A door has a latch mechanism, a reinforcement bracket and a jamming bracket within a cavity of the door. The latch mechanism retains the door in a closed orientation and in response to operation of the latch mechanism the door is released for movement to an open orientation. The reinforcement bracket is fixedly attached to structures of the vehicle door. The jamming bracket is fixed to the reinforcement bracket and has a locking portion that extends to an area adjacent to a release lever of the latch mechanism. With the door in a non-deformed state, the release lever is movable between a door opened orientation and a door closed orientation. In response to deformation of the door resulting from an exterior impact force, the locking portion of the jamming bracket moves toward the release lever preventing the release lever from moving to the door opened orientation.

A door has a latch mechanism, a reinforcement bracket and a jamming bracket within a cavity of the door. The latch mechanism retains the door in a closed orientation and in response to operation of the latch mechanism the door is released for movement to an open orientation. The reinforcement bracket is fixedly attached to structures of the vehicle door. The jamming bracket is fixed to the reinforcement bracket and has a locking portion that extends to an area adjacent to a release lever of the latch mechanism. With the door in a non-deformed state, the release lever is movable between a door opened orientation and a door closed orientation. In response to deformation of the door resulting from an exterior impact force, the locking portion of the jamming bracket moves toward the release lever preventing the release lever from moving to the door opened orientation.

A vehicle body structure includes a door, a latch mechanism and a secondary reinforcement member (an attenuation member). The door has an inner door panel and a reinforcement member installed thereto the inner door panel. The latch mechanism is installed the inner door panel such that in a latching orientation the latch mechanism retains the door in the closed orientation and in a release orientation the door can move to the open orientation. A rearward portion of the reinforcement member is outboard and level with a portion of the latch mechanism. The secondary reinforcement member is fixedly attached to a central area of the reinforcement member spaced apart from the rearward area of the inner door panel and spaced apart from a forward area of the inner door panel. In response to an impact event, the reinforcement member deforms and contacts the latch mechanism preventing movement of the latch mechanism.

A vehicle body structure includes a door, a latch mechanism and a secondary reinforcement member (an attenuation member). The door has an inner door panel and a reinforcement member installed thereto the inner door panel. The latch mechanism is installed the inner door panel such that in a latching orientation the latch mechanism retains the door in the closed orientation and in a release orientation the door can move to the open orientation. A rearward portion of the reinforcement member is outboard and level with a portion of the latch mechanism. The secondary reinforcement member is fixedly attached to a central area of the reinforcement member spaced apart from the rearward area of the inner door panel and spaced apart from a forward area of the inner door panel. In response to an impact event, the reinforcement member deforms and contacts the latch mechanism preventing movement of the latch mechanism.

A vehicle body structure includes a door, a latch mechanism and a secondary reinforcement member (an attenuation member). The door has an inner door panel and a reinforcement member installed thereto the inner door panel. The latch mechanism is installed the inner door panel such that in a latching orientation the latch mechanism retains the door in the closed orientation and in a release orientation the door can move to the open orientation. A rearward portion of the reinforcement member is outboard and level with a portion of the latch mechanism. The secondary reinforcement member is fixedly attached to a central area of the reinforcement member spaced apart from the rearward area of the inner door panel and spaced apart from a forward area of the inner door panel. In response to an impact event, the reinforcement member deforms and contacts the latch mechanism preventing movement of the latch mechanism.

A vehicle body structure includes a door, a latch mechanism and a secondary reinforcement member (an attenuation member). The door has an inner door panel and a reinforcement member installed thereto the inner door panel. The latch mechanism is installed the inner door panel such that in a latching orientation the latch mechanism retains the door in the closed orientation and in a release orientation the door can move to the open orientation. A rearward portion of the reinforcement member is outboard and level with a portion of the latch mechanism. The secondary reinforcement member is fixedly attached to a central area of the reinforcement member spaced apart from the rearward area of the inner door panel and spaced apart from a forward area of the inner door panel. In response to an impact event, the reinforcement member deforms and contacts the latch mechanism preventing movement of the latch mechanism.

A motor vehicle lock including a latch pivotable about a latch axis to an opening position and to a closing position. In the assembled state, the latch is in retaining engagement with a striker in the closing position, and in the opening position, the latch releases the striker, a blocking mechanism configured to be brought into a blocking state to block the latch in the closing position, and configured to be brought into a release state to release the latch to the opening position. The blocking mechanism including a pawl assembly including a pawl pivotally mounted via a pivot bearing and configured for blocking engagement with the latch. A crash blocking surface is provided so during a crash, when the pawl or the pivot bearing yields from deformation, an engaging surface of the pawl engages the crash blocking surface, to dissipate crash forces the crash blocking surface.

A motor vehicle lock including a latch pivotable about a latch axis to an opening position and to a closing position. In the assembled state, the latch is in retaining engagement with a striker in the closing position, and in the opening position, the latch releases the striker, a blocking mechanism configured to be brought into a blocking state to block the latch in the closing position, and configured to be brought into a release state to release the latch to the opening position. The blocking mechanism including a pawl assembly including a pawl pivotally mounted via a pivot bearing and configured for blocking engagement with the latch. A crash blocking surface is provided so during a crash, when the pawl or the pivot bearing yields from deformation, an engaging surface of the pawl engages the crash blocking surface, to dissipate crash forces the crash blocking surface.

Apparatuses and methods for preventing a vehicle door from opening in response to a side impact. An apparatus comprises a cover structure and a latch mechanism. The cover structure is located between an outer panel of a vehicle door and an inner panel of the vehicle door. The cover structure has an inboard surface with a sloped portion. The latch mechanism is associated with an inside handle that is attached to the inner panel of the vehicle door. Movement of the outer panel towards the inner panel causes the sloped portion of the inboard surface of the cover structure to contact the latch mechanism and move the latch mechanism into a latched position.

Apparatuses and methods for preventing a vehicle door from opening in response to a side impact. An apparatus comprises a cover structure and a latch mechanism. The cover structure is located between an outer panel of a vehicle door and an inner panel of the vehicle door. The cover structure has an inboard surface with a sloped portion. The latch mechanism is associated with an inside handle that is attached to the inner panel of the vehicle door. Movement of the outer panel towards the inner panel causes the sloped portion of the inboard surface of the cover structure to contact the latch mechanism and move the latch mechanism into a latched position.