Patent ID: 7762594

Claim:
A cinching latch assembly comprising: a housing; a unidirectional motor mounted to the housing; at least one gear operatively connected to the unidirectional motor; a latch lever pivotally mounted relative to the housing, the latch lever being operatively connected to a first cam surface which is operatively connected to the at least one gear wherein, operation of the unidirectional motor in a direction rotates the at least one gear causing the first cam surface to urge the latch lever from a first position to a second position wherein movement of the latch lever rotates a fork bolt into a primary latched configuration when the latch lever is moved towards the second position by the first cam surface; an unlatch lever pivotally mounted relative to the housing, the unlatch lever operatively connected to a second cam surface which is operatively connected to the at least one gear wherein, operation of the unidirectional motor in the direction rotates the at least one gear causing the second cam surface to urge the unlatch lever from a first position to a second position wherein the unlatch lever releases the fork bolt from the primary latched configuration and the fork bolt is rotated into an unlatched configuration when the unlatch lever is moved from the first position to the second position by the second cam surface; and wherein the latch lever is spring biased into the first position and the unlatch lever is spring biased into the first position.