Patent ID: 8282142

Claim:
A latching system for a door assembly of a vehicle, said latching system comprising: a handle configured for operative attachment to the door assembly; a latch, in spaced relationship to said handle, and configured for attachment to the door assembly and operative to latch and unlatch the door assembly to the vehicle; a release rod operatively extending from said latch such that moving said release rod relative to said handle operates said latch; an articulating arm assembly pivotally attached to said handle; wherein said handle includes an escutcheon and a grip portion movable relative to said escutcheon and said articulating arm assembly is pivotally attached to said escutcheon; wherein said escutcheon defines a channel extending therethrough and said release rod extends through said channel such that said release rod is oriented with respect to said articulating arm assembly; and wherein said articulating arm assembly engages said release rod to operatively interconnect said handle and said latch when said handle is in one of a second position and a third position and said articulating arm assembly disengages said release rod to operatively disconnect said handle and said latch when said handle is in a first position.