latches. Thus with the vehicle in motion, the motion switch automatically opens thus disabling the inside and outside switches.  
         [0063]    A panic switch, mounted typically within easy reach of a driver of a vehicle is provided in series with all latches. Thus opening of the panic switch will automatically lock all doors.  
         [0064]    A remote locking switch is provided in series with all latches. The locking switch can be operated by a manually operated remote control unit. Thus to unlock the vehicle the remote control unit is operable to send a signal to the control unit which then ensures that the motion switch, the panic switch and the remote locking switch moves to a closed position whereupon the vehicle is unlocked. The vehicle can also be locked by operation of the remote control unit which then sends a signal to the control unit to open the remote locking switch.  
         [0065]    Specific features of vehicle V 3  are as follows:  
         [0066]    A key locking switch is provided in parallel with the remote locking switch enabling the vehicle to be locked and unlocked by a key or by the remote control unit. Thus locking by the key causes the key lock switch and the remote locking switch to open, locking by the remote control unit causes the key locking switch and the remote locking switch to open, unlocking by the key causes the control unit to confirm the motion switch and panic switch are closed and also to close the key locking switch and unlocking by the remote control unit causes the control unit to confirm the motion switch and panic switch are closed and to closed the remote locking switch.  
         [0067]    It should also be noted that the circuit of vehicle V 3  includes a bypass with bypasses the motion switch, panic switch, key lock switch and remote lock switch. Thus always providing power to the front inside switches. Thus operation of the front inside switches always opens the front doors and hence the vehicle can never the put into a superlocked condition. Typically such an arrangement would be found on cars for the North American market.  
         [0068]    Specific vehicles of vehicle V 4  are as follows:  
         [0069]    A remote locking switch is provided in series with all latches to provide for locking and unlocking of the vehicle. Each latch has an associated remote switch operable via the control unit by signals from the remote control unit. In this case the remote control unit has one button for operation of the remote locking switch and four button for operation of the four remote switches. Thus the vehicle can be unlocked by pressing the button on the remote control unit associated with the remote locking switch. If only this button is pressed then all doors remains shut. However, if subsequently one or more button on the remote control unit associated with the remote switches are pressed then the associated latches are opened and the associated doors will spring open under the influence of the doors seals.  
         [0070]    Specific features of vehicle V 5  are as follows:  
         [0071]    In this case a remote locking switch is provided in series with the latches for locking the vehicle. However, only one remote switch is provided in this case associated with the latch of the drivers door (note left-hand drive vehicle) thus in one embodiment the remote control unit can have a single button which when pressed unlocks the vehicle by closing the remote locking switch and also closes the remote switch associated with driver door thus opening the door. When the driver exits the vehicle further pressing of the button causes the remote locking switch to open.  
         [0072]    Alternatively the remote control unit may have two buttons one dedicated to operating the remote locking switch and a further button dedicated to operating the remote switch of the drivers door. Thus the vehicle can be unlocked whilst all doors remain shut.  
         [0073]    It should be noted that FIGS.  9  to  13  show the various elements of the vehicles in positions which aid the understanding of the invention. However, the various switches and control units could be positioned at various locations on the vehicle, in particular the motion switch and remote locking switch could be located in the control unit.  
         [0074]    The foregoing description is only exemplary of the principles of the invention. Many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. The preferred embodiments of this invention have been disclosed, however, so that one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that certain modifications would come within the scope of this invention. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described. For that reason the following claims should be studied to determine the true scope and content of this invention.