# US 8,770,453 B2 · Power lock assembly for vehicle roof rack

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 8,770,453 B2
- Document ID: US8770453B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/198,262
- Filed: 2011-08-04
- Published: 2013-02-07
- Granted: 2014-07-08
- Earliest claimed: 2011-08-04
- Assignees: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Chris Lang
- Inventors: Chris Lang
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8770453B2

## CPC

- E05B 73/0005: {using chains, cables or the like (chain- or cable-locks of the padlock type E05B67/003; lockable clothing hangers or hanger racks E05B69/006)}
- B60R 9/10: for cycles
- E05B 47/0004: {said core being linearly movable}
- E05B 47/0012: {with rotary electromotors (actuators with rotary electromotors per se H02K7/06, H02K23/68)}
- E05B: LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
- B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

A power lock assembly for a roof rack of a vehicle for releasably securing a valuable to the roof rack includes a lock mechanism and a shackle. The lock mechanism is fixedly connected to the roof rack, and is operable in a locked state and an unlocked state. The shackle is adapted to be releasably secured to the lock mechanism, and engages the valuable on the roof rack. The lock mechanism is electrically connected with a vehicle locking system for locking and unlocking a vehicle door, whereby locking the vehicle door places the lock mechanism in the locked state and unlocking the vehicle door places the lock mechanism in the unlocked state.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A power lock assembly for a roof rack of a vehicle for releasably securing a valuable to the roof rack, the power lock assembly comprising:
a lock mechanism fixedly connected to the roof rack, the lock mechanism operable in a locked state and an unlocked state; and
a shackle adapted to be releasably secured to the lock mechanism, the shackle engaging the valuable on the roof rack,
wherein the lock mechanism is electrically connected with a vehicle locking system for locking and unlocking a vehicle door, locking the vehicle door places the lock mechanism in the locked state to lock/secure the valuable to the roof rack via the shackle, and unlocking the vehicle door places the lock mechanism in the unlocked state,
wherein the lock mechanism includes:
a lock drive electrically connected to the vehicle locking system; and
a latch assembly operably connected to the lock drive, the latch assembly including a biasing member for biasing a lock member toward its locked position.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The power lock assembly of claim 1, wherein the latch assembly includes:
a lock member adapted to selectively engage the shackle; and
a rocker member adapted to engage the lock member in the unlocked state, each of the lock member and rocker member having a locked position and an unlocked position.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The power lock assembly of claim 2, wherein the latch assembly further includes:
a push button operably connected to the rocker member, in the unlocked state of the lock mechanism depression of the push button allowing the shackle to be disengaged from the lock mechanism.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The power lock assembly of claim 3, wherein the rocker member includes:
a first end portion pivotally connected to the push button; and
a second end portion connected to the lock drive, actuation of the lock drive pivoting the rocker member from its locked position to the unlocked position.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The power lock assembly of claim 2, wherein the lock member includes:
a projection; and
the rocker member includes a notch dimensioned to receive the projection as the lock mechanism is moved from the locked state to the unlocked state.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The power lock assembly of claim 1 in combination with the vehicle locking system, wherein the vehicle locking system includes:
a power door lock switch; and
a remote keyless entry system operable to move a power door lock of the vehicle door between a locked state and an unlocked state, the state of the lock mechanism being dependent on the state of the power door lock.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The combination of claim 6, further comprising:
an alarm adapted to alert a user of tampering with lock mechanism, the alarm being electrically connected to the vehicle locking system such that the alarm is activated when the power door lock is in the locked state and the alarm is deactivated when the power door lock is in the unlocked state.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The combination of claim 6, wherein the remote keyless entry system comprises:
a remote transmitter, and
a receiver, the transmitter configured to wirelessly communicate an electric signal to the receiver, the receiver configured to enable operation of the lock mechanism in response to the electric signal received from the transmitter, the latch mechanism moving from one of the locked state and unlocked state to the other of the locked state and unlocked state based on receiving the signal.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The combination of claim 8, further comprising a key fob, wherein the remote receiver is in the key fob.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The power lock assembly of claim 1 in combination with the vehicle roof rack, the roof rack including a rail, the power lock assembly including housing integrally formed with the rail.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The combination of claim 10, wherein the rail defines a channel, the housing being located within the channel.

### Claim 12

A roof rack for a vehicle comprising:
a first side rail and a second side rail spaced from the first side rail; and
a power lock assembly, the power lock assembly including:
a lock mechanism fixedly mounted to one of the first and second side rails, the lock mechanism operable in a locked state and an unlocked state based on a state of a power door lock for a vehicle door,
a shackle having end portions adapted to be releasably secured to the lock mechanism, wherein the lock mechanism is in the locked state when the power door lock is in a locked state and the lock mechanism is in the unlocked state when the power door lock is in an unlocked state,
a lock drive and a latch assembly, the latch assembly including a lock member adapted to selectively engage the shackle and a rocker member adapted to engage the lock member in the unlocked state, the rocker member includes an end portion connected to the lock drive, actuation of the lock drive automatically pivoting the rocker member into engagement with the lock member.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The roof rack assembly of claim 12, wherein the power lock assembly includes:
a housing,
the lock drive and latch assembly housed within the housing; and
a push button operably connected to the latch assembly for moving the lock mechanism to the unlocked state, depression of the push button allowing the shackle to be disengaged from the lock mechanism.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The roof rack assembly of claim 13, wherein the push button is operably connected to the rocker member.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The roof rack assembly of claim 14, wherein the rocker member includes:
a first end portion pivotally connected to the push button; and
a second end portion connected to the lock drive, the lock member including a projection and the rocker member includes a notch dimensioned to receive the projection.

### Claim 16 (depends on 12)

The roof rack assembly of claim 12 in combination with the vehicle locking system, wherein the vehicle locking system includes:
a power door lock switch; and
a remote keyless entry system operable to move the power door lock of the vehicle door between a locked state and an unlocked state, the remote keyless entry system including:
a remote transmitter, and
a receiver, the transmitter configured to wirelessly communicate an electric signal to the receiver, the receiver configured to enable operation of the lock mechanism in response to receiving the electric signal from the transmitter, the latch mechanism moving from one of the locked state and unlocked state to the other of the locked state and unlocked state based on receiving the signal.