Safety release for a trunk of a vehicle
First Claim
1. A release system adapted for use in opening a deck lid of a vehicle, said release system being positionable within a compartment at least partially closed by the deck lid, the compartment having a release mechanism for opening the deck lid, said release system being adapted for operation from the interior of the compartment and comprising:
- an electrically operable actuating device which is connectable to the release mechanism;
at least one of a manual input device and an occupant detector, said actuating device being operable to actuate the release mechanism to open the deck lid in response to a user input to said manual input device or a detection of an occupant within the compartment by said occupant detector.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A safety release assembly for a trunk or compartment of a vehicle is provided which is positionable within the trunk or compartment space of the vehicle so as to allow for opening of the trunk or compartment lid from within the trunk or compartment. The safety assembly comprises a handle for activating a release mechanism of the lid in order to open the compartment, a release assist device, at least one illumination source, which is at least occasionally activated to provide illumination of the handle, and a control for activating the assist device or the illumination source in response to an occurrence of at least one activating event such as when the deck lid is closed, motion is sensed by a sensor within the trunk/compartment, an object having a predetermined temperature is detected within the trunk/compartment, or the like. The handle is interconnected with the release mechanism of the compartment, such that movement of the handle results in activation of the release mechanism and thus opening of the lid. The assist device is operable to activate the handle or the release mechanism to ease the opening of the trunk or to automatically open the trunk in response to the control, and may be electrically powered, mechanically powered or gas powered. The control is operable to activate the illumination source for a period of time following occurrence of at least one activating event, and subsequently to deactivate the illumination source upon completion of that time period. The handle of the present invention is designed for easy visibility in minimal lighting conditions and easy recognition even by a young child who may become trapped within the trunk space of the vehicle. This allows easy recognition and activation of the handle and release mechanism of the lid of the vehicle compartment in order to escape from within a trunk space.
21 Citations
81 Claims
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1. A release system adapted for use in opening a deck lid of a vehicle, said release system being positionable within a compartment at least partially closed by the deck lid, the compartment having a release mechanism for opening the deck lid, said release system being adapted for operation from the interior of the compartment and comprising:
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an electrically operable actuating device which is connectable to the release mechanism;
at least one of a manual input device and an occupant detector, said actuating device being operable to actuate the release mechanism to open the deck lid in response to a user input to said manual input device or a detection of an occupant within the compartment by said occupant detector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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24. A release system adapted for use in opening a deck lid of a vehicle, said release system being positionable within a compartment at least partially closed by the deck lid, the compartment having a release mechanism for opening the deck lid, said release system being adapted for operation from the interior of the compartment and comprising:
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a handle for activating the release mechanism for opening the deck lid, said handle having an attachment for interconnection with the release mechanism;
a release actuating device which is adapted for interconnection with one of said handle and the release mechanism;
an occupant detection system for detecting an occupant of the compartment; and
a control which is operable to activate said release actuating device in response to at least one of said handle and said occupant detection system.
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42. A release module adapted for use in opening a deck lid of a vehicle, said release module being positionable within a compartment at least partially closed by the deck lid, the compartment having a release mechanism for opening the deck lid, said release module adapted for operation from the interior of the compartment and comprising:
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an actuating device for activating the release mechanism for opening the deck lid, said actuating device being adapted for interconnection with the release mechanism of the compartment;
an occupant detection system for detecting a presence of an occupant within the compartment;
a manual input device for actuating the release mechanism from within the compartment;
a control which is operable to actuate said actuating device in response to at least one of said occupant detection system and said manual input device. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81)
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57. A release system adapted for use in opening a deck lid of a vehicle, said release system being positionable within a compartment at least partially closed by the deck lid, the compartment having a release mechanism for opening the deck lid, said release system being adapted for operation from the interior of the compartment and comprising:
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an assist device comprising at least one of an electrically operable actuating device which is connectable to the release mechanism, a mechanically operable actuating device which is connectable to the release mechanism and a gas operable actuating device which is connectable to the release mechanism;
at least one of a manual input device and an occupant detector, said assist device being operable to actuate the release mechanism to open the deck lid in response to a user input to said manual input device or a detection of an occupant within the compartment by said occupant detector.
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Specification