US 12,281,502 B2
Load equalizer for latches of closure panels in motor vehicles
Mario Cappelli, San Giuliano Terme (IT); Sandro Bertini, Liverno (IT); and Francesco Cumbo, Pisa (IT)
Assigned to MAGNA CLOSURES INC., Newmarket (CA)
Filed by MAGNA CLOSURES INC., Newmarket (CA)
Filed on Sep. 10, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/566,465.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/851,916, filed on May 23, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/730,244, filed on Sep. 12, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2020/0080348 A1, Mar. 12, 2020
Int. Cl. E05B 81/20 (2014.01); E05B 79/20 (2014.01); E05B 81/06 (2014.01); E05B 81/36 (2014.01); E05B 81/64 (2014.01); E05B 83/38 (2014.01); E05B 85/26 (2014.01)
CPC E05B 81/64 (2013.01) [E05B 79/20 (2013.01); E05B 81/06 (2013.01); E05B 81/20 (2013.01); E05B 81/36 (2013.01); E05B 85/26 (2013.01); E05B 83/38 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A load balancing mechanism controlling concurrent operation of a pair of latches of a vehicle via first and second links connecting the pair of latches to an actuator, the actuator shared by the pair of latches, the load balancing mechanism comprising:
a housing for connecting to a body of the vehicle; and
a load balancer assembly movably mounted to the housing and operably interposed between the actuator and the first and second links, the load balancer assembly having an input operably coupled to the actuator to receive an actuation force from the actuator and a pair of outputs, each operably coupled to a respective one of the first and second links to distribute a respective portion of the actuation force to each of the first and second links;
wherein operation of the actuator causes operation of the load balancer assembly for driving the first and second links to cause operation of the pair of latches and wherein the actuator force is distributed differently between each of the first and second links by the load balancer assembly such that the respective portion of the actuation force for the first link is variable from the respective portion of the actuation force for the second link in response to a differential in resistance of the first and second links acting on the load balancer assembly.