Electrically actuated lock mechanism

• US 4,667,990 A
• Filed: 07/16/1984
• Issued: 05/26/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Norman G. Quantz
• Original Assignee: Norman G. Quantz
• Inventors: Quantz, Norman G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dorner, Kenneth J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gall, Lloyd A.
• Application Number:
  US06/631,466
• Time in Patent Office: 1,044 Days
• Field of Search: 292/201, 292/216, 292/DIG. 43, 292/336.3, 70/241, 200/61.64, 200/61.67, 200/153 L
• US Class Current: 292/201
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/14 operating on bolt detents, e.g. for unlatching the bolt
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 83/16 Locks for luggage compartments, car boot lids or car bonnets
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 292/43 Rear deck lid latches
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1047 Closure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1082 Motor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5907 With switch

Abstract

An electrically actuated rear deck lock mechanism which may be locked or unlocked in a conventional manner or by a remotely actuated solenoid located in the passenger compartment of the vehicle. The lock mechanism latches the deck lid by engaging a lock bar after closure of the deck lid and through the use of a cam entrapping the lock bar to move it to a locked position. Once in the locked position, the electrical locking mechanism is free of all mechanical forces applied to the latch member such that any forces experienced during normal operation of the vehicle are observed through the mechanical inner lock of the latch with the lock bar without undue effect on the electrical components of the latch. The lock mechanism can also be moved to a locking position without interfering with the electrical locking portion of the mechanism.

Claims

1. A locking mechanism for entrapping a lock bar comprising:

a support frame;

a lock member pivotally attached to said support frame, said lock member having a first arm with a lock dog;

a latch member pivotally attached to said support frame and pivotally displaceable between an open and a locked position, said latch member having a dog catch at one end engaging said lock dog to lock said latch member in said locked position and a catch slot at the other end receiving said lock bar in said open position and entrapping said lock bar in said locked position, said latch member further having a planar top surface;

resilient means for producing a first force biasing said latch member to said open position and a second force biasing said lock member to engage said lock dog with said dog catch;

means for pivotally displacing said lock member against said second force to disengage said lock dog from said dog catch;

a housing attached to said support frame;

a cam gear comprising a cam surface having a predetermined contour, said cam gear being rotatably disposed in said housing;

an electric motor for unidirectionally rotating said cam gear;

at least one stud protruding from said cam gear, said at least one stud engaging said latch member intermediate said one end and said other end as said cam gear rotates to displace said latch member to its locked position; and

a cam actuated switch responsive to the displacement of said latch member from its open position towards its closed position by the engagement of said lock bar with said latch member for providing electrical power to said electric motor and responsive to the contour of said cam surface for terminating said electrical power to said electric motor after said at least one stud has displaced said latch member to its locked position.

2. The locking mechanism of claim 1 wherein said cam actuated switch comprises:

a first contact spring having a fixed end attached to said housing and a free end;

a cam follower disposed between said free end of said first contact spring and said cam surface;

a second contact spring disposed above said first contact spring, said second contact spring having a fixed end, attached to said housing and electrically insulated from said first contact spring, and a free end;

a post attached to said free end of said second contact spring slidably disposed through an aperture in said housing above the location of said latch member in its open position; and

a leaf spring attached to said housing comprising a rest position engaging the end of said post opposite said second contact spring when said second contact spring is resiliently displaced a predetermined distance in a direction away from said latch member, said leaf spring resiliently displaced from its rest position by said latch member in its open position a distance sufficient to allow said second contact spring to displace said post to engage said top surface of said latch member and inhibit the return of said leaf spring to its rest position.

3. The locking mechanism of claim 2 wherein said cam surface is an arcuate cam groove provided in said cam surface of said cam gear and extending a predetermined circumferential distance relative to said at least one stud;

and wherein said first contact spring is resiliently displaced away from an initial position by said cam follower rising out of said groove of said cam gear and said first contact spring resiliently returns to said initial position when said cam follower descends into said cam groove, said first contact spring providing a resilient force urging said cam follower to follow said predetermined contour defined by said cam groove in said cam gear.

4. The locking mechanism of claim 3 wherein said at least one stud further comprises another stud diametrically opposed said at least one stud on said surface of said cam gear and wherein said cam gear comprises two diametrically opposite cam grooves.

5. The locking mechanism of claim 1 wherein said means for pivotally displacing said lock member comprises a cam rotatably attached to said support frame and engaging said lock member, said cam operative to displace said lock member to disengage said lock dog from said dog catch in response to being rotated by a key operated lock.

6. The locking mechanism of claim 1 wherein said means for pivotally displacing said lock member comprises a solenoid engaging said lock member and operative to pivotally displace said lock member to disengage said lock dog from said dog catch in response to being energized from a remote location.

7. The locking mechanism of claim 6 wherein said means for pivotally displacing said lock member further comprises a cam rotatably attached to said support frame and engaging said lock member, said cam operative to pivotally displace said lock member to disengage said lock dog from said dog catch in response to being rotated by a key operated lock.