Abstract: A vehicle-door opening and closing device includes: a latch unit configured to keep a vehicle door in a half latched state or a fully latched state; a power close mechanism configured to displace the vehicle door from the half latched state to the fully latched state; a power release mechanism configured to release the fully latched state to bring the vehicle door to an openable state; and a drive gear configured to be driven by a motor. The power release mechanism is configured to be actuated with a drive force of the drive gear. A return switch configured to be switched upon driving in a predetermined drive range sufficient to complete actuation of the power release mechanism is placed near the drive gear. The motor is configured to return the drive gear based on a signal from the return switch.

Abstract: A door locking mechanism for an appliance provides a bolt that may be moved by an actuator between an extended and retracted position. A bolt stop mechanism blocks movement of the bolt in retraction at one of two positions, depending on how the bolt was extended before the retraction. In this way the bolt automatically retracts when the door is not present because this causes extra extension of the bolt and an over-travel position need not be directly sensed reducing controller complexity or wiring.

Abstract: A latch includes a base having a bore extending therethrough defining an axis, a plunger positioned within the bore and rotatable about the axis, a drive shaft positioned adjacent the base and engaged with the plunger such that rotation of the plunger about the axis causes corresponding rotation of the drive shaft about the axis, a bracket positioned adjacent the base and the drive shaft and engaged with the drive shaft such that rotation of the drive shaft about the axis causes movement of the bracket, and a closure element coupled to the bracket such that movement of the bracket causes the closure element to move between a position wherein the closure element allows a structure to move with respect to an adjacent structure and a position in which the closure element prevents the structure from moving with respect to the adjacent structure.

Abstract: An apparatus for a hood latch of a vehicle may include a hood, wherein the hood is completely closed by an operation of a cinching mechanism when the incomplete closing of the hood is detected to perform the closing of the hood, preventing a safety accident.

Abstract: A hold open rod assembly includes an outer tubular structure and an inner tubular structure positioned for telescoping movement relative to the outer tubular structure. A locking mechanism retains the hold open rod assembly in an extended state to support a panel of an aircraft in an open position at the selection of a user.

Abstract: A latch having: a fork bolt movably mounted to the latch for movement between an open position and a closed position; a detent lever movably mounted to the latch for movement between a latched position and a released position, wherein the detent lever prevents the fork bolt from moving from the closed position when the detent lever is in the latched position; a hold open lever configured for movement between a first position and a second position wherein the hold open lever has a feature configured to engage a feature of the detent lever such that the detent lever is retained in the disengaged position by the hold open lever when it is in the first position, wherein the hold open lever moves in a plane or directions that are angularly oriented to a plane or directions in which the fork bolt and the detent lever move.

Abstract: An actuator-controlled strike comprising a housing disposable within a doorframe and including a cavity for a spring latch and a dead latch of a mortise-type lockset. A keeper is pivotably mounted within the chamber to engage the spring latch. A pivotably mounted kicker cooperates with the keeper. A pivotably mounted dead latch release is supported by the keeper when the spring latch is within the strike. The keeper is released by the actuator and rotates into a position to ramp the spring latch out of the strike, also allowing the dead latch release to release the dead latch into the cavity, allowing the spring latch to be ramped out of the strike. Pivoting the keeper causes the kicker to urge the spring latch onto an exit ramp on a face of the keeper. The dead latch release can be installed in a plurality of different locations in the housing.

Abstract: A vehicle door opening device that enables a door, in a lock state, to open comprises an operating unit. The operating unit comprises a first outside lever that is pivotally mounted, via a first shaft, and rotates with an outside handle; a second outside lever that is pivotally mounted, via a second shaft that differs from the first shaft, releasing action of the second outside lever is made by a release electric power source, the second outside lever is connected to the first outside lever so that the releasing action is not transmitted to the first outside lever; and a release lever that is pivotally mounted, via the second shaft, and carries out releasing action caused by the releasing action of the second outside lever so that the releasing action of the releasing lever can be transmitted to door latch units.

Abstract: A vehicle door latch device includes: an interlocking unit assembly including an interlocking mechanism; and an operating unit assembly including an operating mechanism. The interlocking unit assembly includes a latch configured to be rotatable to a latched position from an open position via a half closed door position by interlocking with the striker. The operating unit assembly includes: a casing, in which the interlocking unit assembly is fitted, and in which the operating mechanism is installed; and a switch plate, on which a half closed door detection switch and an electric wiring connected to the half closed door detection switch are installed, and which is integrally installed in the casing, the half closed door detection switch having a switch pin configured to abut against the latch. A plane of rotation of the latch and a plate surface of the switch plate intersect each other orthogonally.

Abstract: A door handle system for a vehicle door has a door handle and at least one flap for reversibly closing a grip recess set back to the rear of the door handle. An actuating device pivots the one or more flaps between a closed position that covers the handle recess and an open position that exposes the handle recess. A distance sensor is disposed on the flap. A control and evaluation unit uses a first measurement signal that is output by the distance sensor in the closed position, to deduce that a vehicle user is approaching so as to activate the actuation device to move the one or each flap into the open position. A second measurement signal that is output by the distance sensor in the open position indicates that the door handle is grasped by the vehicle user.

Abstract: A control unit 20, including a circuit board and a switch unit, is arranged in a housing space in a door handle. The switch unit has a switch component, which is fastened to the circuit board, a hard switch case, which covers the switch component, a soft pushbutton, which operates the switch component, and a hard cover member, which is fastened to the switch case. The pushbutton has a pushing part in the shape of a cap, a flange, which extends from the bottom end of the pushing part, and an operation projection, which is inserted into an insertion opening in a roof. The switch case and the pushbutton are united by the cover member, and the flange is brought into close contact with the roof all the way therearound, by the cover member.

Abstract: The invention provides a covered dustbin or covered container. In particular, the invention relates to a lock assembly for dustbins and covered containers. A lower half of the lock is mounted to the inside wall of the dustbin and an underlid half is mounted to the underside of a lid that is hinged to a location adjacent the upper rim of the dustbin. A pair of interlocking engagement members is provided to releasably secure the lid to the dustbin. The lower half and the underlid half each include one interlocking engagement member, such as a hook and a strike. A rocker, when actuated, urges the interlocking engagement members into a disengaged position, for example to disengage the hook from the strike. A user can use a handle provided on the lid to press down the rocker to disengage the lock and lift the lid in a one-hand operation.

Abstract: A latch system provides a latch striker including a flexible arm that can navigate a hook on the latch striker through an aperture in a corresponding latch mechanism. The aperture provides a tortuous passageway through which a hook on the latch striker must pass to activate an internal switch allowing operation of the appliance.

Abstract: A vehicle hood latch and method of unlatching a vehicle hood is provided. The vehicle hood latch includes a housing; a ratchet pivotally mounted on the housing; a pawl pivotally mounted on the housing and biased into engagement with the ratchet; a pin fixed for conjoint movement with the pawl; a double pull lever operably mounted to the housing and having an abutment surface configured for operable engagement with the pin, and a primary safety catch lever operably mounted to the housing. The primary safety catch lever is configured to pivot from a locked first position to an unlocked second position. The primary safety catch lever moves from the first locked position to the second unlocked position in response to translational movement of the double pull lever caused by engagement of the pin with the abutment surface of the double pull lever.

Abstract: A closure panel latch assembly can include an overslam bumper mechanism comprising a biasing element as a spring formed from a metallic material positioned relative to a slot of the latch assembly. The biasing element resists entry of a striker into the slot beyond a selected position in order to inhibit contact of the striker with a bottom end of the slot. Also provided is a closure panel latch assembly configured with the biasing element as a resilient element positioned relative to the slot of the latch assembly; The biasing element is coupled to the striker engagement member, such that the striker engagement member is positioned to engage the striker and resist travel of the striker towards the bottom end, wherein the biasing element controls the resistance to movement of the striker engagement member by the striker.

Abstract: An inline motorized lock drive is mountable within a lock housing to drive a sliding locking element between a locked and unlocked position. The lock drive includes a reversible motor having a shaft with an augur thereon to drive a lock spring, which drives the locking element. The sliding motion of the locking element is axially aligned with the motor axis to substantially reduce friction. The lock drive is preferably modular and emulates a solenoid lock drive with a control circuit. The control circuit is connected to drive the motor is switchable to default to a locked position or an unlocked position and emulate a “fail safe” or a “fail secure” type solenoid lock drive. The control circuit operates on 12 or 24 volts to replace solenoid locks of either voltage and stores power when power is applied, then uses the stored power to return the lock drive to the selected default state when power is removed.

Abstract: A low release effort eccentric double ratchet, double pawl vehicle latch includes a ratchet, a primary pawl, an auxiliary ratchet and a secondary pawl. A drive mechanism including a gear cam wheel sequences movement of the secondary pawl to open and reset the latch. Upon reset, the drive mechanism actuates the auxiliary ratchet back to a closed state in a soft manner without using a hard stop; instead the latch has a cushioning spring that is used to softly stop the gear train during the reset absorbing motor energy and thus eliminating impact noise.

Abstract: A handle for doors of motor vehicles includes an outer portion that can be grasped by a user, and an inwardly-extending plunger or hook that operably interconnects the handle to the door latch via a bell crank (that is part of the handle base or chassis depending on the type of handle architecture used). The plunger is made of a ductile material such as metal, and includes a crumple zone that causes the plunger to deform axially and/or bend sidewardly in the event an axial and/or a bending impact load.

Abstract: A door closer device for a vehicle includes a latch, a drive force transmission mechanism and a cancellation mechanism cancelling a closing operation of the drive force transmission mechanism. The drive force transmission mechanism includes a drive force transmission portion rotatable between a transmission position where the latch is configured to receive a drive force of an actuator and a non-transmission position where the latch is configured not to receive the drive force of the actuator. The cancellation mechanism includes a first operation portion and a second operation portion, the first operation portion engaged with the drive force transmission portion to be rotated irrespective of the second operation portion, the second operation portion engaged with the drive force transmission portion to be rotated irrespective of the first operation portion, the first and second operation portions rotating the drive force transmission portion from the transmission position to the non-transmission position.

Abstract: A locking device is disclosed having (a) a tubular housing having a frontal end and a distal end; (b) a latch movable between a first position protruding from the frontal end of the housing and a second position wherein the latch is retracted in the housing; and (c) an electrically driven drive device for moving the latch between the first and second positions. The locking device further includes a deactivation mechanism provided in the housing and allowing movement of the drive device or at least part thereof from an active position wherein the drive device is enabled to move the latch between the first and second position and an inactive position wherein the latch is retracted in the housing irrespective of its movement by the electrical drive device.