Electronic latch apparatus and method

• US 6,848,286 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2002
• Issued: 02/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Strattec Security Corporation
• Original Assignee: Strattec Security Corporation
• Inventors: Dimig, Steven J.
• Primary Examiner(s): GALL, LLOYD A
• Application Number:
  US10/272,528
• Publication Number:
  US 20030094024A1
• Time in Patent Office: 840 Days
• Field of Search: 702/77, 702/787, 702/791, 701/49, 702/18, 704/72, 292/201, 292/216, 292/DIG.23, 292/DIG.27
• US Class Current: 70/277
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/90 Manual override in case of power failure
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 83/36 Locks for passenger or like doors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 292/27 Disconnectable handle
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1047 Closure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1082 Motor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5805 Freely movable when locked
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7062 Electrical type [e.g., solenoid]

Abstract

A latch assembly, comprising a control element having a pivot point and an actuator. The actuator has a first position in which the control element is engaged by the actuator for pivotal movement about the pivot point and a second position in which the control element is disengaged by the actuator from pivotal movement about the pivot point. The latch assembly further includes a ratchet arranged and configured for rotation with the control element when the control element is engaged by the actuator and for non-rotation when the control element is disengaged by the actuator. A highly preferred embodiment of the invention includes an automatic unlocking circuit powered by a backup power source.

Claims

1. A latch assembly, comprising:

a control lever having

a first path of motion and

a second path of motion;

an actuator;

an engagement element movable with respect to the actuator to engage and disengage the control lever, the control lever pivotable about the engagement element in one of the first and second paths of motion, the control lever being moveable in the first path of motion when the engagement element is engaged with the control lever and moveable in the second path of motion when the engagement element is disengaged from the control lever; and

a ratchet responsive to actuation of the control lever when the control lever is in one of the first and second paths of motion and non-responsive to actuation of the control lever when the control lever is in the other of the first and second paths of motion,

wherein the engagement element is at least partially received within the actuator.

2. The latch assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises at least one of a solenoid, an electric motor, a hydraulic cylinder, a pneumatic cylinder, a vacuum actuator and a manually actuated device.

3. The latch assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the engagement element is a pin adapted to mate with the control lever.

4. The latch assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the pin is coupled to the actuator for connection to and disconnection from the control lever at a pivot point.

5. The latch assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the control lever has an aperture therein for receiving the pin when the actuator is in the engaged position.

6. The latch assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control lever has an end for receiving force applied to the control lever externally of the latch assembly to rotate the control lever.

7. The latch assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least part of the engagement element is movable into and out of the actuator.

8. The latch assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a pawl located adjacent to the control lever and the ratchet, the pawl positioned substantially within the latch assembly to contact and be moved by the control lever when the control lever is pivoted about a pivot point.

9. The latch assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein both the pawl and the control lever are coupled by the engagement element for rotation when the engagement element is engaged with the control lever.

10. The latch assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein the pawl has a bearing surface and the control lever has a bearing surface, the bearing surfaces of the pawl and the control lever being in abutting and force-transmitting relationship when the engagement element is engaged with the control lever.

11. The latch assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein the control lever is substantially incapable of transmitting motive force to the pawl when the engagement element is disengaged from the control lever.

12. The latch assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein rotation of the control lever is substantially free from interference with the pawl when the engagement element is disengaged from the control lever.

13. The latch assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a second control lever having

a third path of motion and

a fourth path of motion;

a second actuator;

a second engagement element movable with respect to the second actuator to engage and disengage the second control lever, the second control lever pivotable about the second engagement element in one of the third and fourth paths of motion, the second control lever being moveable in the third path of motion when the second engagement element is engaged with the second control lever and moveable in the fourth path of motion when the second engagement element is disengaged from the second control lever; and

the ratchet being responsive to actuation of the second control lever when the second control lever is in one of the third and fourth paths of motion and non-responsive to actuation of the second control lever when the second control lever is in the other of the third and fourth paths of motion.

14. The latch assembly as claimed in claim 13, wherein the first control lever and the second control lever each have a connection point for connecting externally extending linking elements thereto, the first and second control levers being pivotable via force exerted upon the connection point of each lever by the externally extending linking elements.

15. A latch assembly, comprising:

a control element having a pivot point;

an actuator having a first position in which the control element is engaged by the actuator and a second position in which the control element is disengaged from the actuator;

an engagement element movable by the actuator between an extended position relative to the control element in which the engagement element is extended toward and coupled to the control element and a retracted position relative to the control element in which the engagement element is decoupled and withdrawn from the control element, the engagement element at least partially defining the pivot point when the control element is engaged by the actuator, the control element actuatable for pivotal movement about the pivot point when engaged by the actuator and actuatable for different movement when disengaged from the actuator; and

a ratchet arranged and configured for rotation responsive to motion of the control element when the control element is engaged by the actuator and for non-rotation when the control element is disengaged from the actuator.

16. The latch assembly as claimed in claim 15, further comprising a pawl disposed between the control element and the ratchet, the pawl having an at rest position and an actuated position in which the pawl is moved by the control element.

17. The latch assembly as claimed in claim 16, wherein the control element is a lever having a bearing surface and wherein the pawl has a bearing surface, the control element being capable of exerting motive force upon the pawl via the control element and pawl bearing surfaces when the control element is engaged by the actuator in the first position.

18. The latch assembly as claimed in claim 17, wherein the bearing surface of the control element and the bearing surface of the pawl are in sliding relationship with one another when the actuator is in the second position.

19. The latch assembly as claimed in claim 16, wherein the control element is substantially free to rotate without interference from the pawl when the control element is not engaged by the actuator.

20. The latch assembly as claimed in claim 15, wherein the ratchet is coupled with the control element and can be actuated thereby when the control element is engaged by the actuator in the first position.

21. The latch assembly as claimed in claim 15, wherein the pivot point is a first pivot point, and wherein the control element is pivotable about a second pivot point when the control element is disengaged from the actuator.

22. The latch assembly as claimed in claim 21, further comprising a pawl located adjacent to the control element and the ratchet, wherein the control element is capable of exerting force sufficient to move the pawl from a position in which the pawl interferes with movement of the ratchet to a position in which the pawl does not interfere with movement of the ratchet when the control element is engaged by the actuator in the first position.

23. The latch assembly as claimed in claim 15, wherein the actuator is a solenoid.

24. The latch assembly as claimed in claim 15, wherein the engagement element is a pin removably received within an aperture in the control element, thereby establishing a releasable coupled relationship between the engagement element and the control element.

25. The latch assembly as claimed in claim 15, wherein the control element is a first control element and wherein the actuator is a first actuator, the latch assembly further comprising:

a second control element having a second pivot point; and

a second actuator having a first position in which the second control element is engaged by the second actuator and a second position in which the second control element is released by the second actuator;

a second engagement element movable by the second actuator between an extended position relative to the second control element in which the second engagement element is extended toward and coupled to the second control element and a retracted position relative to the second control element in which the second engagement element is decoupled and withdrawn from the second control element, the second engagement element at least partially defining the second pivot point when the second control element is engaged by the second actuator, the second control element actuatable for pivotal movement about the second pivot point when engaged by the second actuator and actuatable for different movement when disengaged from the second actuator; and

the ratchet being arranged and configured for rotation responsive to movement of the second control element when the second control element is engaged by the second actuator, and for non-rotation when both the first and second control elements are released by the first and second actuators, respectively.

26. A latch assembly, comprising:

a control lever having

a pivot point,

a first control lever state in which the control lever is pivotable about the pivot point, and

a second control lever state in which motion of the control lever is different than motion of the control lever in the first control lever state;

an actuator having

a first actuator state in which the control lever is placed in the first control lever state and

a second actuator state in which the control lever is placed in the second control lever state;

an engagement element actuatable by the actuator, the engagement element extendible towards the control lever for engagement therewith in the first actuator state to at least partially define the pivot point and retractable from the control lever in the second actuator state to a position in which the engagement element is withdrawn away from the control lever; and

a pawl being moveable between a latched position and an unlatched position via motion of the control lever against the pawl.

27. The latch assembly as claimed in claim 26, wherein the control lever is pivotable about a second pivot point when the control lever is in its second control lever state.

28. The latch assembly as claimed in claim 26, wherein the actuator is a solenoid.

29. The latch assembly as claimed in claim 26, wherein the engagement element is a pin adapted to mate with the control lever.

30. The latch assembly as claimed in claim 26, wherein a portion of the engagement element is received within the actuator.

31. The latch assembly as claimed in claim 30, further comprising a ratchet adjacent the pawl, the pawl movable to different positions to control rotation of the ratchet.

32. A latch assembly, comprising:

a control element having a pivot point;

an actuator;

an engagement element movable by and with respect to the actuator to engage and disengage the control element, the engagement element at least partially defining the pivot point when the control element is engaged by the actuator, the control element actuatable for pivotal movement about the pivot point when engaged by the engagement element and actuatable for different movement when disengaged from the engagement element; and

a ratchet arranged and configured for rotation responsive to motion of the control element when the control element is engaged by the engagement element and for non-rotation when the control element is disengaged from the engagement element,

wherein the engagement element is removably received within an aperture in the control element, thereby establishing a releasable coupled relationship between the engagement element and the control element.

33. The latch assembly as claimed in claim 32, further comprising a pawl disposed between the control element and the ratchet, the pawl having an at rest position and an actuated position in which the pawl is moved by the control element.

34. The latch assembly as claimed in claim 33, wherein the control element is substantially free to rotate without interference from the pawl when the control element is not engaged by the engagement element.

35. The latch assembly as claimed in claim 32, wherein the ratchet is coupled with the control element and can be actuated thereby when the control element is engaged by the engagement element.

36. The latch assembly as claimed in claim 32, wherein the pivot point is a first pivot point, and wherein the control element is pivotable about a second pivot point when the control element is disengaged from the engagement element.

37. The latch assembly as claimed in claim 32, wherein the actuator is a solenoid.

38. The latch assembly as claimed in claim 32, wherein the engagement element is a pin.

39. The latch assembly as claimed in claim 32, wherein the control element is a first control element and wherein the actuator is a first actuator, the latch assembly further comprising:

a second control element having a second pivot point; and

a second actuator;

an second engagement element movable with respect to the second actuator to engage and disengage the second control element, the second engagement element at least partially defining the second pivot point when the second control element is engaged by the second engagement element, the second control element actuatable for pivotal movement about the second pivot point when engaged by the second engagement element and actuatable for different movement when disengaged from the second engagement element;

wherein the ratchet is arranged and configured for rotation responsive to motion of the second control element when the second control element is engaged by the second engagement element and for non-rotation when the second control element is disengaged from the second engagement element.

40. A latch assembly, comprising:

a control lever having

a first pivot point; and

a second pivot point;

an actuator;

an engagement element moveable by and with respect to the actuator and extendible toward and retractable from the control lever, the engagement element at least partially defining the first pivot point when the engagement element is in the extended position, the control lever being pivotable about the first pivot point when the engagement element is in the extended position and pivotable about the second pivot point when the engagement element is in the retracted position; and

a ratchet responsive to actuation of the control lever when the engagement element is in the extended position and non-responsive to actuation of the control lever when the engagement element is in the retracted position.

41. The latch assembly as claimed in claim 40, further comprising a pawl located adjacent to the control lever and the ratchet, the pawl positioned substantially within the latch assembly to contact and be moved by the control lever when the control lever is pivoted about the first pivot point.

42. The latch assembly as claimed in claim 41, wherein the control lever is substantially incapable of transmitting motive force to the pawl when the engagement element is retracted from the control lever.

43. The latch assembly as claimed in claim 41, wherein movement of the control lever is substantially free from interference with the pawl when the engagement element is retracted from the control lever.

44. The latch assembly as claimed in claim 40, wherein the engagement element is at least partially received within the actuator.

45. The latch assembly as claimed in claim 40, wherein the engagement element is a pin adapted to mate with the control lever.