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US 5,186,516 AGranted
Power latch system
AssigneeASC Incorporated
InventorsMichael P. Alexander, Allan J. Adams, Stephen P. Tokarz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A power latching mechanism for use on automobile closures is disclosed, comprising a pin member, a keeper member having a hollow cylindrical body which receives the pin member, a motor for urging engagement between the pin member and the keeper member, and a spring and associated hardware for selectively retaining the pin member in the keeper member. In one embodiment, the keeper member retentively engages the pin member when the pin member is manually inserted thereinto and is also manually disengagable.
Claims7
A power latching mechanism comprising:
- (a) a pin member which comprises:
- (1) a base portion for mounting to a convertible top or other surface;
- (2) a shank portion which attaches to the base portion and depends therefrom, the shank portion having a plurality of recesses therein and having an enlarged end opposite the base portion;
- (3) a pluality of engaging members, one to fit in each recess of the shank portion, the recesses being trough-shaped and oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shank portion and deeper at the ends thereof toward the base portion and shallower at the ends thereof toward the enlarged end to a maximum depth not exceeding the height of one of the engaging members;
- (4) a retaining sleeve which fits over the shank portion, the sleeve having a plurality of apertures in the sides thereof corresponding to the recesses in the shank portion, the apertures sized slightly smaller than the engaging members so as to retain the engaging members from passing therethrough, the enlarged end of the shank portion acting as a stop to retain the sleeve on the shank portion;
- and
- (5) means for biasing the sleeve towards the enlarged end of the shank portion, keeping the engaging members in the shallow ends of the recesses and thereby biasing the engaging members outwardly;
- (b) a keeper means having a body with a threaded cylindrical passageway formed therein for receiving the pin member;
- (c) means for rotatably urging engagement between the pin member and the keeper member by rotating the keeper member;
- and
- (d) means for retentively engaging the pin member in the keeper member when the pin member is manually inserted into the keeper member without rotation of either member.
8 more elements
A power latching mechanism comprising:
- (a) a pin member having a base portion for mounting to a vehicle surface and a substantially cylindrical shank portion which attaches to the base portion and extends therefrom, the shank portion being threaded on the outer surface thereof;
- (b) a keeper member having a hollow cylindrical body which receives the pin member, the pin member and keeper member being rotatably and threadably interengagable with one another, said keeper member comprising:
- (1) a pair of opposed pawls, each of said pawls having:
- (i) a ramp portion which engages the threads of the pin member;
- (ii) a notch formed along a lower surface thereof which opens radially inwardly and downwardly;
- and
- (iii) a cam follower projection disposed in the notch;
- (2) means for biasing the pawls inwardly in the keeper member;
- (c) means for rotating the cylindrical body of the keeper member to threadably engage the pin member with the keeper member;
- (d) means for retaining the pin member in the keeper member, said means for retaining being defined by said opposed pawls and means for biasing;
- and
- (e) manually operable means for moving the retaining means to allow disengagement of the pin member from the keeper member.
9 more elements
A power latching mechanism comprising:
- (a) a pin member having a base portion for mounting to a vehicle surface and a substantially cylindrical shank portion which attaches to the base portion and extends therefrom, the shank portion being threaded on the outer surface thereof;
- (b) a keeper member having a hollow cylindrical body which receives the pin member, the pin member and keeper member being rotatably and threadably interengageable with one another, the keeper member comprising:
- (1) a pair of opposed pawls, each of said pawls having:
- (i) a ramp portion which engages the threads of the pin member;
- (ii) a notch formed along a lower surface thereof which opens radially inwardly and downwardly;
- and
- (iii) a cam follower projection disposed in the notch;
- (2) means for biasing the pawls inwardly in the keeper member;
- and
- (3) a hollow cylindrical cam driver tube, the cam driver tube comprising a pair of radially outwardly projecting cams on an upper surface thereof and a geometric formation on a lower section thereof for engagement with a tool;
- (c) means for rotating the cylindrical body of the keeper member to threadably engage the pin member with the keeper member;
- (d) means for retaining the pin member in the keeper member, said means for retaining defined by said opposed pawls and means for biasing;
- and
- (e) manually operable means for moving the retaining means to allow disengagement of the pin member from the keeper member, said pawls and cam driver tube defining said manually operable means for actuating the retaining means to allow disengagement of the pin member from the keeper member.
11 more elements
A power latching mechanism comprising:
- (a) a pin member having a base portion for mounting to a vehicle surface and a substantially cylindrical shank portion which attaches to the base portion and extends therefrom, the shank portion being threaded on the outer surface thereof;
- (b) a keeper member having a hollow cylindrical body which receives the pin member, the pin member and keeper member being rotatably and threadably interengagable with one another, the keeper member comprising:
- (1) a pair of opposed pawls, each of said pawls having:
- (i) a ramp portion which engages the threads of the pin member;
- (ii) a notch formed along a lower surface thereof which opens radially inwardly and downwardly;
- and
- (iii) a cam follower projection disposed in the notch;
- (2) means for biasing the pawls inwardly in the keeper member;
- and
- (3) a hollow cylindrical cam driver tube, the cam driver tube comprising a pair of radially outwardly projecting cams on an upper surface thereof and a geometric formation on a lower section thereof for engagement with a tool;
- (c) means for rotating the cylindrical body of the keeper member to threadably engage the pin member with the keeper member;
- (d) means for retaining the pin member in the keeper member, said means for retaining defined by said opposed pawls and means for biasing;
- and
- (e) manually operable means for moving the retaining means to allow disengagement of the pin member from the keeper member, said pawls and cam driver tube defining said manually operable means for actuating the retaining means to allow disengagement of the pin member from the keeper member, wherein said engagement of the geometric formation and the tool causes the pawls to move radially outwardly to allow disengagement of the pawls from the pin member.
11 more elements
A power latching mechanism, comprising:
- (a) a pin member;
- (b) a keeper member having a hollow cylindrical body which receives the pin member, the pin member and keeper member being rotatably and threadably interengageable with one another;
- (c) means for rotating the cylindrical body of the keeper member to threadably engage the pin member with the keeper member;
- (d) means for retaining the pin member in the keeper member, said means for retaining including a plurality of engagement members which threadably engage said pin member and means for biasing said engagement members into engagement with said pin member;
- and
- (e) manually operable means for exerting an outward force on said engagement members to allow disengagement of the pin member from the keeper member without rotation of either the pin member or the keeper member body, said means for exerting being rotated to cause said engagement.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.