POWER LOCK ASSEMBLY FOR VEHICLE ROOF RACK

• US 20130032619A1
• Filed: 08/04/2011
• Published: 02/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Lang, Chris
• Granted Patent: US 8,770,453 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 224/315
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 9/10 for cycles
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0004 said core being linearly movable
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0012 with rotary electromotors actuators with rotary electromotors per se H02K7/06, H02K23/68
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 73/0005 using chains, cables or the like chain- or cable-locks of the padlock type E05B67/003; lockable clothing hangers or hanger racks E05B69/006

Abstract

A power lock assembly for a roof rack of a vehicle for releasably securing a valuable to the roof rack includes a lock mechanism and a shackle. The lock mechanism is fixedly connected to the roof rack, and is operable in a locked state and an unlocked state. The shackle is adapted to be releasably secured to the lock mechanism, and engages the valuable on the roof rack. The lock mechanism is electrically connected with a vehicle locking system for locking and unlocking a vehicle door, whereby locking the vehicle door places the lock mechanism in the locked state and unlocking the vehicle door places the lock mechanism in the unlocked state.

Claims

1. A power lock assembly for a roof rack of a vehicle for releasably securing a valuable to the roof rack, the power lock assembly comprising:

a lock mechanism fixedly connected to the roof rack, the lock mechanism operable in a locked state and an unlocked state; and

a shackle adapted to be releasably secured to the lock mechanism, the shackle engaging the valuable on the roof rack,

wherein the lock mechanism is electrically connected with a vehicle locking system for locking and unlocking a vehicle door, locking the vehicle door places the lock mechanism in the locked state to lock/secure the valuable to the roof rack via the shackle, and unlocking the vehicle door places the lock mechanism in the unlocked state.

2. The power lock assembly of claim 1, wherein the lock mechanism includes:

a lock drive electrically connected to the vehicle locking system; and

a latch assembly operably connected to the lock drive.

3. The power lock assembly of claim 2, wherein the latch assembly includes:

a lock member adapted to selectively engage the shackle; and

a rocker member adapted to engage the lock member in the unlocked state, each of the lock member and rocker member having a locked position and an unlocked position.

4. The power lock assembly of claim 3, wherein the latch assembly further includes:

a push button operably connected to the rocker member, in the unlocked state of the lock mechanism depression of the push button allowing the shackle to be disengaged from the lock mechanism.

5. The power lock assembly of claim 4, wherein the rocker member includes:

a first end portion pivotally connected to the push button; and

a second end portion connected to the lock drive, actuation of the lock drive pivoting the rocker member from its locked position to the unlocked position.

6. The power lock assembly of claim 2, wherein the lock member includes:

a projection; and

the rocker member includes a notch dimensioned to receive the projection as the lock mechanism is moved from the locked state to the unlocked state.

7. The power lock assembly of claim 2, wherein the latch assembly further includes a biasing member for biasing the lock member toward its locked position.

8. The power lock assembly of claim 1 in combination with the vehicle locking system, wherein the vehicle locking system includes:

a power door lock switch; and

a remote keyless entry system operable to move a power door lock of the vehicle door between a locked state and an unlocked state, the state of the lock mechanism being dependent on the state of the power door lock.

9. The combination of claim 8, further comprising:

an alarm adapted to alert a user of tampering with lock mechanism, the alarm being electrically connected to the vehicle locking system such that the alarm is activated when the power door lock is in the locked state and the alarm is deactivated when the power door lock is in the unlocked state.

10. The combination of claim 8, wherein the remote keyless entry system comprises:

a remote transmitter, and

a receiver, the transmitter configured to wirelessly communicate an electric signal to the receiver, the receiver configured to enable operation of the lock mechanism in response to the electric signal received from the transmitter, the latch mechanism moving from one of the locked state and unlocked state to the other of the locked state and unlocked state based on receiving the signal.

11. The combination of claim 10, further comprising a key fob, wherein the remote receiver is in the key fob.

12. The power lock assembly of claim 1 in combination with the vehicle roof rack, the roof rack including a rail, the power lock assembly including housing integrally formed with the rail.

13. The combination of claim 12, wherein the rail defines a channel, the housing being located within the channel.

14. A roof rack for a vehicle comprising:

a first side rail and a second side rail spaced from the first side rail; and

a power lock assembly, the power lock assembly including;

a lock mechanism fixedly mounted to one of the first and second side rails, the lock mechanism operable a locked state and an unlocked state based on a state of a power door lock for a vehicle door, and

a shackle having end portions adapted to be releasably secured to the lock mechanism, wherein the lock mechanism is in the locked state when the power door lock is in a locked state and the lock mechanism is in the unlocked state when the power door lock is in an unlocked state.

15. The roof rack assembly of claim 14, wherein the power lock assembly includes:

a housing,

a lock drive and a latch assembly housed within the housing; and

a push button operably connected to the latch assembly for moving the lock mechanism to the unlocked state, depression of the push button allowing the shackle to be disengaged from the lock mechanism.

16. The roof rack assembly of claim 15, wherein the latch assembly includes:

a lock member adapted to selectively engage the shackle; and

a rocker member adapted to engage the lock member in the unlocked state, the push button being operably connected to the rocker member.

17. The roof rack assembly of claim 16, wherein the rocker member includes:

a first end portion pivotally connected to the push button; and

a second end portion connected to the lock drive, actuation of the lock drive pivoting the rocker member into engagement with the lock member, the lock member including a projection and the rocker member includes a notch dimensioned to receive the projection.

18. The roof rack assembly of claim 14 in combination with the vehicle locking system, wherein the vehicle locking system includes:

a power door lock switch; and

a remote keyless entry system operable to move the power door lock of the vehicle door between a locked state and an unlocked state, the remote keyless entry system including;

a remote transmitter, and

a receiver, the transmitter configured to wirelessly communicate an electric signal to the receiver, the receiver configured to enable operation of the lock mechanism in response to receiving the electric signal from the transmitter, the latch mechanism moving from one of the locked state and unlocked state to the other of the locked state and unlocked state based on receiving the signal.

19. A method of actuating a power lock assembly provided on a roof rack of a vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving by the power door lock assembly a power door lock signal from a vehicle locking system; and

actuating a lock mechanism of the power lock assembly in response to the received power door lock signal such that a locked state or unlocked state of the lock mechanism and a locked state or unlocked state of the vehicle locking system are alike.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising configuring the operating state of the lock mechanism to be dependent upon the operating state of the vehicle locking system.