Latch assembly for closure member of motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a latch assembly for a closure member of a motor vehicle. A closure latch assembly for a vehicle closure panel has a two-stage power release mechanism having a release lever configured for movement in a first direction and an opposite second direction. A first actuation of the actuator causes a first stage actuation in which the release lever moves in a first direction to move the closure latch assembly from a fully latched state to a partially latched state. A second actuation of the actuator causes a second stage actuation in which the release lever moves in a second direction to move the closure latch assembly from the partially latched state to the open state.

Description

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 63 / 564,611, filed on March 13, 2024, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] The present disclosure relates generally to closure latches for vehicle closure members and more particularly to hood / trunk latches equipped with a two-way release mechanism. Background Art

[0004] This section provides background information related to closure latches, but is not necessarily prior art to the closure latches of the present disclosure.

[0005] Many modern closing latches for closing panels of motor vehicles, such as front hoods, trunks and front trunks (front trunks), are power-actuated. Latching for vehicle hoods, whether for rear trunks, front hoods or front trunk hoods, is typically a two-stage latch actuated in two separate stages, where such latches are sometimes referred to as double-pull latches. It is known to release double-pull latches via power actuation, where the power actuator must be actuated twice in separate actuations to move twice in opposite directions. Thus, the first stage of actuation moves the power actuator in opposite directions from the home position to the release position, and then back to the home position, thereby moving the latch from the primary latched state to the auxiliary latched state. Then, a separate second stage of actuation moves the power actuator again in opposite directions from the home position to the release position, and then back to the home position, thereby moving the latch from the auxiliary latched state to the unlatched state. While such power-actuated double-pull latches are well-suited for their intended uses, they do have disadvantages. For example, including a powered reset actuation in which the power actuator returns from a released position to an original position with each individual actuation, the double duty cycle required for the power actuator to release the double-pull latch requires twice the duty cycle of a single-pull latch. This reduces the useful life of the power actuator of the power-actuated double-pull latch, potentially halving or nearly halving the useful life. Therefore, improvements are needed to at least address the aforementioned disadvantages. Summary of the Invention

[0006] This section provides a general summary of the disclosure and is not intended to be considered a comprehensive and exhaustive listing of its full scope or all of its aspects, features, and objectives.

[0007] One aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a latch assembly for a closure member of a motor vehicle, the latch assembly having a latch mechanism, a powered actuator, and a release lever in operable communication with the powered actuator and the latch mechanism. A first powered actuation of the powered actuator drives the release lever from a home position to a deployed position to move the latch mechanism and actuate a first function of the latch assembly, and a second powered actuation of the powered actuator drives the release lever from the deployed position to the home position to move the latch mechanism and actuate a second function of the latch assembly, wherein the second function is different from the first function.

[0008] One aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a closure latch assembly for a vehicle closure panel, wherein the closure latch assembly has a dual-stage power release mechanism. The closure latch assembly includes a latch mechanism, a power actuator, and a release lever that is operably connected to the power actuator and the latch mechanism. The release lever is capable of moving from an original position in a first direction to a deployed position, and from the deployed position in a second direction opposite to the first direction to the original position. A first power actuation of the power actuator drives the release lever from the original position in the first direction to the deployed position to move the latch mechanism and actuate a first function of the latch assembly. A second power actuation of the power actuator drives the release lever from the deployed position in a second direction to the original position to move the latch mechanism and actuate a second function of the latch assembly, wherein the second function is different from the first function.

[0009] According to another aspect, the latch mechanism includes a ratchet and a safety hook, wherein the ratchet is capable of moving between a striker pin capture position and a striker pin release position, in which the ratchet captures the striker pin to prevent the striker pin from being released from the ratchet, and in the striker pin release position, the ratchet releases the striker pin for removing the striker from the ratchet, and the safety hook is capable of moving between a safety hook striker pin capture position and a safety hook striker pin release position, in which the safety hook captures the striker pin to prevent the striker from being removed from the latch assembly, and in the safety hook striker pin release position, the safety hook releases the striker pin for removing the striker from the latch assembly, the first function including moving the ratchet from the striker pin capture position to the striker pin release position while keeping the safety hook in the safety hook striker pin capture position.

[0010] According to another aspect, the second function includes moving the safety hook from a safety hook striker capturing position to a safety hook striker releasing position.

[0011] According to another aspect, the latch mechanism further includes a pawl movable between a ratchet holding position and a ratchet releasing position, and an actuator rod operatively coupled to the pawl and the safety hook. The actuator rod is arranged to engage the release lever simultaneously when the release lever is moved in a first direction to move the ratchet from the striker capturing position to the striker releasing position, and simultaneously when the release lever is moved in a second direction to cause the release lever to move the safety hook from the safety hook striker capturing position to the safety hook striker releasing position.

[0012] According to another aspect, the actuator lever is biased to an original position by a biasing member. When the release lever moves in a first direction, the actuator lever can move from the original position in the first direction to a first deployed position by overcoming the bias of the biasing member. The actuator lever can also move from the original position in a second direction opposite to the first direction to a second deployed position by overcoming the bias of the biasing member in response to movement of the release lever in the second direction.

[0013] According to another aspect, the actuating lever is returned to its original position by a biasing member when the release lever is in its original position and when the release lever is in its deployed position.

[0014] According to another aspect, the actuator rod is operatively coupled to the pawl by a first cable and to the safety hook by a second cable.

[0015] According to another aspect, the latch mechanism further includes a pawl release lever configured to move the pawl from the ratchet holding position to the ratchet releasing position when the release lever is moved in a first direction, wherein the first cable is attached to the pawl release lever.

[0016] According to another aspect, when the release lever moves in a first direction, the first cable remains tensioned and the second cable slackens, and when the release lever moves in a second direction, the second cable remains tensioned and the first cable slackens.

[0017] According to another aspect, the powered actuator is configured to drive the release lever in a first direction when energized by a first polarity signal and in a second direction when energized by a second polarity signal, wherein the first polarity signal and the second polarity signal have opposite polarity.

[0018] Another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a closure latch assembly for a vehicle closure panel, the closure latch assembly including a powered actuator and a release lever in operative communication with the actuator, wherein the release lever is movable from a primary position to an auxiliary position in a first direction in response to a first activation of the powered actuator, and the release lever is movable from the auxiliary position to the primary position in a second direction opposite the first direction in response to a second activation of the powered actuator. In addition, the pawl is movable between a ratchet holding position and a ratchet release position, and the primary ratchet is movable between a primary striker capture position and a striker release position, wherein the pawl is in the ratchet holding position and the striker is captured by the primary ratchet to retain the closure member in the primary closed position, and wherein the pawl is in the ratchet release position and the striker is free to be removed from the primary ratchet. In addition, the auxiliary ratchet is capable of moving between an auxiliary striker capture position and an auxiliary ratchet striker release position, in which the striker is captured by the auxiliary ratchet to hold the closing member in the auxiliary closed position when the primary ratchet is in the striker release position, and an auxiliary ratchet striker release position in which the striker is freely removed from the auxiliary ratchet and the closing member is freely moved to the open position. A first powered actuation of the powered actuator drives the release lever from the primary position in a first direction to the auxiliary position, in which the pawl moves from the ratchet holding position to the ratchet release position and the primary ratchet moves from the striker capture position to the striker release position. After the first powered actuation has been performed, a second powered actuation of the powered actuator drives the release lever from the auxiliary position in a second direction to the primary position, in which the auxiliary ratchet moves from the striker capture position to the auxiliary ratchet striker release position.

[0019] Another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a method of arranging a power-actuated latch assembly for movement between a primary latched state in which a closure member is held in a fully closed position, a secondary latched state in which the closure member is held in a partially closed position, and an open state in which the closure member is movable to a fully open position. The method includes providing a power-actuated latch assembly having a latch mechanism including a primary ratchet and a secondary ratchet, wherein the primary ratchet has a primary striker capture position and a primary striker release position in which the primary ratchet captures a striker secured to the closure member and the primary striker release position in which the primary ratchet releases the striker, and wherein the secondary ratchet has a secondary striker capture position and a secondary striker release position in which the secondary ratchet captures the striker to prevent release of the striker and the secondary striker release position in which the secondary ratchet releases the striker. Furthermore, a power-actuated latch assembly having a power actuator and a power-actuated latch assembly having a release lever arranged in operative communication with the power actuator and the latch mechanism is provided, wherein the release lever is movable from a home position in a first direction to a deployed position, and from the deployed position in a second direction opposite the first direction to the home position. Furthermore, the power actuator is arranged such that a first power actuation of the power actuator drives the release lever from the home position in the first direction to the deployed position, thereby moving the primary ratchet from the primary striker captured position to the primary striker released position, while retaining the auxiliary ratchet in the auxiliary ratchet striker captured position. Furthermore, the power actuator is arranged such that a second power actuation of the power actuator drives the release lever from the deployed position in a second direction to the home position, thereby moving the auxiliary ratchet from the auxiliary striker captured position to the auxiliary striker released position.

[0020] According to another aspect, the method may further include arranging the actuator rod to be in an operably connected relationship with the pawl and the auxiliary ratchet, and arranging the actuator rod to engage with the release rod while the release rod is moved in a first direction to move the primary ratchet from the striker pin capture position to the striker pin release position, and arranging the actuator rod to engage with the release rod while the release rod is moved in a second direction to move the auxiliary ratchet from the auxiliary ratchet striker pin capture position to the auxiliary ratchet striker pin release position.

[0021] According to another aspect, the method may further include operatively coupling the actuator rod to the pawl via a first cable and operatively coupling the actuator rod to the auxiliary ratchet via a second cable.

[0022] Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein.As noted, the description and any specific examples in this summary are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] The drawings described herein have been provided to illustrate selected embodiments and certain features thereof and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. The present disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0024] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a motor vehicle having a power-actuated dual-pull latch assembly including a bi-directional power release mechanism according to one aspect of the present disclosure;

[0025] Figure 2A is a side view of a bi-directional power release mechanism of a power-actuated dual-pull latch assembly constructed in accordance with non-limiting aspects of the present disclosure shown in a deactivated state, wherein the power-actuated dual-pull latch assembly is shown in a primary latch position;

[0026] Figure 2B is similar to Figure 2A , illustrating the bidirectional power release mechanism in a first activated state in which the power-actuated dual-pull latch assembly is moved to a second latched position;

[0027] Figure 2C is similar to Figure 2A , illustrating the bidirectional power release mechanism in a second activated state in which the power-actuated dual-pull latch assembly is moved to an unlatched position;

[0028] Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating a power duty cycle of an actuator to move a bi-directional power release mechanism of a power-actuated dual-pull latch assembly from a primary latched state to an auxiliary latched state and then from the auxiliary latched state to an open state; and

[0029] Figure 4 is a flow chart illustrating a method of moving a power-actuated double-pull latch assembly constructed in accordance with the present disclosure from a primary latched state to an auxiliary latched state and then from the auxiliary latched state to an unlatched state. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] Example embodiments of a closure latch for use in a motor vehicle door closure system are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Numerous specific details, such as examples of specific components, devices, and methods, are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that specific details need not be employed and that the example embodiments may be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present disclosure. In some example embodiments, well-known processes, well-known device structures, and well-known technologies are not described in detail.

[0031] The terms used herein are only used to describe the purpose of specific example embodiments and are not intended to be restrictive. As used herein, the singular forms "one", "a kind of" and "the" may also be intended to include plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The terms "comprise", "including", "comprising" and "having" are inclusive and therefore specify the existence of the features, integers, steps, operations, elements and / or parts described, but do not exclude the existence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, parts and / or their groups. Unless specifically indicated in the order of execution, the method steps, processing and operations described herein should not be interpreted as necessarily requiring them to be performed in the particular order discussed or illustrated. It should also be understood that additional steps or alternative steps may be adopted.

[0032] When an element or layer is referred to as being "on," "engaged to," "connected to," or "coupled to" another element or layer, the element or layer may be directly on, engaged to, connected to, or coupled to the other element or layer, or there may be intervening elements or layers. Conversely, when an element is referred to as being "directly on," "directly engaged to," "directly connected to," or "directly coupled to" another element or layer, there may be no intervening elements or layers. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in the same manner (e.g., "between" versus "directly between," "adjacent" versus "directly adjacent," etc.). As used herein, the term "and / or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0033] Although can use the term first, second and third etc. to describe each element, component, region, layer and / or part in this article, these elements, components, regions, layers and / or parts should not be limited by these terms.These terms can only be used to distinguish an element, component, region, layer or part from another region, layer or part.Unless the context clearly indicates, otherwise the terms such as "first", "second" and other numerical terms do not imply order or sequence when used in this article.Therefore, the first element, component, region, layer or part discussed below can be referred to as the second element, component, region, layer or part when not departing from the teaching of example embodiments.

[0034] For ease of description, spatially relative terms such as "inside," "outside," "under," "beneath," "lower," "above," "upper," "top," "bottom," etc. may be used herein to describe the relationship of one element or feature illustrated in the accompanying drawings to (one or more) other elements or features. Spatially relative terms may be intended to include different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the accompanying drawings. For example, if the device in the accompanying drawings is turned over, elements described as "below" or "beneath" other elements or features would then be oriented "above" the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term "below" can include both the above and below orientations. The device may be oriented in other ways (rotated degrees or in other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptions used herein interpreted accordingly.

[0035] Reference Figure 1 , which shows a motor vehicle 11 having a closure member, shown as a front hood 13, to which a striker 22 is fixedly attached. The front hood 13 may, in a known manner, enclose an engine or a front trunk 17, also referred to as a front frunk 17, for storage in a compartment located in the front portion of the vehicle 11, where the engine would normally occupy the front portion but is located in another location within the vehicle. The striker 22 can be captured by a power-actuated dual-pull closure panel latch assembly, also referred to as a power-actuated dual-pull hood latch assembly when used in a vehicle hood application, and hereinafter generally referred to as a power-actuated dual-pull latch assembly or latch assembly 10, which is mounted on a body 15 of the motor vehicle 11. It should be understood that, by way of example and not limitation, powered actuation may be commanded via any interior button or feature within cab 28 and / or trunk 17 of motor vehicle 11 and / or via exterior features including buttons, levers, handles, or key fobs KF.

[0036] As permitted by the powered actuation of the latch assembly 10, the front hood 13 is movable from a fully closed position, also referred to as a primary closed position, to various open positions, wherein the hood 13 pivots between the fully closed position and the various open positions about a hinge axis H defined by the hinge 19. The various open positions include a partially open position, also referred to as an auxiliary open position, in which the front hood 13 is prevented from fully opening without further actuation of the latch assembly 10, and a fully open position in which the striker 22 can be removed from the latch assembly 10 and the front hood 13 can be raised to the fully open position ( Figure 1 ) so that the storage space or front trunk 17 can be fully accessed.

[0037] By way of example and not limitation, the latch assembly 10 is shown having a latch mechanism 31 that includes various interacting components, including a primary ratchet, also referred to as a ratchet 30, pivotally connected to the housing 20. The ratchet 30 is movable between a primary striker capture position, also referred to as a primary closed position or closed position, and a primary striker release position, also referred to as a striker release or striker release position, or an open position. The ratchet 30 is biased toward the open position by a primary ratchet biasing member 30a. The ratchet 30 has a slot S, as is known, for lockingly receiving the striker 22 therein when in the closed position.

[0038] By way of example and not limitation, the latch mechanism of the ratchet assembly 12 is further shown having an auxiliary ratchet, also referred to as a safety catch or safety hook 32, pivotally connected to the housing 20. The safety hook 32 is movable between an auxiliary striker capture position, also referred to as an auxiliary closed position, and a safety hook striker release position, also referred to as a released position. The safety hook 32 is biased toward the auxiliary striker capture position by an auxiliary ratchet biasing member, also referred to as a safety hook biasing member 32a.

[0039] The ratchet 30 is movable in response to selective movement of the pawl 34. As an example of a first latching function, the pawl 34 is movable between a primary ratchet holding position, also referred to as a ratchet holding position, and a primary ratchet release position, also referred to as a ratchet release position. The ratchet 30 is configured to move between a primary striker capture position, in which the pawl 34 is in the ratchet holding position and the striker 22 is captured by the ratchet 30 to retain the closure member 13 in the primary closed position, and a ratchet release position in which the striker 22 is free to be removed from the ratchet 30 when the pawl 34 is moved to the ratchet release position.

[0040] The latch assembly 10 is power-actuated, and according to the disclosure herein, the latch assembly 10 is power-actuated as a dual-actuated assembly, also referred to as a dual-pull latch assembly. Thus, movement of the latch assembly 10 from the primary fully latched position or primary fully latched state to the unlatched open position or unlatched open state requires two actuations, also referred to as two activations, of the power actuator 18. The first of the two actuations, hereinafter referred to as the first actuation of the power actuator 18, results in a first latching function via operable communication between a release lever 24 and a pawl 34, wherein the release lever 24 is configured to be in operable communication with the power actuator 18. Then, the second of the two actuations, hereinafter referred to as the second actuation of the power actuator 18, results in a second latching function via operable communication between the release lever 24 and the safety hook 32. During the first actuation of the power actuator 18, the power actuator 18 moves the release lever 24 from an original position, also referred to as the primary position, in a first direction D1 ( Figure 2A ) is driven to the deployed position, also referred to as the auxiliary position, thereby moving the pawl 34 from the ratchet holding position to the ratchet release position and moving the ratchet 30 from the striker capture position to the striker release position, thereby performing a first latching function that causes the latch assembly 10 to move from a primary latched state in which the closure member 13 is in a fully closed position to an auxiliary latched state, also referred to as a partial latched state, in which the closure member 13 is in a partially closed position. With the ratchet 30 in the striker release position, and prior to a second actuation of the actuator 18, the safety hook 32 remains in the auxiliary striker capture position, thereby capturing the striker 22 and holding the front hood 13 in the partially closed position. When the front hood 13 is in the partially closed position, air is able to enter the front trunk 17 while the motor vehicle 11 remains drivable without the front hood 13 causing a visual obstruction to the driver. Then, during a second actuation of the powered actuator 18, the powered actuator 18 moves the release lever 24 from the deployed position or auxiliary position in a second direction D2 ( Figure 2B ) is driven back to the original or main position, at which point the safety hook 32 moves from the auxiliary striker capture position to the safety hook striker release position via operative communication with the release lever 24, thereby allowing the striker 22 to be released from the latch assembly 10 and thus performing the secondary latch function, at which point the front hood 13 can be moved to the fully open position. By way of example and not limitation, as in Figure 3 As shown in FIG, the powered actuator 18 can effect bi-directional actuation of the release lever 24 by reversing the polarity of the motor signal (MS) from a positive signal to a negative signal.

[0041] According to a non-limiting embodiment, the release lever 24 is operatively coupled to the pawl 34 via a first link, which, by way of example and not limitation, can be provided via a first cable 36, and the release lever 24 is operatively coupled to the safety hook 32 via a second link, which, by way of example and not limitation, can be provided via a second cable 38. The first cable 36 can be directly connected to the pawl 34 or operatively connected to the pawl 34 via a pawl release lever 40, wherein the pawl release lever 40 is configured to drive the pawl 34 from its ratchet holding position to its ratchet releasing position during a first actuation. As shown, the second cable 38 can be directly connected to the safety hook 32 or, as desired, operatively connected to the safety hook 32 via an intermediate link.

[0042] The first cable 36 is attached to the pawl release lever 40 via a first end 36a of the first cable 36 and to the actuator lever 42 via a second end 36b of the first cable 36. The second cable 38 is attached to the safety hook 32 via a first end 38a of the second cable 38 and to the actuator lever 42 via a second end 38b of the second cable 38.

[0043] The actuator rod 42 is shown as being generally T-shaped, having a follower leg portion 42a and a driver arm portion 42b, wherein the driver arm portion 42b extends between opposite ends 44a, 44b, and wherein the follower leg portion 42 extends from an approximately mid-region between the opposite ends 44a, 44b to a distal free end 46. Thus, the follower leg portion 42a corresponds to the vertical leg of the T-shape of the actuator rod 42, and the driver arm portion 42b corresponds to the top lateral portion of the T-shape of the actuator rod 42.

[0044] The second end 36b of the first cable 36 is attached to one end 44a of the follower arm portion 42b, and the second end 38b of the second cable 38 is attached to the opposite end 44b of the driving arm portion 42b. Thus, the actuator rod 42 is operatively coupled to the pawl 34, the pawl release lever 40, and the safety hook 32 via the first and second cables 36a, 36b. The follower leg portion 42a is configured to be driven via engagement with the release lever 24. Specifically, as described above, when the release lever 24 is rotated from its home position in the first direction D1 to its deployed position via the powered actuator 18, the release lever 24 engages the free end 46 of the follower leg portion 42a, thereby driving the actuator rod 42 to rotate about a pivot axis 48, which is shown, by way of example and not limitation, as being centrally located between the first and second ends 44a, 44b of the driving arm portion 42b. When the actuator rod 42 is driven about the pivot axis 48, the actuator rod 42 overcomes the bias applied by the biasing member, shown as a torsion spring 50 wound about the pivot axis 48. The biasing member 50, stabilized and constrained by the fixed spring mounting feature 52, releasably holds the actuator rod 42 in the original position ( Figure 2A ), in which home position, the first cable 36 and the second cable 38 are generally free of tension, thereby allowing the pawl 34 and the safety hook 32 to remain in their positions under the respective biases applied by the pawl biasing member 34a and the safety hook biasing member 32a.

[0045] During a first actuation of the powered actuator 18, the actuator rod 42 is rotatably driven from its home position in a first direction, shown as in FIG, to a first deployed position, by the release lever 24 overcoming the bias applied by the biasing member 50. Figure 2B In the first deployed position, the actuating rod 42 is at or near a tangent position to the end of the release rod 24 (as viewed counterclockwise about the pivot axis 48). Figure 2B ), whereupon the first cable 36 is pulled by the actuator rod 42 and placed under tension, thereby pulling the pawl release lever 40 and causing the pawl 34 to move to its ratchet release position. When the pawl 34 pivots to its ratchet release position, the ratchet 30 moves to its striker release position under the bias of the ratchet biasing member 30a, whereupon the striker 22 is captured by the safety hook 32, thereby placing the latch assembly 10 in its partially open position. When the actuator rod 42 reaches its deployed position, the release lever 24 is continued to be driven by the powered actuator 18 to its fully deployed position, as shown in phantom, whereupon the release lever 24 exceeds tangency with the actuator rod 42 and disengages from the actuator rod 42, thereby allowing the actuator rod 42 to return to its original position ( Figure 2A), while the release lever 24 is in its fully deployed position. After the release lever 24 has moved from the home position to the deployed position following the first powered actuation, the powered actuator 18 is disabled, for example by stopping the flow of current to the powered actuator 18, so that the release lever 24 can remain in the deployed position. After the powered actuator 18 is disabled, the release lever 24 in the deployed position does not return to the home position until a second powered actuation occurs. In other words, before the second powered actuation, the release lever 24 does not return to the home position from the deployed position due to a spring force, such as the biasing force of a return spring, nor does the release lever 24 return to the home position from the deployed position due to the powered actuator 18 driving the actuator rod 42. The return of the release lever 24 from the deployed position to the home position is caused by two separate powered actuations, which can be separated, for example, by stopping the flow of power to the powered actuator 18. Each separate powered actuation can be a single powered actuation after stopping the power supply to the powered actuator 18, resulting in a single latch function. Therefore, before the second power actuation occurs, there is no need to use a return spring to first reposition the release lever 24 to the original position. As a result, there is no need for a separate dedicated power actuation to perform the reset of the release lever 24 to the original position where the latch function is not actuated, thereby reducing the number of cycles of the power actuator during each latch release function to improve the reliability and life of the power actuator.

[0046] During a second actuation of the powered actuator 18, the actuator rod 42 is rotatably driven about the pivot axis 48 from its original position in a second direction opposite to the first direction by the release lever 24 against the bias of the biasing member 50 to a second, deployed position, the second direction being shown as Figure 2C In the second deployed position, the actuating rod 42 is at or near a tangential position to the end of the release rod 24 (as viewed in the clockwise direction about the pivot axis 48). Figure 2C ), whereupon the second cable 38 is pulled by the actuator rod 42 and placed under tension, thereby pulling the safety hook 32 to its safety hook striker release position. When the safety hook 32 moves to its safety hook striker release position, the striker 22 is released from its capturing engagement with the safety hook 32, thereby allowing the striker 22 to be removed from the latch assembly 10 and thus placing the latch assembly 10 in its fully open position. When the actuator rod 42 reaches its deployed position, the release rod 24 is continued to be driven by the powered actuator 18 to its original position, as shown in dashed lines, where the release rod 24 exceeds tangency with the actuator rod 42 and disengages from the actuator rod 42, thereby allowing the actuator rod 42 to return to its original position ( Figure 2A ), while the release lever 24 remains in its original position.

[0047] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, Figure 4 As generally illustrated in FIG, a method 1000 is provided for fully releasing the latch assembly 10 from a latched state to an auxiliary latched state and then to a fully unlatched state. The method 1000 can be performed by a first actuation 1100 of the powered actuator 18 via a first polarity (+ve) signal MS1 to drive the release lever 24 in a first direction D1, thereby moving the latch assembly 10 from the latched state to the auxiliary latched state. Then, a second actuation 1200 of the powered actuator 18 can be performed via a reversal of the first polarity to a second polarity (-ve) signal MS2 to drive the release lever 24 in a second direction D2, thereby moving the latch assembly 10 from the auxiliary latched state to the unlatched state. It should be appreciated that the first actuation of the powered actuator 18 causes the powered actuator 18 to be driven from the home position in a first direction to the auxiliary actuated position corresponding to the auxiliary latched position of the latch assembly 10, and the second actuation of the powered actuator 18 causes the powered actuator 18 to be driven from the auxiliary actuated position in a second direction opposite to the first direction back to the home position corresponding to the unlatched position of the latch assembly 10. Thus, the powered actuator 18 only needs to be driven once in the first direction and once in the second direction to move the latch assembly 10 from the primary latched state to the unlatched state, thereby minimizing the duty cycle of the powered actuator 18 and, therefore, extending the useful life of the actuator 18, while also minimizing the potential for noise generation.

[0048] Method 1000 may also include arranging the actuator rod 42 to be in an operably connected relationship with the pawl 34 and the auxiliary ratchet 32, and arranging the actuator rod 42 to engage with the release rod 24 when the release rod 24 moves in a first direction to move the primary ratchet 30 from the striker pin capture position to the striker pin release position, and arranging the actuator rod 42 to engage with the release rod 24 when the release rod 24 moves in a second direction to move the auxiliary ratchet 32 ​​from the auxiliary ratchet striker pin capture position to the auxiliary ratchet striker pin release position.

[0049] The method 1000 may also include operably coupling the actuator rod 42 to the pawl 34 via the first cable 36 and operably coupling the actuator rod 42 to the auxiliary ratchet 32 ​​via the second cable 38 .

[0050] The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for the purpose of illustration and description. The foregoing description is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present disclosure. The individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but are interchangeable where applicable and can be used for the selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The individual elements or features of a particular embodiment also can be changed in many ways. Such variations are not considered to depart from the present disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0051] The embodiments of the present invention can be understood with reference to the following numbered paragraphs:

[0052] 1. A latch assembly for a closure member of a motor vehicle, the latch assembly comprising:

[0053] Latch mechanism;

[0054] powered actuators; and

[0055] a release lever in operable communication with the powered actuator and the latch mechanism;

[0056] wherein a first powered actuation of the powered actuator drives the release lever from an initial position to a deployed position to move the latch mechanism and actuate a first function of the latch assembly,

[0057] wherein a second powered actuation of the powered actuator drives the release lever from the deployed position to the home position to move the latch mechanism and actuate a second function of the latch assembly, wherein the second function is different from the first function.

[0058] 2. The latch assembly of paragraph 1, wherein after the release lever is moved to the deployed position by the first powered actuation, the powered actuator is disabled and the release lever remains in the deployed position.

[0059] 3. The latch assembly of paragraph 2, wherein after the powered actuator is disabled, the release lever in the deployed position does not return to the original position prior to the second powered actuation.

[0060] 4. The latch assembly of paragraph 3, wherein the release lever in the deployed position is not returned to the original position by spring force after the powered actuator is disabled.

[0061] 5. The latch assembly of paragraph 1, wherein the release lever is movable from a home position in a first direction to a deployed position, and from the deployed position in a second direction opposite the first direction to the home position;

[0062] wherein a first powered actuation of the powered actuator drives the release lever from the home position in the first direction to the deployed position to move the latch mechanism and actuate the first function of the latch assembly,

[0063] wherein a second powered actuation of the powered actuator drives the release lever from the deployed position to the home position along the second direction to move the latch mechanism and actuate a second function of the latch assembly, wherein the second function is different from the first function.

[0064] 6. A latch assembly according to paragraph 5, wherein the latch mechanism includes a ratchet and a safety hook, the ratchet being movable between a striker pin capture position and a striker pin release position, wherein in the striker pin capture position, the ratchet captures the striker pin to prevent the striker pin from being released from the ratchet, and in the striker pin release position, the ratchet releases the striker pin for removal from the ratchet, the safety hook being movable between a safety hook striker pin capture position and a safety hook striker pin release position, wherein in the safety hook striker pin capture position, the safety hook captures the striker pin to prevent the striker pin from being removed from the latch assembly, and in the safety hook striker pin release position, the safety hook releases the striker pin for removal from the latch assembly, the first function comprising moving the ratchet from the striker pin capture position to the striker pin release position while maintaining the safety hook in the safety hook striker pin capture position.

[0065] 7. The latch assembly of paragraph 6, wherein the second function includes moving the safety hook from the safety hook striker capturing position to the safety hook striker releasing position.

[0066] 8. The latch assembly according to paragraph 7 further includes a pawl capable of moving between a ratchet holding position and a ratchet release position, wherein the latch mechanism includes an actuator rod operably connected to the pawl and to the safety hook, the actuator rod being arranged to engage with the release rod while the release rod moves along the first direction to move the ratchet from the striker pin capture position to the striker pin release position and while the release rod moves along the second direction to move the safety hook from the safety hook striker pin capture position to the safety hook striker pin release position.

[0067] 9. A latch assembly according to paragraph 8, wherein the actuator rod is biased to an original position by a biasing member, and when the release rod moves along the first direction, the actuator rod overcomes the bias of the biasing member by the release rod and moves from the original position along the first direction to the first deployed position, and when the release rod moves along the second direction, the actuator rod overcomes the bias of the biasing member by the release rod and moves from the original position along a second direction opposite to the first direction to the second deployed position.

[0068] 10. The latch assembly of paragraph 9, wherein the actuator rod is returned to its original position by the biasing member when the release lever is in its original position and when the release lever is in its deployed position.

[0069] 11. The latch assembly of paragraph 8, wherein the actuator rod is operably coupled to the pawl by a first cable and is operably coupled to the safety hook by a second cable.

[0070] 12. The latch assembly of paragraph 11, further comprising a pawl release lever configured to move the pawl from the ratchet holding position to the ratchet releasing position when the release lever moves in the first direction, the first cable being attached to the pawl release lever.

[0071] 13. The latch assembly of paragraph 11, wherein when the release lever moves in the first direction, the first cable remains tensioned and the second cable slackens, and when the release lever moves in the second direction, the second cable remains tensioned and the first cable slackens.

[0072] 14. A latch assembly according to paragraph 1, wherein the power actuator is configured to drive the release lever in a first direction when energized by a first polarity signal and to drive the release lever in a second direction when energized by a second polarity signal, wherein the first polarity signal and the second polarity signal have opposite polarity.

[0073] 15. The latch assembly of paragraph 14,

[0074] wherein, after the release lever is moved to the deployed position, the powered actuator is disabled and the release lever remains in the deployed position;

[0075] The release lever in the deployed position will not return to the original position before the power actuator is activated by the second polarity signal.

[0076] 16. A power-actuated latch assembly for a closure member of a motor vehicle, the power-actuated latch assembly comprising:

[0077] Power actuators;

[0078] a release lever in operative communication with the actuator, the release lever movable from a primary position in a first direction to an auxiliary position in response to a first activation of the powered actuator, and the release lever movable from the auxiliary position in a second direction opposite the first direction to the primary position in response to a second activation of the powered actuator;

[0079] a pawl movable between a ratchet holding position and a ratchet releasing position;

[0080] a primary ratchet movable between a primary striker capture position in which the pawl is in the ratchet retaining position and the striker is captured by the primary ratchet to retain the closure member in the primary closed position, and a striker release position in which the pawl is in the ratchet release position and the striker is free to be removed from the primary ratchet; and

[0081] an auxiliary ratchet movable between an auxiliary striker capture position in which the striker is captured by the auxiliary ratchet to retain the closure member in the auxiliary closed position when the primary ratchet is in the striker release position, and an auxiliary ratchet striker release position in which the striker is free to be removed from the auxiliary ratchet and the closure member is free to move to an open position,

[0082] wherein a first powered actuation of the powered actuator drives the release lever from the primary position in the first direction to the secondary position, wherein the pawl moves from the ratchet holding position to the ratchet releasing position and the primary ratchet moves from the striker capturing position to the striker releasing position,

[0083] wherein a second powered actuation of the powered actuator drives the release lever from the auxiliary position in the second direction to the primary position, wherein the auxiliary ratchet moves from the striker capturing position to the auxiliary ratchet striker releasing position.

[0084] 17. The power-actuated latch assembly according to paragraph 16 further includes an actuator rod, which is operably connected to the pawl and the auxiliary ratchet, and the actuator rod is arranged to engage with the release rod while the release rod moves along the first direction to move the primary ratchet from the striker pin capture position to the striker pin release position and while the release rod moves along the second direction to move the auxiliary ratchet from the auxiliary ratchet striker pin capture position to the auxiliary ratchet striker pin release position.

[0085] 18. The power-actuated latch assembly of paragraph 17,

[0086] wherein the actuating rod is biased to an original position by a biasing member, and when the release rod moves along the first direction, the actuating rod moves from the original position along the first direction to a first deployed position by the release rod overcoming the bias of the biasing member, and when the release rod moves along the second direction, the actuating rod moves from the original position along a second direction opposite to the first direction to a second deployed position by the release rod overcoming the bias of the biasing member; wherein, when the release rod is in its original position and when the release rod is in its deployed position, the actuating rod returns to its original position by the biasing member.

[0087] 19. The power-actuated latch assembly of paragraph 17, wherein the actuator rod is operably coupled to the pawl by a first cable and is operably coupled to the auxiliary ratchet by a second cable.

[0088] 20. The power-actuated latch assembly of paragraph 19, further comprising a pawl release lever configured to move the pawl from the ratchet holding position to the ratchet releasing position when the release lever moves in the first direction, the first cable being attached to the pawl release lever.

Claims

1. A latch assembly (10) for a closure member (13) of a motor vehicle (11), the latch assembly (10) comprising: Latch mechanism (31); Power actuator (18); as well as a release lever (24) in operative communication with the powered actuator (18) and the latch mechanism (31), the release lever (24) being movable from an initial position in a first direction (D1) to a deployed position and from the deployed position in a second direction (D2) opposite the first direction (D1) to the initial position; wherein a first powered actuation of the powered actuator (18) drives the release lever (24) from an initial position to a deployed position to move the latch mechanism (31) and actuate a first function of the latch assembly (10); wherein a second powered actuation of the powered actuator (18) drives the release lever (24) from the deployed position to the home position to move the latch mechanism (31) and actuate a second function of the latch assembly, wherein the second function is different from the first function.

2. The latch assembly (10) according to claim 1, wherein: After the release lever (24) moves to the deployed position, the powered actuator (18) is disabled and the release lever (24) remains in the deployed position.

3. The latch assembly (10) according to claim 2, wherein: After the powered actuator (18) is disabled, the release lever (24) in the deployed position does not return to the original position prior to the second powered actuation.

4. The latch assembly (10) according to claim 3, wherein: After the powered actuator (18) is disabled, the release lever (24) in the deployed position does not return to the original position by spring force.

5. The latch assembly (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, in, A first powered actuation of the powered actuator (18) drives the release lever (24) from the home position in the first direction (D1) to the deployed position to move the latch mechanism (31) and actuate a first function of the latch assembly (10), wherein a second powered actuation of the powered actuator (18) drives the release lever (24) from the deployed position along the second direction (D2) to the original position to move the latch mechanism (31) and actuate a second function of the latch assembly (10), wherein the second function is different from the first function.

6. The latch assembly (10) of claim 5, wherein: The latch mechanism (31) includes a ratchet (30) and a safety hook (32), wherein the ratchet (30) is movable between a striker pin capturing position and a striker pin releasing position, wherein the ratchet (30) captures the striker pin (22) to prevent the striker pin (22) from being released from the ratchet (30), and the striker pin releasing position wherein the ratchet (30) releases the striker pin (22) for removing the striker pin (22) from the ratchet (30), and the safety hook (32) is movable between the safety hook striker pin capturing position and the safety hook striker pin releasing position. The safety hook (32) is adapted to move between two positions, wherein in the safety hook striker pin capturing position, the safety hook (32) captures the striker pin (22) to prevent the striker pin (22) from being removed from the latch assembly (10), and in the safety hook striker pin releasing position, the safety hook (32) releases the striker pin (22) for removing the striker pin (22) from the latch assembly (10), the first function comprising moving the ratchet (30) from the striker pin capturing position to the striker pin releasing position while maintaining the safety hook (32) in the safety hook striker pin capturing position.

7. The latch assembly (10) of claim 6, wherein: The second function includes moving the safety hook (32) from the safety hook striker capturing position to the safety hook striker releasing position.

8. The latch assembly (10) of claim 7, further comprising a pawl (34) movable between a ratchet retaining position and a ratchet releasing position, wherein The latch mechanism (31) includes an actuator rod (42) operably coupled to the pawl (34) and to the safety hook (32), the actuator rod (42) being arranged to engage with the release rod (24) while the release rod (24) is moving in the first direction (D1) to move the ratchet (30) from the striker pin capture position to the striker pin release position and while the release rod (24) is moving in the second direction (D2) to move the safety hook (32) from the safety hook striker pin capture position to the safety hook striker pin release position.

9. The latch assembly (10) of claim 5, wherein: The actuator rod (42) is biased to an original position by a biasing member (50), and when the release rod (24) moves along the first direction (D1), the actuator rod (42) overcomes the bias of the biasing member (50) by the release rod (24) and moves from the original position along the first direction to a first deployed position, and when the release rod (24) moves along the second direction (D2), the actuator rod (42) overcomes the bias of the biasing member (50) by the release rod (24) and moves from the original position along a second direction opposite to the first direction to a second deployed position.

10. The latch assembly (10) according to claim 5, wherein: The actuator rod (42) is returned to its original position by the biasing member (50) when the release rod (24) is in its original position and when the release rod (24) is in its deployed position.

11. The latch assembly (10) of claim 8, wherein: The actuator rod (42) is operatively coupled to the pawl (34) via a first cable (36) and is operatively coupled to the safety hook (32) via a second cable (38).

12. The latch assembly (10) according to claim 11 further includes a pawl release rod (40), which is configured to move the pawl (34) from the ratchet holding position to the ratchet release position when the release rod (24) moves along the first direction (D1), and the first cable (36) is attached to the pawl release rod (40).

13. The latch assembly (10) of claim 11, wherein: When the release lever (24) moves in the first direction (D1), the first cable (36) remains tensioned and the second cable (36) slackens, and when the release lever (24) moves in the second direction (D2), the second cable (36) remains tensioned and the first cable (36) slackens.

14. The latch assembly (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein: The powered actuator (18) is configured to drive the release lever (24) in the first direction (D1) when energized by a first polarity signal (MS1), and to drive the release lever (24) in the second direction (D2) when energized by a second polarity signal (MS2), wherein the first polarity signal (MS1) and the second polarity signal (MS2) have opposite polarities.

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