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: 10329807
    Abstract: An electrical vehicle latch including a support assembly, a releasable closure mechanism carried by the support assembly and adapted to releasably engage a striker, an electrically-operated actuator assembly carried by the support assembly and which can be selectively activated to release the closure mechanism from the striker or to lock the closure mechanism in a condition of engagement with the striker, and an electrical control unit having a printed circuit board for controlling operation of the actuator assembly. The support assembly including a first support body carrying at least a ratchet of the closure mechanism in a position parallel to a first plane (P1), and a second support body carrying at least the printed circuit board in a position parallel to a second plane (P2) transvere to the first plane (P1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: MAGNA CLOSURES S.P.A.
    Inventors: Enrico Margheritti, Francesco Cumbo
  • Publication number: 20190152433
    Abstract: A system and method for providing access to a vehicle is provided. The system includes a plurality of capacitive sensors circumferentially spaced from one another in a circular arrangement defining a plurality of sensor nodes for receiving a touch input from a user in the form of a touch or a swipe. A controller unit is coupled to the plurality of capacitive sensors and a power source and is in communication with a plurality of vehicle systems and a latch mechanism. The controller unit detects a plurality of changes in capacitance of the plurality of capacitive sensors due to the touch input and determines whether the plurality of changes in capacitance matches a gesture sequence within a predetermined amount of time. The controller unit controls the latch mechanism in response to the communication with vehicle systems and changes in capacitance matching the gesture sequence within the predetermined amount of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2018
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Inventor: Francesco CUMBO
  • Publication number: 20190153768
    Abstract: A power door actuation system for a vehicle door includes a power-operated presenter actuator mounted to one of the vehicle body and the vehicle door. The power-operated presenter actuator includes a motor and an extensible member being translatable between a retracted position and an extended position along a first axis in response to selective actuation of the motor. The motor has a motor shaft that extends along a second axis that is substantially parallel to the first axis along which the extensible member translates. Powered movement of the extensible member between its retracted and extended positions results in corresponding movement of the vehicle door between closed and presented positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Inventors: Fabio TERMINE, Francesco CUMBO
  • Publication number: 20190112849
    Abstract: A power-operated variable force door check mechanism for a vehicle closure panel and system therewith, and method of controlling movement of a closure panel of a vehicle is provided. The mechanism includes a continuously variable force application member configured to selectively and continuously, as needed, vary the resistance applied to an elongate check arm of the vehicle closure panel while the vehicle closure panel is being pivoted between opened and closed positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2018
    Publication date: April 18, 2019
    Inventor: Francesco CUMBO
  • Publication number: 20190112859
    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: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2018
    Publication date: April 18, 2019
    Inventor: Francesco CUMBO
  • Publication number: 20190024421
    Abstract: A closure system for a handleless door of a motor vehicle equipped with a power release latch assembly, a power opening presenter assembly, and an illumination assembly configured to illuminate a grasp area (virtual handle) of the handleless door upon the handleless door being moved to a partially-open position via the power opening presenter assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2018
    Publication date: January 24, 2019
    Inventor: Francesco CUMBO
  • Publication number: 20190017301
    Abstract: A latch assembly for a motor vehicle closure system having a latch mechanism, a latch release mechanism and a power cinching mechanism. The latch mechanism is operable in a released state when a closure panel is located in an open position, in a secondary closed state when the closure panel is located in a partially-closed position, and in a primary closed state when the closure panel is located in a fully-closed position. The cinching mechanism interacts with the latch mechanism to establish the secondary closed state and is actuated for shifting the latch mechanism from its secondary closed state into its primary closed state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2018
    Publication date: January 17, 2019
    Inventor: Francesco CUMBO
  • Publication number: 20190017298
    Abstract: A sealed latch assembly for a vehicle closure panel is provided. The latch assembly includes a housing having an internal cavity sized for receipt of internal components of the latch assembly. A cover is attached to the housing to enclose at least a portion of the internal cavity. At least one release cable is configured for operable connection to at least one of the internal components. A water shield is attached to the cover. The water shield has at least one opening sized for receipt of the release cable therethrough. At least one seal member is configured to form a water-tight seal between the housing and the cover and/or between the water shield and the cover and/or between the at least one opening and the at least one release cable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2018
    Publication date: January 17, 2019
    Inventors: Dunia SARDELLI, Francesco CUMBO
  • Publication number: 20190003214
    Abstract: A latch assembly for a closure panel of a vehicle, the latch assembly including: a housing; a ratchet and pawl pivotally coupled to the housing, the ratchet for interaction with a striker such that one of the latch assembly and the striker being mounted on the closure panel and the other of the latch assembly and the striker being mounted on a body of the vehicle; a presentment mechanism mounted to the housing having one or more presentment members, such that the one or more presentment members is driven for influencing a position of the ratchet during presentment of the striker out of a slot of the ratchet to a presentment position; and an actuator for engaging with the presentment mechanism to effect said driven of the one or more presentment members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2018
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Inventors: Francesco Cumbo, Luca Bigazzi
  • Publication number: 20180355642
    Abstract: A closure latch assembly for a motor vehicle closure system having a latch mechanism, a latch release mechanism for releasing the latch mechanism, and an outside backup release mechanism operable, in cooperating with the latch mechanism and the latch release mechanism, to provide an external latch release function and a separate and distinct latch reset function. The external latch release function is initiated by a first-key actuation operation associated with a door-mounted key release mechanism. The latch reset function is initiated, after the external latch release function, via a second key-actuated operation associated with a reset device on the closure latch assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2018
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Inventors: Francesco Cumbo, Marco Taurasi
  • Patent number: 10151126
    Abstract: A latch for a door of a motor vehicle includes a supporting body, a closing assembly adapted to cooperate with a latch striker, and an opening mechanism which can move between a latched configuration and an unlatched configuration. An inertia lever is fitted to the supporting body and is free to oscillate from a first position to a second position. The latch includes a blocking lever movable between a release position and a stable blocking position. The inertia lever and the blocking lever are coupled in such a way that movement of inertia lever from the first position and the second position causes the movement of blocking lever from the release position to the stable blocking position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Magna Closures Inc.
    Inventor: Francesco Cumbo
  • Publication number: 20180345765
    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: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2018
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Inventors: Mario MAGAZZINI, Francesco CUMBO
  • Publication number: 20180340359
    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 bidirectional power release mechanism operable in a first mode to release a latch mechanism under normal operating conditions and which is operable in a second mode to release the latch mechanism under emergency operating conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2018
    Publication date: November 29, 2018
    Inventor: Francesco Cumbo
  • Publication number: 20180245379
    Abstract: A method of making an electrical latch assembly for a door of a vehicle. The method includes providing an electrical housing having a fluid-tight open interior and an opening. The method also includes positioning a printed circuit board in the fluid-tight open interior, wherein the printed circuit board has an electrical control unit. The method further includes connecting a latch mechanism to the electrical housing about the opening, the latch mechanism including an electric motor. The method also includes extending an electrical connector from the printed circuit board, through the opening of the latch mechanism and to the electrical motor to establish an electrical connection between the printed circuit board and the electric motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2018
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Inventors: Marco TAURASI, Francesco CUMBO
  • Publication number: 20180222294
    Abstract: A latch assembly for a vehicle door closure system is provided, with latch assembly having a strength module including a frame plate, a latching mechanism with components pivotably mounted by clinch nuts secured to retention apertures formed in the frame plate, and threaded fasteners in threaded engagement with the clinch nuts to mount the latch assembly to the vehicle door.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2018
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Inventors: Francesco CUMBO, Carlo QUARTIERI, Enrico BOERI
  • Patent number: 9959691
    Abstract: A latch release backup system for a latch assembly of a motor-vehicle door is provided with a key cylinder configured to receive a vehicle key and which is rotatably mounted to the motor-vehicle door, and a mechanical coupling arrangement mounted within the motor-vehicle door and operable to convert a rotation of the key cylinder into actuation of an actuation group of the latch assembly for causing latch release. The key cylinder defines an electrical interface socket designed to receive the vehicle key. An electronic control unit is mounted within the motor-vehicle door and is electrically connected to the electrical interface socket to receive identification information (Id) from the vehicle key when plugged into the electrical interface socket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: MAGNA CLOSURES S.p.A.
    Inventors: Francesco Cumbo, Marlia Marco, Santaniello Liberatore
  • Patent number: 9957736
    Abstract: An electrical latch assembly for a vehicle door is provided. The assembly includes an electrical housing having a fluid-tight open interior and an opening. A printed circuit board is disposed in the fluid-tight open interior between the first and second cover pieces and includes an electrical control unit. A latch mechanism is connected with the electrical housing around the opening and includes an electric motor. At least one electrical connector extends from the printed circuit board through the opening and establishes an electrical connection between the printed circuit board in the open interior of the electrical housing and the electric motor of the latch mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: MAGNA CLOSURES S.p.A.
    Inventors: Marco Taurasi, Francesco Cumbo
  • Publication number: 20180100331
    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: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Publication date: April 12, 2018
    Inventor: Francesco Cumbo
  • Publication number: 20180051502
    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: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2017
    Publication date: February 22, 2018
    Inventors: Martin Roos, Francesco Cumbo
  • Publication number: 20180016821
    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: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2017
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Inventors: Francesco CUMBO, Marco TAURASI