Latch device for use with a vehicle trunk lid

• US 5,632,515 A
• Filed: 12/12/1994
• Issued: 05/27/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mitsui Kinzoku Act Corporation (Mitsui Mining & Smelting Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Mitsui Kinzoku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Dowling, Patrick J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Meyers, Steven N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lecher, Donald J.
• Application Number:
  US08/357,225
• Time in Patent Office: 897 Days
• Field of Search: 292/216, 292/DIG. 43, 292/DIG. 23, 292/DIG. 27, 292/341.16
• US Class Current: 292/216
• 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: Y10S 292/23 Vehicle door latches
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 292/43 Rear deck lid latches
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1047 Closure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/699 Motor controlled

Abstract

A latch device for use with a vehicle trunk lid comprises a base plate and an actuator unit mounted on the base plate. The base plate has a latch adapted to engage with a striker and a ratchet arranged to engage with the latch for maintaining engagement between the latch and the striker. The actuator unit has a motor, an output gear turned by means of the motor, a cam lever connected to the output gear with a lost motion coupling and a connection shaft which rotates together with the cam lever as one body. The cam lever is adapted to make the ratchet leave the latch when turned. The latch device further has an open lever engaged with a rod leading to a key cylinder of a trunk. The open lever is secured on the connection shaft. The connection shaft and the cam lever are formed from synthetic resin in such a manner to be integral with each other.

Claims

1. A latch device for use with a vehicle trunk lid, comprising:

a latch adapted to engage with a striker;

a ratchet arranged to engage with the latch for maintaining engagement between the latch and striker;

a cam lever adapted to release the ratchet from the latch;

an output gear for rotating the cam lever when turned by means of a motor;

an open lever connected to a trunk key cylinder; and

a connection shaft supporting the cam lever, the output gear and the open lever

wherein said cam lever and said open lever are secured to the connection shaft; and

said output gear is rotatably mounted to the connection shaft.

2. A latch device according to claim 1, wherein the connection shaft and the cam lever are formed from synthetic resin in such a manner to be integral with each other.

3. A latch device according to claim 1, wherein a wire cable leading to a manual release lever provided near a driver'"'"'s seat is connected to the open lever.

4. A latch device for use with a vehicle trunk lid, comprising:

a base plate having a latch adapted to engage with a striker and a ratchet arranged to engage with the latch for maintaining engagement between the latch and the striker;

an actuator unit mounted on the base plate and having a motor, an output gear turned by means of the motor, a cam lever connected to the output gear with a lost motion coupling and a connection shaft which rotates together with the cam lever as one body, said cam lever being adapted to release the ratchet from the latch when turned, said output gear being rotatably mounted to the connection shaft; and

an open lever engaged with a rod leading to a key cylinder of a trunk, wherein the open lever is secured on the connection shaft.

5. A latch device according to claim 4, wherein the connection shaft and the cam lever are formed from synthetic resin in such a manner to be integral with each other.