Closure Patents (Class 292/216)
  • Patent number: 9810008
    Abstract: A storage device 1 has a storage device body 2 and an opening and closing member 4, which are supported to be capable of pivoting about the center of opening and closing movement, the center being provided on one side. A lock mechanism 13 is provided on the other side of both the storage device body 2 and an opening 3. The lock mechanism 13 is provided with a lock member 16, an unlocking button 17, a cam mechanism 18, and a biasing member 19. The lock member 16 is a pivotable member 22 capable of pivoting about a lock pivot shaft 21. The opening and closing member 4 has a pressure receiving portion 52 on the inner surface side thereof, and the pressure receiving portion 52 is pushed out in an opening direction 23 by the lock member 16 which is caused to pivot in an unlocking direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: CALSONIC KANSEI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masami Kikuchi, Tetsuji Ogawa
  • Patent number: 9810007
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing motor vehicle door locks with the locking parts: a rotary latch and a pawl. Said latch and the pawl are stamped from rolled sheet metal defining vertical or approximately vertical edges with corresponding latch surfaces on the rotary latch and the pawl, and subsequently are provided with a covering while maintaining the catch surfaces. After stamping, the locking parts are bent in the region of the main latch and/or another latch resulting in the formation a contour which is void of stamped channels, and are then inserted into the lock housing box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Kiekert Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thorsten Bendel, Werner Pohle, Thomas Waldmann
  • Patent number: 9803396
    Abstract: A dual action gravity latch device to secure a gate in a closed position comprising a latch assembly including a pivotal latch member movable between a latched and unlatched position, a keeper assembly including a striker pin to maintain the pivotal latch member in the latched position, a first and second actuator assembly each movable between a first configuration and a second configuration disposed on opposite sides of the gate to selectively engage the pivotal latch member such that when the second actuator assembly is in the first configuration and the first actuator assembly in the second configuration the pivotal latch member is in the unlatched position to allow the gate to be opened and when the first actuator assembly is in the first configuration and the second actuator assembly is in the second configuration the pivotal latch member is in unlatched position to allow the gate to be opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: NATIONWIDE INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventor: E. Erik Timothy
  • Patent number: 9771027
    Abstract: The present invention in one or more embodiments provides a console support panel which includes a first portion defining a cavity to receive therein a pivot shaft of an inertia block; and a second portion positioned next to the first portion and to support a movable cover, wherein the first portion further includes a lead-in rib extending into the cavity to restrain translational movement of the pivot shaft. In certain embodiments, the lead-in rib includes first and second lead-in ribs to restrain translational movement of first and second ends of the pivot shaft, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Neumann, Vikas Saigal
  • Patent number: 9758992
    Abstract: A door lock device for a vehicle is provided in which a lock release member that is operable between an operating position at which the ratchet is operated toward the side on which the ratchet engages with the latch and a standby position at which free pivoting of the ratchet is allowed and that is urged toward the standby position is driven to the operating position by a drive member which engages with the lock release member when an actuator is operated, the door lock device being capable of releasing a locked state of a door by operation of the actuator and also being capable of releasing the locked state of the door by a manual operation, wherein an engagement release mechanism (96) releases engagement of a drive member (67) and a lock release member (66) in response to a manual operation for releasing the locked state of the door being carried out while the drive member (67) is engaged with the lock release member (66).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Honda Lock
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Kouzuma
  • Patent number: 9758995
    Abstract: A latch is provided including a buffer, a latch housing, and an actuator housing coupled to the latch housing. The buffer includes a center portion and a first side portion. The actuator housing includes a cavity having a first opening. The cavity is configured to receive the buffer. When the buffer is installed in the cavity, the center portion of the buffer abuts an interior surface of the cavity and the first side portion of the buffer extends through the first opening into a hollow interior of the actuator housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: INTEVA PRODUCTS, LLC
    Inventors: Gurbinder Kalsi, Mark Burditt
  • Patent number: 9752355
    Abstract: In a vehicle door latch device, a first outside lever is pivotally mounted via a pivot shaft, and second outside lever is connected to an outside handle on an outer panel of a door via a motion-transmitting member to move toward the inside of a vehicle. Usually, turning of the second outside lever for disengaging a latch from a striker is transmitted to the first outside lever. If the second outside lever is impacted by an external force, the outer panel is deformed to move the second outside lever inward of the vehicle with respect to the first outside lever. But release turning of the second outside lever cannot be transmitted to the first outside lever. Even if the door is deformed by the external force, the door is still closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: MITSUI KINZOKU ACT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomoharu Nagaoka, Hideaki Nozawa
  • Patent number: 9732544
    Abstract: The invention relates to a lock for a door, comprising a catch and a pawl. The catch can be in an open or closed position. The catch may be brought into holding engagement with a lock striker. The pawl may be brought into an engagement position. The pawl may be deflected into a release position, to release the catch. A pawl actuation lever can deflect the pawl into the release position. A switchable coupling arrangement is provided between the pawl actuation lever and the pawl. The switchable coupling arrangement may be brought into a closing and an opening state. When the actuation movement of the pawl actuation lever surpasses a threshold, an inertial characteristic of the lock causes the switchable coupling arrangement to switch into the opening state such that the pawl actuation lever runs without deflecting the pawl into its release state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Brose Schliesssysteme GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Michael Wittelsbuerger, David Rosales
  • Patent number: 9719571
    Abstract: A bumper for a closure, such as a tailgate, acts between the tailgate and a frame to bias a striker in to engagement with a latch. The bumper is moved to a retracted position during closing to reduce the force needed to close the tailgate. After latching, the bumper is conditioned to an extended position to assert the bias between the tailgate and frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Multimatic Inc.
    Inventors: Rudolf Gruber, Dennis Tak-Man Loui
  • Patent number: 9708837
    Abstract: The invention relates to a motor vehicle door lock, comprising a lock housing (1) and at least one lever (2) that is arranged in the lock (1) and projects through an opening (4) at least partially out of the lock (1), wherein the lever (2) is formed as a pivot lever (2) which is movable along the opening (4) and mounted in the interior and/or on the lock housing (1) and the opening (4) is equipped with at least one seal (6) that, for the most part, closes an opening gap (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Kiekert Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thorsten Bendel, Armin Handke, Matthias Ochtrop, Matthias Kellersohn
  • Patent number: 9702112
    Abstract: A hydraulic excavator includes a cab and a work implement arranged on one lateral side of the cab. The cab includes an operator's seat, front pillars, a roof portion, first and second guide rails, a front window, a monitor device, a monitor, and a support member. The monitor is supported on a first pillar above the monitor device and has a second display screen larger than a first display screen. The support member supports the monitor so as to be movable between an interference position interfering with a movement region where the front window moves between a closed state and an opened state of an opening, and a non-interference position with no interference. Accordingly, a hydraulic excavator can be obtained in which a large-sized monitor can be arranged on a front side of the cab without interference with a movable front window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Shioji, Yoshiaki Honma, Daisuke Tsukamoto, Hiroaki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9701277
    Abstract: An active hinge for a deployable hood assembly of the type used in a pedestrian protection system for motor vehicles. The active hinge employs a primary latch to mechanically hold the hinge in a non-deployed condition and a secondary latch to mechanically hold the hinge in a deployed condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: MAGNA CLOSURES INC.
    Inventors: Andrew Reginald McIntyre, John T. Shier, Dikran Ghorghorian
  • Patent number: 9677305
    Abstract: A motor vehicle door lock comprising a locking mechanism (1, 2) and a mechanical lever gear (4, 5) as well as a motor-driven opening unit (7 to 9), which are respectively individually arranged for opening of a locking mechanism (1, 2), wherein in the normal mode, the motorized opening unit (7 to 9) provides a free movement of the lever gear (4, 5) in relation to the locking mechanism (1, 2) and the engagement of the lever gear with the locking mechanism (1, 2) in the opening mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Kiekert Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Thorsten Bendel
  • Patent number: 9677302
    Abstract: A latch and a method for preventing a latch from failing to open while a connected handle is lifted are provided. The latch includes a primary pawl pivotally mounted to the latch. An end piece having a protrusion extending from it is fixed to the primary pawl. An inner lever is rotatably coupled to the end piece. The inner lever includes a tail adjacent the protrusion of the end piece. The inner lever is movable between a first position and a second position. A secondary pawl is pivotally mounted to the latch and is movable between a first position and a second position. A blocking lever is also coupled to the latch and movable between a first position and a second position. When the inner lever is in a second position, the tail abuts the protrusion and the blocking lever limits movement of the inner lever and the primary pawl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: INTEVA PRODUCTS, LLC
    Inventor: Peter Coleman
  • Patent number: 9677304
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a lock having a lock housing (3, 4) together with a lock cover (2), a lock case (9), a locking mechanism which is mounted on the base surface of the lock case (9), and an activation device for opening the locking mechanism. An activation lever of the activation device is at least partially covered by a pivotable flap (5) of a lock covering means (2, 3). The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing the flap together with a lock cover (2) by injection molding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Kiekert Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thorsten Bendel, Thomas Kippes, Dorothea Muller, Klaus Gotzen
  • Patent number: 9670701
    Abstract: In a motor-vehicle door latch device, a latch engages with a striker of a vehicle body when a door is closed. The latch comprises a half-latch engaging portion for incompletely engaging the latch with the striker and a full-latch engaging portion for fully engaging the latch with the striker. A half-latch avoiding member has a half-latch avoiding guide path which engages with a connecting member, thereby preventing the engagement member from engaging the half-latch portion of the latch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsui Kinzoku Act Corporation
    Inventors: Shintaro Okawa, Shigekazu Sugo
  • Patent number: 9650816
    Abstract: A locking system including a latch assembly that actuates a cancel cable and thereby a cancel lever of a lock device includes a latch lever that has a first engaging surface and receives a striker positioned at the end of a rail of a vehicle, a cancel latch lever including an engagement tab that is engaged by the first engaging surface of the latch lever in an overstroke position of the latch lever, and a cancel cable that interrupts a transmission of power from an actuator to a lock device in accordance with a rotation of the latch cancel lever occurring from an engagement of the engagement tab with the engagement surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: AISIN TECHNICAL CENTER OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Emiko Okuma
  • Patent number: 9637952
    Abstract: The invention is directed to lock for a vehicle door arrangement, wherein a catch and a pawl are provided. The catch can be brought into an opening position and into a closed position, wherein the catch, which is in the closed position, is or may be brought into holding engagement with a lock striker. The pawl may be brought into an engagement position. A pawl actuation lever is provided for deflecting the pawl into the release position. A switchable coupling arrangement comprises a first coupling lever on the side of the pawl actuation lever, a second coupling lever on the side of the pawl and a moveable coupling element that may be moved into a closing position for a coupling engagement with the two coupling levers and into an opening position for decoupling the two coupling levers. The coupling element is arranged on one of the two coupling levers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Brose Schliesssysteme GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Michael Wittelsbuerger, David Rosales
  • Patent number: 9631402
    Abstract: A vehicle door latch assembly for maintaining the vehicle door in a closed position including during an angled impact to the door latch of the vehicle. The latch assembly includes a catch, a pawl, and an actuator coupled to a door latch base. The catch is movable to and from a closed position wherein the catch is configured to grasp a portion of a striker coupled to the vehicle to maintain the door closed. The catch is also movable to and from an open position wherein the catch is configured to release the striker to allow the door to open. The pawl is configured to maintain the catch in the closed position until the door handle is actuated. The latch assembly includes a blocking plate including an extension member which is deformable during an impact to align with one of or both a pawl lifter and the pawl member to prevent their rotation and thereby maintain the latch assembly and the vehicle door in a latched position during such an impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Carl Bejune, Kosta Papanikolaou
  • Patent number: 9617761
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a motor vehicle door lock, having a locking mechanism that includes a rotary latch and at least one pawl. A drive for acting on the locking mechanism is also provided. A blocking element which interacts with the pawl has at least one pawl arm which holds the pawl in a latching position. Finally, a stop arm is realized on the blocking element and/or on the pawl and/or on a release element, the stop arm acting as a stop for the drive. The blocking element is arranged on an edge which is averted from the rotary latch and also so as to laterally overlap the pawl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Kiekert Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Michael Scholz, Oliver Goetz
  • Patent number: 9611677
    Abstract: The invention relates to a lock for a flap or a door, with a lock housing, a locking mechanism consisting of a rotary latch (4) and at least one pawl (6), and at least one spring (23) which is capable of pivoting a pivotable component of the lock from a starting position in the direction of an end position by means of spring force, characterized in that the spring (23) is held by a bearing stud (22) which is connected integrally to the lock housing (25) of the lock, and wherein the bearing stud has a stop (24) for the spring, and/or wherein the bearing stud (22) is connected integrally to the stop (24), wherein the stop (24) has the effect that the pivotable component is not spring-loaded in the end position thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Kiekert Aktiengsellschaft
    Inventors: Thorsten Bendel, Serkan Gülkan, Karsten Barth, Dusan Petrus
  • Patent number: 9611676
    Abstract: A motor vehicle door closure includes a locking mechanism having a rotary latch and a locking pawl for locking the rotary latch. The door closure also includes a blocking pawl for blocking the locking pawl when engaging, a release lever for releasing the locking pawl, and a locking lever that blocks the locking mechanism at least in the event of acceleration forces of a predetermined magnitude occurring, for example in an accident (impact). The release lever and the locking lever are arranged about an axis. This results in a particularly simple lock design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Kiekert Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Thorsten Bendel
  • Patent number: 9605449
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a lock for a door arrangement, wherein a catch and a pawl, which is assigned to the catch, are provided. The catch can be brought into an open position and into a closed position. The catch may be brought into holding engagement with a lock striker. The pawl may be brought into an engagement position or deflected into a release position. A lock mechanism and a crash mechanism with a crash element are provided. The crash mechanism may be brought from a normal condition into a crash condition. A switchable coupling is provided between the pawl actuation arrangement and the pawl. The crash element is acting on the switchable coupling or is part of the switchable coupling in such a way that bringing the crash mechanism into the crash condition opens the switchable coupling and lets the actuation of the pawl actuation arrangement run free.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Brose Schliesssysteme GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: David Rosales, Michael Wittelsbuerger
  • Patent number: 9598884
    Abstract: In a vehicle door latch device, a latch engages with a striker of a vehicle body and a ratchet engages with the latch, so that a vehicle door is closed, and an inside operating lever and a childproof lock mechanism are disposed between a cover and a casing. To connect the childproof lock mechanism to the casing, the inside operating lever is held in an assembling position and the childproof lock mechanism is held in its locking state or in its unlocking state. The cover has a covering portion over a broader portion of a hole in the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: MITSUI KINZOKU ACT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomoharu Nagaoka, Hiroyuki Sakagami
  • Patent number: 9593511
    Abstract: A lock with a locking mechanism comprises a rotary catch, a pawl for engaging the rotary catch, a blocking lever capable of blocking the pawl if the latter is located in its catching position, and a releasing lever for opening or releasing the locking mechanism. When the releasing lever is actuated, the pawl and, if applicable, the blocking lever is moved out of its blocking position provided that the releasing lever is moved in a usual manner and the releasing lever is not exposed to increased or excessive accelerations. In case of an increased or excessive acceleration of the releasing lever such as caused by a crash or impact, an arresting device prevents the releasing lever from disengaging the pawl and optionally the blocking lever of the pawl. The arresting device is further releasable with the return of the releasing lever to the initial rest position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Kiekert AG
    Inventor: Robert J. Hunt
  • Patent number: 9593515
    Abstract: The application is directed at a motor vehicle lock, wherein a lock latch, a pawl, and a lock striker bracket, which lock striker bracket comprises a latch bar and a frame bar, are provided, wherein the lock latch is or may be brought into holding engagement with the latch bar, wherein a closing cycle of the motor vehicle lock involves moving the lock latch from the open position to the at least one latching position, wherein the pawl may fall into at least one engagement position, in which it is in blocking engagement with a preliminary latching detent or a main latching detent of the lock latch for blocking the lock latch in its preliminary latching position or its main latching position, wherein the pawl may be deflected into at least one release position, in which it releases the lock latch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Brose Schliesssysteme GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: David Rosales, Michael Wittelsbuerger, Stepan Hanke
  • Patent number: 9580938
    Abstract: The invention relates to a motor vehicle door lock equipped with a locking mechanism (1, 2, 15), an actuation lever unit (3, 4) acting on the locking mechanism (1, 2, 15), and a catch lever (10). The catch lever (10) renders the actuation lever unit (3, 4) ineffective, at least when acceleration forces of a given magnitude occur, e.g. in case of an accident (crash). According to the invention, the catch lever (10) blocks the actuation lever unit (3, 4) during non-deflected normal operation and in the event of a crash while releasing the actuation lever unit (3, 4) only for deflected normal operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Kiekert Aktiengellshaft
    Inventors: Thorsten Bendel, Claus Töpfer
  • Patent number: 9580941
    Abstract: A handle module is provided for fastening an outer door handle to a motor vehicle door with a modular basic body that in a final assembly state with its outer door handle protrudes through an opening in the outer door panel and comes to lie on the inside of the outer door panel. A giver is mounted on the modular basic body in a manner allowing pivoting or turning can be brought in operational connection with a taker of the door lock via an actuation rod. A shielding device is provided that at least partially encloses the giver at least in some regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Andreas Heberer, Winfried Langendorf, Mark Rosenau, Peter Eduard Schuessler, Joerg Gschweng, Thorsten Luedtke
  • Patent number: 9580942
    Abstract: A handle assembly for a door of a vehicle includes a base portion and a handle portion movable relative to the base portion between a recessed position and a partially extended position. When at the partially extended position, the handle portion is manually movable outward from the base portion to open the vehicle door. A control is operable to control operation of a motor of an actuator to move the handle portion between the recessed position and the partially extended position. The control moves the handle portion from the recessed position to the partially extended position responsive to a trigger. The actuator provides a manual override that allows the user to manually move the handle portion relative to the base portion. Responsive to determination of a lockout condition, the control limits movement of the handle portion from the recessed position towards the partially extended position irrespective of the trigger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Justin E. Sobecki, Keith D. Foote, Eric S. Deuel
  • Patent number: 9540854
    Abstract: The invention relates to a motor vehicle door lock comprising at least one actuation lever (3) that is arranged in a lock housing (1, 2). Furthermore, a connection means (4, 5) is used for coupling the actuation lever (3) to an actuation element (6) arranged outside the lock housing (1, 2). Finally, an attachment element (2) is provided for mounting the connection means (4, 5) on the lock housing (1, 2). According to the invention, the attachment element (2) is designed as a partial housing (2) which can be combined with a main housing (1) to form the lock housing (1, 2) and which, in the mounted state, at least largely covers an opening (7) in the main housing (1) as well as a joining zone (8) between the actuation lever (3) and the connection means (4, 5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Kiekert Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Ludger Graute
  • Patent number: 9541049
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a cable-operated actuating device for a motor vehicle, in particular for a transmission, comprising: an actuating means having a recess for inserting a coupling connector of a cable control, a blocking means which is radially displaceable in the recess and in a radially outer position permits an axial displacing of the coupling connector in the recess and in a radially inner position axially fixes the coupling connector against an inserting direction in a positively connected and/or frictionally connected manner, a housing, which receives a connecting point between the coupling connector and the recess, and an actuating means for radially displacing the blocking means, which can be actuated outside the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Dino Demma, Dirk Eisinger
  • Patent number: 9534426
    Abstract: A child protector mechanism includes a base member, a first lever, a second lever, a bush arranged between the first lever and the second lever, a child protector lever for moving the bush to an unset position or a set position, and a position retaining mechanism provided between the first lever and the bush. The bush is retained at each of the unset position and the set position by the position retaining mechanism provided between the first lever and the bush. Therefore, when assembling the bush and the first lever to the base member, the bush is retained at a predetermined position (for example, unset position) with respect to the first lever so that the bush does not move. Thus, the easiness of assembly of the bush and the first lever and the easiness of assembly of the child protector lever are excellent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ryujiro Akizuki, Takashi Nishio, Nobuko Watanabe, Masayuki Tomochika, Masanari Iwata, Yasuhiko Sono
  • Patent number: 9534429
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a latch apparatus. The latch apparatus includes: a base formed with an opening; a latch gear formed with a mounting groove to lock a striker entering the mounting groove through the opening; a pawl rotatably disposed on the base and engaging with the latch gear to prevent rotation of the latch gear; a release lever disposed to adjoin the pawl, transmitting constraint force of pressing the pawl, and rotating the pawl to release the latch gear; a support shaft secured to the base, supporting a lateral surface of the pawl and transmitting the constraint force of pressing the pawl; and a guide portion rotatably provided to the support shaft, pressed to rotate by the release lever, and guiding movement of a projection pin provided to the pawl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: PYEONGHWA AUTOMOTIVE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Nigel Spurr, Gurbinder Singh Kalsi, Sang Beom Hur, Ki Ryun Ahn, Jong Chul Oh
  • Patent number: 9534425
    Abstract: A lock for a motor vehicle includes a locking mechanism with a rotatably mounted rotary catch for receiving a locking bolt, and a pawl with which the rotary catch can be engaged for retaining the locking bolt. The lock further includes a blocking lever that blocks the pawl when the pawl is located in a catching position, and a releasing lever for disengaging the locking mechanism. A first spring interconnects the blocking lever and the releasing lever, wherein the blocking lever and the releasing lever move either together or independently relative to the first spring based on a magnitude of acceleration of the releasing lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Kiekert AG
    Inventors: Robert J. Hunt, Keith Julien
  • Patent number: 9534427
    Abstract: The invention relates to a motor vehicle door closure, comprising a locking mechanism, an electric drive (3, 4) for the locking mechanism, and a child-restraint element (14) with a corresponding sensor (15). The electric drive (3, 4) can be activated or deactivated in order to open the locking mechanism dependant on the position of the child-restraint element (14), said position being requested using the sensor (15). The activated child-restraint element (14) can be deactivated in an emergency operation by a switch (17), and the locking mechanism can be opened by the electric drive (3, 4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Inventor: Johannes Theodor Menke
  • Patent number: 9528301
    Abstract: The invention relates to a motor vehicle door lock equipped with a locking mechanism (1, 2, 3), an actuation lever unit (6, 7) acting on the locking mechanism (1, 2, 3), and a catch lever (12). The catch lever (12) blocks the locking mechanism (1, 2, 3) at least when acceleration forces of a given magnitude occur, e.g. in case of an accident (crash), rendering the locking mechanism ineffective. According to the invention, the catch lever (12) acts upon a pawl (3) of the locking mechanism (1, 2, 3) in the direction of the blocking position of the pawl during normal operation and in the event of a crash while allowing the pawl (3) and thus the locking mechanism (1, 2, 3) to be in the releasing position only during normal opening operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Kiekert Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thorsten Bendel, Claus Töpfer
  • Patent number: 9528304
    Abstract: A latch and a method for preventing a latch from failing to open while a connected handle is lifted are provided. The latch includes a primary pawl pivotally mounted to the latch. An end piece having a protrusion extending from it is fixed to the primary pawl. An inner lever is rotatably coupled to the end piece. The inner lever includes a tail adjacent the protrusion of the end piece. The inner lever is movable between a first position and a second position. A secondary pawl is pivotally mounted to the latch and is movable between a first position and a second position. A blocking lever is also coupled to the latch and movable between a first position and a second position. When the inner lever is in a second position, the tail abuts the protrusion and the blocking lever limits movement of the inner lever and the primary pawl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: INTEVA PRODUCTS, LLC
    Inventor: Peter Coleman
  • Patent number: 9518409
    Abstract: A vehicle door latch device which comprises a body having a holding portion, an engagement member pivotally mounted in the holding portion, a cover member closing an opening of the holding portion, and a shaft comprising a shank which passes through a bearing hole of the body and a shank hole of the engagement member, a retaining head and a smaller-diameter shank. The shank passes through the shank hole of the engagement member and the smaller-diameter shank is pressingly fitted in the shank hole of the cover member without swaging the end of the smaller-diameter shank thereby assembling the vehicle door latch device more efficiently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: MITSUI KINZOKU ACT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryoji Shimura, Tomoharu Nagaoka
  • Patent number: 9518406
    Abstract: An electromechanical latch is described herein. The electromechanical latch is a dual-actuator latch, wherein a first actuator and a second actuator are driven with precise timing to move a first latch part relative to a second latch part, and vice versa. When the electromechanical latch is in a closed position, the first rotary latch part is positioned to prevent rotation of the second rotary latch part in a first direction. To transition the electromechanical latch from the closed position to an open position, the first actuator drives the first rotary latch part such that the second rotary latch part is able to rotate in the first direction. Thereafter, the second actuator drives the second rotary latch part in the first direction until the electromechanical latch is in the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen Buerger, Lisa C. Marron, Michael A. Martinez, Barry Louis Spletzer
  • Patent number: 9487109
    Abstract: A seat lock device includes an engagement portion engaged with a vehicle body member extending in a vehicle width direction on a rear side of a front wall of a rear parcel shelf. The rear parcel shelf forms an upper wall of a trunk room arranged on a rear side of a vehicle. The seat lock device is attached to the front wall of the rear parcel shelf, engaged with a striker provided to a rear face of a seat arranged in front of the trunk room to hold the seat in an erect posture, and releases an engagement state thereof with the striker by a release operation of a release operation member arranged in the trunk room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: MITSUI KINZOKU ACT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tsutomu Miyakoshi, Naoki Hanaki
  • Patent number: 9476230
    Abstract: A vehicle latch (1) comprising a ratchet (15); a primary pawl (25) movable between a ratchet checking position and a ratchet release position; an auxiliary ratchet (26) movable between an enabling position and a disabling position; a secondary pawl (27) movable between an auxiliary ratchet holding position, in which the secondary pawl (27) is positioned to hold the auxiliary ratchet (26) in its enabling position, and an auxiliary ratchet release position; electrically-operated actuator means (6) for moving the secondary pawl (27) to the auxiliary ratchet release position and the auxiliary ratchet (26) to the enabling position; a back-up mechanism (7) for moving the secondary pawl (27) to the auxiliary ratchet release position or the auxiliary ratchet (26) to the enabling position; and an inhibiting lever (81) for selectively preventing interaction of the back-up mechanism (7) with the auxiliary ratchet (26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Magna Closures S.p.A.
    Inventor: Enrico Margheritti
  • Patent number: 9464466
    Abstract: A door latch device for a vehicle includes: a body having a striker advancing groove formed on one surface thereof through which a striker arranged on a vehicle body advances corresponding to a closing movement of the door; a latch configured to engage with the advanced striker to be rotatable; a pole configured to rotate interlocking with the rotation of the latch and engaged with the latch so as to restrain the door at a closed position; a lever configured to rotate based on an opening operation of a handle arranged on the door to rotate the interlocking pole; and a spring configured to urge the lever. The lever has a shaft hole. The body includes a spring accommodating part that accommodates the spring, and a pivot that is inserted to the shaft hole of the lever to rotatably support the lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: MITSUI KINZOKU ACT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideaki Nozawa, Tomoharu Nagaoka
  • Patent number: 9464465
    Abstract: A handle assemble is provided that includes a pivotable handle on a first side of a housing that when moved to an extended position is operative to cause a lever arm to move on a second side of the housing in order to operate a latch mechanism. To move the lever arm, the assembly includes a lock slide that in a first pivot position is operative to slide longitudinal and urge the lever arm to pivot responsive to either the handle causing a trigger to urge a first end of the lock slide to slide or an inside release member urging a second end of the lock slide to slide. However, when the lock slide is in a second pivot position, the trigger and the inside release member are not operative to engage the respective first and second ends of the lock slide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: THE EASTERN COMPANY
    Inventors: Lee S. Weinerman, Scott Arthurs
  • Patent number: 9440557
    Abstract: A locking device for a vehicle seat, includes a pawl for locking a mating element, which pawl is pivotally supported about a first axis, and a tensioning eccentric that is pivotally supported about a second axis, which is parallel to the first axis, between a locking position and an unlocking position and ensures a locked state of the pawl owing to the interaction with a first functional surface of the pawl, the tensioning eccentric acting upon the first functional surface by a tensioning surface when spring-loaded and locked, an unlocking element being pivotable about the first axis counter to a spring force from a locking position to an unlocking position by an actuation device and the tensioning eccentric being pivotally engaged by the unlocking element from its locking position towards its unlocking position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: KEIPER GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Peter Müeller, Volker Windecker, Stefan Haber, Kadir Yasaroglu, Silke Labuk
  • Patent number: 9435146
    Abstract: The invention concerns a door handle module for a vehicle with a door handle, which is mounted to move in a support frame for the opening of a door or hatch by a user, the door handle having at least one rest position and one working position, a mechanical coupling unit, through which movement of the door handle from the rest position to the working position can be transferred to a lock, a crash lock, which prevents movement of the door handle and/or coupling unit during the action of an acceleration force, especially during an accident, so that activation of the lock is avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: HUF HULSBECK & FURST GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Dirk Müller, Michael Kalesse, Ralf Lennhoff
  • Patent number: 9422754
    Abstract: A lock including a catch mechanism made up of a rotary latch and catch for latching the rotary latch. The rotary latch and catch have blocking surfaces for latching purposes. In the latched state, the blocking surface of the rotary latch rests on the blocking surface of the catch, and this prevents the rotary latch from being able to rotate in the direction of the open position. The lock also includes a component with an abutment surface, against which the blocking surface of the rotary latch butts in the open position of the catch mechanism. This abutment prevents the situation where, in the open position, dust can pass onto the blocking surface of the rotary latch. In addition, the abutment reduces the penetration of dust into the catch mechanism. An increase in the opening forces as service life increases is thus avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Kiekert AG
    Inventors: Ludger Graute, Thomas Kippes
  • Patent number: 9416566
    Abstract: In one aspect, the invention is directed to a closure latch for a vehicle door. The closure latch includes a ratchet movable between an open position and a closed position, a first door release lever operatively connected to the ratchet, a second door release lever, and a lock lever movable along a lock lever path including a first lock lever position wherein the second door release lever is operatively disconnected from the first door release lever, a second lock lever position wherein the lock lever operatively connects the second door release lever to the first door release lever, and a third lock lever position wherein the lock lever carries out an additional function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Magna Closures Inc.
    Inventors: Kris Tomaszewski, Francesco Cumbo
  • Patent number: 9416564
    Abstract: A latch and a method for preventing a latch from failing to open while a connected handle is lifted are provided. The latch includes a primary pawl pivotally mounted to the latch. An end piece having a protrusion extending from it is fixed to the primary pawl. An inner lever is rotatably coupled to the end piece. The inner lever includes a tail adjacent the protrusion of the end piece. The inner lever is movable between a first position and a second position. A secondary pawl is pivotally mounted to the latch and is movable between a first position and a second position. A blocking lever is also coupled to the latch and movable between a first position and a second position. When the inner lever is in a second position, the tail abuts the protrusion and the blocking lever limits movement of the inner lever and the primary pawl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: INTEVA PRODUCTS, LLC
    Inventor: Peter Coleman
  • Patent number: 9408322
    Abstract: A sliding member that is provided in a front panel of a case so as to be movable in the vertical direction and is placed at a down position due to the own weight is provided with a window portion which covers and hides a screw insertion hole for fixing a unit when the sliding member is located at the down position and exposes the screw insertion hole when the sliding member is lifted to an up position. Further, the front panel is provided with an interlocking switch that controls the operation of the case unit in a manner such that the interlocking switch is turned on while being pressed by the sliding member lifted to the up position and is turned off while the pressing operation is released when the sliding member is located at the down position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takashi Kuwabara
  • Patent number: 9400528
    Abstract: An internal fastening feature that also acts as a means of separating a housing body from a protective cover is disclosed. The internal fastening feature includes two arms that meet at a central hub that is pivotally coupled to a bracket. The bracket is coupled to an interior-facing surface of the protective cover. A first arm defines a threaded opening that receives a fastener that keeps the protective cover coupled with the housing body. A second arm, extending in a different direction than the first arm, is positioned above a protrusion of the housing body. When the fastener is disengaged from the first arm, a disengaging tool can apply a force to the first arm that rotates the second arm until it presses against the protrusion. The force applied to the protrusion is then transmitted to the protective cover, which is consequently pushed away from the housing body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony S. Montevirgen, Daniel W. Jarvis