Start/stop engine button assembly incorporating an automated button cover

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10814830-B2
Application number	US-201815928924-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 22, 2018
Priority date	Mar 22, 2018
Publication date	Oct 27, 2020
Grant date	Oct 27, 2020

Abstract

A start/stop engine button assembly includes a start/stop engine button, a button cover, displaceable between a closed position and an open position, and an actuator that functions to displace the button cover between the closed position and the opened position.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A start/stop engine button assembly, comprising:
an engine button housing;
a start/stop engine button carried on said engine button housing;
a sliding button cover displaceable between a closed position and an opened position;
an actuator, sliding said sliding button cover along a first plane between said closed position and said opened position, connected to the engine button housing; and
a linkage connecting said engine button housing to said button cover, wherein (a) said button cover includes a first sliding door and a second sliding door, (b) said linkage includes a first link bar connecting said engine button housing to said first sliding door and (c) said linkage includes a second link bar connecting said engine button housing to said second sliding door.

2. The start/stop engine button assembly of claim 1 , including a first pivot pin connecting a first end of said first link bar to said engine button housing and a second pivot pin connecting a second end of said first link bar to said first sliding door.

3. The start/stop engine button assembly of claim 2 , including a third pivot pin connecting a third end of said second link bar to said engine button housing and a fourth pivot pin connecting a fourth end of said second link bar to said second sliding door.

4. The start/stop engine button assembly of claim 3 , further including a guideway, said first sliding door and said second sliding door being displaceable along said guideway.

5. The start/stop engine button assembly of claim 4 , further including a trim panel around said first sliding door and said second sliding door, said guideway being carried on said trim panel.

6. The start/stop engine button assembly of claim 5 , wherein said actuator is a linear actuator.

7. The start/stop engine button assembly of claim 5 , wherein said actuator includes a drive motor and a piston.

8. The start/stop engine button assembly of claim 7 , wherein said engine button housing is carried on said piston.

9. The start/stop engine button assembly of claim 1 , further including a control module configured to only open the button cover to allow access to the start/stop engine button when an individual in a driver's seat of a motor vehicle exceeds a predetermined weight.

10. A start/stop engine button assembly, comprising:
a start/stop engine button displaceable between a first position and a second position;
a sliding button cover displaceable between a closed position, concealing said start/stop engine button in said first position, and an opened position allowing access to said start/stop engine button in said second position;
a linear actuator displacing said start/stop engine button and sliding said sliding button cover along a first plane between the closed position and the opened position; and
a linkage and an engine button housing said linkage connecting said engine button housing to said button cover wherein said button cover includes a first sliding door and a second sliding door displaceable along a guideway in the first plane.

11. The start/stop engine button assembly of claim 10 , wherein said engine button housing is displaceable along a path in a second plane wherein said first plane is perpendicular to said second plane.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Hickman Guevara Alfonso
• Mercado Velazquillo David
• Alvarez Ruiz Raul Ezequiel
• Chavela Guerra Luis Jesus
• Olmos Gonzalez Luis

Classifications

• B60N2210/40

  Force or pressure sensors · CPC title

• B60N2/002

  Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon (detection means responsive to presence or absence of children B60N2/266) · CPC title

• H01H2239/04

  Gadget · CPC title

• B60R25/31

  of human presence inside or outside the vehicle · CPC title

• H01H2231/026

  Car · CPC title