Safety release for automobile trunk

• US 3,992,909 A
• Filed: 06/24/1975
• Issued: 11/23/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: John S. Mcghee
• Original Assignee: John S. Mcghee
• Inventors: McGhee, John S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gilliam, Paul R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pietruszka, Carl F.
• Application Number:
  US05/589,915
• Time in Patent Office: 518 Days
• Field of Search: 70/92, 70/240, 70/379 R, 70/465, 70/466, 70/237, 70/256, 292/92, 292/93, 292/336.3, 292/DIG. 43, 292/DIG. 65, 292/21, 292/45, 292/96, 292/97, 292/122, 292/195, 292/220
• US Class Current: 70/379.00R
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 83/26 Emergency opening means for persons trapped in the luggage compartment
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 292/65 Emergency or safety
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/0908 Emergency operating means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/0909 Panel
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/57 Operators with knobs or handles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5159 Emergency exit
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7706 Operating connections
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/8946 Emergency unlocking or release arrangements

Abstract

A safety release for unlocking the trunk lid of an automobile from within the trunk compartment. The release is an integral part of the lid locking mechanism and includes a clutch assembly for disconnecting the latch shaft from the key tumblers and a hand operated linkage for actuating the clutch and rotating the disconnected shaft to move the latch components from the normally locked to the unlocked position.

Claims

1. A safety release mechanism for the luggage compartment of an automobile having a lock carried by the compartment closure with a key actuated tumbler assembly mounted in spaced relation to a normally closed latch assembly for releasably securing said closure to said compartment, which release mechanism comprises:

1. A first elongated shaft of non-circular cross section arranged with one end connected to said tumbler assembly for rotation upon tumbler actuation and the other end projecting toward said latch assembly;

2.

3. said tumbler assembly. 2. A safety release according to claim 1 wherein said coupling connecting means is detachable from said second shaft and includes a slot in the connected end of said coupling arranged to receive and rotationally engage the projecting end of said second shaft and means for detachably securing said second shaft end within said slot.

5. A safety release according to claim 3 wherein said sleeve is detachably mounted upon said coupling.

2. A second elongated shaft arranged with one end connected to said latch assembly for shiftably releasing the same upon shaft rotation and the other end projecting toward said tumbler assembly in opposing spaced relationship to the projecting end of said first shaft;

3. Clutch means detachably connecting said opposing shaft ends for transmitting axial rotation from said first shaft to said second shaft to shift said latch assembly to its released position upon key actuation of the tumbler assembly, said clutch means comprised of;

a. An elongated coupling having a radially extending non-circular channel at one end arranged to slideably receive and rotationally engage the projecting end of said first shaft, the entrance to said channel having an inwardly beveled surface arranged to guide and rotationally align said noncircular shaft end upon slideably receiving the same;

b. A hollow retaining sleeve mounted upon said coupling around the entrance to said channel and extending toward said tumbler assembly around the projecting end of said first shaft, said sleeve having a cylindrical internal surface arranged coextensive with the radial extent of said channel to retain said non-circular shaft in axial alignment while permitting free rotation thereof when clear of said channel; and

,

c. Means for connecting the other end of said coupling to said second shaft for movement therewith, said second shaft being arranged for axial sliding movement from a connected position with the projecting end of said first shaft engaged within said coupling channel to a disconnected position with said first shaft end free of said coupling channel but retained within said sleeve;

4. Spring means arranged to normally bias said second shaft toward the connected position; and

,

5. Secondary hand actuated means arranged within the luggage compartment to slide said second shaft against said spring bias into the disconnected position and to rotate the same to shift the latch assembly to its released position for opening said compartment closure independently of

4. A safety release according to claim 2 wherein said first shaft channel extends radially across the end of said coupling and is closed at its radial ends by portions of said sleeve.

6. A safety release according to claim 2 wherein the cross-sectional size and shape of said first shaft and said second shaft are substantially the same.