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.

A vehicle interior component is disclosed. The component may comprise a cover moveable relative to a base and a latch mechanism to provide an unlatched state for the cover and a latched state when actuated by an external/inertia force (e.g. in an event such as a rollover). The latch mechanism may comprise a latch/member extending through an opening in the cover into the base when the cover is closed and retracted into the cover when the cover is open. When the cover is closed, the latch mechanism may provide an unlatched state with the latch in an intermediate position (for an occupant's ordinary use) and a latched state with the latch fully extended to engage a catch in the base (upon the event providing the external force to prevent the cover opening). The component may comprise a console providing a storage compartment or an armrest.

A vehicle interior component is disclosed. The component may comprise a cover moveable relative to a base and a latch mechanism to provide an unlatched state for the cover and a latched state when actuated by an external/inertia force (e.g. in an event such as a rollover). The latch mechanism may comprise a latch/member extending through an opening in the cover into the base when the cover is closed and retracted into the cover when the cover is open. When the cover is closed, the latch mechanism may provide an unlatched state with the latch in an intermediate position (for an occupant's ordinary use) and a latched state with the latch fully extended to engage a catch in the base (upon the event providing the external force to prevent the cover opening). The component may comprise a console providing a storage compartment or an armrest.

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 in a first direction to move the pawl under a first release torque from the ratchet holding position to the ratchet releasing position and the powered actuator is energizable to move in a second direction to move the pawl under a second release torque from the ratchet holding position to the ratchet releasing position, wherein the second release torque is greater than the first release torque.

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 in a first direction to move the pawl under a first release torque from the ratchet holding position to the ratchet releasing position and the powered actuator is energizable to move in a second direction to move the pawl under a second release torque from the ratchet holding position to the ratchet releasing position, wherein the second release torque is greater than the first release torque.

A door latch jamming assembly includes a vehicle door assembly having an outer door panel, a latch mechanism and a jamming mechanism. The latch mechanism has a member movable between a door closed orientation and a door open orientation. The latch mechanism is installed to the vehicle door assembly inboard of the outer door panel. The jamming mechanism is installed to the latch mechanism. The jamming mechanism has a jamming member and an end portion coupled to the jamming member. The end portion extends away from the latch mechanism toward the outer door panel. In response to an impact event impacting forces press the outer door panel against the end portion pushing the end portion toward the latch mechanism. Consequently, the jamming member is also moved by the end portion into the latch mechanism preventing the member of the latch mechanism from moving away from the door closed orientation.

A door latch jamming assembly includes a vehicle door assembly having an outer door panel, a latch mechanism and a jamming mechanism. The latch mechanism has a member movable between a door closed orientation and a door open orientation. The latch mechanism is installed to the vehicle door assembly inboard of the outer door panel. The jamming mechanism is installed to the latch mechanism. The jamming mechanism has a jamming member and an end portion coupled to the jamming member. The end portion extends away from the latch mechanism toward the outer door panel. In response to an impact event impacting forces press the outer door panel against the end portion pushing the end portion toward the latch mechanism. Consequently, the jamming member is also moved by the end portion into the latch mechanism preventing the member of the latch mechanism from moving away from the door closed orientation.

A vehicle door lock system includes an interior door handle for a rear door. A door release switch is mechanically connected to the interior door handle. A child door lock switch for the rear door is accessible by a driver. A power release door latch for the rear door is electrically connected to the door release switch and mechanically connected to the interior door handle. A mechanical child door lock switch is located on the rear door and that is mechanically connected to the power release door latch. A control module communicates with the child door lock switch, the power release door latch and the door release switch. The control module is configured to electrically actuate the power release door latch when the mechanical child door lock switch is in a locked position, the child door lock switch has an unlocked state and the door release switch is in an active state.

Some embodiments provide a vehicle that includes a protection system configured to mitigate hazards to vehicle occupants posed by dynamic elements located within proximity of the vehicle. The vehicle can, in response to determining that a dynamic element is moving along a trajectory that intersects a sweep volume of a vehicle portal, can selectively restrict operation of the portal so that an occupant is restricted from opening the portal into a volume through which the dynamic element may pass. The vehicle can restrict portal operation in response to detecting external dynamic elements that are not within an occupant's field of vision. The vehicle can communicate a limited selection of vehicle sensor data, including representations of a detected dynamic element, to a user device supporting an authorized user in response to detecting that the dynamic element is located within a certain proximity of the vehicle.