Retaining feature for an adjustment rod clip

An adjustment rod assembly includes an adjustment rod clip with a top portion, a bottom portion, and a clip connector coupling the top portion and the bottom portion, a lever to receive the bottom portion of the adjustment rod clip, and a cover, including a recessed cover to receive the top portion of the adjustment rod clip, and at least one retaining feature extending from the recessed cover portion, wherein the at least one retaining feature releasably engages the adjustment rod clip to prevent the rotation and translation of the adjustment rod clip.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to following Japanese Patent application no. 2016-162434, filed on Aug. 23, 2016, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference thereto.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to latch assemblies, more particularly to latch assemblies for use in automobiles.

Latch assemblies for use in automobile doors can be assembled to connect an outside handle to the latch mechanism. In such uses, an installer may inadvertently rotate the adjustment rod clip or the lever of the latch mechanism during installation.

Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a retention feature to prevent the rotation of the adjustment rod clip and the translation of the lever during installation.

BRIEF SUMMARY

According to one embodiment, a cover to retain an open adjustment rod clip disposed within a lever during assembly includes a recessed cover to receive the open adjustment rod clip, and at least one retaining feature extending from the recessed cover portion, wherein the at least one retaining feature releasably engages the open adjustment rod clip to prevent the rotation and translation of the open adjustment rod clip.

In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments could include that the at least one retaining feature releasably engages the lever via the open adjustment rod clip.

In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments could include that the cover is formed from a polymer.

In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments could include that the at least one retaining feature is a plurality of retaining features.

According to one embodiment, an adjustment rod assembly includes an adjustment rod clip with a top portion, a bottom portion, and a clip connector coupling the top portion and the bottom portion, a lever to receive the bottom portion of the adjustment rod clip, and a cover, including a recessed cover to receive the top portion of the adjustment rod clip, and at least one retaining feature extending from the recessed cover portion, wherein the at least one retaining feature releasably engages the adjustment rod clip to prevent the rotation and translation of the adjustment rod clip.

In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments could include that the at least one retaining feature engages the top portion of the adjustment rod clip.

In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments could include that the at least one retaining feature engages the clip connector of the adjustment rod clip.

In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments could include that the adjustment rod clip receives an adjustment rod.

In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments could include that the bottom portion of the adjustment rod clip receives an adjustment rod interface portion of the adjustment rod.

In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments could include that the bottom portion of the adjustment rod clip engages the top portion of the adjustment rod clip to retain the adjustment rod.

In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments could include that the bottom portion of the adjustment rod clip engages the top portion of the adjustment rod clip via a locking feature.

In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments could include that the at least one retaining feature releasably engages the lever via the adjustment rod clip.

In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments could include that the cover is formed from a polymer.

In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments could include that the at least one retaining feature is a plurality of retaining features.

Other aspects, features, and techniques of the embodiments will become more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments provide retaining features to selectively retain an adjustment rod clip. Retaining features can prevent unintentional rotation and translation of the adjustment rod clip during assembly and/or installation.

Referring to the drawings,FIG. 1shows the adjustment rod assembly100. In the illustrated embodiment, the adjustment rod assembly100includes a lever120, an adjustment rod clip110, and a cover102. In the illustrated embodiment, features of the cover102can temporarily retain the adjustment rod clip110during assembly to prevent rotation of the adjustment rod clip110and prevent inadvertent movement of the lever120. Advantageously, by temporarily retaining the adjustment rod clip110, installers can avoid re-aligning the adjustment rod clip110during assembly.

In the illustrated embodiment, the lever120can be utilized to actuate or adjust a mechanism within the cover102. In certain the embodiments, the lever120can actuate a release mechanism within the door of a vehicle outside handle. In the illustrated embodiment, the lever120can be actuated by a user via an adjustment rod130, as shown inFIGS. 2 and 3. In the illustrated embodiment, the lever120can be rotated or otherwise translated by the movement of the adjustment rod130. In the illustrated embodiment, the lever120is coupled to the adjustment rod130by an adjustment rod clip110. In the illustrated embodiment, the adjustment rod clip110can be received by the lever120via a clip receiving body122of the lever120. Movement from the adjustment rod130can be translated to the lever120via the adjustment rod clip110disposed within the clip receiving body122.

In the illustrated embodiment, the adjustment rod clip110can receive the adjustment rod130(FIGS. 2 and 3) and translate motion of the adjustment rod130to the lever120. In the illustrated embodiment, the adjustment rod clip110includes a top portion112, a bottom portion116, a clip connector114, and a locking feature118. In the illustrated embodiment, the adjustment rod clip110can be open to facilitate assembly and receive the adjustment rod130. In the illustrated embodiment, the adjustment rod clip110may rotate within the clip receiving body122. In the illustrated embodiment, the adjustment rod clip110can be formed from a polymeric material.

In the illustrated embodiment, the bottom portion116can include a lower channel117and a clip extension115. In the illustrated embodiment, the bottom portion116can receive the adjustment rod130in the lower channel117. The lower channel117can be formed to create an interference fit with the adjustment rod130. In the illustrated embodiment, the bottom portion116includes a clip extension115. In the illustrated embodiment, the clip extension115can extend through the clip receiving body122of the lever120. The clip extension115can have a generally cylindrical shape to allow the clip extension115to rotate within the clip receiving body122. Advantageously, the clip extension115can rotate within the clip receiving body122to allow the translation or other movement/change of position of the lever120without imparting rotational forces between the lever120and the adjustment rod clip110.

In the illustrated embodiment, the top portion112can include upper channel113. In the illustrated embodiment, the top portion112can be in an open position to allow for the adjustment rod130to be inserted or removed. Further, the top portion112can be in a closed position, wherein the top portion112is disposed on top of the bottom portion116to retain the adjustment rod130. In the illustrated embodiment, the top portion112can receive the adjustment rod130in the upper channel113. Similarly, the upper channel113can be formed to create an interference fit with the adjustment rod130. In the illustrated embodiment, the upper channel113and the lower channel117can cooperatively retain the adjustment rod130when the top portion112is in a closed position. In the illustrated embodiment, the top portion112can be locked to the bottom portion116by utilizing a locking feature118. The locking feature118can extend from the bottom portion116and retain a feature or opening of the top portion112. The locking feature118can be selectively released to remove the adjustment rod130.

In the illustrated embodiment, the top portion112can be connected to the bottom portion116of the adjustment rod clip110by a clip connector114. In the illustrated embodiment, the clip connector114is a flexible portion of the adjustment rod clip110to allow the top portion112to remain attached to the bottom portion116when the top portion112is not engaged to the bottom portion116. The clip connector114can retain the top portion112on one side of the bottom portion116.

In the illustrated embodiment, the cover102can be utilized to protect a latch mechanism therein. In the illustrated embodiment, the cover102includes a recessed cover portion104. The cover102can be formed from a polymeric material. The cover102can prevent dirt and debris from entering the mechanism within. In the illustrated embodiment, portions of the cover102are disposed adjacent to the adjustment rod clip110.

In the illustrated embodiment, the recessed cover portion104can receive the top portion112and the clip connector114of the adjustment rod clip110when the adjustment rod clip110is in the open position. In the illustrated embodiment, the recessed cover portion104is recessed to allow for clearance and opening of the top portion112.

In the illustrated embodiment, the recessed cover portion104can include at least one retaining feature106. The retaining features106can be integrally formed with the cover102. The retaining feature106can extend from the recessed cover portion104.

In the illustrated embodiment, the retaining features106can extend upwardly from the cover102to prevent the rotation of the adjustment rod clip110when the adjustment rod clip110is open. In certain embodiments, the retaining features106can extend on either side of the clip connector114to prevent the rotation of the clip connector114and therefore, the adjustment rod clip110. In certain embodiments, the retaining features106can extend on either side of the top portion112to prevent the rotation of top portion112and therefore, the adjustment rod clip110. In certain embodiments, the retaining features can engage both the clip connector114and the top portion112to prevent rotation of the adjustment rod clip110. Advantageously, the use of the retaining features106allows for a faster assembly process by preventing mistakes and allowing for proper alignment of the adjustment rod clip110during assembly.

Referring toFIG. 2, the adjustment rod assembly100is shown during the assembly process. During the assembly process, the adjustment rod130is placed within the bottom portion116of the adjustment rod clip110. In the illustrated embodiment, an adjustment rod interface portion132can interface with the lower channel117to fit within the bottom portion116of the adjustment rod clip110. Advantageously, the retaining features106of the cover102prevent the inadvertent rotation or translation of the adjustment rod clip110and the lever120during the placement of the adjustment rod130.

Referring toFIG. 3, the top portion112can be closed over the bottom portion116to close the adjustment rod clip110with the adjustment rod130retained therein. The adjustment rod130can be retained by the upper channel113of the top portion112. The top portion112can be locked into place by the locking feature118of the adjustment rod clip110. After the adjustment rod clip110is closed, the top portion112and/or the clip connector114is not retained by the retaining features106. Therefore, the adjustment rod clip110is free to move and rotate with the adjustment rod130as well as freely translate the lever120.