Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus for closing a compartment door of a vehicle that enables individuals of small stature to close the door without difficulty. More specifically, the apparatus includes an extension handle that extends below a lip of the fully opened compartment door, thereby enabling an individual of small stature to reach and pull down on the extension handle to close the compartment door. In a preferred embodiment, the extension handle includes a pivot mounting and an extension arm coupled to the pivot mounting. A latching mechanism latches the extension handle in a stowed position in which the extension handle is preferably flush with an inner surface of the compartment door. The extension handle can also be made to deploy from a lip of the compartment door. Alternatively, the extension handle includes a retractable lanyard coupled to a grip.

Abstract: A door latch (10) with a cinching mechanism (16) having a manual override (18). The door latch (10) includes an enclosure (12) and a latching mechanism (14) disposed in the enclosure. The latching mechanism (12) has a fork bolt (20) moveable between an unlatched position, a secondary latched position, and a primary latched position. The cinching mechanism (16) has a cinching gear (24) that can drive the fork bolt (20) to the primary latched position. The cinching mechanism (16) also has a gear lever (30) to drive the cinching gear (24). A motor driven cable (34), in turn, drives the gear lever (30). A conduit (44) extends over part of the cable (34). The conduit (44) is attached to a conduit lever (46), which, in turn attaches to the enclosure (12).

Abstract: A motor vehicle door lock has a rotary latch with a holding recess formed in it. The rotary latch has a main catch with a catch surface formed on it. A key collar has a pin that is adapted to be received in the holding recess. A pivotally mounted detent pawl is biased in an engagement direction and has a catch lever having an opposing catch surface formed on it which is adapted to engage the catch surface of the main catch in a catch position. The catch lever and a support lever are pivotally mounted on an axle to pivot with respect to one another about an axis in the catch position in which the detent pawl is biased by a spring element into an extended position. An actuating element is disposed on the rotary latch, and the spring element cooperates with the actuating element to bias the detent pawl into the extended position when said actuating element engages the spring element.

Abstract: Electric lock comprising a driver (132) secured to a pawl (131) and comprising a V-shaped recess (134), an electric motor intended to drive a wrist pin capable of entering said recess until the driver escapes the action of the wrist pin, an immobilizing means (140, 141) capable of adopting a position for immobilizing the pawl at the end of the pivoting of the pawl toward its separated position, and of adopting a position for releasing the pawl, preferably at the end of the rotational travel of the latch toward its unlocked position at the latest, characterized in that the immobilizing means comprises a moving catching member (140) with elastic return and a mating retaining projection (141), one of these borne by the driver (132) and the other by the latch (130), said member being capable of overcoming and then catch onto said projection and further on at the end of the pivoting of the pawl, the pawl thus being immobilized in the separated position until the latch begins to pivot toward its unlocked position.

Abstract: A vehicle hood latch and release mechanism is latched when the hood striker engages the latch portion of the mechanism as the hood is moved to its closed position. The mechanism is actuated to release the hood striker by a pushing action on the cable or strand movable in the sheath of a cable assembly rather than by the typical pulling action on current hood releasing mechanisms. The pushing action is obtained with actuation of a hood latching and releasing control, by movement of a handle which operatively pushes on the cable or strand, transmitting a longitudinally compressive force rather than a longitudinally tensional force to the latch mechanism and moving that mechanism to the striker-released position. Release of the control permits one or more springs to cause the control handle to be returned to its position wherein the latching and release mechanism is ready to again be latched to the hood striker.

Abstract: A lift-gate dual latch mechanism utilizing both a primary spring and an auxiliary spring operates to provide the additional force needed to release a striker member from both stop positions of a dual latch. Without the auxiliary spring as mentioned above, the lift-gate, being a heavy member typically stays in the latching mechanism when the lift-gate key is actuated to the open position. This requires additional lift forces, such as added springs between the lift-gate and the back panel of the vehicle to open the lift-gate from the mandated second lock position. Gas cylinders are shown to assist the opening of the lift-gate when required.

Abstract: A latch system for a trunk lid of an automobile comprises a latch, a ratchet, a key lever for releasing the ratchet from the latch, a key cylinder connected to the key lever and having a locked position, a neutral position, an open position and an unlocked position, a trunk opener or a motorized actuator, an open lever operated by the trunk opener or motorized actuator, a locking mechanism displaced between unlocked and locked states. The ratchet lever is released from the latch when the key cylinder is shifted to the open position. The locking mechanism is displaced into the locked state when the key cylinder is shifted to the locked position, and the locked state is continuously kept until the key cylinder is shifted to the unlocked position. The open position of the key cylinder is set between the neutral position and the unlocked position. The neutral position of the key cylinder is set between the open position and the locked position.

Abstract: A cable assembly secured inside the trunk compartment of a motor vehicle having dual actuator cables. The cable assembly includes a housing, a pulley member rotatably mounted to the housing and a slide lock member. A first actuator cable slidingly cooperates through the housing and pulley member with one end attached to a pull-strap inside the trunk compartment and the second end attached to a release latch. A second actuator cable has one end attached to a pull-strap located in the proximity of the driver's seat and the second end attached to the pulley member to rotate the pulley member upon pulling the pull-strap. Rotating the pulley member allows the pulley member to engage a ball slug on the first actuator cable to drive the second end and actuate the release latch. A slide lock member is capable of engaging the pulley member to prevent rotation, and therefore, prevent the pull strap in the passenger compartment from actuating the release latch.

Abstract: A striker assembly has a keeper and a mounting plate. The keeper has a generally U-shape. The mounting plate has a groove and at least one aperture for receiving a fastener for mounting the striker assembly to a mounting surface. The groove nestingly receives end portions of the keeper. The end portions and groove are configured to interlock together to resist relative lateral movement between the keeper and the mounting plate. The striker assembly is heat treated until the keeper has a hardness of about Rc 30-40.

Abstract: A lockable endgate for a pickup truck includes a lift handle assembly mounted within the endgate for releasably securing the endgate in a closed position. The lift handle assembly includes a lift handle actuating a pair of handle pawls which translate a pair of latching mechanisms thereby releasing the endgate from the closed position. The lockable endgate further includes a bezel mounted on the outer panel having an access hole for the lift handle to extend through. A key actuated locking cylinder is mounted to the bezel and includes a locking pawl which prevents the actuation of the handle pawls in the locked position. A rigid close out plate is also included which mounts between the locking pawl and the bezel.

Abstract: A bi-directional bypass lever assembly for activating an automotive liftgate lock mechanism includes a resetable spring-biased lever that is coupled to an automotive liftgate locking mechanism. The spring-biased lever resets itself automatically upon completion of both the locking mode and unlocking mode by the liftgate lock mechanism.

Abstract: A motor vehicle gate lock having a lock catch (2) which can be shifted from an open position into a catch position and vice versa, a detent pawl (5) which holds the lock catch (2) in the catch position by catching, and a spring (7) which pretensions the lock catch (2) and detent pawl (5) relative to one another. The detent pawl (5) has an actuating surface (11) for the lock catch (2) at a distance from a catch projection (9) of the detent pawl. There is an electric motor drive (13) with a drive element (14) and a driving lug (16) that located off-center relative to the axis of rotation of the drive element. The driving lug (16) touches the actuating surface (11) by rotation of the drive element (14) in one direction and then lifts the catch projection (9) of the detent pawl (5) out of a catch projection (10) of the lock catch (2) which, in the open position, keeps the detent pawl (5) in a raised position.

Abstract: A motor vehicle lock, especially a tailgate lock in which the opening motion can be triggered by a pure switching measure and then proceeds automatically without fault, preferably without using microswitches. This motor vehicle lock has a lock latch (1) with a front catch (3) and a main catch (4), a detent pawl (6, 6') with a catch projection (9) and an actuating surface (10), as well as a drive element (11) and a driver (12, 12') located thereon. The driver (12, 12') strikes an actuating surface (10) by turning in one direction and lifts the catch projection (9) of the detent pawl (6) out of the main catch (4) and turns off the drive after the lifting process, with the detent pawl (6, 6') remaining in the lifted position.

Abstract: A flexible link connects a release pawl of a latch to key cylinder. The link has a connector at each end thereof for connecting to the release pawl at one end and for connecting to the key cylinder at the opposite end. The link has a flexing section intermediate of the ends. The flexing section has a bias for deflecting in a predetermined direction.

Abstract: A vehicle door latch device comprises a latch assembly fixed to a vehicle back door and a motorized closure assembly attached to the latch assembly. The latch assembly includes a housing, a latch accommodated in the housing by a latch shaft, and a ratchet accomodated in the housing by a ratchet shaft. The motorized closure assembly has an electric motor and a rotating lever for displacing the latch from a half-latched position to a full-latched position. The latch has a latch arm which substantially extends toward an outer panel of the door and overlaps with a rotating locus of the rotating lever.

Abstract: A rotatable cam of the present invention has an internal edge completely surrounding an elongated slot, a portion of which serves as a camming surface for interfacing with a cam follower. A further aspect of the present invention employs a door lock control member linearly slidable from a locked position to an unlocked position while also being pivotable between a nominal latching position and an unlatching position. In yet another aspect of the present invention, one end of the door lock control member is coupled to a liftgate door latch and the other end is coupled to a multi-functional electric motor by way of a drive transmission and a cable. In still a further aspect of the present invention, a window wiper assembly is drivably coupled to the drive transmission. A method of unlatching an automotive vehicle door is also provided.

Abstract: An automotive lid lock device comprises a lock proper which includes a latch plate and a locking plate. The locking plate is pivotal between a locking position to lock the latch plate and an unlocking position to release the latch plate. The lid lock device further comprises a power unlocking mechanism for pivoting the locking plate to the unlocking position with an aid of an electric power. The power unlocking mechanism includes an electric motor; a worm connected to an output shaft of the motor to rotate therewith; a worm wheel operatively engaged with the worm and a release lever extending between the locking plate and the worm wheel to pivot the locking plate from the locking position to the unlocking position when the worm wheel is turned in a given direction. The release lever, the locking plate and the worm wheel are so arranged that when the worm wheel is turned in the given direction, the worm wheel pushes the release lever toward the locking plate.

Abstract: A latch system usable with a motor-vehicle trunk lid that is movable between an open position and a closed position has a latch engageable with the lid and having a control element movable between a latched position in which the latch retains the lid in the closed position and an unlatched position in which it allows the lid to move from the closed to the open position and a pusher engageable with the lid and displaceable between a down position with the lid in the closed position and an up position forcing the lid into the open position. A drive motor has an output engageable with the control element and the pusher and displaceable through a first position moving the control element into the unlatched position and a second position moving the pusher into the up position. A remotely operable controller operates the drive motor and displaces its output sequentially through the first and second positions.

Abstract: A device for locking the door or flap of a typical pick-up truck shell closed from the interior of the shell includes a substantially rigid body which is selectively secured to moving parts of a latch mechanism. The device is designed to operate with an existing shell door or flap latching mechanism of the type having a rotatable shaft coupled to a pivotable plate. According to such existing latching mechanisms, the pivotable plate is pivoted (or rotated) between first and second positions. In the first position, the plate partially overlaps a portion of the rear wall of the shell (or the truck bed or tailgate) to inhibit the shell door or flap from swinging open. In the second position, the plate does not overlap a portion of the shell (truck bed or tailgate), so as to allow the shell door or flap to swing open. In order to lock the shell door or flap, the substantially rigid body is secured to the pivotal plate of the latch mechanism from the interior of the shell.

Abstract: A linkage has a coupled state, where actuation of a multi-functional apparatus causes an interference device to move between the locked position and the unlocked position, wherein in the locked position the interference device does not allow a handle for opening door latches to actuate, and in the unlocked position the interference device allows the handle to actuate. The linkage further has a decoupled state, where actuation of the manual actuation device causes the decoupling linkage to uncouple from the multi-functional apparatus, and causes the interference device to move between the locked and the unlocked positions without moving the multi-functional apparatus. This arrangement allows for a manual override of the power liftgate lock multi-functional apparatus.

Abstract: A locking device for trunk lids comprises a latch for engaging with a striker, a ratchet for maintaining the engagement between the latch and the striker, an output member rotating by an electric motor against resilient force of a return spring, a moving bar provided between the ratchet and the output member so as to slide in a lateral direction, the moving bar having one end connected to the output member and the other end connected to a key cylinder, an engaging portion provided with the moving bar for engaging with the ratchet to release the ratchet from the latch when the moving bar laterally slides from an original position by the rotation of the output member or the key cylinder. The moving bar is restored to the original position by the resilient force of the return spring after the ratchet is disengaged from said latch.

Abstract: A latch device for use with a vehicle trunk lid comprises a base plate and an actuator unit mounted on the base plate. The base plate has a latch adapted to engage with a striker and a ratchet arranged to engage with the latch for maintaining engagement between the latch and the striker. The actuator unit has a motor, an output gear turned by means of the motor, a cam lever connected to the output gear with a lost motion coupling and a connection shaft which rotates together with the cam lever as one body. The cam lever is adapted to make the ratchet leave the latch when turned. The latch device further has an open lever engaged with a rod leading to a key cylinder of a trunk. The open lever is secured on the connection shaft. The connection shaft and the cam lever are formed from synthetic resin in such a manner to be integral with each other.

Abstract: An automobile with a body passenger compartment open at the top has two tilting hoods located at a distance from one another, with each hood being provided with a lock that is connected by a connecting element with an operating handle of an operating device. Both hoods are unlockable from the passenger compartment. Provision is made such that both operating handles are associated with a common operating device, which comprises a bearing housing with a central cylinder lock. Molded notches on both operating handles cooperate with outside walls of the lock housing of the cylinder lock.

Abstract: A door closing device comprises a door-lock mechanism provided between a door and a body and including a striker secured to the body and a pawl provided on the door, a driving mechanism, and a door-closing mechanism for establishing a fully closed condition of the door relative to the body, the door-closing mechanism including an active-lever operatively connected to the driving mechanism, a passive-lever operatively connected to the door-lock mechanism, and a cancel-lever disposed between the active-lever and the passive-lever. The cancel-lever is rotatable relative to one of the active-lever and the passive-lever so as to be brought into engagement with a portion of the other of the active-lever and the passive-lever.

Abstract: A latch for releasably securing the trunk lid of a vehicle which may be actuated by a person inside the trunk in emergency situations. The device includes a latch assembly operable by both a conventional exterior lock assembly and a release assembly positioned within the trunk compartment. The release assembly utilizes a flexible cable coupled to a detent lever within the latch in which the cable may be pulled by a person inside the trunk to open the trunk lid. Alternatively or additionally, the release assembly may utilize a spring loaded button which engages the detent lever to release the lid upon actuation. An alternate embodiment of the present invention includes a luminescent coating on the release assembly.

Abstract: A lock mechanism is mounted on a pivotal trunk lid. A lid drawing mechanism is mounted in a fixed member of a trunk space of a vehicle body. The lid drawing mechanism includes a motor mounting plate which is stationary, a striker base plate which is pivotally connected to the motor mounting plate and an output disc which pivots the striker base plate when rotated. The striker base plate has a striker which is engageable with the lock mechanism. A power unit is mounted to the fixed member and includes an electric motor and a speed reduction gear which are installed in a housing secured to the motor mounting plate. A rotation transmitting device is employed for transmitting rotation of the spur gear to the output disc irrespective of a certain axial displacement therebetween.

Abstract: When a trunk lid is pressed down, a latch and a striker engage to hold the lid in a position for closing the trunk opening, after which a control and a drive dislocate the striker downwards through a transmission, pulling the lid into a position to completely close the trunk opening and hold the lid in that position.

Abstract: A motor-vehicle door latch for use in combination with a door bolt has a housing formed with a laterally open recess in which the bolt is receivable and a pivotal latch fork formed with a fork seat and with at least one detent and pivotal on the housing between locked, semilocked, and unlocked positions. A support link pivotal on the housing carries a latch pawl pivotal in the locked and semilocked positions of the fork into and out of a holding position engaging the detent and preventing pivoting of the fork into the unlocked position. A crank is rotatable adjacent the fork between an outer position relatively far from the fork and an inner position relatively close to the fork and through an open-ready intermediate position between the inner and outer positions and close to the outer position. This crank is connected by a link to the support link for pivoting the support link and retaining pawl as the crank rotates.

Abstract: An emergency mechanism is incorporated in a powered back door closing device of a motor vehicle. During the time when, with the aid of a driving mechanism, a drawing mechanism of the door closing device is pulling down the back door through a striker secured thereto, the emergency mechanism forces a locking plate of the closing device to pivot from a locking position to an unlocking position thereby to release the striker from the drawing mechanism. The emergency mechanism comprises a cam member which is powered by the drive mechanism and rotatable about its axis in both directions; and a cam follower member which is pivotally connected to the locking plate.

Abstract: A locking-aid device is disclosed for a lock, especially for a vehicle door lock or flap lock, in which a pneumatic single-acting locking-aid drive is provided for displacing an abutment for a rotary latch out of a catch position into a locking position, in which the abutment is secured positively by means of a detent pawl. According to the invention the detent pawl can be lifted out, during the opening of the lock, independently of a movement of the locking-aid drive by means of an operative connection. This can be brought about purely mechanically or by means of a separate drive for lifting out the detent pawl during the opening of the lock, so that the abutment can always jump into its catch position immediately during or after the opening of the lock and thus also allows a successive multiple activation of the locking-aid assistance.

Abstract: A motor-vehicle power actuator has a housing, an electric motor in the housing having an output shaft, an input gear fixed on the shaft, a threaded spindle extending along and rotatable about a spindle axis in the housing, an output gear fixed on the spindle adjacent and out of contact with the input gear, and a nut threaded on the spindle and nonrotatable relative thereto. Thus rotation of the spindle in one rotational sense displaces the nut axially relative to the spindle axis in a release direction. A rocker pivotal in the housing on the shaft axis carries an intermediate gear meshing with the input gear, and also meshable with the output gear. The rocker is pivotal between an end position in which the intermediate gear meshes with the output gear and through an intermediate position in which the intermediate gear does not mesh with the output gear. The rocker and intermediate gear are so positioned that, on normal forward rotation of the motor shaft, the rocker moves into its end position.

Abstract: A position control, latch, and locking apparatus for use with a retractable cover used to securely enclose a pickup truck utility bed. The latch and lock mechanism is placed in a modified lead slat of the cover for latching to the cover guide tracks and to the tailgate. A key lockable actuating handle is placed on the slat concealing linkage arms pivotally connected to the handle further attached to a first and second diametrically opposed push rod for simultaneous operation of a four point spring biased latching mechanism. A flexible strap is connected to the cover to manually move the cover. The latching mechanism secures the cover to the sidewalls of the pickup truck as well as locking the tailgate in an upright position. A tailgate lip cover and attachment device is also disclosed for securely fastening the modified slat to the tailgate and provide a planar surface allowing for sealing and concealment of the latching mechanism.

Abstract: A security enclosure is mounted on the open load deck of a jeep between the rear seat and the tailgate. The load deck, deck sidewalls, and tailgate provide four sidewalls of the security compartment. Top and forward enclosure panels of the security enclosure are movably coupled together for pivotal movement by a hinge. The forward enclosure panel is stabilized by side flanges which are rigidly attached in flush engagement to the load deck side panels. The top enclosure panel is releasably locked to the load deck side panels by spring loaded lock pins which are concealed within the security compartment. According to this arrangement, access to the security compartment and to the lock assembly is controlled by normal operation of the tailgate and its lock. Upon release of the lock pins, the top enclosure panel may be rotated out of the way to provide a top opening access to the load deck for accommodating oversized articles.

Abstract: A tailgate handle assembly in a housing including a flush-mounted handle and an adjacent key cylinder. The housing is spaced apart from a tailgate latch mechanism. A laterally extending lever is slidably actuated on the housing from a locked mode to an unlocked mode manually by rotation of the key cylinder, or electrically via a power actuator, and then pivoted by manual lift-pulling on the handle, to thereby lift a latch rod extending between the lever and the latch mechanism to actuate the latter. An electrical limit switch is mounted on the handle assembly, adapted to being actuated by one slidable movement of the lever to unlock the latch of an upwardly pivotable tailgate window.

Abstract: A hatchback door for an automobile hinged at its upper end to a body of the automobile includes an outer panel having a handle to open the hatchback door; an inner panel connected to the outer panel, the inner panel having an opening immediately in front of the handle; a door lock assembly mounted at the lower end of the door; and a rod assembly provided between the inner panel and the outer panel connecting the handle and the door lock assembly.

Abstract: A motor-vehicle door latch has a bolt projecting from a support and movable by an actuator between an advanced and a retracted position, and a housing movable between an open, a partially closed, and a fully closed position. A latch fork can engage the door bolt to retain same and lock the door. The servoactuator can, when the bolt is engaged with the fork, move the housing between the partially and fully closed positions. A pawl pivots on the housing between a holding position retaining the fork in the latched position and a freeing position permitting the fork to move out of the latched position. A release lever on the housing displaces the pawl from the holding to the freeing position. A opening lever on the housing operatively engageable with the support is coupled to the pawl for moving it from its locked to its unlocked position on movement of the opening lever from a cocked to a rest position.

Abstract: A sunroof, or like vehicle cover, is secured to a motor vehicle frame utilizing a latching mechanism which has a simple construction, low overall height, and reliable operation. An engagement element on the vehicle cover cooperates with a hook mounted to the vehicle frame by a guide pin received within a guide slot, and a pivot pin received within a reception slot. One of the slots is linear and the other is non-linear. The slots, pins, and hook are positioned with respect to each other and the engagement element so that as the hook moves from an unlatched position to a latched position, moving the engagement element toward the frame, it moves through an intermediate position in which the engagement element is closer to the volume defined by the frame than in the latched position. A resilient, compressible material is preferably provided between the cover and frame to accommodate movement through the intermediate position, and to bias the components to the latched position.

Abstract: A locking device for a flap or door of a motor vehicle contains, in addition to the conventional flap or door lock which is unlockable and lockable by a lock cylinder, an additional bolt acting in parallel with the lock on a closing member of the same flap or door. The bolt is prestressed by a spring in the direction of its securing position and is movable mechanically in the direction of its release position by the lock cylinder via a linkage with a free-play connection.

Abstract: A ratchet type latch assembly, which can reliably lock a closing member to a stationary frame even if the relative positions of a lockable member and a latch member are shifted. The latch member is pivoted by a pivotal pin to rear end portions of a pair of bearing arms attached to a latch case. A pawl lever is pivoted by a pivotal pin to central portions of the bearing arms. The latch member has an arcuate edge formed on the side of its pivotal pin opposite its guide projection and about its pivotal pin, the arcuate edge being formed with a train of ratchets The pawl lever has its rear end portion provided with a check pawl latch for engagement and disengagement with respect to the ratchet train. The latch lever is urged against the pawl lever by a torsion spring. An operating handle is pivoted to a front plate member of the latch case, and can be lifted manually to release the latch member from the lockable member of the stationary frame.

Abstract: A remote control latch assembly includes a fork-bolt and detent style latch carried on the moveable deck lid of a vehicle. A key actuator is spaced from the latch and receives a standard key for unlatching the deck lid from a covered position over the trunk compartment. The key actuator includes a frame attached directly to the moveable deck lid, and a rotor supported in the frame and turned by the key. An involute track is formed in the frame having the rotor as its theoretical base cylinder. A core element operatively extends between the rotor and the latch. A conduit guidably surrounds the core element and includes a flange adjacent a terminal end portion thereof slideably received in the involute track. The angular orientation of the conduit is adjusted relative to the key actuator frame without relative lengthwise movement between the core element and the conduit by sliding the flange in the involute track.

Abstract: A power-closing vehicle door lock device comprises a spring-returned latch rotatably mounted on a base plate and having a U-shaped groove for engaging a striker, a spring-returned ratchet rotatably mounted on the plate and engaged to the latch after the latch rotates to a closed-lid position thereby preventing the latch from rotating to an open-lid position, a pressing link slidably engaged to the latch for rotating the latch to the closed-lid position from the open-lid position, an open lever rotatably engaged to the ratchet for reliefing the ratchet from the latch and permitting the latch to rotate to the open-lid position, an actuator for moving the pressing link to rotate the latch into the closed-lid position when moving in a first direction and rotating the lever to permit the latch to rotate to the open-lid position when moving in a second direction, a manual-open handle connected to the lever, and a deformed oval opening formed in the lever so as to guide motion of the pressing link.

Abstract: A power operated latch device for use in a hatch back type motor vehicle or the like. The device includes a striker secured to the hatch back door and a latch proper mounted to the vehicle body. The latch proper includes a base structure having a striker guide slot into which the striker is inserted when the door comes close to a door opening of the vehicle body, a pivotal structure connected to the base structure and pivotal between upper and lower positions, a latch plate carried by the pivotal structure and engageable with the striker, an electric motor securely connected to the base structure, the electric motor being arranged to lie parallel with respect to the base structure, a first mechanism for forcibly pivoting the pivotal structure between the upper and lower positions with the aid of the electric motor; and a second mechanism for forcibly driving the latch plate in a direction to disengage the striker from the latch plate with the aid of the electric motor.

Abstract: A power latching mechanism for use on automobile closures is disclosed, comprising a pin member, a keeper member having a hollow cylindrical body which receives the pin member, a motor for urging engagement between the pin member and the keeper member, and a spring and associated hardware for selectively retaining the pin member in the keeper member. In one embodiment, the keeper member retentively engages the pin member when the pin member is manually inserted thereinto and is also manually disengagable.

Abstract: A single T-handle latching mechanism including a center T-handle, a rotor assembly, a right and left swivel connector, a right and left rod rotator, a right and left lock rod with rotator engagement and a latching contoured end, and a right and left engagement latch plate. An approximately 90 degree rotation of the T-handle will extend the lock rods out to the right and left. With this mechanism, the lock rods also rotate about their axis approximately 180 degrees, with the contoured rod end pulling a door closed as its extension proceeds and, finally, at full extension latching the door securely closed in an engagement latch plate against its frame and sealing, not only in its longitudinal axis, but also in its frontal and horizontal axis.

Abstract: An electric driven type lock device used to a car trunk lid has a striker, a latch, and a ratchet for preventing the latch from reverse-rotating. When the striker reaches its position confronting a U-shaped groove or notch formed in the latch, a motor makes the pressing link rotate forcibly in a closed-lid direction. An electric-driven-condition relief link is connected to the ratchet. When the motor reversely rotates, the electric-driven-condition relief link makes the ratchet leave from the latch. Further, the lock device has a manual relief lever which to lever the pressing link and the ratchet are connected. When the manual relief lever is operated, the pressing link is left from a rotation track of the latch, as well as the ratchet is left from the latch.

Abstract: Methods and devices for locking the door or flap of a typical pick-up truck shell closed from the interior of the shell employ a substantially rigid member which is selectively secured to moving parts of the existing latch mechanism to prohibit such moving parts from moving and, to, thereby, selectively prohibit the latch mechanism from unlatching or unlocking the door or flap of the shell. In order to lock the shell door or flap, the substantially rigid member is abutted against and secured to moving parts of the latch mechanism from the interior of the shell. In this manner, a person inside of the shell and pick-up bed may secure the flap or door in a closed position and prohibit the flap or door from being opened by prohibiting movement of the moving parts of the latch mechanism.

Abstract: A frame assembly of a trunk lid locking device comprises a lower frame of vessel-shaped formed by bending four sides of a base plate about at a right angle, a latch placed in an interior of the lower frame and engaged with a striker to be rotated, a ratchet for preventing the latch from reversely rotating, an upper frame of approximately flat plate-like for closing an upper opening of the lower frame. An engagement hole extending in a left-and-right direction is formed on one of a front side of the upper frame and a top end of the lower frame, and a L-shaped engagement portion is formed on the other of the top end of the lower frame and the front side of the upper frame so as to engage with the engagement hole.

Abstract: A latch extender for a pivotal window assembly of a vehicle in which the pivotal window assembly includes a latch member for engaging the locking mechanism of the door of the vehicle, the latch extender being rigidly affixed to the latch member of the pivotal window assembly, the latch extender having a hasp substantially identical to the latch member of the pivotal window assembly, the hasp of the latch extender engaging the locking mechanism of the door assembly so as to secure the pivotal window assembly in a locked, yet opened position to permit cross ventilation within the vehicle while operating.

Abstract: A device, system and method of tailgate locking in accordance with the invention includes a lock housing, a locking member and a bracket having a flange. The bracket is connected to the lock housing. The locking member is releasably connected to the lock housing and adapted to engage a truck canopy handle. The bracket is adapted to engage a truck tailgate handle. In accordance with the method of the invention a pick-up truck canopy handle is effectively locked to a truck tailgate handle using the locking device.

Abstract: A vehicle trunk compartment lid holder to retain the trunk lid in selective partially-opened positions. The trunk lid holder includes an L-shaped central bar member, a first clamp slidably and rotatably attached to the vertical leg of the central bar member, and a second clamp rotatably attached to the horizontal leg of the central bar member. The first clamp selectively engages the trunk lid and the second clamp selectively engages the body of the trunk compartment. First clamp can be selectively locked at various positions along the vertical leg of the central bar member.