Mechanism
First Claim
1. A door latch comprising a locking mechanism for selectively locking and unlocking the door latch, the locking mechanism comprising an input for operable connection to a door handle, a rheological fluid held within a cylinder, the fluid having a first state in which the fluid has a first viscosity and a second state in which the fluid has a second viscosity, the second viscosity being higher than the first viscosity, and an output operably connected to a release mechanism of the latch, the fluid acting so as to in the first state prevent actuation of the output and the release mechanism upon actuation of the input and in the second state permit actuation of the output and the release mechanism upon actuation of the input, the locking mechanism further comprising a piston slidably disposed in the cylinder, a ram connected to the piston, and a connecting arm pivotally interconnecting the ram, the input, and the output.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A mechanism for selectively locking and unlocking a vehicle door latch, comprising a rheological fluid in operable connection with an output and an input, the fluid acting so as to in a first state prevent actuation of the output upon actuation of the input and in a second state permit such actuation.
-
Citations
19 Claims
- 1. A door latch comprising a locking mechanism for selectively locking and unlocking the door latch, the locking mechanism comprising an input for operable connection to a door handle, a rheological fluid held within a cylinder, the fluid having a first state in which the fluid has a first viscosity and a second state in which the fluid has a second viscosity, the second viscosity being higher than the first viscosity, and an output operably connected to a release mechanism of the latch, the fluid acting so as to in the first state prevent actuation of the output and the release mechanism upon actuation of the input and in the second state permit actuation of the output and the release mechanism upon actuation of the input, the locking mechanism further comprising a piston slidably disposed in the cylinder, a ram connected to the piston, and a connecting arm pivotally interconnecting the ram, the input, and the output.
- 10. A keyless entry system comprising a locking mechanism for selectively locking and unlocking a vehicle door latch comprising an input connected to a handle suitable for operable connection a vehicle door, a rheological fluid, and an output operably connected to a door release mechanism of the latch, said fluid held within a cylinder and acting so as to in a first state prevent actuation of the output and the door release mechanism upon actuation of the input and in a second state permit actuation of the output and the door release mechanism upon actuation of the input, wherein the cylinder is at least partially surrounded by one or more objects capable of indacing at least one of a magnetic field and an electric field in said fluid, and the locking mechanism further comprises a piston slidably disposed in the cylinder, a ram connected to the piston, and a connecting arm pivotally interconnecting the ram, the input, and the output.
- 13. A vehicle door latch comprising a locking mechanism comprising an input suitable for operable connection to a door handle, a rheological fluid, and an output operably connected to a door release mechanism of the latch, said fluid held within a cylinder and acting so as to in a first state prevent actuation of the output and the door release mechanism upon actuation of the input and in a second state permit such actuation of the output and the door release mechanism upon actuation of the input, the cylinder at least partially surrounded by one or more objects capable of inducing at least one of a magnetic field and an electric field in said fluid, the locking mechanism further comprising a piston slidably disposed in the cylinder, a rain connected to the piston and movable in the cylinder to drive the piston, and a connecting arm pivotally interconnecting the rain, the input, and the output.
-
17. A door latch comprising a locking mechanism for selectively locking and unlocking the door latch, the locking mechanism comprising an input for operable connection to a door handle, a rheological fluid held within a cylinder, the fluid having a first state in which the fluid has a first viscosity and in a second state in which the fluid has a second viscosity, the second viscosity being higher than the first viscosity, and an output operably connected to a release mechanism of the latch the fluid acting so as to in the first state prevent actuation of the output and the release mechanism upon actuation of the input and in the second state permit actuation of the output and the release mechanism upon actuation of the input, the locking mechanism further comprising a piston slidably disposed in the cylinder, a ram connected to the piston, and a connecting arm pivotally interconnecting the ran, the input, and the output, wherein, when the fluid is in the first state, the piston and the ram are axially movable in the cylinder to allow pivotable movement of the connecting arm relative to the output without causing movement of the output upon movement of the input, and, when the fluid is in the second state, the piston and the ram are prevented from moving axially in the cylinder to allow pivotable movement of the connecting arm and the output relative to the ram upon movement of the input.
- 18. A door latch comprising a locking mechanism for selectively locking and unlocking the door latch, the locking mechanism comprising an input for operable connection to a door handle, a rheological fluid held within a cylinder, and an output operably connected to a release mechanism of the latch the fluid acting so as to in a first state prevent actuation of the output and the release mechanism upon actuation of the input and in a second state permit actuation of the output and the release mechanism upon actuation of the input, the locking mechanism further comprising a piston slidably disposed in the cylinder, a ram connected to the piston, and a connecting arm pivotally interconnecting the ram, the input, and the output, wherein the connecting arm comprises a first end and a second end opposite to the first end, the input comprises an input arm pivotally connected to the first end, the ram is pivotally connected to the second end, and the output comprises an output arm pivotally connected to the connecting arm at a position between the first end and the second end.
Specification