Patents Assigned to Hi-Lex Controls, Inc.
  • Patent number: 11674347
    Abstract: A window regulator assembly in a vehicle includes a glass lift plate assembly for moving a window glass up and down along the guide rail. The glass lift plate assembly includes a slider base, a glass holder configured to receive and hold the window glass, and an attachment bracket placed on the glass holder to securely hold the window glass. The glass holder includes an inboard part and an outboard part, and is connected to the slider base by an adjustment member, which is configured to adjust a top edge of the window glass. Further, the window glass is placed between the inboard part and the outboard part of the glass holder and also fixedly held by an attachment fastener. The inboard part of the glass holder slidably moves relative to the outboard part of the glass holder by the rotational movement of the adjustment member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: HI-LEX CONTROLS, INC.
    Inventor: Shigeki Arimoto
  • Patent number: 11634093
    Abstract: A seat module adapted to be attached to a seat having mechanical parts and electric devices for seat operation in a motor vehicle includes at least one operating cable for activating at least one device, and a module plate formed with a mounting feature for attaching to the seat and a retention feature for attaching the at least one operating cable. An end portion of the operating cable is temporarily stowed on the module plate in a pre-assembled state where the operating cable is attached to the module plate, and the end portion of the operating cable is connected to the electric devices and/or mechanical parts of the seat in an assembled state where the module plate with the retained operating cables is securely mounted to the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: HI-LEX CONTROLS, INC.
    Inventors: Heather Ann Golen, Kevin Richard Koneval, David Edward Flint, Jeffrey John Lijana
  • Patent number: 11618392
    Abstract: A seat module adapted to be attached to a seat having component for seat actuation in a motor vehicle includes at least one operating cable, and a module plate formed with a mounting feature for attaching to the seat and a retention feature for retaining at least one operating cable. Further, the operating cable is retained in the module plate in a pre-assembled state where the operating cable is retained by the module plate in a stowed condition, and the operating cable is released from the stowed condition and connected to the components of the seat in an assembled state where the module plate retaining the operating cable is attached to the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: HI-LEX CONTROLS, INC.
    Inventors: Heather Ann Golen, Kevin Richard Koneval, Ichiro Okuno
  • Publication number: 20230059498
    Abstract: A fastener includes a male member having a head and a threaded portion protruding from the head along a longitudinal axis, and a female member having a body portion and a tubular tightening portion extending from the body portion along the longitudinal axis. The tubular tightening portion includes a thread bore receiving the threaded portion of the male member and a plurality of teeth formed on an outer surface of the tubular tightening portion. Further, the male member includes at least one arm extending form the head along the longitudinal axis, and the at least one arm of the male member includes a projection protruding radially inward from the arm and engaging the teeth of the female member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2021
    Publication date: February 23, 2023
    Applicant: HI-LEX CONTROLS, INC.
    Inventors: SHIGEKI ARIMOTO, HIROSHI MASUDA
  • Publication number: 20230027803
    Abstract: A window regulator assembly in a vehicle includes a glass lift plate assembly for moving a window glass up and down along the guide rail. The glass lift plate assembly includes a slider base, a glass holder configured to receive and hold the window glass, and an attachment bracket placed on the glass holder to securely hold the window glass. The glass holder includes an inboard part and an outboard part, and is connected to the slider base by an adjustment member, which is configured to adjust a top edge of the window glass. Further, the window glass is placed between the inboard part and the outboard part of the glass holder and also fixedly held by an attachment fastener. The inboard part of the glass holder slidably moves relative to the outboard part of the glass holder by the rotational movement of the adjustment member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2021
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Applicant: HI-LEX CONTROLS, INC.
    Inventor: Shigeki Arimoto
  • Patent number: 11440492
    Abstract: A seat module adapted to be attached to a seat having mechanical parts and electric devices for seat operation in a motor vehicle includes at least one operating cable for activating at least one device, and a cushion suspension module adapted to support a cushion of the seat having a plurality of cushion suspension wires for attaching to the seat and at least one module plates coupled with the cushion suspension wires. An end portion of the operating cable is temporarily stowed on the cushion suspension module in a pre-assembled state where the operating cable is attached to the cushion suspension module, and the end portion of the operating cable is connected to the electric devices and/or mechanical parts of the seat in an assembled state where the cushion suspension module with the attached operating cables is securely mounted to the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: HI-LEX CONTROLS, INC.
    Inventors: Heather Ann Golen, Kevin Richard Koneval
  • Patent number: 11352824
    Abstract: A cable guide assembly adapted for use with a guide rail for a motor vehicle, for redirecting a cable of a window regulator, includes a cable guide formed with an outer perimeter and a cable guide receiving site formed in the guide rail adapted to receive and mount the cable guide. The cable guide includes a cable guide groove to guide the cable wrapping around the cable guide and a generally circular interior cavity to mount to the guide rail. In the cable guide assembly, the cable guide is securely engaged with a center support in the cable guide receiving site and rotatable between two rotatable positions, a temporary holding position and a final position. In the temporary holding position, the cable is at a first tension and the cable is at a second tension higher than the first tension in the final position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: HI-LEX CONTROLS, INC.
    Inventor: Masayuki Matsushita
  • Publication number: 20220134977
    Abstract: A seat module adapted to be attached to a seat having component for seat actuation in a motor vehicle includes at least one operating cable, and a module plate formed with a mounting feature for attaching to the seat and a retention feature for retaining at least one operating cable. Further, the operating cable is retained in the module plate in a pre-assembled state where the operating cable is retained by the module plate in a stowed condition, and the operating cable is released from the stowed condition and connected to the components of the seat in an assembled state where the module plate retaining the operating cable is attached to the seat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2022
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Applicant: HI-LEX CONTROLS, INC.
    Inventors: HEATHER ANN GOLEN, KEVIN RICHARD KONEVAL, ICHIRO OKUNO
  • Patent number: 11318818
    Abstract: A window regulator for a motor vehicle door assembly including features for providing defrosting capabilities for movable glass of the door. A door wire harness is routed inside a door inner cavity. A defroster wire harness is provided having a first end connected to the door wire harness at a bracket on a window regulator guide rail. The opposite end of the defroster wire harness is affixed to a second bracket at a window regulator window carrier. Electrical defroster element wires are connected to the defroster wire harness at the second connector. The defroster wire harness is configured to undergo a bending motion in a manner to reduce fatigue and interference with internal components of the vehicle door. Other applications include providing electrical power to electronic or electrical elements carried by a vehicle movable window panel in addition to defroster functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: HI-LEX CONTROLS, INC.
    Inventors: Shigeki Arimoto, Yohei Moriya
  • Patent number: 11285892
    Abstract: A seat module attached to a seat having mechanical parts for seat actuation in a motor vehicle includes at least one mechanical control cable for the seat actuation, and a module plate formed with a mounting feature for attaching to the seat and a retention feature for attaching the mechanical control cable. An end portion of the mechanical control cable is temporarily stowed on the module plate in a pre-assembled state where the mechanical control cable is attached to the module plate, and the end portion of the mechanical control cable is connected to the mechanical parts of the seat in an assembled state where the module plate with the attached mechanical control cable is securely mounted to the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: HI-LEX CONTROLS, INC.
    Inventors: Heather Ann Golen, Kevin Richard Koneval, Ichiro Okuno, Ellen Marisa Kauten
  • Patent number: 11286705
    Abstract: A cable guide assembly adapted for use with a guide rail for a motor vehicle, for redirecting a cable of a window regulator, includes a cable guide formed with an arc-shaped body having a cable guide groove on an outer perimeter of the arc-shaped body and a cable guide receiving site formed in the guide rail adapted to receive and mount the cable guide. The cable guide includes a cable holding tab extending outward from the arc-shaped body along a longitudinal axis and a pair of side hooks extending from an end portion of the arc-shaped body along a transverse axis. In an intermediate-installed state of the cable, the cable is set under the cable holding tab, and in a fully-installed state of the cable, the side hooks are configured to prevent the cable from coming off from the cable guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: HI-LEX CONTROLS, INC.
    Inventor: Masayuki Matsushita
  • Publication number: 20220055558
    Abstract: A seat module adapted to be attached to a seat having mechanical parts and electric devices for seat operation in a motor vehicle includes at least one operating cable for activating at least one device, and a module plate formed with a mounting feature for attaching to the seat and a retention feature for attaching the at least one operating cable. An end portion of the operating cable is temporarily stowed on the module plate in a pre-assembled state where the operating cable is attached to the module plate, and the end portion of the operating cable is connected to the electric devices and/or mechanical parts of the seat in an assembled state where the module plate with the retained operating cables is securely mounted to the seat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2021
    Publication date: February 24, 2022
    Applicant: HI-LEX CONTROLS, INC.
    Inventors: HEATHER ANN GOLEN, KEVIN RICHARD KONEVAL, DAVID EDWARD FLINT, JEFFREY JOHN LIJANA
  • Publication number: 20220055553
    Abstract: A seat module adapted to be attached to a seat having mechanical parts and electric devices for seat operation in a motor vehicle includes at least one operating cable for activating at least one device, and a cushion suspension module adapted to support a cushion of the seat having a plurality of cushion suspension wires for attaching to the seat and at least one module plates coupled with the cushion suspension wires. An end portion of the operating cable is temporarily stowed on the cushion suspension module in a pre-assembled state where the operating cable is attached to the cushion suspension module, and the end portion of the operating cable is connected to the electric devices and/or mechanical parts of the seat in an assembled state where the cushion suspension module with the attached operating cables is securely mounted to the seat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2021
    Publication date: February 24, 2022
    Applicant: HI-LEX CONTROLS, INC.
    Inventors: HEATHER ANN GOLEN, KEVIN RICHARD KONEVAL
  • Publication number: 20220055552
    Abstract: A seat module attached to a seat having mechanical parts for seat actuation in a motor vehicle includes at least one mechanical control cable for the seat actuation, and a module plate formed with a mounting feature for attaching to the seat and a retention feature for attaching the mechanical control cable. An end portion of the mechanical control cable is temporarily stowed on the module plate in a pre-assembled state where the mechanical control cable is attached to the module plate, and the end portion of the mechanical control cable is connected to the mechanical parts of the seat in an assembled state where the module plate with the attached mechanical control cable is securely mounted to the seat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2020
    Publication date: February 24, 2022
    Applicant: HI-LEX CONTROLS, INC.
    Inventors: HEATHER ANN GOLEN, KEVIN RICHARD KONEVAL, ICHIRO OKUNO, ELLEN MARISA KAUTEN
  • Publication number: 20210372188
    Abstract: A cable guide assembly adapted for use with a guide rail for a motor vehicle, for redirecting a cable of a window regulator, includes a cable guide formed with an outer perimeter and a cable guide receiving site formed in the guide rail adapted to receive and mount the cable guide. The cable guide includes a cable guide groove to guide the cable wrapping around the cable guide and a generally circular interior cavity to mount to the guide rail. In the cable guide assembly, the cable guide is securely engaged with a center support in the cable guide receiving site and rotatable between two rotatable positions, a temporary holding position and a final position. In the temporary holding position, the cable is at a first tension and the cable is at a second tension higher than the first tension in the final position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2020
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Applicant: HI-LEX CONTROLS, INC.
    Inventor: MASAYUKI MATSUSHITA
  • Patent number: 11187017
    Abstract: A door lock cable and trim panel assembly for a motor vehicle includes a door lock cable and a trim panel assembly. The door lock cable includes a sheath assembly having a sheath tube and a cable core, a casing cap attached to an upper end of the sheath tube and an end insert element affixed to the cable core. The end insert element is inserted into an inside blind bore of a lock knob. In addition, the trim panel assembly includes a knob hole and a trim-interface slot transversely protruded from an inner surface of the trim panel assembly. The trim-interface slot has an upper and lower portion being engaged with the casing cap of the door lock cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: HI-LEX CONTROLS, INC.
    Inventors: Michael K. Kawamoto, Brian Wild
  • Publication number: 20210223814
    Abstract: A manual park release handle system equipped with a mechanism for preventing the unintentional deployment of the manual park release system has: a base having an opening therethrough and a handle pivotally connected to the base, configured to pivot between a disengaged position and an engaged position. The handle is connected to a cable coupled to a park gear release within the automatic transmission of the vehicle. A tether strap is attached to the handle. A housing cover is attached to the base and has an aperture overlapped with a lock piece cylinder. The tether strap passes through the lock piece cylinder and the aperture, and is attached to a twist lock piece. The twist lock piece is configured to pass through the housing cover aperture and engage the lock piece cylinder and to disengage the lock piece cylinder by rotating the twist lock piece within the lock piece cylinder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2021
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Applicant: HI-LEX CONTROLS, INC.
    Inventors: Matthew Devos, Gregory P. Hlatky, II
  • Patent number: 11068014
    Abstract: A manual park release handle system equipped with a mechanism for preventing the unintentional deployment of the manual park release system has: a base having an opening therethrough and a handle pivotally connected to the base, configured to pivot between a disengaged position and an engaged position. The handle is connected to a cable coupled to a park gear release within the automatic transmission of the vehicle. A tether strap is attached to the handle. A housing cover is attached to the base and has an aperture overlapped with a lock piece cylinder. The tether strap passes through the lock piece cylinder and the aperture, and is attached to a twist lock piece. The twist lock piece is configured to pass through the housing cover aperture and engage the lock piece cylinder and to disengage the lock piece cylinder by rotating the twist lock piece within the lock piece cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: HI-LEX CONTROLS, INC.
    Inventors: Matthew Devos, Gregory P. Hlatky, II
  • Patent number: 11067155
    Abstract: A spindle drive assembly includes a threaded spindle rotatable about a spindle axis; a threaded spindle nut disposed on the threaded spindle and configured to travel along the spindle axis via a rotation of the spindle; a ball stud attached to the spindle nut, the ball stud extending radially away from the spindle nut; an attachment plate configured to be attached to a part to be moved; and a ball socket connected to the attachment plate and having a cavity dimensioned for receiving the ball stud. The cavity of the ball socket has a first diameter in a direction perpendicular to the spindle axis and a second diameter parallel to the spindle axis, wherein the first diameter is greater than the second diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Hi-Lex Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: John Heiberger, Favad Shah, Ryan Bellaver, Steve Brinck
  • Patent number: 11067156
    Abstract: A friction brake assembly includes a brake housing; an input coupling element; an output coupling element; and a torsion spring. The input coupling element has an axial protrusion forming a partial cylinder wall with an angular gap over a defined angular range. The output coupling element has a projection protruding into the at least one angular gap, wherein the projection has an angular width smaller than the angular gap; wherein the torsion spring is a coil spring with coil ends forming two radially inward pins protruding into the angular gap in the input coupling element between the partial cylinder wall and the projection so that the projection is between the two inward pins. The torsion spring has a diameter that expands to form a friction lock with a surrounding cylindrical wall when the projection of the output coupling element engages and moves either one of the inward pins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Hi-Lex Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: John Heiberger, Favad Shah