Closure latch assembly

Claim 2

In a closure latch assembly including a frame, latch bolt means supported on said frame for movement between a latched position and an unlatched position, detent means supported on said frame for movement between a detenting position engaging said latch bolt means in the latched position of the latter and maintaining said latch bolt means in the Latched position and a releasing position remote from said latch bolt means permitting movement of the latter to the releasing position, the combination comprising, a cam member, means supporting said cam member on said frame for movement in a first mode between a first position remote from said detent lever and a second position engaging said detent lever and moving the latter to the releasing position in response to a predetermined actuating force input and for independent movement in a second mode in response to a force input corresponding to one mode of unauthorized manipulation of said closure latch assembly, a blocking member, means supporting said blocking member on said frame for movement between a nonblocking position remote from said latch bolt means and a blocking position preventing movement of said latch bolt means to the unlatched position, means continuously urging said blocking member to the blocking position, link means attached to said blocking member and movable as a unit therewith, and link retainer means connected to said link means and to said cam member for movement as a unit with the latter, said link retainer means maintaining said link means in a position corresponding to the non-blocking position of said blocking member during movement of said cam means in the first mode but releasing said link means in response to movement of said cam means in the second mode thereby to permit movement of said blocking member to the blocking position.

Claim 3

In a closure latch assembly including a frame, latch bolt means supported on said frame for movement between a latched position and an unlatched position, detent means supported on said frame for movement between a detenting position engaging said latch bolt means in the latched position of the latter and maintaining said latch bolt means in the latched position and a releasing position remote from said latch bolt means permitting movement of the latter to the releasing position, the combination comprising, a cam member, means supporting said cam member on said frame for rotation in a first mode between a first position remote from said detent lever and a second position engaging said detent lever and moving the latter to the releasing position in response to a rotary actuating input and for bodily shiftable movement effecting separation from said frame in a second mode in response to a force input corresponding to one mode of unauthorized manipulation of said closure latch assembly, a blocking member, means supporting said blocking member on said frame for bodily shiftable movement between a non-blocking position remote from said latch bolt means and a blocking position preventing movement of said latch bolt means to the unlatched position, means continuously urging said blocking member to the blocking position, a link, means attaching a first end of said link to said blocking member for bodily shiftable movement as a unit with the latter, means on said cam member defining a link retaining slot disposed in an arc about the center of rotation of said cam member, and means supporting a second end of said link in said retaining slot for sliding movement along said slot during rotation of said cam member in the first mode and for release from said slot in response to movement of said cam member in the second mode thereby to permit movement of said blocking member to the blocking position, said retaining slot maintaining said link in a position corresponding to the non-blocking position of said blocking member during rotation of said cam member in the first mode.

Claim 4

In a closure latch assembly including a frame, latch bolt means supported on said frame for movement between a latched position and an unlatched position, detent means supported on said frame for movement between a detenting position engaging said latch bolt means in the latched position of the latter and maintaining said latch bolt means in the latched position and a releasing position remote from said latch bolt means permitting movement of the latter to the releasing position, the combination comprising, a cam member, means supporting said cam member on said frame for rotation in a first mode between a first position remote from said detent lever and a second position engaging said detent lever and moving the latter to the releasing position in response to a rotary actuating input and for bodily shiftable movement effecting separation from said frame in a second mode in response to a force input corresponding to one mode of unauthorized manipulation of said closure latch assembly, a blocking member, means supporting said blocking member on said frame for bodily shiftable movement between a non-blocking position remote from said latch bolt means and a blocking position preventing movement of said latch bolt means to the unlatched position, means continuously urging said blocking member to the blocking position, a link, means attaching a first end of said link to said blocking member for bodily shiftable movement as a unit with the latter, means on said cam member defining a link retaining slot disposed in an arc about the center of rotation of said cam member, and means supporting a second end of said link in said retaining slot for sliding movement along said slot during rotation of said cam member in the first mode and for release from said slot in response to movement of said cam member in the second mode thereby to permit movement of said blocking member to the blocking position, said retaining slot maintaining said link in a position corresponding to the non-blocking position of said blocking member during rotation of said cam member in the first mode.

Claim 5

In a latch assembly for a vehicle closure including lock means disposed on an outer panel of said closure, a key shaft connected to said lock means and rotatable thereby, a latch frame disposed on said closure inboard of said outer panel, a latch bolt supported on said frame for movement between a latched position and an unlatched position, a detent lever supported on said frame for movement between a detenting position engaging said latch bolt in the latcHed position of the latter and maintaining said latch bolt in the latched position and a releasing position remote from said latch bolt permitting movement of the latter to the releasing position, the combination comprising, a cam member having a cylindrical bearing surface bounded by a pair of flexible annular lips and including a key slot and a retaining slot extending in an arc about the center of said cylindrical bearing surface, means in said frame defining an aperture aligned on the longitudinal axis of said key shaft, said cam member bearing surface being disposed in said aperture with said annular lips situated on opposite sides of said frame so that cam member is supported on said frame for rotation in a first mode between a first position remote from said detent lever and a second position engaging and moving said detent lever to the releasing position in response to a rotary actuating input from said key shaft and for bodily shiftable movement effecting separation from said frame in a second mode in response to a force input corresponding to one mode of unauthorized manipulation of said latch assembly, clip means disposed on said key shaft for movement as a unit with the latter, said clip means and said key shaft being disposed in said key slot so that rotation of said key shaft effects rotation of said cam member in the first mode, means on said clip operative to prevent bodily shiftable movement of the latter relative to said cam member so that bodily shiftable movement of said key shaft effects movement of said cam member in the second mode, a blocking member supported on said frame for bodily shiftable movement between a non-blocking position remote from said latch bolt and a blocking position preventing movement of said latch bolt to the unlatched position, spring means continuously urging said blocking member to the blocking position, a link, means attaching a first end of said link to said blocking member for bodily shiftable movement as a unit with the latter, and means supporting a second end of said link in said cam member retaining slot for sliding movement along said slot during rotation of said cam member in the first mode and for release from said slot in response to movement of said cam member in the second mode thereby to permit movement of said blocking member to the blocking position, said retaining slot maintaining said link in a position corresponding to the non-blocking position of said blocking member during rotation of said cam member in the first mode.

Claim 6

In a latch assembly for a vehicle closure including lock means disposed on an outer panel of said closure, a key shaft connected to said lock means and rotatable thereby, a latch frame disposed on said closure inboard of said outer panel, a latch bolt supported on said frame for movement between a latched position and an unlatched position, a detent lever supported on said frame for movement between a detenting position engaging said latch bolt in the latcHed position of the latter and maintaining said latch bolt in the latched position and a releasing position remote from said latch bolt permitting movement of the latter to the releasing position, the combination comprising, a cam member having a cylindrical bearing surface bounded by a pair of flexible annular lips and including a key slot and a retaining slot extending in an arc about the center of said cylindrical bearing surface, means in said frame defining an aperture aligned on the longitudinal axis of said key shaft, said cam member bearing surface being disposed in said aperture with said annular lips situated on opposite sides of said frame so that cam member is supported on said frame for rotation in a first mode between a first position remote from said detent lever and a second position engaging and moving said detent lever to the releasing position in response to a rotary actuating input from said key shaft and for bodily shiftable movement effecting separation from said frame in a second mode in response to a force input corresponding to one mode of unauthorized manipulation of said latch assembly, clip means disposed on said key shaft for movement as a unit with the latter, said clip means and said key shaft being disposed in said key slot so that rotation of said key shaft effects rotation of said cam member in the first mode, means on said clip operative to prevent bodily shiftable movement of the latter relative to said cam member so that bodily shiftable movement of said key shaft effects movement of said cam member in the second mode, a blocking member supported on said frame for bodily shiftable movement between a non-blocking position remote from said latch bolt and a blocking position preventing movement of said latch bolt to the unlatched position, spring means continuously urging said blocking member to the blocking position, a link, means attaching a first end of said link to said blocking member for bodily shiftable movement as a unit with the latter, and means supporting a second end of said link in said cam member retaining slot for sliding movement along said slot during rotation of said cam member in the first mode and for release from said slot in response to movement of said cam member in the second mode thereby to permit movement of said blocking member to the blocking position, said retaining slot maintaining said link in a position corresponding to the non-blocking position of said blocking member during rotation of said cam member in the first mode.