Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Thomas Grzanka

Robert Milne

Thomas Joseph Kowalewski

Vasanth Suratkal

Eric Michael Fischer

Matthew John Karl

Lloyd Walker Rogers, Jr

Gary D Bree

John Ion Moceanu

Narhari C Mistry

Lawrence Youhanian

A trunk lid has an externally operated key lock cylinder that operates a latch mechanism inside the trunk by a cable assembly. The key lock cylinder is connected to the cable assembly by a universal actuator assembly including a housing having a ferrule for attachment to a sheath of the cable assembly. The universal actuator assembly further includes an attachment sleeve that is attached to the key lock cylinder in a predetermined angular orientation. The attachment sleeve has one end disposed in the chamber of the housing, with the one end having a plurality of radial teeth that engage radial lugs in the housing to index the sleeve with respect to the housing in a selected angular orientation to reduce the length of the cable assembly that is required. A rotor rotatably disposed in the housing has a central drive aperture for being driven by the key lock cylinder and an eccentric connector aperture for driving the cable assembly. A plurality of eccentric connector apertures may be provided to increase versatility.

Universal actuator assembly

A deck lid may be released via rotation of a latch release shaft. A pinion gear is operably connected with the release shaft for rotating the release shaft. An electric motor has a gear meshing with the pinion gear and is energizable to rotate the pinion gear. An electrical switch is located inside the vehicle for energizing the electric motor. According to the invention, a blocking member is movably mounted on the latch and movable between a normal disengaged position, permitting rotation of the pinion gear by the motor, and a blocking position in which the blocking member engages the pinion gear to block rotation thereof by the electric motor. In a preferred embodiment, the blocking member is slidably mounted on the latch and the pinion gear has a toothed periphery with a cutout into which the blocking member is slid to block rotation of the pinion gear, thereby causing the motor to stall.

Valet block out for deck lid latch

A vehicle door latch system including a deadbolt locking mechanism. The deadbolt locking mechanism is disengaged manually from outside the vehicle using the key cylinder. The manual deadbolt disengagement mechanism is effective in disengaging the deadbolt in the event of total vehicle power loss. The deadbolt mechanism includes a power driven rack.

Deadbolt locking system

The disclosure involves a lock and control assembly which can be either manually operated after insertion of a key in a lock cylinder or electrically energized by a switch from a remote location so that it can be thereafter manually manipulated without insertion of the key in the lock cylinder. The lock and control assembly also includes a mechanical override means to enable it to be actuated to its locked position, but not its unlocked position, in the event of an electrical power failure or a failure in the energizable means.

Lock and control assembly for a vehicle tailgate

Growing community of inventors

Lexington, MI, United States of America

Thomas Grzanka