Combined vehicle window control and child safety locking device

• US 6,650,025 B2
• Filed: 09/13/2001
• Issued: 11/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Meritor Technology, Inc. (Cummins Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Meritor Light Vehicle Systems - France
• Inventors: Li, Mark Hao
• Primary Examiner(s): Riley, Shawn
• Application Number:
  US09/951,359
• Publication Number:
  US 20030042793A1
• Time in Patent Office: 796 Days
• Field of Search: 292/201, 292/144, 292/336.3, 292/DIG.23, 292/DIG.65, 180/271, 180/287, 180/289, 702/37, 702/77, 702/78, 307/10.1, 307/9.1, 200/5.R, 318/4, 318/14, 318/15, 49/72
• US Class Current: 307/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 1/08 arranged at vehicle sides
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 77/26 specially adapted for child safety
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/04 Electrical electrical circuits E05B81/54
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/56 Control of actuators

Abstract

A vehicle incorporating a switch, a window operable by a first power actuator, and a door having a child safety locking device operable by a second power actuator, the vehicle further including an associated window operating switch and an inside door opening handle for normal use by an occupant sitting adjacent the door, in which the switch is arranged to operate the second power actuator to put the child safety locking device into a child safety on condition, prevent the first power actuator from opening the window in response to operation of the associated window operating switch, and prevent the second power actuator from operating in response to operation of the inside door opening handle.

Claims

1. A control system for a vehicle door having a window operable by a window operating switch, a child safety locking device, and a door opening handle, the control system comprising:

a first power actuator that controls the window;

a second power actuator that operates the child safety locking device, wherein the child safety locking device prevents a vehicle door from opening in response to operation of the door opening handle during a child safety on condition;

a control switch operably coupled to the first power actuator and the second power actuator, wherein actuation of the control switch inhibits the first power actuator from opening the window in response to operation of the window operating switch and operates the second power actuator to place the child safety locking device into the child safety on condition.

2. A control system according to claim 1, wherein operation of the control switch simultaneously operates the second power actuator to put the child safety locking device into a child safety on condition, and inhibits the first power actuator from opening the window in response to operation of the associated window operating switch.

3. A control system according to claim 1, wherein the control switch further operates the second power actuator to put to child safety locking device into a child safety off condition.

4. A control system according to claim 1, wherein the control switch isolates the first actuator from the associated window operating switch.

5. A control system according to claim 1, wherein the control switch operates the first actuator to close the window.

6. A control system according to claim 1, wherein the control switch allows the window to be closed but not opened by operation of the window operating switch.

7. A control system according to claim 1, wherein the control switch prevents the window from being closed or opened by operation of the window operating switch.

8. A control system according to claim 1, wherein the control switch allows the window to close and prevents the window from being re-opened by operation of the associated window operating switch.

9. A control system to claim 1, wherein the control switch is located proximate a driver of the vehicle.

10. A control system for a vehicle having a plurality of windows, each window being operable by a corresponding window operating switch, at least one child safety locking device, and at least one door operating handle, the control system comprising:

a plurality of first power actuators, each first power actuator associated with one of said plurality of windows;

at least one second power actuator that activates said at least one child safety locking device, wherein the child safety locking device prevents a vehicle door from opening in response to operation of the door operating handle during a child safety on condition; and

a control switch operably coupled to the plurality of first power actuators and said at least one second power actuator, wherein actuation of the control switch inhibits at least two of said first power actuators from operating in response to operation of the corresponding window operating switch and actuates at least one second power actuator to place at least one child safety locking device into the child safety on condition.

11. The control system according to claim 10, wherein the control switch is movable between a first position, a second position, a third position, and a fourth position,

wherein the first position operates the plurality of windows, the second position operates a first one of the plurality of windows, the third position operates a second one of the windows, and the fourth position operates both the first and second ones of the windows.

12. A control system for a vehicle having at least one window, each window being operable by a corresponding window operating switch, a plurality of child safety locking devices, and at least one door operating handle, the control system comprising:

at least one first power actuator that actuates at least one of said plurality of windows;

a plurality of second power actuators, wherein each second power actuator activates one of said child safety locking devices, wherein the child safety locking device prevents a vehicle door from opening in response to operation of the door operating handle during a child safety on condition; and

a control switch operably coupled to said at least one first power actuator and the plurality of second power actuators, wherein actuation of the control switch inhibits at least one first power actuator from operating in response to operation of the corresponding window operating switch and actuates at least two of the second power actuators to place at least two child safety locking devices into the child safety on position.

13. A control system according to claim 12, wherein the control switch inhibits operation of at least two first power actuators in the same vehicle doors as said at least two actuated second power actuators.

14. A control system according to claim 12 wherein the control switch is operable between a first position, a second position, a third position, and a fourth position,

wherein the first position opens the vehicle doors, the second position puts a first child safety locking device into the child safety on condition, the third position puts a second child safety locking device into the child safety on condition, and a fourth position puts both the first and second child safety locking device into the child safety on condition.