Common Actuator, Different Movements To Unlatch And Move Closure Patents (Class 49/281)
  • Patent number: 11713611
    Abstract: A window vent system and method automatically vents air pressure from a vehicle cabin as the vehicle door is closing. A drive mechanism is mounted to a vehicle window. A sensor senses open and closed positions of the door latch. When the latch is open, a signal is sent from the sensor to a controller to open the window. When the latch is closed, a signal is sent to the controller to close the window. Software prevents closing of the window in the event of a pinch event. The software also stops the drive mechanism if there is an obstruction to opening or closing of the window. Manual override is also provided to selectively open and close the window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: TriMark Corporation
    Inventors: Glen A. Marshall, Matthew L. Hidding, Christopher M. Lane, Daniel J. Labonte, Nicholas L. Kloxin, Coyle J. Hruska
  • Patent number: 11643857
    Abstract: A motor vehicle door includes a door handle unit fixed on the inside on the door edge opposite a door hinge. The door handle unit is motorically pivotable between a folded-in and a folded-out position. In the folded-in position when the vehicle door is closed the door handle unit is arranged behind the vehicle door. In the folded-out position, the door handle unit protrudes laterally outwards by surrounding the door edge and is grippable to open the door. A door mover unit is configured to move the vehicle door in a closed state out of a closed position into a stand-by position, in which the door handle unit can be moved from the folded-in position into the folded-out position. A control unit has a signal input which, upon obtaining the opening signal, controls the door mover unit to move into the stand-by position and controls the door handle unit to pivot into the folded-out position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: MERCEDES-BENZ GROUP AG
    Inventors: Tobias Konrad, Martin Lindmayer
  • Patent number: 11541965
    Abstract: A two-way openable maritime hatch in which the articulating components that open the hatch, and hold it in an open position, are enclosed within a waterproof seal of the hatch when in closed position. The design uses a double hinge structure, which facilitates opening the hatch in either a forward- or aft-facing position. Elastic gaskets may be used to hold the hatch open in specific positions or at specific angles. Each of the hinge systems are independently operable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Lionfish Technologies LLC
    Inventor: Stephen Tyler Armstrong
  • Publication number: 20140366449
    Abstract: A door opening and closing apparatus including a lock mechanism that is configured to hold the door in a fully closed state, and that has an engaging member which engages with a lock member provided in the door when in the fully closed state. A link mechanism having a plurality of link members is configured to be able to undergo deformation into a linear state and a bent state, and restricts rotation of the engaging member by being brought into the linear state. In the link mechanism, a first face is pressed by a projecting shaft moved by the actuator in order that the link mechanism changes from the linear state to the bent state, and a second face is pressed by the projecting shaft in order that the link mechanism changes from the bent state to the linear state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Applicant: NABTESCO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takeshi MASUDA, Shinji UEDA
  • Publication number: 20140090300
    Abstract: A door actuator assembly comprising a base plate mounted to a container. The container includes a distribution orifice and a trap door mounted to the container that moves selectively between a closed position covering the distribution orifice, and an open position not fully covering the distribution orifice. The assembly includes a hook member mounted to the base plate including a hook. The hook engages with the trap door. The trap door moves linearly when the hook member moves. The assembly includes a hook actuator assembly mounted to the base plate, including a hook actuation arm coupled to the hook member. The hook actuation arm extends and retracts, moving the hook member linearly along the base plate when the hook actuation arm extends and retracts, causing the hook member to move the trap door selectively between the closed position and the open position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Inventor: Mark Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 8677689
    Abstract: A sliding power lift and locking assembly for lifting and locking an object includes a motor, a first drive shaft, a first drive block assembly, a first drive housing, and a link arm. The first drive shaft has a body and a cylindrical axis and is rotationally driven by the motor. The first drive block assembly includes an aperture configured to engage the body of the first drive shaft, a latch dog with a first slot configured to engage a dog catch pin associated with the object, and a slider. A portion of the first drive housing and a portion of the first drive block assembly are provided in a track of the first drive housing, and the track of the first drive housing is configured such that the first drive block assembly is configured to move in a path relative to the first drive housing. The link arm includes a first end and second end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: DTS Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: David L. Draper, Keith S. Attee, Thomas H. Buerkle, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8474184
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for opening a door (48) from a remote location including a lever assembly (20) and a pulling line (22), the pulling line (22) having attached thereto a door handle engagement (60), the lever assembly (20) including at least a first guide (40) and a second guide (42) for guiding the pulling line (22) and a mounting apparatus (24) for mounting the lever assembly (20) to or adjacent a door (48), the first and second guides (40,42) being positioned such that when the pulling line (22) is prevented from moving through the first guide (40), pulling on the pulling line (22) acts to cause the lever assembly (20) to apply a force to urge the door to open (48). This apparatus allows an operator to gradually open a door or to apply a suitable force if, for example, the door (48) is stuck in the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Inventor: Stephen Wisbey
  • Patent number: 7654040
    Abstract: An unlock mechanism for a rotary door operator of a transit vehicle includes a pivotally disposed lock member adapted for rotating into an unlock position and activating a valve for discharging the fluid pressure from a drive cylinder to enable a manual opening of the door. A spring is provided for biasing the lock member into a lock position. The lock member may be moved into the unlock position either with a cable or a lever handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Wabtec Holding Corp.
    Inventors: Haibo Tong, Marianne Krbec
  • Patent number: 7575270
    Abstract: An opening/closing apparatus for a vehicle, which has a door-lock mechanism, is provided. An output of a motor unit is transmitted to a drum having a planetary gear mechanism, and the slide door of the vehicle is driven by an open-side cable and a close-side cable wound around the drum. A closer cable of the door-lock mechanism is coupled to a carrier of the planetary gear mechanism, and coupled to a latch of the door-lock mechanism via a coupling link. The coupling link is constituted as a toggle mechanism so as to regulate the rotation of the latch by the traction force of the closer cable until the latch is rotated toward a full latch direction from an unlatch position. When the regulation of the latch by the toggle mechanism is released, the latch is rotationally driven toward the full latch direction due to the rotation of the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Mitsuba Corporation
    Inventors: Kei Nagai, Mitsuhiro Okada
  • Patent number: 7573221
    Abstract: A wireless control system can be used to selectively adjust the position of a liftgate platform with respect to a vehicle cargo hold. The wireless control system includes a transmitter for use in transmitting a wireless control signal, a receiver that receives the wireless control signal transmitted by the transmitter and communicates a corresponding control signal to an actuation device to adjust the platform and, a transmitter detection system that prevents the actuation device from operating unless the transmitter is positioned in a predetermined location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Waltco Truck Equipment Company
    Inventor: Kenneth Rock
  • Publication number: 20090151258
    Abstract: A locking mechanism for a child safety barrier (1) may be activated by a foot pedal (6) which can only be operated when an auxiliary lock (8) has been activated. The auxiliary lock (8) is formed by a mechanical unit, which has an electrical receiver (8a) which, when receiving an electrical signal, e.g. an electromagnetic signal from a transmitter (9), can activate the auxiliary lock (8), following which the foot pedal (6) may be activated. The transmitter (9) may be incorporated in a remote control unit of the hand-held type, or it may be mounted on a wall, where an adult can activate the transmitter, e.g. by an elbow. The transmitter may also be a unit which continuously transmits electromagnetic signals which activate the auxiliary lock when they are interrupted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2006
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Inventor: Finn Andersen
  • Publication number: 20090064595
    Abstract: A gate assembly is provided including barrier means locatable in an opening defined by one or more wall and/or frame surfaces in use and movable between open and closed positions with respect to the opening. Handle means are provided to allow movement of the barrier means between the open and closed positions. At least part of the handle means is slidably mounted on the barrier means to allow sliding movement of the handle means from a raised position to a lowered position in use to allow said barrier means to be moved from the closed position to the open position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2008
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Applicant: LINDAM LIMITED
    Inventor: ADAM YATES
  • Patent number: 7360337
    Abstract: A door closing apparatus has a latch mechanism that holds a door in a half-closed state and a fully-closed state to a vehicle body. An actuator drives the door when the door is in the half-closed state, a sector gear rotates as the actuator is driven. A first close lever performs closing action according to rotation of the sector gear, and a second close lever performs a door closing action according to the closing action to cause the latch mechanism to perform the closing action. A cancel lever is swingably disposed to the first close lever via a first spring. The cancel lever comes in engagement with the sector gear in a normal state, while performing a door opening action against the biasing force of the first spring to cancel the engagement with the sector gear when an opening operation of an operation handle is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Mitsui Mining & Smelting Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Fumihiro Yoneyama
  • Patent number: 7210268
    Abstract: An unlock mechanism for a rotary door operator of a transit vehicle includes a pivotally disposed unlock member adapted for rotating a lock member into an unlock position and activating a valve for discharging the fluid pressure from the drive cylinder to enable manual opening of the door. A spring is provided for biasing the unlock member to a non-activated position. The unlock member may be activated either with a cable or a lever handle. A lock sensing switch provides a feedback on the lock condition to the transit vehicle control system. Additionally, a guiding bracket is provided for securing the cable in proximity of the unlock member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Wabtec Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Haibo Tong, Marianne Krbec
  • Patent number: 7107721
    Abstract: The door apparatus has a linear motor for applying a thrust to move a door, a lock device for performing a locking operation and an unlocking operation, and a control unit for controlling the linear motor and the lock device. Upon determining that the lock device is still in a locked state after a set time has elapsed from initiation of the unlocking operation, the control unit controls the linear motor to apply a thrust force to the door while again controlling the lock device to perform the unlocking operation. As a result, even when the locking pin and the lock hole are misaligned to such an extent as to interfere with the unlocking operation, the unlocking operation can be performed without an increase in a thrust output by a solenoid of the lock device, the solenoid can be prevented from overheating and the size and weight of the solenoid can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshinobu Sato
  • Patent number: 6679186
    Abstract: The invention relates to a motorized locking device for a door intended in particular for a rail vehicle, with at least one leaf. The device includes a tilting-body motor intended to be mounted on the vehicle. The axis of the motor is substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of movement of the leaf.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Faiveley Transport
    Inventor: Jany Prevost
  • Publication number: 20030167693
    Abstract: An apparatus for automatically actuating and securing a door has been shown and described. The automatic door system non-destructively retrofits a conventional door to allow actuation of the door. The automatic door system integrates a lock mechanism and a door actuation mechanism. The automatic door system allows hands-free operation and is suitable for use with pets or humans. The automatic door system controls the arc of the door swing and duration that the door remains open based upon the requestor activating the automatic door system. The automatic door system provides additional security over traditional mechanical locks. Further, the automatic door system allows access profiles to be customized to the requestor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2002
    Publication date: September 11, 2003
    Applicant: Radio Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Christopher E. Mainini
  • Patent number: 6141908
    Abstract: The invention provides a door system for a transit vehicle. It has an actuator which provides a rotary motion about an axis of the actuator for moving the door panel between an open position uncovering the aperture and a closed unlocked position covering the aperture. The actuator also provides a linear motion along the axis of the actuator for moving the door panel between the closed unlocked position and a closed locked position. The rotary motion followed by the axial motion is provided by a cylinder having a piston moved by fluid pressure. The piston includes a guide track in its exterior which engages rollers in the cylinder. The guide track has one portion curving around the piston and one portion parallel to the axis. The curving part provides the rotary motion and the straight part provides the axial motion. When the rotary motion is completed the piston encounters a stop on a shaft which supports the door. The actuator then moves the door axially to engage locks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Company
    Inventor: Scott N. Bowen
  • Patent number: 5655331
    Abstract: A drive system is provided for moving a lockable vehicle part. The drive system includes a drive element that operates with a change in length. The element is supported at its ends on the vehicle part and on the body. A releasable snap lock is provided by which the vehicle part is locked in one of its end positions. The snap lock is released by a control stroke of the drive element effectively connected with the release mechanism of the snap lock. The control stroke precedes the working stroke to move the vehicle part by connecting one end of the drive element to a release mechanism. In order to reduce the space required in the vehicle for the drive system, a rotary joint is provided as the release mechanism for the control stroke of the drive element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1997
    Assignee: Mercedes-Benz AG
    Inventors: Juergen Schrader, Eckart Schuler, Peter Mueller
  • Patent number: 4937976
    Abstract: A window operator and hinge structure for a casement window which can be simply factory pre-set for positioning of a window in either egress or wash modes, with switching between modes requiring no additional parts or special tools. The structure has a pivoted handle movable between a closed, inactive position flush with a sill cover and rotatable to an inclined, active position. The handle, in its pivoting movement, operates window locking structure and also controls the action of a brake, with release of the brake by raising of the handle to operative position. Motion-transmitting connections between the handle and linkage structure include the brake as well as the clutch, with the clutch effective to limit the torque that can be applied to the linkage. The handle can be moved to closed, inactive position with the window open so that no handle protrudes and this movement of the handle sets the brake so that a wind cannot move the window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 3, 1990
    Assignee: Truth Incorporated
    Inventors: Daniel G. Tucker, Gregory J. Vetter
  • Patent number: 4625455
    Abstract: A swinging gate operating mechanism having a crank and links which withdraw and insert the locking bolt as the linkages pass over center, and aligning linkage centers to allow the mechanism to rotate freely with a pair of indexing links to prevent the gate from rebounding out of the latch as the bolt impacts the jam post.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1986
    Inventors: Robert W. Harris, William R. Weber
  • Patent number: 4539775
    Abstract: A locking mechanism for coach door leaves of the type which are rotated and then driven axially upward by a powered door operating mechanism. Male and female locking bodies at the top of the door leaf shaft move together and apart axially without being radially engaged as the door leaf moves in or out at final closed position. Any external outward pushing force on the door leaf radially engages the locking bodies to prevent door opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1985
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew M. Madonio, Michael H. Gulick
  • Patent number: 4361985
    Abstract: A hydraulically operated tailgate door which is pivotally hinged to move in an arc about the door hinge until the door is substantially vertical in position adjacent the door frame. Means are provided to enable the door to be moved substantially parallel to the door frame during movement from the closed position to a locked position. The same hydraulic cylinders provided for raising and lowering the door are also utilized for locking and unlocking the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1980
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1982
    Assignee: NFE International Ltd.
    Inventor: Thomas M. DeMarco
  • Patent number: 4308691
    Abstract: An apparatus for locking a door leaf comprising a turnable shaft secured to the door by an arm to drive the door in opening and closing movements under the action of a piston-drive which produces slight axial movement of the shaft as the door approaches the closed position. A first locking element is fixed to the door frame and a second locking element is fixed to the door, the locking elements having wedge-shaped noses which interengage and lock the locking elements when the door is closed and the shaft is lifted. The locking element on the door frame includes an axial extension overlapping the nose of the locking element on the door to form an abutment to limit the degree of angular closure of the door. The axial extension can carry a friction-reducing insert to facilitate relative movement between the noses when the door is lifted at the end of the closure movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1980
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1982
    Assignee: Firma Gebr. Bode & Co.
    Inventor: Manfred Horn
  • Patent number: 3990739
    Abstract: A rear door control mechanism for a stack-forming implement having a compressor roof first raises the door vertically to unlatch it and then rotates the door about an elevated and horizontally transverse axis to permit stack unloading. The door control mechanism functions independently of the compression roof and other wagons' mechanical systems and assures positive door unlatching before the opening mechanism attempts to open the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1975
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1976
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Glenn Dale Head