A hold-open lock apparatus of a sliding door configured to limit or release rotation of a swing arm without interference with a rail is provided. The hold-open lock apparatus includes a catch unit including a catch pin that serves as a center of rotation of the swing arm, a catch fitted over the catch pin, and a pawl release lever rotatably fitted over the catch pin. The hold-open lock apparatus further includes a pawl unit including a pawl pin located on a side of the swing arm, and a pawl rotatably fitted over the pawl pin and configured to be locked to or unlocked from the catch. The hold-open lock apparatus also includes a cable unit connected to the pawl release lever and configured to rotate the pawl release lever. The pawl release lever is configured to rotate in one direction to rotate the pawl.

A vehicle door latch apparatus has latch mechanism, powered release means, manual release means and lock mechanism that is switched between a locked state and an unlocked state. Powered release means has cam wheel that is rotated in normal and in reverse rotational directions from a reference position by motor power. When cam wheel is rotated in the normal rotational direction from the reference position, latch mechanism is released while lock mechanism is held in the locked state When cam wheel is rotated in the reverse rotational direction from the reference position, cam wheel switches lock mechanism to the unlocked state. Cam wheel returns lock mechanism to the locked state when cam wheel is rotated in the normal rotational direction back to the reference position in the unlocked state.

A vehicle door latch device comprises an outside lever, a locking lever, a holding member, an opening link and a spring. The spring applies an urging force, smaller than an elastic holding force of the holding member in an unlocking direction, to the opening link. A coil is held in a holding recess of a rotation central portion of the opening link. The first arm engages with the outside lever, and the second arm engages with the opening link. If a panic state occurs, the locking lever can rotate to an unlock position, and the opening link returns to an initial position before a releasing action and is moved to the unlock position by the urging force of the spring.

A vehicle door latch device comprises an outside lever, a locking lever, a holding member, an opening link and a spring. The spring applies an urging force, smaller than an elastic holding force of the holding member in an unlocking direction, to the opening link. A coil is held in a holding recess of a rotation central portion of the opening link. The first arm engages with the outside lever, and the second arm engages with the opening link. If a panic state occurs, the locking lever can rotate to an unlock position, and the opening link returns to an initial position before a releasing action and is moved to the unlock position by the urging force of the spring.

An electric door latch apparatus includes a catch part for unlocking a door to a vehicle body by being caught by a striker mounted on the vehicle body or selectively unlocking the door from the vehicle body by being separated from the striker, a door locking/unlocking part for unlocking or locking the catch part to the striker by applying a rotational force of a main motor to the catch part, a master lock link for selectively rotating the catch part, a key lever for selectively restricting a rotation of the master lock link, an inside emergency operating lever rotatable by an inside handle for selectively rotating the master lock link, a manual emergency door unlocking part movable by a rotation of the inside emergency operating lever for selectively providing an elastic force to the key lever, and an electric emergency door unlocking part for selectively moving the key lever.

An electric door latch apparatus includes a catch part for unlocking a door to a vehicle body by being caught by a striker mounted on the vehicle body or selectively unlocking the door from the vehicle body by being separated from the striker, a door locking/unlocking part for unlocking or locking the catch part to the striker by applying a rotational force of a main motor to the catch part, a master lock link for selectively rotating the catch part, a key lever for selectively restricting a rotation of the master lock link, an inside emergency operating lever rotatable by an inside handle for selectively rotating the master lock link, a manual emergency door unlocking part movable by a rotation of the inside emergency operating lever for selectively providing an elastic force to the key lever, and an electric emergency door unlocking part for selectively moving the key lever.

A method for unlocking a hood of a vehicle in which a latch and a safety catch are arranged for engaging a striker and a locking member is arranged for engaging the safety catch. The method includes displacing the safety catch if a predetermined vehicle condition is fulfilled from a closed state wherein the safety catch is in locking engagement with the striker to an open state where the safety catch is disengaged from the striker for moving the hood locking mechanism from the intermediate locked mode to an open mode.

A hood safety system for a vehicle prevents a hood of the vehicle from being unlocked in a crash event. The system includes a hood locking mechanism and a crash safety mechanism attached to a front structure in a front section of the vehicle. The hood locking mechanism may manually release the hood from a locked position to an unlocked position. The crash safety mechanism includes a crash pin displaceable between an inactivated state and an activated state. In the inactivated state the crash pin is disengaged from the hood locking mechanism and, in the activated state, the crash pin engages the hood locking mechanism to prevent the hood locking mechanism from displacing the hood into the unlocked position. A front section of the vehicle, when deformed by a crash event, is configured to mechanically displace the crash pin from the inactivated state to the activated state.

A hood safety system for a vehicle prevents a hood of the vehicle from being unlocked in a crash event. The system includes a hood locking mechanism and a crash safety mechanism attached to a front structure in a front section of the vehicle. The hood locking mechanism may manually release the hood from a locked position to an unlocked position. The crash safety mechanism includes a crash pin displaceable between an inactivated state and an activated state. In the inactivated state the crash pin is disengaged from the hood locking mechanism and, in the activated state, the crash pin engages the hood locking mechanism to prevent the hood locking mechanism from displacing the hood into the unlocked position. A front section of the vehicle, when deformed by a crash event, is configured to mechanically displace the crash pin from the inactivated state to the activated state.

A latch assembly for a closure system having first and second closure members each movable between open and closed positions and method of operation are provided. The assembly includes a primary latch mechanism that has a primary actuation group to control actuation of the first closure member. The latch assembly also includes a secondary latch mechanism that has a secondary actuation group operable to control actuation of the second closure member. A controller unit is coupled to the primary and secondary actuation groups and determines which of the primary actuation group and the secondary actuation group to actuate and controls actuation of at least one of the primary actuation group and the secondary actuation group accordingly. The primary and secondary latch mechanisms, primary and secondary actuation groups, and controller unit are all integrated into the housing.