Patents by Inventor Francesco Cumbo

Francesco Cumbo 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: 10895095
    Abstract: A closure latch assembly for a vehicular closure system equipped with a latch cinch mechanism for providing a cinching feature and which is configured to retain a ratchet of a latch mechanism in a secondary striker capture position such that the latch mechanism is only required to hold the ratchet in a primary striker capture position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: MAGNA CLOSURES S.P.A.
    Inventor: Francesco Cumbo
  • Patent number: 10801245
    Abstract: A power swing door actuator configured for use in a power door actuation system in a motor vehicle having a vehicle door pivotably connected to a vehicle body for movement along a swing path between open and closed positions is provided. The power swing door actuator includes a power-operated drive mechanism connected to the vehicle door with a rotary driven member configured for rotation in response to selective actuation of the power-operated drive mechanism. An elongate rack pivotably connected to the vehicle body and the rotary driven member is maintained in engagement with the rack via a retention member. Rotational movement of the rotary driven member in a first direction causes the vehicle door to move in an opening direction, while rotational movement of the rotary driven member in a second direction causes the vehicle door to move in a closing direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: MAGNA CLOSURES INC.
    Inventor: Francesco Cumbo
  • Publication number: 20200284068
    Abstract: An actuation system for a closure panel of a vehicle, the actuation system having: a base portion for mounting to a body of the vehicle, the base portion having mounted thereon on a latch mechanism for latching the closure panel between a locked and an unlocked state and a presenter mechanism for presenting the closure panel with respect to the body between a home position and a presentment position; and a remote actuator positioned on the body of the vehicle remote from the base portion, such that a presenter linkage operatively couples operation of the remote actuator to the presenter mechanism, in order to move a presentment member of the presenter mechanism from the home position to the presentment position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Publication date: September 10, 2020
    Inventors: Francesco CUMBO, Francesco PATANE
  • Patent number: 10767397
    Abstract: A 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: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: MAGNA CLOSURES S.P.A.
    Inventors: Franco Giovanni Ottino, Francesco Cumbo, Marco Taurasi, Enrico Margheritti
  • Publication number: 20200270928
    Abstract: A door presenter with a toothed clutch includes an extensible member that is controllable by a motor. The extensible member is driven by a lead screw, which is rotated by the motor via the toothed clutch to translate the extensible member. The toothed clutch includes a coupling disk and a coupling lever. The coupling disk is rotationally fixed to the lead screw, and the coupling lever is rotationally fixed to a drive gear driven by the motor. An axial load applied to the extensible member toward the toothed clutch causes rotation of the lead screw and coupling disk when the load exceeds a clutch disengagement threshold. The clutch will reengage after further relative rotation of the coupling disk and the coupling lever, which may occur in response to rotation of the lead screw or rotation of the coupling lever caused by actuation of the motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2020
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Inventor: Francesco CUMBO
  • Patent number: 10745948
    Abstract: A door latch assembly equipped with a single ratchet-double pawl latching arrangement having a ratchet, a primary pawl and a secondary pawl. The primary pawl is configured to include a first or primary lug and a second or secondary lug, with each lug having a distinct profile to respectively provide an eccentric backout characteristic and a concentric backout characteristic in relation to the ratchet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: MAGNA CLOSURES INC.
    Inventor: Francesco Cumbo
  • Publication number: 20200224464
    Abstract: A closure latch assembly, comprising a latch module including a mechanism operable in a first state and in a second state, an actuator module including a power actuator for shifting the mechanism from its first state into its second state, and a control unit for controlling actuation of the power actuator, and an attachment arrangement for securing the actuator module to the latch module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2020
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Inventor: Francesco CUMBO
  • Patent number: 10711492
    Abstract: A low release effort eccentric double pawl vehicle latch includes a ratchet, primary pawl, auxiliary ratchet and secondary pawl in combination with a secure lock lever. The secure lock lever selectively inhibits movement of the secondary pawl to prevent premature or unintended opening of the latch. A drive mechanism sequences movement of the secure lock lever and secondary pawl to open the latch. Upon reset, the drive mechanism drives the auxiliary ratchet back to its closed state and in the process the auxiliary ratchet can engage and return the secondary pawl back to a closed state in the event of an insufficient bias force thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: MAGNA CLOSURES INC.
    Inventors: Francesco Cumbo, Marco Taurasi
  • Patent number: 10711504
    Abstract: A power door actuation system for a vehicle door includes a power-operated presenter assembly fixed to one of the vehicle door and vehicle body and an auxiliary latch assembly fixed to the other one of the vehicle door and vehicle body. A latched relationship is maintained between the vehicle door and the vehicle body when the presenter assembly moves the door between a closed position and a deployed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: MAGNA CLOSURES INC.
    Inventors: Martin Roos, Francesco Cumbo
  • Publication number: 20200217110
    Abstract: A vehicle hood latch and method of unlatching a vehicle hood is provided. The vehicle hood latch includes a housing; a ratchet pivotally mounted on the housing; a pawl pivotally mounted on the housing and biased into engagement with the ratchet; a pin fixed for conjoint movement with the pawl; a double pull lever operably mounted to the housing and having an abutment surface configured for operable engagement with the pin, and a primary safety catch lever operably mounted to the housing. The primary safety catch lever is configured to pivot from a locked first position to an unlocked second position. The primary safety catch lever moves from the first locked position to the second unlocked position in response to translational movement of the double pull lever caused by engagement of the pin with the abutment surface of the double pull lever.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2020
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Inventor: Francesco CUMBO
  • Publication number: 20200199916
    Abstract: A vehicular door actuation system for a door of a vehicle includes a handle assembly, a latch and an actuator. The handle assembly includes a handle portion and a base portion. The base portion is disposed at the door of the vehicle and the handle portion is movable between a recessed position, where the handle portion nests at least partially in the base portion, and a ready position, where the handle portion extends from the base portion. The actuator is disposed at the door of the vehicle separate and remote from the handle assembly. A handle linkage operatively couples operation of the actuator to the handle portion to move the handle portion from the recessed position to the ready position. The latch mechanism latches the door in a closed state, and unlatches the door responsive to a user pulling the handle portion from the ready position to open the door.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Inventors: Francesco Cumbo, Franco Ottino
  • Patent number: 10683682
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a closure latch for a vehicle door, and more particularly to a closure latch for a vehicle door equipped with a passive entry feature. To this end, the present disclosure relates to the use of a power child lock actuator to manage the double pull function of the closure latch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: MAGNA CLOSURES INC.
    Inventors: Marco Taurasi, Francesco Cumbo
  • Patent number: 10655366
    Abstract: A door latch for a motor vehicle includes a supporting body, a closing assembly cooperating with a latch striker, an opening mechanism having an opening lever rotatable about a first axis, and an inertia lever hinged to the supporting body about a second axis and being free to rotate about the second axis between a release position in which the inertia lever is decoupled from opening mechanism, and a first blocking position and a second blocking position in which the inertia lever engages the opening lever and prevents the opening mechanism from moving the closing assembly from a closing configuration to an opening configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: MAGNA CLOSURES INC.
    Inventor: Francesco Cumbo
  • Patent number: 10647183
    Abstract: A vehicle panel assembly for a motor vehicle and carrier module therefor are provided. The vehicle body panel assembly includes a structural panel body defining an internal cavity with the carrier module secured to the structural panel body at least partially in the internal cavity. The carrier module has a carrier with an actuator attachment region integrally formed thereon and providing a first attachment feature. A latch assembly is secured to the carrier module and an actuator is configured in operable communication with the latch assembly to selectively cinch the latch assembly. The actuator has a housing providing a second attachment feature, wherein the first and second attachment features are configured for attachment to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: MAGNA CLOSURES INC.
    Inventors: Mario Magazzini, Francesco Cumbo
  • Patent number: 10648204
    Abstract: A latch for a door of motor vehicle having a closing assembly adapted to cooperate with a latch striker comprising: a ratchet which can assume an opening position, in which ratchet enables engagement and disengagement between latch striker and a seat of ratchet, and a closing position, in which ratchet holds latch striker within seat; a first pawl rotatable about a first axis (B) and in a first rotation direction from a coupled position, in which it keeps, at least indirectly, ratchet in closing position and prevents disengagement of striker from seat, and a decoupled position, in which it permits the movement of ratchet from closing position to opening position; and a second pawl which cooperates with first pawl, cooperates with ratchet at least in a contact point (P) at least when ratchet is in closing position, and which is rotatable about a second axis (D) distinct from first axis (B).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: MAGNA CLOSURES S.P.A.
    Inventors: Francesco Cumbo, Franco Giovanni Ottino
  • Patent number: 10648201
    Abstract: A release cable assembly having a release cable and an inertial locking device is provided. The release cable includes a cable wire configured to operably interconnect a release handle to a moveable latch release component of a latch assembly. The inertial locking device is configured to normally permit translational movement of the cable wire, via actuation of the release handle, to move the latch release component from a latched position to an unlatched position when the inertial locking device is exposed to an acceleration that is less than a predetermined acceleration threshold. When the inertial locking device is exposed to an acceleration exceeding the predetermined acceleration threshold, the inertial locking device prevents translational movement of the release cable, thereby preventing unintentional movement of the latch release component from the latched position to the unlatched position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: MAGNA CLOSURES S.P.A.
    Inventors: Francesco Cumbo, Luca Bigazzi
  • Publication number: 20200115932
    Abstract: A 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: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Inventors: Franco Giovanni OTTINO, Francesco CUMBO, Marco TAURASI, Enrico MARGHERITTI
  • Patent number: 10590683
    Abstract: A vehicle hood latch and method of unlatching a vehicle hood is provided. The vehicle hood latch includes a housing; a ratchet pivotally mounted on the housing; a pawl pivotally mounted on the housing and biased into engagement with the ratchet; a pin fixed for conjoint movement with the pawl; a double pull lever operably mounted to the housing and having an abutment surface configured for operable engagement with the pin, and a primary safety catch lever operably mounted to the housing. The primary safety catch lever is configured to pivot from a locked first position to an unlocked second position. The primary safety catch lever moves from the first locked position to the second unlocked position in response to translational movement of the double pull lever caused by engagement of the pin with the abutment surface of the double pull lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: MAGNA CLOSURES INC.
    Inventor: Francesco Cumbo
  • Publication number: 20200080348
    Abstract: A load balancing mechanism for controlling concurrent operation of a pair of latches of a vehicle via a respective pair of links connecting the pair of latches to an actuator, the actuator for sharing by the pair of latches, the load balancing mechanism comprising: a housing for connecting to a body of the vehicle; a lever mounted to the housing at a pivot such that the lever is pivotable about the pivot; an actuator mounting point on the lever connecting the lever to the actuator, the actuator for rotating the lever about the pivot; and a load balancing element mounted on the lever at an axis and rotatable about the axis, such that each of the respective pair of links is positioned on opposite sides of the axis, said each of the respective pair of links for coupling to a corresponding one of the pair of latches; wherein operation of the actuator causes both rotation of lever about the pivot and rotation of the load balancing element about the axis while the pair of latches are operated concurrently.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2019
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Inventors: Mario CAPPELLI, Sandro BERTINI, Francesco CUMBO
  • Patent number: 10563435
    Abstract: A low release effort eccentric double ratchet, double pawl vehicle latch includes a ratchet, a primary pawl, an auxiliary ratchet and a secondary pawl. A drive mechanism including a gear cam wheel sequences movement of the secondary pawl to open and reset the latch. Upon reset, the drive mechanism actuates the auxiliary ratchet back to a closed state in a soft manner without using a hard stop; instead the latch has a cushioning spring that is used to softly stop the gear train during the reset absorbing motor energy and thus eliminating impact noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: MAGNA CLOSURES S.P.A.
    Inventors: Marco Taurasi, Francesco Cumbo