JP2000345748A - Trunk-lid latch mechanism for car releasable from inside and its releasing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an improved trunk-lid latch mechanism. SOLUTION: A push button extended through a housing 12 so as to operate a lock releasing pawl from the inside of a trunk component is added to the outside of the housing 12 for the latch mechanism. A section extended through the housing 12 for the latch mechanism so as to be brought near easily from the inside of the trunk component is formed to the releasing pawl. A cam operating the releasing pawl is formed to a rotary knob so as to be able to be brought near to the outside of the housing 12 for the latch mechanism from the inside of the trunk component. According to such constitution, the existing trunk-lid latch mechanism is improved simply without a substantial change, and the trunk-lid latch mechanism can be operated from the inside of the trunk component.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a latch device for securely closing a vehicle trunk lid and releasing the trunk lid manually or automatically.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, vehicles equipped with a backrest of a rear seat which can be divided and opened so that long objects which cannot be accommodated and transported in the vehicle can be accommodated obliquely via a trunk constituent member. Is provided. This collapsible backseat backrest is an attractive nuisance for children playing in unmanned vehicles, and unfortunately in the trunk component where the backseat backrest is folded down. In some cases, a child entered and pulled the backrest of the backseat into the locked position, trapping the child in the trunk.
In order to prevent such a situation from reoccurring, it is necessary to provide a release mechanism that allows access to the trunk lid latch mechanism from the inside so that the trunk lid can be released from the inside of the trunk component.

Generally, in a trunk lid latch mechanism for a vehicle, an electromagnetic solenoid or a solenoid is used to move a toggle mechanism for releasing a latch bolt member, in addition to a trunk lock release mechanism operated by an external key provided at a rear portion of the vehicle. Uses a pull cable that can be remotely controlled from the driver's seat. An example of a known trunk lid latch mechanism is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,382,763. The trunk lid latch mechanism is very economical when mass-producing vehicles, and it is desired to provide a function to release the trunk lid latch mechanism from the inside without substantially changing the latch mechanism.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to be accessible from the inside of the trunk without substantially altering or modifying the existing trunk lid latch mechanism.
An object of the present invention is to provide a release mechanism of a solenoid operated trunk lid latch mechanism which can be easily added to an existing trunk lid latch mechanism.

[0005]

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a cam formed on a release member of a latch mechanism which is released by a spring-biased push button, a solenoid or an external trunk key lock. A portion is provided that is in operable contact with the surface.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the release member of the existing latch mechanism has an extension formed outside the housing or casing of the latch mechanism and accessible from the inside of the trunk. ing.

According to yet another embodiment of the present invention,
A rotary knob or a pivotally mounted knob is provided outside the housing of the latch mechanism. When the knob is rotated, the cam moves to operate the existing latch release claw.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an embodiment of the present invention is shown. The mechanism 10 has a housing 12 with mounting flanges 14, 16 for mounting the housing (casing) to either a vehicle trunk lid (not shown) or a vehicle trunk component (not shown). ing. Trunk lids or trunk components are widely used in currently manufactured passenger cars.

The mechanism 10 of the present invention is intended to be engaged with a latch surface 18 formed on a latch member provided on a vehicle lid or a vehicle trunk component. Generally, when designing a vehicle, the latch surface 18
A closed portion of the loop-shaped wire member (latch member) 20 is formed so as to extend into a notch 22 formed in the housing 12 when the trunk lid is closed. FIG. 1 shows the latch member 20 in the lid release position.
The latch surface 18 is shown in solid lines and the lid closed position is shown in dashed lines, and the latch member 20 contacts the impact surface 27 of the pivotally mounted latch bolt member 24,
The latch bolt member 24 is turned to the position shown by the dotted line in FIG. As a result, the lower engagement portion 26 of the latch bolt member 24 comes into contact with the latch surface 18 of the latch member 20 as indicated by the dotted line. The latch bolt member 24 is pivotally mounted on a shaft or bearing 25 provided in the housing.

The claw member 28 is pivotally mounted on a shaft or bearing 30 provided in the housing 12, and when the ratchet bolt member 24 moves to the position shown by the dotted line in FIG. It engages with a locking surface 34 formed on the outside of the end of the engagement portion 26. Thus, the pawl member 28 has the engaging portion 32 that holds the engaging portion 26 of the latch bolt member at the position indicated by the dotted line. The claw member 28 is urged by a spring (not shown) to a dotted line position, that is, a lock position. This spring constitutes an armature return spring of the coil 38.

The claw member 28 has an extension 36 extending from the pivot shaft 30 in the direction opposite to the claw portion.
Numeral 6 is arranged at a position where it comes into contact with the armature (not shown) of the solenoid coil 38 and is moved by the armature. The extension 36 of the claw member is connected to a cable 40, which is
And extends to the rotary key lock mechanism 44 via the armor 42. The key lock mechanism houses a lock cylinder (not shown) accessible from the outside of the trunk component or the trunk lid. It is conventionally known that a key is inserted into a cylinder lock mechanism (not shown), the rotor 45 of the key lock mechanism 44 is rotated, and the cable 40 is pulled to move the extension portion 36 and the claw member 28.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a housing 1 is shown.
2 has an auxiliary housing part 46 arranged to cover an opening 48 formed in a side wall of the housing, and the auxiliary housing part 46 has an opening or notch 50 formed in an upper wall thereof. ing. As shown in FIG. 2, the plunger member 52 has a button portion with reference numeral 54, which button portion extends outwardly upward from the opening 50. The plunger member 52 has an opening 4 substantially perpendicular to the button portion 54 as shown in FIGS.
8 has a projection 56 extending inside the housing 12.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the extension 36 is provided with a cam surface 58 which may be formed integrally with the extension or may be integrated with an existing extension structure. Can be molded as a separate part to be mounted. The plunger member can be moved by the user pressing the button 54, so that the plunger member slides in the auxiliary housing portion 46 to overcome the urging force of the return spring 60 and move the protrusion 56 with respect to the cam 58. Thereby, the claw member can be moved to the position indicated by the dotted line in FIG. When the extension 36 of the claw member is moved to the position indicated by the dotted line in FIG. 2, the lower portion of the claw member 28 is moved to the position indicated by the solid line in FIG.
Then, the lock mechanism is released from the latch surface 18 to open the trunk lid (not shown).

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, there is shown another embodiment of the present invention. The mechanism 70 includes a housing or casing 72 and a shaft 7 provided in the housing 72.
6 or a latch bolt 74 pivotally attached to the bearing. The latch bolt 74 is provided with a notch or notch forming an engagement portion 78 and a holding surface 8 formed at an outer end of the engagement portion.
It has 0. The engagement portion of the latch bolt is provided on a latch surface 82 of a latch member 84 provided on one of a trunk lid (not shown) or a trunk component (not shown).
The housing 72 is provided on the other of the trunk lid or the trunk constituent member. The pawl member 86 is pivotally mounted on a shaft or bearing 88 provided in the housing. The claw member 86 has an extension 90 extending upward from the claw portion 86 on the side opposite to the shaft 88.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the claw member is located at a position moved by an armature (not shown) of a solenoid coil 92 mounted on the housing 72. Also, a cable 94 is attached to the claw extension 90 and extends outside the housing 72 via a sheath 96 to be operated by a mechanism 98. This mechanism 98 is commonly equipped in currently manufactured vehicles and is provided with a key lock cylinder (not shown) that engages a rotor 100 connected to a cable 94 from outside the trunk lid or trunk components. Operated. The claw member 86 is urged to a locked position indicated by a dotted line by a not-shown torsion spring or an armature return spring of the coil 92. The latch bolt member 74 is biased by a torsion spring 79 to a position shown by a solid line.

The claw member extension 90 has a push button or lug 102 that extends outwardly from an opening 104 formed in the housing 72. The button 102 is operated by manually operating the claw member 86 so that the engagement portion 78 of the latch bolt is engaged.
Can be accessed from the inside of the trunk component so as to release. By moving the button 102 to the position shown by the dotted line, the lower part of the claw member 86 is moved to the unlock position shown by the solid line.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, there is shown still another embodiment of the present invention. Trunk clutch mechanism 110 includes an outwardly extending tab 11 for attaching a housing (casing) to either a trunk lid (not shown) or a trunk component (not shown).
It has a housing 12 with 4,116.

The latch bolt member 118 is connected to the housing 1
12 is pivotally mounted on a shaft or bearing 120 provided on
It has a groove or notch that forms the meshing portion 122 and has a holding surface 124 at the outer end of the meshing portion. The latch bolt 118 has an unlatched position or unlocked position indicated by a solid line in FIG.
It occupies a latched position, shown in dashed lines, that engages the latch surface 126 of 28. The latch member is attached to the trunk lid or the other of the trunk components.

The torsion spring 130 biases the latch bolt 118 to the unlock position. When the latch member 128 moves relative to the latch bolt 118 (ie, closing the trunk lid), the latch member 12
8 engages the latch bolt impact surface 132, and the latch bolt engagement portion 122 moves to the position shown by the dotted line to engage the latch surface 126.

The pawl portion 134 is pivotally mounted on a shaft or bearing 136 provided on the housing 112, and the pawl portion 134 has a mating portion 138 that engages the retaining surface 124 of the latch bolt 118. 5 can be moved between a locked position indicated by a dotted line and an unlocked position indicated by a solid line in FIG.

The pawl member 134 has an extension 140 extending upwardly on the opposite side of the shaft 136 in the opposite direction from the pawl portion 134. The extension 140 is formed with a lever portion 142 that extends upward through an opening 144 formed in the upper portion of the housing 112.
The extension 140 of the claw member 134 is connected to the solenoid coil 14.
6, the lower part of the claw member 134 is moved by the armature from the locked position shown by the dotted line to the unlocked position shown by the solid line. A cable 148 is attached to the extension 140 of the claw, and the housing 1 is
12 extends from outside to a manual unlocking mechanism 152 having a rotor 154. As is known in the art, the rotor is operated by a key lock cylinder (not shown) accessible from outside the trunk.

Therefore, the lever portion 142 is accessible from the inside of the trunk and can be manually moved from the position shown by the solid line to the position shown by the dotted line. Claw member 13
By moving the lower part of 4 to the unlock position shown by the solid line, the lock of the trunk lid can be easily released from the inside of the trunk component.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, there is shown still another embodiment of the latch mechanism of the present invention. Latch mechanism 160 includes a housing 16 having mounting flanges or tabs 164, 166 extending in opposite directions for mounting the housing to either a trunk lid (not shown) or a trunk component (not shown).
Two. When the lid (not shown) is closed, the housing 162 has a latch member 170 attached to either the trunk lid or the trunk component.
A notch or groove 168 is formed to receive the notch. The latch member 170 includes the housing 1.
When moved relative to 62 (i.e., closing the lid, not shown), a latch surface 172 is formed that engages the closed position shown in phantom in FIG. During closure of the lid, the latch member 170 engages the latch bolt impact surface 180 to pivot the latch bolt to the position shown in dashed lines in FIG. As a result, the engagement portion 174 is connected to the latch surface 1 of the latch member 170.
72.

When the latch bolt 176 moves to the latch position, ie, the lock position indicated by the dotted line in FIG.
Is rotated about a shaft or bearing 184 provided in the housing, so that the engagement portion 186 of the pawl member 182 is engaged with a holding surface 188 formed on the outer end of the latch bolt 176. The latch bolt 176 is connected to the torsion spring 19.
0 urges the lock member 182 to the unlock position, and the claw member 182 is urged to the lock position by a spring (not shown). This spring can be constituted by an armature return spring (not shown) of the coil 196.

The claw member 182 has an extension 192 extending upward, and an operation surface, that is, a raised portion 194 is formed on the extension. Also, the extension 192
Is connected to an armature of a solenoid coil 196 (not shown). When the solenoid coil is excited,
The extension 192 moves to rotate the lower portion of the claw member 182 about the shaft 184 from the locked position shown by the dotted line to the unlocked position shown by the solid line.

A cable 198 is attached to the extension 192 of the claw member 182 and extends outside the housing 162 via the armor 200 of the cable. The cable 198 includes a lock mechanism 204.
Are mounted. The locking mechanism is
As is well known in the art, a key lock cylinder (not shown) is provided in the rotor so as to be accessible from outside the trunk.

An opening 2 is provided above the housing 162.
And a pivot knob or lever 210 for pivotally receiving a shaft portion 208 thereof. Knob 210
A rotating cam 212 arranged in the housing 162 is formed on the shaft portion 208 of the shaft. When the knob 210 is rotated, the rotating cam 212 slides on the contact surface 194 to perform a cam action. The lower portion 182 of the pawl member is moved from the locked position to the unlocked position. Outside the latch mechanism housing 162, the lever or knob 210 is accessible from inside the trunk.

Operating members 54, 10 that can be operated by the user
2, 142 and 210 can be made of a light-emitting member or a light-collecting member so that the light can be recognized even in a weak state.

As described above, the present invention provides a technique that can easily modify an existing vehicle trunk lid latch mechanism to release the trunk lid from the inside of the trunk constituent member.

Although the present invention has been described based on the illustrated embodiments, the present invention can be modified and changed, and these are included in the scope of the present invention.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an operation mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention, from which a cover portion is removed.

FIG. 2 is a partial top view with the housing according to the embodiment of FIG. 1 removed;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1 according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2 according to the embodiment of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 1, according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 2 according to the embodiment of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 1, according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 2 according to the embodiment of FIG. 7;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Mechanism 12 Housing 14, 16 Flange 18 Latch surface 20 Latch member 22 Notch 24 Latch bolt member 25 Shaft 26 Lower meshing portion 27 Collision surface 28 Claw member 30 Axis 32 Meshed portion 34 Lock surface 36 Extension 38 Solenoid coil 40 Cable 42 Armor Device 44 Key lock mechanism 45 Rotor

Continuation of front page (71) Applicant 390033020 Eaton Center, Cleveland and Ohio 44114, U.S.A. S. A. (72) Inventor Lawrence Tomczak, USA 48363 Mountin Laurel Court, Auckland 3550 (72) Inventor Marc Joseph Diturio Michigan, United States 48329 Waterford, Lower Drive 4855

Claims (16)

[Claims] (1) a structure having a latch surface formed inside one of the lid and the trunk component; and (b) a structure disposed on one of the other of the lid and the trunk component. A housing having a latch bolt movably engaged with the latch surface when the trunk component is closed; and (c) incorporated into the housing and moving when disengaging the latch bolt from the latch surface. (D) a solenoid mounted on the housing and having an armature that is movable when excited to move the claw member; and (e) the lid is manually closed. Sometimes, the armature and the claw member are arranged so as to be accessible from the inside of the trunk constituent member outside the housing and move the armature. A release member for releasing the latch bolt from the latch surface; a trunk component for a vehicle and a latch mechanism for a lid releasable from the inside of the trunk component. 2. The latch mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said release member has a light emitting surface. 3. The claw member has an extension, and
The latch mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the release member contacts the extension to move the armature. 4. The latch mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said release member is a plunger. 5. The latch mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the release member is a member that can rotate with respect to the housing. 6. The latch mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said release member is a tension cable. 7. The latch mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said release member is a plunger biased by a spring. 8. The latch mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said release member is a pull cable having a tag at a free end. 9. The latch mechanism according to claim 8, wherein said tag is caulked to said cable. 10. The latch mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said pawl member has a cam surface that contacts said release member. (A) forming a latch surface inside one of the trunk component and the lid; and (b) disposing the latch bolt in the housing so as to move. (C) disposing a claw member on the housing, and selecting the claw member from a group consisting of (i) a key lock and (ii) a remotely operated electric motor. (D) disposing a release member having a portion that is accessible from the inside of the trunk outside the housing to the housing; (e) moving the release member and moving the claw Moving the vehicle to release the latch bolt from the latch surface; and releasing the vehicle trunk lid from the inside of the trunk. Law. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of disposing a release member comprises disposing a plunger in the housing for sliding. 13. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of disposing a release member comprises attaching a pull cable to the pawl. 14. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of disposing a release member includes extending a portion of the pawl outside the housing. 15. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of positioning a release member comprises mounting a member that pivots on the housing. 16. The method of claim 11, wherein moving the pawl member includes camming.