Disconnectable Handle Patents (Class 292/DIG27)
  • Patent number: 6112564
    Abstract: A lock, particularly for the door of a motor vehicle, having lock elements including at least one lock element which can be connected by connecting elements to at least one manipulator. A coupling device is arranged in a force transmission path between the manipulator and the at least one lock element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG
    Inventors: Klaus Rathmann, Theo Baukholt, Sven Petzold, Jens Lubben
  • Patent number: 6109079
    Abstract: A vehicle door latch device comprises a locking lever displaceable between locked and unlocked positions, an antitheft member displaceable between an antitheft position for disabling an unlocking operation of an inside locking button and an antitheft cancelling position, a motor for changing the locking lever into the locked position by a predetermined amount of normal rotation thereof and for changing the antitheft member into the antitheft position by a continuous normal rotation thereof beyond the predetermined amount, a controller for carrying out a locking operation and an antitheft operation, and a power supplying circuit having a normal rotation circuit for supplying power to the motor for normal rotation and a brake circuit for causing the motor to generate electrical brake. The motor is connected to the brake circuit after the locking lever is changed into the locked position by the locking operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Mitsuo Kinzoku Kogyo Kabushki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takao Ikeda
  • Patent number: 6102453
    Abstract: A power-operated vehicle door locking assembly including separate inner and outer door locking mechanisms connected with a housing assembly and an electric motorized system operable to selectively move (1) the inner door locking mechanism between an inoperative and an inner door locking position in response to inner manual electric motor energizing actuations and (2) the outer door locking mechanism between an inoperative and an outer door locking positions in response to outer manual electric motor energizing actuations. The arrangement is such that an outer manual electric motor energizing actuation without a corresponding inner manual electric motor energizing actuation causes a door latching assembly when in a door latching position to be incapable of being moved into a door unlatching position by an outer door latch releasing mechanism while at the same time the door latching assembly is capable of being moved into the door unlatching position thereof by an inner door latch releasing mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: Atoma International Corp.
    Inventor: Roman Cetnar
  • Patent number: 6053542
    Abstract: A vehicle door latch has a rotatable forkbolt that is latched by a detent in a primary or an intermediate secondary latch position. The detent is operated via an intermittent lever that is operated by a transfer lever that is actuated by inside and outside door handles via suitable mechanical linkage. The door latch includes a locking lever that disables the door handles from operating the intermittent lever when it is in the locked position. The door latch also includes a cinching mechanism that automatically engages the forkbolt in the primary latch position when the intermediate secondary latch position is reached. The cinching mechanism includes a link that has one end connected to a cinch pawl and another end connected to the latch assembly. The link pulls on the pawl to disengage it from a cinching gear to allow the cinching gear to return to the standby or home position during an unlatching operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Artur Jerzy Ostrowski, Joseph Leon Bastien
  • Patent number: 6045168
    Abstract: A vehicle door latch mechanism (10) having an improved double lock assembly (34). The present double lock assembly (34) is disposed between the latch handle assembly (30) and the latching assembly (26). In the un-double locked configuration, the double lock (34) allows motion transfer from the latch handle assembly (30) to the latching assembly (26) by extending the secondary intermittent member (36). In the double locked configuration, the double lock (34) retracts the secondary intermittent member (36) to prevent motion transfer between the latch handle assembly (30) and the latching assembly (26), preventing any unlatching of the door (12) even if the lock assembly (32) is in the unlocked configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph Michael Johnson, Joseph D. Cranston
  • Patent number: 6014878
    Abstract: An outside handle assembly of a lock includes an outside lever handle, an outside handle spindle secured to the outside lever handle to rotate therewith and including a first slot defined in a periphery thereof, and an actuating spindle mounted in the outside handle spindle and operably connected to a retractor. The actuating spindle includes a second slot aligned with the first slot of the outside handle spindle. A catch is mounted in the actuating spindle and has a first end pivoted to the actuating spindle and a second end. A tapping plate is slidably mounted in the actuating spindle and connected to the tail piece to move therewith. When the lock is in an unlocked status, the outside handle spindle and the actuating spindle rotate synchronously, as the second end of the catch extends through the second slot of the actuating spindle into the first slot of the outside handle spindle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2000
    Inventor: Mu-Lin Shen
  • Patent number: 6010165
    Abstract: A vehicle door latch mechanism includes a latch assembly, an inside latch handle assembly, an outside latch handle assembly, a lock assembly and a child security assembly. An unlocking assembly is disposed between the lock assembly and the inside latch handle assembly. The unlocking assembly interrelates the inside latch handle assembly and the lock assembly so that operating the inside latch handle unlocks the door. This allows a person to unlatch the door from outside the door even when the door is latched and locked, and even when the child security lock is activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Pat Santarelli, Reginald Leo McDonald, Eric Oswin Gottschling
  • Patent number: 6007120
    Abstract: A clamp ring includes an elongated band formed into the shape of an open generally circular ring with opposing first and second ends. A cam lever is pivotally connected to a first end of the band and a link has one end pivotally connected to the cam lever. The opposite end of the link is connected to the second end of the band such that pivotal movement of the cam lever will selectively draw the ends of the band towards one another to secure the ring in position on a container. A removable handle is provided to engage and pivot the cam lever 20 and includes a polygonal pin for engagement with a corresponding socket on the cam lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Inventors: Randall L. Vogt, Michael D. Hartley, Delmar R. Wiese
  • Patent number: 6007118
    Abstract: A vehicle door latch has a selectively engaged security lock that prevents a vehicle door from being unlatched by an inside door handle. The security lock overrides the door lock when the inside door handle is operated with the security lock engaged so that the vehicle door latch may be unlocked from inside the vehicle easily when the security lock is engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Frank Joseph Arabia, Jr., Donald Michael Perkins
  • Patent number: 6003910
    Abstract: Lock comprising a rotary latch and a pawl for retaining the latch; external opening control rod and internal opening control rod for acting on the pawl by way of an intermediate lever and an electric drive. The intermediate lever has one end connected to the pawl. The lever being articulated in such a way as to be able to pivot at least about two different axes forming an angle between them. A pivoting of the lever about a first direction permits the locking function to be performed, a pivoting of the lever about the second direction permits the child safety function to be performed, and a combined pivoting of the lever about the first and second directions permits the double-locking function to be performed, so that the electric drive has only to control two movements in order to execute the three functions: locking, child safety and double-locking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: Valeo Securite Habitacle
    Inventors: Patrick Dupont, Jean-Marie Lefebvre, Jean-Philippe Hochart
  • Patent number: 5997055
    Abstract: A motor-vehicle door latch has a latching element movable between a latched position retaining a door bolt and an unlatched position releasing the door bolt, and a locking pawl engageable with the element and displaceable between a locked position retaining the latching element and an unlocked position freeing the element. A planetary-gear drive has a reversible electric motor, a sun gear rotatable by the motor, a planet carrier, at least one planet gear meshing with the sun gear and carried on the carrier, and a ring gear meshing with the planet gear. A locking lever is displaceable by a locking element and by the planet carrier between a locked position and an unlocked position and a coupling element is displaceable between a coupling position engaged between the locking pawl and locking lever for coupling the locking pawl and lever together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Kiekert AG
    Inventor: Michael Strathmann
  • Patent number: 5996381
    Abstract: An automotive door lock device comprises an open lever pivotal between a door latch position and a door unlatch position. The open lever has an engaging lug. A lock/unlock lever is pivotal between lock and unlock positions. A release lever is pivotal between first and second positions. A first sub-lever has one end pivotally connected to the release lever and the other end pivotally connected to the lock/unlock lever. A second sub-lever has one end pivotally connected to the first sub-lever and the other end formed with an actuating arm. The actuating arm is engageable with the engaging lug of the open lever. A spring is used for biasing the second sub-lever toward the first sub-lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Ohi Seisakusho Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hajime Yoneyama
  • Patent number: 5992195
    Abstract: A free-wheeling lever handle controller for operating a mortise lock provides free-wheeling functionality while maintaining the full operational characteristics of various mortise lock functions. A lock mode receiving mechanism connectable to the lock output is used to detect the unlocked and locked conditions of the mortise lock, and correspondingly engage and disengage the free-wheeling mechanism. The free-wheeling mechanism has a split shaft connected between a handle on the controller and a handle input on the mortise lock. The two halves of the shaft may be coupled and uncoupled via a shaft lock movable perpendicular between locked and unlocked positions. In the unlocked position the shaft lock connects the two halves of the shaft to rotate together when the handle is turned. In the locked position the shaft lock disengages the two halves of the shaft to rotate separately and allow the handle to free-wheel with operating the door latch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Sargent Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Hai Huang, Darren C. Eller, Thomas A. Pelletier
  • Patent number: 5974912
    Abstract: A door lock unlockable electro-magnetically and with a key consists of an inner plate, a control device, a drive mechanism, a housing, a handle and a locking mechanism. The control device has a control block engaging a post of the inner plate, and the control block has an outer end engageable with the drive mechanism. An IC key card can power the control device to unlock the door lock, and a key can also be used to rotate the locking mechanism for rotating the drive mechanism which moves inward to engage the control block of the control device. Then the handle can be rotated to rotate the shaft of a deadbolt to disengage from a deadbolt hole in a door frame to unlock the door lock for preventing from being unlocked by prying or breaking said lock mechanism illegally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Inventors: Tung-Chi Cheng, Jui-Hua Chang
  • Patent number: 5961164
    Abstract: An automotive door latch device comprises a latch rotatably mounted to a latch body by a latch shaft and engageable with a striker, a ratchet rotatably mounted to the body by a ratchet shaft and engageable with the latch, an opening mechanism for releasing the ratchet from the latch for opening the door, a lock lever switched between an unlocked position and a locked position, a block lever rotatably mounted to the latch body by a block shaft and engaging with the lock lever when the latch is in an unlatched position so as to prevent the lock lever from moving from the unlocked position to the locked position. The latch, the ratchet and the block lever are arranged on the same plane. The block lever and the ratchet are arranged along a lateral direction of the latch body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: Mitsui Kinzoku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshito Gomi
  • Patent number: 5931034
    Abstract: Remotely controlled power operable lock actuator mechanism for vehicle doors comprises a main power driven locking lever rocking between locked and unlocked conditions and a T-shaped output lever, one arm of which has a longitudinal slot. Co-axial with the output lever is a drive input lever operated by the interior door handle and having a slot with a lateral extension. A drive dog pin is received in both slots and can be shifted longitudinally thereof by a superlocking power actuator to disable drive connection between the levers by positioning the dog in the slot extension. An overriding link with lost motion connection between the dog and the main lever enables manual cancellation of superlocking if power fails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: Meritor Light Vehicle Systems (UK) Ltd.
    Inventor: Sidney Edward Fisher
  • Patent number: 5904232
    Abstract: A clutch assembly enabling a free turn of an outer handle of a door with respect to a latch assembly of a lock is able to allow the outer handle to rotate to open a door when the door is unlocked and to rotate freely when the door is locked, so that internal mechanism will not be damaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1999
    Inventor: Mu-Lin Shen
  • Patent number: 5896764
    Abstract: A lock which can be accommodated within the thickness of an opening panel includes two nuts rotatable about a common axis and attached to respective corresponding operating members. Each nut can turn freely about its axis relative to the other nut. The latch bolt is attached to a selector member mobile between two predetermined positions in the transverse direction corresponding to the thickness of the casing of the lock. Each nut is attached to a corresponding arrangement of the lock adapted to engage with the selection member when the latter is in its position near the nut, in order to actuate the latch bolt when the nut is turned in a first direction corresponding to retraction of the latch bolt and to remain disengaged from the selector member when the latter is in its other position near the other nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1999
    Assignee: Ferco International Ferrures et Serrures de Batiment
    Inventors: Pierre Monsch, Andre Lilas, Gerard Prevot
  • Patent number: 5890385
    Abstract: A safety door lock comprises follower member turned with an inside door knob or an outside door knob to move a latch bolt between the locking position and the unlocking position, and a clutch controlled by a push block between a first position where the outside door knob is coupled to the follower member and a second position where the outside door knob is disconnected from the follower member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Inventor: Ming-Kun Lee
  • Patent number: 5884515
    Abstract: An electric clutch system for a mortise-type security lock is provided. The clutch system includes one or more magnets disposed in one hub of a mortise-type lock. The magnet is recessed and disposed below the interior surface of the hub that engages the opposing hub of the mortise-type lock. The opposing hub includes one or more spring-biased armatures. Upon the application of current to the magnet, the armature is drawn toward the magnet resulting in a coupling-type connection between the two hubs so that rotation of the exterior handle will open the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Assignee: ILCO Unican Corp.
    Inventor: Sheldon Milman
  • Patent number: 5881584
    Abstract: For a mobile door or container, a lock that will hold firm against shock. The lock can be opened using a keypad to turn on a motor that disengages it, or manually, using a key. To disengage the lock, a shockproofer element of the lock includes components that must first be pivoted about one axis and components that must then be pivoted about a second, different axis, usually nearly perpendicular to the first axis. The lock resists opening under shock loading because the two pivoting rotations about different axes must be made to occur in a particular sequence, and cannot occur simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1999
    Inventors: Thomas T. Brunoski, Kenneth A. Rissolo
  • Patent number: 5844470
    Abstract: Opening of a motor vehicle door, having a door lock, is controlled by a system which includes: a door handle pivoted on the door for displacement between a rest position and an open position and connected to the door lock through a linkage; an intermediate lever which is pivoted about a pivot axis on the door and which is connected to the linkage; and a motorized mechanism interposed between the door handle and the intermediate lever. The motorized mechanism is arranged to assume, selectively, an inhibiting state in which manipulation of the door handle has no effect on the intermediate lever, and an operational state in which manipulation of the handle causes simultaneous displacement of the intermediate lever. When this mechanism is actuated to shift it from its inhibiting state to its operational state, the intermediate lever is displaced until the door lock is unlocked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Assignee: Valeo Securite Habitacle
    Inventors: Joel Garnault, Haja Rabeony, Jean-Claude Boulay
  • Patent number: 5803515
    Abstract: A vehicle door latch is provided having unlock latched and unlatched positions, the door latch having at least one locking/unlocking actuator for moving the latch between locked latched and unlocked latched positions, and the door latch having a freewheeling transfer lever operatively connected to at least one release handle, the transfer lever being provided for moving the door latch to the unlatched position. The door latch has a feature to allow the locking/unlocking actuator to move the latch from the locked latched position to the unlocked latched position while the door release handle is previously or simultaneously actuated, by subsequent release of the door release handle without reactivation of the locking/unlocking actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Frank Joseph Arabia, Jr., Colby Lenn Bellew, Ian Martin, Joseph Michael Johnson
  • Patent number: 5803516
    Abstract: A latch assembly for the rear auxiliary door (18) of a pickup truck (10) includes a latch mechanism (34) having a lost motion mechanism (48, 76, 44, 60, 62, 58) which permits or prevents transmission of unlatching movement between a release handle (40) and a release lever (82).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Conrad Frederick Hempel
  • Patent number: 5794472
    Abstract: A cylindrical lock is provided for use in a door containing a latch bolt supported for movement between an extended door-latching position and a retracted door-unlatching position. The door further includes a latch bolt retractor assembly connected to the latch bolt and movable relative to the door to move the latch bolt between the extended door-latching position and the retracted door-unlatching position. The cylindrical lock includes a hub, a door handle, a spindle, and a locking lug. The hub is adapted to mount in a fixed position on the door and is formed to include a first hub slot and a second hub slot communicating with the first hub slot. The door handle is mounted for rotation relative the hub. The spindle is coupled to the door handle and is formed to include a spindle slot defined by spaced-apart driving surfaces. The locking lug is movable between a first position fixing the spindle and hub together and a second position uncoupling the spindle and hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Assignee: Best Lock Corporation
    Inventors: Steven A. Kester, Scott A. Gilbertson, John W. McIntire, Ralph P. Palmer
  • Patent number: 5787744
    Abstract: A vandal-resistant torque sensitive release mechanism is disclosed for coupling and decoupling an actuating handle to a lock mechanism. The torque sensitive release mechanism is disclosed is in the form of a slip-clutch, with the rotational movement of the slip clutch being limited when excessive force is applied to prevent the actuating handle from moving to a position where it would interfere with the subsequent desired opening of the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1998
    Assignee: Securitech Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Simon Berger, Peter Zoltan
  • Patent number: 5762384
    Abstract: A vehicle door lock having a closing element component, a locking element component and an actuating element component, the latter having a component actuating element and a securing actuating element, is connected to a central locking unit for remote controlled actuation of the securing actuation element. The actuation is effected with an electric motor and, in addition, a position monitoring is provided. The electric motor, for drive by the central locking unit is a reversible polyphase stepping motor with a phase confirming stator winding and which acts via a transmission on the lock component. The locking component is designed for a drive power which is greater than the nominal power of the polyphase stepping motor when it is permanently energized. The stepping motor is driven with a working voltage which is greater than the design voltage corresponding to the drive power for the centrally operable unit. For the position monitoring, a step monitor system is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Assignee: Kiekert AG
    Inventor: Peter Bartel
  • Patent number: 5749611
    Abstract: A rear door latch remote control assembly for a dual-door arrangement includes a back plate mounted split-pin having a pair of operating levers pivoted thereon. A release lever, pivoted on the split-pin, is formed with an arcuate guide slot receiving a link pin. A locking lever is formed with an arcuate guide slot which also receives the link pin. With the locking lever in its latch releasing position, the actuation of either rear door handle unlatches the rear door. With the locking lever in its latch locking mode, actuation of either door handle causes its associated operating lever to freewheel, thereby obviating unlatching the rear door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1998
    Assignee: Chrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Earl L. Watson, Nicolaas C. Akemann
  • Patent number: 5738394
    Abstract: A child-proof door latch including a selector switch accessable from the door's exterior for enabling or disabling the functioning of a cable-driven latch of the type where a sheath about the cable pushes on the latches trigger to actuate the latchbolt. The selector switch includes a slot which controls the anchoring or movement of the end of the cable which, in turn, permits or prevents the tensioning of the cable sufficiently to straighten the sheath thereabout for actuating the trigger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Frank Joseph Arabia, Jr., Colby Lenn Bellew, Ian Martin
  • Patent number: 5730014
    Abstract: A vandal-resistant torque sensitive release mechanism for coupling an actuating handle to a lock mechanism. The torque sensitive release mechanism: is in the form of a slip-clutch, which utilizes spherical ball connectors in cooperating detents; is connected at one end to the operating handle via threaded engagement; and permits an adjustment of the disengagement force. A conventional type connection is provided at the other end of the slip clutch to allow a mutiplicty of different lock connections for coupling the handle operating to the operating lock mechanisms via the slip clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Assignee: Securitech Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Simon Berger, Peter Zoltan
  • Patent number: 5700056
    Abstract: A movable lock is provided with a spring return to normally maintain the lock in a lock position. A button acts on the lock by means of a push rod. A translation guide is provided for the rod. A locking securing means is connected to the guide means for completing transverse movement between a position where locking is possible wherein the end of the rod is located closely adjacent to the element of the lock; and a secured position wherein the rod end is spaced apart from the element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1997
    Assignee: Bertrand Faure Equipements S.A.
    Inventor: Vincent Bernard
  • Patent number: 5683125
    Abstract: A motor-vehicle door latch has a latching fork and a release pawl engageable with the fork and pivotal between a latched position retaining the fork and an unlatched position. An inside door handle displaceable between a center rest position, an end open position, and an end locked position is connected to one end of the core of a bowden cable having a sheath fixed to the housing. A first actuating lever pivotal about an axis offset from the locking-lever axis has an arm and is connected to the other end of the cable core for joint movement of the first actuating lever with the inside handle. A second actuating lever pivotal between an actuated and an unactuated position has a formation engageable with the first actuating lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1997
    Assignee: Kiekert AG
    Inventor: Teru Tseng
  • Patent number: 5676003
    Abstract: A central locking system for motor vehicles has all of the opening and closing functions occurring in normal operation also in the event of failure of individual components. If necessary, a vehicle outfitted with this system can also be opened and locked when the door lock motors (50) are out of operation. When the vehicle is locked, the outer door handles (13) can be pulled without meeting resistance and without effect. To this end, a control cam (47) lifts an actuating arm (32) so that a door handle lever (35) can be actuated without the actuating arm (32) being grasped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1997
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Eckhard Ursel, Werner Dilger, Uwe Schaper
  • Patent number: 5666834
    Abstract: An anti-theft mechanism for a vehicle door lock device comprises a latch mechanism having a latch engaging with a striker, an opening means for releasing the engagement of the latch and the striker, and a lock lever connected to a key cylinder of a door and changed between a locked position and an unlocked position, and a relay mechanism having a sill knob lever connected to a sill knob of the door, an anti-theft member arranged to be changed between an anti-theft cancelled position and an anti-theft position, and an actuator for anti-theft operation for changing the anti-theft member. The sill knob lever is arranged to be pushed by the anti-theft member to return to the locked position, if the anti-theft member switches from the anti-theft position to the cancelled position when the sill knob lever is in the unlocked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1997
    Assignee: Mitsui Kinzoku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Jiro Inoue
  • Patent number: 5667260
    Abstract: A motor vehicle door lock with locking elements such as rotary catches and detent pawls, with a lock mechanism (1) and with a central interlock drive (2), in which the central interlock drive (2) has a drive motor (3), a rotor (5) that is driven in a rotating manner by the drive motor (3), preferably with the aid of worm-gear transmission, and an actuating part which is arranged on the rotor (5) and which can be brought into a disengaged position (D), a locking position (L) and, preferably, an anti-theft locking position (A), optionally also into a neutral position (N), and in which locking mechanism (1) has an inside opening lever (7), an outside opening lever (9) and other levers as well as a central interlock lever (11) that can be displaced by the actuating part (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1997
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Bernd Weyerstall
  • Patent number: 5653484
    Abstract: A motor-vehicle door latch has a pivotal latching fork, a release pawl engageable with the fork and displaceable between latched and unlatched positions, and a release lever engageable with the pawl for displacing same between its positions and formed with an elongated slot. An outside actuating lever is provided with an entrainment nose aligned with an end of the release-lever slot. Separate inside and outside locking levers are coupled via a spring to a main locking lever displaceable by the inside and outside levers between a locked and an unlocked position. A link lever pivoted on the main locking lever carries a coupling pin projecting through the slot and engageable with the entrainment nose in the unlocked position of the main locking lever and unengageable with the entrainment nose in the locked position of the main locking lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1997
    Assignee: Kiekert AG
    Inventors: Horst Brackmann, Rainer Kipka
  • Patent number: 5653134
    Abstract: A magnetic card key-operated locking device is disclosed. The locking and opening motion of the locking device is performed by a magnetic interaction between the card key and a plurality of magnetized pins. The pins are movably placed in a plurality of holes of a perforated stationary plate, a perforated operating plate and a movable plate. The pins are repulsed by a magnetic plate to cause the operating plate to be coupled to the stationary plate and thereby lock the locking device when there is no card key in a key insert slot. However, when there is a card key in the key insert slot, the pins are repulsed by the card key toward the magnetic plate to cause the operating plate to be separated from the stationary plate but to be coupled to said movable plate and thereby open the locking device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1997
    Inventors: Jae-hak Lee, Kyung-soo Kim
  • Patent number: 5634677
    Abstract: A motor-vehicle door latch has a housing, a lock fork on the housing engageable with a door bolt, and a release pawl engageable with the fork. An actuating mechanism is connected to the release pawl via a coupling part displaceable on the housing so that in a decoupling position of the part actuation of the actuating mechanism does not affect the release pawl. A central locking element is displaceable on the housing generally parallel to a predetermined direction, is formed with a cutout opening transversely of the direction and having locking and unlocking flanks directed oppositely at least generally in the direction, and is formed to each side of the cutout with an abutment surface directed generally perpendicular to the direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1997
    Assignee: Kiekert Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Hans-Joachim Buscher, Alexandra Pelz, Klaus-Dieter Feist, Armin Handke
  • Patent number: 5622397
    Abstract: A door security device which includes a support bar having first and second ends, at least one blocking means disposed between the ends of the support bar, attaching means mounted to the support bar for removably securing the support bar in position adjacent a structure, and an actuator connected to the attaching means and operable to actuate the attaching means to secure the support bar adjacent the structure. The use of one blocking means allows the device to be used to secure two doors which close against a common mullion. The use of two blocking means allows the device to be used to secure two doors which close against each other. The door security device can also be used to secure windows and single doors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 22, 1997
    Assignee: Richard J. Bagan, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian J. Rice, Richard J. Bagan
  • Patent number: 5617749
    Abstract: An improved door lock is disclosed whereby the application of excessive force on the door handle will not cause a malfunction of the door lock and will not cause damage to the internal working features of the door lock. The door lock includes an outer rose spindle assembly, having an inner and an outer spindle, wherein the two spindle portions are releasably connected by a plurality of complementary pins and dints. Upon the application of excessive force on the door handle, the pins are released from the dints such that the force is not further transmitted to sequential features of the lock body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1997
    Assignee: Dusan Metals, Inc.
    Inventor: Jung W. Park
  • Patent number: 5611227
    Abstract: A handleset having a half round spindle for operating a latch assembly when rotated from a neutral orientation, a cylinder lock having a key operated cylinder assembly which rotates a round spindle, a driving pinion mounted for rotation on the round spindle, a rack having teeth engaged with the pinion, a connector displaceable between down and up positions, a pivotal thumb piece having a lever for displacing the connector from the down position to the up position, the connector having an arcuate slot, a locking arm having an arcuate flange for location in the arcuate slot, an axially extending pin, and a central opening, the round spindle including a cam secured thereto at a location selected so that the cam will be located within the opening, the cam and the opening being selectively configured so that turning the key from the neutral orientation to the lock open position will result in the cam rotating the locking arm from a first position whereat the arcuate flange is at one end of the arcuate slot to a se
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1997
    Assignee: Emhart Inc.
    Inventor: Paul G. Solovieff
  • Patent number: 5584515
    Abstract: A vehicle door latch assembly including a lock mechanism actuatable between a locked and unlocked condition and providing a double locking feature. The lock mechanism includes a first locking member adapted to selectively rotate about a first axis between locked and unlocked positions respectively corresponding to the locked and unlocked conditions of the latch mechanism. A second locking member is provided which is adapted to rotate about the first axis adjacent to the first locking member. The first and second locking members may be selectively coupled and uncoupled. When coupled, the second locking member may be selectively rotated about the first axis to move the first locking member between the locked and unlocked positions. When uncoupled, the first locking member is operable to move between the locked and unlocked positions independently of the second locking member. A control member is moveable axially to couple the first and second locking members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1996
    Assignee: Kelsey-Hayes Company
    Inventor: Ronald P. Silye
  • Patent number: 5582444
    Abstract: A vehicle door lock apparatus includes a base member for being fixed on a vehicle door, a latch mechanism mounted on the base member for engaging with and disengaging from a vehicle body, an open lever mounted on the base member for operating the latch mechanism through a connecting member, a locking lever mounted on the base member for operating the connecting member so as to connect and disconnect the open lever and the latch mechanism, a protect cover fixed on the base member which covers the locking lever and the connecting member and which includes an opening, a sub-open lever mounted on the base member so as to be located out of the protect cover and which is connected with the open lever through the opening and connecting portion for being connected with an operation member located at an outside of the vehicle which is disposed on the sub-open lever so as to be distant from the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigeru Hayakawa, Nozomu Torii, Masao Ohhashi
  • Patent number: 5577782
    Abstract: A vehicle door latch assembly including a pivotal rotor engagable with a striker pin. A pawl is moveable between a blocking position retaining the rotor in engagement with the striker pin, and a release position permitting the rotor to disengage the striker pin. A link is moveable, manually or by means of an electric motor, between a coupled position engaging the pawl and an uncoupled position disengaged from the pawl. The link also engages an actuator member when the link is in the coupled position and is disengaged from the actuator member in the uncoupled position. The actuator member may be operated, when the link is in the coupled position, to move the pawl to the release position by means of the link. A Bowden cable may be connected to an interior operating handle, the link, and the actuator member to permit locking, unlocking, and unlatching from a single operating handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1996
    Assignee: Stoneridge, Inc.
    Inventors: James B. Johnson, Andrew J. Barta, Michael A. Petik
  • Patent number: 5575516
    Abstract: A fastening mechanism for a handle on a cooking utensil should also have a releasable design for certain uses, for example, when the cooking utensil is heated up in a closed oven. A release and subsequent reconnection of a handle thereby should be done quickly and without effort, and the fastening mechanism for the handle moreover should be easy to manufacture. The fastening mechanism uses for this purpose an operating piece, which can be adjusted transversely with respect to the longitudinal extent of a handle piece in such a fastening mechanism. During the handling of which operating piece, a locking of the handle piece on a holding piece is released, which handle piece is covered by the handle piece and is connected to the cooking utensil. A renewed slipping over of the handle piece occurs against a light resiliency resulting from a transfer slope on a spring piece which also is used for the locking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1996
    Assignee: Heinrich Baumgarten KG Spezialfabrik fuer Beschlagteile
    Inventor: Gerd-Diethard Baumgarten
  • Patent number: 5570916
    Abstract: A door lever assembly for disengaging an unlocked latch of a lockable door latch assembly includes a lever handle rotatably connected to a trim housing supporting a stop plate. A cam is operably connected to the lever handle and positioned to rotate in response to rotation of the lever handle, converting its rotational movement to linear movement of a movable slider positioned adjacent to the cam. A lift arm is operably connected to vertical rods of the door latch assembly and an over-ride spring is connected between the slider and the lift arm. The over-ride spring transmits motion of the slider to the lift arm to lift the lift arm and the connected vertical rods when the door latch assembly is in an unlocked position. The over-ride spring compresses in response to slider movement when the blocking slide is positioned to block movement of the lift arm when the door latch assembly is in its locked position, preventing damage to components of the door lever assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1996
    Assignee: Von Duprin, Inc.
    Inventor: Gerald E. Mader
  • Patent number: 5551188
    Abstract: A security knob assembly for a panel including a pet door, mounted on the panel remotely from the pet door, the security knob assembly including a latch movable between lock and unlock positions, the latch being operated by rotation of a knob after the knob is pushed in axially from a disengaged to an engaged position. The knob has an array of pins that engage an array of holes when the knob is pushed in to operate the latch. The latch may also be operated by a key cylinder, and the mechanism provides a plug to plug up the opening to the mechanism when a key cylinder is absent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1996
    Inventor: George N. Davlantes
  • Patent number: 5538298
    Abstract: An actuator for use with a vehicle door lock comprises an output member rotated by the motor, a first lever changed between locked and unlocked positions by the rotation of the output member and a key cylinder, a second lever connected to an inside locking button, an anti-theft member having an anti-theft position where the unlocking action of the second lever is not transmitted to the first lever and to the anti-theft cancelled position where the second lever and first lever are connected to each other, a changing member for changing the position of anti-theft member in response to the rotation of the output member; and a cancelling lever for causing the anti-theft member to be returned to the cancelled position by rotation of the output member without moving the first lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1996
    Assignee: Mitsui Kinzoku Kogyo
    Inventor: Takao Ikeda
  • Patent number: 5520427
    Abstract: A door lever assembly having a locked and an unlocked position includes a trim housing and a lever handle and cam rotatably connected to the trim housing. A rotatable shaft extends between the lever handle and the cam, with the shaft defining a connection groove therethrough to provide access to a shaft interior. The shaft interior is configured to accept a pin for connecting the cam and the shaft. This pin can be wedgably disconnected following controlled slippage of frictional wedge surfaces in response to excessive force applied to rotate the cam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1996
    Assignee: Von Duprin, Inc.
    Inventor: Gerald E. Mader
  • Patent number: 5516161
    Abstract: A door lever assembly having a locked and an unlocked position includes a trim housing and a lever handle rotatably connected to the trim housing. A cam is rotatably connected to the trim housing, and a pin mechanism is movably positionable to connect with the lever handle. A slider is attached for movement in the trim housing in response to rotation of the cam, anda lift arm is connected to the slider. The lift arm is rigidly movable with the slider when the door lever assembly is in its unlocked position and the lever handle is rotated. When the door lever assembly is in its locked position, the lift arm pivots toward the cam to disengage the pin mechanism from its connection between the lever handle and the cam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1996
    Assignee: Von Duprin, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald E. Mader, Paul J. Haeck