vehicle door latch

Abstract

Adapt vehicle door latches for one-motion or two-motion release. [Solution] The vehicle door latch 1 comprises an electric release mechanism 9 having an electric gear wheel that is moved from a rest position to an actuated position by a release motor, a mechanical release mechanism 16 having an inside release lever that is moved from a rest position to an actuated position, a lock mechanism 60 having a lock lever that moves between an unlocked position and a locked position, and an override mechanism 70 having an override lever that moves the lock lever from the locked position to the unlocked position, and the vehicle door latch can be configured according to either the first or second configuration, with the override lever having a first shape and a stroke of the override lever reaching the first position, and the override lever having a second shape and a stroke of the override lever reaching a second position different from the first position of the inside release lever, by interchangeably configuring the vehicle door latch according to either the first or second configuration.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle door latch, such as a side door latch or a trunk lid latch. [Background technology]

[0002] Traditional door latches have a purely mechanical release system. The end user directly activates a mechanical open control that moves a cable to release the door latch and allow the door to be opened. Doors typically have two mechanical open controls: an inside handle and an outside handle. In the event of a power outage, these two mechanical open controls remain operational.

[0003] Currently, door latches use an electric release mechanism, also known as an E-release mechanism, which allows the door to be opened with a simple operation such as pressing a switch or making a movement in front of a detector.

[0004] These door latches can be locked and unlocked electrically. The locking function prevents intrusion from outside the vehicle. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] To prevent users from being locked out when exiting the vehicle, some vehicles feature an override function. This function allows the door latch to be mechanically unlocked by pulling the inside handle from inside the vehicle. If the user operates the inside handle, the door latch will unlock without first electrically unlocking the door latch. This override unlock function can be performed in one motion, meaning the door latch is released and unlocked simultaneously in the same motion. Alternatively, the override unlock function can be performed in two motions, meaning the user first pulls the inside handle to unlock the door latch, and then the user pulls the inside handle again to unlock the door latch.

[0006] The choice between one-motion and two-motion release is generally determined by regulation, for example, US regulations require two-motion release.

[0007] Therefore, to accommodate a specific market, manufacturers must develop two different latch designs to comply with different regulations, but offering two latch designs doubles the engineering costs. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] It is an object of the present invention to provide a solution that allows a vehicle door latch to be adapted for one-motion or two-motion release with minimal modification and without requiring redesign of the vehicle door latch.

[0009] To this end, the present invention relates to a vehicle door latch, the vehicle door latch comprising: a retaining unit for engaging a striker of a vehicle in a closed position and for releasing the striker to release the vehicle door latch in an open position; an electric release mechanism comprising an electrically powered gear wheel configured to be moved from a rest position to an actuated position by a release motor; - a mechanical release mechanism comprising an inner release lever configured to be moved from a rest position to an actuated position by an inner mechanical opening control to release said holding unit in said open position, and an outer mechanical lever configured to be moved from a rest position to an actuated position by an outer mechanical opening control to release said holding unit in said open position; a locking mechanism including a locking lever configured to move between an unlocked position, where movement of the outer mechanical lever releases the retention unit of the door latch, and a locked position, where the locking lever disengages the outer mechanical lever from the retention unit; an override mechanism including an override lever configured to move the lock lever from the locked position to the unlocked position when the inner release lever moves from a rest position to an actuated position corresponding to a stroke of the override lever; The vehicle door latch has a first configuration, in which the override lever has a first shape, a stroke of the override lever reaches a first position of the inside release lever, and the override lever is configured to displace the lock lever to the unlocked position before the retention unit is released when the inside release lever is moved from the rest position to the actuated position, and a second configuration, in which the override lever has a second shape, a stroke of the override lever reaches a second position different from the first position of the inside release lever, and the override lever is configured to displace the lock lever to the unlocked position without releasing the retention unit in an open position when the inside release lever is moved from the rest position to the actuated position, and the vehicle door latch can be configured according to the first or second configuration by interchanging the override lever.

[0010] The first configuration supports one-motion release-to-open and the second configuration supports two-motion release-to-open, allowing the vehicle door latch to conform to local regulations requiring one-motion release-to-open or two-motion release-to-open by simply selecting the adapted override lever.

[0011] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the override lever is connected to the lock lever.

[0012] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the lock lever is configured to move between the unlocked position and the locked position.

[0013] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the holding unit comprises a pawl configured to rotate between a closed position in which the pawl holds the striker and an open position in which the pawl releases the striker, and a pawl configured to prevent rotation of the pawl in the closed position and to allow rotation of the pawl in the open position.

[0014] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the vehicle door latch is characterized by comprising a driver having a first lever configured to move the pawl to the open position, a second lever driven by movement of the outer mechanical lever or movement of the inner release lever, and a paddle clutch configured on one side to be moved by the lock lever in a deployed position between the first and second levers of the driver, and configured such that when the second lever moves towards the actuated position, the first lever moves to move the pawl to the open position and release the door latch, and on the other side to be moved by the lock lever in a retracted position, and configured such that when the lock lever is in the locked position, the paddle clutch disengages from between the first and second levers.

[0015] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the paddle clutch is configured to be moved by the lock lever in the deployed position before the second lever is moved by the inside release lever, and the door latch is unlocked and released with the same movement of the inside release lever, providing a one-motion release open.

[0016] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the paddle clutch is configured to be moved to the deployed position by the lock lever after the second lever has been moved to the blocked position by the inner release lever, and in this blocked position, the second lever prevents the paddle clutch from moving to the deployed position, and when the inner release lever is released, the paddle clutch, subjected to an elastic restoring force, moves to the deployed position, providing two-motion release opening.

[0017] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the vehicle door latch includes a lock motor configured to move the lock lever from the unlocked position to the locked position, and the lock motor is configured to move to the unlocked position when the lock lever moves from the locked position to the unlocked position.

[0018] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the vehicle door latch comprises a central opening lever configured to be moved between a rest position and an actuated position by the electric gear wheel, the central opening lever releasing the retaining unit in the open position.

[0019] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the central opening lever and the inner release lever are coaxial and are configured to rotate about a common first axis.

[0020] According to one embodiment of the present invention, when the central opening lever moves from its rest position to its actuated position, thereby corresponding to a stroke of the override lever, the override lever is configured to move the lock lever from the locked position to the unlocked position.

[0021] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the central opening lever is configured to rotate about a first axis, and the inner mechanical lever is configured to be rotatably attached to the central opening lever via a second axis different from the first axis.

[0022] The present invention also relates to a vehicle door, the vehicle door comprising the inside mechanical opening control, the outside mechanical opening control, and the vehicle door latch described above, wherein the inside mechanical opening control is mechanically coupled to the inside release lever, and the outside mechanical opening control is mechanically coupled to the outside mechanical lever.

[0023] The invention will be better understood from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0024] In these figures, identical or similar components are given the same reference numerals, and only those components necessary for understanding the invention are shown. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0025] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of the main components of a door latch according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the main components of the door latch according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] 1 is a perspective view of the main components of a door latch according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 shows an override lever according to a first embodiment in a first position. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 shows the override lever according to the first embodiment in a second position. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of essential components of the door latch related to the override lever of FIG. 5. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 shows the override lever according to the first embodiment in a third position. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 shows an override lever according to a second embodiment in a first position. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 shows an override lever according to a second embodiment in a second position. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the main components of the door latch related to the override lever of FIG. 9. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of essential components of a door latch according to a third embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] The following results are illustrative. Although this specification refers to one or more embodiments, this does not imply that each reference refers to the same embodiment or that a feature applies only to a single embodiment. Simple features of different embodiments may be combined to provide other embodiments.

[0027] 1 and 2 show an embodiment of a vehicle door latch 1 for closing a door, particularly a side door or trunk lid, of a vehicle such as an automobile.

[0028] The vehicle door latch 1 comprises a retaining unit 50 comprising a pawl 2 and a pole 3 (see FIG. 2).

[0029] Both the pawl 2 and the pole 3 are configured to pivot between an open position and a closed position. In the closed position, the retaining unit 50 engages a vehicle's striker (not shown), which is sandwiched between the pawl 2 and the pole 3 prevents the pawl 2 from rotating. In the open position, the retaining unit 50 releases the striker to unlock the vehicle door latch 1, and the pole 3 allows the pawl 2 to rotate, which releases the striker and allows the door to open.

[0030] The pole 3 may be subjected to an elastic restoring force that pushes the pole 3 towards the pawl 2. The pawl 2 may be subjected to an elastic restoring force that pushes the pawl 2 into the open position.

[0031] The vehicle door latch 1 also includes an electric release mechanism 9. The electric release mechanism 9 includes a motorized gear wheel 13 configured to be moved by the release motor 11 of the door latch 1 from a rest position to an actuated position.

[0032] More precisely, the release motor 11 has an output shaft 12 with a worm 12a arranged to mesh with an electric gear wheel 13, the rotation of which leads to the rotation of the electric gear wheel 13. The electric gear wheel 13 may be provided with teeth only on part of a circle, depending on the angular difference between the rest position and the working position of the electric gear wheel 13.

[0033] The release motor 11 is actuated by the control unit of the vehicle door latch 1 when a user activates an electrical (or electronic) opening control, such as a door switch, a key switch, or movement in front of a detector. According to one embodiment, the release motor 11 is a reversible motor (the output shaft 12 of the release motor 11 can be rotated in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction, for example to return the electric gear wheel 13 to a rest position after the striker has been released by the vehicle door latch 1).

[0034] The vehicle door latch 1 may include a central opening lever 10 configured to rotate about a first axis 40 between an actuated position and a rest position.

[0035] The central opening lever 10 is driven to the operating position by the rotation of the motorized gear wheel 13 from the rest position to the operating position.

[0036] According to one embodiment, the electric gear wheel 13 and the central opening lever 10 are coaxial. They each have an end portion protruding in the axial direction, and the end portion of the central opening lever 10 is on the path of the end portion of the electric gear wheel 13 in the direction of movement of the electric gear wheel 13 towards the operating position. Therefore, when the electric gear wheel 13 is driven to the operating position, the electric gear wheel 13 and the central opening lever 10 rotate together.

[0037] The central opening lever 10 may be subjected to an elastic restoring force which pushes it into its rest position.

[0038] According to one embodiment, movement of the central opening lever 10 from a rest position to an actuated position moves a first lever 5 of a driver 4 of the door latch 1. This first lever 5 is configured to move the pawl 3 to an open position and release the door latch 1.

[0039] The first lever 5 may be a pivoting lever. The first lever 5 is configured to move between a rest position and an actuated position. The first lever 5 may be subjected to an elastic restoring force to be urged back to the rest position.

[0040] Thereby, the movement of the first lever 5 is driven by the movement of the central opening lever 10 .

[0041] To rotate the first lever 5 of the screwdriver 4, the central opening lever 10 is provided with, for example, a tab 14 which cooperates with a pin 15 of the first lever 5 of the screwdriver 4. Thus, when the central opening lever 10 rotates, the tab 14 presses against the pin 15, which rotates the first lever 5 and releases the holding unit 50 in the open position.

[0042] The vehicle door latch 1 also includes a second lever 6 of the driver 4, which may be configured to be rotated by a mechanical release mechanism 16 (described below).

[0043] The second lever 6 may be a pivoting lever. The second lever 6 is configured to move between a rest position and an actuated position. The second lever 6 may be subjected to an elastic restoring force that urges it back to the rest position.

[0044] The first lever 5 and the second lever 6 of the driver 4 can rotate around the same axis X (coaxial).

[0045] The driver 4 also includes a paddle clutch 24 configured to move between a stowed position and a deployed position.

[0046] The driver 4 also includes a spring 28 configured to apply a resilient force to the paddle clutch 24. The spring 28 can have one end coupled to the paddle clutch 24 and the other end coupled to a lock lever 23 of a lock mechanism 60 (described below).

[0047] According to one embodiment, the paddle clutch 24 is configured to slide within a slot in the first lever 5 between a retracted position and a deployed position.

[0048] In the deployed position shown in FIG. 1, the paddle clutch 24 is deployed between the first and second levers 5, 6 of the driver 4, such that movement of the second lever 6 towards the actuated position moves the first lever 5, which moves the pawl 3 to the open position and releases the door latch 1.

[0049] 3, the paddle clutch 24 is disengaged from between the first lever 5 and the second lever 6, so even if the second lever 6 moves toward the operating position, the first lever 5 does not move, and therefore the door latch 1 is not released.

[0050] Vehicle door latch 1 also includes a mechanical release mechanism 16. Mechanical release mechanism 16 includes an interior mechanical lever 17 that can be moved from a rest position to an actuated position from inside the vehicle by an interior mechanical opening control (not shown) on the vehicle door, such as an interior handle. Interior mechanical lever 17 is mechanically coupled to the interior mechanical opening control by a cable (not shown) secured, for example, to hole 18. This cable can be pulled by a user to actuate the interior mechanical opening control.

[0051] The inner mechanical lever 17 can be configured to rotate about a first axis 40, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. In this case, the inner mechanical lever 17 and the central opening lever 10 (and the electric gear wheel 13) are coaxial.

[0052] The inner mechanical lever 17 includes a tab 17a configured to displace the second lever 6 of the driver 4 toward the actuated position when the inner mechanical lever 17 is rotated toward the actuated position (see FIG. 2).

[0053] The mechanical release mechanism 16 may also include an outside mechanical lever 20 that can be moved from a rest position to an actuated position from outside the vehicle by an outside mechanical opening control of the vehicle door, such as an outside handle. The outside mechanical lever 20 is mechanically coupled to the outside mechanical opening control by, for example, a cable 21 that can be pulled by a user to actuate the outside mechanical opening control.

[0054] When the outer mechanical lever 20 rotates towards its actuated position, the outer mechanical lever 20 is configured to displace the second lever 6 of the driver 4 towards its actuated position.

[0055] The vehicle door latch 1 may also include a locking mechanism 60 for preventing outside entry into the vehicle. The locking mechanism 60 includes a locking lever 23 that is movable between a locked position and an unlocked position.

[0056] The locking lever 23 can be configured to move in translation.

[0057] When the lock lever 23 moves from the locked position to the unlocked position, the lock lever 23 is configured to move the paddle clutch 24 from the retracted position to the deployed position.

[0058] According to one embodiment, to move the paddle clutch 24, the locking lever 23 is configured to drive the pivot pin 22 of the paddle clutch 24 by means of the hole 23a of the locking lever 23, such that movement of the hole 23a of the locking lever 23 drives movement of the pivot pin 22 of the paddle clutch 24 and thereby also drives movement of the paddle clutch 24. The hole 23a can have an elongated shape (to allow the locking lever 23 to be moved towards the unlocked position when the paddle clutch 24 is blocked in the retracted position by the second lever 6).

[0059] The locking mechanism 60 may also include a lock motor 25 (see FIG. 7) configured to move the locking lever 23 from an unlocked position to a locked position, for example, in response to a user's locking request.

[0060] Here, the lock motor 25 has an output shaft 26, and the output shaft 26 is provided with a worm 26a configured to mesh with a lock gear wheel 27, so that the lock gear wheel 27 rotates when the output shaft 26 rotates. The lock gear wheel 27 can have teeth only on a part of a circle depending on the angle difference between the unlocked and locked positions of the lock gear wheel 27, which correspond to the unlocked and locked positions of the lock lever 23.

[0061] As an example, the lock gear wheel 27 has a rib on one surface thereof, and this rib is configured to cooperate with the lock lever 23 to move the lock lever 23 to the locked position when the lock gear wheel 27 is rotated by the worm 26a of the output shaft 26 of the lock motor 25 (movement to the left in Figure 1).

[0062] The lock motor 25 is configured to move from the locked position to the unlocked position by moving the lock lever 23 from the locked position to the unlocked position (this can be achieved by an override mechanism 70, described below).

[0063] According to one embodiment, the lock motor 25 is a reversible motor (the output shaft 26 of the lock motor 25 can rotate clockwise or counterclockwise) and is configured to move the lock lever 23 from the locked position to the unlocked position, for example, in response to a user's unlock request.

[0064] In the unlocked position, the outer mechanical lever 20 moves from the rest position to the actuated position, thereby disengaging the retaining unit 50 of the door latch 1 and allowing the door to open, while in the locked position, the lock lever 23 disengages the outer mechanical lever 20 from the retaining unit 50 by moving the paddle clutch 24 to the retracted position.

[0065] In the closed and locked positions, the outer mechanical lever 20 cannot release the door latch 1. When the outer mechanical lever 20 moves from the rest position to the operating position, it can rotate the second lever 6, but because it faces radially toward the paddle clutch 24 (which is in the retracted position as shown in FIG. 3 ), the paddle clutch 24 is not rotated, the first lever 5 is not rotated, and the vehicle door latch 1 is not released. When the paddle clutch 24 is in the retracted position, a gap is formed between the first lever 5 and the second lever 6, allowing the second lever 6 to rotate within the gap toward the operating position without interfering with the first lever 5. Therefore, the first lever 5 remains in the rest position.

[0066] The vehicle door latch 1 may also include an override mechanism 70 for unlocking the vehicle door latch 1 when the inner mechanical lever 17 moves from a rest position to an actuated position.

[0067] The override mechanism 70 includes an override lever 30 configured to move the lock lever 23 from a locked position to an unlocked position. The override lever 30 is configured to be moved by the inner mechanical lever 17 from a rest position to an actuated position, which is intended to release the striker from the retention unit 50 and release the door latch 1.

[0068] The override lever 30 may be a pivot lever.

[0069] In this example, an override lever 30 is connected to the lock lever 23 .

[0070] After the door latch 1 is released, the override lever 30 remains in the unlocked position, which causes the lock lever 23 to remain in the unlocked position after the door latch 1 is released.

[0071] The override lever 30 has, for example, a protrusion 30 a whose lower side is adapted to cooperate with the end of the inner mechanical lever 17 .

[0072] According to the first embodiment of the override lever 30 shown in Figures 1 to 7, the shape of the override lever 30, in particular its protrusion 30a, can be adapted to move the lock lever 23 from the locked position to the unlocked position before the inner mechanical lever 17 disengages the retaining unit 50 and releases the door latch 1 (moving the lock lever 23 towards the unlocked position before moving the second lever 6 by the inner mechanical lever 17 moves the paddle clutch 24 to the deployed position). Thus, unlocking and releasing are performed in the same motion.

[0073] In this embodiment, the underside of the protrusion 30a is provided with an edge 31a that protrudes toward the end 17a of the inner mechanical lever 17, and when the inner mechanical lever 17 moves toward the actuated position, as shown in FIG. 4, after the first angular displacement of the inner mechanical lever 17, the end 17a of the inner mechanical lever 17 comes into contact with the edge 31a of the protrusion 30a.

[0074] As the inner mechanical lever 17 rotates through additional angular displacement, it reaches a first position corresponding to the stroke of the override lever, where tilting the override lever 30 moves the lock lever 23 to the unlocked position as shown in Figures 5 and 6 (the lock lever 23 moves toward the right in the figures due to the tilt of the override lever 30). As the lock lever 23 is displaced toward the unlocked position, the paddle clutch 24 is displaced to the deployed position.

[0075] Upon further angular displacement, rotation of the inner mechanical lever 17 causes the second lever 6 of the driver 4 to rotate towards the activated position. Such rotation of the second lever 6 causes rotation of the first lever 5 as the paddle clutch 24 is in the deployed position, releasing the holding unit 50 in the open position.

[0076] Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7, when the inner mechanical lever 17 reaches its full stroke position, the vehicle door latch 1 opens and the striker is released.

[0077] As a result, unlocking the vehicle door latch 1 and releasing the striker to open the vehicle door latch 1 is accomplished with a single pull of the interior mechanical open control.

[0078] Such a configuration is called one-motion override release open.

[0079] According to a second embodiment of the override lever 30 shown in Figures 8 to 10, the shape of the override lever 30, in particular its protrusion 30a, can be adapted to move the paddle clutch 24 to the deployed position after the second lever 6 has been moved by the inner mechanical lever 17 to a position that prevents the deployment of the paddle clutch 24.

[0080] Thus, unlocking occurs with a first inward opening mechanical release of the locked door latch 1, and release can occur with a second inward opening mechanical release (two motion), or with an outward opening release (after the first inward opening mechanical release), or with an electrical release (after the first inward opening mechanical release).

[0081] In this embodiment, the underside of the protrusion 30a has a concave shape that forms a recess 31b, so that the end 17a of the inner mechanical lever 17 contacts the recess 31b of the protrusion 30a after a second angular displacement, as shown in FIG. 9. This second angular displacement is greater than the first angular displacement described above in FIG. 4. When the inner mechanical lever 17 reaches this second angular displacement, the inner mechanical lever 17 begins to rotate the second lever 6 toward its actuated position. When the paddle clutch 24 is in the retracted position, the second lever 6 rotates toward the first lever 5 in a gap that corresponds to the position of the paddle clutch 24 when it is in the deployed position.

[0082] The inner mechanical lever 17 must rotate an additional angular displacement to reach a second position (different from the first position shown in FIG. 5 for the first embodiment of the override lever 30) that corresponds to the stroke of the override lever. Now, the override lever 30 is tilted, which moves the lock lever 23 to the unlocked position as shown in FIG. 9 (the lock lever 23 moves towards the right in the figure).

[0083] Because the second lever 6 has already been displaced toward the first lever 5, the paddle clutch 24 cannot move to the deployed position (because the second lever 6 is in a position corresponding to the deployed position of the paddle clutch 24). Therefore, displacement of the inner mechanical lever 17 rotates the override lever 30 (due to the interaction between the end 17a of the inner mechanical lever 17 and the protrusion 30a of the override lever 30 as the inner mechanical lever 17 moves toward the actuated position), causing the lock lever 23 to move to the unlocked position. However, the second lever 6 has already moved radially toward the paddle clutch 24, preventing the paddle clutch 24 from moving to the deployed position. Therefore, the paddle clutch 24 remains in the retracted position. Displacement of the lock lever 23 to the unlocked position causes compression of the spring 28 of the paddle clutch 24 (because the paddle clutch 24 is blocked in the retracted position).

[0084] When the user releases the inner mechanical open control, the inner mechanical lever 17 rotates back to its rest position, disengaging the second lever 6 at its rest position. When the second lever 6 returns to its rest position, the gap between the first lever 5 and the second lever 6 is released and the paddle clutch 24 moves to its deployed position under the action of the spring 28.

[0085] The vehicle door latch 1 is then unlocked.

[0086] The user can then release the striker from the door latch 1 by again pulling the inner mechanical open control (or pulling the outer mechanical open control or pressing the electrical open control). This rotates the second lever 6 of the driver 4, which moves the first lever 5 via the movement of the paddle clutch 24 located between the first and second levers 5, allowing the pawl 3 to disengage from the pawl 2 and release the door latch 1.

[0087] Such a configuration is called a two-motion override release open.

[0088] According to another embodiment, the override mechanism 70 can also be applied to the electrical release of a locked door latch 1. In this case, the central opening lever 10 is configured to displace the second lever 6 (instead of the first lever 5) when rotating from its rest position to its actuated position, and the end of the central opening lever 10 is configured to contact the protrusion 30a of the override lever 30 to move the lock lever 23 from the locked position to the unlocked position. As for the mechanical release, one-motion override open or two-motion override open is obtained depending on the selection of the override lever 30. The functionality of the other parts of the vehicle door latch 1 remains the same as in the previous embodiment.

[0089] According to a further embodiment shown in Figure 11, the central opening lever 10 is configured to displace the second lever 6 (not the first lever 5) when the central opening lever 10 rotates from the rest position to the actuated position, and the inner mechanical lever 17 can be configured to be rotatably attached to the central opening lever 10 via a second axis 42 different from the first axis 40. In this case, when the inner mechanical lever 17 is displaced from the rest position to the actuated position, the central opening lever 10 is displaced from the rest position to the actuated position and the second lever 6 is rotated. The function of other parts of the vehicle door latch 1 remains the same as in the previous embodiment.

[0090] The present invention also relates to a vehicle door comprising an inner mechanical opening control, an outer mechanical opening control and a vehicle door latch 1 according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the inner mechanical opening control is mechanically coupled to an inner release lever 17, for example via a cable, and the outer mechanical opening control is mechanically coupled to an outer mechanical lever 20, for example via a cable 21.

[0091] Thus, with the vehicle door latch 1 configured as described above, the vehicle door latch 1 can be switched from one-motion override open to two-motion override open, or vice versa, simply by switching the override lever 30. As a result, manufacturers can easily adapt the vehicle door latch 1 to local regulations by selecting an adapted override lever 30. Therefore, a single vehicle door latch design can be adopted in various countries with different regulations, thereby reducing overall design costs. [Explanation of symbols]

[0092] 1 Vehicle door latch 2 claws 3. Paul 4 Driver 5 First lever 6 Second lever 9 Electric release mechanism 10 Central opening lever 11 Release motor 12 Output shaft 12a Warm 13 Electric Gear Wheel 14 tabs 15-pin 16 Mechanical release mechanism 17 Inner mechanical lever, inner release lever 17a Tab, end 18 holes 20 Outer mechanical lever 21 Cable 22 Axle pin 23 Lock lever Hole 23a 24 Paddle clutch 25 Lock motor 26 Output shaft 26a Warm 27 Lock Gear Wheel 28 Spring 30 Override lever 30a protrusion 31a Edge 31b Recess 40 1st axis 42 2nd axis 50 holding units 60 Locking mechanism 70 Override mechanism

Claims

1. A vehicle door latch (1), comprising: a retaining unit (50) for engaging a striker of the vehicle in the closed position and for releasing said striker in the open position to release said vehicle door latch (1); an electric release mechanism (9) comprising an electric gear wheel (13) adapted to be moved from a rest position to an actuated position by a release motor (11); a mechanical release mechanism (16) comprising an inner release lever (17) configured to be moved from a rest position to an actuated position by an inner mechanical opening control to release said holding unit (50) in said open position, and an outer mechanical lever (20) configured to be moved from a rest position to an actuated position by an outer mechanical opening control to release said holding unit (50) in said open position; a locking mechanism (60) comprising a locking lever (23) configured to move between an unlocked position, in which movement of the outer mechanical lever (20) releases the retaining unit (50) of the door latch (1), and a locked position, in which the locking lever (23) disengages the outer mechanical lever (20) from the retaining unit (50); an override mechanism (70) comprising an override lever (30) configured to move the lock lever (23) from the locked position to the unlocked position when the inner release lever (17) moves from the rest position to the actuated position corresponding to a stroke of the override lever; The vehicle door latch (1) has a first configuration in which the override lever (30) has a first shape, a stroke of the override lever (30) reaches a first position of the inside release lever (17), and the override lever (30) is configured to displace the lock lever (23) to the unlock position before the retaining unit (50) is released when the inside release lever (17) is moved from the rest position to the actuated position; and a second configuration in which the override lever (30) has a second shape, a stroke of the override lever reaches a first position of the inside release lever (17), and the override lever (30) is configured to displace the lock lever (23) to the unlock position before the retaining unit (50) is released when the inside release lever (17) is moved from the rest position to the actuated position. and a second configuration in which an inside release lever (17) reaches a second position different from the first position, and the override lever (30) is configured to displace the lock lever (23) to the unlocked position without releasing the retaining unit (50) in the open position when the inside release lever (17) is moved from the rest position to the actuated position, wherein the override lever (30) is configured to displace the lock lever (23) to the unlocked position without releasing the retaining unit (50) in the open position, and wherein the vehicle door latch (1) can be configured according to the first configuration or the second configuration by exchanging the override lever (30).

2. 2. The vehicle door latch (1) of claim 1, wherein the override lever (30) is connected to the lock lever (23).

3. 3. The vehicle door latch (1) of claim 1 or 2, wherein the lock lever (23) is configured to move between the unlocked position and the locked position.

4. 3. The vehicle door latch according to claim 1, wherein the retaining unit comprises: a pawl configured to rotate between the closed position in which the pawl retains the striker and the open position in which the pawl releases the striker; and a pawl configured to prevent rotation of the pawl in the closed position and to allow rotation of the pawl in the open position.

5. 5. The vehicle door latch according to claim 4, further comprising a driver (4) including: a first lever (5) configured to move the pawl (3) to the open position; a second lever (6) driven by a movement of the outer mechanical lever (20) or a movement of the inner release lever (17); and a paddle clutch (24) configured, on one side, to be moved by the lock lever (23) of the driver (4) in a deployed position between the first lever (5) and the second lever (6), such that, in the unlocked position of the lock lever (23), when the second lever (6) moves towards the actuated position, the first lever (5) moves to move the pawl (3) to the open position and release the vehicle door latch (1); and, on the other side, to be moved by the lock lever (23) in a retracted position, such that, in the locked position of the lock lever (23), the paddle clutch (24) disengages from between the first lever (5) and the second lever (6).

6. 6. The vehicle door latch (1) of claim 5, wherein the paddle clutch (24) is configured to be moved by the lock lever (23) in the deployed position before the second lever (6) is moved by the inside release lever (17), and the vehicle door latch (1) is unlocked and released with the same movement of the inside release lever (17), providing a one-motion release open.

7. 6. The vehicle door latch (1) of claim 5, wherein the paddle clutch (24) is configured to be moved to the extended position by the lock lever (23) after the second lever (6) has been moved to a blocked position by the inner release lever (17), and in this blocked position, the second lever (6) prevents the paddle clutch (24) from moving to the extended position, and when the inner release lever (17) is released, the paddle clutch (24) under an elastic restoring force moves to the extended position, providing a two-motion release open.

8. The vehicle door latch (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the vehicle door latch (1) comprises a lock motor (25) configured to move the lock lever (23) from the unlocked position to the locked position, and the lock motor (25) is configured to move to the unlocked position when the lock lever (23) moves from the locked position to the unlocked position.

9. The vehicle door latch (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the vehicle door latch (1) comprises a central opening lever (10) configured to be moved between a rest position and an actuated position by the electric gear wheel, and the central opening lever (10) releases the retaining unit (50) in the open position.

10. 10. The vehicle door latch (1) of claim 9, wherein the central opening lever (10) and the inner release lever (17) are coaxial and configured to rotate about a common first axis (40).

11. 11. The vehicle door latch (1) of claim 10, wherein the override lever (30) is configured to move the lock lever (23) from the locked position to the unlocked position when the central open lever (10) moves from its rest position to its actuated position in response to a stroke of the override lever.

12. 10. The vehicle door latch (1) of claim 9, wherein the central opening lever (10) is configured to rotate about a first axis (40), and the inner mechanical lever (17) is configured to be rotatably attached to the central opening lever (10) via a second axis (42) different from the first axis (40).

13. A vehicle door comprising the inside mechanical open control and the outside mechanical open control, the vehicle door comprising the vehicle door latch (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the inside mechanical open control is mechanically coupled to the inside release lever (17) and the outside mechanical open control is mechanically coupled to the outside mechanical lever (20).

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