US 12,252,917 B2
Vehicle door latch security tether
Eugene A. Dylewski, II, Granger, IN (US); and Ernest M. McDonald, II, Granger, IN (US)
Assigned to Leer Group, Elkhart, IN (US)
Filed by Leer Group, Elkhart, IN (US)
Filed on May 17, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/319,056.
Application 18/319,056 is a continuation of application No. 17/458,793, filed on Aug. 27, 2021, granted, now 11,655,657.
Application 17/458,793 is a continuation of application No. 16/562,656, filed on Sep. 6, 2019, granted, now 11,105,129, issued on Aug. 31, 2021.
Application 16/562,656 is a continuation of application No. 14/928,003, filed on Oct. 30, 2015, granted, now 10,407,953, issued on Sep. 10, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/073,608, filed on Oct. 31, 2014.
Prior Publication US 2023/0287716 A1, Sep. 14, 2023
Int. Cl. E05C 9/08 (2006.01); E05B 13/00 (2006.01); E05B 83/22 (2014.01); E05B 85/10 (2014.01); E05C 3/04 (2006.01)
CPC E05C 9/085 (2013.01) [E05B 13/004 (2013.01); E05B 83/22 (2013.01); E05B 85/10 (2013.01); E05C 3/042 (2013.01); E05C 3/046 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
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.