A panic bar latch release assembly is disclosed having an inside latch release and an outside pull type handle latch. The handle latch includes a main housing having a pivotal pull handle. The inside latch release includes a first bar mount, a second bar mount, and an elongated push bar. The first bar mount has a support bracket with a floor with a first stop wall and an extended portion with a push rod guide hole extending therethrough. A body portion is coupled to the support bracket which includes a handle mount channel which is partially defined by a second stop wall. A handle mount is pivotally coupled to the body portion. An elongated push rod is positioned within a push rod channel of the door so as to extend through the push rod guide hole.

Latch housing assemblies, latch hook assemblies, and latch assemblies are disclosed. Various disclosed latch housing assemblies include a latch pin coupled to an inner housing, and an outer housing having an inner surface coupled to an outer surface of the inner housing via at least one of a fuse pin and a spring. Various disclosed latch hook assemblies include a latch hook coupled to a latch housing, a weak point in the latch housing disposed between an inboard mount and an outboard mount, and a catch member mounted to the inboard mount and the outboard mount. Various disclosed latch assemblies include a latch housing, a bolt, and a deformable bushing at least partially surrounding the bolt, the deformable bushing configured to deform about a radius in response to a compressive load of about 1,000 lb.sub.f to about 3,000 lb.sub.f.

A latch release system for a vehicle includes a primary and a secondary latch securing a front hood. An emergency handle within a compartment is covered by the front hood, linked to the primary latch and movable to actuate a switch. An actuator is arranged to release the secondary latch. A controller is configured to trigger the actuator to release the secondary latch responsive to actuation of the switch. An emergency latch release system for front compartment of a motor vehicle and a method are also disclosed.

An inertial blocking member subassembly of a handle assembly for a vehicle door includes a blocking member pivotally rotatable about an axis of rotation, and the blocking member has a center of gravity offset from the axis of rotation. The blocking member is responsive to an acceleration force acting thereon to rotate about the axis of rotation from an at rest position in which the blocking member does not prevent unlatching of the vehicle door, to an engagement position in which the blocking member prevents unlatching of the vehicle door. In the engagement position, the center of mass is positioned between the axis of rotation and a vector of the acceleration force acting in a direction toward the center of mass and the axis of rotation, and the center of mass, the axis of rotation and the vector of the acceleration force are approximately in line with one another.

An inertial blocking member subassembly being part of a release handle assembly associated with a vehicle door, the inertial blocking member subassembly being activated by an acceleration force associated with an impact event, the release handle assembly having a release handle framework supporting a bell crank assembly and a manually actuatable door handle grip, the door handle grip operatively coupled to the bell crank assembly to unlatch the vehicle door upon manual actuation of the door handle grip. The inertial blocking member subassembly includes a blocking member associated with the release handle assembly framework, movable in at least one of rotation about an axis of rotation and translation along the axis of rotation. The blocking member has a center of gravity which is offset from the axis of rotation. The blocking member is movable between an at-rest position, in which the blocking member does not interfere with the bell crank assembly to prevent unlatching of the vehicle door by actuation of the door handle grip, and an engagement position, in which the blocking member interferes with the bell crank assembly to prevent unlatching of the vehicle door by manual actuation of the door handle grip. In the engagement position of the blocking member, the center of gravity is approximately aligned with a vector of the acceleration force and the axis of rotation; whereby, as a result of the acceleration force acting on the blocking member center of gravity, the blocking member is moved to the engagement position.

An electric strike assembly includes a housing formed with a recessed portion therein, a keeper assembly pivotably mounted in the recessed portion of the housing, a lock leg pivotably mounted in the recessed portion of the housing and configured to rotate independently of the rotation of the keeper assembly, a block assembly having a blocking element configured to engage and disengage the keeper assembly, and to control engagement and disengagement of the blocking element with the keeper assembly. A method of capturing and releasing a latch bolt mounted in a door includes mounting an electric strike assembly in an associated door jamb and controlling an actuator to rotate an, actuator paddle to engage a blocking element such that the blocking element is engaged or disengaged from a keeper assembly.

An electric latch retraction device comprising a housing for receiving a plurality of internal components of the electric latch retraction device. An actuator mechanism is included in the housing, the actuator mechanism is adapted to impart linear movement on a latch, such that the latch is retracted towards the housing. A holding mechanism is also included in the housing, the holding mechanism holds the latch in a fully retracted position when the actuator is off. Other embodiments can comprise internal conversion mechanisms to convert the motor's linear motion to a different directional motion, with the different directional motion retracting the latch.

An electric strike assembly includes a housing formed with a recessed portion therein, a keeper assembly pivotably mounted in the recessed portion of the housing, a lock leg pivotably mounted in the recessed portion of the housing and configured to rotate independently of the rotation of the keeper assembly, a block assembly having a blocking element configured to engage and disengage the keeper assembly, and to control engagement and disengagement of the blocking element with the keeper assembly. A method of capturing and releasing a latch bolt mounted in a door includes mounting an electric strike assembly in an associated door jamb and controlling an actuator to rotate an actuator paddle to engage a blocking element such that the blocking element is engaged or disengaged from a keeper assembly.

Latch housing assemblies, latch hook assemblies, and latch assemblies are disclosed. Various disclosed latch housing assemblies include a latch pin coupled to an inner housing, and an outer housing having an inner surface coupled to an outer surface of the inner housing via at least one of a fuse pin and a spring. Various disclosed latch hook assemblies include a latch hook coupled to a latch housing, a weak point in the latch housing disposed between an inboard mount and an outboard mount, and a catch member mounted to the inboard mount and the outboard mount. Various disclosed latch assemblies include a latch housing, a bolt, and a deformable bushing at least partially surrounding the bolt, the deformable bushing configured to deform about a radius in response to a compressive load of about 1,000 lb.sub.f to about 3,000 lb.sub.f.

A tailgate opening and closing device for a vehicle may include a main gear disposed at a base, to be driven by a drive motor, and a lever assembly having a plurality of links operated by the main gear, for locking or unlocking of a striker by a claw.