Patents Examined by Alyson M. Merlino
  • Patent number: 12104414
    Abstract: An unlocking device for unlocking a lock of a movable vehicle element, in particular a vehicle door, a vehicle front hood and/or a vehicle tailgate is described. The device may have at least a detection unit for detecting at least one approaching object, and a lighting unit that may have an illumination region for illuminating a detection region of the detection unit. The lighting unit and/or the detection unit becoming or being activated at least when the locking mechanism is or has been brought into the pre-latching position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: Witte Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Tomas März, Radek Ducka
  • Patent number: 12098576
    Abstract: A motor vehicle lock, in particular a motor vehicle door lock, which has a locking mechanism consisting of a rotary latch and at least one pawl. The pawl exerts an opening torque (U1, U2) on the rotary latch. In addition, the pawl has an arched contact region, which interacts with a latching contour of the rotary latch. The contact region of the pawl has a first arch portion and a second arch portion, each having different radiuses (R1, R2). According to the invention, the first arch portion has, in the closing direction (S) of the locking mechanism, a larger radius (R1) than the second following arch portion having the radius (R2) there.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2024
    Assignee: Kiekert AG
    Inventor: Dirk Eichel
  • Patent number: 12098577
    Abstract: A door locking structure includes a door located at a side of a vehicle, a locking unit provided at the door, an input unit configured to apply unlocking input to the locking unit, and a controller configured to receive the input through the input unit and to unlock the locking unit. The controller is configured to integrally unlock the locking unit in response to the input through the input unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2024
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Ki Hyun Cho, Eui Chan Cho
  • Patent number: 12077994
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a hood latch system for a vehicle comprising a hood having a striker, the system comprises: a spring loaded claw rotatable between an engaged position in which the striker is locked in place by the claw, and an open position in which the striker is disengaged from the claw, and a main pawl rotatable between a first position in which the claw is held in place by the main pawl in the engaged position and a second position in which the claw is released by the main pawl whereby the claw is allowed to rotate into the open position. When the main pawl is caused to be activated for rotating from the first position to the second position by a crash acceleration force, the main pawl is configured to prevent the striker from being released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventors: Bishop Otim Obita, Christer Dominique, Monika Majewska
  • Patent number: 12071788
    Abstract: An interchangeable electro-mechanical lock core for use with a lock device having a locked state and an unlocked state is disclosed. The interchangeable electro-mechanical lock core may include a moveable plug having a first position relative to a lock core body which corresponds to the lock device being in the locked state and a second position relative to a lock core body which corresponds to the lock device being in the unlocked state. The interchangeable electro-mechanical lock core may include a core keeper moveably coupled to a lock core body. The core keeper may be positionable in a retain position wherein the core keeper extends beyond an envelope of lock core body to hold the lock core body in an opening of the lock device and a remove position wherein the core keeper is retracted relative to retain position to permit removal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: dormakaba USA Inc.
    Inventors: Brendon Allen, John Andrew Snodgrass, Street Anthony Barnett, III, Michael Hans Viklund
  • Patent number: 12065861
    Abstract: A vehicle door handle device includes: a base frame formed of a resin and arranged on an inner side of a door outer panel; a pad member arranged on an outer side of the door outer panel; a first fastening member formed of a metal and having a base frame engaging portion and a first panel engaging portion engageable with the inner side of the door outer panel; and a second fastening member formed of a metal and having a held portion and a second panel engaging portion engageable with the outer side of the door outer panel. The first and second fastening members are fastened to each other, the door outer panel is sandwiched between the first and second panel engaging portions, and the base frame engaging portion engages the base frame to restrict movement of the base frame in a direction away from the door outer panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: AISIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nobukazu Araki, Mizuya Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 12065859
    Abstract: A handle set including a chassis and a handle mounted on the chassis. The handle includes a shank having a load bearing section, a primary actuating section, and a secondary actuating section. The chassis includes a housing, a support spindle, a primary actuator, and a secondary actuator. The support spindle is longitudinally coupled with the load bearing section, and the primary actuator is rotationally coupled with the primary actuating section of the handle. The handle set has a first configuration in which the secondary actuating section is engaged with the secondary actuator, and a second configuration in which the secondary actuating section is disengaged from the secondary actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: Schlage Lock Company LLC
    Inventors: Nathanael S. Murphy, Peter Malenkovic
  • Patent number: 12054966
    Abstract: A door position sensor of an electromagnetic door lock. The electromagnetic lock also includes an electromagnet and a strike plate. The electromagnet is secured to the door frame and the strike plate is movably mounted to the door so that a controlled amount of door movement in the opening direction is permitted while the strike plate remains in contact with an energized electromagnet. The door position sensor may comprise a sensor in or on the electromagnet and a permanent magnet mounted to the door and disposed in proximity to the sensor when the door is in a closed position. The sensor may be a reed switch or a Hall Effect sensor. The permanent magnet and strike plate may be mounted to the door by a mounting tray. The mounting tray may include indicia to aid in providing a proper alignment of the strike plate to the door and electromagnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: Hanchett Entry Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Larry Gene Corwin, Jr., Darik Jay
  • Patent number: 12031357
    Abstract: An interchangeable electro-mechanical lock core for use with a lock device having a locked state and an unlocked state is disclosed. The interchangeable electro-mechanical lock core may include a moveable plug having a first position relative to a lock core body which corresponds to the lock device being in the locked state and a second position relative to a lock core body which corresponds to the lock device being in the unlocked state. The interchangeable electro-mechanical lock core may include a core keeper moveably coupled to a lock core body. The core keeper may be positionable in a retain position wherein the core keeper extends beyond an envelope of lock core body to hold the lock core body in an opening of the lock device and a remove position wherein the core keeper is retracted relative to retain position to permit removal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: dormakaba USA Inc.
    Inventors: John Andrew Snodgrass, Brendon Allen, Street Anthony Barnett, III, Michael Hans Viklund
  • Patent number: 12024930
    Abstract: A closure latch assembly having a latch mechanism is provided. The latch mechanism includes a ratchet and a pawl assembly pivotally supported for movement between a ratchet holding position whereat the pawl assembly is positioned to hold the ratchet in its striker capture position and a ratchet releasing position whereat the pawl assembly is located to permit movement of the ratchet to its striker release position. The pawl assembly has a carrier and a pawl configured for rotation relative to one another about a pawl pin and a roller carried by the carrier. The roller is disposed between the pawl and the ratchet for selective rolling movement therebetween. The roller is disposed into abutment with a closing surface of the ratchet while the pawl assembly is in the ratchet holding position and is spaced from closing surface while the pawl assembly is in the ratchet releasing position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: Magna Closures Inc.
    Inventors: Roman Cetnar, Franco Giovanni Ottino, Kris Tomaszewski
  • Patent number: 12006743
    Abstract: A door lock, in particular a motor vehicle door lock, which is equipped with a locking mechanism that substantially consists of a rotary latch and at least one pawl. Each of the two locking mechanism parts is rotatably supported on a base about a respective axis. For this purpose, a bearing surface of each locking mechanism part slides along a fixed support body. According to the invention, the support body is provided with an open bearing trough for receiving the bearing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: Kiekert AG
    Inventors: Ömer Inan, Holger Schiffer, Michael Scholz, Peter Szegeny, Thomas Schönenberg
  • Patent number: 12006736
    Abstract: A folding lock comprises a folding plate assembly, a lock seat, a fixing sleeve, a lock core seat, a lock core, a connecting swivel, a lock column, and a fixing collar. A fixed folding plate of the assembly is provided with a connecting seat, the lock seat is disposed on the connecting seat and provided with an insertion hole, an inlay protrudes from the insertion hole, the fixing sleeve inserts into the connecting seat and disposes in the lock seat, the lock core disposes in the lock core seat, the connecting swivel is assembled on the lock core seat, a torsion spring disposes between the lock core seat and the connecting swivel, the lock column is assembled on the connecting swivel, a compression spring is sleeved on the connecting swivel and the lock column, and the fixing collar is disposed in the fixing sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Inventor: Yu-Pin Lin
  • Patent number: 12000179
    Abstract: A lock in a vehicle is automatically controlled based at least in part on a state associated with the vehicle. In response to an attempt to open a hatch using an interior release lever while in a locked state, the automatically-controlled lock in the locked state prevents the hatch from opening. In response to an attempt to open the hatch using an exterior release lever while the automatically-controlled lock is in the locked state, a bypass to the automatically-controlled lock is used to open the hatch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: Wisk Aero LLC
    Inventors: Uri Tzarnotzky, James Joseph Tighe
  • Patent number: 11993962
    Abstract: A cable module includes a retaining member and a cable member. The retaining member includes a base portion, a guide portion, and an attaching portion. The cable member placed on the base portion includes a grip portion and a cable. The guide portion configured to guide the cable is provided on a surface of the base portion. The attaching portion protrudes from the base portion. The retaining member is configured to retain the cable member in a first position and a second position. The length of an intermediate portion of the cable located between the guide portion and the grip portion when the cable member is in the second position is longer than that when the cable member is in the first position. When the cable member is in the second position, the grip portion is attached onto the attaching portion in a condition where the intermediate portion is bent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshinori Shinoda
  • Patent number: 11993961
    Abstract: A lock striker of a motor vehicle body lock includes a striker. The striker is arranged on a striker plate. The striker has a striker section which is configured to admit a load. The striker plate has a first striker plate section which is configured to be connected to a body component. The striker plate has a second striker plate section on which the striker is arranged. The first striker plate section and the second striker plate section are connected to one another. A stiffness of the striker plate in the direction of the load is less than in a direction orthogonal to the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Nicholas Aldersley, Michael Brandstaetter
  • Patent number: 11993960
    Abstract: The invention relates to a door handle for a car, wherein the door handle has a handle section to be gripped manually and a pivoting bearing section, by way of which the door handle can be mounted on a car door such that it can be pivoted about a pivot axis between a closed position and an open position which unlocks the car door, wherein a metal ball, in particular a steel ball, or a metal cylinder, in particular a steel cylinder, is fastened to the door handle, wherein, if a predefined transverse acceleration which acts on the door handle occurs, the metal ball or the metal cylinder counteracts, as a counterweight, an opening force which acts on the handle section on account of the transverse acceleration. Moreover, the invention relates to a corresponding method for producing a door handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Zsolt Wilke, Roland Och, Elmar Fries, Massimo Trisorio
  • Patent number: 11993963
    Abstract: A latch for a motor vehicle, in particular an electrically operable latch, comprising a locking mechanism having a catch and at least one pawl, it being possible to ratchet the catch in at least one main ratchet position by means of the pawl, and a further ratchet element located between the catch and the pawl in the engagement region and arranged on the catch, the ratchet element being pivotably accommodated in the catch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Kiekert AG
    Inventors: Ömer Inan, Holger Schiffer, Michael Scholz, Peter Szegeny
  • Patent number: 11988020
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a door-lock system (S) for a household appliance, in which said household appliance is of the type comprising a frame and a door hinged to said frame, and in which said lock-door system (S) comprises: an engaging member (2), which can be fixed to said door of said household appliance, and comprising a prong (22) and a security member (23) arranged substantially parallel to said prong (22); and a door lock device (1). The present invention also relates to an oven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: BITRON S.P.A.
    Inventor: Fabrizio Promutico
  • Patent number: 11970889
    Abstract: The emergency egress apparatus includes a protuberance mated to a first portion of the door barricade and a keeper mated to a second portion of the door barricade. A retainer is selectively disposed between one of two positions. A first position defines the placement of the retainer that establishes an interference fit between the protuberance and the keeper. A second position defines the placement of the retainer such that it is not in contact with the protuberance or the keeper. The first position secures the first portion of the door barricaded with respect to the second portion of the door barricade, and the second position decouples the first portion of the door barricade with respect to the second portion of the door barricade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: John P. McIntire, Matthew Srnoyachki
  • Patent number: 11970887
    Abstract: A lock for a motor vehicle includes a locking mechanism consisting of a rotary latch and at least one pawl, a closing device having an electric drive, wherein the locking mechanism can be transferred from a pre-locking position into a main locking position by the closing device, and a control unit for the closing drive, wherein a closing operation can be prevented in accordance with a measurement variable of the closing drive, and wherein the closing operation can be prevented in accordance with a determinable deviation from a setpoint value curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Kiekert AG
    Inventor: Manuel Reusch