Latching system and latching method utilizing rheological material
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsConstantin Manolescu, Erin Rose Briggs, David Manuel Rogers
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An exemplary latching system includes, among other things, a striker, a latch assembly that engages the striker to transition the latch assembly to a latched position, and a bumper containing rheological material. The bumper contacts the striker when the latch assembly is in the latched position. An exemplary latching method includes, among other things, contacting a striker with a bumper when a latch assembly engages the striker in a latched position, and increasing a hardness of the bumper by aligning particles within rheological material of the bumper.
Claims15
A latching system, comprising:
- a striker;
- a latch assembly that selectively engages the striker to transition the latch assembly to a latched state, the latch assembly mounted on one of a vehicle door or a vehicle frame, the striker mounted on the other of the vehicle door or the vehicle frame;
- and
- a bumper containing rheological material, the bumper contacting the striker when the latch assembly is in the latched state, wherein the bumper comprises a bladder filled with the rheological material, wherein the bladder includes a rubber material, wherein the bladder directly contacts the striker when the latch assembly is in the latched state,
- wherein, to reduce relative movement of a vehicle body relative to the vehicle body, a hardness of the bumper is configured to be increased by aligning particles within the rheological material of the bumper.
A latching method, comprising:
- contacting a striker with a bumper when a latch assembly is engaging the striker in a latched state;
- and
- to reduce relative movement of a vehicle door relative to a vehicle body, increasing a hardness of the bumper by aligning particles within a rheological material of the bumper,
- wherein the rheological material is held within a bladder, wherein the bladder directly contacts the striker when the latch assembly is in the latched state.
A latching method, comprising:
- contacting a striker with a bumper when a latch assembly is engaging the striker in a latched state;
- increasing a hardness of the bumper by aligning particles within a rheological material of the bumper;
- decreasing the hardness of the bumper prior to transitioning the latch assembly to an unlatched state;
- and
- decreasing the hardness of the bumper in response to a vehicle transitioning from a drive gear to a parked gear.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.