LATCH HOUSING WITH STRENGTHENING FEATURE

1 . A housing for a latch, wherein the housing has a strengthening feature.

2 . The housing as in claim 1 , wherein the strengthening feature is a plurality of ribs located on an exterior of the housing.

3 . The hosing as in claim 2 , wherein the plurality of ribs are integrally molded into the housing and the housing is formed from plastic.

4 . The housing as in claim 3 , wherein the plurality of ribs are adjacent to a wall of the housing that receives an impact force from a fork bolt of the latch.

5 . The housing as in claim 4 , wherein the latch is a vehicle door latch.

6 . The housing as in claim 4 , wherein the plurality of ribs are adjacent to a wall that has a bumper positioned to receive an impact when a fork bolt of the latch has reached a closed position.

7 . The housing as in claim 4 , wherein the plurality of ribs are adjacent to a wall that has a bumper positioned to receive an impact when a fork bolt of the latch has travelled past a closed position.

8 . A vehicle door latch, comprising:

a housing having an integrally formed strengthening feature located in an exterior wall of the housing;

a bumper located adjacent to an interior surface of the wall having the strengthening feature; and

a fork bolt rotabably mounted to the housing for movement into a closed position wherein a portion of the fork bolt contacts the bumper and applies a load to the strengthening feature of the housing.

9 . The vehicle door latch as in claim 8 , wherein the strengthening feature is a plurality of vertically arranged ribs.

10 . The vehicle door latch as in claim 9 , wherein the housing is formed form plastic.

11 . The vehicle door latch as in claim 10 , wherein the strengthening feature is a plurality of vertically arranged ribs.