Strattec Security Corporation

Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation

Wacker Corporation

Stratec Security Corporation

Alan Ritz

Steven J Dimig

Gregory J Organek

Larry R Grimmer

Keith D Zirtzlaff

Scott M Town

Paul C Waller

Ben Dimig

Scott H Micoley

Thomas J Green

James M Gruden

Russell J Winberg

Scott G Klos

Brian J Munzel

Lucas J Boesel

Martin T Pilachowski

Kenneth R Hall

Adam Pirkey

Alexandre Y Reikher

Kevin G Clabots

A cancellation device for an automotive feature on a vehicle includes a lever to be manually moved relative to the vehicle from a first, neutral position to a second, non-neutral position to actuate the motor vehicle feature. The cancellation device also includes at least one magnet to move the lever back to the first, neutral position.

Cancellation device for an automotive feature

A cancellation device for an automotive feature on a vehicle includes a lever configured to be manually moved relative to the vehicle from a first, neutral position to a second, non-neutral position to actuate the automotive feature. The cancellation device also includes a detent pawl coupled to the lever such that the detent pawl moves with the lever, a detent spring configured to bias the detent pawl, a centering spring configured to bias the lever back to the first, neutral position, and a magnet configured to generate a force to hold the lever in the second, non-neutral position.

An ignition lock steering column lock includes a locking unit including a lockbolt selectively engageable with a steering member to prevent its rotation. A driver is operable to rotate about an axis in response to rotation of a key cylinder via a matched key. A solenoid assembly selectively prevents rotation of the driver. An armature of the solenoid assembly is movable toward a core when electric current is conducted through a coiled wire. The armature has a shape generally defining a plane and includes an axial end face configured to selectively interfere with an abutment of the driver such that force on the armature from the abutment in response to attempted rotation of the driver is directed generally along the plane.

Ignition lock steering column lock assembly

An ignition lock steering column lock includes a locking unit of the type having a lockbolt, a lockbolt carrier, and a spring-biased carrier pin engageable by a post slidably provided on a rotatable driver. The carrier pin is positioned on a steering column side of the driver. The operational positions of the lock are provided by detents formed on the driver.

In some embodiments, lock assemblies are disclosed which have a housing, a barrel, and at least one tumbler. In some cases, the lock is codeable after the lock assembly has been assembled. Although not required, some embodiments can be re-coded to a new code with and without disassembling the lock assembly. The tumbler(s) can be pivotable, while in other embodiments the tumbler(s) move in a substantially linear fashion. The tumbler(s) can be comprised of two pieces or portions, wherein one piece/portion of the tumbler(s) either directly or indirectly engages the coded surface of a key while the other piece/portion is positionable to prevent rotation of the barrel with respect to the housing. In some embodiments, the tumblers are external to the barrel.

Vehicular lock apparatus and method

In some embodiments of the present invention, a freewheeling lock assembly is provided that includes a housing at least partially defining a cavity and having a central axis, an actuator rotatably coupled to the housing and substantially axially fixed with respect to the housing, a lock cylinder received within the cavity, having a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration, and rotatable with respect to the housing in both the locked and unlocked configurations, and a clutch having a sleeve and a disk that are received by the cavity and that selectively couple the lock cylinder and the actuator for rotation together in response to rotation of the lock cylinder in one of the locked and unlocked configurations. In some embodiments, the lock cylinder remains substantially axially stationary with respect to the housing when rotated.

Freewheeling lock apparatus and method

A latch assembly having at least one control element having one path of motion in which a ratchet is moved to an unlatched position and another path of motion in which the ratchet is not so moved, the path of motion taken by the control element dependent upon whether an engagement element is engaged with the control element or disengaged therefrom. Preferably, the control element moves the ratchet by contact with a pawl which itself can be engaged with the ratchet. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, two or more unlatching inputs are capable of unlatching the latch assembly. However, two or more of these inputs are in series rather than in parallel so that the number of paths ending at the element or device holding the latch in its latched state is preferably fewer than the number of unlatching inputs to the latch assembly. A preferred embodiment of the present invention also employs a mechanical actuation assembly that can transmit actuation force from a control element to an engagement element in order to change the engaged state of the engagement element (and thereby to place the control element or another control element in a locked or unlocked state). The present invention also provides a fast-acting two stage actuator employing magnetic force to quickly and directly or indirectly hold an element to be controlled until an armature of the actuator can be engaged therewith.

Latch apparatus and method

A free-wheeling lock assembly includes a case and a drive mechanism which is adapted for coupling to a latching mechanism. The drive mechanism includes a lock barrel supported within the case for rotational and axial movement relative to the case and a driver releasably coupled to the lock barrel but fixed against axial movement. The drive mechanism further includes first and second slidebars supported within the case for axial movement relative to the case. The slidebars are coupled to the lock barrel by tumblers of the lock assembly, and translate the lock barrel axially with respect to the driver, decoupling the driver from the lock barrel in response to rotation of the lock barrel when the tumblers are in a locking position. However, the tumblers permit relative axial movement between the first and second slidebars and the lock barrel when the tumblers are in a releasing position, permitting the lock barrel to rotate the driver for operating the latching mechanism.

Free wheeling lock assembly

A sidebar for use for automotive locks and all sidebar locks includes an interruption in an edge along the surface to interrupt the inclined plane that is formed when the sidebar becomes canted relative to the longitudinal axis of the lock barrel as the result of the insertion of an incorrectly coded key, in particular a cousin key, into the lock barrel. In one embodiment, the interruption is provided by a gap at or near the longitudinal midpoint of the sidebar. The gap is of sufficient size to accommodate the sidebar biasing spring. In another embodiment, the interruption is provided by indenting the sides of the sidebar at the longitudinal midpoint of the sidebar. In a further embodiment, the sidebar groove in the sleeve is widened at a location corresponding to the longitudinal midpoint of the sidebar.

Lock with a center gap sidebar

A trash pump having a mixed flow impeller has a housing with a rear wall through which the impeller shaft extends. A large front opening in the housing is sealingly closed by a readily detachable cover member wherein there is a port through which water enters the housing. Attached to the rear of the cover member is a volute that is received in the housing through said front opening therein and whereby water centrifuged from the impeller is guided in spiral flow to a side outlet in the housing. The rear portion of the volute, wherein there is an opening through which the impeller can pass, is adjacent to the rear wall of the housing all around the shaft. A front wall of the volute has an inlet opening in register with said port and has a rearwardly opening recess concentrically surrounding said inlet opening. An annular liner of tough elastomeric material, received in said recess, has a conical rearwardly divergent rear surface slightly spaced from front edge portions of the impeller vanes. Wear of the liner is compensated for by inserting shims in front of it in the recess.

Trash pump with resilient liner

Vibration dampening and heat sink mechanism for a reciprocating hand-held saw has a carrier guide with limited axial and radial movement positively controlled by an eccentric. The carrier guide serves both as a counterweight and a heat sink. A drive shaft for an eccentric to provide such limited axial and radial movement also drives a wobble mechanism for reciprocating a saw blade carrier slidably mounted in the carrier guide. The center of gravity of the carrier guide travels in an elliptical path. The relative movement of the carrier guide with respect to the saw blade carrier and their relative weights are such that a substantial or near perfect balance may be obtained when aggressive orbital action of the saw blade and saw blade carrier is used as in the case of cutting wood. The location and mass of the carrier guide effects a heat sink for the heat generated by friction due to relative reciprocating motion of the slidably mounted saw blade carrier. Lag angle is defined as the angular difference if any, between the position of the eccentric shaft and the wobble shaft which results in the delay of the opposing axial movement of the carrier guide with respect to the saw blade carrier. The following examples will demonstrate this: when the Lag Angle is 0.degree., the axial movement of the carrier guide is opposite (180.degree. out of phase) that of the saw blade carrier. The relative weight of the carrier guide and the saw blade carrier in conjunction with the relative motion described produce near perfect axial balance. When the Lag Angle is 30.degree., the opposing axial movement of the carrier guide lags by 30.degree. (210.degree. out of phase) that of the saw blade carrier. This results in a small sacrifice of the axial counterbalancing effect of the carrier guide.

Growing community of inventors

Brookfield, WI, United States of America

Alan Ritz