IP Library Granted Patent US 7,857,362
Granted Patent B2
US 7,857,362 · App. 11/666,955 · Granted Dec 28, 2010

Lock for two-notch locking bolt comprising a single switch

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,857,362
App. No.
11/666,955
Granted
Dec 28, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

A lock for an opening panel. The lock includes a rotary bolt with first and second locking notches, a strike which can be engaged in the bolt in order to lock the opening panel, a retaining pawl including at least one tooth which co-operates with the locking notches of the bolt in order to lock same in relation to the first or second locking notch, and a switch which is controlled with a control lever. The switch has two states which indicate if the lock is open or closed. In addition, the switch includes a mechanical element which co-operates with the control lever when the lock is closed, such that the switch indicates that the lock is closed only when the tooth of the retaining pawl co-operates with the second locking notch of the bolt. The mechanical element includes a pawl which maintains the control lever in position, thereby preventing the switch from changing from the first state to the second state.

Claims (23)

1. A lock for an opening panel, comprising:

a locking bolt that is able to rotate between an unlock position, an intermediate position, and an unlock position, wherein the locking bolt comprises:

a first locking notch and a second locking notch,

a striker able to engage in said locking bolt in order to hold the opening panel closed,

a retaining pawl having tooth collaborating with the first and second locking notches of the locking bolt in order to engage with the first or the second locking notch to maintain the lock in the intermediate position or the lock position, respectively,

a switch configured to indicate a first state corresponding to the lock being in the “unclosed” state and a second state corresponding to the lock being in the “closed” state,

wherein the switch is operated by an operating lever configured to move between a rest position, in contact with the switch to place it in its first state, and an extreme position, not in contact with the switch to place it in its second state, comprising:

a mechanical means collaborating, upon closure, with the operating lever and the retaining pawl of the lock so that the switch indicates the second state, only when the tooth of the retaining pawl is collaborating with the second locking notch of the locking bolt, wherein the mechanical means comprises a holding pawl for retaining the operating lever in position, wherein a lug of the retaining pawl comes into contact with the holding pawl to force the latter to release the operating lever,

wherein holding said operating lever in position by the holding pawl prevents the switch from changing from the first state to the second state,

wherein when the lock is being opened, the locking bolt returns the operating lever from its extreme position to its rest position.

2. The lock as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the lug of the retaining pawl contacts the holding pawl when the tooth of the retaining pawl passes the second locking notch of the locking bolt.

3. The lock as claimed in claim 1 , wherein contact between the operating lever and the switch is achieved via a plunger, said plunger being able to move between a position in which it protrudes from the switch and a position in which it is retracted inside said switch.

4. The lock as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the operating lever is moved under the action of a return spring whose action is to bring said operating lever into its extreme position.

5. The lock as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the operating lever is able to rotate in a plane perpendicular to the plane in which the locking bolt rotates.

6. The lock as claimed in claim 1 , wherein it comprises a closure-assist mechanism, said assist mechanism being stopped when the switch detects that the lock is in the “closed” position.

7. The lock as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the operating lever is held in position by the holding pawl only when the lock is closed.

8. The lock as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the operating lever is moved under the action of a return spring whose action is to bring said operating lever into its extreme position.

9. The lock as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the operating lever is able to rotate in a plane perpendicular to the plane in which the locking bolt rotates.

10. The lock as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the operating lever is able to rotate in a plane perpendicular to the plane in which the locking bolt rotates.

11. The lock as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the operating lever is able to rotate in a plane perpendicular to the plane in which the locking bolt rotates.

12. The lock as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the operating lever is able to rotate in a plane perpendicular to the plane in which the locking bolt rotates.

13. The lock as claimed in claim 3 , wherein when the lock is being opened, the locking bolt returns the operating lever from its extreme position to its rest position.

14. The lock as claimed in claim 4 , wherein when the lock is being opened, the locking bolt returns the operating lever from its extreme position to its rest position.

Assignments (4)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 30, 2015
From: CAM FRANCE SAS
To: U-SHIN FRANCE SAS
Reel/Frame 036235/0629 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 22, 2015
From: VALEO SECURITE HABITACLE
To: CAM FRANCE SAS
Reel/Frame 036159/0089 →
CHANGE OF ADDRESS OF ASSIGNEE Recorded Jul 17, 2015
From: VALEO SECURITE HABITACLE
To: VALEO SECURITE HABITACLE
Reel/Frame 036128/0633 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 2, 2007
From: DEBLOCK, LUC
To: VALEO SECURITE HABITACLE
Reel/Frame 019307/0118 →