A vehicle includes a storage compartment having a door panel movable between closed and open positions allowing access to the storage compartment, a user input device located within the storage compartment, and a latch assembly for latching the door panel in the closed position. The latch assembly includes a first release stage in the closed position allowing the door panel to move to an intermediate position between the open and closed positions and a second release stage allowing the door panel to move to the open position. The vehicle also includes a vehicle speed sensor sensing vehicle speed and a controller monitoring the sensed vehicle speed and detecting a user input to the user input device and controlling the latch assembly to selectively allow the door panel to move to one of the intermediate and open positions based on the sensed vehicle speed and the detected user input.

A lock (100) for motor vehicle hood comprising: a catch (2) suitable for fastening a striker (S), a pawl (3) that cooperates with the catch in order to block the catch in closing position, a safety lever (4) that guarantees the additional closing of the striker, a first spring (M1) that stresses the catch towards an opening position; a second spring (M2) that stresses the pawl towards a closing position; a third spring (M3) that stresses the safety lever (4) towards closing position; a first Bowden cable (B1) connected to the pawl (3) to pull said pawl (3) towards the opening position; and a second Bowden cable (B2) connected to the safety lever (4) to pull said safety lever (4) towards the opening position.

A lock includes: a plug housing rotatable about a central axis to unlatch a closure when the lock is in an unlocked state, wherein the plug housing defines a plug passage therein along the central axis and an intersecting pin slot through a side wall thereof; a plug rotatable within the plug passage to transition the lock between unlocked and locked states, wherein an inner portion thereof defines a helical groove that extends into the intersection of the plug passage and pin slot; and a stop linearly movable parallel to the central axis between inward and outward positions to place the lock in unlocked and locked states, respectively, wherein a stop pin of the stop extends through the pin slot and into the helical groove to interact therewith such that turning the plug causes the stop to linearly move between the inward and outward positions.

A lock includes: a plug housing rotatable about a central axis to unlatch a closure when the lock is in an unlocked state, wherein the plug housing defines a plug passage therein along the central axis and an intersecting pin slot through a side wall thereof; a plug rotatable within the plug passage to transition the lock between unlocked and locked states, wherein an inner portion thereof defines a helical groove that extends into the intersection of the plug passage and pin slot; and a stop linearly movable parallel to the central axis between inward and outward positions to place the lock in unlocked and locked states, respectively, wherein a stop pin of the stop extends through the pin slot and into the helical groove to interact therewith such that turning the plug causes the stop to linearly move between the inward and outward positions.

An opening apparatus of a hood of a vehicle for emergency escape includes a hood latch and a safety hook, which constrains a striker formed on the hood to open and close the hood, which opens and closes a front trunk in a vehicle equipped with the front trunk. The opening apparatus includes an emergency lever configured to be installed in the front trunk and an emergency opening mechanism configured to operate the hood latch and the safety hook simultaneously when the emergency lever is operated to release the constraint of the striker.

An opening apparatus of a hood of a vehicle for emergency escape includes a hood latch and a safety hook, which constrains a striker formed on the hood to open and close the hood, which opens and closes a front trunk in a vehicle equipped with the front trunk. The opening apparatus includes an emergency lever configured to be installed in the front trunk and an emergency opening mechanism configured to operate the hood latch and the safety hook simultaneously when the emergency lever is operated to release the constraint of the striker.

A latch mechanism for a motor vehicle includes a latch body, a claw rotatably mounted in the latch body and operable to selectively retain a hood latch element, and a motor operatively connected to the claw. The motor is operably to rotate the claw to selectively release the hood latch element. A latch controller is operatively connected to the motor, and a speed sensor operatively connected to the latch controller. The speed sensor detects a speed of the motor vehicle. The latch controller operates the motor to rotate the claw based on the speed of the motor vehicle.

An automobile comprising wheels and a body has front lights, a front trunk lid above a front trunk for storing luggage, a front windscreen, a front occupant steering position, a roof, a rear windscreen, a rear hood above an internal combustion, hybrid or electrical or other drive system and rear lights, a latching system being provided in or near the front trunk and has a striker mounted to the front trunk lid and a catch system mounted to the body on mounting brackets, the latching system having a striker movable relative to first and second catches which are adapted to cooperate with the striker to limit relative movement therebetween, a single motor being provided to transmit drive through the latching system to drive both of the catches to positions in which movement of the striker is restricted by the catches.

An automobile comprising wheels and a body has front lights, a front trunk lid above a front trunk for storing luggage, a front windscreen, a front occupant steering position, a roof, a rear windscreen, a rear hood above an internal combustion, hybrid or electrical or other drive system and rear lights, a latching system being provided in or near the front trunk and has a striker mounted to the front trunk lid and a catch system mounted to the body on mounting brackets, the latching system having a striker movable relative to first and second catches which are adapted to cooperate with the striker to limit relative movement therebetween, a single motor being provided to transmit drive through the latching system to drive both of the catches to positions in which movement of the striker is restricted by the catches.

A vehicle includes a storage compartment having a door panel movable between closed and open positions allowing access to the storage compartment, a user input device located within the storage compartment, and a latch assembly for latching the door panel in the closed position. The latch assembly includes a first release stage in the closed position allowing the door panel to move to an intermediate position between the open and closed positions and a second release stage allowing the door panel to move to the open position. The vehicle also includes a vehicle speed sensor sensing vehicle speed and a controller monitoring the sensed vehicle speed and detecting a user input to the user input device and controlling the latch assembly to selectively allow the door panel to move to one of the intermediate and open positions based on the sensed vehicle speed and the detected user input.