Safety release for a trunk of a vehicle
First Claim
1. A release system adapted for use in opening a deck lid of a vehicle, said release system being positionable within a compartment at least partially closed by the deck lid, the compartment having a release mechanism for opening the deck lid, said release system being adapted for operation from the interior of the compartment and comprising:
- a handle for activating the release mechanism for opening the deck lid, said handle having an attachment for interconnection with the release mechanism;
a release actuating device which is adapted for interconnection with one of said handle and the release mechanism;
an occupant detection system for detecting an occupant of the compartment;
a control which is operable to activate said release actuating device in response to at least one of said handle and said occupant detection system; and
a housing adapted to be positioned on an interior surface of the compartment, said handle being recessed within said housing, wherein said release actuating device, said occupant detection system and said control are all positioned within said housing, said release system comprising a substantially contained release module which is connectable to the release mechanism of the compartment.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A safety release assembly for a trunk or compartment of a vehicle is provided which is positionable within the trunk or compartment space of the vehicle so as to allow for opening of the trunk or compartment lid from within the trunk or compartment. The safety assembly comprises a handle for activating a release mechanism of the lid in order to open the compartment, a release assist device, at least one illumination source, which is at least occasionally activated to provide illumination of the handle, and a control for activating the assist device or the illumination source in response to an occurrence of at least one activating event such as when the deck lid is closed, motion is sensed by a sensor within the trunk/compartment, an object having a predetermined temperature is detected within the trunk/compartment, or the like. The handle is interconnected with the release mechanism of the compartment, such that movement of the handle results in activation of the release mechanism and thus opening of the lid. The assist device is operable to activate the handle or the release mechanism to ease the opening of the trunk or to automatically open the trunk in response to the control, and may be electrically powered, mechanically powered or gas powered. The control is operable to activate the illumination source for a period of time following occurrence of at least one activating event, and subsequently to deactivate the illumination source upon completion of that time period. The handle of the present invention is designed for easy visibility in minimal lighting conditions and easy recognition even by a young child who may become trapped within the trunk space of the vehicle. This allows easy recognition and activation of the handle and release mechanism of the lid of the vehicle compartment in order to escape from within a trunk space.
346 Citations
65 Claims
-
1. A release system adapted for use in opening a deck lid of a vehicle, said release system being positionable within a compartment at least partially closed by the deck lid, the compartment having a release mechanism for opening the deck lid, said release system being adapted for operation from the interior of the compartment and comprising:
-
a handle for activating the release mechanism for opening the deck lid, said handle having an attachment for interconnection with the release mechanism;
a release actuating device which is adapted for interconnection with one of said handle and the release mechanism;
an occupant detection system for detecting an occupant of the compartment;
a control which is operable to activate said release actuating device in response to at least one of said handle and said occupant detection system; and
a housing adapted to be positioned on an interior surface of the compartment, said handle being recessed within said housing, wherein said release actuating device, said occupant detection system and said control are all positioned within said housing, said release system comprising a substantially contained release module which is connectable to the release mechanism of the compartment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. A release system adapted for use in opening a deck lid of a vehicle, said release system being positionable within a compartment at least partially closed by the deck lid, the compartment having a release mechanism for opening the deck lid, said release system being adapted for operation from the interior of the compartment and comprising:
-
a handle for activating the release mechanism for opening the deck lid, said handle having an attachment for interconnection with the release mechanism;
a release actuating device which is adapted for interconnection with one of said handle and the release mechanism;
an occupant detection system for detecting an occupant of the compartment; and
a control which is operable to activate said release actuating device in response to at least one of said handle and said occupant detection system, said handle and the release mechanism being interconnected by a release cable, said handle being operable to pull at an end of the release cable via a lever arm, wherein said actuating device is engagable with said lever arm and is operable to pivot said lever arm independent of operation of said handle to activate the release mechanism in response to said occupant detection system. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
-
-
28. A release module adapted for use in opening a deck lid of a vehicle, said release module being positionable within a compartment at least partially closed by the deck lid, the compartment having a release mechanism for opening the deck lid, said release module adapted for operation from the interior of the compartment and comprising:
-
an actuating device for activating the release mechanism for opening the deck lid, said actuating device being adapted for interconnection with the release mechanism of the compartment;
an occupant detection system for detecting a presence of an occupant within the compartment;
a manual input device for actuating the release mechanism from within the compartment;
a control which is operable to actuate said actuating device in response to at least one of said occupant detection system and said manual input device; and
a housing, said occupant detection system, said actuating device, said control and said manual input device being at least partially contained within said housing. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38)
-
-
29. The release module of claim said manual input device comprises one of a touch panel and a soft touch handle, said occupant detection system being actuatable in response to one of capacitive, resistive, and inductive actuation.
-
39. A release module adapted for use in opening a deck lid of a vehicle, said release module being positionable within a compartment at least partially closed by the deck lid, the compartment having a release mechanism for opening the deck lid, said release module adapted for operation from the interior of the compartment and comprising:
-
an actuating device for activating the release mechanism for opening the deck lid, said actuating device being adapted for interconnection with the release mechanism of the compartment;
an occupant detection system for detecting a presence of an occupant within the a compartment;
a manual input device for actuating the release mechanism from within the compartment, said manual input device comprising a handle, said handle and said actuating device being connectable to the release mechanism via at least one mechanical linkage; and
a control which is operable to actuate said actuating device in response to at least one of said occupant detection system and said manual input device, wherein said handle is operable to activate the release mechanism independent of said actuating device. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
-
-
51. A release module adapted for use in opening a deck lid of a vehicle, said release module being positionable within a compartment at least partially closed by the deck lid, the compartment having a release mechanism for opening the deck lid, said release module adapted for operation from the interior of the compartment and comprising:
-
an actuating device for activating the release mechanism for opening the deck lid, said actuating device being adapted for interconnection with the release mechanism of the compartment;
an occupant detection system for detecting a presence of an occupant within the compartment;
a manual input device for actuating the release mechanism from within the compartment;
a control which is operable to actuate said actuating device in response to at least one of said occupant detection system and said manual input device; and
at least one illumination source which is at least occasionally activated to provide illumination of said manual input device, wherein said control is operable to activate said at least one illumination source in response to said occupant detection system. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60)
-
-
61. A release module adapted for use in opening a deck lid of a vehicle, said release module being positionable within a compartment at least partially closed by the deck lid, the compartment having a release mechanism for opening the deck lid, said release module adapted for operation from the interior of the compartment and comprising:
-
an actuating device for activating the release mechanism for opening the deck lid, said actuating device being adapted for interconnection with the release mechanism of the compartment;
an occupant detection system for detecting a presence of an occupant within the compartment;
a manual input device for actuating the release mechanism from within the compartment, said manual input device comprising a handle;
a control which is operable to actuate said actuating device in response to at least one of said occupant detection system and said manual input device; and
at least one self luminous light source which is at least occasionally activated to provide illumination of said manual input device, said at least one self-luminous light source being mounted along said handle, wherein said handle further comprises a back lit cover plate along a surface thereof, said at least one self luminous light source being mounted within said handle such that said back lit cover plate substantially encases said at least one self luminous light source and is illuminated by said at least one self luminous light source. - View Dependent Claims (62, 63)
-
-
64. A release module adapted for use in opening a deck lid of a vehicle, said release module being positionable within a compartment at least partially closed by the deck lid, the compartment having a release mechanism for opening the deck lid, said release module adapted for operation from the interior of the compartment and comprising:
-
an actuating device for activating the release mechanism for opening the deck lid, said actuating device being adapted for interconnection with the release mechanism of the compartment;
an occupant detection system for detecting a presence of an occupant within the compartment;
a manual input device for actuating the release mechanism from within the compartment;
a control which is operable to actuate said actuating device in response to at least one of said occupant detection system and said manual input device; and
at least one of an illumination source and an audio device, said control being operable to activate at least one of said illumination source and said audio device in response to an initial detection of an occupant by said occupant detection system. - View Dependent Claims (65)
-
Specification