Importance

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Abstract

A vehicle door latch assembly includes a latch lever connectable to a latch mechanism, a latch rod coupled to the latch lever, and a door handle operative to effect movement of the latch rod to unlatch the latch mechanism via actuation of the latch lever. The latch rod is configured so as to attenuate vertical motion of the latch rod in response to a sufficient force associated with a side-impact event. In one embodiment, the latch rod has a first member operatively connected to the door handle, and a second member pivotally connected to the first member. The second member is coupled to the latch lever, and the-second member is pivotally movable with the latch lever laterally in a direction away from the first member in response to a sufficient force associated with a side-impact event.

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First Claim