Motor Patents (Class 292/201)
  • Patent number: 10407947
    Abstract: A vehicle door lock device includes a latch mechanism holding and releasing a striker of a door; a locking/unlocking member switching between locking and unlocking of the door; a first switch detecting a state of the locking/unlocking member; a second switch switching between on and off of a room lamp of the vehicle; a connection portion to which a connector for an external device is connected; and a switch plate connecting at least the first switch and the second switch to the connection portion. Further, the switch plate includes a first switch plate connecting the first switch to the connection portion, a second switch plate connecting the second switch to the connection portion, and a switch-plate joining portion joining the first switch plate and the second switch plate together and passing between a bottom surface of a case and the locking/unlocking member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Mitsui Kinzoku Act Corporation
    Inventors: Shuntaro Kimura, Daisuke Enomoto
  • Patent number: 10407950
    Abstract: A vehicle door latch device includes: a seal sticking portion at which an upper seal portion of a waterproof seal is stuck, and which is provided upward in a protruding manner at an upper portion of a body accommodating portion; an upper positioning unit which is provided at a lower edge and a side edge on an extra-vehicle side of the seal sticking portion, the upper positioning unit being configured to receive and position a lower surface and an end face on the extra-vehicle side of the upper seal; and a side positioning unit which is configured to position a side seal portion of the waterproof seal to be directed diagonally downward, and which is provided on a surface on an intra-vehicle side of the cover where the side seal portion is stuck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Mitsui Kinzoku Act Corporation
    Inventors: Masakazu Akahori, Chenming Zhang
  • Patent number: 10400488
    Abstract: The invention relates to a latching box for selectively retaining a movable element such as an undercarriage or a hatch in position, the box comprising a body carrying: a hook pivotally mounted about a first pivot axis between an engaged position and a disengaged position relative to the movable element; a locking member pivotally mounted about a second pivot axis parallel to the first pivot axis to pivot between a position for blocking the hook in the engagement position and a release position for releasing the hook; and at least one cam actuator in which the cam co-operates operationally with the locking member to move it towards the release position. The cam of the actuator is a cylindrical cam mounted to rotate about an axis of rotation orthogonal to the first and second pivot axes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: MESSIER-BUGATTI
    Inventors: Ludovic Dufay, Eric Evenor, Gilbert Lecourtier, Pierre-Yves Liegeois
  • Patent number: 10401081
    Abstract: A refrigerated appliance includes a crossbar assembly disposed above a mounting area. The crossbar assembly includes a hooked portion that is operably coupled to a hook portion of a crossbar adapter. The crossbar adapter further includes a deflecting arm operable between at-rest and flexed positions. A housing includes an upper sidewall with a ramped introductory portion and a stepped snap feature. The deflecting arm of the crossbar adapter moves towards the flexed position from the at-rest position as the ramped introductory portion of the upper sidewall engages the deflecting arm of the crossbar adapter when the housing is received in the mounting area. The deflecting arm of the crossbar adapter resiliently snaps towards the at-rest position from the flexed position when the stepped snap feature of the housing clears a stepped snap feature disposed on the deflecting arm to releasably couple the housing to the crossbar adapter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Pavan P. Jorapur, Chad J. Rotter, Pradip Varpe, Binil K. Jose
  • Patent number: 10392838
    Abstract: A power latch assembly is disclosed having a latch mechanism, a power release mechanism for selectively releasing the latch mechanism using an electric actuator, and a key cylinder mechanical release mechanism configured to release the latch mechanism in response to two distinct user input activation movements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: MAGNA CLOSURES INC.
    Inventor: Kris Tomaszewski
  • Patent number: 10385586
    Abstract: A method is provided for an emergency opening of a door locking device (1) of a door (4) of a laundry washing and/or drying appliance (100). The method includes, inserting a tool (40; 50) in the cabinet (3) of the appliance until the tool (40; 50) interacts with a safety member (53) moving the latter into a retracted position; operating a moveable handle (5) of the door and keeping it operated in such a way as to try to move a hook member (21) to an opening position, so that the hook member does not prevent a retaining member (54) from moving towards a rest position; removing the interaction between the tool (40; 50) and the safety member (53); and removing the hook member (21) from the opening (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: ELECTROLUX APPLIANCES AKTIEBOLAG
    Inventors: Marco Maiero, Sergio Blancuzzi
  • Patent number: 10378252
    Abstract: A two-motor 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: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: MAGNA CLOSURES S.P.A.
    Inventors: Franco Giovanni Ottino, Francesco Cumbo, Marco Taurasi, Enrico Margheritti
  • Patent number: 10378245
    Abstract: An electro-mechanical locking device, particularly for cabinetry, with some embodiments used in connection with a drawer slide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Accuride International Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Jordan, Bruk Sahilu, Charles Milligan
  • Patent number: 10370875
    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: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: MAGNA CLOSURES S.P.A.
    Inventors: Marco Taurasi, Francesco Cumbo
  • Patent number: 10370879
    Abstract: A closure latch assembly for a vehicle door comprising a lock link operatively connected to a ratchet is provided. The latch assembly is configured to quickly move the lock link to an unlocking position and thus the ratchet to an open position when a user activates a motor of the latch assembly, for example using a key fob. Thus, an impatient passenger can quickly open the door, even while other components of the latch assembly are still moving toward their respective unlocking positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: MAGNA CLOSURES INC.
    Inventor: Kris Tomaszewski
  • Patent number: 10364593
    Abstract: A closure release device includes a housing fixedly attached to a closure and an actuating lever rotatably disposed on an axis of rotation on the housing. A crank lever is rotatably disposed on the axis of rotation. A coupling member is to selectively couple the actuating lever to the crank lever for rotation together. A shape memory alloy (SMA) actuator is to selectively cause the coupling member to selectively couple the actuating lever to the crank lever. The SMA actuator is electrically actuated. The crank lever is to connect to a latch to selectively release or engage the latch in response to a coupling state of the actuating lever with the crank lever and an actuation state of the actuating lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignees: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC, DYNALLOY, INC.
    Inventors: Paul W. Alexander, Richard J. Skurkis, James Holbrook Brown, Aragorn Zolno, Tyler P. Ownby, Paulo M. Mendonca
  • Patent number: 10358848
    Abstract: The subject matter of the present invention is a motor vehicle door lock, the basic construction of which is equipped with a locking mechanism (1, 2) consisting essentially of a rotary latch (1) and a detent pawl (2), furthermore with a release element (3) for the locking mechanism (1, 2) and with a storage element (4). The storage element (4) ensures an unobstructed opening movement of the rotary latch (1) from a closed position into an open position. According to the invention, for this purpose, the storage element (4) holds the release element (3) during the opening movement of the rotary latch (1) in an ineffective position with respect to the locking mechanism (1, 2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: Kiekert Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Michael Scholz, Armin Handke, Omer Inan, Radek Mazal
  • Patent number: 10351099
    Abstract: A keyless entry system may include one or more Near Field Communication (NFC) devices. Also described herein is a keyless entry system including a NFC device and a keypad. In a particular embodiment there is provided a vehicular keyless entry system that is integrated with a vehicle trim component. Some implementations include an antenna carried by or embedded in the trim component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Dura Operating, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Kenneth Liubakka, Nizar Trigui, Thomas Farges
  • Patent number: 10351038
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle including a frame and a dump body supported by the frame to be move relative to the frame between a dump position and aloud position. The dump body includes first and second sidewalls, a front wall, a floor having a first opening, a tailgate, and an apron below the tailgate, the apron having a second opening substantially perpendicular to the first opening. The vehicle also includes an endless conveyor configured to direct material to the second opening and removably attached to the dump body below the floor such that material is prevented from exiting the dump body through the first opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: PALMER TRUCKS, INC.
    Inventor: James B. Rike
  • Patent number: 10344502
    Abstract: One embodiment relates to an exit device assembly. The exit device assembly includes a center case, a push pad movably mounted on the center case, and a mechanical case coupled to the center case, wherein the exit device includes an opening. The assembly also includes a sensor aligned with the opening, wherein the sensor is structured to detect a user from a distance through the opening and to generate an output signal in response to detecting the user. The assembly also includes a latch and a latch actuator. The assembly also includes a controller in communication with the sensor and the latch actuator, wherein the controller is structured to transmit an actuating signal in response to receiving the output signal from the sensor, wherein the latch actuator is configured to move the latch from the locked position to the unlocked position in response to the actuating signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Schlage Lock Company LLC
    Inventors: Aaron P. McKibben, James W. Overbey, Yong Kwan Lacy, Jack R. Lehner, Jr., Jarrett Bartlett
  • Patent number: 10344505
    Abstract: An opening prevention device for a sliding door which is slidably installed in a side surface of a vehicle is provided. The opening prevention device includes a vehicle movement detection unit that is installed within a vehicle body of the vehicle and is configured to detect movement of the vehicle, and a door opening prevention unit that is installed in the vehicle body and configured to prevent lateral translation of the sliding door when the vehicle movement detection unit detects movement of the vehicle. Additionally, an opening prevention latch is installed on the sliding door to be engageable with a portion of the door opening prevention unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Hyung-In Yun
  • Patent number: 10328792
    Abstract: Provided is a lid device, which is compact and can be installed in an efficient manner. The lid device (20) releasably locks a lid (10) provided with a hinge (12) in a closed position. The lid device is provided with a push lifter (32) that alternates between an extended state and a retracted state each time the lid is pushed, a motor (46) placed next to the push lifter, a lock member (18) and a transmission mechanism (64) for transmitting the output of the motor. The lock member and the transmission mechanism are positioned between the push lifter and a side profile of the drive unit remote from the push lifter, and the lock member is moveable in a direction substantially perpendicular to a lengthwise direction of the push lifter and a direction from the push lifter toward the drive unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: NIFCO INC.
    Inventors: Young-gook Lee, Junpei Horikawa
  • Patent number: 10329806
    Abstract: The problem addressed by the invention is that of providing a closing device for a motor vehicle, by means of which a gap in a door or flap can be minimized. One aim in particular is to minimize the risk of injury. To solve this problem, a closing device comprises a locking mechanism that consists of a rotary latch and a pawl for locking said rotary latch in place. A drive is provided, with which said locking mechanism can be moved, totally or partially, by means of a pivot lever, also called a rocker, such that a gap in a door or flap can be reduced. Therefore, when a door or flap is closed, a gap initially remains between the door and doorframe, or between a frame and its associated flap. The drive allows the rocker, and therefore the locking mechanism or parts thereof, to be moved such that this gap is reduced. In order to minimize the weight and number of parts, the rotary latch and pawl are preferably rotatably secured to the rocker by means of shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Kiekert AG
    Inventors: Michael Scholz, Holger Schiffer, Omar Inan, Thomas Hulsmann
  • 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
  • Patent number: 10323442
    Abstract: A powered latch system for motor vehicles includes at least one powered latch that can be controlled based, at least in part, on vehicle operating conditions. The system may be configured to control unlatching of the vehicle doors utilizing data relating to the vehicle speed and/or the existence of a crash event. The powered latch system can be configured as required for various vehicles, and to accommodate specific operating requirements with respect to child locks in various geographic jurisdictions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Bruce Kleve, John Thomas Ricks, Jim Michael Weinfurther, John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Ronald Patrick Brombach, Laura Viviana Hazebrouck, Lisa Therese Boran, Howard Paul Tsvi Linden
  • Patent number: 10316553
    Abstract: A powered latch system for a door of a vehicle including a latch assembly, actuatable inside and outside handles, a powered actuator and a door controller that causes the powered actuator to unlatch the latch assembly upon actuation of the inside and outside door handles. The latch assembly may be mechanically unlatched by a user within a vehicle interior even if the powered actuator does not actuate due to a loss of electrical power or other failure. The controller can be programmed to unlatch the latch assembly according to various criteria as required to meet the specific requirements of different markets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Venkatesh Krishnan, Kosta Papanikolaou
  • Patent number: 10316549
    Abstract: A lock for locking a door, the lock comprises a pin moveable between a retracted position and an extended position for locking the door and an actuator movable from a first position to a second position to move the pin from the retracted position to the extended position. Furthermore, the lock comprises a mechanism comprising a spring for biasing the pin to the retracted position and a latch. When in the latched position the latch prevents the pin from moving from the extended position to the retracted position, and when in an unlatched position the latch allows the pin to move from the extended position to the retracted position. The mechanism is adapted to disengage the actuator from the pin when the pin is in the extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: BQT SOLUTIONS (SEA) PTE LIMITED
    Inventors: Matthew Richard Alex Nye-Hingston, Ian Tristan Barnes, Neil Richard Hingston
  • Patent number: 10316551
    Abstract: A latch is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: INTEVA PRODUCTS, LLC
    Inventors: Christian Regnault, Mathias Barth
  • Patent number: 10309130
    Abstract: The invention relates to a motor vehicle door lock which is equipped with a body-side lock housing and a hood-or-door-side locking bolt or vice-versa. The invention also relates to a locking and/or opening device. According to the invention, the locking and/or opening device engages on the outer side on the lock housing for the adjustment thereof with respect to a fixed base element in the course of a closing/opening process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Kiekert Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Holger Schiffer, Michael Scholz
  • Patent number: 10301845
    Abstract: An electronic system with an electronically controlled electronic locking mechanism is provided. The system includes a first electronic device having a first part, a first fastening element, a second part, and an electronic locking element. The first fastening element is pivotally connected to the first part and rotates relatively to the first part. The second part includes a fastening portion. The electronic locking element is disposed at the first part, electronically connected to the first electronic device, and connected to the first fastening element. When the fastening portion of the second part contacts and fastens to the first fastening element of the first part, the first electronic device supplies power to the electronic locking element, and thus the electronic locking element fixes the first fastening element to lock the first part and the second part together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: ASUSTEK COMPUTER INC.
    Inventors: Yuan-An Hsu, San-Feng Lin, Mei-Fang Chou, Wei-Cheng Kao, Jia-Hong Lu, Chong-Xian Wu
  • Patent number: 10294695
    Abstract: A latch for capturing a striker includes a latch cam, a trigger, a drive cam, a motor coupled to the drive cam, and a switch coupled to the motor. The latch cam is biased to rotate toward an open position and configured to capture the striker in a closed position. The drive cam uses at least one cam surface to contact the trigger, and the switch permits actuation of the motor to rotate the drive cam when sensing the trigger or the drive cam, thereby rotating the drive cam to urge the trigger toward an unlocked position, disengage the trigger from the latch cam, and allow the latch cam to rotate from the closed position toward the open position. A system incorporating the latch and method of capturing a striker is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: SOUTHCO, INC.
    Inventor: Gregory Gilbert Garneau
  • Patent number: 10294700
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a vehicle door lock and an associated method for the operation thereof, wherein the vehicle door lock is equipped with a locking mechanism, which essentially consists of a catch and a pawl. The pawl has a contact surface for the catch, which rests on said contact surface when the locking mechanism is closed. According to the invention, a supporting element, which delays the opening of the locking mechanism, is associated with the pawl, so that the catch glides along the contact surface up to a predetermined opening angle until is it is released from the pawl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Kiekert Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Michael Scholz, Holger Schiffer
  • Patent number: 10280653
    Abstract: In one non-limiting embodiment, a latch system for a door of a vehicle is provided. The latch system includes a latch assembly, an accelerometer configured to measure acceleration of the vehicle, and a controller communicatively coupled to the accelerometer. The controller is configured to control an operation of the latch assembly. The controller prevents transition of the latch assembly to a disengaged position when the measured acceleration exceeds a predetermined threshold to facilitate preventing the door from opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: INTEVA PRODUCTS, LLC
    Inventors: Eduardo Estrada, Daniel Aguirre, Carlos I. Tostado, Donald Michael Perkins
  • Patent number: 10270309
    Abstract: An electric supply structure includes a body including plural shaft support portions, a housing being joined with the body, a motor being positioned between the body and the housing, being restricted from moving in an axial direction of a motor shaft by the shaft support portion and being rotatably supported about the motor shaft, a terminal being connected to the motor, and a connector being provided with an insertion hole. The terminal includes a bus bar portion movably mounted to the body, a motor-side terminal portion being fixed on the motor so as to supply electricity and a connector-side terminal portion being positioned to be inserted into the insertion hole. The housing includes first and second pressing portions having different stiffnesses and being configured to hold the motor while displacing a rotational attitude of the motor about the motor shaft in a specific direction by pressing the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takashi Nishio, Kiyotaka Jidaisho
  • Patent number: 10260259
    Abstract: A door handle device for a vehicle includes a door opening prevention mechanism that is provided with an inertia lever being rotatably supported at a base frame, an inertia body being mounted to the inertia lever, and an elastic member elastically biasing the inertia lever toward an initial position where the movement of a link mechanism is not restricted by the inertia lever. The inertia lever includes a center of gravity of the inertia lever being set at a same position as a position of a center of gravity of the outside handle in an extending direction of the outside handle, the center of gravity of the inertia lever being set at a same position as a position of the center of gravity of the outside handle in vehicle upper-lower directions, or being set at a lower position relative to the center of gravity of the outside handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koichi Nagata, Nobukazu Araki, Jun Hasegawa, Kenji Kaneko, Isao Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 10253533
    Abstract: A door handle assembly for a vehicle door is provided that includes: a housing assembly fixedly connected to an outer door panel of the vehicle door having a visible face defining an opening, a cover assembly having a cover and a grip element, the cover assembly is movable between a flush position where the cover element fills the opening and is flush with the visible face and a fully retracted position where the cover element is displaced inwardly from the opening, and the grip element and housing assembly defines an access space to receive fingers of a user, a displacement mechanism to move the cover assembly, and a pin connected to the housing assembly that interacts with a cam profile formed on an external surface of the cover assembly such that the cover assembly follows a path during movement from the flush to fully retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: Novares US LLC
    Inventors: Richard Irving Pudney, David Brent Egnor
  • Patent number: 10239489
    Abstract: In at least some implementations, a method for preventing inadvertant operation of a vehicle access system that includes a plurality of inputs involves providing a keypad operable to output signals to control a vehicle system based on entry of a code via the inputs, detecting when a predetermined access sequence is inputted via the inputs and outputting a signal to a vehicle system to allow access to the vehicle, and operating the keypad in a disabled mode wherein the keypad output signals are not outputted. The disabled mode may be activated either actively or passively or both, and the disabled mode may be terminated either actively or passively or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Dura Operating, LLC
    Inventors: Michael K. Liubakka, Thomas Farges, Joseph Lewis, Benjamin Saltsman
  • Patent number: 10227803
    Abstract: A linkage mechanism is disclosed that produces high travel advantage in one phase of linear actuator motion and high mechanical advantage in another phase of linear actuator motion. The linkage mechanism may be powered by a hydraulic actuator system and is capable of producing high preloads and a high amount of travel with minimal actuator motion or force. The linkage mechanism may be used to secure a hatch door to a pressure vessel housing or may be used in any environment involving high pressure differentials, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Huntington Ingalls Incorporated
    Inventor: David Albert Gooding
  • Patent number: 10174522
    Abstract: An enhanced slide and hook locking mechanism control system for vending machines and the like that utilizes a reversible motor and worm gear drive that operates the slide and book mechanism. The worm drive is coupled to the slide through a crankshaft type of interconnection. Or as alternatives, the slide means can be gear driven or it may be connected using push-pull type of cable or rod. An electronic control with a microcomputer interface drives the motor control and the system may be operated by a keypad or a remote wireless control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: TriTeq Lock and Security, L.L.C.
    Inventors: William Denison, Gary L. Myers, Richard Paeth, Catalin Captarencu, Calin V. Roatis
  • Patent number: 10161168
    Abstract: A latching assembly is for a cowl on a marine drive, the cowl having a first cowl portion and a second cowl portion that mates with the first cowl portion. A latching device is configured to latch and unlatch the first cowl portion to the second cowl portion. An actuator actuates the latching device. A flexible connector has a first end coupled to the latching device and a second end coupled to the actuator. Actuation of the actuator pulls the flexible connector to rotate a pulley and actuate the latching device. One of the first and second ends has a spherical bearing that is nested in a cylindrical bearing and seated in a cavity in the pulley. Pulling on the flexible connector pulls the spherical bearing against the cylindrical bearing such that the cylindrical bearing is pulled against the cavity in the pulley, thereby causing the pulley to rotate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Brad J. VanRuiswyk, John D. Skroski, Devan R. Faust
  • Patent number: 10151132
    Abstract: A vehicle door system is disclosed. The system comprises an actuator, a power source, and a controller. The actuator is configured to adjust a position of a door. The controller is configured to control the actuator with energy provided by the power source. The controller is further configured to identify a charge level of the power source and compare the charge level to at least one threshold. In response the charge level being less than the at least one threshold, the controller is configured to output a warning signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Larry Dean Elie, John Wayne Jaranson, Timothy J. Potter, Robert F. Novak, Jeff A. Wallace, Michael M. Azzouz, Gerald J. Heath, Evangelos P. Skoures
  • Patent number: 10149594
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a dishwasher and a method for controlling same, and the dishwasher may comprise a wash tub having an opening on at least one side thereof; a spray nozzle, provided in the interior of the wash tub, for spraying wash water; a reflecting module capable of moving in the interior of the wash tub, and reflecting the wash water sprayed by the spray nozzle; and a moving module, to which the reflecting module is detachably attached, for moving same in at least one direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Min Ho Jung, Mi Ra Kim, Sung Jin Kim, Hyoung Jun Kim
  • Patent number: 10132106
    Abstract: A motor vehicle lock arrangement having a motor vehicle lock, wherein the motor vehicle lock has the locking elements of lock latch and pawl, wherein the lock latch is0 adjustable into an open position, into a main locked position and optionally into a pre-locked position, wherein the pawl is adjustable into a lowered position in which it retains the lock latch in a locked position, and into a raised position in which it is disengaged from the lock latch, wherein provision is made of an actuating lever for raising the pawl, wherein a switchable clutch arrangement is arranged between the actuating lever and the pawl, via which clutch arrangement a drive connection between the actuating lever and the pawl is establishable in the engaged state, and in the disengaged state the drive connection between the actuating lever and the pawl is severable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Brose Schliesssysteme GmbH & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft
    Inventor: David Rosales
  • Patent number: 10132107
    Abstract: A vehicle latch is provided having a ratchet, a primary pawl, an auxiliary ratchet and a secondary pawl, and further including a gear that is movable to a secondary pawl locking position wherein the gear directly blocks movement of the secondary pawl and locks the secondary pawl in an auxiliary ratchet holding position to prevent premature or unintended opening of the latch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Magna Closures Inc.
    Inventor: Kris Tomaszewski
  • Patent number: 10135371
    Abstract: A door opening/closing device includes: a motor; and a control unit that is configured to control a rotation rate of the motor by pulse-width modulation (PWM) control. The door opening/closing device opens and closes a door of a vehicle with power of the motor. The control unit is configured to perform the PWM control on the motor at a PWM frequency set so as to deviate from a resonance point of an installation body on which the motor is installed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Mitsui Kinzoku Act Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Watanabe, Ayahito Kojima
  • Patent number: 10125524
    Abstract: A vehicle door latch control device is provided in which power from an electric actuator controlled by a control unit is transmitted via transmission means to a ratchet that can engage with a latch that engages with a striker on a vehicle body side and pivots, wherein a first switch detects whether the ratchet is in a ratchet engagement position, a second switch detects that the transmission means has operated until the ratchet attains the ratchet engagement position based on an operating position of an operating member forming part of the transmission means, and the control unit that controls actuation of the electric actuator determines that there is an abnormal state when the switching mode of the first switch is unchanged at the time the second switch changes switching mode. This enables an abnormal state in which engagement of a ratchet with a latch becomes insufficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Honda Lock
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kouzuma, Kazuyuki Kuriyama
  • Patent number: 10119309
    Abstract: A motor vehicle comprising side doors, a bonnet and a boot lid, power-operated key-cylinder-less locks associated with all the side doors, a power-operated lock associated with the boot lid, a key-cylinder lock associated with the bonnet, and an electronic control system configured to sense operation of the key-cylinder lock by means of a mechanical key and, upon determining a specific operation of the key-cylinder lock by means of a mechanical key, responsively unlock one or more of the power-operated key-cylinder-less locks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: FCA Italy S.p.A.
    Inventors: Bogdan Stoenescu, Luigi Laera, Gianfranco Del Nero
  • Patent number: 10119308
    Abstract: A latch system for vehicle doors includes a powered latch including a powered actuator that is configured to unlatch the powered latch. An interior unlatch input feature such as an unlatch switch can be actuated by a user to provide an unlatch request. The system may include a controller that is operably connected to the powered actuator of the powered latch. The controller is configured such that it does not unlatch the powered latch if a vehicle speed is greater than a predefined value unless the interior latch feature is actuated at least two times according to predefined criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: H. Paul Tsvi Linden, Daniel Carl Bejune, John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Robert Bruce Kleve, John Thomas Ricks, Kosta Papanikolaou, Noah Barlow Mass, Lisa Therese Boran, Ronald Patrick Brombach, Jim Michael Weinfurther
  • Patent number: 10118473
    Abstract: A latching assembly for use on a pick-up truck, and particularly on a truck bed cover configured to sit over a truck bed section is provided. The latching assembly includes an electronic release assembly and a mechanical override system. An electronic release assembly includes a first rod coupled to a first electronic actuator and a second rod coupled to a second electronic actuator. The electronic release assembly also includes a first electronic actuator that selectively moves the first latch catch and the second electronic actuator that selectively moves the second latch catch. A switch is engaged to send a signal to the first and second electronic actuators to cause the first and second latch catches to disengage from the truck bed section. The first and second rods and the first and second electronic actuators also serve as part of a mechanical override system that selectively unlatches at least a portion of the truck bed cover from the truck bed section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Truck Accessories Group, LLC
    Inventors: Ernest M. McDonald, II, Eugene A. Dylewski, II, Christopher David Mattison
  • Patent number: 10100559
    Abstract: A vehicle door lock device includes: an actuating lever linked to an electric motor, rotatable in a rotation regulating range, rotating in one direction toward a closing position on one end side of the rotation regulating range, thereby holding, in a complete-closing state, a door having been in a half-closed state, and rotating in the other direction toward a release position on the other end side, thereby releasing the holding of the door in the complete-closing state; a first neutrality detecting switch generating a first neutrality detection signal having logic switched at a first neutral position; and a second neutrality detecting switch generating a second neutrality detection signal having logics switched at a second neutral position and a release start position which are a boundary position of the neutral region on the closing position side, and a boundary position of the neutral region on the release position side, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshio Machida, Shinsuke Takayanagi, Yasuhiro Nagaya
  • Patent number: 10072445
    Abstract: The object of the present invention is a motor vehicle door lock, comprising a locking mechanism and an electrical drive for electrically opening the locking mechanism. According to the invention, a complementary drive is provided in addition to the electrical drive for electrically opening the locking mechanism. With the aid of the electrical drive, the additional drive releases, for the purpose of electrically opening the locking mechanism, a mechanical safety mechanism of the respective electrical drive, which is formed by a blocking element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Kiekert Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Christian Barmscheidt
  • Patent number: 10063122
    Abstract: For miniature drives which are used in particular in car locks, the axial play of the motor spindle is prevented, or is at least greatly restricted, by the necessary axial stop and also the further motor stop being assigned to the housing cover of the housing. When the housing cover is placed onto the housing casing, said axial stops are inserted into corresponding guides in such a manner that said axial stops subsequently not only restrict the play of the motor spindle and ensure an always uniformly secure arrangement of the motor housing in the housing, but at the same time also make possible the substantially simpler production of the required bearing bore. Said bearing bore and the associated aperture are produced from the outer side of the housing casing during the injection molding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Kiekert Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Uwe Reddmann
  • Patent number: 10053892
    Abstract: The object of the invention is to be able, with little expenditure of electrical energy and within a short time, to change over a lock, which can be opened electrically, such that said lock can also be opened mechanically. To achieve this, a locking device with a lock, in particular for a motor vehicle, is provided with a locking mechanism, the rotary latch of which can be latched to at least one pawl in a main latching position and in a preliminary latching position. The locking device has an electric drive with which the lock can be opened electrically in normal operation. It furthermore has an actuating device with which the lock can be changed over from normal operation to emergency operation in the event of an emergency. During this changeover, the lock is adjusted from the main latching position into the preliminary latching position, and the lock can be opened mechanically in said preliminary latching position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Kiekert Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Michael Merget, Thorsten Bendel
  • Patent number: 10047544
    Abstract: A transmission device of an electronic lock, disposed in a lock body, each of both sides of the lock body is provided with a rose assembly, connected respectively to a handle, to drive a driving seat to bring a latch bolt of a latch unit into action. The transmission device is controlled electronically, comprising: a positioning element, a motor, an elastic element, a rod, a clutch element, and a spring. The clutch element is slideable in the spindle, to move between a first position where the clutch element engages with the spindle and a second position where the clutch element disengages from the spindle, such that when the clutch element engages with the spindle, the spindle drives the driving seat, to retract the latch bolt of the latch unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: TLHM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tony Yen, Po-Yang Chen, Wei-Liang Chiang, Song-Gen Shyu, Rong-Faa Wu, Kun-Chen Lee
  • Patent number: 10032551
    Abstract: A solenoid is latched in an energized position by a residual magnetic field established by a pulse of current. A degaussing current is selectively applied from a capacitor to unlatch the solenoid. Fail-safe return to the de-energized position occurs when the supply of power is lost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Philip J. Mott, Miguel Raimao