IP Library Granted Patent US 11,441,337
Granted Patent B2
US 11,441,337 · App. 16/852,442 · Granted Sep 13, 2022

Vehicle latch with interchangeable switch cam lever with lost motion and interchangeable switch cam lever

Inventors: Daniel Alexander Ney (Lake Orion, MI); Donald Michael Perkins (Warren, MI)
Assignee: INTEVA PRODUCTS, LLC
E05B81/66E05B81/70
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,441,337
App. No.
16/852,442
Granted
Sep 13, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A vehicle latch assembly, including: a pawl pivotally mounted to the vehicle latch assembly; a claw pivotally mounted to the vehicle latch assembly; a switch cam lever; a first switch; a second switch, the switch cam lever has a first cam profile configured to engage the first switch and a second cam profile configured to engage the second switch, the first cam profile engaging the first switch; and wherein the second cam profile engages the second switch when the vehicle latch assembly is in a secondary position.

Claims (29)

1. A vehicle latch assembly, comprising:

a pawl pivotally mounted to the vehicle latch assembly;

a claw pivotally mounted to the vehicle latch assembly for rotation about a first axis;

a switch cam lever rotatably mounted to the vehicle latch assembly for rotation about a second axis, the first axis being parallel to and offset from the second axis;

a first switch;

a second switch, the switch cam lever has a first cam profile configured to engage the first switch and a second cam profile configured to engage the second switch, the first cam profile engaging the first switch when the latch assembly is in an open position; and the second cam profile engages the second switch when the vehicle latch assembly is in a secondary position.

2. The vehicle latch assembly as in claim 1 , wherein the first cam profile engages the first switch when the vehicle latch assembly is in the secondary position.

3. The vehicle latch assembly as in claim 2 , wherein movement of the switch cam lever is facilitated by a post mounted to the claw and the post slides within a slot of the switch cam lever.

4. The vehicle latch assembly as in claim 3 , wherein the slot has a first portion and a second portion, the second portion being angularly orientated with respect to the first portion such that slidably movement of the post in the second portion will cause less movement of the switch cam lever than slidable movement of the slot in the first portion.

5. The vehicle latch assembly as in claim 1 , wherein movement of the switch cam lever is facilitated by a post mounted to the claw and the post slides within a slot of the switch cam lever.

6. The vehicle latch assembly as in claim 5 , wherein the slot has a first portion and a second portion, the second portion being angularly orientated with respect to the first portion such that slidably movement of the post in the second portion will cause less movement of the switch cam lever than slidable movement of the slot in the first portion.

7. The vehicle latch assembly as in claim 1 , wherein the first cam profile does not engage the first switch when the vehicle latch assembly is in the secondary position.

8. The vehicle latch assembly as in claim 7 , wherein movement of the switch cam lever is facilitated by a post mounted to the claw and the post slides within a slot of the switch cam lever.

9. The vehicle latch assembly as in claim 8 , wherein the slot has a first portion and a second portion, the second portion being angularly orientated with respect to the first portion such that slidably movement of the post in the second portion will cause less movement of the switch cam lever than slidable movement of the slot in the first portion.

10. The vehicle latch assembly as in claim 9 , wherein the first cam profile engages the first switch when the vehicle latch assembly is in an open position.

11. The vehicle latch assembly as in claim 1 , wherein the first cam profile engages the first switch when the vehicle latch assembly is in an open position.

12. The vehicle latch assembly as in claim 11 , wherein the first cam profile does not engage the first switch when the vehicle latch assembly is in the secondary position.

13. The vehicle latch assembly as in claim 1 , wherein the first switch is a door open switch and the second switch is a door ajar switch.

14. A method of actuating switches of a vehicle latch assembly, comprising:

pivotally mounting a pawl to the vehicle latch assembly;

pivotally mounting a claw to the vehicle latch assembly for rotation about a first axis;

pivotally mounting a switch cam lever to the vehicle latch assembly for rotation about a second axis, the first axis being parallel to and offset from the second axis;

engaging a first switch with a first cam profile of the switch cam lever and engaging a second switch with a second cam profile as the switch cam lever pivots; and

wherein the second cam profile engages the second switch when the vehicle latch assembly is in a secondary position and movement of the switch cam lever is facilitated by a post mounted to the claw that slides within a slot of the switch cam lever.

15. The method as in claim 14 , wherein the first cam profile engages the first switch when the vehicle latch assembly is in the secondary position.

16. The method as in claim 14 , wherein the slot has a first portion and a second portion, the second portion being angularly orientated with respect to the first portion such that slidably movement of the post in the second portion will cause less movement of the switch cam lever than slidable movement of the slot in the first portion.

17. The method as in claim 14 , wherein the first cam profile engages the first switch when the vehicle latch assembly is in an open position.

18. The method as in claim 14 , wherein the first cam profile does not engage the first switch when the vehicle latch assembly is in the secondary position.

19. The method as in claim 14 , wherein the first switch is a door open switch and the second switch is a door ajar switch.

Assignments (4)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 25, 2026
From: INTEVA PRODUCTS, LLC
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 075228/0425 →
AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 23, 2026
From: INTEVA PRODUCTS, LLC
To: CERBERUS BUSINESS FINANCE, LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 075201/0244 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 23, 2022
From: INTEVA PRODUCTS, LLC
To: CERBERUS BUSINESS FINANCE, LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 059766/0348 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 18, 2020
From: NEY, DANIEL ALEXANDER; PERKINS, DONALD MICHAEL
To: INTEVA PRODUCTS, LLC
Reel/Frame 052435/0564 →