Patents Examined by Alyson M. Merlino
  • Patent number: 11970887
    Abstract: A lock for a motor vehicle includes a locking mechanism consisting of a rotary latch and at least one pawl, a closing device having an electric drive, wherein the locking mechanism can be transferred from a pre-locking position into a main locking position by the closing device, and a control unit for the closing drive, wherein a closing operation can be prevented in accordance with a measurement variable of the closing drive, and wherein the closing operation can be prevented in accordance with a determinable deviation from a setpoint value curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Kiekert AG
    Inventor: Manuel Reusch
  • Patent number: 11970889
    Abstract: The emergency egress apparatus includes a protuberance mated to a first portion of the door barricade and a keeper mated to a second portion of the door barricade. A retainer is selectively disposed between one of two positions. A first position defines the placement of the retainer that establishes an interference fit between the protuberance and the keeper. A second position defines the placement of the retainer such that it is not in contact with the protuberance or the keeper. The first position secures the first portion of the door barricaded with respect to the second portion of the door barricade, and the second position decouples the first portion of the door barricade with respect to the second portion of the door barricade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: John P. McIntire, Matthew Srnoyachki
  • Patent number: 11970888
    Abstract: A motor vehicle lock, in particular a motor vehicle door lock, which is equipped with a locking mechanism consisting of a rotary latch and at least one pawl. An actuating lever mounted in a lock case for rotation about an axis is also provided. The pawl is mounted on the actuating lever for rotation about an axis. According to the invention, the rotary latch applies a closing moment on the pawl when the locking mechanism is in the closed state, which moment transitions into an opening moment on the pawl when the locking mechanism is opened as a result of the associated movement of the actuating lever and the shifting of the axis for the pawl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Kiekert AG
    Inventor: Hendrik Wahmann
  • Patent number: 11965358
    Abstract: A wirelessly-controlled jamb-mounted access control system can include an in-jamb housing, a lock body at least partially inside the housing and rotatable about a first axis between locked and unlocked positions. The first axis can extend parallel to the jamb, and the lock body can include inner and outer sidewalls that define a latch cavity configured to receive a latch tongue of a door. The wirelessly-controlled jamb-mounted access control system can further include an actuator configured to control release of the lock body from the locked position in response to a control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Ankerslot Group B.V.
    Inventors: Marijn Van der Wal, Robert Wouter Maria Boensma, Daraius K Hathiram, Avi Rosenthal, Elsabe Margaretha Hendrina Dragt-de Jong, Arjan Aalvink, David M. Kaplan, Lewis Brown
  • Patent number: 11965367
    Abstract: A motor-vehicle door latch device includes: a main body; a latch that engages with a striker on a vehicle body side when a door is closed, and is capable of moving from an open position to a fully-latched position; a ratchet provided with a pawl that blocks the latch from rotating to an opening direction by respectively engaging with a half-latched engagement portion and a fully-latched engagement portion of the latch; and a third latch lever that engages with a third engagement portion provided on the latch when the latch is in a third latch position between a half-latched position and the open position of the latch so that the third latch lever is capable of blocking the latch from rotating in the opening direction from the third latch position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: MITSUI KINZOKU ACT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shintaro Okawa, Takuya Kakumae
  • Patent number: 11965364
    Abstract: A motor vehicle lock for a movable vehicle part, in particular for a door, flap, tailgate, or bonnet, said lock having a lock housing and a rotary latch that is movably provided on the lock housing, and the rotary latch being movable into an open position and at least one engaged position. In addition, at least on buffer unit is provided on the lock housing and at least on braking element is located on the buffer unit, such that at least some portions of the braking element can be brought into contact with the rotary latch, at least while the rotary latch is moving into the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Kiekert AG
    Inventor: Dorothea Müller
  • Patent number: 11952801
    Abstract: A removable lock core for use with a lock device having a locked state and an unlocked state is disclosed. The removeable lock core may include a cam member tailpiece which is moveable between a first position relative to a lock core body which corresponds to the lock device being in the locked state and a second position relative to a lock core body which permits removal of the removeable lock core from the lock device which corresponds to the lock device being in the unlocked state. The removeable lock core may include an electro-mechanical drive assembly which in a disengaged state is decoupled from the cam member tailpiece and in an engaged state is coupled to the cam member tailpiece. A cam lock having a locked state and an unlocked state for use with a catch is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: dormakaba USA, Inc
    Inventors: John Andrew Snodgrass, Brendon Allen, Street Anthony Barnett, III, Chad Hickman
  • Patent number: 11933082
    Abstract: A cinching latch assembly for latching a striker includes a forkbolt biased to rotate about a first pivot point between a primary latched position, a secondary latched position, and a fully released position. The cinching latch assembly also includes a detent biased to rotate about a second pivot point to engage with the forkbolt in at least one position of the forkbolt, and a lift lever biased to rotate about a third pivot point, the lift lever having a first end to lift up on the striker during at least one position of the striker within the latch assembly. The cinching latch assembly also includes a cinch lever that, during a powered cinching operation, lowers the lift lever away from the striker prior to the forkbolt moving from the fully released position to the secondary latched position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael Strole, Ian Martin
  • Patent number: 11933083
    Abstract: A motor vehicle lock for a movable part of a vehicle, comprising a locking mechanism consisting of at least one pawl and one rotary latch, and comprising a sensor arrangement that is assigned to the locking mechanism and has a fixed sensor and a sensing element that is disposed on the rotary latch, or vice versa, wherein the sensor generates at least two different output signals associated with the presence and absence of the sensing element in the region of influence of the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Kiekert AG
    Inventor: Manuel Reusch
  • Patent number: 11933087
    Abstract: A storage console includes a housing with a storage chamber, two closure members connected to the housing, an actuator movably arranged in the housing and a latch mechanism rotatably connected to the housing. The two closure members can be rotated to open or close the storage chamber. The latch mechanism includes two latch members and a synchronizer connected between the two latch members. The movement of the actuator actuates the two latch members to rotate to a lock position in which the two latch members engage with the two closure members or a release position in which the two latch members are separated from the two closure members. The two closure members of the storage console can be opened synchronously by use of the actuator and closed independently of each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mona Li, Wei Xu, Leo Chen, Kevin Shen
  • Patent number: 11933091
    Abstract: A motor-vehicle door lock, which is equipped with a locking mechanism, comprising a rotary latch and at least one pawl, and with a closing drive and an opening drive for the locking mechanism. The rotary latch can be transferred into an overtravel position by means of the closing drive. According to the invention, in order to open the locking mechanism, the rotary latch is held in the overtravel position by means of the closing drive. In this way, the opening drive can open the pawl and subsequently the closing drive can travel back when the locking mechanism is open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Kiekert AG
    Inventor: Ulrich Weichsel
  • Patent number: 11920378
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a lock including a blocker (e.g., a bolt) useable to selectively prevent access through a portal such as a door. The blocker can be retained in a blocking position to prevent access through the portal by a retainer. In alternative embodiments, the blocker can also be retained in an open position to allow access through the portal. A retainer can be utilized to retain the blocker in the blocking position preventing access through the portal and can also be utilized, in certain embodiments, to retain the blocker in the open position to allow access through the portal. A retainer blocker can be utilized to maintain the retainer in position to retain the blocker (e.g., bolt) in a fixed position. An actuator may, in certain alternative embodiments, be employed to position the retainer blocker. In certain embodiments, the actuator is controlled by an electronic controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: dormakaba USA, Inc
    Inventors: Street Anthony Barnett, III, Brendon Allen, John Andrew Snodgrass, Shaine Strullmyer
  • Patent number: 11913254
    Abstract: An interchangeable electro-mechanical lock core for use with a lock device having a locked state and an unlocked state is disclosed. The interchangeable electro-mechanical lock core may include a moveable plug having a first position relative to a lock core body which corresponds to the lock device being in the locked state and a second position relative to a lock core body which corresponds to the lock device being in the unlocked state. The interchangeable electro-mechanical lock core may include a core keeper moveably coupled to a lock core body. The core keeper may be positionable in a retain position wherein the core keeper extends beyond an envelope of lock core body to hold the lock core body in an opening of the lock device and a remove position wherein the core keeper is retracted relative to the envelope of the lock core body to permit removal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: dormakaba USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Brendon Allen, Street Anthony Barnett, III, Michael Hans Viklund, John Andrew Snodgrass
  • Patent number: 11913259
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a closing assembly for a motor vehicle, and more particularly to a closing assembly for body closures of motor vehicles. An example vehicle includes an immovable body component, a moveable body component configured to move relative to the immovable body component, and a closing assembly. The closing assembly includes a locking bolt configured to engage a latch moveable relative to a guide slot between a release position and a closed position. The closing assembly further includes a spring exerting a restoring force urging the latch in the direction of the closed position. The restoring force has no force component along a section of the guide slot corresponding to the release position of the latch. The closing assembly is a low cost and robust assembly which reduces noise associated with closing a vehicle door. These and other benefits will be appreciated from the following description.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David van Bebber, Jacco Poleij
  • Patent number: 11905737
    Abstract: An exemplary embodiment provides an electric lock, comprising: (a) a knob; (b) a lock body; (c) a rotatable shaft comprising a rotatable-shaft front end and an opposing rotatable-shaft rear end, wherein the rotatable-shaft rear end is fixedly connected to the lock body to control a locking and unlocking of the lock body; (d) a gear assembly comprising a gear and a movable piece with a common axis center; and (e) a motor assembly for driving the gear to rotate. The knob and the rotatable shaft are connected via the movable piece; the movable piece interacts with the gear via a mechanical barrier, such that electrically driving the gear by the motor assembly causes the movable piece to rotate; and the movable piece can pass over the mechanical barrier when a sufficient rotational force is applied to the knob, such that the movable piece is free to rotate relative to the gear, thereby allowing a user to manually control the locking and unlocking of the lock body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: CONSUMER 2.0 INC.
    Inventors: Zhong Liang, Xuefeng Gu
  • Patent number: 11905743
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a storage compartment having a door panel movable between closed and open positions allowing access to the storage compartment, a user input device located within the storage compartment, and a latch assembly for latching the door panel in the closed position. The latch assembly includes a first release stage in the closed position allowing the door panel to move to an intermediate position between the open and closed positions and a second release stage allowing the door panel to move to the open position. The vehicle also includes a vehicle speed sensor sensing vehicle speed and a controller monitoring the sensed vehicle speed and detecting a user input to the user input device and controlling the latch assembly to selectively allow the door panel to move to one of the intermediate and open positions based on the sensed vehicle speed and the detected user input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Annette Lynn Huebner, Kristin Ann Hellman, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Peter Phung
  • Patent number: 11885159
    Abstract: A power actuator for actuating separate mechanically driven members includes a motor and a drive gear configured to be selectively driven in opposite directions. A common gear is configured in operable communication with the drive gear to be selectively driven from a home position in opposite directions in response to movement of the drive gear. A first drive member is attached to the common gear with a first cable extending between the first drive member and one of the mechanically driven members. A second drive member is attached to the common gear with a second cable extending between the second drive member and the other of the mechanically driven members. Movement of the common gear from the home position in one direction moves of one mechanically driven member and movement of the common gear from the home position in an opposite direction moves the other mechanically driven member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: MAGNA CLOSURES INC.
    Inventors: Henrik Johann, Jan Holbein, Bernardo Erices
  • Patent number: 11873661
    Abstract: A key storage device (1) has a tubular housing (8) having an open proximal end (14) and a distal end (15), and a sliding carriage (2) which is insertable into the proximal end (14) of the housing (8). The sliding carriage (2) has a compartment (4) for a key to be stored, and is displaceable between an open position in which a majority of the sliding carriage (2) is outside of the housing (8) and the compartment (4) is accessible for key retrieval, and a closed position in which the majority of the sliding carriage (2) is inside the housing (8) and the compartment (4) is inaccessible. A lock mechanism (12) is arranged within the tubular housing (8). It has a locked state in which the sliding carriage (2) is kept locked in its closed position and prevented from being displaced to its open position, and an unlocked state in which the sliding carriage (2) may be displaced to its open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: ASSA ABLOY GLOBAL SOLUTIONS AB
    Inventors: Olle Bliding, Eric Wiebols
  • Patent number: 11866963
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a remotely actuable release device (1) for unlocking of a vehicle door lock, in particular of a vehicle door lock of a construction machine or of an agricultural vehicle, including: a traverse tube (2), a remote actuation button (4) supported on the traverse tube (2) and actuated by pressing into the traverse tube (2), and a cable pull mechanism (6), which is in operative connection with the remote actuation button (4) and is disposed inside the traverse tube (2), for coupling to the vehicle door lock to be unlocked, wherein the release device (1) includes a cable holder (8), disposed inside the traverse tube (2), including at least two power cables (26) attached thereto, as well as a combined arrangement of a vehicle door lock for locking and latching of doors of motor vehicles with a release mechanism, wherein the release mechanism includes a remotely actuable release device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: D. LA PORTE SÖHNE GMBH
    Inventor: Bastian La Porte
  • Patent number: 11866958
    Abstract: The invention relates to a locking device for doors, compartments, and flaps. The stator is equipped with a battery-operated motor and an electronic control unit which acts on the motor. A handle (20) is connected to the rotor (30) so as to transmit a torque and is held on the rotor (30) by a clamping spring (50). The clamping spring (50) has a receiving area for a magnet (60). The process of replacing the battery for the motor is easily facilitated in that the clamping connection between the handle (20) and the rotor (30) is triggered by an external influence on the magnet (60) (FIG. 1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignees: BURG Lüling GmbH & Co. KG, USM U. Schärer Söhne AG
    Inventors: Dirk Backhaus, Christian Lüthi