Power lid closing device

• US 5,443,292 A
• Filed: 07/08/1993
• Issued: 08/22/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mitsui Kinzoku Act Corporation (Mitsui Mining & Smelting Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Ohi Seisakusho Co., Ltd. (Mitsui Mining & Smelting Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Kato, Yuichi, Shimada, Junichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BARRETT, SUZANNE LALE DINO
• Application Number:
  US08/087,335
• Time in Patent Office: 775 Days
• Field of Search: 292/341.16, 292/201, 292/216, 292/DIG. 43, 292/341.18, 70/241
• US Class Current: 292/341.16
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/20 for assisting final closing or for initiating opening
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/21 with means preventing or detecting pinching of objects or body parts
• 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 292/699 Motor controlled
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5907 With switch

Abstract

A lock mechanism is mounted on a pivotal trunk lid. A lid drawing mechanism is mounted in a fixed member of a trunk space of a vehicle body. The lid drawing mechanism includes a motor mounting plate which is stationary, a striker base plate which is pivotally connected to the motor mounting plate and an output disc which pivots the striker base plate when rotated. The striker base plate has a striker which is engageable with the lock mechanism. A power unit is mounted to the fixed member and includes an electric motor and a speed reduction gear which are installed in a housing secured to the motor mounting plate. A rotation transmitting device is employed for transmitting rotation of the spur gear to the output disc irrespective of a certain axial displacement therebetween.

Claims

1. A power lid closing device for use in a structure wherein a lid member is pivotally connected to a fixed member, comprising:

a lock mechanism mounted on said lid member;

a lid drawing mechanism mounted on said fixed member, said lid drawing mechanism including a motor mounting plate which is stationary, a striker base plate which is pivotally connected to said motor mounting plate and an output disc which pivots said striker base plate when rotated, said striker base plate having a striker engageable with said lock mechanism;

a power unit mounted to said motor mounting plate, said power unit including an electric motor and a speed reduction gear which are installed in a housing secured to said motor mounting plate, said speed reduction gear including a spur gear the axis of which is substantially perpendicular to said motor mounting plate;

means defining an eccentric cam groove in one side of said spur gear; and

a rotary switch having a pivotal switch lever, said switch lever having a projection slidably engaged with said eccentric cam groove, said rotary switch being electrically connected to said electric motor.

2. A power lid closing device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

rotation transmitting means for transmitting rotation of said spur gear to said output disc irrespective of a certain axial displacement therebetween.

3. A power lid closing device as claimed in claim 2, in which said rotation transmitting means comprises:

means defining a circular recess in another side of said spur gear;

means defining a radially extending groove in said another side of said spur gear;

a transmission disc radially movably received in said circular recess, said transmission disc having at its periphery a bent arm slidably engaged with said radially extending groove; and

a shaft member connecting respective centers of said transmission disc and said output disc.

4. A power lid closing device as claimed in claim 3, in which said circular recess of said spur gear and said radially extending groove of said spur gear are merged with each other.

5. A power lid closing device as claimed in claim 3, in which the depth of said radially extending groove is deeper than said circular recess.

6. A power lid closing device as claimed in claim 3, in which said bent arm of said transmission disc is equipped with a slider member for achieving a smoothed movement of said bent arm relative to said radially extending groove.

7. A power lid closing device as claimed in claim 3, in which said shaft member passes through an opening formed in said motor mounting plate, and said shaft member has two rectangular ends unmovably received in respective rectangular openings formed in said centers of said transmission disc and said output disc.

8. A power lid closing device as claimed in claim 7, in which the rectangular opening of said transmission disc is collared.

9. A power lid closing device as claimed in claim 1, in which said speed reduction gear further comprises:

a worm mounted on an output shaft of said electric motor; and

two mutually engaged idle gears which are meshed with said worm and said spur gear respectively.

10. A power lid closing device as claimed in claim 1, in which said lid drawing mechanism further comprises:

means defining an arcuate cam slot in said striker base plate; and

a cam follower carried by said output disc, said cam follower being slidably engaged with said arcuate cam slot so that rotation of said output disc induces a traveling of said cam follower in said arcuate cam slot causing pivotal movement of said striker base plate.

11. A power lid closing device as claimed in claim 10, in which said arcuate cam slot, due to rotation of said output disc, pivots said striker base plate down from a generally middle position to a lowermost position, wherein a pulling force generated by said striker base plate is gradually increased.

12. A power lid closing device as claimed in claim 11, in which said arcuate cam slot is so shaped that the longitudinal ends thereof are directed upward with respect to said fixed member to which said lid member is pivotally connected.

13. A power lid closing device as claimed in claim 10, in which said lid drawing mechanism further comprises an open lever which is pivotally connected to said striker base plate, said open lever canceling a locked condition of said lock mechanism when moved by said cam follower.

14. A power lid closing device as claimed in claim 13, in which said open lever comprises:

a major portion pivotally connected to said striker base plate;

an input portion against which said cam follower abuts when said cam follower comes to one extreme end of said arcuate cam slot; and

an output portion which abuts against a lock member of said lock mechanism to cancel the locked condition of said lock mechanism when said major portion is pivoted in a predetermined direction by the abutment of said cam follower against said input portion.

15. A power lid closing device as claimed in claim 14, in which said output portion of said open lever is formed with a pushing portion, said pushing portion pushing up a lower end of said lock member of said lock mechanism to lift up said lid member from said fixed member when said major portion is pivoted in the predetermined direction by said cam follower.

16. A power lid closing device as claimed claim 15, in which said pushing portion is smoothly curved.

17. A power lid closing device as claimed in claim 13, in which said lock mechanism on said lid member comprises:

a lock base plate fixed to said lid member;

a latch plate pivotally connected to said lock base plate, said latch plate being capable of latching said striker of said striker base plate when they abut against each other; and

a locking plate which is said lock member, said locking plate being pivotally connected to said lid lock base plate, said locking plate being engageable with said latch plate to lock said latch plate at the latching condition.

18. A power lid closing device as claimed in claim 16, further comprising a spring by which said latch plate and said locking plate are biased in opposite directions.