A verification system for a vehicle latch is provided. The system includes a switch operable to determine if a vehicle door is ajar. The system also includes a cam operatively coupled to a power release mechanism that actuates movement of the vehicle latch between an opened and closed position, the cam in operable contact with the switch, the switch also determining if the vehicle latch is in a fully reset condition or an un-reset condition.

A vehicle door attached to a vehicle body includes a bracket structure disposed between an interior-side panel and an exterior-side panel to support a door lock portion. The bracket structure has an interior-side extension portion disposed on an interior-side and joined to the interior-side panel, and an exterior-side extension portion disposed on an exterior-side and joined to the exterior-side panel. Extension portions extend in an upper-lower direction. As an alternative, a vehicle door includes a middle panel disposed between an inner panel and an outer panel, and a bracket structure disposed between the inner panel and the middle panel to support the door lock portion. The bracket structure has a front extension portion disposed frontward and joined to the inner panel, and a rear extension portion disposed rearward and joined to the middle panel. Extension portions are disposed in a front-rear direction of a vehicle and extend upward.

A lock device 1 includes a latch 10 that locks a striker 2, a ratchet 11 that is brought into engagement with the latch 10 to prevent the movement of the latch 10, a lever 12 that moves the ratchet 11 to a releasing position where the ratchet 11 releases the latch 10, an actuator 13 that includes a motor 23 that operates the lever 12, a base 14 that supports the latch 10, the ratchet 11, the lever 12 and the actuator 13, and a case 15 that is fixed to the base 14 and accommodates at least the actuator 13 between the base 14 and the case 15, and an attaching portion 44, to which an operating member 16 that is connected to the lever 12 so as to enable the lever 12 to be operated manually is attachable, is provided integrally on the case 15.

A lock device 1 includes a latch 10 that locks a striker 2, a ratchet 11 that is brought into engagement with the latch 10 to prevent the movement of the latch 10, a lever 12 that moves the ratchet 11 to a releasing position where the ratchet 11 releases the latch 10, an actuator 13 that includes a motor 23 that operates the lever 12, a base 14 that supports the latch 10, the ratchet 11, the lever 12 and the actuator 13, and a case 15 that is fixed to the base 14 and accommodates at least the actuator 13 between the base 14 and the case 15, and an attaching portion 44, to which an operating member 16 that is connected to the lever 12 so as to enable the lever 12 to be operated manually is attachable, is provided integrally on the case 15.

A retrofit tailgate latching mechanism and method for a tailgate. This includes a retrofit housing configured to be connected to the tailgate. Also, there is an actuating handle joined with the retrofit housing. A linkage assembly is joined with the actuating handle at a proximal end of the linkage assembly and extending through and within the tailgate toward the stop catch of the truck bed sidewall. The linkage assembly selectively engages and disengages the stop catch of the truck bed sidewall at a distal end of the linkage assembly. A cable is connected between the proximal end and the distal end of the linkage assembly wherein actuation of the actuating handle to an open position pulls the distal end of the linkage assembly toward the actuating handle and disengages the linkage assembly distal end from the stop catch whereby the tailgate can pivot to a lowered position.

An opening structure includes a lower door having an upper end configured to be rotated and opened with respect to a lower surface of a vehicle body, a garnish unit located on a surface of the lower door, at least a portion of a lower end of the garnish unit configured to be tilted from the lower door, a driving unit extending in a longitudinal direction and configured to apply driving force to the lower door and the garnish unit, a first driver configured to tilt the garnish unit, a second driver configured to integrally pop up the tilted garnish unit and the lower door and to apply opening force thereto, and a hinge arm connecting the first driver and the second driver to each other.

A powered latch assembly for a vehicle tailgate includes a latch structured to engage a striker mounted on a vehicle and to be rotatable into a latching position when engaged with the striker, so as to maintain the tailgate in a closed position associated with the latching position of the latch. The latch assembly also includes a latch control member rotationally connected to the latch and structured to be engageable by a pawl of the latch assembly to maintain the latch control member in a position associated with the latching position of the latch. A rotational position of the latch is thus controlled by engagement between the pawl and the latch control member rotationally connected to the latch. A wall may be provided between the latch and the latch control member to environmentally isolate the latch control member and components of the latch assembly from the vehicle exterior environment.

A method for extending and retracting a handle of a door handle assembly for a door of a vehicle includes providing a door handle assembly having a base portion, a handle portion that is movably attached at the base portion, and an electrically operable actuator that operates to move the handle portion relative to the base portion. A control controls operation of the actuator to move the handle portion between a recessed position and a partially extended position. Responsive to detecting presence of an authorized user, a sensing system determines a motion vector of the user that is indicative of a direction that the user is moving relative to the vehicle. Responsive to determining that the determined motion vector is indicative of the user approaching the door of the vehicle, the control controls operation of the actuator to move the handle portion to the partially extended position.

A method for extending and retracting a handle of a door handle assembly for a door of a vehicle includes providing a door handle assembly having a base portion, a handle portion that is movably attached at the base portion, and an electrically operable actuator that operates to move the handle portion relative to the base portion. A control controls operation of the actuator to move the handle portion between a recessed position and a partially extended position. Responsive to detecting presence of an authorized user, a sensing system determines a motion vector of the user that is indicative of a direction that the user is moving relative to the vehicle. Responsive to determining that the determined motion vector is indicative of the user approaching the door of the vehicle, the control controls operation of the actuator to move the handle portion to the partially extended position.

A lock device includes a latch configured to rotate between a full latch position and an unlatch position, a pawl configured to rotate between a hook position and a retracted position, an open lever configured to rotate the pawl to the retracted position, and a drive lever including an open lever pushing portion. When rotated in a first direction, the open lever pushing portion rotates the open lever in an open direction. During an open action, the open lever pushing portion rotates in the first direction while rotating the open lever in the open direction at least until the latch starts an unlatch action, and rotates in the first direction without rotating the open lever in the open direction after the latch starts the unlatch action.