Closure Patents (Class 292/216)
  • Patent number: 11970888
    Abstract: A motor vehicle lock, in particular a motor vehicle door lock, which is equipped with a locking mechanism consisting of a rotary latch and at least one pawl. An actuating lever mounted in a lock case for rotation about an axis is also provided. The pawl is mounted on the actuating lever for rotation about an axis. According to the invention, the rotary latch applies a closing moment on the pawl when the locking mechanism is in the closed state, which moment transitions into an opening moment on the pawl when the locking mechanism is opened as a result of the associated movement of the actuating lever and the shifting of the axis for the pawl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Kiekert AG
    Inventor: Hendrik Wahmann
  • Patent number: 11965364
    Abstract: A motor vehicle lock for a movable vehicle part, in particular for a door, flap, tailgate, or bonnet, said lock having a lock housing and a rotary latch that is movably provided on the lock housing, and the rotary latch being movable into an open position and at least one engaged position. In addition, at least on buffer unit is provided on the lock housing and at least on braking element is located on the buffer unit, such that at least some portions of the braking element can be brought into contact with the rotary latch, at least while the rotary latch is moving into the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Kiekert AG
    Inventor: Dorothea Müller
  • Patent number: 11965367
    Abstract: A motor-vehicle door latch device includes: a main body; a latch that engages with a striker on a vehicle body side when a door is closed, and is capable of moving from an open position to a fully-latched position; a ratchet provided with a pawl that blocks the latch from rotating to an opening direction by respectively engaging with a half-latched engagement portion and a fully-latched engagement portion of the latch; and a third latch lever that engages with a third engagement portion provided on the latch when the latch is in a third latch position between a half-latched position and the open position of the latch so that the third latch lever is capable of blocking the latch from rotating in the opening direction from the third latch position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: MITSUI KINZOKU ACT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shintaro Okawa, Takuya Kakumae
  • Patent number: 11952811
    Abstract: A vehicle lock device includes a base including an entry groove for entry of a striker, a latch that pivots between a restraining position to restrain the striker and a release position to release the striker and also to allow entry of the striker, a locking lever engaging the latch and holding the latch in the restraining position, and a torsion spring that presses the striker rearward in an entry direction when a first arm portion comes into contact with the striker, and that applies an elastic force to the latch toward the release position when the first arm portion engages the latch. The first arm portion of the torsion spring is disengaged from the latch when the first arm portion is pushed down in the entry direction by the striker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Johnan Manufacturing Inc.
    Inventors: Naoki Ide, Mayu Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11952805
    Abstract: A door lock arrangement of a vehicle door of a vehicle includes a first closing element arranged in a lock mouth of the vehicle door and a second closing element arranged on a body of the vehicle. The first and second closing elements can be brought into positive-locking engagement with each other to hold the door on the body. A damping device absorbs kinetic energy of the door during a closing movement of the door within a predetermined limit opening angle of the vehicle door relative to the body and slows down the closing movement of the door. The damping device has an impact element arranged on the door in a displaceable manner relative to the door or on the body in a displaceable manner relative to the body. The impact element is connected to an actuator, which applies a pre-tensioning force of the door directed in an opening direction of the door while the first and second closing elements are engaged with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: MERCEDES-BENZ GROUP AG
    Inventors: Martin Lindmayer, Tobias Konrad, Stefan Ebersohn
  • Patent number: 11939797
    Abstract: A door lock device includes: a latch; a ratchet; an outer lever; an open link; a first elastic member; an inertia lever; a second elastic member; a fitting hole provided to an acting piece protruding from the inertia lever; and a protrusion provided to the open link, wherein when an inertial force equal to or greater than a set value is exerted in a direction from an interior to an exterior, the inertia lever rotate against a biasing force of the second elastic member, the acting piece press the protrusion, the open link swing against a biasing force of the first elastic member by the protrusion being pressed by the acting piece, and the protrusion becomes fitted inside the fitting hole which achieves an inertia engagement configuration in which the inertia lever is kept at the blocking position and the open link is kept at the inertia engaging position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: MITSUI KINZOKU ACT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takao Taga
  • Patent number: 11933082
    Abstract: A cinching latch assembly for latching a striker includes a forkbolt biased to rotate about a first pivot point between a primary latched position, a secondary latched position, and a fully released position. The cinching latch assembly also includes a detent biased to rotate about a second pivot point to engage with the forkbolt in at least one position of the forkbolt, and a lift lever biased to rotate about a third pivot point, the lift lever having a first end to lift up on the striker during at least one position of the striker within the latch assembly. The cinching latch assembly also includes a cinch lever that, during a powered cinching operation, lowers the lift lever away from the striker prior to the forkbolt moving from the fully released position to the secondary latched position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael Strole, Ian Martin
  • Patent number: 11933085
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a motorized door latch for a vehicle, particularly, relates to a motorized vehicle door latch with emergency release that is installed on a vehicle door, and can open the vehicle door, when necessary, using a motorized door latch, either electrically or mechanically, depending on the degree of pulling a hidden handle that is withdrawn, so that the vehicle door can be easily opened even if the electricity supply is cut off in an emergency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Woobo Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hae Il Jeong
  • Patent number: 11933086
    Abstract: In an aspect, a latch for a closure panel for a vehicle is provided, and includes a ratchet, pawl, release lever, and extension member. The ratchet is movable between a primary closed position, secondary closed position and open position. The pawl is movable between a primary locking position, secondary locking position and unlocking position. The release lever is movable between home and actuated positions. When the pawl is in the primary locking position the release lever has a selected amount of reach for driving the pawl to the secondary locking position during movement of the release lever to the actuated position. When the pawl is in the secondary locking position the extension member is movable to extend the reach of the release lever to drive the pawl from the secondary locking position to the unlocked position during movement of the release lever from the home position to the actuated position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: MAGNA CLOSURES INC.
    Inventors: James Joseph Ferri, John Clark, John Robert Scott Mitchell, Ilya Neyman
  • Patent number: 11927037
    Abstract: A motor vehicle lock arrangement for a hatch leaf with a motor vehicle lock, including a catch for the interaction with a lock striker, pivotable around a catch axis, and a pawl with a pawl arm, pivotable around a geometrical pawl axis, wherein the motor vehicle lock may be brought into a primary closed state, in which the catch is in its primary closed position and in holding engagement with the lock striker and the pawl arm is in its primary closed position and blocking the catch in its primary closed position, wherein the motor vehicle lock may be brought into an open state, the catch is in its open position and releasing the lock striker and in which the pawl arm is in its open position, the motor vehicle lock may include an inlet channel in the form of a recess for receiving the lock striker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Brose Schließsysteme GmbH & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft
    Inventor: David Rosales
  • Patent number: 11891842
    Abstract: An actuation transmission mechanism comprising a transmitting member that is pivotably supported to pivot in at least one driving direction from a predetermined initial position to be capable of transmitting its pivoting motion to a transmitted member that is pivotably supported in the vicinity of the transmitting member to pivot in at least one driven direction from a predetermined driven initial position, wherein the transmitting member has a formation such that when the transmitting member pivots from the initial position in the one driving direction, the transmitting member abuts against the transmitted member to make the transmitted member pivot in the one driven direction from the driven initial position to a predetermined detection position, and thereafter, though the transmitting member subsequently pivots in the one driving direction further, the transmitting member does not make the transmitted member pivot overly to a large extent in the one driven direction from the detection position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: MITSUI KINZOKU ACT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuji Yoda, Ryo Miyanaga
  • Patent number: 11885159
    Abstract: A power actuator for actuating separate mechanically driven members includes a motor and a drive gear configured to be selectively driven in opposite directions. A common gear is configured in operable communication with the drive gear to be selectively driven from a home position in opposite directions in response to movement of the drive gear. A first drive member is attached to the common gear with a first cable extending between the first drive member and one of the mechanically driven members. A second drive member is attached to the common gear with a second cable extending between the second drive member and the other of the mechanically driven members. Movement of the common gear from the home position in one direction moves of one mechanically driven member and movement of the common gear from the home position in an opposite direction moves the other mechanically driven member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: MAGNA CLOSURES INC.
    Inventors: Henrik Johann, Jan Holbein, Bernardo Erices
  • Patent number: 11866963
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a remotely actuable release device (1) for unlocking of a vehicle door lock, in particular of a vehicle door lock of a construction machine or of an agricultural vehicle, including: a traverse tube (2), a remote actuation button (4) supported on the traverse tube (2) and actuated by pressing into the traverse tube (2), and a cable pull mechanism (6), which is in operative connection with the remote actuation button (4) and is disposed inside the traverse tube (2), for coupling to the vehicle door lock to be unlocked, wherein the release device (1) includes a cable holder (8), disposed inside the traverse tube (2), including at least two power cables (26) attached thereto, as well as a combined arrangement of a vehicle door lock for locking and latching of doors of motor vehicles with a release mechanism, wherein the release mechanism includes a remotely actuable release device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: D. LA PORTE SÖHNE GMBH
    Inventor: Bastian La Porte
  • Patent number: 11851918
    Abstract: A latch for use in a vehicle including a catch, a pawl, a motor including a motor shaft, and drivetrain including, a first gear and a pawl lifter. The first gear is configured to rotate about a first axis as the motor shaft rotates when the drivetrain is in the operating state and defining an aperture configured to receive an opening tool and translate along the first axis from a first position to a second position to change the drivetrain from the operating state to the service state, when the opening tool is inserted into the aperture. When the first gear is in the second position, the first gear is configured to pivot the pawl lifter to move the pawl from the pawl closed position of the pawl open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Brose Schließsysteme Gmbh & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft, Wuppertal
    Inventors: David Scholz, Jiri Beinstein, Lee Kwanggi
  • Patent number: 11834870
    Abstract: A motor-driven door latch for a vehicle includes a catch part which is caught on a striker mounted on the vehicle to lock a door for a vehicle to a vehicle body or is released from the striker so that the door can be opened from the vehicle body; a door locking and releasing part which includes a main motor and applies torque to the catch part through the main motor to allow the catch part to be locked to or released from the striker; and a pop-up part including an auxiliary motor and applying torque to the catch part so that the door for the vehicle is popped up from a vehicle body, so that the door for the vehicle is popped up from a vehicle body after the door for the vehicle is released from vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Jinwoo Nam, Kyoung Taek Kwak, Jungho Han
  • Patent number: 11819177
    Abstract: A door locking device (1) including a support body (6) which can be fixed to a door (5) of an electric household appliance, a bracket (7) which can be fixed to a structural element (3) of the electric household appliance and a latching device (8) including: a locking tooth (10) constrained to rotate and translate relatively to the support body and which can be coupled with a first end thereof (12) with a transversal element (11) of the bracket; a sliding stem (13) cooperating with a second end (14) of the locking tooth by means of conjugated cam profiles (15, 16) carried by the locking tooth and by a head (17) of the stem; a compression spring (18) associated with the stem for thrusting the cam profiles (15, 16) into contact; and a tilting element (19) hinged to the support body to cooperate with the transversal element (11) of the bracket independently of the locking tooth, to activate a microswitch (23) when the tooth is in a locking position, wherein it engages the transversal element (11) of the bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventor: Dino Chirumbolo
  • Patent number: 11814150
    Abstract: A mount for a trolling motor pivots the trolling motor between a deployed position and a stowed position. The mount includes a base coupled to a deck of a watercraft and upper and lower arms pivotably coupled to the base. A bracket also couples the upper arm to the lower arm. The mount includes a pivotable latch and an associated latch blocker on the upper or lower arm or the base and a corresponding striker pin configured to engage with the pivotable latch in the deployed and/or stowed position of the trolling motor to lock the upper or lower arm to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Boks, John Witte
  • Patent number: 11802427
    Abstract: A door handle assembly may have an adjustable door handle having a handle support structure. The assembly may also have an adjusting mechanism for adjusting the door handle between a starting or non-use position and a use position. The adjusting mechanism may have at least one drive unit and a force transfer element which is operatively connected to the handle support structure of the door handle to shift the door handle from the starting or non-use position into the use position or vice versa and which is designed as a roller mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Witte Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Petr Vr{hacek over (s)}ecký
  • Patent number: 11802424
    Abstract: A motor vehicle door lock comprising a locking mechanism that essentially consists of a rotary latch and a pawl. In addition, a lock retainer interacting with the locking mechanism is produced, which is introduced into the locking mechanism in order to achieve the closed position and rests on a load arm of the rotary latch in the closed position of the locking mechanism. According to the invention, the load arm is provided with a force deflection contour for the lock retainer. The force deflection contour changes a force direction acting on the load arm from the lock retainer, at least in the event of an excessive impact of the lock retainer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Kiekert AG
    Inventors: Stephan Meuters, Jianfeng Wang, Chao He
  • Patent number: 11795738
    Abstract: A power release latching system with a service reset. A power release latching system, including: a housing; a service override lever rotatably mounted to the housing, the service override lever being accessible from an exterior of the housing; a motor for rotating a worm that interfaces to a release gear, the release gear having a cam profile that interfaces with a pawl release lever of the latching system, wherein rotation of the service override lever causes rotation of the release gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: INTEVA PRODUCTS, LLC
    Inventor: Daniel Alexander Ney
  • Patent number: 11780306
    Abstract: A truck cap assembly that selectively covers a truck bed of a truck is provided. The truck cap assembly may include a cap that sets on opposing side walls of the truck; a cap door located on the cap; a latch bar located on the cap; a controller located on the cap door; and a latch release assembly which includes an actuator and a latch arm. The controller is in electrical communication with an actuator that is coupled to a latch arm. A signal from the controller activates the actuator to move the latch arm. The latch arm is releasable from the latch bar to release the cap door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Leer Group
    Inventors: Donald Richard Ireland, Terrill D. Becker, Bruce Charles Bacon, Jeffrey Joal Hickey, Robert G. Bos
  • Patent number: 11746572
    Abstract: An actuating system for an actuatable door and to an actuatable door having such an actuating system. The actuating system comprises a rotatable latching shaft, a rotatable locking shaft, a latching device, comprising a latch, and a locking device. The latch is adapted to maintain the actuatable door in a closed position. The locking device comprises a locking cam, that is mounted to the locking shaft and that is adapted to engage with the latch in a closed and latched position, and a latch securing lever, that is driven by the locking cam and that is adapted to engage with the latch to maintain the latch in a closed and secured position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: AIRBUS HELICOPTERS DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventors: Stefan Blum, Christoph Merkel, Marc Kirchner
  • Patent number: 11746570
    Abstract: A vehicle latch, including: an override mechanism, the override mechanism having: a central door lock sector; a double lock sector; a double lock link, the double lock link operably coupling the central door lock sector to the double lock sector; a key cylinder; and a key cylinder link, the key cylinder link operably coupling the key cylinder to the central door lock sector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: INTEVA PRODUCTS, LLC
    Inventors: Manuel Antonio Escamilla Hernandez, Eduardo Estrada de Leon
  • Patent number: 11746574
    Abstract: A locking mechanism for pillarless doors includes a first body mounted on a first side door and having a first cavity, a second body mounted on a second side door and having a second cavity opposite the first cavity, a locking member configured to be movably received between the first cavity of the first body and the second cavity of the second body, and a gas generator including a squib and an inflator chamber containing a gas generant configured to be burned by ignition of the squib, wherein the inflator chamber is separated from the first cavity by a burst membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Seung Kyu Kang
  • Patent number: 11708711
    Abstract: A vehicle door latch device includes: a latch body including: a latch secured by a latch shaft on a rear surface side of the latch body, the latch being configured to engage with a striker; a ratchet secured by a ratchet shaft on the rear surface side of the latch body, the ratchet being configured to engage with the latch; and a striker advancing path into which the striker advances relatively; a motor configured to release the ratchet from the latch; and an actuator case provided continuously on top of the latch body, the actuator case being configured to accommodate the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: MITSUI KINZOKU ACT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Katsuyuki Ishiguro, Hirotaka Nishijima, Shintaro Okawa, Shunsuke Tamura
  • Patent number: 11702994
    Abstract: A pressure relief latch includes a housing configured to be mounted to a pressure relief door. A bolt is coupled to the housing about a first axis and is rotatable about the first axis between a first bolt position and a second bolt position. The bolt includes a bearing centered about a second axis. The bearing is configured to rotate about the second axis. A spring assembly includes a first assembly end mounted to the bearing and a second assembly end in rotational communication with the housing about a third axis. The spring assembly is rotatable about the second and third axes and further includes a spring extending between the first and second assembly ends. The bolt is configured to permit movement of the pressure relief door from the closed position to the open position as the bolt rotates from the first bolt position to the second bolt position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Rohr, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul F. McMahan, David L. Lipson
  • Patent number: 11686132
    Abstract: A vehicle latch, including: an override mechanism, the override mechanism having: a central door lock sector; a double lock sector; a double lock link, the double lock link operably coupling the central door lock sector to the double lock sector; a key cylinder; and a key cylinder link, the key cylinder link operably coupling the key cylinder to the central door lock sector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: INTEVA PRODUCTS, LLC
    Inventors: Manuel Antonio Escamilla Hernandez, Eduardo Estrada de Leon
  • Patent number: 11686131
    Abstract: An actuating drive for motor vehicle applications, in particular for a motor vehicle lock comprising an actuating drive, for realizing different functional positions, includes an electromagnetic rotary actuator with a rotor and a stator, in particular a coil carrier, a drive lever, wherein the drive lever can be moved to different functional positions by the rotary actuator, and means for latching the drive lever in the functional position, wherein the drive lever interacts with a switching lever in such a way that, after a functional position of the drive lever is reached, a moment which stabilizes the functional position can be introduced into the drive lever by the switching lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Kiekert AG
    Inventors: Christian Sturm, Claus Töpfer
  • Patent number: 11680435
    Abstract: A drive system includes a first rotary component configured to be rotated by an actuator, a second rotary component selectively coupled to the first component, and a third rotary component selectively coupled to the first component. A coupling arrangement is configured to, in a first range of angular positions of the first component, couple the first and second components and decouple the first and third components and configured to, in a second range of angular positions of the first component that does not overlap with the first range, couple the first and third components and decouple the first and second components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft, Bamberg
    Inventor: David Rosales
  • Patent number: 11674338
    Abstract: A power-operated vehicle closure system includes a vehicle door equipped with a cinch assembly having a power actuator and a closure latch assembly having a latch mechanism and a latch cinch mechanism. Actuation of the power actuator in a first direction provides a power cinch operation to cause the latch cinch mechanism to cinch the latch mechanism. Actuation of the power actuator in a second direction provides a power ice breaking operation to cause the latch cinch mechanism to open the latch mechanism. The system includes a controller that receives signals indicating the positions of a ratchet and a pawl of the latch mechanism and controls the power actuator to operate the latch cinch mechanism in either the first or second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: MAGNA CLOSURES INC.
    Inventor: Kris Tomaszewski
  • Patent number: 11661768
    Abstract: A motor vehicle door lock which is equipped with a locking mechanism that consists essentially of a rotary latch and a pawl. Also, at least one actuating lever chain for opening the locking mechanism in an emergency is provided. In addition, a control element which blocks the actuating lever chain indirectly or directly in normal operation and releases it in the event of an emergency, is provided. The control element is equipped with an electric motor having an output element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Kiekert AG
    Inventors: Michael Scholz, Holger Schiffer
  • Patent number: 11643852
    Abstract: A motor vehicle door lock, more particularly a flap lock or a hood lock includes a locking mechanism substantially consisting of a rotary latch and a pawl. There is also a motorized closing aid which has a motor and also a first lever, which is acted upon by the motor, and a second lever. The two levers are hinged to each other. During the lowering of a flap or hood, the second lever first of all carries out a movement, which is controlled by the rotary latch, while simultaneously freewheeling in relation to the first lever. Only following the freewheeling does the first lever, which is then driven, act upon the second lever, in order to close the rotary latch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Kiekert AG
    Inventors: Bernhard Drost, Murat Özdogan, Michael Scholz, Holger Schiffer
  • Patent number: 11623542
    Abstract: The vehicle power supply apparatus includes: a drive power supply that supplies electric power to a motor for generating drive power; an auxiliary power supply that supplies electric power to a motor controller and door lock controllers; and a backup power supply. A control method for the vehicle power supply apparatus includes: discharging the in-vehicle equipment by using the electric power that is supplied from the backup power supply when it is determined that a vehicle has collided with an obstacle; and operating the door lock controllers by using the electric power that is supplied from the backup power supply after a lapse of a specified time period since initiation timing of the discharging step so as to unlock doors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Wataru Shiraishi, Shinya Fujioka
  • Patent number: 11619078
    Abstract: A motor vehicle lock has a pawl and a catch that may be moved into an open position, a preliminary latching position and a main latching position. In one of the latching positions, the catch is or may be brought into holding engagement with a lock striker. In the installed state, during a cinching routine, the catch is moved into its main latching position by a cinching drive. A spring biased freewheel mechanism, which is limited to a freewheel distance, is provided between the cinching drive and the catch. With the reaction force of the catch exceeding a predefined level, the cinching drive freewheels with respect to the catch against the spring bias of the freewheel mechanism, until the freewheel distance is reached and the freewheel mechanism is interlocked for force transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Brose Schliesssysteme GmbH & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft
    Inventor: David Rosales
  • Patent number: 11618307
    Abstract: A latch assembly for a tonneau cover. The latch assembly includes a button and a slider. The slider is movably coupled to the button. Movement of the button in a first direction causes the slider to move in an unlatching direction. Movement of the button in a second direction causes the slider to move in a latching direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Inventor: Anthony E. Becker
  • Patent number: 11618305
    Abstract: A door structure is moveable to and from of a closed orientation covering a door opening and an open orientation exposing the door opening of a vehicle. The door structure has an inner door panel with an interior latch handle attachment area and an attenuation slot adjacent to the interior latch handle attachment area. The attenuation slot is defined between a first slot edge and a second slot edge. The interior latch handle is installed to the interior latch handle attachment area. A portion of the interior latch handle is located adjacent to the first slot edge of the attenuation slot. In response to an impact event proximate a central area of the door structure, the door structure and the interior latch handle attachment area deform such that the first slot edge and the interior latch handle move relative to the second slot edge of the attenuation slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: David Kovie, Mahiuddin Ahmed, Christopher Herrala
  • Patent number: 11613918
    Abstract: A method and device for unlatching a door from a frame, using a keyless door latch system, is provided. In one embodiment, a secondary unlocking component receives a signal and derives power from the signal to provide a power source for the keyless door latch system. A microcontroller generates a control signal and an actuator, in response to receiving the control signal, actuates the secondary unlocking component, which allows an energy source, from an exterior of the door, to be transferred to the keyless door latch system for the unlatching of the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignees: STMicroelectronics S.r.l., STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Williamson Sy, Emiliano Mario Piccinelli, Keith Walters
  • Patent number: 11613917
    Abstract: A tailgate opening/closing device has a simplified tailgate opening/closing structure, reduced manufacturing cost, reduced weight, and improved quality. The device includes a release gear configured to be rotated forwards and backwards by a rotational force from a motor, a cinching gear engaged with the release gear, a linkage mechanism configured to receive force from the cinching gear to rotate toward a claw, the claw being caught by the linkage mechanism to rotate together therewith so as to be engaged with a striker, and a pawl unit configured to be caught by the claw in the state in which the claw is engaged with the striker so as to restrict rotation of the claw and configured to allow rotation of the claw in a release operation direction only when the release gear rotates in the release operation direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yong Hyuck Im, Sang Min Jeong
  • Patent number: 11608664
    Abstract: Vehicle door latch apparatus has; latch that engages strike and that rotates from an unlatched position to a full-latch over rotating position; ratchet member that is rotatably supported by ratchet shaft, wherein ratchet member has pawl portion that is movable between a latch engaging position, where pawl portion can face full-latching engaging portion of latch, and a latch releasing position, where pawl portion is not engaged with full-latching engaging portion; and ratchet restrainer that is positioned on a side of ratchet member and that restrains ratchet member. Ratchet member is configured to be pushed out from latch engaging position to a latch releasing position by release component force F2 that acts on ratchet member in a latch releasing direction, wherein release component force F2 is generated when latch returning force that acts on latch is applied to ratchet member at the latch engaging position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: MITSUI KINZOKU ACT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hirotaka Nishijima, Shintaro Okawa, Katsuyuki Ishiguro, Shunsuke Tamura, Hibiki Ogura
  • Patent number: 11608661
    Abstract: A motor vehicle door lock which is equipped with a locking mechanism substantially comprising a catch and pawl. Furthermore, a locking pin is provided for interaction with the locking mechanism. Furthermore, there is a damping element for a locking mechanism component and/or the locking pin. Finally, the configuration includes at least one spring which is assigned to the locking mechanism. According to the invention, the spring at least partially abuts the damping element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Kiekert AG
    Inventors: Bryan Bishop, James A. Svoboda
  • Patent number: 11591832
    Abstract: A vehicle door lock device includes: a latch that has a full latch claw portion and a half latch claw portion, engages with a striker attached to a vehicle body during a closing operation of a vehicle door, is rotatable between an unlatch position and a full latch position, and rotates from the unlatch position to the full latch position; a pawl that is rotatable between an engagement position and a disengagement position, is pressed by the full latch claw portion to rotate in a direction from the engagement position toward the disengagement position, and engages with the full latch claw portion by rotating from the disengagement position to the engagement position; a block lever that is rotatable between a restriction position and a non-restriction position; and a half latch lever that is rotatable between an operation position, and a non-operation position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: AISIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoki Kajigai, Yasuaki Tanino, Kazunori Kojima, Takumi Hayashi, Yasuhiko Sono
  • Patent number: 11578511
    Abstract: An inertial blocking member subassembly of a handle assembly for a vehicle door includes a blocking member pivotally rotatable about an axis of rotation, and the blocking member has a center of gravity offset from the axis of rotation. The blocking member is responsive to an acceleration force acting thereon to rotate about the axis of rotation from an at rest position in which the blocking member does not prevent unlatching of the vehicle door, to an engagement position in which the blocking member prevents unlatching of the vehicle door. In the engagement position, the center of mass is positioned between the axis of rotation and a vector of the acceleration force acting in a direction toward the center of mass and the axis of rotation, and the center of mass, the axis of rotation and the vector of the acceleration force are approximately in line with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: ADAC Plastics, Inc.
    Inventors: Cort Corwin, Jeff Stokes, Drew Fouchea
  • Patent number: 11580807
    Abstract: An intelligent lock, overlock, and lock system can be electrically controlled to open and close one or more locks. The lock, lock system, and method may function on a frequency selected to avoid cross talk, which permits numerous locks to function simultaneously on the same central system with little interruption or delay. A lock may be used as an overlock for an existing lock or be a primary lock and may include a pivoting engagement structure that engages a locking mechanism to provide added strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Integrated Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian K. Roper, Todd K. Roper, Daniel Blanc-Gonnet
  • Patent number: 11572721
    Abstract: A latch assembly includes a forkbolt biased to rotate in a first direction about a first pivot point, and a detent biased to rotate in a second direction about a second pivot point, the detent configured to engage with the forkbolt in at least two different positions. The latch assembly further includes a tertiary catch biased to rotate in the first direction. The detent is configured to engage a portion of the tertiary catch and rotate the tertiary catch when the detent is rotated in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael Strole, Ian Martin
  • Patent number: 11572716
    Abstract: A device and a method for opening and closing a motor vehicle door having a door lock. The device includes an electric opening actuator and an electric closing actuator, by means of which the door lock can be brought from a pre-locking position into a final-locking position. A control device controls the opening and closing actuators. The control device, in the event of a door opening request during operation of the closing actuator, first switches the closing actuator into a reversing mode, in which the door lock can be moved again in the opening direction and the opening actuator is triggered after a predetermined period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: MERCEDES-BENZ GROUP AG
    Inventors: Jan Heyduck, Juergen Jooss, Tobias Konrad, Martin Lindmayer
  • Patent number: 11572717
    Abstract: An electric lock for a motor vehicle opening leaf includes a bolt, a pawl, a central opening lever, and an actuator with three abutment positions and capable of interacting with the central opening lever, the actuator including a driver. The driver includes a toothed driving wheel and a driven wheel. The driven wheel includes a second driving member, a motor intended for driving the actuator, a central transfer lever able to be moved by the driven wheel of the driver by the second driving member and the movement of which is capable of being transmitted to the central opening lever in order to move the pawl into its retracted angular position. One of the wheels of the driver includes a first circle-arc shaped oblong slot and the other wheel includes a first driving member extending through the first circle-arc shaped oblong slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: U-SHIN FRANCE
    Inventor: Johann Robert
  • Patent number: 11560738
    Abstract: A door lock assembly for a vehicle door includes a door panel, a stiffener bracket, a lock assembly, and a door pad. The door panel includes an inner door panel and an outer door panel. A stiffener bracket is connected to the inner door panel. A lock assembly is connected to the inner door panel. A door pad is connected to the stiffener bracket. The door pad is configured to interfere with the lock assembly to prevent the lock assembly from unlocking the vehicle door upon an object impacting the outer door panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Edgar Montes de Oca Contreras, Yosuke Nakai
  • Patent number: 11555338
    Abstract: A power unit for a powered cinching mechanism with a favorable level of operational noise is provided. A door latch apparatus includes latch unit and power unit. Latch unit has latch that engages striker, ratchet that engages latch and first cinching lever that displaces latch from a half-latched position to a full-latched position. Latch unit is attached to an end portion of a vehicle door. Power unit includes motor, cable drum, deceleration mechanism and closed-type housing that houses them. Operational noise at 300 mm right above the housing of power unit is 42.2 to 40.9 dB at a supply voltage to the motor of 9V, 47.5 to 43.9 dB at a supply voltage of 12V, and 49.7 to 46.5 dB at a supply voltage of 16 V. Deceleration mechanism includes a worm gear and a helical gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: MITSUI KINZOKU ACT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomoharu Nagaoka, Hiroaki Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 11554702
    Abstract: A latch device for a vehicle includes an engageable member having an engageable notch engageable with a striker, a shaft member by which the engageable member is rotatably supported, a first body including a first support portion by which one end of the shaft member is supported, and a second body including a coupling portion coupled to the first body, and a second support portion by which another end of the shaft member is supported. The engageable member is rotatable about the shaft member between a first position in which engagement with the striker is achievable and a second position in which disengagement from the striker is permitted. With the first body, an entrance of the engageable notch through which the striker comes in the engageable notch in a state where the engageable member is in the first position is covered from one side in an axial direction of the shaft member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: TS TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tatsuo Sayama
  • Patent number: 11541732
    Abstract: A vehicle door assembly includes a door structure, an interior latch handle a panel and an interference member. The interior latch handle is installed to an inboard area of an inner door panel of the door structure. The interior latch handle has a housing and a release lever supported to the housing for pivotal movement. The panel is fixed to the inner door panel. The interference member is fixed to the panel and extends toward the release lever. With the door structure in a non-deformed state the interference member is spaced apart from the release lever. With the door structure in a deformed state in response to an impact event proximate a central area of the door structure, the panel can deformed and moves the interference member toward one end of the release lever preventing movement of the release lever to an door opening orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: David Kovie, Mahiuddin Ahmed, Christopher Herrala