Patents by Inventor Roman Cetnar

Roman Cetnar 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).

  • Publication number: 20260152973
    Abstract: A closure latch assembly includes a ratchet and a pawl, with the ratchet being moveable between a striker capture position and a striker release position and the pawl being moveable between a ratchet holding position, whereat the ratchet is maintained in the striker capture position, a ratchet release position, whereat the ratchet is biased toward the striker release position. A power actuator operably coupled to a drive gear having an actuation feature fixed thereto, wherein rotation of the drive gear from a rest position in a first direction causes the actuation feature to operably move the pawl between the ratchet holding position and the ratchet release position, and wherein rotation of the drive gear from the rest position in a second direction causes an outside door handle to be brought into an operable condition to allow mechanical actuation of the closure latch assembly via the outside door handle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2026
    Publication date: June 4, 2026
    Inventor: Roman CETNAR
  • Publication number: 20260071470
    Abstract: A door latch system is provided for a motor vehicle having a front door having a forward portion configured for sealed engagement with an A-pillar and a rear door having a rearward portion configured for sealed engagement with a C-pillar, the front and rear doors being configured for movement relative to a vehicle body of the motor vehicle to bring respective rearward and forward portions into sealed engagement with one another to close off a B-pillarless opening bounded by the vehicle body. The door latch system includes a retractable striker assembly and/or retractable ratchet assembly attached to one of the front and rear doors and includes a respective retractable striker and/or retractable ratchet movable between extended and retracted positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2025
    Publication date: March 12, 2026
    Inventors: Franco Giovanni OTTINO, Francesco CUMBO, Ann-Margaret MOZOLA, Roman CETNAR, Fabio TERMINE, Luca BIGAZZI
  • Patent number: 12540494
    Abstract: A closure latch assembly includes a ratchet and a pawl, with the ratchet being moveable between a striker capture position and a striker release position and the pawl being moveable between a ratchet holding position, whereat the ratchet is maintained in the striker capture position, a ratchet release position, whereat the ratchet is biased toward the striker release position. A power actuator operably coupled to a drive gear having an actuation feature fixed thereto, wherein rotation of the drive gear from a rest position in a first direction causes the actuation feature to operably move the pawl between the ratchet holding position and the ratchet release position, and wherein rotation of the drive gear from the rest position in a second direction causes an outside door handle to be brought into an operable condition to allow mechanical actuation of the closure latch assembly via the outside door handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2026
    Assignee: Magna Closures Inc.
    Inventor: Roman Cetnar
  • Publication number: 20250333986
    Abstract: A latch assembly for a motor vehicle closure member includes a latch housing containing a ratchet and a pawl in a latch housing chamber and an auxiliary housing containing an actuator in an auxiliary housing chamber. The latch housing chamber and the auxiliary housing chamber are separate from one another and out of communication from one another, with at least one cable extending exteriorly between the auxiliary housing and the latch housing. The actuator is energizable to move the at least one cable to move the ratchet from a secondary striker capture position to a primary striker capture position and optionally to move another cable to move the ratchet from the primary striker capture position toward a striker release position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2025
    Publication date: October 30, 2025
    Inventors: Roman CETNAR, Bogdan MAGLAVICEANU
  • Publication number: 20250305331
    Abstract: A latch assembly for a motor vehicle swing door arranged for movement between open and closed positions includes a frame plate and a ratchet operably coupled to the frame plate for movement between a striker capture position and a striker release position. A release chain component is configured for release from a ratchet holding position, whereat the ratchet is maintained in the striker capture position to maintain the vehicle swing door in the closed position, to a ratchet releasing position, whereat the ratchet is moved to the striker release position to allow the vehicle swing door to be moved to the open position. A mechanical feature operably coupled to the frame plate is configured to be deformed by a force in a crash condition to prevent inadvertent movement of the release chain component from the ratchet holding position to the ratchet releasing position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2025
    Publication date: October 2, 2025
    Inventors: Roman CETNAR, Francesco CUMBO
  • Patent number: 12359476
    Abstract: A power latch assembly for a vehicle door of a motor vehicle includes a ratchet configured for movement between striker capture and striker release positions, wherein the ratchet is biased toward the striker release position, and a pawl configured for movement between a ratchet holding position, whereat the pawl maintains the ratchet in the striker capture position, and a ratchet releasing position, whereat the pawl releases the ratchet to the striker release position. A powered actuator is energizable to move the pawl from the ratchet holding position to the ratchet releasing position, wherein a multistage reduction mechanism operably connects an output of the powered actuator to the pawl to provide a first release torque on pawl during normal use and a greater second release torque on pawl during emergency use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2025
    Assignee: MAGNA CLOSURES INC.
    Inventors: Roman Cetnar, Francesco Cumbo
  • Publication number: 20250179840
    Abstract: A closure latch assembly includes a latch module having a ratchet and a pawl, with the ratchet being moveable between a striker capture position and a striker release position and the pawl being moveable between a ratchet holding position, whereat the ratchet is maintained in the striker capture position, the a ratchet release position, whereat the ratchet is biased toward the striker release position. An actuator module including a power actuator is operably coupled to a drive gear. The drive gear has an actuation feature fixed thereto. A latch release mechanism operably couples the actuation feature to the pawl, wherein rotation of the drive gear via energization of the power actuator causes the latch release mechanism to move the pawl between the ratchet holding position and the ratchet release position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2025
    Publication date: June 5, 2025
    Inventors: Francesco CUMBO, Roman CETNAR
  • Publication number: 20250116138
    Abstract: A power latch assembly and system therewith configured for retaining a closure panel of a motor vehicle in a closed position relative to a vehicle body and for releasing the closure panel to allow the closure panel to be moved from the closed position to an open position. The power latch assembly has a double lock/child lock state, whereat actuation of an inside release mechanism does not release the closure panel for movement to the open position, and whereat actuation of an outside release mechanism permits release of the closure panel for movement to the open position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2024
    Publication date: April 10, 2025
    Inventor: Roman CETNAR
  • Patent number: 12252908
    Abstract: A closure latch assembly includes a latch module having a ratchet and a pawl, with the ratchet being moveable between a striker capture position and a striker release position and the pawl being moveable between a ratchet holding position, whereat the ratchet is maintained in the striker capture position, the a ratchet release position, whereat the ratchet is biased toward the striker release position. An actuator module including a power actuator is operably coupled to a drive gear. The drive gear has an actuation feature fixed thereto. A latch release mechanism operably couples the actuation feature to the pawl, wherein rotation of the drive gear via energization of the power actuator causes the latch release mechanism to move the pawl between the ratchet holding position and the ratchet release position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Assignee: Magna Closures Inc.
    Inventors: Francesco Cumbo, Roman Cetnar
  • Publication number: 20240318472
    Abstract: A closure latch assembly and system therewith configured for retaining a closure panel of a motor vehicle in a closed position relative to a vehicle body during and upon the latch assembly experiencing a sudden force during a crash condition and prior to the latch assembly having been intentionally actuated to move to an unlatched state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2024
    Publication date: September 26, 2024
    Inventors: Ann-Margaret MOZOLA, Francesco CUMBO, Roman CETNAR
  • Patent number: 12024930
    Abstract: A closure latch assembly having a latch mechanism is provided. The latch mechanism includes a ratchet and a pawl assembly pivotally supported for movement between a ratchet holding position whereat the pawl assembly is positioned to hold the ratchet in its striker capture position and a ratchet releasing position whereat the pawl assembly is located to permit movement of the ratchet to its striker release position. The pawl assembly has a carrier and a pawl configured for rotation relative to one another about a pawl pin and a roller carried by the carrier. The roller is disposed between the pawl and the ratchet for selective rolling movement therebetween. The roller is disposed into abutment with a closing surface of the ratchet while the pawl assembly is in the ratchet holding position and is spaced from closing surface while the pawl assembly is in the ratchet releasing position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: Magna Closures Inc.
    Inventors: Roman Cetnar, Franco Giovanni Ottino, Kris Tomaszewski
  • Publication number: 20240151073
    Abstract: A latch assembly and system therewith configured for retaining a closure panel of a motor vehicle in a closed position relative to a vehicle body during and upon the latch assembly experiencing an impact force during a crash condition and/or a power shortage to the latch assembly and prior to the latch assembly having been intentionally actuated to move to an unlatched state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2023
    Publication date: May 9, 2024
    Inventors: Ann-Margaret MOZOLA, Roman CETNAR, Francesco CUMBO
  • Publication number: 20230220717
    Abstract: A power latch and presenter assembly for latching and releasing a closure panel and for moving the closure panel from a closed position to a presented position includes a ratchet moveable between a striker capture position and a striker release position. A pawl is configured for movement between a ratchet holding position, whereat the pawl maintains the ratchet in the striker capture position and a ratchet releasing position. A power release actuator is configured to move the pawl from the ratchet holding position to the ratchet releasing position and to move a presenter arm between a non-deployed position, whereat the presenter arm is spaced from the striker, to a deployed position, whereat the presenter arm engages the striker to move the closure panel from the closed position to the presented position. A power presenter actuator is configured to move the presenter arm from the non-deployed position to the deployed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2023
    Publication date: July 13, 2023
    Inventor: Roman CETNAR
  • Publication number: 20230112684
    Abstract: A power latch assembly for motor vehicle closure applications has a single motor operable to move a pawl from a ratchet holding position to a ratchet releasing position; place the power latch assembly in a double pull mechanical release state, and place the power latch assembly in a child lock state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2022
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Inventor: Roman CETNAR
  • Publication number: 20230078285
    Abstract: A closure latch assembly having a latch mechanism is provided. The latch mechanism includes a ratchet and a pawl assembly pivotally supported for movement between a ratchet holding position whereat the pawl assembly is positioned to hold the ratchet in its striker capture position and a ratchet releasing position whereat the pawl assembly is located to permit movement of the ratchet to its striker release position. The pawl assembly has a carrier and a pawl configured for rotation relative to one another about a pawl pin and a roller carried by the carrier. The roller is disposed between the pawl and the ratchet for selective rolling movement therebetween. The roller is disposed into abutment with a closing surface of the ratchet while the pawl assembly is in the ratchet holding position and is spaced from closing surface while the pawl assembly is in the ratchet releasing position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2022
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Inventors: Roman CETNAR, Franco Giovanni OTTINO, Kris TOMASZEWSKI
  • Publication number: 20230079726
    Abstract: A closure latch assembly includes a ratchet and a pawl, with the ratchet being moveable between a striker capture position and a striker release position and the pawl being moveable between a ratchet holding position, whereat the ratchet is maintained in the striker capture position, a ratchet release position, whereat the ratchet is biased toward the striker release position. A power actuator operably coupled to a drive gear having an actuation feature fixed thereto, wherein rotation of the drive gear from a rest position in a first direction causes the actuation feature to operably move the pawl between the ratchet holding position and the ratchet release position, and wherein rotation of the drive gear from the rest position in a second direction causes an outside door handle to be brought into an operable condition to allow mechanical actuation of the closure latch assembly via the outside door handle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2022
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Inventor: Roman CETNAR
  • Publication number: 20230009439
    Abstract: A power latch assembly for a vehicle door of a motor vehicle includes a ratchet configured for movement between striker capture and striker release positions, wherein the ratchet is biased toward the striker release position, and a pawl configured for movement between a ratchet holding position, whereat the pawl maintains the ratchet in the striker capture position, and a ratchet releasing position, whereat the pawl releases the ratchet to the striker release position. A powered actuator is energizable to move the pawl from the ratchet holding position to the ratchet releasing position, wherein a multistage reduction mechanism operably connects an output of the powered actuator to the pawl to provide a first release torque on pawl during normal use and a greater second release torque on pawl during emergency use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2022
    Publication date: January 12, 2023
    Inventors: Roman CETNAR, Francesco CUMBO
  • Publication number: 20220389743
    Abstract: A door linkage system for guiding a door of a motor vehicle between an open position and a closed position relative to a vehicle body includes at least one linkage pivotally connected between the door and the vehicle body to move a rear portion of the door away from the vehicle body substantially in a cross vehicle direction to a partially open position while a front portion of the door concurrently moves substantially in a longitudinal vehicle direction of the vehicle, and then, move the front portion and the rear portion of the door concurrently in substantially the longitudinal vehicle direction of the vehicle to the open position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2022
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Inventors: Jörg Thomas KLEIN, Roman CETNAR, John DISTEFANO, Dorin ILEA, Bogdan Maglaviceanu
  • Patent number: 11512509
    Abstract: A closure latch assembly having a latch mechanism is provided. The latch mechanism includes a ratchet and a pawl assembly pivotally supported for movement between a ratchet holding position whereat the pawl assembly is positioned to hold the ratchet in its striker capture position and a ratchet releasing position whereat the pawl assembly is located to permit movement of the ratchet to its striker release position. The pawl assembly has a carrier and a pawl configured for rotation relative to one another about a pawl pin and a roller carried by the carrier. The roller is disposed between the pawl and the ratchet for selective rolling movement therebetween. The roller is disposed into abutment with a closing surface of the ratchet while the pawl assembly is in the ratchet holding position and is spaced from closing surface while the pawl assembly is in the ratchet releasing position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: MAGNA CLOSURES INC.
    Inventors: Roman Cetnar, Franco Giovanni Ottino, Kris Tomaszewski
  • Publication number: 20220341223
    Abstract: A closure latch assembly includes a latch module having a ratchet and a pawl, with the ratchet being moveable between a striker capture position and a striker release position and the pawl being moveable between a ratchet holding position, whereat the ratchet is maintained in the striker capture position, the a ratchet release position, whereat the ratchet is biased toward the striker release position. An actuator module including a power actuator is operably coupled to a drive gear. The drive gear has an actuation feature fixed thereto. A latch release mechanism operably couples the actuation feature to the pawl, wherein rotation of the drive gear via energization of the power actuator causes the latch release mechanism to move the pawl between the ratchet holding position and the ratchet release position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2020
    Publication date: October 27, 2022
    Inventors: Francesco CUMBO, Roman CETNAR