Patent ID: 7234737
Filing Date: 2007-06-26
Classification: E05B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A latch comprising: a displacement member having a first displacement position, a second displacement position, a first displacement rest position between the first displacement position and the second displacement position, a third displacement position, a fourth displacement position, and a second displacement rest position between the third displacement position and the fourth displacement position; an actuator including an output movable between a first output position, a second output position, a third output position and a fourth output position which each correspond to a first latch status, a second latch status, a third latch status and a fourth latch status, respectively; and a stepper motor to drive the displacement member between the first displacement position, the second displacement position, the third displacement position, the fourth displacement position, the first displacement rest position, and the second displacement rest position, the displacement member engaging the output to move the output to the first output position when the displacement member is in the first displacement position, to the second output position when the displacement member is in the second displacement position, to the third output position when the displacement member is in the third displacement position, and to the fourth output position when the displacement member is in the fourth displacement position, wherein the first displacement position, the second displacement position, the first displacement rest position, the first output position and the second output position form a first status set, wherein the third displacement position, the fourth displacement position, the second displacement rest position, the third output position, and the fourth output position form a second status set, wherein the first latch status and the third latch status correspond to a first latch condition, and the second latch status and the fourth latch status correspond to a second latch condition, whereby powered movement of the displacement member from the first displacement rest position to the first displacement position and then powered returning of the displacement member to the first displacement rest position ensure the first latch status, powered movement of the displacement member from the first displacement rest position to the second displacement position and then powered returning of the displacement member to the first displacement rest position ensures the second latch status, powered movement of the displacement member from the second displacement rest position to the third displacement position and then powered returning of the displacement member to the second displacement rest position ensures the third latch status, and powered movement of the displacement member from the second displacement rest position to the fourth displacement position and then powered returning of the displacement member to the second displacement rest position ensures the fourth latch status, and wherein the displacement member and the output are engageable such that a latch status may be changed within one of the first status set and the second status set independently of the displacement member.