VEHICLE DOOR LATCH
A vehicle latch, including: a retention plate; a housing; a cover, the retention plate being secured to the housing and the housing is secured to the cover; a claw pivotally mounted to the retention plate; a pawl pivotally mounted to the retention plate; and an outside handle lever securable to either a rod or a cable located outside of the housing of the latch.
1 . A vehicle latch ( 10 ), comprising:
a retention plate ( 12 );
a housing ( 14 );
a cover ( 16 ), the retention plate being secured to the housing and the housing is secured to the cover;
a claw ( 18 ) pivotally mounted to the retention plate;
a pawl ( 20 ) pivotally mounted to the retention plate; and
an outside handle lever ( 42 ) securable to either a rod ( 22 ) or a cable ( 24 ) located outside of the housing of the latch.
2 . The vehicle latch ( 10 ) as in claim 1 , wherein the rod is secured to the outside handle lever with a rod lever ( 34 ) pivotally mounted to the retention plate.
3 . The vehicle latch ( 10 ) as in claim 2 , wherein the outside handle lever is operatively coupled to a lock lever ( 52 ) and the lock lever ( 52 ) is operatively coupled to a pawl lifter ( 54 ), which is in turn coupled to the pawl.
4 . The vehicle latch ( 10 ) as in claim 3 , wherein the outside handle lever is spring biased a spring.
5 . The vehicle latch ( 10 ) as in claim 1 , wherein the outside handle lever is spring biased a spring.
6 . The vehicle latch ( 10 ) as in claim 1 , wherein the outside handle lever is operatively coupled to a lock lever ( 52 ) and the lock lever ( 52 ) is operatively coupled to a pawl lifter ( 54 ), which is in turn coupled to the pawl.
7 . The vehicle latch ( 10 ) as in claim 1 , wherein a cable ( 24 ) is secured to the outside handle lever.
8 . The vehicle latch ( 10 ) as in claim 7 , wherein the outside handle lever is spring biased a spring.
9 . The vehicle latch ( 10 ) as in claim 7 , wherein the outside handle lever is operatively coupled to a lock lever ( 52 ) and the lock lever is operatively coupled to a pawl lifter ( 54 ), which is in turn coupled to the pawl.
10 . The vehicle latch ( 10 ) as in claim 7 , wherein the cable passes through a cable connector ( 56 ) that is secured to the housing.
11 . The vehicle latch ( 10 ) as in claim 1 , further comprising an inside release lever ( 70 ) that is pivotally mounted to the housing via a pivot ( 27 ), wherein the pivot has a shoulder portion ( 72 ) for retaining the inside release lever against the housing.
12 . The vehicle latch ( 10 ) as in claim 11 , wherein the inside release lever is operatively coupled to a lock lever ( 52 ) such that movement of the inside release lever will cause the desired movement of lock lever and accordingly operation of the latch.
13 . The vehicle latch ( 10 ) as in claim 11 , further comprising a spring ( 74 ) for providing a biasing force to the inside release lever.
14 . The vehicle latch ( 10 ) as in claim 1 , further comprising a central door lock sector ( 28 ) that is configured for use with the cable or the rod.
15 . The vehicle latch ( 10 ) as in claim 1 , further comprising a mechanical child lock mechanism ( 30 ), the mechanical child lock mechanism includes a child lock lever ( 76 ) that is rotatably mounted to housing, a portion of the child lock lever extending through a slot ( 78 ) in the housing which operably couples the child lock lever to a child lock link ( 80 ) such that movement of the child lock lever will cause a corresponding movement of the child lock link, and the child lock lever includes a slot ( 82 ) that allows a key or tool to be inserted into the slot in order to rotate the child lock lever, and an extension ( 84 ) that extends from the child lock lever, the extension extends outwardly from the cover of the latch so that child lock lever ( 76 ) may be manipulated without a tool or key inserted in slot.
16 . The vehicle latch ( 10 ) as in claim 15 , wherein the rod is secured to the outside handle lever with a rod lever ( 34 ) pivotally mounted to the retention plate.
17 . The vehicle latch ( 10 ) as in claim 16 , wherein the outside handle lever is operatively coupled to a lock lever ( 52 ) and the lock lever ( 52 ) is operatively coupled to a pawl lifter ( 54 ), which is in turn coupled to the pawl.
18 . The vehicle latch ( 10 ) as in claim 15 , wherein a cable is secured to the outside handle lever.
19 . The vehicle latch ( 10 ) as in claim 18 , wherein the outside handle lever is operatively coupled to a lock lever ( 52 ) and the lock lever is operatively coupled to a pawl lifter ( 54 ), which is in turn coupled to the pawl.
20 . The vehicle latch ( 10 ) as in claim 19 , further comprising an inside release lever ( 70 ) the is pivotally mounted to the housing via a pivot ( 27 ), wherein the pivot has a shoulder portion ( 72 ) for retaining the inside release lever against the housing.