# US 10,246,921 B2 · Keyless access for commercial vehicles

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- Number: US 10,246,921 B2
- Document ID: US10246921B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/090,912
- Filed: 2011-04-20
- Published: 2012-10-25
- Granted: 2019-04-02
- Earliest claimed: 2011-04-20
- Assignees: Spartan Motors, Inc.
- Applicants: Ernest M. McDonald, II; James M. Newcomer; Michael Andrew Smith; Samuel Francis Colalillo, Jr.; Shan Lentine; Marcia Ann Blevens
- Inventors: Ernest M. McDonald, II; James M. Newcomer; Michael Andrew Smith; Samuel Francis Colalillo, Jr.; Shan Lentine; Marcia Ann Blevens
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10246921B2

## CPC

- E05F 1/16: for sliding wings
- E05F 5/08: with springs
- G07C 9/00309: {operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks}
- E05Y 2201/408: for braking
- E05Y 2201/474: Compression springs
- E05Y 2201/488: Traction springs
- E05Y 2800/22: of not identical elements of the same category, e.g. combinations of not identical springs
- E05Y 2900/516: for trucks or trailers
- E05Y 2900/531: Doors
- E05Y 2900/532: Back doors or end doors
- G07C 2009/00507: {keyless data carrier having more than one function}
- E05F: DEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTO OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION; CHECKS FOR WINGS; WING FITTINGS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, CONCERNED WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF THE WING
- G07C: TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
- E05Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES E05D AND E05F, RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS, ELECTRIC CONTROL, POWER SUPPLY, POWER SIGNAL OR TRANSMISSION, USER INTERFACES, MOUNTING OR COUPLING, DETAILS, ACCESSORIES, AUXILIARY OPERATIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, APPLICATION THEREOF

## Abstract

A commercial vehicle used for parcel delivery is installed with a control module. The control module communicates wirelessly with a transmitter to give control to the vehicle operator. The vehicle operator can access the vehicle's cargo compartment through the bulkhead door and/or the rear door solely by using the transmitter as opposed to manually actuating the door latch. A door actuator is added to the bulkhead door such that when the bulkhead door is wirelessly actuated the door opens without operator assistance, and the process of the door opening does not damage the vehicle. Additionally, the vehicle operator can initiate the control module to allow a push-button start and stop of the vehicle's ignition system. Such elements contribute to time savings and cost savings for parcel delivery operators.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A keyless access system for a commercial vehicle having a cab compartment, a cargo compartment, a slideable bulkhead door, and a bulkhead wall separating the cab compartment from the cargo compartment, comprising:
an auto-opening bulkhead door actuator having an outer sheath configured to attach to the bulkhead wall, and an inner sheath configured to attach to the slideable bulkhead door, the auto-opening bulkhead door actuator having an inner retracting spring coupled at a first end to the outer sheath and at a second end to the inner sheath such that the inner sheath is retracted into the outer sheath when the inner retracting spring is in a quiescent state, an outer dampening spring, and an inner dampening spring;
a solenoid latch configured to attach to the bulkhead wall, the solenoid latch operable selectively to latch the bulkhead door in a closed position and to unlatch the bulkhead door to allow opening thereof;
a control module operably coupled to the solenoid latch to control operation thereof; and
a transmitter configured to relay an operator command to the control module to open the bulkhead door.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the inner retracting spring is stressed when the inner sheath is extended beyond the outer sheath.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The system of claim 2, wherein at least one of the outer dampening spring or the inner dampening spring is stressed when the inner retracting spring is in the quiescent state.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The system of claim 2, wherein retracting movement of the inner sheath under force of the inner retracting spring is dampened first by one of the outer dampening spring or the inner dampening spring and then second by another of the outer dampening spring or the inner dampening spring.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The system of claim 4, wherein the outer dampening spring and the inner dampening spring are different lengths when unstressed.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

The system of claim 2, wherein retracting movement of the inner sheath under force of the inner retracting spring is dampened by the outer dampening spring and the inner dampening spring.

### Claim 7 (depends on 2)

The system of claim 2, wherein the outer dampening spring and the inner dampening spring are configured to provide dual stage dampening of retracting movement of the inner sheath under force of the inner retracting spring.

### Claim 8 (depends on 2)

The system of claim 2, wherein the outer dampening spring and the inner dampening spring are configured to provide single stage dampening of retracting movement of the inner sheath under force of the inner retracting spring.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the transmitter comprises a wireless transmitter.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the transmitter comprises an ignition control module.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10, wherein the ignition control module includes a stop button, and wherein the ignition control module is configured to communicate with an ignition system of the commercial vehicle to turn off an engine thereof upon a first selection of the stop button.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the ignition control module is operably coupled to the control module and is configured to relay the operator command to the control module to open the bulkhead door upon a second selection of the stop button.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the ignition control module is operably coupled to the control module and is configured to relay the operator command to the control module to open the bulkhead door upon a second selection of the stop button within a predetermined period of time from the first selection.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the ignition control module includes a start button, and wherein the ignition control module is configured to communicate with the ignition system of the commercial vehicle to turn on the engine thereof upon a selection of the start button.

### Claim 15 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10, wherein the transmitter further comprises a wireless transmitter having at least one user selectable button thereon, and wherein operation of the ignition control module is enabled upon user selection of the button on the wireless transmitter.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the solenoid latch comprises an electrical solenoid, a lever configured to hold the bulkhead door in a closed position, and a solenoid connector arm coupled between the solenoid and the lever and configured to move the lever to unlatch the bulkhead door upon operation of the solenoid.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the commercial vehicle includes a rear door assembly configured to alternatively allow or prevent access to the cargo compartment from a rear thereof, further comprising:
a rear door solenoid latch operable selectively to latch the rear door in a closed position and to unlatch the rear door to allow opening thereof;
wherein the control module is further operably coupled to the rear door solenoid latch to control operation thereof; and
wherein the transmitter is further configured to relay a rear door open operator command to the control module to open the rear door.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The system of claim 17, further comprising a manual cam lock coupled to the rear door solenoid latch to allow manual unlatching of the rear door.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising a lock box configured to attach to the commercial vehicle and to hold a second transmitter, the lock box including a locking device to prevent unauthorized access to the second transmitter.

### Claim 20 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the control module is configured to receive power from a vehicle power supply, and to couple to an ignition system of the commercial vehicle to control operation of an engine of the commercial vehicle.

### Claim 21

An auto-opening bulkhead door actuator, comprising:
an outer sheath configured to attach to a bulkhead wall;
an inner sheath configured to attach to the bulkhead door;
an inner retracting spring coupled at a first end to the outer sheath and at a second end to the inner sheath such that the inner sheath is retracted into the outer sheath when the inner retracting spring is in a quiescent state;
an outer dampening spring; and
an inner dampening spring.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The auto-opening bulkhead door actuator of claim 21, wherein the inner retracting spring is stressed when the inner sheath is extended beyond the outer sheath.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

The auto-opening bulkhead door actuator of claim 22, wherein at least one of the outer dampening spring or the inner dampening spring is stressed when the inner retracting spring is in the quiescent state.

### Claim 24 (depends on 22)

The auto-opening bulkhead door actuator of claim 22, wherein retracting movement of the inner sheath under force of the inner retracting spring is dampened first by one of the outer dampening spring or the inner dampening spring and then second by an other of the outer dampening spring or the inner dampening spring.

### Claim 25 (depends on 24)

The auto-opening bulkhead door actuator of claim 24, wherein the outer dampening spring and the inner dampening spring are different lengths when unstressed.

### Claim 26 (depends on 22)

The auto-opening bulkhead door actuator of claim 22, wherein retracting movement of the inner sheath under force of the inner retracting spring is dampened by the outer dampening spring and the inner dampening spring.

### Claim 27 (depends on 22)

The auto-opening bulkhead door actuator of claim 22, wherein the outer dampening spring and the inner dampening spring are configured to provide dual stage dampening of retracting movement of the inner sheath under force of the inner retracting spring.

### Claim 28 (depends on 22)

The auto-opening bulkhead door actuator of claim 22, wherein the outer dampening spring and the inner dampening spring are configured to provide single stage dampening of retracting movement of the inner sheath under force of the inner retracting spring.

### Claim 29

A keyless access system for a commercial vehicle having a cab compartment, a cargo compartment, a slideable bulkhead door, and a bulkhead wall separating the cab compartment from the cargo compartment, comprising:
an auto-opening bulkhead door actuator having an outer sheath and an inner sheath, one of the outer sheath and the inner sheath configured to attach to the slideable bulkhead door and an other of the outer sheath and the inner sheath configured to attach to the bulkhead wall, the auto-opening bulkhead door actuator having a retracting mechanism coupled to between the outer sheath and the inner sheath, a dampening mechanism configured to at least reduce an impact force between the outer sheath and the inner sheath upon retraction thereof to prevent damage thereof;
a solenoid latch operable to selectively to latch the bulkhead door in a closed position and to unlatch the bulkhead door to allow opening thereof by the retraction mechanism;
a control module operably coupled to the solenoid latch to control operation thereof; and
a transmitter configured to relay an operator command to the control module to open the bulkhead door.