Magnetic latch mechanism
AssigneeSouthco, Inc.
InventorsEric Carabalona, Kevin A. McCloskey, Robert B. Speers, Jr., Robin Talukdar
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A latch with dual rotary magnets is disclosed. The latch is particularly suited for releasably securing dual doors of a compartment in the closed position. Each rotary magnet helps secure in a closed position a respective door that is provided with a magnetic insert. Hook-like rotary pawls that rotate with the magnets provide for mechanical securing of the doors in the closed position. The latch is provided with a safety feature that makes the latch resistant to opening in the event that the vehicle in which the latch is installed is involved in a collision.
Claims58
A latching system for securing a first member in a closed position relative to a second member, the first member being movable between the closed position and an open position relative to the second member, the latching system comprising:
- a latch mechanism capable of being selectively placed in a latched configuration and an unlatched configuration;
- a motor drive located remotely from said latch mechanism;
- a Bowden cable connecting said motor drive to said latch mechanism,
- wherein said motor drive is capable of selectively operating said latch mechanism via said cable so as to place said latch mechanism in said unlatched configuration and thereby allow the first member to move from the closed position toward an open position relative to the second member, and
- wherein said motor drive comprises:
- a motor drive housing;
- a motor supported by said motor drive housing;
- a motor drive bar supported for rectilinear motion by said motor drive housing, said cable being attached to said motor drive bar at an end of said cable distal from said latch mechanism;
- transmission means for transmitting motive force from said motor to said motor drive bar,
- wherein energizing said motor causes said motor drive bar to move toward a retracted position and thereby pull said cable.
A latching system for securing a first door and a second door in closed positions relative to a third member, the first and second doors each being movable between the respective closed position and a respective open position relative to the third member, the latching system comprising:
- a first latch mechanism capable of being selectively placed in a latched configuration and an unlatched configuration;
- a second latch mechanism capable of being selectively placed in a latched configuration and an unlatched configuration;
- a motor drive located remotely from said first and second latch mechanisms;
- a first Bowden cable connecting said motor drive to said first latch mechanism;
- and
- a second Bowden cable connecting said motor drive to said second latch mechanism,
- wherein said motor drive is capable of selectively operating said first and second latch mechanisms via said first and second cables, respectively, so as to simultaneously place said first and second latch mechanisms in their unlatched configurations and thereby allow the first and second doors to move from their closed positions toward their open positions relative to the third member, and
- wherein said motor drive comprises:
- a motor drive housing;
- a motor supported by said motor drive housing;
- a motor drive bar supported for rectilinear motion by said motor drive housing, each of said first and second cables being attached to said motor drive bar at an end of each of said first and second cables that is distal from a respective one of said first and second latch mechanisms;
- transmission means for transmitting motive force from said motor to said motor drive bar,
- wherein energizing said motor causes said motor drive bar to move toward a retracted position and thereby pull both said first and second cables.
A latching system for securing a first member in a closed position relative to a second member, the first member being movable between the closed position and an open position relative to the second member, the latching system comprising:
- a latch mechanism capable of being selectively placed in a latched configuration and an unlatched configuration;
- a motor drive located remotely from said latch mechanism;
- a Bowden cable connecting said motor drive to said latch mechanism,
- wherein said motor drive is capable of selectively operating said latch mechanism via said cable so as to place said latch mechanism in said unlatched configuration and thereby allow the first member to move from the closed position toward an open position relative to the second member, and
- wherein said motor drive comprises:
- a motor drive housing;
- a motor supported by said motor drive housing;
- a sliding rack supported for rectilinear motion by said motor drive housing, said cable being attached to said sliding rack at an end of said cable distal from said latch mechanism;
- transmission means for transmitting motive force from said motor to said sliding rack, wherein energizing said motor causes said sliding rack to move toward a retracted position and thereby pull said cable.
A latching system for securing a first door and a second door in closed positions relative to a third member, the first and second doors each being movable between the respective closed position and a respective open position relative to the third member, the latching system comprising:
- a first latch mechanism capable of being selectively placed in a latched configuration and an unlatched configuration;
- a second latch mechanism capable of being selectively placed in a latched configuration and an unlatched configuration;
- a motor drive located remotely from said first and second latch mechanisms;
- a first Bowden cable connecting said motor drive to said first latch mechanism;
- and
- a second Bowden cable connecting said motor drive to said second latch mechanism,
- wherein said motor drive is capable of selectively operating said first and second latch mechanisms via said first and second cables, respectively, so as to simultaneously place said first and second latch mechanisms in their unlatched configurations and thereby allow the first and second doors to move from their closed positions toward their open positions relative to the third member, and
- wherein said motor drive comprises:
- a motor drive housing;
- a motor supported by said motor drive housing;
- a sliding rack supported for rectilinear motion by said motor drive housing, each of said first and second cables being attached to said sliding rack at an end of each of said first and second cables that is distal from a respective one of said first and second latch mechanisms;
- transmission means for transmitting motive force from said motor to said sliding rack,
- wherein energizing said motor causes said sliding rack to move toward a retracted position and thereby pull both said first and second cables.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.