Vehicle trunk locking device

• US 20100077804A1
• Filed: 09/17/2009
• Published: 04/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Takeuchi, Yoshiaki, Yamada, Katsuhisa, Nishijima, Hiroshi, Nozoe, Koichi, Ichiriki, Tsuguhito
• Granted Patent: US 10,801,234 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 70/57.100
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 9/23 above or alongside the rear wheel B62J9/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 9/30 characterised by locking arrangements, e.g. top case locks integrated in a vehicle central locking system
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 19/46 Luggage carriers forming part of frame luggage carriers per se B62J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 41/00 Locks with visible indication as to whether the lock is locked or unlocked indicator lights E05B17/10
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/06 using rotary motors
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/08 using electromagnets or solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 83/16 Locks for luggage compartments, car boot lids or car bonnets
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/08 With time considerations, e.g. temporary activation, valid time window or time limitations
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00182 operated with unidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5004 For antitheft signaling device on protected article
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5903 Hood
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/625 Operation and control

Abstract

A locking device for a trunk in a vehicle. The locking device includes a latch configured to change a state of the trunk between locked and unlocked, and a lever configured to drive the latch to an open position. The locking device further includes a lock knob configured to be disposed outward of a vehicle body to visually determine from an outside of the vehicle whether the trunk is in the locked state or the unlocked state. The lock knob is further configured to be selectively placed in a locked position. In the locked position, the trunk is configured to be brought into the locked state by prohibiting the latch from being driven to an open position. The lock knob is further configured to be selectively placed in an unlocked position. In the unlocked position, the trunk is configured to be brought into the unlocked state by enabling the latch to be driven to the open position. The locking device further includes an actuator for enabling the lock knob to be selectively placed in one of the locked position or the unlocked position. The locking device is configured to authenticate a portable key, when the lever is operated with the trunk in the locked state. When the portable key is authenticated, the lock knob is configured to be driven into the unlocked position.

Claims

1. A locking device for a trunk in a vehicle, the locking device comprising:

a latch configured to change a state of the trunk between locked and unlocked;

a lever configured to drive the latch to an open position;

a lock knob configured to be

disposed outward of a vehicle body to visually determine from an outside of the vehicle whether the trunk is in the locked state or the unlocked state; and

selectively placed in one of a locked position, wherein the trunk is configured to be brought into the locked state by prohibiting the latch from being driven to an open position, or an unlocked position, wherein the trunk is configured to be brought into the unlocked state by enabling the latch to be driven to the open position; and

an actuator for enabling the lock knob to be selectively placed in one of the locked position or the unlocked position,

wherein the locking device is configured to authenticate a portable key, when the lever is operated with the trunk in the locked state, and

wherein, when the portable key is authenticated, the lock knob is configured to be driven into the unlocked position.

2. The locking device according to claim 1, wherein the lock knob is configured to be manually changed into the locked position from the unlocked position, and placed into the unlocked position from the locked position only by the actuator.

3. The locking device according to claim 1, wherein the portable key comprises an unlock button configured to unlock the trunk, wherein the locking device is further configured to authenticate the portable key, when the unlock button of the portable key is operated with the trunk being locked, and wherein, when the portable key is authenticated, the lock knob is driven into the unlocked position.

4. The locking device according to claim 3, wherein the lock knob is further configured to be driven into the locked position, when the lever is not operated within a predetermined period of time after the trunk has been unlocked using the portable key, and wherein the locking device further comprises an alert unit configured to issue an alert indicating that the lever has not been operated.

5. The locking device according to claim 2, wherein the locking device is further configured to authenticate the portable key, when the lock knob is operated from the unlocked position to the locked position, wherein, when the portable key is authenticated as a valid portable key for the vehicle, the lock knob is configured to be held in the locked position, and wherein, when the portable key is not authenticated, the actuator is configured to place the lock knob into the unlocked position.

6. The locking device according to claim 5, wherein the lock knob is configured to be placed in the unlocked position, and wherein the locking device further comprises an alert unit configured to issue an alert.

7. The locking device according to claim 1, wherein the lock knob comprises a button that protrudes from a mounting surface when in the unlocked position, and is retracted in the mounting surface when in the locked position.

8. The locking device according to claim 1, wherein the locking device is configured to be implemented on a trunk of a motorcycle.

9. The locking device according to claim 8, wherein the trunk is disposed at an upper portion of a rear wheel of the motorcycle.

10. A method for changing a state of a trunk from locked to unlocked by performing authentication of a portable key uniquely set for a vehicle, the method comprising:

determining whether the trunk is in the locked state or the unlocked state;

performing the authentication of the portable key, using a locking device, when a lever is operated and the trunk is in the locked state;

unlocking the trunk, when the portable key is authenticated when the lever is operated; and

maintaining the trunk in the locked state without the locking device being driven, when the portable key is not authenticated when the lever is operated.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

maintaining the trunk in the locked state, when the trunk is held in the locked state for a predetermined period of time and when the portable key is not authenticated.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

terminating the authentication of the portable key when a determination has been made that the portable key is a valid portable key for the vehicle.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

performing the authentication of the portable key, when an unlock button of the portable key is pressed; and

unlocking the trunk, when the portable key is authenticated.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

issuing an alert when the portable key is not authenticated.

15. The method of claim, further comprising:

performing the authentication of the portable key, when the locking device is changed from an unlocked position to a locked position;

placing the locking device in the locked position, when the portable key is authenticated; and

maintaining the locking device in the unlocked position, when the portable key is not authenticated.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

issuing an alert when the portable key is not authenticated.

17. A locking device for a trunk in a vehicle, the locking device comprising:

latching means for changing a state of the trunk between locked and unlocked;

levering means for driving the latching means to an open position;

securing means disposed outward of a vehicle body to visually determine from an outside of the vehicle whether the trunk is in the locked state or the unlocked state, the securing means for selectively placing the locking device in one of

a locked position, wherein the trunk is configured to be brought into the locked state by prohibiting the latch from being driven to an open position, and

an unlocked position, wherein the trunk is configured to be brought into the unlocked state by enabling the latch to be driven to the open position,

the locking device further comprising

actuating means for selectively placing the securing means in one of the locked position or the unlocked position,

wherein the locking device is configured to authenticate a portable key, when the levering means is operated with the trunk in the locked state, and

wherein, when the portable key is authenticated, the securing means is for driving the locking device into the unlocked position.