US Patent 7416229 Motor vehicle lock

A motor vehicle lock with a latch and a ratchet, the latch being movable out of a fully latched position into a release position and vice versa, and the ratchet being movable out of an engagement position which keeps the latch in the fully latched position into a raised position which releases the latch, and optionally, into an overtravel position and vice versa. To achieve reliable opening, a forced opening mechanism is provide which is actuated by the movement of the ratchet or of the drive which moves the ratchet, and the ratchet or the drive causes the forced opening mechanism to positively engages the latch or an element which is dynamically connected to the latch so as to forcibly move the latch toward the release position.