A latch assembly comprises an exterior housing, a door latch, a plunger, a resilient member, and an external lever pivotally mounted on an outer face of the exterior housing. The external lever comprises a first leg, a second leg disposed at an angle relative to the first leg, and a pivot mount disposed between the first leg and the second leg. The plunger is maintained in the latched position when the external lever is in a latched position by the resilient member, whereby an entry door cannot be unintentionally shifted from the closed position. The plunger is displaced from the latched position to the unlatched position when the external lever is rotated from the latched position to the unlatched position by the second leg bearing against the plunger, whereby the entry door is free to be shifted from the closed position to the open position.

An embodiment door outside handle assembly includes a door lock body configured to be attached to an outside of a door panel of a vehicle, a grip cover covering an outside of the door lock body and including a key hole configured to receive an emergency key, and a door lock cap on an outside of the grip cover, the door lock cap being slidable in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle to cover or uncover the key hole.

A motor vehicle latch with a locking mechanism comprising a catch and a pawl for catching of the catch and a housing with an inlet slot for a latch holder which can go through the inlet slot into the housing in the event of closure of a door or flap and can be held there by the locking mechanism in such a way that the door or flap cannot open in an unscheduled manner, whereby the housing demonstrates a cover on a side of the housing with the inlet slot which is attached to the housing with the aid of a positive connection produced by suspension. An especially reliable fixing of the cover can thus be facilitated. Furthermore, the invention relates to a mounting procedure for the cover to the housing.

A motor vehicle latch with a locking mechanism comprising a catch and a pawl for catching of the catch and a housing with an inlet slot for a latch holder which can go through the inlet slot into the housing in the event of closure of a door or flap and can be held there by the locking mechanism in such a way that the door or flap cannot open in an unscheduled manner, whereby the housing demonstrates a cover on a side of the housing with the inlet slot which is attached to the housing with the aid of a positive connection produced by suspension. An especially reliable fixing of the cover can thus be facilitated. Furthermore, the invention relates to a mounting procedure for the cover to the housing.

A vehicle closure panel latch assembly having pivotable actuator lever sealed against the ingress of water into a housing of the latch assembly is provided. The actuator lever is configured for receipt in an opening of the housing and for operable connection to an internal latch component. A seal member is disposed about a portion of the actuator lever to form a water-tight seal between the housing and the actuator lever to prevent the passage of water through the opening.

The present invention relates to a method for performing an alternating functional movement for producing a secondary function with a hand grip (30) of an electric door handle (10) of a vehicle door (100), comprising the following steps: receiving a function request (FA) for activating the secondary function, performing the alternating functional movement, wherein the hand grip (30) is moved back and forth multiple times between at least two different functional positions (FUP).

The present invention relates to a method for performing an alternating functional movement for producing a secondary function with a hand grip (30) of an electric door handle (10) of a vehicle door (100), comprising the following steps: receiving a function request (FA) for activating the secondary function, performing the alternating functional movement, wherein the hand grip (30) is moved back and forth multiple times between at least two different functional positions (FUP).

A power latch assembly for a vehicle door of a motor vehicle includes a ratchet configured for movement between striker capture and striker release positions, wherein the ratchet is biased toward the striker release position, and a pawl configured for movement between a ratchet holding position, whereat the pawl maintains the ratchet in the striker capture position, and a ratchet releasing position, whereat the pawl releases the ratchet to the striker release position. A powered actuator is energizable to move the pawl from the ratchet holding position to the ratchet releasing position, and a multistage mechanism operably connecting an output of the power actuator to at least one of the pawl and the ratchet has at least two power takeoffs, with each power takeoff being configured to apply a different torque output to at least one of the pawl and/or the ratchet.

A power latch assembly for a vehicle door of a motor vehicle includes a ratchet configured for movement between striker capture and striker release positions, wherein the ratchet is biased toward the striker release position, and a pawl configured for movement between a ratchet holding position, whereat the pawl maintains the ratchet in the striker capture position, and a ratchet releasing position, whereat the pawl releases the ratchet to the striker release position. A powered actuator is energizable to move the pawl from the ratchet holding position to the ratchet releasing position, and a multistage mechanism operably connecting an output of the power actuator to at least one of the pawl and the ratchet has at least two power takeoffs, with each power takeoff being configured to apply a different torque output to at least one of the pawl and/or the ratchet.

A vehicle door lock is disposed in a vehicle door and includes a ratchet wheel rotatable between a locked position where it captures a lock catch disposed on a vehicle body and an unlocking position where it releases the lock catch to allow the vehicle door to be opened. The vehicle door lock further includes an ice-breaking mechanism disposed in the vehicle door, and the ice-breaking mechanism applies a torque to the ratchet wheel to cause the ratchet wheel to rotate in a direction to push the lock catch so as to open the vehicle door. The vehicle door lock can be opened by pushing the ratchet wheel with e ice-breaker mechanism when the vehicle door is frozen or deformed due to collision, the operation noise is low, the cost is low, and the paint surface of the vehicle door is protected.