Patent ID: 7175212

Claim:
A vehicle latch comprising: a) a housing, b) a ratchet pivotally mounted to the housing and operable to move between an unlatched position, a secondary latched position, and a primary latched position, c) a release lever pivotally mounted to the housing and operatively connected to the ratchet for unlatching from either of the secondary or primary latched positions, said operative connection having a guide portion, d) a cinching lever operably mounted in the housing, said cinching lever having a cam surface, said cam surface slidingly engaging said guide portion, said cam surface defining a predetermined path of travel for the cinching lever as it is drivingly reciprocated in a cinching cycle to move the ratchet to the primary latched position, wherein said guide portion is moveable to engage and force the cinching lever out of the predetermined path when the release lever is operated to unlatch the latch; and wherein said predetermined path enables said cinching lever to be initially out of the path of travel of said ratchet, to engage said ratchet when said ratchet is in the secondary position and drivingly rotate said ratchet to said primary latched position, and thereafter move out of the path of travel of the ratchet.