A vehicle door latch device has actuator and engagement assemblies of a front- or rear-tooth engagement system. The engagement assembly includes a body, a pivotable latch engaging a striker, a pivotable ratchet engaging the latch, and an input lever pivotably supported to the body to transmit its releasing operation to the ratchet. The actuator assembly includes a housing fixed to the body and an output lever transmitting power to the input lever. The housing includes a body covering portion selectively fixed to the engagement assembly of the front-tooth engagement system and that of the rear-tooth engagement system. The output lever is pivotably supported in the housing with an output portion moving vertically based on its releasing operation. The input lever has an input portion that crosses the output portion, and is released by abutting the output portion with the input portion based on the output lever releasing operation.

A power closure latch assembly with a manually actuatable release link, vehicle door therewith and method of allowing a power actuatable closure latch assembly to be converted for selective manual actuation is provided. The release link is configured to operably communicate an actuator lever with a release lever for conjoint movement therebetween, to provide power-assisted movement of a pawl between ratchet releasing and ratchet holding positions, when the release link is in a “normal” first operating position. The release link is further configured to allow the release lever to move independently from the actuator lever when the release link is in a manually deployed “override/reset” second position to provide spring-biased movement of the pawl from the ratchet releasing position back to the ratchet holding position.

A power closure latch assembly with a manually actuatable release link, vehicle door therewith and method of allowing a power actuatable closure latch assembly to be converted for selective manual actuation is provided. The release link is configured to operably communicate an actuator lever with a release lever for conjoint movement therebetween, to provide power-assisted movement of a pawl between ratchet releasing and ratchet holding positions, when the release link is in a “normal” first operating position. The release link is further configured to allow the release lever to move independently from the actuator lever when the release link is in a manually deployed “override/reset” second position to provide spring-biased movement of the pawl from the ratchet releasing position back to the ratchet holding position.

A closure latch assembly for a motor vehicle closure panel is equipped with a common kinematic chain of components for a latch release mechanism utilizing a first range of handle travel to initiate a power release of a latch mechanism and further utilizing a second range of handle travel to initiate a mechanical release of the latch mechanism. An actuation rod may include a magnet that, when moved out of range of a sensor, signals to initiate the power release. In the event that the power release does not occur, further movement of the actuation rod forces the mechanical release. In both the power release and mechanical release, a pawl is rotated from a ratchet holding position to a ratchet release position.

A closure latch assembly for a motor vehicle closure panel is equipped with a common kinematic chain of components for a latch release mechanism utilizing a first range of handle travel to initiate a power release of a latch mechanism and further utilizing a second range of handle travel to initiate a mechanical release of the latch mechanism. An actuation rod may include a magnet that, when moved out of range of a sensor, signals to initiate the power release. In the event that the power release does not occur, further movement of the actuation rod forces the mechanical release. In both the power release and mechanical release, a pawl is rotated from a ratchet holding position to a ratchet release position.

A door latch assembly includes an actuator housing, a first post, a first sector gear, a first inner release lever, a first spring, a child link, and a first motor assembly. The actuator housing has a housing floor and a side wall extending therefrom. The first sector gear has a first head defining a first set of teeth and a first arm extending from the first head. The first spring has a first spring first arm and a first spring second arm. The child link is pivotally mounted for rotation about a second post of the first inner release lever. The first motor assembly is arranged to pivot the first sector gear about the first post, such that the child link pivots about the second post between a first child link position and a second child link position.

A door latch assembly includes an actuator housing, a first post, a first sector gear, a first inner release lever, a first spring, a child link, and a first motor assembly. The actuator housing has a housing floor and a side wall extending therefrom. The first sector gear has a first head defining a first set of teeth and a first arm extending from the first head. The first spring has a first spring first arm and a first spring second arm. The child link is pivotally mounted for rotation about a second post of the first inner release lever. The first motor assembly is arranged to pivot the first sector gear about the first post, such that the child link pivots about the second post between a first child link position and a second child link position.

A closure latch assembly for a motor vehicle closure panel includes a common kinematic chain of components for a latch release mechanism utilizing a first range of handle travel to initiate a power release of a latch mechanism and further utilizing a second range of handle travel to initiate a mechanical release of the latch mechanism. An actuation rod may include a magnet that, when moved out of range of a sensor, signals to initiate the power release. In the event that the power release does not occur, further movement of the actuation rod forces the mechanical release. In both the power release and mechanical release, a pawl is rotated from a ratchet holding position to a ratchet release position. The actuation rod may have a first segment connected to a door handle and a second segment connected to a key cylinder, where either segment may provide the mechanical release.

A closure latch assembly for a motor vehicle closure panel includes a common kinematic chain of components for a latch release mechanism utilizing a first range of handle travel to initiate a power release of a latch mechanism and further utilizing a second range of handle travel to initiate a mechanical release of the latch mechanism. An actuation rod may include a magnet that, when moved out of range of a sensor, signals to initiate the power release. In the event that the power release does not occur, further movement of the actuation rod forces the mechanical release. In both the power release and mechanical release, a pawl is rotated from a ratchet holding position to a ratchet release position. The actuation rod may have a first segment connected to a door handle and a second segment connected to a key cylinder, where either segment may provide the mechanical release.

A power closure latch assembly with a manually actuatable release link, vehicle door therewith and method of allowing a power actuatable closure latch assembly to be converted for selective manual actuation is provided. The release link is configured to operably communicate an actuator lever with a release lever for conjoint movement therebetween, to provide power-assisted movement of a pawl between ratchet releasing and ratchet holding positions, when the release link is in a “normal” first operating position. The release link is further configured to allow the release lever to move independently from the actuator lever when the release link is in a manually deployed “override/reset” second position to provide spring-biased movement of the pawl from the ratchet releasing position back to the ratchet holding position.