Latch release system

摘要

A latch release system for releasing a latch, the system having a rest position and an actuated position and requiring a first force to move the system from the rest position to the actuated position, the system including an inertia event sensor and a means for increasing the force required to operate system, wherein when the inertia event sensor detects an inertia event it activates said means so the system requires a second force, greater than the first force, to move the system to the actuated position.

主权项

1. A handle system for releasing a latch, the handle system including:
a handle that is movable between a rest position and an actuated position to release the latch and requiring application of an actuation force to move the handle from the rest position to the actuated position; and an inertia-activated device having an inactivated configuration and an activated configuration, such that when in the inactivated configuration the handle requires a first magnitude of the actuation force to move the handle from the rest position to the actuated position to release the latch, and when in the activated configuration the handle requires a second magnitude of the actuation force to move the handle from the rest position to the actuated position to release the latch, and wherein the second magnitude is greater than the first magnitude of the actuation force; wherein the inertia-activated device is activated from the inactivated configuration by an inertia event and remains in the activated configuration after inertial forces of the inertia event are no longer acting on the inertia-activated device, and wherein said inertia-activated device comprises a magnet, and wherein the magnet is physically configured on the inertia-activated device to magnetically engage a complimentary magnetic structure, in response to inertial forces exerted on the inertia-activated device during the inertia event, to maintain the inertia-activated device in the activated configuration.