Electronic child safety locks

• US 6,157,090 A
• Filed: 08/18/1999
• Issued: 12/05/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: FCA US LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Daimler Chrysler Corporation (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Inventors: Vogel, Mark S., Hendry, Jeffrey C., Greene, Stephen J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackson, Stephen W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): POLK, SHARON A
• Application Number:
  US09/376,255
• Time in Patent Office: 475 Days
• Field of Search: 307/10.1, 307/10.2, 307/9.1, 340/426, 340/438, 340/825.18, 70/264
• US Class Current: 307/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 77/26 specially adapted for child safety
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 77/48 by electrical means
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 77/54 Automatic securing or unlocking of bolts triggered by certain vehicle parameters, e.g. exceeding a speed threshold triggered by vehicle collision E05B77/12
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/08 using electromagnets or solenoids

Abstract

An electronic child safety lock system in which an electronic switch in the front seat area of the vehicle provides input signal to a body control module. The body control module determines whether the lockout switch is in a locked or an unlocked position. The body control module generates control signals to operate electronic actuators to lock and unlock the child door lockout device, thereby enabling and disabling the rear doors from being opened from the interior of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A safety lock system for a vehicle door, comprising:

an interior door latch, the door latch having a latched position and an unlatched position, wherein in the unlatched position, the door may be opened and in a latched position, the door may not be opened;

a lockout device operatively connected to the door latch, the lockout device having a locked out position which disables operation of the door latch and an operative position which enables operation of the door latch;

a switch located remotely from the lockout device, the switch having a locked and an unlocked position, wherein the switch outputs a first electrical signal corresponding to the locked position and outputs a second electrical signal corresponding to the unlocked position, the switch including a push switch which toggles between the locked and the unlocked positions, a first circuit path having a first resistance and operative when the push switch is in the locked position, and a second circuit path having a second resistance and operative when the push switch is in the unlocked position;

a control module for receiving tie first and second electrical signals for the switch, the control module generating a control signal that varies in accordance with the first and second electrical signals; and

an actuator, the actuator being responsive to the control signal, wherein the actuator displaces the lockout device between the locked out and the operative positions.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the actuator comprises a solenoid having a member operatively connected to the lockout device, the solenoid being responsive to the output signal to displace the member, thereby displacing the lockout device between the locked out and operative positions.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a second interior door latch for operating a second door, the second door latch having a latched position and an unlatched position, wherein in the unlatched position, the second door may be opened and in a latched position, the second door may not be opened;

a second lockout device operatively connected to the second door latch, the second lockout device having a locked out position which disables operation of the second door latch and an operative position which enables operation of the second door latch; and

a second actuator, the second actuator being responsive to the control signal, wherein the second actuator displaces the second lockout device between the locked out and the operative positions.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the switch comprises:

a push switch which toggles between the locked and the unlocked positions;

a first circuit path having a first resistance and operative when the push switch is in the locked position; and

a second circuit path having a second resistance and operative when the push switch is in the unlocked position.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the actuator comprises a solenoid having a member operatively connected to the lockout device, the solenoid being responsive to the output signal to displace the member, thereby displacing the lockout device between the locked out and operative positions.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the actuator comprises a solenoid having a member operatively connected to the lockout device, the solenoid being responsive to the output signal to displace the member, thereby displacing the lockout device between the locked out and operative positions.

6. A safety lock system for a vehicle door, comprising:

an interior door latch, the door latch having a latched position and an unlatched position, wherein in the unlatched position, the door may be opened and in a latched position, the door may not be opened;

a lockout device operatively connected to the door latch, the lockout device having a locked out position which disables operation of the door latch and an operative position which enables operation of the door latch;

a switch located remotely from the lockout device, the switch having a locked and an unlocked position, wherein the switch outputs a first electrical signal corresponding to the locked position and outputs a second electrical signal corresponding to the unlocked position, the switch including a push switch which toggles between the locked and the unlocked positions, a first circuit path having a first resistance and operative when the push switch is in the locked position, and a second circuit path having a second resistance and operative when the push switch is in the unlocked position;

a control module for receiving the first and second electrical signals for the switch, the control module generating a control signal that varies in accordance with the first and second electrical signals;

an actuator, the actuator being responsive to the control signal, wherein the actuator displaces the lockout device between the locked out and the operative positions;

a second interior door latch for operating a second door, the second door latch having a latched position and an unlatched position, wherein in the unlatched position, the second door may be opened and in a latched position, the second door may not be opened;

a second lockout device operatively connected to the second door latch, the second lockout device having a locked out position which disables operation of the second door latch and an operative position which enables operation of the second door latch; and

a second actuator, the second actuator being responsive to the control signal, wherein the second actuator displaces the second lockout device between the locked out and the operative positions.