Vehicle lock controlled by a shape memory alloy actuator
First Claim
1. A child lock assembly for enabling and disabling operation of an automotive vehicle door handle lever, said child lock assembly comprising:
- a housing;
a manually operated child lock lever pivotally mounted to said housing and operatively coupled to the vehicle door handle lever, said child lock lever movable between an unlocked position enabling operation of said door handle lever and an unlocked position disabling operation of said door handle lever, said child lock lever including a knob protruding from said housing for manually actuating said child lock lever between said locked and unlocked positions;
a power child lock lever pivotally mounted to said housing, said power child lock lever including a claw for engaging a post extending from said child lock lever thereby kinematically coupling said child lock lever and said power child lock lever to pivot together; and
at least first and second selectively contractible wires, each of said first and second wires extending between a first end connected to said housing and a second end connected to said power child lock lever, whereby a controller, connected to a voltage source, electrically activates one of said first and second wires to pivot said power child lock lever in a first direction and electrically activates the other one of said first and second wires to pivot said power child lock lever in a second direction, thereby causing said child lock lever to pivot between said locked and unlocked positions.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A contractible shape memory alloy (SMA) wire is used to throw a lever in a latch. The SMA actuator provides weight and space savings. In one embodiment, the SMA actuator is incorporated in the handle of the latch in order to provide a child lock or double lock function. The handle has a lever which includes a relatively short slot leg and a relatively long slot leg. A toggle sits in the slot. At least one SMA wire is connected to the toggle to move it between the relatively short slot leg, wherein the lever is prevented from pivoting, and the relatively long slot leg, where the lever is enabled to pivot. In another embodiment, the SMA actuator is embedded in the latch itself, and used to throw a lever that controls the child lock function.
63 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A child lock assembly for enabling and disabling operation of an automotive vehicle door handle lever, said child lock assembly comprising:
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a housing; a manually operated child lock lever pivotally mounted to said housing and operatively coupled to the vehicle door handle lever, said child lock lever movable between an unlocked position enabling operation of said door handle lever and an unlocked position disabling operation of said door handle lever, said child lock lever including a knob protruding from said housing for manually actuating said child lock lever between said locked and unlocked positions; a power child lock lever pivotally mounted to said housing, said power child lock lever including a claw for engaging a post extending from said child lock lever thereby kinematically coupling said child lock lever and said power child lock lever to pivot together; and at least first and second selectively contractible wires, each of said first and second wires extending between a first end connected to said housing and a second end connected to said power child lock lever, whereby a controller, connected to a voltage source, electrically activates one of said first and second wires to pivot said power child lock lever in a first direction and electrically activates the other one of said first and second wires to pivot said power child lock lever in a second direction, thereby causing said child lock lever to pivot between said locked and unlocked positions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A child lock assembly for enabling and disabling operation of an automotive vehicle door handle lever, said child lock assembly comprising:
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a housing; a manually operated child lock lever pivotally mounted to said housing and operatively coupled to the door handle lever, said child lock lever movable between an unlocked position enabling operation of the door handle lever and a locked position disabling operation of the door handle lever; a power child lock lever pivotally mounted to said housing and directly engaging said child lock lever thereby kinematically coupling said child lock lever and said power child lock lever to pivot together; and at least first and second selectively contractible wires each having one end connected to said power child lock lever, whereby a controller, connected to a voltage source, electrically activates one of said first and second wires to pivot said power child lock lever in a first direction and electrically activates the other one of said first and second wires to pivot said power child lock lever in a second direction, thereby causing said child lock lever to pivot between said locked and unlocked positions. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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Specification