Trunk lid lock with remote release

• US 4,979,384 A
• Filed: 11/13/1989
• Issued: 12/25/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: E & T Controls, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Lectron Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Malesko, Michael W., Miller, Ellsworth S., Henning, Peter J., Hayden, Rodney, Martus, Charles R., Slavin, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Gary L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BARRETT, SUZANNE LALE DINO
• Application Number:
  US07/436,927
• Time in Patent Office: 407 Days
• Field of Search: 70/240, 70/241, 70/279, 292/201, 292/216, 292/DIG. 43
• US Class Current: 70/241
• 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: Y10T 292/1047 Closure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1082 Motor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5907 With switch
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7107 And alternately mechanically actuated by a key, dial, etc.

Abstract

An improved deck lid lock with remote release for motor vehicles. The deck lid lock employs a solenoid operated rotatable armature which acts directly on a leg of a rotatable latch plate which engages a lock bar. On energization of the solenoid, the armature is attracted to the solenoid causing it to disengage the latch plate so that the deck lid may be opened. When the deck lid is closed, the lock bar is engaged by the latch plate which is returned to its normal latched position in engagement with the armature. The deck lid lock further includes a rotatable key cam which acts on the armature to enable release of the deck lid through conventional external key actuation.

Claims

1. A deck lid lock with remote release adapted to be mounted to a motor vehicle structure and engageable with a lock bar comprising:

a base plate;

a solenoid pole piece;

a solenoid winding magnetically coupled to said pole piece;

an armature fixed for rotation with respect to said base plate about a first pivot whereby energization of said winding causes said armature to rotate from a latched position to an unlatched position;

first spring means acting on said armature for urging said armature toward said latched position;

a latch plate rotatable about a second pivot from a latched to an unlatched position, said latch plate having an arm engageable with said armature when said armature is in said latched position, and free from engagement with said armature when said armature is in said unlatched position, said latch plate further forming a notch which captures the lock bar when said latch plate is in said latched position, and releases the lock bar when said latch plate is in said unlatched position;

a key cam rotatably carried by said base plate and having a projecting cam tab engageable with said armature to urge said armature to said unlatched position;

second spring means acting on said latch plate for biasing said latch plate toward said unlatched position whereby said armature may be moved to said unlatched position either by energization of said solenoid winding or by rotation of said key cam, thus enabling said latch plate to move the said unlatched position releasing the lock bar and wherein when said deck lid is closed, the lock bar urges said latch plate to return to said locked position causing said latch plate arm to re-engage said armature and

energy absorbing means acting on said latch plate for absorbing the kinetic energy of said latch plate as said latch plate rotates from said unlatched to said latched positions.

2. The deck lid lock according to claim 1 wherein said energy absorber comprises an elastomeric body carried by said latch plate arm which contacts said base plate when said latch plate rotates from said unlatched to said latched positions.

3. A deck lid lock with remote release adapted to be mounted to a motor vehicle structure and engageable with a lock bar comprising:

a base plate;

a solenoid pole piece affixed to said base plate;

a solenoid winding surrounding said pole piece;

an armature fixed for rotation with respect to said base plate about a first pivot, said armature having a first leg overlying said pole piece on one side of said first pivot, and a second leg positioned on the opposite side of said first pivot such that the center of gravity of said armature is located adjacent said first pivot whereby energization of said winding causes said armature first leg to be attracted to said pole piece causing said armature to rotate from a latched position to an unlatched position;

first spring means acting on said armature second leg for urging said armature toward said latched position;

a latch plate rotatable about a second pivot from a latched to an unlatched position, said latch plate having an arm engageable with said armature second leg when said armature is in said latched position, and free from engagement with said armature when said armature is in said unlatched position, said latch plate further forming a notch which captures and restrains the lock bar when said latch plate is in said latched position and releases the lock bar when said latch plate is in said unlatched position;

a key cam rotatably carried by said base plate and having a projecting cam tab engageable with said armature to urge said armature second leg to said unlatched position;

second spring means acting on said latch plate for biasing said latch plate towards said unlatched position whereby said armature may be moved to said unlatched position either by energization of said solenoid winding or by rotation of said key cam, thus enabling said latch plate to move to said unlatched position releasing said lock bar, and wherein when said deck lid is closed, said lock bar urges said latch plate to return to said locked position causing said latch plate arm to re-engage said armature second leg; and

energy absorbing means acting on said latch plate for absorbing the kinetic energy of said latch plate as said latch plate rotates from said unlatched to said latched positions.

4. The deck lid lock according to claim 3 wherein said energy absorber comprises an elastomeric body carried by said latch plate arm which contacts said base plate when said latch plate rotates from said unlatched to said latched positions.

5. A deck lid lock with remote release adapted to be mounted to a motor vehicle structure and engageable with a lock bar comprising:

a base plate;

a solenoid pole piece fixed with respect to said base plate;

a solenoid winding magnetically coupled to said pole piece;

an armature fixed for rotation with respect to said base plate about a first pivot whereby energization of said winding causes said armature to be magnetically attracted to said pole piece to rotate from a latched position wherein said armature is free from connection with said solenoid pole piece and said solenoid winding to an unlatched position;

first spring means acting on said armature for urging said armature toward said latched position;

a latch plate rotatable about a second pivot from a latched to an unlatched position, said latch plate having an arm engageable by direct contact with said armature when said armature is in said latched position, and free from engagement with said armature when said armature is in said unlatched position, said latch plate further forming a notch which contacts and captures the lock bar when said latch plate is in said latched position, and releases the lock bar when said latch plate is in said unlatched position;

a key cam rotatably carried by said base plate and having a projecting cam tab engageable with said armature to urge said armature to said unlatched position; and

second spring means acting on said latch plate for biasing said latch plate toward said unlatched position whereby said armature may be moved to said unlatched position either by energization of said solenoid winding or by rotation of said key cam, thus enabling said latch plate to move to said unlatched position releasing the lock bar and wherein when said deck lid is closed, the lock bar urges said latch plate to return to said locked position causing said latch plate arm to re-engage said armature.

6. The deck lid lock according to claim 5 wherein said solenoid pole piece is affixed to said base plate.

7. The deck lid lock according to claim 5 wherein said armature defines an edge engageable with said latch plate.

8. The deck lid lock according to claim 5 wherein said first spring means includes a first coil spring wrapped around and engaging said key cam and further engaging said armature.

9. The deck lid lock according to claim 5 wherein said second spring means includes a second coil spring wrapper around said second pivot and having arms engaging said base plate and said latch plate.

10. The deck lid lock according to claim 5 further comprising energy absorbing means acting on said latch plate for absorbing the kinetic energy of said latch plate as said latch plate rotates from said unlatched to said latched positions.

11. The deck lid lock according to claim 10 wherein said energy absorber comprises an elastomeric body carried by said latch plate arm which contacts said base plate when said latch plate rotates from said unlatched to said latched positions.

12. The deck lid lock according to claim 5 wherein said armature includes a first leg adjacent said solenoid winding and a second leg engageable with said latch plate which are disposed on opposite sides of a pivot axis of said armature, said armature having its center of gravity along said pivot axis whereby said armature is balanced with respect to inertial inputs.

13. A deck lid lock with remote release adapted to be mounted to a motor vehicle structure and engageable with a lock bar comprising:

a base plate;

a solenoid pole piece affixed to said base plate and fixed with respect thereto;

a solenoid winding surrounding said pole piece;

an armature fixed for rotation with respect to said base plate about a first pivot, said armature having a first leg overlying said pole piece on one side of said first pivot, and a second leg positioned on the opposite side of said first pivot such that the center of gravity of said armature is located adjacent said first pivot whereby energization of said winding causes said armature first leg to armature to rotate from a latched position wherein said armature is free from connection with said solenoid pole piece and said solenoid winding to an unlatched position;

first spring means acting on said armature second leg for urging said armature toward said latched position;

a latch plate rotatable about a second pivot from a latched to an unlatched position, said latch plate having an arm engageable with said armature second leg when said armature is in said latched position, and free from engagement with said armature when said armature is in said unlatched position, said latch plate further forming a notch which captures and restrains the lock bar when said latch plate is in said latched position and releases the lock bar when said latch plate is in said unlatched position;

a key cam rotatably carried by said base plate and having a projecting cam tab engageable with said armature to urge said armature second leg to said unlatched position; and

second spring means acting on said latch plate for biasing said latch plate towards said unlatched position whereby said armature may be moved to said unlatched position whereby either by energization of said solenoid winding or by rotation of said key cam, thus enabling said latch plate to move to said unlatched position releasing said lock bar, and wherein when said deck lid is closed, said lock bar urges said latch plate to return to said locked position causing said latch plate arm to re-engage said armature second leg.

14. The deck lid lock according to claim 13 wherein said armature second leg defines an edge engageable with said latch plate.

15. The deck lid lock according to claim 13 wherein said first spring means includes a first coil spring wrapped around and engaging said key cam and further engaging said armature second leg.

16. The deck lid lock according to claim 13 wherein said second spring means includes a second coil spring wrapped around said second pivot and having portions thereof engaging said base plate and said latch plate.

17. The deck lid lock according to claim 13 wherein said armature second leg defines a notch which captures a leg of said first coil spring.

18. The deck lid lock according to claim 13 wherein said armature is generally planar in shape defining a pair of face surfaces on opposite sides of said armature, and wherein said solenoid winding and said pole piece are positioned on the same side of said armature.

19. The deck lid lock according to claim 13 further comprising energy absorbing means acting on said latch plate for absorbing kinetic energy of said latch plate as said latch plate rotates from said unlatched to said latched positions.

20. The deck lid lock according to claim 19 wherein said energy absorber comprises an elastomeric body carried by said latch plate arm which contacts said base plate when said latch plate rotates from said unlatched to said latched positions.

21. The deck lid lock according to claim 13 wherein said armature includes a first leg adjacent said solenoid winding and a second leg engageable with said latch plate which are disposed on opposite sides of a pivot axis of said armature, said armature having its center of gravity along said pivot axis whereby said armature is balanced with respect to inertial inputs.