Patents by Inventor Donald M. Perkins

Donald M. Perkins has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 12152416
    Abstract: A latch includes a housing, a fork bolt, and a detent lever. The fork bolt is coupled to the housing and is movable between an unlatched position, a primary latched position, and a secondary latched position. The detent lever is operably coupled to the housing and is arranged to cooperate with the fork bolt. A drive link is operatively connected to the fork bolt and to the detent lever. The drive link is movable in a first direction to engage the detent lever to open the latch and is movable in a second direction to engage the fork bolt to cinch the latch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: INTEVA PRODUCTS, LLC
    Inventors: Alfredo Martinez, Eduardo Estrada, Francisco Vazquez, Donald M. Perkins
  • Patent number: 12018518
    Abstract: A latch includes a housing, a fork bolt operably coupled to the housing and pivotal between an unlatched position, a primary latched position, and a secondary latched position, and a detent lever operably coupled to the housing and arranged to cooperate with the fork bolt. A drive link is operatively connected to the fork bolt and to the detent lever. An override lever is operably coupled to the drive link. A manual release lever is operably coupled to the override lever. The manual release lever is movable between a rest position and a release position. The drive link is automatically moved out of a path of rotation of the fork bolt when the manual release lever is moved to the release position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: INTEVA PRODUCTS, LLC
    Inventors: Eduardo Estrada, Manuel Escamilla, Donald M. Perkins
  • Patent number: 11851917
    Abstract: A double pull latch assembly and method of unlatching a panel. The double pull latch assembly includes a pull rod, a selector lever, and a linkage, wherein the selector lever is selectively disposed in a first feature or second feature of the linkage. In another embodiment, the double pull latch assembly includes a release arm, a lever, and a hold open lever to hold the lever in the intermediate position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: INTEVA PRODUCTS, LLC
    Inventors: Sinai Perez, Eduardo Estrada, Manuel Escamilla, Donald M. Perkins, Luis Vazquez, Carlos Tostado
  • Publication number: 20220136557
    Abstract: A cable conduit end for securing a cable to a cable abutment of a latch is provided. The cable conduit end having: a housing; an alignment feature incorporated into a surface of the housing; a flexible retention feature integrally formed with the conduit end, wherein the flexible retention feature is spring biased away from the housing to a first position; and a radial retention feature extending outwardly away from the housing, wherein the flexible retention feature is located proximate to a first end of the housing and the radial retention feature is located proximate to a second end of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2022
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Inventors: Oscar Omar ESTRADA, Fernando CHACON, Hector SANCHEZ, Donald M. PERKINS, Carlos TOSTADO
  • Patent number: 11225997
    Abstract: A cable conduit end for securing a cable to a cable abutment of a latch is provided. The cable conduit end having: a housing; an alignment feature incorporated into a surface of the housing; a flexible retention feature integrally formed with the conduit end, wherein the flexible retention feature is spring biased away from the housing to a first position; and a radial retention feature extending outwardly away from the housing, wherein the flexible retention feature is located proximate to a first end of the housing and the radial retention feature is located proximate to a second end of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: INTEVA PRODUCTS, LLC
    Inventors: Oscar Omar Estrada, Fernando Chacon, Hector Sanchez, Donald M. Perkins, Carlos Tostado
  • Patent number: 11008785
    Abstract: A dual pull latch assembly and method of unlatching a panel. The double cable pull assembly includes a pull rod, a selector lever, and a linkage, wherein the selector lever is selectively disposed in a first feature or second feature of the linkage. In another embodiment, the double pull latch assembly includes a release arm, a lever, and a hold open lever to hold the lever in the intermediate position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: INTEVA PRODUCTS, LLC
    Inventors: Sinai Perez, Eduardo Estrada, Manuel Escamilla, Donald M. Perkins, Luis Vazquez, Carlos Tostado
  • Publication number: 20210047868
    Abstract: A dual pull latch assembly and method of unlatching a panel are disclosed. The double cable pull includes a pull rod, a selector lever, and a linkage, wherein the selector lever is selectively disposed in a first feature or second feature of the linkage. In another embodiment, the double pull latch includes a release arm, a lever, and a hold open lever to hold the lever in the intermediate position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2020
    Publication date: February 18, 2021
    Inventors: Sinai Perez, Eduardo Estrada, Manuel Escamilla, Donald M. Perkins, Luis Vazquez, Carlos Tostado
  • Publication number: 20210032913
    Abstract: A latch includes a housing, a fork bolt operably coupled to the housing and pivotal between an unlatched position, a primary latched position, and a secondary latched position, and a detent lever operably coupled to the housing and arranged to cooperate with the fork bolt. A drive link is operatively connected to the fork bolt and to the detent lever. An override lever is operably coupled to the drive link. A manual release lever is operably coupled to the override lever. The manual release lever is movable between a rest position and a release position. The drive link is automatically moved out of a path of rotation of the fork bolt when the manual release lever is moved to the release position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2020
    Publication date: February 4, 2021
    Inventors: Eduardo Estrada, Manuel Escamilla, Donald M. Perkins
  • Patent number: 10822844
    Abstract: An actuator for a latch is provided, the actuator having: a motor operatively coupled to a gear train; and a sector gear pivotally mounted to the actuator and operatively coupled to the gear train, wherein rotational movement of the sector gear is translated into linear movement of a link operatively coupled to the sector gear and wherein linear movement of the link causes a linear movement of a portion of a lock lever operatively coupled to the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: INTEVA PRODUCTS, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Milne, John Rice, Donald M. Perkins, Ian Dow
  • Patent number: 10815700
    Abstract: A vehicle latch having: a frame; a pawl rotatably mounted to the frame for movement between an engaged position and a disengaged position; a claw rotatably mounted to the frame for movement between a latched position and an open position, wherein pawl is configured to impede rotational movement of the claw from the latched position to the open position when the pawl is in the engaged position; a release lever rotatably mounted to the frame; and a worm wheel having a plurality of cam lobes, wherein each of the cam lobes are located in separate and distinct planes with respect to each other, wherein the release lever operably couples the pawl to the worm wheel such that rotational movement of the worm wheel rotates the pawl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: INTEVA PRODUCTS, LLC
    Inventor: Donald M. Perkins
  • Patent number: 10808435
    Abstract: A latch includes a housing, a fork bolt operably coupled to the housing and pivotal between an unlatched position, a primary latched position, and a secondary latched position, and a detent lever operably coupled to the housing and arranged to cooperate with the fork bolt. A drive link is operatively connected to the fork bolt and to the detent lever. An override lever is operably coupled to the drive link. A manual release lever is operably coupled to the override lever. The manual release lever is movable between a rest position and a release position. The drive link is automatically moved out of a path of rotation of the fork bolt when the manual release lever is moved to the release position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: INTEVA PRODUCTS, LLC
    Inventors: Eduardo Estrada, Manuel Escamilla, Donald M. Perkins
  • Patent number: 10669750
    Abstract: A latch having: a fork bolt movably mounted to the latch for movement between an open position and a closed position; a detent lever movably mounted to the latch for movement between a latched position and a released position, wherein the detent lever prevents the fork bolt from moving from the closed position when the detent lever is in the latched position; a hold open lever configured for movement between a first position and a second position wherein the hold open lever has a feature configured to engage a feature of the detent lever such that the detent lever is retained in the disengaged position by the hold open lever when it is in the first position, wherein the hold open lever moves in a plane or directions that are angularly oriented to a plane or directions in which the fork bolt and the detent lever move.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: INTEVA PRODUCTS, LLC
    Inventors: Ian Dow, John R. Rice, Donald M. Perkins
  • Patent number: 10641018
    Abstract: A latch having: a fork bolt; a detent lever; and a bell crank lever, wherein the bell crank lever moves the detent lever from a latched position to a released position as the bell crank lever moves from a first position to a second position; and an over center spring secured to the bell crank lever at one end and a portion of a housing of the latch at another end, wherein the over center spring is configured to provide a biasing force to the bell crank lever in a first direction towards first position when the bell crank lever is in the first position and the over center spring is configured to provide a biasing force to the bell crank lever in a second direction towards the second position when the bell crank lever is in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: INTEVA PRODUCTS, LLC
    Inventors: Ian Dow, John R. Rice, Donald M. Perkins
  • Patent number: 10577839
    Abstract: A system, the system having: a pair of levers; and an over center spring secured to each of the pair of levers such that each leg of the over center spring is received by features on each respective lever, wherein opposing forces on each leg of the over center spring creates a negative torque on a first one of the pair of levers and a positive torque on a second one of the pair of levers when the system is in a first position and wherein the system when in a second position approximately half way to a final position from the first position provides zero torque to the pair of levers and wherein the system when in the final position creates a positive torque on the first one of the pair of levers and a negative torque on the second one of the pair of levers when the system is in the final position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: INTEVA PRODUCTS, LLC
    Inventor: Donald M. Perkins
  • Patent number: 10570650
    Abstract: A latch assembly is provided herein. The latch assembly having: a lock lever rotatably mounted to the latch assembly for movement between a first position and a second position; a switch positioned to detect movement of the lock lever between the first position and the second position, the switch being located in a carrier; an actuating lever rotatably mounted to the carrier for movement between a first position and a second position, wherein the actuating lever is operably coupled to the lock lever such that movement of the lock lever from the first position to the second position causes the actuating lever to move from the first position to the second position; and wherein the switch is located in a first plane along with at least one other switch and the lock lever rotates in a second plane that is different from the first plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: INTEVA PRODUCTS, LLC
    Inventor: Donald M. Perkins
  • Publication number: 20200032836
    Abstract: A cable conduit end for securing a cable to a cable abutment of a latch is provided. The cable conduit end having: a housing; an alignment feature incorporated into a surface of the housing; a flexible retention feature integrally formed with the conduit end, wherein the flexible retention feature is spring biased away from the housing to a first position; and a radial retention feature extending outwardly away from the housing, wherein the flexible retention feature is located proximate to a first end of the housing and the radial retention feature is located proximate to a second end of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2019
    Publication date: January 30, 2020
    Inventors: Oscar Omar Estrada, Fernando Chacon, Hector Sanchez, Donald M. Perkins, Carlos Tostado
  • Patent number: 10527155
    Abstract: A worm drive system is provided. The worm drive system having: a motor for rotating a worm, the worm having a bearing surface rotatably received by a bearing surface integral with a housing the worm is located in, wherein a lubrication reservoir is located proximate to the bearing surface of the worm such that lubricants located in the reservoir are dispersed onto the bearing surface of the worm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: INTEVA PRODUCTS, LLC
    Inventor: Donald M. Perkins
  • Patent number: 10465742
    Abstract: A cable conduit end for securing a cable to a cable abutment of a latch is provided. The cable conduit end having: a housing; an alignment feature incorporated into a surface of the housing; a flexible retention feature integrally formed with the conduit end, wherein the flexible retention feature is spring biased away from the housing to a first position; and a radial retention feature extending outwardly away from the housing, wherein the flexible retention feature is located proximate to a first end of the housing and the radial retention feature is located proximate to a second end of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: INTEVA PRODUCTS, LLC
    Inventors: Oscar Omar Estrada, Fernando Chacon, Hector Sanchez, Donald M. Perkins, Carlos Tostado
  • Patent number: 10450782
    Abstract: A latch is provided. The latch having: a housing; an intermittent lever pivotally mounted to the housing for movement between a latched position and an unlatched position; and an elastomeric feature configured to contact the intermittent lever when it is in the latched position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: INTEVA PRODUCTS, LLC
    Inventors: Kurt E. Nurmi, Julia Rabago, Rogelio Terrazas, Donald M. Perkins, Carlos Tostado
  • Patent number: 10113636
    Abstract: A device and method for manually controlling a system including a first lever movable between multiple positions and a movable component. The method including: activating a manual engagement device; engaging a manual control to couple a first lever and a movable component; disengaging an automatic control coupling the first lever and the movable component; and moving the movable component by moving the first lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: INTEVA PRODUCTS, LLC
    Inventors: John R. Rice, Ian J. Dow, Donald M. Perkins