Circuit insulation methods and systems for vehicle door latches

• US 20090256365A1
• Filed: 04/11/2008
• Published: 10/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Spurr, Nigel V., Johnson, Curtis B., Gibson, Hugh D., Murchie, Duncan S., Kilker, Daniel D., Vorwald, Scott A., Kettle, Adrian T., Vaidhyanathan, Ajaykumar, Bechtold, Kenneth V., Hayes, Richard T., Crawford, Alex, Maxwell, Abanni B., Shelley, Michael J., Shannon, Patrick H., Madden, Gillian J., Eaton, William F.
• Application Number:
  US12/082,538
• Publication Number:
  US 20090256365A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 292/307.B
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/14639 for obtaining an insulating effect, e.g. for electrical components
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 17/0004 Lock assembling or manufacturing making locksmith's goods of sheet metal B21D53/38; assembling in general B23P21/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/54 Electrical circuits for locking several wings simultaneously E05B77/48
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/509 Encasing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7062 Electrical type [e.g., solenoid]

Abstract

An injection molding method and system for an electrical circuit utilized in vehicle door latch mechanisms is disclosed herein. A mold is generally provided in which a mold cavity is formed therein from walls of the mold. An electrical circuit associated with vehicle door latch and/or integrated with the vehicle door latch can be located within the mold cavity. A plastics material can then be injection molded into the mold cavity of the mold, wherein the plastics material covers and seals the electrical circuit to provide insulation and environmental protection to the electrical circuit.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a latch component comprising plastic and an electrical circuit;

wherein the electrical circuit comprises electrical components assembled to an electrical circuit board;

wherein the plastic encapsulates the electrical circuit whilst permitting a plurality of components to be connected electrically to the electrical circuit.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the latch component comprises at least one plastic mounting surface feature.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the latch component comprises at least one plastic pivot feature.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the latch component comprises at least one plastic flange feature.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the latch component comprises at least one plastic seal feature.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the latch component comprises at least one plastic mating feature.

7. A system comprising:

a latch component comprising plastic and an electrical circuit;

wherein the electrical circuit comprises electrical components assembled to an electrical circuit board;

wherein the plastic encapsulates the electrical circuit whilst permitting a plurality of components to be connected electrically to the electrical circuit; and

wherein the latch component is integrated within a latch mechanism and wherein the electrical circuit communicates electrically with said latch mechanism.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the latch component comprises at least one plastic mounting surface feature.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the latch component comprises at least one plastic pivot feature.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein the latch component comprises at least one plastic flange feature.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein the latch component comprises at least one plastic seal feature.

12. The method of claim 7 wherein the latch component comprises at least one plastic mating feature.

13. The method of claim 7:

wherein the latch component comprises at least one plastic mounting surface feature;

wherein the latch component comprises at least one plastic pivot feature;

wherein the latch component comprises at least one plastic flange feature;

wherein the latch component comprises at least one plastic seal feature; and

wherein the latch component comprises at least one plastic mating feature.

14. A system comprising:

a latch component comprising plastic and an electrical circuit;

wherein the electrical circuit comprises electrical components assembled to an electrical circuit board;

wherein the plastic encapsulates the electrical circuit whilst permitting a plurality of components to be connected electrically to the electrical circuit.

wherein the latch component is integrated within a latch mechanism and wherein the electrical circuit communicates electrically with said latch mechanism; and

wherein said latch mechanism comprises a vehicle door latch of a vehicle door latch assembly.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the latch component comprises at least one plastic mounting surface feature.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the latch component comprises at least one plastic pivot feature.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein the latch component comprises at least one plastic flange feature.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein the latch component comprises at least one plastic seal feature.

19. The method of claim 14 wherein the latch component comprises at least one plastic mating feature.

20. The method of claim 14:

wherein the latch component comprises at least one plastic mounting surface feature;

wherein the latch component comprises at least one plastic pivot feature;

wherein the latch component comprises at least one plastic flange feature;

wherein the latch component comprises at least one plastic seal feature; and

wherein the latch component comprises at least one plastic mating feature.