Closure Patents (Class 292/216)
  • Patent number: 11091939
    Abstract: A door lock apparatus includes an inside lever, an opening member for switching a latch mechanism to an unlatching state by a rotation of the inside lever, a child lever translated between set and unset positions; and a bush translated together with the child lever. The bush engages with the inside lever and transmits the rotation of the inside lever to the opening member when the child lever is disposed in the unset position and is released from the engagement with the inside lever when the child lever is disposed in the set position. A movable range of the child lever and the bush is confined inside a circle centered at a rotation shaft of the inside lever and whose radius corresponds to a distance from the rotation shaft to a farthest point of the inside lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: MITSUI KINZOKU ACT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Daisuke Enomoto
  • Patent number: 11085211
    Abstract: A method of forming a motor vehicle door lock includes arranging a lever, providing an electric drive that pivots the lever to place the motor vehicle door lock in an open state and includes a motor and a wheel gear that is driven by the motor and has a circumferential face, forming at least one damping stop on the wheel gear that protrudes axially from the circumferential face of the wheel gear and extends from the circumferential face toward a stop plane that is spaced from and parallel to an actuating plane in which the wheel gear and the lever are rotatable, providing a housing stop surface that is engageable by the damping stop along the stop plane in a rotational direction of the wheel gear, and forming the damping stop and the wheel gear as a single piece using a two-component injection molding process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Kiekert AG
    Inventor: Carsten Fuchs
  • Patent number: 11060326
    Abstract: A door latch assembly includes a door handle, a latch release lever operatively coupled to the door handle and having a plane of rotation, and a latch release lever blocking structure operable to block rotation of the latch release lever through the plane of rotation. The latch release lever blocking structure includes a bracket body and a catch arm extending from the bracket body to a catch end. The latch release lever blocking structure is spaced from the plane of rotation of the latch release lever during normal operating conditions. The latch release lever blocking structure is configured to deform in the vehicle longitudinal direction when acted upon by an impact force such that the catch arm moves into the plane of rotation of the latch release lever and the catch end catches the latch release lever to prevent the latch release lever from rotating to an unlatched position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Josh D. Fraley
  • Patent number: 11041329
    Abstract: The invention relates to a closing device for a door or flap, in particular for a door or flap of a motor vehicle, comprising a locking mechanism that consists of a rotary latch (1) and at least one pawl (2) for locking the rotary latch (1) and an impact protection element, said impact protection element being moved out of its protecting position when the door or flap is closed at a speed below a threshold value and the impact protection element not being moved out of is protecting position or only being moved out with a certain delay when the door or flap is closed at a speed above a threshold value. In this manner, any damage caused by an impact can be avoided in a technically simple manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Kiekert AG
    Inventors: Holger Schiffer, Michael Scholz
  • Patent number: 11041328
    Abstract: The object of the invention is a latching device (1) for a motor vehicle having a locking mechanism (3) with a catch (6) and at least one pawl (5), a triggering lever (4) whereby the locking mechanism (5) can be unlocked by means of the triggering lever (4), a means to block (11) a movement of the triggering lever (4) arranged on the latching device (1), whereby a blocking of the triggering lever (4) can be attained by a stress (F) acting externally on the vehicle and a shifting movement of the blocking means (11), and whereby the blocking means can be guided back into a starting position dependent on the amount of external stress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Kiekert AG
    Inventors: Octavian Cimpean, Stelian Borlodan
  • Patent number: 11035159
    Abstract: A gate assembly has a gate panel with a hinge, a latch assembly, and a base member connected to a wall. The latch assembly has a catch member for engaging the base member when the gate panel is in a closed position, and a channel member for locking the catch member against rotation. The catch member is rotatable about a vertical axis and has an open channel facing the base member. The channel member has an open channel facing downwardly that can be lowered onto the catch member to prevent rotation. The channel member has released positions in which one side of the channel member is above the catch member to allow the gate panel to open, and another side of the channel member remains below an upper end of the catch member to prevent the catch member from pivoting past the latched position when the gate panel is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Flint Hills Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Kaufman
  • Patent number: 11021083
    Abstract: A seat lock device includes: a hook member; and a cam plate. The hook member includes: a hook inclined edge surface and is rotationally biased by contact with a striker entering; an engaging groove into which the striker entering fits after crossing the hook inclined edge surface to bring the hook member into a locked position; a restraining pin; and an interlock pin, the cam plate is set to a limiting position when the hook member engages with the striker and is switched to an allowing position when the striker enters and when an operation performed to release an engagement of the striker, and the cam plate includes: a cam surface that contacts with the restraining pin to rotationally bias the hook member; and an interlock surface with which the interlock pin contacts when the hook member has turned from the locked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: MITSUI KINZOKU ACT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Katsunori Noguchi, Makoto Kondo, Hidemasa Hirakui, Junichi Shimada
  • Patent number: 11015375
    Abstract: A locking device for a vehicle door, in particular for a motor-vehicle bonnet, comprising a first inhibiting pawl prestressed into an inhibiting position, wherein a rotary latch can be arrested in a locking position by the first inhibiting pawl located in its inhibiting position, and a second inhibiting pawl prestressed into an inhibiting position, wherein the rotary latch can be arrested in a safety-catch position by the second inhibiting pawl located in its inhibiting position. The first and second inhibiting pawls can be transferred from their respective inhibiting position into a release position by a common actuating means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Magna BÖCO GmbH
    Inventors: Vladimir Lebsak, Henrik Johann, Jörg Thomas Klein
  • Patent number: 10995525
    Abstract: The object of the present invention is a drive unit for a motor vehicle component with an electromotor (5) and a rotatable output element (7). Furthermore, a blocking element (9), which can be acted on by an actuator (10), is provided for interacting with a protrusion (15) on the output element (7). According to the invention, the protrusion (15) detaches the blocking element (9) from a stop (17) at the start of a rotational movement of the output element (7). Thus, the blocking element (9) is transferred into a blocking position with the aid of the actuator (10) in which the blocking element (9) blocks a rotation of the output element (7) beyond a specified point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Kiekert AG
    Inventors: Robert J. Hunt, Adrin Wagner
  • Patent number: 10988115
    Abstract: Systems and methods providing vehicle access using identified biometric data are provided herein. An example method includes storing a first biometric input for a user in a database; receiving a ride reservation from the user, the ride reservation having at least a pickup location; activating a biometric input device associated with a vehicle when the vehicle arrives at the pickup location to obtain a second biometric input for the user; authenticating the user by comparing the first biometric input with the second biometric input; and granting access to the vehicle when the first biometric input substantially matches the second biometric input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alan Gordon, Connie Zeng
  • Patent number: 10982470
    Abstract: A latch assembly for use with a door includes a lock lever to lock the door in a locked position and to unlock the door in an unlocked position, a door ajar cam to rotate between a door open position in response to a door open condition and a door closed position in response to a door closed condition, a self cancel lever releasably engaged to the door ajar cam, wherein the self cancel lever is operated in response to the door ajar cam rotating to the door closed position, and a lock link selectively engaged to the self cancel lever, wherein the lock link is translated to a cancelling position in response to the self cancel lever operated from the door ajar cam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: INTEVA PRODUCTS, LLC
    Inventor: Yoshihiko Tametani
  • Patent number: 10961751
    Abstract: A vehicle door lock apparatus includes a housing, a fork, a pawl, a first lever displaceably provided in the housing such that the first lever can act on the pawl, and a second lever pivotably provided in the housing. One end of the second lever has a linkage coupled to a lower end of a transmission rod, which is coupled to an exterior door handle. The second lever pivots in response to an opening operation being performed on the exterior door handle and acts on the first lever. A plane of rotation contains an arcuate trajectory traced by the linkage when it pivots in response to the opening operation being performed, and is located farther in a frontward direction of a vehicle frame than a fixing surface. The plane of rotation is inclined relative to a plane containing the fixing surface, and intersects this plane in the vehicle downward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: ANSEI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaharu Takagi, Satoshi Yamaji
  • Patent number: 10941593
    Abstract: A front hood latch release system includes a primary latch and a secondary latch securing the front hood. A first handle is disposed within a vehicle cabin and linked to actuate the primary latch. An emergency handle is disposed within a compartment covered by the front hood and linked to actuate the primary latch. A secondary handle is accessible from outside the vehicle cabin and linked to actuate the secondary latch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Venkatesh Krishnan, Thomas Michael Herline
  • Patent number: 10941591
    Abstract: A vehicle tailgate locking device may include a latch assembly configured to engage or disengage a striker, wherein the latch assembly includes a housing, a latch member disposed in the housing and configured to engage or disengage the striker by rotation, a pawl member rotatably disposed in the housing to restrain or release the latch member, a driving device configured to rotate the pawl member to release restraint of the latch member, an engaging member configured to restrain the pawl member by engaging the pawl member when the pawl member rotates to a position releasing restraint of the latch member, and a releasing portion configured to press the engaging member to release the restraint of the pawl member when the latch member is rotated to a position releasing the engagement of the striker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation, Pyeong Hwa Automotive Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ki Hyun Cho, Ji-Hak Yoo
  • Patent number: 10934746
    Abstract: A lock (1) for a motor vehicle door, comprising: —an assembly of control means (7), each control means being mobile; —an assembly of opening levers (10A, 10B) of said door (2), each lever (10A, 10B) being intended to enable the opening of the door (2) by a control means (7) of the control means assembly, each lever (10A, 10B) comprising a cam (11A, 11B) which can rotate about an axis of rotation (8) and is fixed to said control means (7) in a fixation region (9) so as to be rotated during a movement of the control means (7); —a blocking means (12) configured to take an active blocking position, in which said blocking means (12) blocks an opening lever (10A), and a rest position in which said blocking means (12) authorises the movement of each opening lever (10A, 10B), —a spring-back blocking means (14) configured to switch said blocking means (12) from the rest position to the active blocking position, and —a trigger means (16) configured to take a rest position in which said trigger means (16) blocks the blo
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: U-SHIN FRANCE
    Inventors: François Debroucke, Laurent Duriez, Cédric Lamidon
  • Patent number: 10920463
    Abstract: A latch having: a claw configured to rotate between an unlatched position and a latched position; a pawl configured for movement between an engaged position and a disengaged position, wherein the pawl retains the claw in the latched position when the pawl is in the engaged position and wherein the pawl releases the claw when it is in a disengaged position and the claw is free to move from the latched position to the unlatched position; a bumper located on the pawl to dampen noises as the pawl is moved by a portion of the claw; and wherein the detent lever is pivotally mounted to a frame of the latch proximate to a corner of an opening of the latch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: INTEVA PRODUCTS, LLC
    Inventors: Eduardo Estrada, Hector Sanchez, Rodrigo Galindo, Oscar Estrada, Carlos Tostado
  • Patent number: 10914101
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a vehicle door assembly including a door handle assembly and a door latch assembly that includes a door latch device operatively connected to the door handle assembly using a latch release lever that moves along a travel path to place the door latch device in an unlatched configuration. A latch release blocking structure is located within an interior volume of the vehicle door assembly. The latch release blocking structure includes a first leg that is mounted to a support portion. An overhang portion is connected to the first leg. The overhang portion extends over at least a portion of the travel path of the latch release lever. A second leg extends from the overhang portion toward the support portion to a free end that is spaced from the mounting structure providing a gap along the travel path of the latch release lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Yoshiki Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 10890017
    Abstract: The invention relates to a motor vehicle door locking system, comprising a motor vehicle door lock (1) on a motor vehicle door (2) and a lock retainer (3), interacting therewith, on a motor vehicle body (4), or vice versa, according to patent application DE 10 2014 007 119.7, characterized in that a hold-back element (5) is provided which keeps clear an inlet opening (6) for the lock retainer (3) in the motor vehicle door lock (1) even in the event of deformations of the motor vehicle door (2) caused by an accident, wherein the hold-back element (5) keeps the opening clear on account of a shaping of the hold-back element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Kiekert AG
    Inventor: Nikolaus Hundsdorfer
  • Patent number: 10882455
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a passenger compartment having a rear wall, a first side wall, a second side wall and a floor. The vehicle further includes a seat having a seat back adjacent a rear wall of the passenger compartment. A storage volume is positioned between the seat, the rear wall, the first side wall and a second side wall and the floor. A securing mechanism selectively locks the seat back to the rear wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Brian P Sturza, Joseph V Rozenbaum, Gerardo Alvino
  • Patent number: 10865589
    Abstract: A motor vehicle door latch is equipped with a locking mechanism including a catch and a pawl, a release element for the locking mechanism, and a memory element that effects an unimpeded opening movement of the catch from a closed to an open position and maintains the release element in an ineffective position in respect of the locking mechanism during the opening movement of the catch. The memory element includes at least two components with a control lever and a blocking lever interacting with the release element located thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Kiekert AG
    Inventors: Robert S. Pettengill, Robert J. Hunt
  • Patent number: 10864831
    Abstract: A motor vehicle latch, in particular, a backrest latch on a motor vehicle seat. This latch is fitted with a locking mechanism consisting essentially of a catch, of a comfort pawl that secures the catch, as well as a pawl that acts on the comfort pawl. The pawl and the catch are resiliently coupled with the aid of at least one spring. The pawl is fitted with a securing arm and an actuating arm spaced apart from the securing arm over a predefined rotation angle, in each case for the comfort pawl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Kiekert AG
    Inventors: Jim Zhuang, Scott Brown, Keith Robertson
  • Patent number: 10837206
    Abstract: A vehicle lock device includes a base member, a latch, and a release lever. The base member includes a base groove, into which a striker is inserted. The latch includes a latch groove into which the striker is inserted. The latch is pivotal between a lock position, where the striker is fixed to the base groove, and an unlock position, where the striker is released from the base groove. The release lever is pivotal between a lock release position, where pivoting of the latch is permitted from the lock position to the unlock position, and a restriction position, where pivoting of the latch is restricted from the lock position to the unlock position. The release lever includes an engagement release member that contacts the latch when pivoted from the restriction position to the lock release position to pivot the latch from the lock position to the unlock position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: SHIROKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masahiro Ban, Takayuki Hirose, Yuki Abe, Keisuke Nomura
  • Patent number: 10815700
    Abstract: A vehicle latch having: a frame; a pawl rotatably mounted to the frame for movement between an engaged position and a disengaged position; a claw rotatably mounted to the frame for movement between a latched position and an open position, wherein pawl is configured to impede rotational movement of the claw from the latched position to the open position when the pawl is in the engaged position; a release lever rotatably mounted to the frame; and a worm wheel having a plurality of cam lobes, wherein each of the cam lobes are located in separate and distinct planes with respect to each other, wherein the release lever operably couples the pawl to the worm wheel such that rotational movement of the worm wheel rotates the pawl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: INTEVA PRODUCTS, LLC
    Inventor: Donald M. Perkins
  • Patent number: 10808437
    Abstract: The invention relates to a latch for a door or flap of a motor vehicle with a locking mechanism comprising a catch (3), a primary pawl (1) for ratcheting with the catch (3) in a main ratchet position and a separate secondary pawl (2) for ratcheting with the catch (3) in a pre-ratchet position, whereby only in the case of overload can the secondary pawl (2) additionally ratchet to the primary pawl (1) with the catch (3) in the main ratchet position. The invention furthermore relates to a latch for a door or a flap of a motor vehicle with a locking mechanism comprising a catch (3) with a load arm (7) and a catching arm (8) a primary pawl (1) to ratchet with the load arm (7) of the catch (3) in a main ratchet position and a separate secondary pawl (2) to ratchet with the catching arm (8) of the catch (3) in a pre-ratchet position, whereby the catch (3), the primary pawl (1) and the secondary pawl (2) are arranged on the same plane. A reduction of the complexity, e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Kiekert AG
    Inventor: Robert L. Brickner
  • Patent number: 10806322
    Abstract: A door latch for a domestic electrical appliance includes a latch assembly that includes a locking element arranged to be displaceable between an unlocking position and a locking position, and an arresting element which moves from its release position into the arresting position as the door is closed. The arresting element in the arresting position can be locked by means of the locking element against movement into the release position and in the locked state prevents the closed door from opening. The latch assembly further includes an electric switch which, when the door is closed, responds to a movement of the locking element from the unlocking position into the locking position, and a switch auxiliary control member which, as the door is closed, is urged by the closing body from an active position against a restoring spring force into an inactive position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Inventors: Albert Dirnberger, Dominik Walz, Markus Lang
  • Patent number: 10745947
    Abstract: A latch comprising: a housing having a slot for a striker; a ratchet rotationally mounted on the housing and biased for release of the striker from the slot and retaining of the striker in the slot dependent upon angular position of the ratchet with respect to the housing, the ratchet having a ratchet surface; a pawl rotationally mounted on the housing and biased towards the ratchet, the pawl having a pawl surface; and a rotatable bearing positioned between the pawl surface and the ratchet surface for rotation there between during rotation of the ratchet and the pawl, such that contact between the ratchet and the pawl is facilitated by one or more localized contact regions between an exterior surface of the bearing and adjacent respective at least one of the pawl surface or the ratchet surface; wherein the contact region is a localized contact region with respect to the exterior surface having a spheroidal shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Inventors: Uzochukwu Okeke, Kar Wang Woo, Neil Guillermo
  • Patent number: 10731388
    Abstract: A latch described herein comprises a ratchet movable between a primary closed position, a secondary closed position and an open position. The ratchet is biased towards the open position for facilitating travel of a striker in a fishmouth of the latch to the secondary closed position. The latch includes a pawl movable between a primary locking position, a secondary locking position and an unlocking position. The pawl is biased towards the primary locking position and has a pawl locking surface for holding the ratchet in the primary closed position and the secondary closed position. The latch includes a lift lever biased towards the open position for moving the striker in the fishmouth away from the secondary closed position and towards the open position when the pawl is in the unlocking position. The striker is further from the primary position when in the open position compared to the secondary closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Inventors: Ioan Dorin Ilea, James J. Ferri, Srinivas Rao, John Distefano
  • Patent number: 10731386
    Abstract: The invention relates to a lock for a motor vehicle, comprising an external actuating lever (2), an inertial element (3), and a detent lever (4) which is preloaded by a spring element (6) and rotatably mounted on the inertial element (3), wherein said detent lever (4) is able to cooperate with a blocking contour arranged on a housing of the lock, wherein the external actuating lever (2) acts directly on the detent lever (4) and wherein a movement of the external actuating lever (2) can be blocked by an inertia of the inertial element (3) and the external actuating lever (2) cooperates with the detent lever (4) by way of a control contour (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Kiekert AG
    Inventor: Stephan Mittelbach
  • Patent number: 10717407
    Abstract: A latch assembly for a closure panel of a vehicle, the latch assembly comprising: a mounting plate; a ratchet and pawl pivotally mounted to the mounting plate, the ratchet for retaining a mating latch component in a primary latched position in a slot of the mounting plate, the ratchet released from the primary latched position by movement of the pawl; a secondary catch coupled to the mounting plate for retaining the mating latch component in a secondary latched position after the mating latch component being released from the ratchet; an active secondary catch coupled to the mounting plate by a pivot connection, the active secondary catch for retaining the mating latch component in a travel position after said mating latch component being released from the ratchet, the travel position being further from the slot than the secondary latched position, the active secondary catch having a slot providing for translation of the pivot connection therein; a lift lever mounted to the mounting plate, the lift lever for
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Inventors: Csaba Szente, John Distefano, Ioan Dorin Ilea
  • Patent number: 10697209
    Abstract: A cinching latch assembly for a vehicle may include a base plate, a first locking groove formed on the base plate by being depressed from an upper end of the base plate toward a middle hereof for insertion of a striker into the first locking groove, a first rotation shaft provided on the base plate at a first side of the first locking groove, and a safety hook rotatably combined with the first rotation shaft at a first end of the safety hook, with a hook provided at a second end of the safety hook, the hook disposed to block the first locking groove, in which when the striker is inserted into the first locking groove, the safety hook opens the first locking groove by rotating on the first rotation shaft, and blocks the first locking groove, thereby performing a first-level locking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation, Pyeong Hwa Automotive Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang Il Kim, Seong Geun Byeon
  • Patent number: 10697205
    Abstract: A vehicle door latch device comprises a latch; a ratchet for releasing the latch; a first lever that can rotate in a releasing direction from an initial position due to releasing of the ratchet, a synthetic resin part being fixed to a metal part on the first lever; a first spring biasing the first lever toward the initial position, a second lever pivotally mounted to the first lever via a second shaft at a certain angle and rotating from the initial position to a block position for preventing the first lever from rotating in a releasing direction; a second spring comprising a torsion spring for biasing the second lever toward the initial position; and a holding member made of the synthetic resin part and holding a coil of the second spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: GECOM Corporation
    Inventors: Katsuyuki Ishiguro, Bryan Farris
  • Patent number: 10682932
    Abstract: The invention relates to a lock comprising a housing, a rotary latch rotatably supported in the housing, a pawl for the rotary latch and an immobilization element for locking the pawl in an unblocking position and for pressing the rotary latch to a locking hoop received therein in a closed state of the lock, wherein the immobilization element is only guided in a predefined direction of movement along a round path by a guide topology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: WITTE Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Gerhard Mosch
  • Patent number: 10674820
    Abstract: A slide rail assembly includes a first rail, a second rail and a driving mechanism. The second rail is movable relative to the first rail. The second rail includes an engaging feature. The driving mechanism is arranged on the first rail. The driving mechanism includes a housing, a movable member, an actuating structure and an elastic member. The movable member is movable relative to the housing. The actuating structure is arranged on the movable member. The elastic member is configured to provide an elastic force to the movable member. Wherein, the actuating structure includes a first part and a second part. Wherein, the first part is configured to engage with the engaging feature of the second rail, and the second part is configured to prevent the engaging feature of the second rail from being disengaged from the first part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignees: King Slide Works Co., Ltd., King Slide Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ken-Ching Chen, Shih-Lung Huang, Yi-Syuan Jhao, Chun-Chiang Wang
  • Patent number: 10669753
    Abstract: A motor vehicle latch with a catch and a pawl for a latching of the catch which is pivotably mounted on a latch plate or a latch case, whereby only the catch and the pawl are pivotably mounted as rigid-shaped, power-transmitted latch components of the motor vehicle latch in the same first rotational level on the latch plate or on the latch case, whereby in a system with at least two such motor vehicle latches each catch and each pawl are mounted at the same position on the latch plate or the latch case and the at least two motor vehicle latches demonstrate differently arranged screwing points in the latch plate or the latch case for screwing of one of each motor vehicle latch to a motor vehicle. This facilitates especially great flexibility with regard to the varying arrangements of the screwing points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Kiekert AG
    Inventor: Yuhui Liu
  • Patent number: 10669750
    Abstract: A latch having: a fork bolt movably mounted to the latch for movement between an open position and a closed position; a detent lever movably mounted to the latch for movement between a latched position and a released position, wherein the detent lever prevents the fork bolt from moving from the closed position when the detent lever is in the latched position; a hold open lever configured for movement between a first position and a second position wherein the hold open lever has a feature configured to engage a feature of the detent lever such that the detent lever is retained in the disengaged position by the hold open lever when it is in the first position, wherein the hold open lever moves in a plane or directions that are angularly oriented to a plane or directions in which the fork bolt and the detent lever move.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: INTEVA PRODUCTS, LLC
    Inventors: Ian Dow, John R. Rice, Donald M. Perkins
  • Patent number: 10662683
    Abstract: A motor vehicle latch includes a retaining device which retains the pawl in its starting position with particular reliability during an opening process. The motor vehicle latch includes a locking mechanism encompassing a catch and a pawl for ratcheting of the catch. A retaining device is present which retains the pawl in its non-ratcheting starting position during opening. The retaining device encompasses a spring with an elastically rotated leg and a spring lever mounted thereon which can retain the pawl in its starting position during opening due to the elastic torsion. The pawl is retained in its starting position during opening with the aid of the spring lever and consequently with the aid of a torsional moment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Kiekert AG
    Inventors: Robert S. Pettengill, Ruben Reyna
  • Patent number: 10648204
    Abstract: A latch for a door of motor vehicle having a closing assembly adapted to cooperate with a latch striker comprising: a ratchet which can assume an opening position, in which ratchet enables engagement and disengagement between latch striker and a seat of ratchet, and a closing position, in which ratchet holds latch striker within seat; a first pawl rotatable about a first axis (B) and in a first rotation direction from a coupled position, in which it keeps, at least indirectly, ratchet in closing position and prevents disengagement of striker from seat, and a decoupled position, in which it permits the movement of ratchet from closing position to opening position; and a second pawl which cooperates with first pawl, cooperates with ratchet at least in a contact point (P) at least when ratchet is in closing position, and which is rotatable about a second axis (D) distinct from first axis (B).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: MAGNA CLOSURES S.P.A.
    Inventors: Francesco Cumbo, Franco Giovanni Ottino
  • Patent number: 10641018
    Abstract: A latch having: a fork bolt; a detent lever; and a bell crank lever, wherein the bell crank lever moves the detent lever from a latched position to a released position as the bell crank lever moves from a first position to a second position; and an over center spring secured to the bell crank lever at one end and a portion of a housing of the latch at another end, wherein the over center spring is configured to provide a biasing force to the bell crank lever in a first direction towards first position when the bell crank lever is in the first position and the over center spring is configured to provide a biasing force to the bell crank lever in a second direction towards the second position when the bell crank lever is in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: INTEVA PRODUCTS, LLC
    Inventors: Ian Dow, John R. Rice, Donald M. Perkins
  • Patent number: 10618385
    Abstract: A vehicle door opening and closing apparatus includes: an input lever configured to rotate when door opening operation is performed on an inside door handle arranged inside a vehicle; and an output lever rotatably arranged on a base plate. By transmission of rotation of the input lever to the output lever when the input lever rotates along with the door opening operation on the inside door handle, a latch unit provided between a vehicle body and a door performs release operation to allow opening movement of the door with respect to the vehicle body. A sub plate is arranged on the base plate in a form of covering the baseplate, an input support shaft for supporting the inside door handle is rotatably arranged on the sub plate, and the input lever is arranged on the input support shaft so as to integrally rotate with the input support shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Mitsui Kinzoku Act Corporation
    Inventor: Shigenori Hiramoto
  • Patent number: 10604973
    Abstract: An upper door latch device for a vehicle is provided which satisfies the requirements of strength and is lightweight. A reinforcement flange section (261) extends downward from an extension section of a striker entry groove (26a), into which a striker enters, and bent forward at a right angle, or at substantially at a right angle, is provided at a side edge of a front base plate (26), which faces outside of the vehicle. A front mounting section (262) is provided continuous with the lower part of the reinforcement flange section (261).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: MITSUI KINZOKU ACT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shunsuke Tamura, Shintaro Okawa, Toshio Takenaka
  • Patent number: 10597907
    Abstract: A vehicle door operating device includes an opening inside lever connected to an inside handle in a door inside a vehicle, a childproof lock lever that moves between a childproof unlock position and a childproof lock position; a switch lever, a childproof sensor and a single engagement pin. When the childproof lock lever is in the childproof lock position, opening action of the inside handle cannot be transmitted to a door latch device, but can be transmitted to the switch lever. When the childproof lock lever is in the childproof unlock position, releasing action of the opening inside lever can be transmitted to door latch devices for holding a door closed via a single engagement pin, but cannot be transmitted to the switch lever. When the childproof lock lever is in the childproof lock position, the releasing action of the opening inside lever cannot be transmitted to the door latch device via the engagement pin, but can be transmitted to the switch lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Mitsui Kinzoku Act Corporation
    Inventors: Kohei Yamashita, Shigenori Hiramoto
  • Patent number: 10590681
    Abstract: This invention relates to a door latch system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Woobo Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hae Il Jeong
  • Patent number: 10577838
    Abstract: A closure panel latch assembly can include an overslam bumper mechanism comprising a biasing element as a spring formed from a metallic material positioned relative to a slot of the latch assembly. The biasing element resists entry of a striker into the slot beyond a selected position in order to inhibit contact of the striker with a bottom end of the slot. Also provided is a closure panel latch assembly configured with the biasing element as a resilient element positioned relative to the slot of the latch assembly; The biasing element is coupled to the striker engagement member, such that the striker engagement member is positioned to engage the striker and resist travel of the striker towards the bottom end, wherein the biasing element controls the resistance to movement of the striker engagement member by the striker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Inventors: John Robert Scott Mitchell, Ioan Dorin Ilea, James Joseph Ferri
  • Patent number: 10557290
    Abstract: The invention relates to a motor vehicle door which is fitted with a motor vehicle door lock and an associated locking bolt and with a stop device with corresponding damping elements. Said stop device interacts, at least when the locking bolt engages in the motor vehicle door lock, with the relevant locking bolt for damping the movements thereof. According to the invention, said stop device is fitted with at least one deflection lever and a transmission lever. In this respect, the deflection lever interacting with the locking bolt is designed to at least partially absorb the movement of the locking bolt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: Kiekert Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Michael Scholz, Holger Schiffer
  • Patent number: 10538943
    Abstract: A door latch apparatus for a door for a vehicle includes a first base member made of metal and including a striker receiving groove, a latch configured to be rotatable about a latch rotary shaft in an engagement direction in which the latch engages with the striker and a disengagement direction where the latch disengages from the striker, a second base member made of metal and arranged to face the first base member with the latch therebetween, the second base member fixed to the first base member, and a load receiving structure receiving an input load when the striker having entered into the striker receiving groove is biased towards the second base member, the load receiving structure receiving the input load with both a first load receiving portion extended from one base member towards the other base member, and a second load receiving portion provided at the other base member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Sadayuki Makino, Satoshi Shibayama, Yuki Ishiguro
  • Patent number: 10526817
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a door with an interior door cavity, as well as a lock rod and another item of a locking system, an impact beam, an attack member and a push member, all housed in the interior door cavity. The impact beam crosses the other item from laterally between the other item and the door. The attack member faces the lock rod from laterally between the door and the lock rod. The push member, along the impact beam, faces the other item from laterally between the other item and the door and laterally beyond the impact beam. When the door collapses when compromised by a side impact event, the door carries the attack member for attacking action on the lock rod. The door additionally carries the push member for counterpart pushing action on the other item. A connection between the lock rod and the other item thus breaks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: John K. Gray, James D. Cunningham, Yoshiki Ishikawa, Tarakorn Soonthornwinate, Josh David Fraley
  • Patent number: 10519699
    Abstract: The invention relates to a lock having a locking mechanism comprising a rotary latch and a pawl for locking the rotary latch in a locked position of the lock. An identification device for identifying a position of a moving component of the lock is provided. The identification device comprises a spring which is fitted to the component. The spring opens or closes an electrical circuit when the component and the spring which is connected to said component are moved. In this way, positions of the locking mechanism can be reliably determined, without having to worry about fatigue of the spring and associated problems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Kiekert AG
    Inventors: Armin Handke, Milan Koubek
  • Patent number: 10513873
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a latch includes a ratchet and pawl. A lock includes a link pivotable between unlocked and locked positions wherein a release lever operates the pawl, and the lever disconnects from the pawl respectively. A cam rotates between unlocking and locking positions wherein the link can move to the unlocked position, and the link pivots to the locked position respectively. An override member rotates between actuatable and non-actuatable positions wherein the lever can engage the override member to unlock the cam, and the lever disconnects from the override member respectively. The lock is positionable in an unlocked state wherein the link is unlocked, a locked state wherein the link is locked, the cam is in the locking position and the override member is actuatable, and a second locked state wherein the link is locked, the cam is in the locking position and the override member is non-actuatable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Inventors: Kris Tomaszewski, Alex Kaczmarczyk
  • Patent number: 10508475
    Abstract: A lock can include a catch and a pawl. The catch can be brought into an opening position and a closed position. The catch can be brought into holding engagement with a lock striker. The pawl may be brought into a position, where it is in blocking engagement with the catch. The pawl may be deflected into a release position. A pawl actuation lever is provided. A switchable lock arrangement in an unlocked state can be included. A first drive train component is decoupled from the pawl for letting the pawl actuation lever run free without deflecting the pawl or a first drive train component is blocked for blocking an actuation of the pawl actuation lever. A crash condition causes the switchable lock arrangement to be in the locked state such that during the crash condition a crash induced actuation of the pawl actuation lever runs free or is blocked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Brose Schliesssysteme GmbH & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft
    Inventors: David Rosales, Michael Wittelsbuerger
  • Patent number: 10508476
    Abstract: A vehicle door lock comprising: a locking mechanism; an opening actuator for unlocking the locking mechanism; an actuating member for unlocking the locking mechanism; a switching actuator that can be in a normal position or an emergency position, such that in the normal position the switching actuator renders the actuating member inoperable and in the emergency position renders the actuating member operable; and a control unit for controlling the switching actuator; characterised in that the control unit is configured to set the switching actuator from the emergency position into the emergency position and back following a specified cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Kiekert Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Armin Handke