LATCH SYSTEM WITH DOUBLE PAWL CONFIGURATION

1 . A latching system for a vehicle latch, comprising:

a forkbolt for retaining a striker in a first striker position and a second striker position, the forkbolt configured for movement about a forkbolt pivot between at least a primary position and secondary position, the primary position corresponding to the first striker position and the secondary position corresponding to the second striker position;

a primary detent configured for movement about a primary detent pivot, the primary detent having an elongated opening for rotatably receiving the primary detent pivot, the elongated opening being larger than the primary detent pivot; and

a secondary detent configured for movement about a secondary detent pivot, wherein the primary detent has a bite for contact with the secondary detent and a radius of the bite of the primary detent is centered with a center of the elongated opening such that as the forkbolt moves from the second striker position to the first striker position the primary detent translates or moves with respect to the primary detent pivot and the primary detent also rotates about the primary detent pivot.

2 . The latching system as in claim 1 , wherein the primary detent is configured for movement between an engaged position and disengaged position and the secondary detent is configured for movement between an engaged position and disengaged position, wherein when the primary detent is in the engaged position and the secondary detent is in the engaged position, the forkbolt is prevented from moving from the primary position.

3 . The latching system as in claim 2 , further comprising:

a primary detent spring for biasing the primary detent into the engaged position; and

a secondary detent spring for biasing the secondary detent into the engaged position.

4 . The latching system as in claim 3 , further comprising:

a backing plate, the forkbolt pivot, the primary detent pivot and the secondary detent pivot each being fixedly secured to the backing plate.

5 . The latching system as in claim 4 , wherein when the primary detent is in the disengaged position, the primary detent does not prevent movement of the forkbolt from the primary position.

6 . The latching system as in claim 5 , wherein when the secondary detent is in the engaged position it will contact the primary detent and prevent the primary detent from moving from engaged position towards the disengaged position.

7 . The latching system as in claim 2 , wherein when the primary detent is in the disengaged position, the primary detent does not prevent movement of the forkbolt from the primary position.

8 . The latching system as in claim 7 , wherein when the secondary detent is in the engaged position it will contact the primary detent and prevent the primary detent from moving from engaged position towards the disengaged position.

9 . The latching system as in claim 2 , wherein when the secondary detent is in the engaged position it will contact the primary detent and prevent the primary detent from moving from engaged position towards the disengaged position.

10 . A vehicle latch, comprising:

a latching system for a vehicle latch, comprising:

a forkbolt for retaining a striker in a first striker position and a second striker position, the forkbolt configured for movement about a forkbolt pivot between at least a primary position and secondary position, the primary position corresponding to the first striker position and the secondary position corresponding to the second striker position;

a primary detent configured for movement about a primary detent pivot, the primary detent having an elongated opening for rotatably receiving the primary detent pivot, the elongated opening being larger than the primary detent pivot; and

a secondary detent configured for movement about a secondary detent pivot, wherein the primary detent has a bite for contact with the secondary detent and a radius of the bite of the primary detent is centered with a center of the elongated opening such that as the forkbolt moves from the second striker position to the first striker position the primary detent translates or moves with respect to the primary detent pivot and the primary detent also rotates about the primary detent pivot.

11 . The vehicle latch as in claim 10 , wherein the primary detent is configured for movement between an engaged position and disengaged position and the secondary detent is configured for movement between an engaged position and disengaged position, wherein when the primary detent is in the engaged position and the secondary detent is in the engaged position, the forkbolt is prevented from moving from the primary position.

12 . The vehicle latch as in claim 11 , further comprising:

a primary detent spring for biasing the primary detent into the engaged position; and

a secondary detent spring for biasing the secondary detent into the engaged position.

13 . The vehicle latch as in claim 12 , further comprising:

a backing plate, the forkbolt pivot, the primary detent pivot and the secondary detent pivot each being fixedly secured to the backing plate.

14 . The vehicle latch as in claim 13 , wherein when the primary detent is in the disengaged position, the primary detent does not prevent movement of the forkbolt from the primary position.

15 . The vehicle latch as in claim 14 , wherein when the secondary detent is in the engaged position it will contact the primary detent and prevent the primary detent from moving from engaged position towards the disengaged position.

16 . The vehicle latch as in claim 11 , wherein when the primary detent is in the disengaged position, the primary detent does not prevent movement of the forkbolt from the primary position.

17 . The vehicle latch as in claim 16 , wherein when the secondary detent is in the engaged position it will contact the primary detent and prevent the primary detent from moving from engaged position towards the disengaged position.

18 . The vehicle latch as in claim 11 , wherein when the secondary detent is in the engaged position it will contact the primary detent and prevent the primary detent from moving from engaged position towards the disengaged position.

19 . A method for retaining and releasing a striker of a latching system for a vehicle latch, comprising:

retaining a striker in a first striker position and a second striker position with a forkbolt, the forkbolt configured for movement about a forkbolt pivot between at least a primary position and secondary position, the primary position corresponding to the first striker position and the secondary position corresponding to the second striker position;

retaining the forkbolt in the primary position with a primary detent configured for movement about a primary detent pivot, the primary detent having an elongated opening for rotatably receiving the primary detent pivot, the elongated opening being larger than the primary detent pivot, the primary detent retaining the forkbolt in the primary position when the primary detent is in an engaged position; and

retaining the primary detent in the engaged position with a secondary detent configured for movement about a secondary detent pivot, wherein the primary detent has a bite for contact with the secondary detent and a radius of the bite of the primary detent is centered with a center of the elongated opening such that as the forkbolt moves from the second striker position to the first striker position the primary detent translates or moves with respect to the primary detent pivot and the primary detent also rotates about the primary detent pivot, wherein the primary detent is configured for movement between the engaged position and disengaged position and the secondary detent is configured for movement between an engaged position and disengaged position, wherein when the primary detent is in the engaged position and the secondary detent is in the engaged position, the forkbolt is prevented from moving from the primary position.

20 . The method as in claim 19 , further comprising:

biasing the primary detent into the engaged position with a primary detent spring; and

biasing the secondary detent into the engaged position with a secondary detent spring.