Patents Examined by James Edward Ignaczewski
  • Patent number: 12723444
    Abstract: A closing device for a motor vehicle lock, in particular to a closing aid for a motor vehicle door lock. According to its basic design, said closing aid has a locking mechanism substantially consisting of a rotary latch and a pawl. Furthermore, an electric motor and a transmission following the electric motor are realized. The transmission operates on the rotary latch at least during a closing operation. According to the invention, for the mechanical interruption of the closing operation, the transmission has a force flux element which can be selectively engaged and disengaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2026
    Assignee: Kiekert AG
    Inventor: Jan Zejda
  • Patent number: 12723447
    Abstract: A handle module may have at least one actuating module for triggering a switching function. The actuating module may be designed as a capacitive actuating sensor and may have two or more capacitive auxiliary electrodes for detecting secondary signals. The actuating module may also have a capacitive main electrode for detecting an actuation path. And, the actuating module may also have an electronic evaluation unit which is connected to the auxiliary electrodes and the main electrode. The evaluation unit may be configured to trigger or block a switching signal for the switching function as a function of the detected signals of the auxiliary electrodes and the detected signal of the main electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2026
    Assignee: Witte Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Reinaldo Mensch, Ralf Höhn, Karsten Steinhauer
  • Patent number: 12723443
    Abstract: An actuating system, including a latching and locking system, for an actuatable door. The actuating system comprises a rotatable drive shaft, a rotatable latch shaft a latching device, and a locking device. The latching device includes at least two latches, a latch securing unit for maintaining the at least two latches in the latched position, and at least two lock lever counterparts. The locking device includes a lock lever for engaging with the at least two lock lever counterparts to prevent the latch securing unit from disengaging from the securing position, thereby locking the at least two latches in the latched position when the lock lever is in a locked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2026
    Assignee: AIRBUS HELICOPTERS DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventor: Stephen Ward
  • Patent number: 12692725
    Abstract: An exemplary trim lock device is configured for use with a trim comprising a lift finger, and generally includes a housing, a blocking member, and a lock actuator. The blocking member includes a projection, and is rotatably mounted to the housing for rotation between a blocking position in which the projection blocks actuating movement of the lift finger and an unblocking position in which the blocking member does not block actuating movement of the lift finger. The lock actuator is operable to rotate the blocking member between the blocking position and the unblocking position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2026
    Assignee: Schlage Lock Company LLC
    Inventors: Zachary Holtgrewe, Brian C. Eickhoff
  • Patent number: 12687053
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a hybrid electronic/mechanical release handle for positioning on the interior of a vehicle door panel comprising a bezel cup carrier containing an electronic sensor and mechanical handle, wherein said bezel cup carrier defines an opening for insertion of one or a plurality of a user's fingers into the bezel cup where the electronic sensor is mechanically engaged to the bezel cup carrier and covered by at least a portion of the mechanical handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2026
    Assignee: International Automotive Components Group GmbH
    Inventors: David Mark Pascoe, Sung-uk Kim, Carter Scott Cannon
  • Patent number: 12687038
    Abstract: An electromechanical locking device for a closure element includes a stator, a rotor, a locking element and a blocking element, wherein the rotor is mounted in the stator, wherein the locking element is movable between two positions, wherein a starting position and a release position can be assumed by the blocking element. In the starting position, the blocking element prevents a movement of the locking element into the second position and in the release position the blocking element enables a movement of the locking element into the second position. The locking device includes a spring element, wherein the spring element interacts with the blocking element such that when the blocking element moves from the starting position into the release position, the spring element is at least temporarily tensioned in such a way that the spring element pushes the blocking element back in the direction of the starting position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2026
    Assignee: DORMAKABA SCHWEIZ AG
    Inventors: Franco Di Sario, Markus Zahner
  • Patent number: 12687039
    Abstract: A heavy duty lock is mounted on a door and includes a latch, an anti-theft latch, and a stop-latch. When the door is in an open position, the stop-latch is in an extended position, such that the anti-theft latch cannot move toward an anti-theft position. When the door pivots to a closed position, the stop-latch moves to a retracted position, and the anti-theft control member moves to the anti-theft position. When the latch moves to an unlatching position through normal operation, the anti-theft control member moves to a non-anti-theft position. Thus, the anti-theft control member will be in the anti-theft position when the door is the closed position. When the door is opened through normal operation, the anti-theft control member will move to the non-anti-theft position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2026
    Assignee: I-TEK METAL MFG. CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tsung-Yu Huang
  • Patent number: 12687040
    Abstract: A lock capable of automatically locking a door after closing includes a latch, an anti-theft latch, and a stop-latch. When the door is in an open position, the stop-latch is in an extended position to prevent the anti-theft latch from moving to an anti-theft position. When the door pivots to a closed position, the stop-latch moves to a retracted position, and the anti-theft latch moves to the anti-theft position. When the latch is moved to an unlatching position through normal operation, the anti-theft latch moves to a non-anti-theft position. Thus, the anti-theft latch will be in the anti-theft position when the door is in the closed position, and the anti-theft latch will move to the non-anti-theft position when the door is opened through normal operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2026
    Assignee: I-TEK METAL MFG. CO., LTD
    Inventor: Tsung-Yu Huang
  • Patent number: 12669000
    Abstract: A plastic housing for a motor vehicle component and to a method for mounting a motor vehicle component having a plastic housing, a housing opening closed by at least one plastic film and a mechanism arranged in an interior of the housing, in which the mechanism is mounted, the housing is then closed and the mechanism is subsequently actuated through the housing opening, and in which the housing opening is sealed again after the actuation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2026
    Assignee: KIEKERT AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Carsten Fuchs, Armin Handke, Matthias Ochtrop, Andreas Sohlbach
  • Patent number: 12662854
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an opening/closing assistance mechanism for assisting the opening/closing of a latch for an opening. The opening/closing assistance mechanism includes an electric actuator configured to control a closing and an opening of the latch. The electric actuator includes a reducer which includes a drive device configured to perform a displacement stroke which further includes a first stroke portion for the opening of the latch and a second stroke portion for closing the latch. The reducer has a first reduction ratio on the first stroke portion and a second reduction ratio on the second stroke portion. The first reduction ratio is different from, and can be lower than, the second reduction ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2026
    Assignee: Minebea AccessSolutions France
    Inventors: Laurent Duriez, François Debroucke, Jérémy Paumelle
  • Patent number: 12662857
    Abstract: A door handle assembly comprises a handle and a release plate in mechanical communication with the handle such that actuation of the handle causes rotation of the release plate. The release plate defines a window configured to (i) receive a projection of a trip lever of a door latch assembly of a door such that rotation of the release plate causes rotation of the trip lever to facilitate rotation of a rotor of the door latch assembly to a disengaged position and (ii) receive and secure a door linkage rod assembly comprising a linkage rod that is connectable to a trip lever of a door latch assembly of a door such that rotation of the release plate causes actuation of the linkage rod to rotate the trip lever to facilitation rotation of a rotor of the door latch assembly to a disengaged position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2026
    Assignee: RVLOCK & CO, LLC
    Inventors: Gregory Cade Harris, Carson Matthew Humphreys, Luke Erik Pearson
  • Patent number: 12644307
    Abstract: A lock mechanism is disclosed. The lock mechanism includes a body and a clasp with a hole in. The clasp engages and locks with the body. There is also a key receiver with a keyway and a latch biased in a first direction by a spring. The latch has a protrusion for engaging the aperture to lock the clasp to the body. There are split pins which straddle a shear line between the latch and key receiver when in a locked condition and that do not straddle the shear line when the correct key is in the keyway. The split pins are biased by springs in a second direction, transverse to said first direction. The lock mechanism also has a retainer for maintaining the engagement of the latch and the key receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2026
    Assignee: Henry Squire & Sons Holdings Ltd
    Inventor: Glyn Green
  • Patent number: 12612810
    Abstract: A motor vehicle lock, and in particular a motor vehicle side door lock, having a locking mechanism with a rotary latch and at least one pawl, wherein a rotary movement of the rotary latch can be blocked in at least one latching position by means of the pawl; a lock case; and a bearing point, accommodated in the lock case, for at least one locking mechanism part, wherein the motor vehicle lock can be mounted on the motor vehicle by means of the lock case, and wherein the motor vehicle lock can be mounted on the motor vehicle by means of at least one bearing point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2026
    Assignee: Kiekert AG
    Inventor: Robert J. Hunt
  • Patent number: 12601206
    Abstract: A motor vehicle lock, in particular a motor vehicle door lock, which is equipped with a locking mechanism consisting essentially of a rotary latch and a pawl. Furthermore, an electromotive drive is provided at least for unlocking the locking mechanism. In addition, a manually loadable emergency actuation element is provided for unlocking the locking mechanism in the event of an emergency, said emergency actuation element being arranged at least in part outside a lock housing and acting on the locking mechanism by means of at least one transmission element to perform an emergency unlocking operation. According to the invention, the emergency actuation element, in combination with the transmission element, is coupled to a triggering lever via at least one through-hole in the lock housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2026
    Assignee: KIEKERT AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Peter Szegeny, Holger Schiffer, Michael Scholz, Andreas Schmitz, Ömer Inan, Manuel Reusch
  • Patent number: 12595684
    Abstract: An electronic door lock with up-pushed locking is provided and includes a housing, a fixed latch assembly assembled in the housing, a linkage member and a first driving member. The first driving member is linked with an outer handle located outside a door. When a user lifts the outer handle, the first driving member is pulled to drive the linkage member, so that the linkage member abuts against a protruding rod located at a rear end of the fixed latch assembly, thereby pushing the fixed latch assembly to actuate, so that a fixed latch head of the fixed latch assembly protrudes out of the housing and the electronic door lock is locked. Accordingly, the problem that the user must use a key to lock the electronic door lock when the user is outside the door can be solved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2026
    Assignee: TLHM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Po-Yang Chen, Chia-Hung Yen
  • Patent number: 12595689
    Abstract: A motor vehicle door lock having a locking mechanism with a rotary latch and at least one pawl, wherein the rotary latch can be engaged in at least one engaging position by means of the pawl; a release lever, wherein the locking mechanism can be transferred from the engaging position to a release position by means of the release lever; an electrical drive unit and an actuating lever, wherein the actuating lever can be actuated by the drive unit and the locking mechanism can be unlocked at least indirectly by means of the actuating lever, wherein the actuating lever and a gearwheel of the drive unit can be mounted on a common shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2026
    Assignee: Kiekert AG
    Inventors: Robert J. Hunt, Scott Brown
  • Patent number: 12590477
    Abstract: A motor vehicle lock, in particular a motor vehicle door lock, which is equipped with a locking mechanism substantially comprising a rotary latch and a pawl. In addition, an electrical opening drive is provided for the locking mechanism as well as an emergency actuating element for manual emergency opening of the locking mechanism. According to the invention, the emergency actuating element is designed in a first variant such that it can be reset from its actuating position to its rest position via the force of a spring. In a further second alternative variant, the emergency actuating element is designed such that it is locked in its actuating position and can be manually reset to its rest position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2026
    Assignee: Kiekert AG
    Inventor: Manuel Reusch
  • Patent number: 12584348
    Abstract: There is disclosed a lift-and-slide handle assembly (10) which includes a drive shaft (28) operatively adapted to couple with a roller actuating assembly of a lift-and-slide roller carriage. The lift-and-slide handle assembly (10) includes an electronic drive assembly (30) operatively adapted to couple with the drive shaft (28) to apply torque to the drive shaft and a manual drive assembly (32) operatively adapted to couple with the drive shaft (28) to apply torque to the drive shaft (28). The lift-and-slide handle assembly (10) further includes an override coupling assembly (34) operatively adapted to decouple the electronic drive assembly (30) from the drive shaft (28) to couple the manual drive assembly (32) to the drive shaft (28).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2026
    Assignee: AUTOSLIDE PTY LTD
    Inventors: Mark Hancock, Tim Gulliver, Oleksandr Fatiuk
  • Patent number: 12571239
    Abstract: A closing device for a motor vehicle lock, in particular to a closing aid for a motor vehicle door lock. According to its basic design, said closing aid has a locking mechanism substantially consisting of a rotary latch and a pawl. Furthermore, an electric motor and a transmission downstream of the electric motor are implemented. The transmission operates preferably on the rotary latch at least during a closing operation. According to the invention, a handle is provided, which is mounted at a lock housing for mechanically interrupting the closing operation, said handle impinging a force flux element, which can be selectively engaged and disengaged, as a component of the transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2026
    Assignee: KIEKERT AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Martin Krejčí, Martin Vörös
  • Patent number: 12571237
    Abstract: An electromotive drive for motor vehicle applications, in particular for applications for and in a motor vehicle lock. For this purpose, the drive is equipped with an electric motor, a drive disk which can be actuated by the electric motor and can be rotated about an axis, and at least one spring assigned to the drive. The spring transmits a force to the drive disk which aids the drive within the scope of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2026
    Assignee: KIEKERT AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Peter Szegeny, Ömer Inan, Michael Scholz, Holger Schiffer