Importance

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Abstract

A power release mechanism for a vehicle door latch includes a rotary claw having a mouth to releasably retain a striker, a pawl abutment and a cam surface. The power release mechanism includes a pivotably mounted pawl resiliently biased to contact the pawl abutment to retain the claw in a latched condition and to contact the cam surface when in a released condition. A power drive formation includes an input member configured to receive drive from a power actuator and an output member. One of the input member and the output member includes first and second stall abutments, and the other of the input member and the output member includes a follower configured for contact with the first and second stall abutments during power release of the pawl. Each of the first and second stall abutments is configured to retain the follower and thereby stall the power actuator. The first stall abutment is contactable by the follower to lift the pawl from the claw. The second stall abutment is contactable by virtue of the cam surface of the claw pivoting the output member away from the input member such that the follower disengages the first stall abutment, resulting in the retention of the follower at the second stall abutment until the pawl relatches with the claw.

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First Claim