Interior trunk lid mounted emergency trunk release

• US 6,433,292 B1
• Filed: 09/29/1999
• Issued: 08/13/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rick W. Tate
• Original Assignee: Rick W. Tate
• Inventors: Tate, Rick W.
• Primary Examiner(s): LUEBKE, RENEE S
• Application Number:
  US09/408,576
• Time in Patent Office: 1,049 Days
• Field of Search: 200/86.R, 200/85.R, 200/85.A, 200/512
• US Class Current: 200/512
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/54 Electrical circuits for locking several wings simultaneously E05B77/48
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 83/26 Emergency opening means for persons trapped in the luggage compartment
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/14 adapted for operation by a part of the human body other than the hand, e.g. by foot
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/141 Cushion or mat switches

Abstract

The invention is an electronic vehicle trunk lock switch, mounted on the inside lid of a vehicle trunk for emergency release of a trapped occupant. The switch is formed by two copper plates, separated by a foam spacer. The two copper plates come in contact with each other upon contact with the switch, completing a circuit between the battery and electric trunk lock. The switch is then designed to release the electric trunk lock.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle comprising:

an electrical system including a battery;

a trunk having a trunk lid having an interior side;

an electrically operated trunk lock comprising a lid latch and an electrically activated latch release mechanism; and

a switch mounted to said interior side of said trunk lid, said switch comprising;

a pair of flexible electrically conductive plates spaced apart a predetermined distance permitting contact of said plates when flexed by a compressive force;

a resilient foam spacer disposed between each of the said pair of plates;

a lock lead attached to one said plate;

a battery lead attached to the other plate; and

insulating material electrically insulating said pair of plates from external contact;

wherein said lock lead is electrically connected to said latch release mechanism, and said battery lead is operably connected to said battery.

2. The vehicle trunk according to claim 1, wherein said foam spacer is one of glued or laminated between said plates and said insulating material surrounds and is one of glued or laminated around said plates.

3. The vehicle trunk according to claim 1, wherein said foam spacer has open slots for enabling the two plates to come in contact when they are compressed.

4. The vehicle trunk according to claim 1, wherein said plates include a metal selected from the group consisting of copper, steel, aluminum, silver and gold.