LID LOCK APPARATUS FOR VEHICLE

• US 20110115239A1
• Filed: 11/08/2010
• Published: 05/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: IMATOMI, Yasuo, Kitamura, Toshihiro
• Granted Patent: US 8,622,442 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 292/143
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/05 Inlet covers
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/0561 Locking means for the inlet cover
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/0576 with actuator fixed to the vehicle body
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/0584 the locking bolt is linearly moved to lock or unlock
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 79/04 Mounting of lock casings to the vehicle, e.g. to the wing
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 83/34 for fuel inlet covers essentially flush with the vehicle surface
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 85/22 Rectilinearly moving bolts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/0894 Spring arm
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/102 Lever

Abstract

A lid lock apparatus for a vehicle includes a retainer, a cap, and a lock pin. The retainer includes a fitting portion to which an end portion of the cap is configured to fit from an outside of the lid box towards an inside of the lid box and a first engaging portion formed to be positioned outward of the lid box relative to the fitting portion. The cap includes an operational lever portion configured to be elastically deformed to tilt by an operation at an outside of the lid box and including a second engaging portion configured to engage with and disengage from the first engaging portion.

Claims

1. A lid lock apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:

a retainer provided at a support wall of a lid box formed at a vehicle body;

a cap detachably assembled to the retainer;

a lock pin assembled to move axially relative to the cap, the lock pin being arranged penetrating through the support wall and protruding within the lid box;

a lid configured to tilt relative to the lid box and opening and closing an opening portion of the lid box, the lid being configured to be retained at a closed state by the lock pin;

the retainer being formed with a fitting portion to which an end portion of the cap is configured to fit from an outside of the lid box towards an inside of the lid box and a first engaging portion formed to be positioned outward of the lid box relative to the fitting portion;

an operational lever portion formed on the cap, the operational lever portion configured to be elastically deformed to tilt by an operation at an outside of the lid box and including a second engaging portion configured to engage with and disengage from the first engaging portion;

wherein

the second engaging portion of the operational lever portion is elastically engaged with the first engaging portion of the retainer to restrict a disengagement of the cap from the retainer when the operational lever portion is not operated in a state where the end portion of the cap is fitted to the fitting portion of the retainer; and

wherein

the second engaging portion of the operational lever portion is disengaged from the first engaging portion of the retainer to allow the cap to disengage from the retainer when the operational lever is operated to be a tilting state.

2. The lid lock apparatus for the vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising:

a pair of concave and convex fitting portions formed between the retainer and the cap to be fitted from an outside of the lid box towards an inside of the lid box, the concave and convex fitting portions positioned away from the support wall relative to the fitting portion;

wherein

an engaging position of the second engaging portion of the operational lever portion and the first engaging portion of the retainer is positioned at a position which is offset from a facing direction of the pair of concave and convex fitting portions.

3. The lid lock apparatus for the vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

the lock pin is configured to move axially by means of an electric motor and an actuator which includes a converting mechanism conversing a rotational output of the electric motor to an axial movement of the lock pin and a housing accommodating the electric motor and the converting mechanism;

and wherein

the housing and the cap are integrally formed.

4. The lid lock apparatus for the vehicle according to claim 2, wherein

the lock pin is configured to move axially by means of an electric motor and an actuator which includes a converting mechanism conversing a rotational output of the electric motor to an axial movement of the lock pin and a housing accommodating the electric motor and the converting mechanism;

and wherein

the housing and the cap are integrally formed.

5. The lid lock apparatus for the vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the electric motor and the converting mechanism are positioned upward of the lock pin and the electric motor is arranged closer to the support wall compared to the converting mechanism relative to the support wall in a state where the lock pin is assembled to the cap attached to the retainer provided at the support wall.