Drive device for driving two members and shielding system for vehicle

• US 7,374,220 B2
• Filed: 05/02/2005
• Issued: 05/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nifco Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Nifco Incorporated
• Inventors: Ichimaru, Takahide
• Primary Examiner(s): Pedder; Dennis H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BLANKENSHIP, GREGORY A
• Application Number:
  US11/118,387
• Publication Number:
  US 20050253405A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,114 Days
• Field of Search: 296/37.1, 296/37.5, 296/37.8, 296/37.12, 296/24.34, 296/37.7, 248/551
• US Class Current: 296/37.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/00 Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/02 for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0092 with motorization
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0094 characterised by means for covering after user, e.g. boxes, shutters or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0096 Theft prevention of articles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 7/06 mounted on or below dashboards

Abstract

A drive device for driving two members includes one drive source; a rotating member connected to the drive source; and a drive member connected to the rotating member via a coupling device. The drive member stops upon releasing the connection from the rotating member via the coupling device after moving for a predetermined distance in synchronicity with the rotating member. The rotating member and the drive member drive the two members, respectively.

Claims

1. A drive device for driving two members, comprising:

a drive source,

a rotating member connected to the drive source for driving one of the two members,

a coupling device connected to the rotating member,

a drive member adapted to be connected to the other of the two members for moving the same, said drive member engaging the rotating member through the coupling device to move for a predetermined distance together with the rotating member and disengaging from the rotating member through the coupling device to stop, and

a switch device for operating the drive source, said switch device being configured such that when the switch device is activated a first time, the rotating member moves together with the drive member to drive said one of the two members, and when the switch device is activated a second time, the rotating member moves alone without moving with the drive member to drive the other of the two members.

2. A drive device according to claim 1, wherein said coupling device includes a projection disposed on the rotating member and a groove provided in the drive member for guiding the projection.

3. A drive device according to claim 2, wherein said drive member is connected to the rotating member to be movable in a radial direction relative to the rotating member.

4. A drive device according to claim 3, wherein said drive member includes means for moving along a predetermined track so that the drive member moves radially relative to the rotating member.

5. A drive device according to claim 4, wherein said means for moving is a shaft engaging the track so that after the drive member rotates together with the rotating member, the drive member moves radially outwardly to allow the projection to move in a radial groove as said groove in the drive member to thereby freely rotate the rotating member relative to the drive member.

6. A drive device according to claim 1, wherein said drive source includes a motor capable of switching between forward rotation and reverse rotation when the rotating member is released from the drive member.

7. A shielding system for a vehicle comprising the drive device according to claim 1, a shutter member connected to the drive member as the one of the two members for opening and closing an opening of a storage section of the vehicle, and a cover connected to the rotating member as the other of the two members, independent from the shutter member, for opening and closing a portion of the opening of the storage section.

8. A shielding system for a vehicle comprising the drive device according to claim 1, a shutter member connected to the drive member as the one of the two members for opening and closing an opening of a storage section of the vehicle, and a storage member connected to the rotating member as the other of the two members for sliding back and forth within the storage section.

9. A drive device according to claim 1, wherein said switch device comprises a first operation button for moving the rotating member together with the drive member by operation of the drive source, and a second operation button to be actuated after the first operation button for moving the rotating member alone by operation of the drive source.

10. A drive device according to claim 9, wherein said switch device further comprises a first limit switch actuated when the rotating member starts to rotate, and a second limit switch actuated when the rotating member rotates for a predetermined distance.