US 12,331,559 B2
Vehicle cabin security apparatus, systems, and methods
John Mahr, San Antonio, TX (US)
Filed by Execumahr LLC, Avon Lake, OH (US)
Filed on Mar. 28, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/191,331.
Prior Publication US 2024/0328213 A1, Oct. 3, 2024
Int. Cl. E05B 79/06 (2014.01); E05B 17/00 (2006.01); E05B 85/16 (2014.01)
CPC E05B 79/06 (2013.01) [E05B 17/0054 (2013.01); E05B 85/16 (2013.01)] 30 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A passenger vehicle door handle assembly, comprising:
a door lock configured to adjust a door of a passenger vehicle between a locked position and an unlocked position, the door lock comprising a lock assembly, a lock stem, and a key cylinder that extends from the lock stem;
a panel assembly configured to mount to the door, the panel assembly comprising a front panel portion and a back panel coupled to the front panel portion, the back panel comprising an aperture sized and configured to receive at least the lock assembly of the door lock into a slotted portion of the back panel;
a door handle comprising a first portion configured to pivotally couple to the panel assembly at a first end of the panel assembly, and a second portion comprising an opening configured to receive at least the lock stem of the door lock, the door handle rotatable about the first portion pivotally coupled to the panel assembly at the first end of the panel assembly in the locked position to expose the lock stem from the second portion of the door handle through the opening;
a sleeve sized to fit over the lock stem and configured to rotate about the lock stem in response to an external torque applied to the sleeve, the sleeve including a substantially constant inner opening dimension from a first end of the sleeve to a second end of the sleeve and configured to decouple the external torque applied to the sleeve from the lock stem to limit the external torque from being applied to the panel assembly through the lock stem sufficient to break the panel assembly by rotation of the lock stem exposed from the second portion of the door handle in response to the external torque, the lock stem rotatable within the sleeve in response to rotation of a key in the key cylinder to adjust the door between the locked position and the unlocked position; and
a ring member configured to fit over at least a portion of the door lock and adjacent the first end of the sleeve to maintain the second end of the sleeve at a particular position on the door lock.