Patents Examined by Carlos Lugo
  • Aircraft comprising a hatch and a fall-protection device
    Patent number: 10377463
    Abstract: An aircraft having a hatch and a fall-protection device includes a structure comprising a roof pierced with an opening, a cover plate, and a lock provided to adopt a locking position, in which the lock holds the cover plate in the closed position in the opening, or, alternatively, an unlocked position, in which the lock does not hold the cover plate. The aircraft further comprises at least one fall-protection device provided so that, when the lock moves into the unlocked position, it is in a first position to allow movement of the cover plate under the influence of gravity from its closed position to an intermediate position, in which the cover plate is suspended from the structure and then moves from the first position into a second position, during which movement the cover plate moves from the intermediate position into an open position, no longer attached to the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Airbus Operations (S.A.S.)
    Inventors: Yannick Chourreau, Loic Challancin
  • Dual motor latch assembly with power cinch and power release having soft opening function
    Patent number: 10378252
    Abstract: A two-motor power latch assembly for a motor vehicle closure system configured to provide a power cinching feature and a power release feature. The power cinching feature is configured to retain the ratchet in a cinched striker capture position with the pawl disengaged from the ratchet. The power release feature is configured to move the ratchet from its cinched striker capture position to a cinch release striker capture position for unloading the seals prior to release of the ratchet to its striker release position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: MAGNA CLOSURES S.P.A.
    Inventors: Franco Giovanni Ottino, Francesco Cumbo, Marco Taurasi, Enrico Margheritti
  • Motor vehicle lock arrangement
    Patent number: 10370874
    Abstract: A vehicle lock arrangement for a vehicle door, having a vehicle lock with a lock element such as a pawl, at least one actuation lever to deflect the lock element and thereby to open the vehicle lock, and at least one elongate force transmission element, which couples the at least one actuation lever to a respective door handle. At least one crash detection element in the form of an elongate force transmission element for the transmission of pulling forces is provided, which in the installed state extends through a part of the motor vehicle door and is coupled to a control mechanism, which control mechanism may be switched to a disabling state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Brose Schliesssysteme GmbH & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft
    Inventors: David Rosales, Stepan Hanke, Nathalie Westhoff
  • Sensor assemblies for locks
    Patent number: 10364592
    Abstract: A locking assembly including first and second hubs rotatably mounted in a case, a latch assembly which retracts in response to rotation of either of the hubs, and a locking member which selectively prevents rotation of at least one of the hubs. A sensor assembly is associated with at least one of the hubs, and is configured to transmit a signal in response to rotation of the at least one hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Schlage Lock Company LLC
    Inventors: Sundar Raj Dore Vasudevan, Dilip Bangaru, Adam Michael Litwinski, Allen Madrid
  • Locking lever and vehicle door opening-closing device
    Patent number: 10352069
    Abstract: A locking lever includes: a pair of lever pieces connected to each other to be relatively rotatable; and a spring member which extends about rotating axes of the lever pieces, of which both end portions engage with the lever pieces, and thereby, which biases the lever pieces to rotate in opposite directions, wherein contact portions, which come into contact with each other based on a biasing force of the spring member and thereby, are able to hold relatively rotating positions of the lever pieces, are provided in the lever pieces, respectively, wherein the spring member has spring end portions extending in a radial direction of the rotating shaft, and wherein an engagement surface with which the spring end portion comes into contact in a circumferential direction of the rotating shaft is provided on at least one of the lever pieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ryohei Yamane, Sadayuki Makino
  • Snap set door handle and lock knob assembly
    Patent number: 10352072
    Abstract: A door handle assembly. The assembly includes a bezel including a depressed base and an integral support bracket. A latch handle is operatively disposed within a first chamber at the bezel interior and a lock knob including a resiliently compressible body is disposed within a second chamber. The lock knob is supported between a pair of opposing bosses. The latch handle is supported between a boss and an opposing wall aperture. The supporting bosses and wall aperture are concentrically oriented with the latch handle and lock knob being supported in rotatable relation about a common axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Daniel R Collado, Walter Belchine, III
  • Latch assembly
    Patent number: 10344509
    Abstract: A latch assembly comprises a backplate, a lock lever, and a latch member. The lock lever is operable by a user to unlock the latch assembly such that the latch member is free to rotate relative to the backplate and allow a gate to be opened. The lock lever is attached to the backplate and is free to move relative to the backplate for operation of the latch assembly. The latch member is attached to the backplate and is free to move relative to the backplate while the latch assembly is in an unlocked configuration, but is prohibited from to moving relative to the backplate by the lock lever while the latch assembly is in a locked configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Inventor: Brett Bledsoe
  • Vehicle interior lid for covering interior component airbag attachment
    Patent number: 10343611
    Abstract: A vehicle assembly includes an interior body panel having an outer surface including an opening portion, and a lid removably mounted to the body panel. The lid has a closed position for covering the opening portion and an opened position. Engagement between the lid and the body panel is adapted to allow the lid to pivot at least partially into the opening portion as the lid is moved from the closed position to the opened position. The lid defines a lid body having an exterior surface. An edge portion of the exterior surface is continuous and without interruption about a periphery of the exterior surface so that the lid body exterior surface is flush with the body panel outer surface about the entire periphery of the lid body exterior surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Emily G. Lawrence, Toshimitsu Shimizu, Jason Dilley
  • Opening prevention device for sliding door of vehicle
    Patent number: 10344505
    Abstract: An opening prevention device for a sliding door which is slidably installed in a side surface of a vehicle is provided. The opening prevention device includes a vehicle movement detection unit that is installed within a vehicle body of the vehicle and is configured to detect movement of the vehicle, and a door opening prevention unit that is installed in the vehicle body and configured to prevent lateral translation of the sliding door when the vehicle movement detection unit detects movement of the vehicle. Additionally, an opening prevention latch is installed on the sliding door to be engageable with a portion of the door opening prevention unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Hyung-In Yun
  • Handle mechanisms
    Patent number: 10337218
    Abstract: A handle mechanism includes a gear drive having an interior end and an exterior end; an inside handle fixed to the interior end; a button; a finger; a handle drive; an outside handle; and a spring. The button has an interior end and an exterior end, which is positioned within the exterior end of the gear drive. The handle drive is positioned within the exterior end of the gear drive and is rotatable relative thereto. The outside handle and the handle drive rotate together. The outside handle moves between a first position, wherein it is constrained from rotation, and a second position. The finger is fixed to the exterior end of the button, which moves between a first position, wherein the finger causes the gear drive and the handle drive to rotate together, and a second position. The spring biases the button and the outside handle toward their first positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Arconic Inc.
    Inventor: Thai Do
  • Locking bolt with surface-mounted transmission
    Patent number: 10337219
    Abstract: An apparatus has an actuator housing with a transmission side that defines a transmission slot. A slider is disposed in the actuator housing and has first and second ends which define a post receiver. The slider is movable between a first and second position. The post receiver is aligned with the slot when the slider is in the first position and the second position. A lever pivotably connected to the actuator housing is configured to move the slider from the first position to the second position. The transmission has an elongate element with a first and second end which is disposed outside the actuator housing and substantially parallel to and proximate the transmission side. A post extends from the first end and is received in the post receiver. A locking element is disposed proximate the second end of the first elongate element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: TRUTH HARDWARE
    Inventors: Glen M. Wolf, David L. Snyder
  • Slam latch for tool box
    Patent number: 10337221
    Abstract: A slam type locking mechanism is described. The locking mechanism allows a storage container with the locking mechanism to be slammed shut in a single motion. The operator may slam the lid or door to the container using a single hand that is only pressing or pushing the lid or door closed. The slam type locking mechanism includes a lock having a lock housing, a handle, and a spring loading mechanism. The handle is rotatably engaged to the spring loading mechanism. The rods are in a rotational engagement with the lock, wherein the rods have an offset that interacts with a striker on the container or lid in a locking relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Austin Hardware And Supply, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Steven Jeffries, Norman Allen Smith
  • Electronic safe door unlatching operations
    Patent number: 10323442
    Abstract: A powered latch system for motor vehicles includes at least one powered latch that can be controlled based, at least in part, on vehicle operating conditions. The system may be configured to control unlatching of the vehicle doors utilizing data relating to the vehicle speed and/or the existence of a crash event. The powered latch system can be configured as required for various vehicles, and to accommodate specific operating requirements with respect to child locks in various geographic jurisdictions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Bruce Kleve, John Thomas Ricks, Jim Michael Weinfurther, John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Ronald Patrick Brombach, Laura Viviana Hazebrouck, Lisa Therese Boran, Howard Paul Tsvi Linden
  • Closing assembly for a luggage case
    Patent number: 10316550
    Abstract: A closing assembly is provided for a luggage case, particularly a top case for a motorized two-wheeled vehicle, which can be mounted on a support. The closing assembly has at least one base plate and a lock mechanism, which is mounted on the base plate and has at least a first and a second movable bolt structure. One of the bolt structures can be coupled to a cover of the luggage case, while the other bolt structure can be coupled to a mounting of the luggage case on the support. The first bolt structure is locked and unlocked by a push function and the second bolt structure is locked and unlocked by a rotary function of the lock mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Peter Reinhart
  • Fastener for an industrial truck comprising a toggle clamp
    Patent number: 10309134
    Abstract: A closure for a toggle clamp for an industrial truck, wherein the closure has a holding part, a holding axle mounted to the holding part, a closure part, wherein the closure part has an anchoring element, a closing lever, a boundary axle mounted to the anchoring element, a closing lever pivotably mounted to the closing lever axle, a latch axle mounted to the closing lever, a latch mounted to the closing lever axle, the boundary axle, pivotably mounted to the latch axle, and the latch nose configured to engage the holding axle, a first spring element attached to the closing lever axle, and a second spring element attached to the latch axle, and a pivot axle configured to be attached to the industrial truck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Jungheinrich Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Volkmar Prehn
  • Motor vehicle door lock
    Patent number: 10309129
    Abstract: The invention relates to a motor vehicle door lock with a locking mechanism comprising a rotary latch and a pawl, a trigger lever which acts on the pawl, a blocking lever which acts on the trigger lever, a first actuating lever which acts on the trigger lever and which acts on the blocking lever via a first leg spring, and a second actuating lever which acts on the trigger lever and which acts on the blocking lever via a second leg spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Kiekert Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Elena Suholutskaja, Johannes Theodor Menke, Xinlei Wang
  • Motor vehicle door lock
    Patent number: 10309130
    Abstract: The invention relates to a motor vehicle door lock which is equipped with a body-side lock housing and a hood-or-door-side locking bolt or vice-versa. The invention also relates to a locking and/or opening device. According to the invention, the locking and/or opening device engages on the outer side on the lock housing for the adjustment thereof with respect to a fixed base element in the course of a closing/opening process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Kiekert Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Holger Schiffer, Michael Scholz
  • Electronic control system and sensor for electrically powered vehicle door latches
    Patent number: 10301855
    Abstract: A vehicle door includes a powered latch configured to selectively retain the door in a closed position when the powered latch is latched, and permits the door to be opened when the powered latch is unlatched. The vehicle door further includes an exterior door handle having an outer side that faces away from the door structure, and an inner side that is spaced apart from an outer surface of the door to define a gap. A force sensor on the exterior door handle detects impact forces on the handle. The door also includes an unlatch switch that can be actuated by a user to request unlatching of the powered latch. A controller is configured to deny an unlatch request generated by actuation of the unlatch switch if the force sensor detects an impact on the exterior handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Kosta Papanikolaou, Robert Bruce Kleve, Michael Hrecznyj
  • Cam latch
    Patent number: 10294695
    Abstract: A latch for capturing a striker includes a latch cam, a trigger, a drive cam, a motor coupled to the drive cam, and a switch coupled to the motor. The latch cam is biased to rotate toward an open position and configured to capture the striker in a closed position. The drive cam uses at least one cam surface to contact the trigger, and the switch permits actuation of the motor to rotate the drive cam when sensing the trigger or the drive cam, thereby rotating the drive cam to urge the trigger toward an unlocked position, disengage the trigger from the latch cam, and allow the latch cam to rotate from the closed position toward the open position. A system incorporating the latch and method of capturing a striker is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: SOUTHCO, INC.
    Inventor: Gregory Gilbert Garneau
  • Safety door lock using door handle
    Patent number: 10280662
    Abstract: A safety door lock may include the door handle configured to be rotatable about a rotational axis and to slidably reciprocate in a horizontal direction and having a sliding groove on the side surface thereof adjacent to a door. The safety door lock may include a body combined with an inside of the sliding groove to form a rotating shaft with another door handle provided at the other side of the door and supporting sliding of the door handle so as to protrude the door handle from the front end of the door. The safety door lock may include an elastic unit fixed to the body, and elastically relaxing the door handle and the body. Other embodiments may also be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Inventor: Tae Young Jeong