LATCH ASSEMBLY

Abstract: A latch assembly (40) including a latch mechanism (42) for securing a door in a closed position, the latch mechanism including a latch release mechanism (44) for unlatching the latch mechanism, the latch assembly further including a cable arrangement (12) having a plurality of release cables (14, 16) each operably connected to the latch release mechanism, actuation of any of the release cables causing unlatching of the latch mechanism in which each release cable acts through a common position (60) on the latch release mechanism and those ends of each cable proximate the common position are connected to each other by a cable nipple (18).

Description: LATCH ASSEMBLY The present invention relates to latch assemblies, particular latch assemblies for releasably securing doors such as automobile boot doors in a closed position. The present invention further relates to cable arrangements, particular cable arrangements suitable for releasing latch assemblies of automobile boot doors. An object of the present invention is to provide an improved form of latch assembly which is cheaper and simpler to produce. Another object of the present invention is to produce a latch assembly with fewer components. Another object of the present invention is to produce a latch assembly which is easier and simpler to install. Another object of the present invention is to produce an improved form of cable arrangement. Thus according to the present invention there is provided a latch assembly including a latch mechanism for securing a door in a closed position, the latch mechanism including a latch release mechanism for unlatching the latch mechanism, the latch assembly further including a cable arrangement having a plurality of release cables each operably connected to the latch release mechanism, actuation of any of the release cables causing unlatching of the latch mechanism in which each release cable acts through a common position on the latch release mechanism and those ends of each cable proximate the common position are connected to each other by a cable nipple. According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a cable arrangement comprising a plurality of cables all joined via joining means at respective first ends with each cable being adjacent and substantially parallel to the other cables in the region of the joining means a cable arrangement comprising a plurality of cables all joined via joining means at respective first ends with each cable being adjacent and substantially parallel to the other cables in the region of the joining means in which the joining means is a cable nipple. The present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which; Figure 1 is an isometric view the first embodiment of the present invention showing components of a latch assembly; and Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing various components of a second embodiment according to the present invention. With reference to figure 1 there is shown a latch body 10 and a cable arrangement 12. The latch body 10 forms part of a latch mechanism (not shown) for securing a door in a closed position. The latch mechanism further includes a latch release mechanism (not shown) for unlatching the latch mechanism. The latch mechanism and latch release mechanism are known to those skilled in the art and as such no general explanation is necessary. The cable arrangement has a plurality (in this case two) of release cables 14 and 16. First ends 14A and 16A of the release cables are connected together via a diecast ball 18. Second ends 14B and 16B of the release cables are connected to cable pull mechanisms (not shown). Typically end 14B might be connected to a boot lid release lever situated in the passenger compartment of a vehicle near the driver and end 16B might be connected to a rear boot lid release lever operated externally by a key or push button. Diecast ball 18 is connected to the latch release mechanism of the latch mechanism and in particular may be connected to a lever of the latch release mechanism. For a substantial part of their length the release cables are enclose by respective cable sleeves 20 and 22. The sleeves 20 and 22 terminate in a common sleeve end fitting 24. Sleeve end fitting 24 includes first abutments (not shown) against which the adjacent ends of sleeves 20 and 22 abut, and a second abutment 26 which co-operates with a corresponding abutment 28 on the latch body 10. The sleeve end fitting further includes a hole 30 through which cables 14 and 16 project. The sleeve end fitting can be assembled onto the latch body 10 by engagement of boss 32 with clip 34. It can be seen that operation of either release cable will unlatch the latch mechanism. It should be noted that since the release cables terminate in the common diecast ball 18 then each cable acts through a common position on the release mechanism. That is to say that position on the release mechanism which engages the ball 18. Such an arrangement is advantageous since it allows a latch mechanism having a single releasing point on its latch release mechanism to be operated via any of a plurality of cables. With reference to figure 2 there is shown a latch assembly 40 including a latch mechanism 42 and a latch release mechanism 44 all substantially contained within a housing 66. The latch release mechanism 44 includes a release lever 46 projecting from the housing, though in further embodiments this need not be the case. Movement of the release lever 46 in an anticlockwise direction causes unlatching of the latch mechanism. The latch assembly 40 further includes a cable arrangement 48. The cable arrangement comprises release cables 50 and 52 which co-operate with and engage in respective recess 68 and 70 of terminal block 54. A further connecting cable 56 engages recess 72 to operatively connect the terminal block 54 to one end 46A of release lever 46. The terminal block 54, ends 50A and 52A of the release cables and end 56A of the connecting cable are all contained within a housing 58 which can be secured in position relative to the latch mechanism 42. Operation of either of the release cables 50 or 52 from ends 50B or 52B will cause the terminal blocks to slide within the housing which in turn will cause connecting cable 56 to act on and rotate release lever 46 in an anticlockwise direction. It can be seen that each of the release cables acts through a common position on the release mechanism ie. abutment 60 of release lever 46 which is engaged by end 56B of connecting cable 56. Cable 50 and 52 include sleeves 62 and 64 but connecting cable 56 does not require such a sleeve in this particular installation since the housing 58 is situate proximate the lever 46. In further embodiments connecting cable 56 may require a sleeve and in yet further embodiments connecting cable 56 could be replaced by a connecting means such as a rod or other relatively rigid device. Alternatively the cable arrangement shown in figure 1 and in particular the nipple 18 could be connected to end 46 A of lever 46 of figure 2. The invention allows a reduced space envelope requirement on the latch release mechanism since only one connection point is required. Furthermore the travel required by each cable pull mechanism to release the latch is the same and this can be advantageous in some circumstances.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A latch assembly including a latch mechanism for securing a door in a closed position, the latch mechanism including a latch release mechanism for unlatching the latch mechanism, the latch assembly further including a cable arrangement having a plurality of release cables each operably connected to the latch release mechanism, actuation of any of the release cables causing unlatching of the latch mechanism in which each release cable acts through a common position on the latch release mechanism and those ends of each cable proximate the common position are connected to each other by a cable nipple. 2. A latch assembly as defined in claim 1 in which the common position is situated on a release lever of the latch release mechanism. 3. A latch assembly as defined in claim 1 or 2 in which the nipple is a diecast nipple. 4. A latch assembly as defined in any preceding claim in which each cable includes a cable sleeve. 5. A latch assembly as defined in claim 4 in which those ends of each cable sleeve proximate the common position engage a common cable end fitting. 6. A latch assembly as defined in claim 5 in which each cable projects through a hole in the common cable end fitting. 7. A latch assembly as defined in any preceding claim in which the latch release mechanism is substantially contained within a housing. 8. A latch assembly as defined in any preceding claim in which the latch mechanism is used to secure a boot door of a vehicle. 9. A cable arrangement comprising a plurality of cables all joined via joining means at respective first ends with each cable being adjacent and substantially parallel to the other cables in the region of the joining means in which the joining means is a cable nipple. 10. A cable arrangement as defined in Claim 9 in which the cable nipple is diecast. 11. A cable arrangement as defined in claims 9 to 10 in which at least one cable is sleeved by a cable sleeve. 12. A cable arrangement as defined in claim 11 in which a plurality of cables are sleeved by cable sleeves with the plurality of cable sleeves engaging a common end fitting. 13. A cable arrangement as defined in claim 12 in which the cables pass through a hole in the common end fitting. 14. A vehicle including a latch assembly or a cable arrangement as defined in any preceding claim. 15. A vehicle as defined in claim 22 in which the latch assembly or cable arrangement is used in conjunction with a boot door of the vehicle. 16. A latch assembly or a cable arrangement or a vehicle as hereinbefore described with reference to or as shown in figure 1 or 2 of the accompanying drawing.

Inventors: LI MARK HAO, LI, MARK, HAO
Applicants: LI MARK HAO, MERITOR LIGHT VEHICLE SYS LTD, LI, MARK, HAO, MERITOR LIGHT VEHICLE SYSTEMS (UK) LIMITED
Application year: 2000
Main classification: E05B53
IPC codes: E05B53, F16C1