IP Library Granted Patent US 12,252,917
Granted Patent B2
US 12,252,917 · App. 18/319,056 · Granted Mar 18, 2025

Vehicle door latch security tether

Inventors: Eugene A. Dylewski, II (Granger, IN); Ernest M. McDonald, II (Granger, IN)
Assignee: Leer Group
E05C9/085E05B13/004E05B83/22E05B85/10E05C3/042E05C3/046
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,252,917
App. No.
18/319,056
Granted
Mar 18, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A vehicle that includes a door, handle, shaft, and a latch assembly is provided. The latch assembly is coupled to the door to selectively secure the door. The latch assembly includes a security tether configured to prevent the shaft from moving the pawl when the lock lever is located in the locked condition. The security tether further includes: a plate attachable to the latch assembly; the plate includes an aperture sized to receive at least a portion of the lock lever that is disposed through the aperture; the plate includes first and second stop surfaces to limit movement of the lock lever; the first and second stop surfaces are also spaced apart from each other; the lock lever is movable between the first and second stop surfaces; at least the first stop surface is spaced apart from the first location on the pawl; and the lock lever engages the first stop surface when the lock lever is located in the locked condition to prevent the pawl from moving to the unlatched condition and unlatching the latching assembly.

Claims (33)

1. A security tether for a latch assembly of a truck cap, which covers a rear bed of a pickup truck, wherein the latch assembly includes a pawl that is movable between a latched condition and an unlatched condition, a lock assembly with a lock lever that is engageable with the pawl when the lock assembly is in a locked condition and disengageable from the pawl when the lock assembly is in an unlocked condition, wherein the security tether is configured to provide an additional security feature to the lock lever, the security tether comprising:

a plate configured to be attached to the latch assembly adjacent the lock assembly;

wherein the plate is configured to be non-movable with respect to the lock assembly;

wherein the plate includes at least one opening disposed therein and configured to receive at least a portion of the lock lever of the lock assembly; and

wherein the at least one opening of the plate includes a stop surface configured to limit movement of the lock lever when the lock assembly is in the locked condition which provides the additional security feature to the lock lever when the lock assembly is in the locked condition.

2. The security tether of claim 1 , further comprising a fastener configured to secure the plate to the latch assembly.

3. The security tether of claim 2 , wherein the plate is configured to be fastened to the latch assembly.

4. The security tether of claim 1 , wherein the stop surface is extended through the plate.

5. The security tether of claim 1 , wherein the at least one opening in the plate extends through the plate.

6. The security tether of claim 1 , wherein the plate further includes a second opening sized to receive a fastener.

7. The security tether of claim 1 , wherein the stop surface extends along a portion of a periphery of the at least one opening.

8. A security tether for a latch assembly of a truck cap, which covers a rear bed of a pickup truck, wherein the latch assembly includes a pawl that is movable between a latched condition and an unlatched condition, a lock assembly with a lock lever that is engageable with the pawl when the lock assembly is in a locked condition and disengageable from the pawl when the lock assembly is in an unlocked condition, wherein the security tether is configured to provide an additional security feature to the lock lever, the security tether comprising:

a plate configured to be non-movable with respect to the lock assembly;

wherein the plate includes at least one opening disposed therein configured to receive at least a portion of the lock lever of the lock assembly; and

wherein the at least one opening of the plate includes a stop surface which is engageable with the lock lever to provide the additional security feature to the lock assembly when in the locked condition.

9. The security tether of claim 8 , further comprising a fastener configured to secure the plate to a latch assembly.

10. The security tether of claim 9 , wherein the plate is configured to be fastened to the latch assembly.

11. The security tether of claim 8 , wherein the stop surface is extended through the plate.

12. The security tether of claim 8 , wherein the at least one opening in the plate extends through the plate.

13. The security tether of claim 8 , wherein the plate further includes a second opening sized to receive a fastener.

14. The security tether of claim 8 , wherein the stop surface extends along a portion of a periphery of the at least one opening.

15. A security tether for a latch assembly of a truck cap, which covers a rear bed of a pickup truck, wherein the latch assembly includes a pawl that is movable between a latched condition and an unlatched condition, a lock assembly with a lock lever that is engageable with the pawl when the lock assembly is in a locked condition and disengageable from the pawl when the lock assembly is in an unlocked condition, wherein the security tether is configured to provide an additional security feature to the lock lever, the security tether comprising:

a plate configured to be attached to the latch assembly adjacent the lock assembly;

wherein the plate is configured to be non-movable with respect to the lock assembly;

wherein the plate includes at least one opening disposed therein configured to receive at least a portion of the lock lever of the lock assembly;

wherein the at least one opening extends through the plate;

wherein the at least one opening also extends outwardly from the plate;

wherein the at least one opening has a periphery;

wherein the periphery of the at least one opening of the plate terminates where the at least one opening extends outwardly from the plate; and

wherein the periphery of the at least one opening of the plate includes a stop surface configured to limit movement of the lock lever condition which provides the additional security feature to the lock lever when the lock assembly is in the locked condition.

16. The security tether of claim 15 , further comprising a fastener configured to secure the plate to the latch assembly.

17. The security tether of claim 16 , wherein the plate is configured to be fastened to the latch assembly.

18. The security tether of claim 15 , wherein the stop surface is extended through the plate.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 5, 2025
From: LEER GROUP
To: TRUCK ACCESSORIES GROUP, LLC D/B/A LEER GROUP
Reel/Frame 073126/0503 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 17, 2023
From: DYLEWSKI, EUGENE A., II; MCDONALD, ERNEST M., II
To: TRUCK ACCESSORIES GROUP, LLC
Reel/Frame 063673/0892 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 17, 2023
From: TRUCK ACCESSORIES GROUP, LLC
To: LEER GROUP
Reel/Frame 063691/0973 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation 17458793 · Aug 27, 2021
Continuation 16562656 · Sep 6, 2019
Continuation 14928003 · Oct 30, 2015
Provisional Application 62073608 · Oct 31, 2014
Related Publication 20230287716A1 · Sep 14, 2023
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