Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080282755 | LOCK APPARATUS AND METHOD - A codeable lock, operable by an authorized key, includes a housing defining a longitudinal axis, a lock cylinder positioned within the housing and selectively rotatable relative to the housing about the longitudinal axis, and a sidebar moveable between a locked position, in which at least a portion of the sidebar is engaged with the lock cylinder and the housing to prevent rotation of the lock cylinder relative to the housing, and an unlocked position, in which the sidebar is disengaged from at least one of the housing and the lock cylinder. The codeable lock also includes a codebar positioned within the lock cylinder. The codebar is moveable from an uncoded state to a coded state upon insertion of the authorized key into the lock cylinder and by securing the codebar to the sidebar. The codeable lock further includes a tumbler positioned within the lock cylinder and engaged with the codebar. | 11-20-2008 |
20110115605 | ENERGY HARVESTING SYSTEM - An energy harvesting system for use with a vehicle including an RF transmitter positionable in a vehicle and a key fob having an antenna configured to receive an RF signal from the RF transmitter and convert the RF signal to electrical energy, a power management circuit configured to distribute the electrical energy in the key fob, and an energy storage device configured to store at least some of the electrical energy converted from the RF signal. | 05-19-2011 |
20110162949 | ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION DEVICE AND METHOD - An electronic communications device such as a key fob is provided, and in some embodiments comprises a flexible film and a spacer layer defining at least one aperture. The flexible film can cover at least a portion of the spacer layer, and defines an exterior surface of the key fob. The flexible film includes at least one contact surface and a surface adjacent to the at least one contact surface. The at least one contact surface flexes when a force is applied in order to actuate at least one switch. | 07-07-2011 |
20110179836 | STEERING LOCK - An actuation device for a steering lock is operable to selectively lock a rotary steering member against rotation. A lockbolt is movable along a first axis between a steering member-locking position and a steering member-unlocking position. A shuttle is movable between a non-blocking position in which the shuttle does not obstruct movement of the lockbolt from the steering member-locking position to the steering member-unlocking position and a blocking position in which the shuttle obstructs movement of the lockbolt from the steering member-locking position to the steering member-unlocking position. An actuator is coupled to the shuttle and operable to move the shuttle from at least one of the non-blocking position and the blocking position to the other of the non-blocking position and the blocking position. The actuator has an output defining a second axis that is substantially perpendicular to the first axis. | 07-28-2011 |
20110220474 | ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION DEVICE AND METHOD - An electronic communications device such as a key fob is provided, and in some embodiments comprises a flexible film and a spacer layer defining at least one aperture. The flexible film can cover at least a portion of the spacer layer, and defines an exterior surface of the key fob. The flexible film includes at least one contact surface and a surface adjacent to the at least one contact surface. The at least one contact surface flexes when a force is applied in order to actuate at least one switch. | 09-15-2011 |
20110248588 | RESIDUAL MAGNETIC DEVICES AND METHODS - Residual magnetic locks, brakes, rotation inhibitors, clutches, actuators, and latches. The residual magnetic devices can include a core housing and an armature. The residual magnetic devices can include a coil that receives a magnetization current to create an irreversible residual magnetic force between the core housing and the armature. | 10-13-2011 |
20120039052 | ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION DEVICE AND METHOD - An electronic communications device such as a key fob is provided, and in some embodiments comprises a flexible film and a spacer layer defining at least one aperture. The flexible film can cover at least a portion of the spacer layer, and defines an exterior surface of the key fob. The flexible film includes at least one contact surface and a surface adjacent to the at least one contact surface. The at least one contact surface flexes when a force is applied in order to actuate at least one switch. | 02-16-2012 |
20120291499 | STEERING LOCK - A steering lock for selectively inhibiting rotation of a rotary steering member having a rib includes a lockbolt movable along a first axis between a steering member-locking position, in which a distal tip of the lockbolt is positioned in interference with the rib, and a steering member-unlocking position, in which the distal tip of the lockbolt is positioned out of interference with the rib. A shuttle is movable between a non-blocking position, in which the shuttle does not obstruct movement of the lockbolt from the steering member-locking position to the steering member-unlocking position, and a blocking position, in which the shuttle obstructs movement of the lockbolt out of the steering member-locking position. An actuator is coupled to the shuttle and operable to drive the lockbolt to the steering member-locking position by moving the shuttle from the non-blocking position to the blocking position. The lockbolt is unbiased along the first axis. | 11-22-2012 |
20120299313 | LATCH MECHANISM AND LATCHING METHOD - A latch includes a catch pivotable about a first axis between a latched position for retaining a striker and an unlatched position for releasing the striker. The catch has a cam surface. A pawl is pivotable about a second axis and is engageable with the cam surface of the catch. In some embodiments, the pawl secures the catch in the latched position by resting on a first portion of the cam surface, the curvature of which is substantially concentric with the second axis when the catch is in the latched position. The pawl is movable off of the first portion of the cam surface to release the catch from the latched position. The catch can be drivable toward the latched position by the pawl. | 11-29-2012 |
20130201591 | RESIDUAL MAGNETIC DEVICES AND METHODS - Residual magnetic locks, brakes, rotation inhibitors, clutches, actuators, and latches. The residual magnetic devices can include a core housing and an armature. The residual magnetic devices can include a coil that receives a magnetization current to create an irreversible residual magnetic force between the core housing and the armature. | 08-08-2013 |
20140069224 | STEERING LOCK - A steering lock for locking a rotary steering member against rotation. A lockbolt is movable along a first axis between steering member-locking and -unlocking positions. A shuttle moves between a non-blocking position, in which the shuttle does not obstruct movement of the lockbolt from the steering member-locking position, and a blocking position, in which the shuttle obstructs movement of the lockbolt out of the steering member-locking position. An actuator drives the lockbolt to the steering member-locking position by moving the shuttle to the blocking position. An output gear is drivable by the actuator. A rotary drive member has a first portion formed with gear teeth meshed with the output gear, and a second portion formed with a driving structure engaged with a follower structure of the shuttle, whereby the shuttle is configured to translate axially toward and away from the first axis when the rotary drive member rotates in place. | 03-13-2014 |
20140373665 | STEERING LOCK - A steering lock for inhibiting rotation of a rotary steering member having a rib. A lockbolt is movable along a first axis between steering member-locking and -unlocking positions. A shuttle moves between a non-blocking position, in which the shuttle does not obstruct movement of the lockbolt from the steering member-locking position, and a blocking position, in which the shuttle obstructs movement of the lockbolt out of the steering member-locking position. An actuator is coupled to the shuttle and operable to drive the lockbolt to the steering member-locking position by moving the shuttle from the non-blocking position to the blocking position. The lockbolt is unbiased along the first axis. | 12-25-2014 |