Compartment panel pull down mechanism

• US 4,869,537 A
• Filed: 01/14/1988
• Issued: 09/26/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Priest, William L., Compeau, David E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dorner, Kenneth J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chen, Jose V.
• Application Number:
  US07/143,779
• Time in Patent Office: 621 Days
• Field of Search: 292/341.18, 292/DIG. 25, 292/DIG. 29, 292/DIG. 43, 292/141, 292/170, 292/144, 292/171, 292/341.16
• US Class Current: 292/341.18
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 15/022 movable, resilient or yieldable adjustable into different discrete positions E05B15/024; yieldable striker for emergency opening E05B65/1026
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 79/20 using flexible connections, e.g. Bowden cables
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/21 with means preventing or detecting pinching of objects or body parts
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/22 by movement of the striker
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/25 Actuators mounted separately from the lock and controlling the lock functions through mechanical connections
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 83/16 Locks for luggage compartments, car boot lids or car bonnets
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 292/25 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/705 Adjustable

Abstract

Mechanism for pulling an opened compartment panel closed and engaging a latch with a striker includes a slide member mounted on the body for horizontal reciprocating movement and having a cam slot which receives a cam follower carried by the striker so that horizontal reciprocating movement of the slide member vertically reciprocates the striker. The cam slot includes an inclined cam surface effective to provide the vertical reciprocation of the striker. The cam slot also includes a horizontal dwell surface at the end of the inclined surface to define the retracted position of the striker in which the compartment panel is closed so that the load imposed on the compartment lid in the direction to pry open the compartment panel is prevented from urging the slide member in a direction which would permit the striker to extend. A second horizontal dwell surface at the other end of the inclined surface defines the extended position of the striker so that a slamming movement of the compartment panel toward the closed position latching the latch with the striker is prevented from urging movement of the slide member in a direction to permit retraction of the striker. Thus, the pull down mechanism is constructed so that a vertical load imposed on the striker when the compartment panel is slammed or when the compartment panel is pried open is not exerted on the motorized drive unit.

Claims

1. In a vehicle body having a hinged compartment panel spring loaded for movement between open and closed positions with respect to a compartment defined by a body panel, and a latch mechanism including first and second latch elements of which one is a striker and the other is a latch, and one is mounted on the compartment panel and the other is mounted on the body panel, a pull down mechanism for pulling the compartment panel to the fully closed position after closing movement latches the latch and striker together, comprising:

a housing mounting the first latch element on the body panel for vertically reciprocating movement between an extended position in which the first latch element is poised for latching engagement with the second latch element and a retracted position pulling the compartment panel to the closed position with respect to the body panel,

a slide member mounted on the housing for horizontally reciprocating movement in a path normal to the vertical reciprocating movement of the first latch element,

motor means operably connected to the slide member to horizontally reciprocate the slide member,

and cam means including a cam surface and a cam follower acting between the first latch element and the slide member and adapted to vertically reciprocate the first latch element in response to horizontal reciprocation of the slide member, said cam means being characterized by a cam surface angularly inclined with respect to the horizontal to provide said vertical reciprocation of the first latch element and consequent movement between the retracted and extended positions upon horizontal reciprocation of the slide member, and a horizontal extending dwell surface at the end of the inclined cam surface providing the retracted position of the first latch element in which the compartment panel is closed whereby a load imposed on the compartment panel in the direction to pry open the compartment panel is prevented from urging movement of the slide member in the direction to extend the first latch member.

2. In a vehicle body having a hinged compartment panel spring loaded for movement between open and closed positions with respect to a compartment defined by a body panel, and a latch mechanism including first and second latch elements of which one is a striker and the other is a latch, and one is mounted on the compartment panel and the other is mounted on the body panel, a pull down mechanism for pulling the compartment panel to the fully closed position after closing movement latches the latch and striker together, comprising:

a housing mounting the first latch element on the body panel for vertically reciprocating movement between an extended position in which the first latch element is poised for latching engagement with the second latch element and a retracted position pulling the compartment panel to the closed position with respect to the body panel,

a slide member mounted on the housing for horizontally reciprocating movement in a path normal to the vertical reciprocating movement of the first latch element,

motor means operably connected to the slide member to horizontally reciprocate the slide member,

and cam means including a cam surface associated with one of the first latch element and the slide member and a cam follower associated with the other of the first latch element and the slide member, said cam means having an inclined cam surface effective to provide said vertical reciprocation of the first latch element and consequent movement between the retracted and extended positions upon horizontal reciprocation of the slide member, a first horizontal extending dwell surface at the end of the inclined cam surface providing the retracted position of the first latch element in which the compartment panel is closed, and a second horizontal extending dwell surface at the end of the inclined cam surface providing the extended position of the first latch element.

3. In a vehicle body having a hinged compartment panel spring loaded for movement between open and closed positions with respect to a compartment defined by a body panel, and a latch mechanism including first and second latch elements of which one is a striker and the other is a latch, and one is mounted on the compartment panel and the other is mounted on the body panel, a pull down mechanism for pulling the compartment panel to the fully closed position after closing movement latches the latch and striker together, comprising:

a housing mounting the first latch element on the body panel for vertically reciprocating movement between an extended position in which the first latch element is poised for latching engagement with the second latch element and a retracted position pulling the compartment panel to the closed position with respect to the body panel,

a cam follower associated with the first latch element;

a slide member mounted on the housing for horizontally reciprocating movement upon horizontal reciprocation of the slide member, and having a cam slot receiving the cam follower so that horizontal reciprocating movement of the slide member vertically reciprocates the first latch element,

and motor means operably connected to the slide member to horizontally reciprocate the slide member.

4. In a vehicle body having a hinged compartment panel spring loaded for movement between open and closed positions with respect to a compartment defined by a body panel, and a latch mechanism including first and second latch elements of which one is a striker and the other is a latch, and one is mounted on the compartment panel and the other is mounted on the body panel, a pull down mechanism for pulling the compartment panel to the fully closed position after closing movement latches the latch and striker together, comprising:

a housing mounting the first latch element on the body panel for vertically reciprocating movement between an extended position in which the first latch element is poised for latching engagement with the second latch element and a retracted position pulling the compartment panel to the closed position with respect to the body panel,

a cam follower associated with the first latch element;

a slide member mounted on the housing for horizontally reciprocating movement upon horizontal reciprocation of the slide member and having a cam slot receiving the cam follower so that horizontal reciprocating movement of the slide member vertically reciprocates the first latch element,

a cable operably associated with a motor and connected to the slide member to pull the slide member horizontally in one direction,

and spring means bearing upon the slide member and adapted to urge the slide member in the other direction.

5. In a vehicle body having a hinged compartment panel spring loaded for movement between open and closed positions with respect to a compartment defined by a body panel, and a latch mechanism including first and second latch elements of which one is a striker and the other is a latch, and one is mounted on the compartment panel and the other is mounted on the body panel, a pull down mechanism for pulling the compartment panel to the fully closed position after closing movement latches the latch and striker together, comprising:

a housing mounting the first latch element on the body panel for vertically reciprocating movement between an extended position in which the first latch element is poised for latching engagement with the second latch element and a retracted position pulling the compartment panel to the closed position with respect to the body panel,

a cam follower associated with the first latch element;

a slide member mounted on the housing for horizontally reciprocating movement upon horizontal reciprocation of the slide member, and having a cam slot receiving the cam follower so that reciprocating movement of the slide member reciprocates the first latch element,

motor means operably connected to the slide member to horizontally reciprocate the slide member,

and said cam slot of the slide member having an inclined cam surface effective to provide said vertical reciprocation of the first latch element and consequent movement between the retracted and extended positions, a first horizontal dwell surface at the end of the inclined cam surface providing the retracted position of the first latch element in which the compartment panel is closed so that a load imposed on the compartment panel in the direction to pry open the compartment panel is prevented from urging movement of the slide member in the direction to extend the first latch member, and a second horizontal dwell surface at the other end of the inclined cam surface providing the extended position of the first latch element so that the forced closing movement of the compartment panel latching the second latch element with the first latch element is prevented from urging movement of the slide member in the direction to retract the first latch member, whereby any vertical load imposed on the first latch member when the compartment panel is closed or when the first latch means is extended is not exerted on the motor means.

6. In a vehicle body having a compartment panel hinged for movement about a hinge axis between open and closed positions with respect to a compartment defined by a body panel, and a latch mechanism including first and second latch elements of which one is a striker and the other is a latch, and one is mounted on the compartment panel and the other is mounted on the body panel, a mechanism for pulling the compartment panel to the fully closed position after closing movement latches the latch and striker together, comprising:

a housing mounting the first latch element on the body panel for rectilinear reciprocating movement in a path normal to the compartment panel hinge axis and toward and away from the body panel between an extended position in which the first latch element is poised for latching engagement with the second latch element and a retracted position pulling the compartment panel to the closed position with respect to the body panel,

a slide member mounted on the housing for rectilinear reciprocating movement in a path parallel to the hinge axis and normal to the rectilinear reciprocating movement of the first latch element,

motor means operably connected to the slide member to reciprocate the slide member,

and cam means including a cam surface and a cam follower acting between the first latch element and the slide member and adapted to reciprocate the first latch element in response to rectilinearly reciprocation of the slide member, said cam means being characterized by a cam surface angularly inclined with respect to the path of rectilinear movement of both said first latch elements and said slide member to provide said rectilinear reciprocation of the first latch element and consequent movement between the retracted and extended positions upon rectilinear reciprocation of the slide member, and a swell surface at the end of the inclined cam surface and extending parallel to the path of rectilinear reciprocating movement of the slide member and providing the retracted position of the first latch element in which the compartment panel is closed whereby a load imposed on the compartment panel in the direction to pry open the compartment panel is prevented from urging movement of the slide member in the direction to extend the first latch member.

7. In a vehicle body having a compartment panel hinged for movement about a hinge axis between open and closed positions with respect to a compartment defined by a body panel, and a latch mechanism including first and second latch elements of which on is a striker and the other is a latch, and one is mounted on the compartment panel and the other is mounted on the body panel, a mechanism for pulling the compartment panel to the fully closed position after closing movement latches the latch and striker together, comprising:

a housing mounting the first latch element on the body panel for rectilinear reciprocating movement in a path normal to the compartment panel hinge axis and toward and away from the body panel between an extended position in which the first latch element is poised for latching engagement with the second latch element and a retracted position pulling the compartment panel to the closed position with respect to the body panel,

a slide member mounted on the housing for rectilinear reciprocating movement in a path parallel to the compartment panel hinge axis and normal to the rectilinear reciprocating movement of the first latch element,

motor means operably connected to the slide member to rectilinearly reciprocate the slide member,

and cam means including a cam surface associated with one of the first latch element and the slide member and a cam follower associated with the other of the first latch element and the slide member, said cam means having a cam surface inclined with respect to the path of rectilinear movement of both said first latch element and said slide member and effective to provide said rectilinear reciprocation of the first latch element and consequent movement between the retracted and extended positions upon rectilinear reciprocation of the slide member, a first dwell surface at one end of the inclined cam surface and extending parallel with the path of rectilinear movement of the slide member and providing the retracted position of the first latch element in which the compartment panel is closed, and a second dwell surface at the other end of the cam surface and extending parallel to the path of rectilinear movement of the slide member and providing the extended position of the first latch element in which the compartment panel is poised for latching engagement with the second latch element.