FIELD

The present disclosure related generally to a power-operated closure latch assembly for a motor vehicle closure system. More specifically, the present disclosure is directed to a closure latch assembly providing power release and power cinch functionality and which is well-suited for use with a decklid/hood latching system in a motor vehicle.

BACKGROUND

This section provides background information related generally to closure latch assemblies of the type used with closure panels in association with a motor vehicle closure system. This background information is only provided to describe the possible vehicular applications for such latch assemblies and is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure nor be interpreted as prior art thereto.

In view of the increased consumer demand for motor vehicles equipped with advanced comfort and convenience features, many modern motor vehicles are now provided with passive entry systems to permit remote locking and release of closure panels (i.e., doors, tailgates, liftgates and decklids) without use of a traditional key-type entry system. In this regard, some of the more popular features now available with vehicle latch systems include power locking/unlocking, power release and power cinch. These “powered” features are provided by a closure latch assembly mounted to one of the closure panel and a structural body portion and which is typically equipped with a ratchet and pawl type of latch mechanism that is controlled via actuation of a latch release mechanism by a power-operated release actuator. In such closure latch assemblies, the closure panel is held in a closed position by virtue of the ratchet being held in a striker capture position so as to releaseably retain a striker that is mounted to the other one of the closure panel and the structural body portion of the vehicle. The ratchet is held in its striker capture position by the pawl when the pawl is located in a ratchet holding position. In many ratchet and pawl type of latch mechanisms, the pawl is operable in it ratchet holding position to retain the ratchet in one of two distinct striker capture positions, namely a secondary or “soft close” striker capture position and a primary or “hard close” striker capture position. When the ratchet is held by the pawl in its secondary striker capture position, the latch mechanism functions to latch the closure panel in a partially-closed position relative to the body portion of the vehicle. In contrast, when the ratchet is held by the pawl in its primary striker capture position, the latch mechanism functions to latch the closure panel in a fully-closed position relative to the body portion of the vehicle. To release the closure panel from either of its partially-closed and fully-closed positions, the power-operated release actuator causes the latch release mechanism to move the pawl from its ratchet holding position into a ratchet releasing position, whereby a ratchet biasing mechanism acts to forcibly pivot the ratchet into a striker release position and provide the power release feature.

Closure latch assemblies providing the power cinch feature, also referred to as a “soft close” function, are usually equipped with a latch cinch mechanism operated by a power-operated cinch actuator. Commonly, the latch cinch mechanism is directly connected to the ratchet of the latch mechanism and, when actuated, is operable for causing the ratchet to move from its secondary striker capture position into its primary striker capture position, thereby moving (i.e. cinching) the closure panel from its partially-closed position into its fully-closed position. A single power-operated actuator, or separate power-operated actuators, can be used in association with the power release and power cinch features. However, the power release feature is typically independent from the power cinch feature.

In view of recent development of electric vehicles, such vehicles are configured to include a front cargo compartment where the engine compartment has typically been located in traditional vehicles. The closure panel associated with the front cargo compartment, commonly referred to as a decklid or hood, typically includes a striker that can be releaseably latched by a decklid closure latch assembly mounted to a structural portion of the vehicle body near the front of the front cargo compartment. Traditionally, the decklid closure latch assembly can be actuated from within the passenger compartment to unlatch the latch mechanism and release the decklid for movement from its fully-closed position into a partially-open or “pop-up” position. Such actuation can be accomplished manually (via a manually-operable decklid latch release mechanism) or electrically (via a push button actuating the power release actuator). Subsequently, a secondary or “safety” latch mechanism must be actuated to unlatch the decklid for movement from its pop-up position into a fully-open position. This dual-stage latch release can be accomplished via a double-pull arrangement or an independent release of the safety latch mechanism from outside the vehicle.

However, the ability to equip the decklid closure system with a power-operated closure latch assembly capable of providing both power release and power cinch functionality is now desirable. Since decklids are operated differently than conventional trunklids (i.e., the user's fingers can be pinched as they hold the decklid between the vehicle's structural body portion and an underside of the decklid versus trunklids which are closed by pushing down on the top thereof), a traditional power cinch operation via actuation of a power cinch actuator can pose additional hazards when compared to fingers being pinched under the weight of the decklid only. Thus, it is recognized that a unique solution is required to configure a power-operated decklid closure latch assembly capable of providing the power cinch function.

While current power-operated closure latch assemblies are sufficient to meet regulatory requirements and provide enhanced comfort and convenience, a recognized need exists to advance the technology and, more particularly, to provide alternative power-operated decklid closure latch assemblies that address and overcome at least some of the known shortcomings.

SUMMARY

This section provides a general summary of the present disclosure and is not intended to be considered a comprehensive and exhaustive listing of all features, advantages, aspects and objectives associated with the inventive concepts described and illustrated in the detailed disclosure provided herein.

It is an aspect of the present disclosure to provide a power-operated closure latch assembly for a motor vehicle closure system configured to provide power release and power cinch features.

It is a related aspect of the present disclosure to provide such a power-operated closure latch assembly for use with a decklid (i.e. hood) type of closure member associated with the motor vehicle closure system and which is configured to provide the power release feature as part of a decklid opening operation for moving the decklid from a fully-closed position to a partially-open (“pop-up”) position and which is further configured to provide the power cinch feature as part of a decklid closing operation for moving the decklid from its partially-open position to its fully-closed position.

As a further related aspect of the present disclosure, the power-operated closure latch assembly is configured to provide the decklid cinch feature as a dual-stage cinch operation having a first or “non-driven” cinching stage during which the decklid is moved from its partially-open position into a cinched position due primarily to the weight of the decklid, and a second or “driven” cinching stage during which the decklid is moved from its cinched position into its fully-closed position via a latch cinch mechanism.

As a further aspect of the present disclosure, the power-operated closure latch assembly is configured to provide a safety latching feature normally operable to hold the decklid in its partially-open position and which can be selectively released to permit manual movement of the decklid from its partially-open position to a fully-open position.

According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, the closure latch assembly is equipped with a power actuator configured to control actuation of a drive cam for providing each of the power release feature, the power cinch feature, and release of the safety latching feature.

According to an alternative aspect of the present disclosure, the closure latch assembly is equipped with a power release actuator configured to control actuation of a latch release mechanism to provide the power release and safety latch release features, and is further equipped with a latch cinch mechanism controlled via an externally-located power cinch actuator to provide the power cinch feature.

In accordance with these and other aspects, the present disclosure is directed to a closure latch assembly for use in a motor vehicle having a closure member that is moveable between a fully-open position and a fully-closed position. The closure latch assembly comprising: a latch mechanism operable in a primary latched state to hold the closure member in its fully-closed position, in a secondary latched state to hold the closure member in a partially-open position, and in an unlatched state to permit movement of the closure member from its partially-open position to its fully-open position; a lift mechanism operable in a spring-loaded state when the latch mechanism is in its primary latched state and operable in a spring-released state when the latch mechanism is shifted from its primary latched state into its secondary latched state, the lift mechanism causing the closure member to move from its fully-closed position to its partially-open position when shifted into its spring-released state; a cinch mechanism operable in an uncoupled state with respect to the latch mechanism to permit the weight of the closure member to move the closure member from its partially-open position into a cinched position during a first cinching stage of a dual-stage cinch operation, and the cinch mechanism operable in a coupled state with respect to the latch mechanism to drive the latch mechanism into its primary latched state for moving the closure member from its cinched position to its fully-closed position during a second cinching stage of the dual-stage cinching operation; and a power actuator operable to shift the lift mechanism from its spring-released state into its spring-loaded state to provide the first cinching stage and to shift the cinch mechanism from its uncoupled state into its coupled state to provide the second cinching stage.

In the above-noted closure latch of the present disclosure, the first cinching stage is a non-driven stage with the closure member moving to its cinched position due to its own weight. The second cinching stage is a driven stage with the cinch mechanism driving the latch mechanism from its secondary latched state into its primary latched state so as to cause corresponding movement of the closure member from its cinched position to its fully-closed position.

In the above-noted closure latch assembly of the present disclosure, the power actuator is a power cinch actuator which is located remotely from the closure latch assembly.

In the above-noted closure latch assembly of the present disclosure, the lift mechanism includes a lift lever configured for movement between a non-deployed position when the latch mechanism is in its primary latched state and a deployed position when the latch mechanism is in its secondary latched state. The cinch mechanism includes a cinch pawl moveable between an uncoupled position disengaged from a ratchet associated with the latch mechanism and a coupled position engaged with the ratchet. The power actuator is operable to move the lift lever from its deployed position to its non-deployed position while the cinch pawl is maintained in its uncoupled position to provide the first cinching stage. The power actuator is also operable to move the cinch pawl from its uncoupled position to its coupled position while the lift lever is maintained in its non-deployed position to provide the second cinching stage.

In accordance with these and other aspects, the closure latch assembly of the present disclosure is configured to be mounted to a structural body portion of the motor vehicle and operate to selectively engage a striker mounted to the decklid for latching the decklid in its fully-closed position relative to the vehicle body portion. The closure latch assembly includes a latch mechanism operable in a latched state to hold the decklid in its fully-closed position and in an unlatched state to permit movement of the decklid from its fully-closed position toward its fully-open position. The closure latch assembly also includes a latch release mechanism operable to shift the latch mechanism from its latched state into its unlatched state, a spring-loaded lift mechanism operable to move the decklid from its fully-closed position into its partially-open position in response to shifting of the latch mechanism from its latched state into its unlatched state, and a safety latch mechanism operable in a safety latched state to engage the latch mechanism for holding the decklid in its partially-open position and in a safety unlatched state to release the latch mechanism and permit movement of the decklid from its partially-open position to its fully-open position. In addition, the closure latch assembly further includes a power actuator for controlling coordinated actuation of the latch release mechanism and the safety latch mechanism to provide the power release function. The power actuator is operable to rotate a drive cam in an actuation direction, the drive cam having a first release trigger feature controlling actuation of the latch release mechanism and a second release trigger feature controlling actuation of the safety latch mechanism.

In the above-noted closure latch assembly of the present disclosure, the drive cam further includes a lift lever release feature and a lift lever reset feature. The lift lever release feature is configured to shift the lift mechanism from a spring-loaded state into a spring-released state for moving the decklid from its fully-closed position to its partially-open position in response to the first release trigger feature actuating the latch release mechanism. Continued driven rotation of the drive cam in the actuation direction causes the lift lever reset feature to reset the spring-loaded lift mechanism into its spring-loaded state such that the weight of the decklid acts to drive the latch mechanism from its unlatched state toward its latched state for providing the first, non-driven cinching stage during which the decklid moves from its partially-open position into its cinched position.

In the closure latch assembly of the present disclosure, the drive cam further includes a cinching feature configured to shift a latch cinch mechanism from an uncoupled state into a coupled state in response to continued rotation of the drive cam in the actuation direction. This continued driven rotation of the drive cam causes the latch cinch mechanism, in its coupled state, to mechanically drive the latch mechanism into its latched state for establishing the second, driven cinching stage immediately after completion of the first, non-driven cinching stage for moving the decklid from its cinched position to its fully-closed position.

In accordance with these features and aspects, the present disclosure is directed to a closure latch assembly comprising: a latch mechanism having a ratchet moveable between a primary striker capture position, a cinched striker capture position, a secondary striker capture position, and a striker release position, a ratchet biasing member for biasing the ratchet toward its striker release position, a pawl moveable between a ratchet holding position and a ratchet releasing position, and a pawl biasing member for biasing the pawl toward its ratchet holding position, the latch mechanism being operable in a primary latched state when the ratchet is held in its primary striker capture position by the pawl located in its ratchet holding position, the latch mechanism being operable in a secondary latched state when the ratchet is located in its secondary striker capture position and the pawl is located it its ratchet releasing position, and the latch mechanism being operable in an unlatched state when the ratchet is located it its striker release position and the pawl is located it its ratchet releasing position; a lift mechanism having a lift lever moveable between a spring-loaded position and a spring-released position, and a lift lever spring for biasing the lift lever toward its spring-released position, wherein the lift lever is located in its spring-loaded position when the latch mechanism is operating in its primary latched state and is operable to drive the ratchet from its primary striker capture position to its secondary striker capture position in response to the latch mechanism being shifted into its secondary latched state; a safety latch mechanism having a safety pawl moveable between a ratchet blocked position whereat the safety pawl holds the ratchet in its secondary striker capture position and a ratchet unblocked position whereat the safety pawl permits the ratchet to move to its striker release position; a latch cinch mechanism having a cinch pawl moveable between a home position and a cinched position, and a cinch pawl biasing member for biasing the cinch pawl toward its home position; and a power actuator including a drive cam rotatable by an electric motor in an actuation direction, wherein the drive cam includes a first trigger cam feature operable to move the pawl from its ratchet holding position to its ratchet releasing position for shifting the latch mechanism from its primary latched state into its secondary latched state, a second trigger cam feature operable to move the safety pawl from its ratchet blocked position into its ratchet unblocked position for shifting the latch mechanism from its secondary latched state into its unlatched state, a lift lever cam feature for driving the lift lever from its spring-released position toward its spring-loaded position to facilitate a first stage cinching operation during which the ratchet moves from its secondary striker capture position to its cinched striker capture position, and a cinch cam feature for driving the cinch pawl from its home position into its cinched position for causing the cinch pawl to move the ratchet from its cinched striker capture position into its primary striker capture position to facilitate a second stage cinching operation.

In accordance with these and other aspects, the present disclosure is also directed to a method of controlling a latch mechanism in a latch assembly including a lift mechanism for moving a closure member from a partially-open position to a cinched position to a fully-closed position. The method of the present disclosure including the steps of: controlling a power actuator to move the lift mechanism for a deployed position to a non-deployed position to allow the closure member to move under its own weight from the partially-open position to the cinched position during a first cinching stage of a dual-stage cinching operation; and controlling the power actuator to move the latch mechanism into a primary latched state for moving the closure member from the cinched position to the fully-closed position during a second cinching stage of the dual-stage cinching operation.

Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the detailed description provided herein. The specific aspects and example embodiments listed in this summary are intended for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the fair and reasonable scope of the present disclosure.

