Closure Patents (Class 292/216)
  • Patent number: 10494839
    Abstract: A door latch apparatus that is mounted on a vehicle door and that achieves at low cost a structure that is for ensuring operational reliability of an open lever. The door latch apparatus includes a cap formed by resin material and including a cylindrical shape, the cap being arranged in an inserted manner at an attachment shaft extended in a form of a shaft in a predetermined direction, an elastic spring member that elastically biases a pawl from a non restriction position towards a restriction position, and a coming-off prevention mechanism that, by making part of the elastic spring member to engage with the cap, prevents the cap from coming off from the attachment shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Sadayuki Makino, Satoshi Shibayama, Yuki Ishiguro
  • Patent number: 10480220
    Abstract: A lock in a motor vehicle, in particular a side-door lock, comprising a Bowden cable, a receiving element in the lock for the Bowden cable, a counter-bearing, a lock case and a lock housing, the counter-bearing being designed as a separate receiving element for the Bowden cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Kiekert Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ulrich Weichsel, Omer Inan, Heiko Hemmer
  • Patent number: 10472868
    Abstract: A vehicle door latch device includes: an interlocking unit assembly including an interlocking mechanism configured to hold the door in a closed position by engaging with a striker; and an operating unit assembly including an operating mechanism configured to switch over the door between a locked state and an unlocked state. The interlocking unit assembly includes a body having a striker advancing groove. The operating unit assembly includes: a casing, in which the interlocking unit assembly is fitted, and in which the operating mechanism is installed; a lock lever configured to move the door to a locked position where the door is in the locked state and an unlocked position where the door is in the unlocked state; an emergency operating member turnably supported by the body of the interlocking unit assembly about an axis; and a slide lever slidably installed in the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: MITSUI KINZOKU ACT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideaki Nozawa, Tomoharu Nagaoka
  • Patent number: 10472865
    Abstract: A latch having: a fork bolt movably mounted thereto; a detent lever movably mounted thereto, wherein the detent lever prevents the fork bolt from moving from a closed position to an open position when the detent lever is in a latched position; a bell crank lever movably mounted to the latch for movement between a first position and a second position, wherein the bell crank lever moves the detent lever from the latched position to the released position as the bell crank lever moves from the first position to the second position; a release lever movably mounted to the latch for movement between a first position and a second position; and an intermittent pin operatively coupled to bell crank lever and the release lever, wherein movement of the release lever is not transferred to the bell crank lever when the intermittent pin is in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: INTEVA PRODUCTS, LLC
    Inventors: Francisco Javier Vazquez, Ari Mino, Alfredo Martinez
  • Patent number: 10450782
    Abstract: A latch is provided. The latch having: a housing; an intermittent lever pivotally mounted to the housing for movement between a latched position and an unlatched position; and an elastomeric feature configured to contact the intermittent lever when it is in the latched position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: INTEVA PRODUCTS, LLC
    Inventors: Kurt E. Nurmi, Julia Rabago, Rogelio Terrazas, Donald M. Perkins, Carlos Tostado
  • Patent number: 10450786
    Abstract: A vehicle includes at least one vehicle door or vehicle flap which forms a first body, a vehicle bodyshell which forms a second body, and an impact damper arrangement. The impact damper arrangement is configured such that, when the vehicle door or vehicle flap moves toward the vehicle bodyshell, a first movement section is passed through first, and then a second movement section is passed through. The first movement section is arranged such that movement along the first movement section comes to an end when a lock and closing element come into contact with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ulrich Koestler, Anton Kieferl, Marcus Knechtel, Markus Springsklee, Walter Widl
  • Patent number: 10450785
    Abstract: An anti-chucking device for a motor vehicle closure includes a wedge and a receiver. That receiver includes (a) a first stopper and a second stopper defining a throat there between and (b) a pop-up mechanism in the throat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Reinaldo Osti, Farley De Matos Souza
  • Patent number: 10407951
    Abstract: The invention relates to a motor vehicle lock, comprising a lock housing, a lock case, a locking mechanism and an operating device, wherein at least one component of the operating device extends through an opening in the lock housing and said opening is designed with at least one reinforcing insert. The main area of the plate or the metal sheet from which the lock case is made is basically relatively large. In light of this, it has proved advantageous to form the reinforcing insert from the lock case. Waste is thus avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Kiekert AG
    Inventors: Klaus Götzen, Alexander Grossmann, Dorothea Müller
  • Patent number: 10400484
    Abstract: A vehicle latch is provided. The vehicle latch having: an inertia lever rotationally mounted to the latch for movement about an axis between a first position and a second position; and a lock link operatively coupled to the inertia lever such that movement of the inertia lever from the first position to the second position causes the lock link to move from a first position to a second position, wherein the latch is in a locked state when the lock link is in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: INTEVA PRODUCTS, LLC
    Inventors: Jean Bernard Didier, Romain Bachelot
  • Patent number: 10344506
    Abstract: A latch assembly is disclosed herein. The latch assembly having: a latch mechanism; an actuator assembly, the actuator assembly, comprising a housing, a cover configured to be secured to the housing, and a plurality of barriers located within peripheral edges of the housing, wherein the plurality of barriers extended upwardly from a bottom surface of the housing and terminate at an edge portion wherein the housing cover is configured to contact the edge portion of the plurality of barriers when the cover is secured to the housing and wherein the plurality of barriers are configured to mitigate dust intrusion towards components of the actuator assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: INTEVA PRODUCTS, LLC
    Inventors: Cecilia Hernandez, Roberto Hernandez
  • Patent number: 10337214
    Abstract: The invention relates to an activation device for a door or flap of a motor vehicle, comprising an external actuation lever (1), an actuation lever (10) for opening a lock, and a coupling lever (13) enabling the external actuation lever (1) and actuation lever (10) to be coupled together, and a control lever (10) which controls the coupling of the coupling lever (13) in accordance with the acceleration of the external actuation lever (1). An undesired opening of a door or flap can be prevented in the event of a crash, without the actuation device accepting excessive stresses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Kiekert AG
    Inventors: Claus Topfer, Tim Sonnenschein
  • Patent number: 10329811
    Abstract: A front pop-up latch safety hook structure for an active hood of a vehicle having a front end module (FEM) including a front end carrier is provided. The structure includes a plate-shaped frame and a striker mounted on a front surface of the plate-shaped frame and fixed to a bottom of the hood. A safety hook is provided in front of the front end carrier of the FEM and is movable to an engagement location with the striker and a release location from the striker. A latch is configured to engage with or to disengage from the striker. A pop-up means is configured to pop up a hood by forcibly lifting the striker while the latch engages with the striker as the safety hook disengages from the striker when a collision of the vehicle occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tae Young Cho, Jin Pyung Park
  • Patent number: 10323445
    Abstract: Several vehicle liftgate striker and latch constructions are disclosed. The striker includes a striker base from which at least one striker pin extends. A latch, having a latch cover, is configured to be mounted on a vehicle liftgate, for juxtaposition to the striker base when the liftgate is closed and the latch engages the at least one striker pin. The striker includes a reactor structure for making contact with the latch cover, when the liftgate is closed, for controlling lateral movement of the latch relative to the striker base. The reactor structure preferably includes at least one roller mounted on a roller support, The latch cover has at least one side which Is angled, so as to exert force, having a lateral component, on the reactor structure. The at least one angled side of the latch cover may Include a detent, for providing additional restraining force, when the liftgate is in the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Amanda Manufacturing, LLC
    Inventor: Almantas K. Paskonis
  • Patent number: 10287805
    Abstract: A lock, comprising a lock latch and a detent pawl, wherein the lock latch can be brought into open and closed positions, the lock latch in the closed position can be brought into engagement with a striker or the like, wherein the detent pawl can be brought into an engaged position in which said detent pawl fixes the lock latch in the closed position, and wherein the detent pawl can be lifted into a release position wherein the detent pawl releases the lock latch. The detent pawl can be brought into the release position by an actuating arrangement, a crash element is provided, said crash element can be adjusted by the crash-induced deformation of said component into a crash position, and the crash element in the crash position or an element coupled thereto blocks the detent pawl and/or the actuating arrangement or decouples the actuating arrangement from the detent pawl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Brose Schliesssysteme GmbH & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft
    Inventors: Rene Faust, Guido Heins, Dirk Leve, Juergen Liedtke
  • Patent number: 10286873
    Abstract: A tailgate lock controller device is wirelessly controlled. The tailgate lock is in electrical communication with the automobile's lock controller which in turn is in electrical communication with the automobile's wireless lock sensors. The key fob is in wireless communication with the wireless lock sensors and the automobile's electronic anti-theft features. The tailgate lock is also configured to be actuated by use of a traditional lock and key mechanism, as well as keypads located on the automobile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Inventors: Kevin Krush, Darcy Cummings
  • Patent number: 10280660
    Abstract: A vehicle door latch device includes: a body includes a striker advancing groove into which a striker advances along with closing movement of the door; a latch configured to interlock with the advanced striker so as to be rotatable from an open position to a latched position; a pawl configured to be biased to rotate, in a direction towards an engaged position where the pawl is engageable with the latch in the latched position from a released position where engagement with the latch is canceled, and restrain the door in a closed position by rotating from the engaged position to the released position in conjunction with rotation of the latch, rotating from the released position to the engaged position by biasing force, and engaging with the latch; and a buffer that is made of an elastic member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Mitsui Kinzoku Act Corporation
    Inventors: Hideaki Nozawa, Tomoharu Nagaoka
  • Patent number: 10280655
    Abstract: The invention relates to a motor vehicle door lock comprising a locking mechanism consisting essentially of a rotary latch and a pawl, further comprising an actuation lever mechanism (2a, 2b) that acts on the pawl, and a child safety device (3) that includes a child safety lever (4) to which the force of a spring (5) is applied. According to the invention, the child safety lever (4) and the spring (5) are designed as a subassembly (4, 5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Kiekert AG
    Inventors: Marek Dragon, Alexander Grossmann
  • Patent number: 10273726
    Abstract: A dual unlocking hood latch system allows a user to open a hood of the automobile vehicle while staying in the vehicle. The dual unlocking hood latch system includes a base fixed to a main body. The base includes a moving groove portion to guide the movement of a striker. A latch gear, which includes a plurality of locking portions, is pivotably attached to a front side of the base to retain the striker when the striker is entered through the moving groove portion to a locking position. A pawl, pivotably attached to the base, controls the movement of the latch gear by transmitting rotational motion when in contact. And a stopper portion, pivotably attached to the base, is elastically biased to move toward the pawl such that the stopper portion is pushed by the pawl to restrain pivoting movement of the latch gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Pyeong Hwa Automotive Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Hyeon Tae Park
  • Patent number: 10273724
    Abstract: A door lock device includes a latch mechanism which is releasably engaged with a striker and which has an operation receiving part for releasing engagement of the striker, a link movable between an unlock position where the engagement of the striker can be released and a lock position where the engagement cannot be released, and a lock plate for positioning the link into the unlock position or the lock position. A push lever 60, upon operation of the door handle, releases engagement of the striker by the latch mechanism 11 via the link 30 positioned in the unlock position and the operation receiving part 28. A bearing part 64 of the push lever 60 is rotatably supported by a bearing part 70 integrally formed in a main case 15.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: U-Shin Ltd.
    Inventors: Mikio Yamagata, Tetsuya Shimosawa
  • Patent number: 10221593
    Abstract: There is provided a seat lock structure for a saddle riding vehicle which is user-friendly and can be downsized. A key cylinder includes a turning arm which is turned by a key operation, a seat lock mechanism includes a first bracket which is fixed to a vehicle body frame, and a second bracket which is slidably supported on the first bracket and engageable with a rear seat side, and the second bracket is slid by being pressed by the turning arm, and an L-shaped end portion formed on the second bracket regulates the second bracket from being slid when the turning arm is unturnable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shota Yamasaki, Yoshihito Tokuda
  • Patent number: 10214943
    Abstract: A latch assembly includes a housing, a door latch member and a release member. The door latch member pivots about a first pivot axis. The release member pivots about a second pivot axis spaced apart from the first pivot axis located within the housing operatively coupled to the latch retaining member. An inertia activated lock-out mechanism is fixedly attached to the housing and includes a locking member within the housing that pivots about a third pivot axis spaced apart from the first and second pivot axes. The first, second and third pivot axes are all parallel to one another at fixed locations within the housing. The locking member pivots between a locking position preventing movement of the release member and a non-interfering position in which the locking member is spaced apart from the release member allowing the release member to be movable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventor: David A Kovie
  • Patent number: 10214124
    Abstract: A seat lock apparatus includes: a hook member configured to be rotationally biased elastically in a positive direction; an interlocking unit configured to restrict rotation of the hook member in a negative direction; and a cover member configured to cover an operation range of the hook member at one side of the hook member, the cover member including a striker entrance groove that a striker enters. The hook member includes an engagement groove. The engagement groove has both end portions at a side of an opening of the engagement groove, each end portion being beyond the striker entrance groove to overlap the cover member as viewed along a shaft direction of the hook member when the hook member is at a position of being restricted from operating by the interlocking unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Mitsui Kinzoku Act Corporation
    Inventors: Katsunori Noguchi, Makoto Kondo, Hidemasa Hirakui, Junichi Shimada
  • Patent number: 10214945
    Abstract: A door latch assembly is equipped with a latch mechanism, a locking mechanism, an operating mechanism and inside and outside release mechanisms. The locking mechanism includes a release link that is connected to an inside release lever connected to the inside release mechanism. This arrangement permits a vehicle door to be opened from inside the passenger compartment via actuation of the inside release mechanism in the event the outside release mechanism is damaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: MAGNA CLOSURES INC.
    Inventor: Roman Cetnar
  • Patent number: 10190342
    Abstract: A door lock mechanism for a vehicle, may include a lock pin which is moved between an unlocked position and a locked position in a radial direction from a rotation axis of a pawl lever, wherein at the unlocked position, a rotating displacement of an outside handle lever is configured to be transmitted to the pawl lever, and at the locked position, the rotating displacement of the outside handle lever is configured to not be transmitted to the pawl lever, a lock lever which is selectively rotated to allow the lock pin to be moved in the radial direction, a safety lever engaged with the lock lever, the safety lever receiving a manipulation force of a safety knob and rotating the lock lever, and an interlinking unit which allows a rotating displacement of the pawl lever to be partly transmitted to the safety lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR INDIA ENGINEERING Pvt. Ltd., Hyundai Motor Company, KIA MOTORS CORP.
    Inventors: Ch. P. K. N. Varma Rudraraju, Youn Seob Kim
  • Patent number: 10180020
    Abstract: The invention relates to a motor vehicle door lock, having at least one housing (1) made of plastics material and having a locking mechanism (3, 4) comprising substantially a rotary latch (3) and a pawl (4), wherein the pawl (4) is mounted inside the housing (1) and the rotary latch (3) is mounted on the outside of the housing (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Kiekert Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Stephan Mittelbach
  • Patent number: 10113361
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to a safety mechanical barrier for use with a ladder for an above-ground swimming pool that is easy to install and provides safety from children accessing the pool via the ladder. Certain aspects of the present disclosure relate to a safety mechanical barrier that blocks access to the ladder itself, thereby restricting access to an above-ground pool by unsupervised minors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: POLYGROUP MACAU LIMITED (BVI)
    Inventors: Elmer Cheng, Victor Ocegueda, Dong Sheng Xu
  • Patent number: 10081967
    Abstract: An example system includes a deadbolt assembly including a housing, a traveler positioned in the housing, and a bolt including a ramp arm engaged with the traveler. The housing may include a first deadlocking component, and the traveler may include a second deadlocking component. The bolt is movable between a distal extended position and a proximal retracted position. When the bolt is pushed in the distal direction by an external force, the ramp arm urges the traveler in a lateral direction, and the first and second deadlocking components engage, deadlocking the bolt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: Schlage Lock Company LLC
    Inventor: Matthew Scott Graham
  • Patent number: 10077581
    Abstract: The vehicle latch activation system (106) comprises: a bracket (108); an activation element (110) intended to activate a latch (102) by moving with respect to the bracket (108) from an initial position to a final position, wherein a collision (136) on the bracket (108) along a collision direction may cause the activation element (110) to move from its initial position to its final position; and a blocking element (140) intended to move with respect to the bracket (108) as a result of the collision (136), from a disengaged position in which the blocking element (140) allows the activation element (110) to reach its final position, to an intercepting position in which the blocking element (140) is intended to block the activation element (110) at a first intermediate blocked position located between the initial position and the final position of the activation element (110).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: U-SHIN ITALIA S.P.A.
    Inventors: Simone Ilardo, Vittorio Giaccone, Anthony Guerin
  • Patent number: 10077583
    Abstract: A vehicle door lock system includes an interior door handle for a rear door. A door release switch is mechanically connected to the interior door handle. A child door lock switch for the rear door is accessible by a driver. A power release door latch for the rear door is electrically connected to the door release switch and mechanically connected to the interior door handle. A mechanical child door lock switch is located on the rear door and that is mechanically connected to the power release door latch. A control module communicates with the child door lock switch, the power release door latch and the door release switch. The control module is configured to electrically actuate the power release door latch when the mechanical child door lock switch is in a locked position, the child door lock switch has an unlocked state and the door release switch is in an active state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Aaron P. Creguer, David T. Proefke, Ron Y. Asmar
  • Patent number: 10060165
    Abstract: A door lock device has a high degree of freedom in the disposition of an open link for switching between a locked state and an unlocked state and has low operational resistance when being put into the locked state. When there is a malfunction in which the open link is jammed by the dust and therefore does not move from a lock waiting position to an unlock waiting position even when an unlock action is performed, when an outside handle interlock lever is turned, a sliding-contact tilt guide provided on a support body slides and makes sliding-contact with the open link and forcibly tilts the open link, and as a result, it becomes unnecessary to increase an energizing force of a torsion coil spring as a precaution against such malfunction. This makes it possible to reduce the operational resistance when the door lock device is put into the locked state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Atsushi Yamaguchi, Takeshi Tada, Yasuhiko Sono, Masashi Taniyama, Yusuke Kojima, Atsushi Katsurayama, Takashi Nishio, Kazunori Kojima, Masanari Iwata, Yusuke Yamada
  • Patent number: 10060166
    Abstract: A latch device for a vehicle which locks or unlocks by engaging with or disengaging from a rod-shaped portion includes a housing and a latch 30 rotatably supported by the housing, the latch including a hook-shaped portion 33 engageable with the rod-shaped portion to form a locked state. The hook-shaped portion 33 includes a first support surface 38A opposed to the rod-shaped portion in the locked state, a protruding portion 37 located in a position closer to a distal end of the hook-shaped portion than the first support surface 38A and configured to protrude relative to the first support surface 38A, and a second support surface 38B provided on the protruding portion 37 and configured to be opposed to the rod-shaped portion. The first support surface 38A and the second support surface 38B are configured to face in different directions, and to thereby be concurrently contactable with the rod-shaped portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: TS TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tatsuo Sayama, Masaki Nonaka
  • Patent number: 10041280
    Abstract: A latch assembly is provided herein, the latch assembly having: a chassis; a latch bolt, movably mounted on the chassis and having a closed position for retaining a striker, an open position for releasing the striker; a first safety position between the closed position and the open position for retaining the striker; a first pawl having a first pawl engaged position at which the first pawl is engageable with the latch bolt to hold the latch bolt in the closed position and a first pawl disengaged position at which the first pawl is disengaged from the latch bolt thereby allowing the latch bolt to at least move towards the first safety position; and a second pawl having a second pawl engaged position at which the second pawl is engageable with the latch bolt to hold the latch bolt in the first safety position and a second pawl disengaged position at which the second pawl is disengaged from the latch bolt thereby allowing the latch bolt to move towards the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: INTEVA PRODUCTS, LLC
    Inventors: Peter Coleman, Gurbinder Singh Kalsi
  • Patent number: 10030420
    Abstract: A vehicle door lock device includes: a latch mechanism configured to be capable of holding a vehicle door in a closed state with respect to a vehicle body; and a lock mechanism that sets the latch mechanism to an unlock state in which engagement between the latch mechanism and a striker provided in the vehicle body can be released, or a lock state in which engagement between the latch mechanism and the striker cannot be released, wherein the lock mechanism includes a drive gear driven by an electric motor, a wheel gear including a body portion, a gear portion, locking portions, and an engaging protrusion, an active lever including an engaging recess, stoppers, and a shock absorbing member including interposed portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kiyotaka Jidaisho
  • Patent number: 10017970
    Abstract: A motor vehicle door latch device which comprises a body, a latch and a pawl. The pawl engages with the latch to prevent the latch from turning. The pawl comprises a core and a synthetic-resin portion. A releasing portion is disposed on a basic axial portion of a core. The releasing portion is formed together with the core or the synthetic-resin portion in order to reduce the associated manufacturing costs and weight of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Mitsui Kinzoku Act Corporation
    Inventors: Ryoji Shimura, Hajime Yoneyama
  • Patent number: 10012013
    Abstract: The invention relates to a door lock or flap lock comprising a locking mechanism that consists of a latch (1) and at least one pawl (2) for locking the latch (1). The locking surface of the pawl is so narrow that even slight pivoting movements are sufficient to unlock a locked locking mechanism, thus allowing for a reduction in volume and weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Kiekert Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Michael Scholz, Armin Handke, Michael Herrmann, Karsten Barth
  • Patent number: 10000949
    Abstract: A latch is disclosed herein. The 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 to the open position when the detent lever is in the latched position; a hold open lever configured to engage and retain the detent lever when it moves from the latched position to the released position; and wherein the fork bolt is configured to disengage the hold open lever from the detent lever when the fork bolt travels away from the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: INTEVA PRODUCTS, LLC
    Inventors: Francisco Javier Vazquez, Alfredo Martinez, Donald M. Perkins
  • Patent number: 9994129
    Abstract: A seatback latch mechanism includes a cover. A lever member is rotatably supported by the cover for rotation about a lever axis, and presents a blocking surface. A hook member is rotatably supported by the cover for rotation about a hook axis, and includes a pin. An auxiliary hook member is rotatably supported by the cover for rotation about the hook axis. The auxiliary hook member defines a slot, with the pin extending through the slot. The slot limits movement of the pin to limit relative movement between the hook member and the auxiliary hook member. The auxiliary hook member includes a blocking portion, which is operable to engage the blocking surface on the lever member. The blocking portion engages the blocking surface to limit rotation of the auxiliary hook member about the hook axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Toyo Seat USA Corp
    Inventor: Hideki Shirokane
  • Patent number: 9963919
    Abstract: A locking device provided with: a striker-contact member (201) which is positioned on a hook (157) and is abutted against a striker being entered the groove (157a) of the hook (157) so as to sandwich the striker in cooperation with the groove (157a) of the hook (157); and a spring (hook-biasing member) (171) that urges the hook (157) in the unlocked position direction via the striker-contact member (201) and that urges the striker-contact member (201) in a direction a direction to be abutted against the striker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: SHIROKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Saiki Sugiura, Hiroyuki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9963103
    Abstract: A vehicle pop-up hood device includes a pair of actuators that move a front hood from a closed position to a lifted position, and a single hood lock device that is disposed at a vehicle width direction intermediate portion between the pair of actuators, that includes an anchor recess to which a hood striker is anchored, and a latch, and that is configured so as to be capable of moving from the closed position to the lifted position together with the front hood. The vehicle pop-up hood device further includes a fixing device that fixes the hood lock device in the closed position; and a fixing release device that releases the fixing of the hood lock device by the fixing device in conjunction with actuation of the actuators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masayuki Nomura
  • Patent number: 9957737
    Abstract: An electronic door latch includes a sensor mounted inside of an outer surface of the door. The sensor may be a proximity sensor, a touch sensor or other suitable sensor configured to determine if a user's hand is present. The door latch release system further includes a powered latch that selectively retains the door latch in a closed position. The system may include a handle formed by a flange or other structure extending across a portion of a recess or pocket in the door. The system may include a receiver that utilizes a signal from a security transmitter (e.g. keyless entry fob).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Rajesh K. Patel, Kosta Papanikolaou
  • Patent number: 9938762
    Abstract: In a vehicle with a tailgate, a rear opening is formed in a rear surface of a vehicle body, a tailgate that is provided to open and close the rear opening, a sub-door opening that is formed in a portion of the tailgate in a width direction, and a sub-door that is provided to open and close the sub-door opening. The vehicle includes a tailgate latch device that locks the tailgate with the vehicle body, a sub-door latch device that locks the sub-door with the vehicle body, and a control unit that controls the tailgate latch device and the sub-door latch device. The control unit controls the sub-door latch device so as to prohibit the sub-door from being opened when determining that the tailgate is opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Taisuke Goto
  • Patent number: 9926727
    Abstract: A latch release device for a vehicle door is provided which includes an electric actuator that can exert power for latch release for releasing a latched state of a door, a latch mechanism that releases the latched state of the door in response to actuation of the electric actuator or input of a mechanical latch release operating force, and an operating member for latch release that enables normal operation by a vehicle user so as to actuate the electric actuator and emergency operation by a vehicle user so as to input a mechanical latch release operating force into the latch mechanism, wherein the emergency operation of an operating member for latch release is restricted and emergency operation restriction means restricts emergency operation of the operating member for latch release when an operating member for restriction release that a vehicle user can operate is in a non-operated state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Honda Lock
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kouzuma, Hiroto Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 9915082
    Abstract: A latch for capturing a striker includes a latch cam, a trigger, a drive cam, a motor coupled to the drive cam, and a switch coupled to the motor. The latch cam is biased to rotate toward an open position and configured to capture the striker in a closed position. The drive cam uses at least one cam surface to contact the trigger, and the switch permits actuation of the motor to rotate the drive cam when sensing the trigger or the drive cam, thereby rotating the drive cam to urge the trigger toward an unlocked position, disengage the trigger from the latch cam, and allow the latch cam to rotate from the closed position toward the open position. A system incorporating the latch and method of capturing a striker is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: SOUTHCO, INC.
    Inventor: Gregory Gilbert Garneau
  • Patent number: 9879450
    Abstract: The invention relates to a lock, in particular for a door or opening element of a motor vehicle, said lock comprising a locking mechanism with a rotary latch, a pawl for locking the rotary latch in a detent position, preferably a blocking lever for blocking the pawl in the detent position and a release lever for opening the locking mechanism, in particular by moving the blocking lever out of the blocking position. The lock is characterized in that a safety catch device of the lock, said device comprising in particular more than one catch position, is designed to prevent the opening of the locking mechanism during excessive acceleration, in particular during excessively violent acceleration of the release lever and/or handle of a door or opening element. An unplanned opening of the lock in the event of a crash can thus be avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Kiekert Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Hendrik Wahmann, Dirk Eichel, Carsten Fuchs
  • Patent number: 9879449
    Abstract: A vehicle latch assembly includes a housing having a frame plate. Also included is a claw disposed within the housing and operatively coupled to the frame plate, the claw configured to rotate between an open latch position and a closed latch position. Further included is a claw buffer disposed within the housing and configured to interact with the claw upon rotation to the closed latch position, the claw buffer including at least one abutment portion configured to engage the claw prior to reaching the closed latch position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: INTEVA PRODUCTS, LLC
    Inventors: Pascal Philippe, Richard Grandjean, Michel Noel, Jean-Bernard Didier
  • Patent number: 9873465
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a cargo bed, tailgate, and a locking device. The cargo bed has a floor panel. The tailgate has an inner panel and is rotatably secured to the cargo bed. The tailgate is configured to rotate downward to an opened position such that the inner panel is substantially parallel with the floor panel. The locking device is secured to the tailgate. The locking device has a tumbler that is configured to advance a latch to engage the cargo bed and lock the tailgate in the opened position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joshua Robert Hemphill, Jack Marchlewski, Dragan B. Stojkovic, Robert Reiners
  • Patent number: 9869113
    Abstract: A motor vehicle lock in accordance with the invention comprises a pivotable catch having a jacket surface, a pawl which is acted on by a preloading force and which is pivotable between a blocking position in which the pawl blocks the catch and an unblocking position in which the catch is unblocked, a release lever for pivoting the pawl against the preloading force, and an arresting device for arresting the pawl in a release position in which it releases the catch, wherein a part of the arresting device is formed by the release lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: WITTE AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Thorsten Janssen, Bernd Gellhaus, Matthias Wiemann, Stefanie Angelkorte, Tsevetelina Stoycheva
  • Patent number: 9856680
    Abstract: In order to minimize the sliding friction between the locking parts that is, between the pawl and the rotary latch of a motor vehicle lock, it is advantageous if, during the production process, the different latch surfaces of both locking parts are provided with a stamping contour having straight grooves and with a stamping contour characterized in that the provided grooves are oblique. Said oblique grooves of the latch surface on the pawl are placed in the position indicated in figure such that the entire pawl is twisted about the longitudinal axis thereof. Also, at least two overlapping points are provided between the straight grooves and the oblique grooves such that both of the locking parts come into mutual contact reducing the friction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Kiekert Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thorsten Bendel, Werner Pohle, Thomas Waldmann
  • Patent number: 9855863
    Abstract: A lock device includes: a body having a striker insertion groove into which a striker is inserted; a hook lever shaft mounted to the body; and a hook lever rotatably mounted to the body via the hook lever shaft, and that moves to an engagement position where the hook lever is engaged with the striker inserted into the striker insertion groove, and that moves to a release position where the engagement with the striker is released. The lock device is rotatably supported by a support member so as to change an opening position of the striker insertion groove. The hook lever shaft is rotatably mounted to the body, and has a flange interposed between the body and the support member, and the body is supported by the support member so as to rotate about the hook lever shaft as a rotation shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: MITSUI KINZOKU ACT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoki Hanaki, Naoya Seto
  • Patent number: 9840857
    Abstract: A vehicle door latch assembly is provided, the latch assembly having: a fork bolt movably secured to the latch assembly, the fork bolt being capable of movement between a latched position and an unlatched position; a detent lever movably secured to the latch assembly, the detent lever being capable of movement between an engaged position and a disengaged position, the detent lever retains the fork bolt in the latched position when the detent lever is in the engaged position and a engagement surface of the detent lever contacts an engagement surface of the fork bolt; and a spring member integrally formed with the detent lever, the spring member being deflected by a bumper secured to the latch assembly when the detent lever is moved to the engaged position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: INTEVA PRODUCTS, LLC
    Inventors: Donald M. Perkins, Francisco J. Lujan, Carlos I. Tostado