Operator Drives Closure Along Guide Patents (Class 49/360)
  • Patent number: 11945288
    Abstract: A vehicle door opening and closing apparatus includes a vehicle door, a rail configured to be mounted on a vehicle body, a roller unit mounted on the vehicle door, and configured to allow the vehicle door to open and close in a sliding mode in which the vehicle door is configured to slide along the rail and in a swing mode in which the vehicle door is configured to swing in a predetermined position of the rail, and a hold lock releasably holding the vehicle door in an open position or releasably holding the vehicle door in a closed position when the vehicle door is opened or closed in the sliding mode, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventor: Je Won Choi
  • Patent number: 11933088
    Abstract: A latch member for full opening includes a latch member for full opening that operates a latch claw into an engagement position or a non-engagement position with a striker. The latch member for full opening is configured of a first member on a sliding door side of a turning shaft, and is configured of a second member operated by the first member on a vehicle body side of the turning shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Fukahori, Yuichiro Saiki
  • Patent number: 11814879
    Abstract: A vehicle tailgate locking device including an external door handle switch configured to be turned on and off in response to operation of an external door handle, a latch assembly including a latch member configured to engage or disengage a striker by rotation, a pawl member configured to restrain or release the latch member, and a latch motor configured to rotate the pawl member to release the latch member, and a controller configured to control power to be supplied to the latch motor in response to the external door handle switch being turned on, to stop the power supplied to the latch motor in response to either the external door handle switch being turned off after the external door handle switch is turned on or an elapse of a preset time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Ki Eun Kim, Manhee Cho, Cheol Ho Lee, Seungwon You
  • Patent number: 11767700
    Abstract: A truck is provided that includes a bed section located rear of a cab section. The bed section is bounded on each side by opposing first and second upward-extending sidewalls, respectively. The truck also includes a truck bed cover that sits over the bed section on at least the first and second upward-extending sidewalls, and includes a door portion to create selective accessibility to the bed section of the pickup truck. The door portion is movable with respect to the first and second upward-extending sidewalls between open and closed positons via an automatic bed cover drive assembly that moves the door portion between open and closed positons according to a plurality of velocities within a predetermined variance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Leer Group
    Inventor: Marcus K. Junod
  • Patent number: 11668133
    Abstract: A window system includes a window frame; a transparent window pane; an energy harvesting device coupled to the window frame or the transparent window frame; an output device that uses or transmits electricity; and a battery housed in the window frame, the battery being in electrical communication with the energy harvesting device and the output device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: NEWTONOID TECHNOLOGIES, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Fielding B. Staton, David Strumpf
  • Patent number: 11598140
    Abstract: An opening and closing body drive device for a vehicle includes a belt frame, plural driven pulleys, a belt wounded around the plural driven pulleys and fixed with a connector with respect to an opening and closing body, a drive unit provided with an output shaft including a rotary axis which extends in a different direction from a rotary axis of each of the plural driven pulleys, and a drive pulley connected to the output shaft of the drive unit. The drive pulley includes a rotary axis extending in the different direction from the rotary axis of each of the plural driven pulleys while extending in the same direction as the rotary axis of the output shaft. The drive pulley is wound with the belt which is twisted between the driven pulleys arranged at opposing sides of the drive pulley in a circumferential direction of the belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: AISIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Taishi Isono, Shinji Kazama, Akinori Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11578521
    Abstract: An opening and closing body drive mechanism that drives an opening and closing body between an open position and a closed position; a drive unit to drive the opening and closing body; a detecting unit to detect movement of the opening and closing body; and a control unit to control driving of the opening and closing body. The control unit carries out a feedback control to control driving of the opening and closing body such that the movement of the opening and closing body, detected with the detecting unit, matches a predetermined target value when no abnormality occurs in the detecting unit or in wiring connecting the detecting unit and the control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: HI-LEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Atsushi Joko, Ken-ichi Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 11542743
    Abstract: Automatic vehicle window control systems and methods are provided herein. An example method includes determining a first operating height of a first window of a vehicle, determining a second operating height of a second window of the vehicle, comparing the first operating height with the second operating height, and selectively adjusting the first operating height or the second operating height to be substantially equal to one another when the first operating height and the second operating height are not substantially equal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Justin Bennie, Mahmoud Yousef Ghannam
  • Patent number: 11492838
    Abstract: In one aspect, a method is provided for controlling access to a facility including a movable barrier and a plurality of loading docks. The method includes receiving, from a user device associated with a vehicle, a check-in communication that includes a check-in identifier. The method includes receiving a verification communication that verifies a presence of the vehicle relative to a sensor associated with the movable barrier. The method further includes causing a movable barrier operator associated with the movable barrier to move the movable barrier between closed and open positions in response to the check-in identifier indicating authorization to access the facility and in response to receiving the verification communication. Further, the method includes selecting a particular loading dock from the plurality of loading docks and communicating a loading dock identification representative of the particular loading dock to the user device to direct the vehicle to the particular loading dock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Patrick Evans, Michael Pilgrim
  • Patent number: 11466494
    Abstract: A structure for preventing a sliding door from swaying includes a rail mounted in a first direction that is a longitudinal direction of a vehicle body, a rail roller unit rollably connected to the rail, a sliding module configured to apply driving power in the first direction to the rail roller unit through a cable, a slider mounted on the rail roller unit, a movement support unit configured to support the sliding door, wherein a first side of the movement support unit is fixed to the sliding door, and a second side of the movement support unit is rollably connected to the slider, and a spindle assembly configured to operate a spindle between the sliding door and the rail to move the sliding door in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Hyung-In Yun
  • Patent number: 11448003
    Abstract: Disclosed is a vertical profile for an automated sliding door. The profile is formed by front and rear walls connected by nose and tail walls. The nose and tail walls are thicker than the front and rear walls to provide enhanced resistance to deflection in the through-door direction. The walls are formed as an aluminum extrusion. The arrangement and thickness of the walls provides strength sufficient to withstand high wind loads without the installation of reinforcing members. Fillets may be provided where the walls are joined to lessen the tendency for the nose and tail walls deflect, further strengthen the profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Assa Abloy Entrance Systems AB
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Wolfe, Steven J. Fontaine
  • Patent number: 11447994
    Abstract: The invention relates to a drive device for driving an element, having the following: a toothed belt drive with a toothed belt, a frame element which forms two opposite connection plates and a connection wall that connects the two connection plates together, at least three elongated force driving elements which are secured to the toothed belt and are aligned parallel to the width (B) of the toothed belt and parallel to one another and which are arranged within the frame element, wherein a central force driving element is rotationally fixed to the two connection plates, and the end sections of each adjacent outer force driving element extend through curved elongated holes of the connection plate, whereby the outer force driving element can be pivoted and the end faces of the outer force driving elements have cylindrical projections, which are designed as axle stubs and each of which has a roller, outside of one of the connection plates, a toothed disc with tooth recesses for catching teeth of the toothed belt
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Gebr. Bode GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Lars Linnenkohl
  • Patent number: 11415362
    Abstract: A traveling harness system is provided for an appliance to maintain electrical connections between the appliance and a drawer, while allowing the drawer to move. Wiring harness guides formed in the drawer force the wiring harness to maintain a predictable and desirable loop radius to reduce stress on the wiring harness, which prevents the wiring harness from prematurely wearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald E. Haltmeyer, Dean A. Martin, Guadalupe Antonio Sanchez, Jose Paulo Remor
  • Patent number: 11408220
    Abstract: A control unit for establishing a functional connection between two gearing components comprises at least one control element, which can be moved in order to switch the control unit between different switching states, wherein the at least one control element is configured to provide a retaining force between the gearing components in a first switching state, and to allow movement of the gearing components in relation to one another in a second switching state. An actuator is used to move the at least one control element. A control mechanism controls the actuator. It is provided thereby that the control mechanism is configured to activate the actuator to switch the control unit from the first switching state to the second switching state, in order to move the at least one control element to reduce the retaining force (FH) based on a predetermined delay function (VF).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: BROSE FAHRZEUGTEILE GMBH & CO. KOMMANDITGESELLSCHAFT, BAMBERG
    Inventor: Takafumi Eguchi
  • Patent number: 11397117
    Abstract: A method and apparatus relating to generating, by at least one motion sensor of a data acquisition device that is mounted to a door having a door closer, motion data indicative of motion as the door is moved from an open position to a closed position, generating, by at least one load cell of the data acquisition device, load data as the door is being opened, analyzing the motion data and load data by a central processing device, determining at least one adjustment to the door closer based on at least one of a duration the door was in each of a plurality of door movement zones, as determined using the motion data, and a force applied to open the door, as determined using the load data, and displaying at least one installation instruction corresponding with the at least one adjustment on a graphical user interface of the central processing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: Schlage Lock Company LLC
    Inventors: Brian C. Eickhoff, Joseph W. Baumgarte, Christopher Eubel, Jonathan Coyle
  • Patent number: 11274486
    Abstract: A system comprising an opening comprising a door or a window, wherein the opening comprises a door or a window frame is provided. The opening comprises at least one movable door panel or at least one movable window panel based on if the opening is the door or the window respectively. The system also comprises a deadbolt inbuilt in the door panel or the window panel, a guiding device and a mechanical moving mechanism, wherein the guiding device and the mechanical moving mechanism are both housed in a guiding device housing, a guide block, and an attachment mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Inventors: Shruti Narottambhai Ladani, Hemal Rameshbhai Meghpara
  • Patent number: 11261647
    Abstract: A movable barrier opener system having a brushless DC motor is provided. The movable barrier opener system may have a power supply unit with a drive circuit power module and a storage bank. The storage bank may be chargeable by the drive circuit power module and may be connectable to the drive assembly to provide electrical power to the drive assembly to move the movable barrier. The drive circuit power module may be selectably turned on and off to improve efficiency of power consumption by turning off during periods of lowered demand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: GMI HOLDINGS, INC.
    Inventors: Greg Matias, Brent Buescher, Jr., Dan Punchak
  • Patent number: 11261633
    Abstract: To provide a power slide window in which the projecting dimension of the guide rail from the panel surface is small, the guide rail (4) defines a pin guide groove (26) that includes a groove main portion (26a) extending along a panel surface (2b) and at least one groove extension portion (26b) configured to drive a slide panel (3) in a direction to approach the window glass pane (2) via a pin (16) when the slide panel reaches the vicinity of the closed position. A slider guide groove (27) provided in the guide rail 4 to allow sliding of the slider 20 which is slidingly driven in the opening and closing direction and a groove main portion (26a) of a pin guide groove (26) are formed at least partially in common with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Yachiyo Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Kuroda, Teruyuki Nakamura, Hirotaka Kamioka, Keiichiro Nakamura
  • Patent number: 11242707
    Abstract: A system for guiding and supporting a leaf of a platform-access door capable of moving relative to a fixed panel in a horizontal translational movement in a plane of the leaf between open and closed positions, includes a rail extending in a direction of the horizontal translational movement, a first set of rollers collaborating with the rail with and being made up of: a main roller in contact with a lower bearing surface of the rail; first and second secondary rollers which are vertically offset from one another and are respectively in contact with the lower bearing surface and with an upper bearing surface of the rail and are spaced from the main roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: Faiveley Transport Tour
    Inventor: Sebastien Mareaux
  • Patent number: 11208834
    Abstract: To provide a power slide window in which, irrespective of the assembly accuracy, the step between the slide panel and the window glass pane in the closed state can be reduced, at least one pin drive groove (30) formed in a slider (20) to engage at least one pin (16) extends in a direction crossing a panel surface (2b) of the window glass pane (2) and inclined to the direction of extension of a groove main portion (26a) of a pin guide groove (26). A stopper (23) configured to limit the movement of the slider (20) toward the closed position is provided in a slider guide groove (27), and a position adjustment structure (32) capable of adjusting the position of the stopper (23) in the direction of extension of the slider guide groove (27) is provided. By adjusting the position of the stopper (23) by the position adjustment structure (32), it is possible to limit the movement of the slider (20) toward the closed position at a position where the slide panel (3) aligns with the window glass pane (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Yachiyo Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Kuroda, Teruyuki Nakamura, Hirotaka Kamioka, Keiichiro Nakamura
  • Patent number: 11199038
    Abstract: A door operator and a method for moving a door leaf between a closed and open position utilize a drive unit, a control unit, and a supervise unit. The drive unit is connected to and moves the door leaf between the open and closed position. The control unit is connected to and controls the movement of the drive unit. The supervise unit includes a status management unit and one or more sensors that provide sensor data associated with an operation of the door leaf. The status management unit receives the sensor data from the one or more sensors, determines a status pattern from a plurality of status patterns of the operation of the door leaf at least based on the sensor data, with a first status pattern being associated with a status event, and triggers the status event in response to the first status pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Assa Abloy Entrance Systems AB
    Inventor: Roger Dreyer
  • Patent number: 11174666
    Abstract: A smart window/door opening-closing device that can easily be installed for use with an existing door or window or can be built-in by the door or window manufacturer, can be programmed to activate the opening or closing of the door or window either (a) remotely, (b) automatically by a pet and/or (c) automatically by a voice command, is easily disengaged when use is not desired, provides safety and security to prevent unwanted opening or closing of the door or window, and is integrated with a wireless communication network to enable smart and remote control of the window/door actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Inventors: Michael Paul Demele, Adam Paul Smithline
  • Patent number: 11168508
    Abstract: A control system for a sliding door operator system, having at least one sliding wing and a door header, includes a first sensor configured to define a first activation zone, a first wing presence zone and a first side presence zone, a second sensor configured to define a second activation zone, a second wing presence zone and a second side presence zone, and a controller configured to evaluate data from the first sensor and the second sensor for controlling operation of the at least one sliding wing in the sliding door operator system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Assa Abloy Entrance Systems AB
    Inventor: Roger Dreyer
  • Patent number: 11105139
    Abstract: A truck is provided that includes a bed section located rear of a cab section. The bed section is bounded on each side by opposing first and second upward-extending sidewalls, respectively. The truck also includes a truck bed cover that sits over the bed section on at least the first and second upward-extending sidewalls, and includes a door portion to create selective accessibility to the bed section of the pickup truck. The door portion is movable with respect to the first and second upward-extending sidewalls between open and closed positions via an automatic bed cover drive assembly that moves the door portion between open and closed positions according to a plurality of velocities within a predetermined variance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Truck Accessories Group, LLC
    Inventor: Marcus K. Junod
  • Patent number: 11098519
    Abstract: A door operator system and a method for moving a door leaf between a closed and open position utilize a door operator and a supervise unit. The door operator includes a control unit, a presence sensor, activation sensors, and a drive unit. The drive unit is connected to the door leaf and moves the door leaf between the open and closed position to achieve a plurality of operational states. The presence sensor is configured to monitor a risk area and send presence data associated with an object detected in the risk area to the control unit. The activation sensors are configured to monitor respective activation areas near the door leaf and send activation data associated with an object detected in the respective activation areas to the control unit. The control unit controls a movement of the drive unit based on the activation and presence data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Assa Abloy Entrance Systems AB
    Inventor: Roger Dreyer
  • Patent number: 10890016
    Abstract: A lockable sliding door is described. A ratcheted track allows the movable panel of the door to be selectively locked in both closed and vented positions. A lever is positioned along a midpoint of the movable panel to allow for the easy engagement of the locking mechanism. Further, the locking mechanism is carried on the movable panel. The technology is configured to allow the sliding door to be locked in various configurations, with the door partially opened, completely open, or completely closed. The technology may also be utilized on windows or any other architectural features with a slide-to-open and close design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: ProVia Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Brewer
  • Patent number: 10871011
    Abstract: A method for operating a motor vehicle lock by a lock control. A catch of the motor vehicle lock may be moved into an open position, into a preliminary latching position and into a main latching position, wherein the catch is or may be brought into holding engagement with a lock striker. A cinching element and a cinching drive are provided. During a cinching routine, the catch is being moved into its main latching position by the cinching drive via the cinching element. A manual movement of the catch into the preliminary latching position causes the cinching routine to be initiated by the lock control. During the cinching routine, the catch performs a first catch movement in its opening direction from the preliminary latching position into a safety position and a second catch movement in its closing direction from the safety position into the main latching position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: Brose Schliesssysteme GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: David Rosales
  • Patent number: 10851577
    Abstract: Provided is an opening/closing apparatus for vehicles which reduces the size and weight by reducing the number of components and suppresses rattling of an opening/closing body through sliding resistance of cables. A guide plate is provided between a drum and a pulley to direct orientation of a closing-side cable and an opening-side cable drawn out from the drum to the pulley. The guide plate has a sliding contact curved surface with which the cables and are brought into sliding contact, and the guide plate is provided on a swing arm of a pulley case in which the pulley is rotatably housed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: MITSUBA Corporation
    Inventors: Ryo Gokan, Yoshitaka Urano
  • Patent number: 10829977
    Abstract: Various aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward apparatuses, systems, and methods for operating a fenestration assembly having a vent panel. The apparatuses, systems, and methods may include an actuator having an engagement section configured to contact a horizontal portion of the fenestration assembly and a drive assembly configured to actuate the engagement section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Pella Corporation
    Inventors: Todd Bernhagen, Paul Schroder, Evan Vande Haar
  • Patent number: 10760305
    Abstract: The self-locking guillotine door assembly includes a door, a locking mechanism attached to the door, and a cable attached to the locking mechanism. Pulling the cable releases the locking mechanism and lifts the locking mechanism and door. Pushing up on the bottom of the door locks the locking mechanism and resists lifting the door. The locking mechanism can include a post, a vertical slide with a slot, connector bars and cams such that when the cable is pulled, the cable lifts the vertical slide to lift proximal ends of the connector bars, which pivots the cams to release the locking mechanism. When the enclosure door is pushed up from the bottom, the locking mechanism pivots the cams towards the top of the enclosure door to lock the locking mechanism and resist lifting of the enclosure door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Midmark Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory N Taylor, Gary Silvis, Daniel L Perry, Troy N Brown
  • Patent number: 10746360
    Abstract: Lighting units for use with garage door openers and associated door tracks in residential garages and other similar settings are described herein. In some embodiments, the lighting units can be easily attached to a door track by means of one or more magnets. In other embodiments, the lighting units can be easily daisy-chained together to provide increased lighting. Additionally, in further embodiments, lighting units described herein can be operably connected to a garage door opening system so that they operate in conjunction with the door opening system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: ASSA ABLOY Entrance Systems AB
    Inventors: Joshua James Brown, David Griffis, Maxwell MacLeay
  • Patent number: 10697225
    Abstract: A gate opening apparatus includes an external housing, a main chassis, a motor device, a driving rotor, a plurality of guiding rollers, a transmission chain connecting the driving rotor, the guiding rollers and a door gate, and a gate actuating arrangement. The gate actuating arrangement includes a clutching device supported on the main chassis and connected to the motor device, a limit switch assembly coupled to the clutching device, and a control module. The gate opening apparatus is arranged to operate between a power mode and a manual mode. In the power mode, the clutching device is engaged with the driving rotor for driving a movement thereof by the motor device so as to selectively open and close the door gate. In the manual mode, the clutching device is disengaged from the driving rotor so that the driving rotor is adapted for being rotated manually.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Inventor: Qianliang Qiu
  • Patent number: 10633907
    Abstract: A system may include a first module and a second module. The first module may include a first transceiver, the first module configured to transmit a request using the first transceiver. The second module may include an input connection for an obstruction sensor and a second transceiver configured to receive a request from the first transceiver. The second module may be configured to receive sensor information from the obstruction sensor and send a response to the first module based on the sensor information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: GTO Access Systems, LLC
    Inventors: David Paul Null, Kevin Ward
  • Patent number: 10570649
    Abstract: A door lock apparatus has a lock mechanism for holding a vehicle door in a closed state, an assisting mechanism for assisting in closing and/or opening the vehicle door, and a driving portion for operating the assisting mechanism, and the driving portion has a plurality of motors in which output shafts are disposed parallel to each other and pinion gears are provided individually on the output shafts, a rotational shaft which is disposed parallel to the respective output shafts of the plurality of motors, an internal ring gear which is fixed to a first end portion of the rotational shaft and which meshes with the respective pinion gears of the plurality of motors, and a worm which is fixed to a second end portion of the rotational shaft and which is configured to transmit power to the assisting mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: GECOM CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Yokota
  • Patent number: 10562381
    Abstract: The invention relates to a drive of a sliding door of a motor vehicle comprising an electric drive unit (2), a drive cable (10) and a guide (3) for the drive cable (10). Said drive unit (2), the drive cable (10) and the guide (3) are fixed in the vehicle body (K) and the sliding door can be moved by means of the drive cable (10) with respect to the vehicle body. At least one sub-assembly (33) of the guide (3) of the drive cable (10) is modular and the drive cable (10) can be deflected by the modular sub-assembly (33).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Kiekert AG
    Inventors: Rainer Haubs, Rainhard Chilla
  • Patent number: 10524313
    Abstract: A rear slider window assembly for a vehicle includes a fixed window panel and a movable window panel that is movable between a closed position and an opened position. The movable window panel includes a laminated movable window panel having an electrical element disposed between an inner glass panel and an outer glass panel. The first electrical element is in electrical connection with a wire harness of the vehicle via a flexible connector electrically connected to a first electrical connector at an inner surface of the movable window panel and to a second electrical connector at the inner surface of the fixed window panel. The first electrical connector is electrically connected to the first electrical element via a thin flat connector that extends from the first electrical connector and wraps around a perimeter edge of the inner glass panel of the movable window panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Darin J. Snider, David K. Johnson
  • Patent number: 10371805
    Abstract: An obstacle detection apparatus includes: a transceiver transmitting a transmission wave and receiving an ultrasonic wave; a transmission controller; a receiver circuit detecting a signal level of a receiving wave; a distance calculator sequentially calculating a distance to an object reflecting the transmission wave; a memory storing the distance to the object; an obstacle determination device determining whether the object is an obstacle; and a reception level monitoring device monitoring the signal level of the receiving wave before the transmission wave being transmitted. When the signal level exceeds a predetermined threshold, the obstacle determination device sets a first number of determination data elements to an increased number of determinations for a predetermined period to be used for determining whether the object is the obstacle, as being larger than a second number of determination data elements used when the signal level does not exceed the predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignees: DENSO CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, NIPPON SOKEN, INC.
    Inventors: Mitsuyasu Matsuura, Taketo Harada, Takuya Nomura, Motonari Ohbayashi, Hironobu Ishijima
  • Patent number: 10344521
    Abstract: This invention pertains to mechanisms for opening and closing sliding windows especially in homes and buildings. A sliding window comprises a pane which is installed in a sliding frame. The frame is sliding vertically or horizontally within a static outer frame which has two parallel guides that guide the sliding frame. There are three similar approaches for such a mechanism: a two cables mechanism, a single roller chain mechanism and a two roller chains mechanism. The two cable approach uses four pulleys and two flexible cables. The single roller chain approach employs two sprockets. The two roller chains approach uses four sprockets. The window can be operated manually or by using an electric motor. The window assembly includes two safety systems which protect persons from being caught by a closing window. The window assembly also includes a burglar alarm and does not require a latch for window locking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Inventor: Jezekiel Ben-Arie
  • Patent number: 10337216
    Abstract: A power system for a vehicle having a vehicle body and door includes a first battery disposed on the vehicle body, a second, rechargeable battery disposed on the door, a first electrical contact disposed on the vehicle body, and a second electrical contact disposed on the vehicle door. The first and second electrical contacts are coupled to the first and second batteries such that when the door is in a fully closed position relative to the vehicle body the first and second batteries are electrically coupled to one another and the second battery is charged by the first battery, and when the door is not in a fully closed position the first and second batteries are electrically de-coupled from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: STRATTEC POWER ACCESS LLC
    Inventors: John M. Sohn, Paul S. Crociata
  • Patent number: 10226989
    Abstract: A vehicle opening-closing body control apparatus includes: a driving device driving an opening-closing body; a lock device retaining the opening-closing body in fully open and fully closed positions by including a latch mechanism, which performs an engagement action depending on a movement position of the opening-closing body; and a control device controlling the actions of the driving and lock devices, wherein the control device includes a position determination unit determining whether the movement position is in an engagement action position of the latch mechanism in a case in which driving control of the opening-closing body is stopped, and it becomes possible for the driving control to be restarted thereafter, and an engagement release control unit causing the latch mechanism to perform a release action by controlling the action of the lock device in a case in which it is determined that the movement position is in the engagement action position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takashi Kaino, Hirotoshi Nakamura, Yasuhiro Awata
  • Patent number: 10155432
    Abstract: A sliding window assembly for a vehicle, a cable drive system for a vehicle, and methods of operating the same, are disclosed. The sliding window assembly includes a track adapted to be coupled to the vehicle, and a sliding panel movable relative to the track between an open position and a closed position. A heating element is coupled to the sliding panel for heating the sliding panel. The sliding window assembly further includes a conductive cable coupled to the sliding panel and the heating element. The conductive cable is configured to transfer electrical current to energize the heating element and to undergo mechanical force to move the sliding panel relative to the track between the open and closed positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: AGC AUTOMOTIVE AMERICAS CO.
    Inventors: David W. Lahnala, Daniel Bennett
  • Patent number: 10015842
    Abstract: A cable drive system and a sliding window assembly for a vehicle are disclosed. The sliding window assembly includes a track adapted to be coupled to the vehicle. The sliding window assembly further includes a sliding panel coupled to the track and movable relative to the track between an open position and a closed position. A heating grid is coupled to the sliding panel for defrosting the sliding panel. The sliding window assembly also includes a cable coupled to the sliding panel for moving the sliding panel between the open and closed positions. In addition, the sliding window assembly includes a conductive element electrically connected to the heating grid and coupled with the cable such that the conductive element moves concurrently with the cable as the cable moves the sliding panel between the open and closed positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: AGC AUTOMOTIVE AMERICANS CO.
    Inventors: Dan Bennett, Mark S. Ackerman, David W. Lahnala
  • Patent number: 9945170
    Abstract: A door opening and closing apparatus opens and closes a slide door by cooperating with a guide roller unit fixed to the slide door of a vehicle. The guide roller unit includes a guide member and a belt-side bracket connected to the guide member. The door opening and closing apparatus includes a support member made of resin, plural pulleys supported at the support member, and a transmission belt engaged at the plural pulleys. The support member is fixed to a body of the vehicle and includes a rail portion at which the guide member is mounted. The belt-side bracket is fixed to the transmission belt. An electric drive source moves the transmission belt for opening and closing the slide door in a state where the guide member is guided along the rail portion. The support member includes an engagement portion configured to hold the belt-side bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shin Sakai, Seiichi Suzuki, Eisuke Nakanishi
  • Patent number: 9744835
    Abstract: An actuating apparatus for a vehicle part contains an actuating motor for generating an actuating force under the action of which the vehicle part can be adjusted between a closed state and an open state along an actuating path. The actuating apparatus also contains a control unit which is configured to carry out an actuating method in which, according to the method, a position measure is continuously ascertained when the vehicle part is adjusted, the position measure being characteristic of the current actuating position of the vehicle part along the actuating path. Furthermore, the position measure is set to a prespecified reference value when the vehicle part is in the closed state and when a further condition is additionally met, the further condition being linked in a reproducible manner with a specific actuating position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft, Hallstadt
    Inventors: Holger Wuerstlein, Florian Pohl, Sebastian Habermann, Juergen Schmitt, Maximilian Goetz
  • Patent number: 9737175
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of sanitary and bathing devices, and particularly to a connecting device for connecting a horizontal track to a vertical side frame of a shower door assembly, and a shower door assembly including the connecting device. The connecting device may comprise: a retaining member capable of being retained to an end of the horizontal track and provided with a lug; a connecting member having a width larger than that of the first opening, and being provided with a second opening; and a locking member provided with a connecting portion, the connecting portion being provided with a projection, wherein the locking member can be in a locked position or in an unlocked position when the projection is away from the connecting member. The shower door assembly comprises: a horizontal track; a vertical side frame provided on an end with a vertical opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Ideal Sanitary Ware Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Wuxiang Wei
  • Patent number: 9730556
    Abstract: This invention relates to the field of bathroom devices, and particularly to a track corner connecting device for a shower door used in a shower room, a shower door frame and a shower door. The track corner connecting device for a shower door comprises: an inserting member, a receiving member and a protective cover. The shower door frame comprises a track and aside frame. Two tracks forming an included angle therebetween are connected by the above connecting device. The shower door comprises a shower door frame and a glass plate mounted therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Ideal Sanitary Ware Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Wuxiang Wei
  • Patent number: 9677313
    Abstract: A vehicle-door opening/closing control device includes a controller, which controls the operation of a drive device. The controller is configured to supply drive power based on a voltage of an in-vehicle power supply to an electromagnetic clutch. The controller is also configured such that, when stopping an opening/closing body at an intermediate position, the controller supplies the drive power based on the voltage of the in-vehicle power supply to the electromagnetic clutch to put the clutch in the engaged state, and then stops the supply of drive power to the electromagnetic clutch so that the clutch is in the disengaged state after a predetermined holding time has elapsed since the controller has stopped the opening/closing body at the intermediate position. The predetermined holding time differs between a case where the trapping of the foreign object is detected and a case where the opening/closing manipulation is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignees: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takeshi Nishikibe, Kohei Kobayashi, Yoshinori Hitomi, Takeshi Katsuda, Shunsuke Hayakawa
  • Patent number: 9567790
    Abstract: An opening/closing body control device for a vehicle is provided with a drive section configured to drive an opening/closing body of a vehicle, and a controller configured to control the drive section. In response to detection of an external force input intended to accelerate the opening/closing body in operation, the controller controls the drive section to increase the operating speed of the opening/closing element. The drive section determines that the external force intended to accelerate the opening/closing body has been input if, as one example, the acceleration of the opening/closing body in an operation direction reaches a predetermined value or higher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masato Yamada, Takeshi Nishikibe, Hitoshi Takayanagi
  • Patent number: 9548823
    Abstract: The present invention is generally a movable barrier system that employs a movable barrier operator with a signal translation module, which enhances the quality of communications between wired components of a movable barrier system, including long distance wired communications between controllers and position sensors. In an exemplary embodiment, position sensors comprising encoders are coupled to translation module for reducing electromagnetic interference or noise from various components that may otherwise interfere with the communication; error detection and error correction means may be further implemented to facilitate diagnostic monitoring of the system from a monitoring device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: VIKING ACCESS SYSTEM, LLC.
    Inventor: Ali Tehranchi
  • Patent number: 9476245
    Abstract: A door cable pulley system for use with a motor vehicle having a closure movable between an open and closed position. The door cable pulley system includes a first tension pulley, a second tension pulley, a cable drum driven by a motor, and a pair of drive cables. The first drive cable includes a first end coupled to the cable drum and a second end coupled to the closure, where the first drive cable extends from the cable drum, passes over the first tension pulley, and exits the body through the second exit opening. The second drive cable includes a first end coupled to the cable drum and a second end coupled to the closure, where the second drive cable extends from the cable drum, passes over the second tension pulley, and exits the body through the first exit opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: STRATTEC POWER ACCESS LLC
    Inventor: Eric R. Hansen