Patent Application
20230313573
Vehicle compartments, such as rear trunks or front compartments (which may be included in electrically-powered or rear engine vehicles) may be equipped with safety releases so that a person trapped inside the compartment can release the latch that secures the compartment hatch. Opening the compartment hatch while a vehicle is moving may present a safety concern, particularly with compartments at the front of a vehicle: if the safety release is activated while the vehicle is moving, the open compartment hatch may obstruct an operator's vision and, thus, lead to an accident.
The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.
Disclosed embodiments include apparatuses, vehicles, and methods for managing operation of a latch securing a compartment hatch so that activation of a safety release within the compartment only enables partial opening of a compartment hatch (to permit airflow into the compartment) unless or until the vehicle is traveling at or below a threshold speed when it is safe for the compartment hatch to open.
In an illustrative embodiment, an apparatus includes a primary latch that defines a slot configured to receive a striker extending from a compartment hatch and that is rotatable between a locked position in which the slot is oriented to hold the striker to retain the compartment hatch in a closed position and an unlocked position in which the slot is oriented to enable the striker to be withdrawn from the slot to permit opening of the compartment hatch; and a secondary latch mechanism configured to be moved between: a first configuration configured to maintain the primary latch in the closed position; a second configuration configured to enable the striker to move within the slot to permit partial opening of the hatch; and a third configuration configured to enable the primary latch to rotate to the unlocked position.
In another illustrative embodiment, a vehicle includes a vehicle body that defines at least one compartment closable by a compartment hatch; a primary latch that defines a slot configured to receive a striker extending from a compartment hatch and that is rotatable between a locked position in which the slot is oriented to hold the striker to retain the compartment hatch in a closed position and an unlocked position in which the slot is oriented to enable the striker to be withdrawn from the slot to permit opening of the compartment hatch; and a secondary latch mechanism configured to be moved between: a first configuration configured to maintain the primary latch in the closed position; a second configuration configured to enable the striker to move within the slot to permit partial opening of the hatch; and a third configuration configured to enable the primary latch to rotate to the unlocked position.
In another illustrative embodiment, a method includes providing a vehicle with a compartment hatch configured to close a compartment and including a striker; providing a primary latch within the compartment that is configured to receive the striker and is rotatable between a locked position in which the primary latch is oriented to hold the striker to retain the compartment hatch in a closed position and an unlocked position in which the primary latch is oriented to enable the striker to be withdrawn from the primary latch to permit opening of the compartment hatch; and providing a secondary latch mechanism configured to be moved between: a first configuration configured to maintain the primary latch in the closed position; a second configuration configured to enable the primary latch to move to an intermediate position between the locked position and the unlocked position to permit partial opening of the hatch; and a third configuration configured to enable the primary latch to rotate to the unlocked position.
Further features, advantages, and areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. It will be appreciated that the description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, with emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the disclosed embodiments. In the drawings:
The following description explains, by way of illustration only and not of limitation, various embodiments. By way of a non-limiting introduction and overview, in various embodiments, an apparatus includes a primary latch for securing a striker extending from a compartment hatch of a vehicle and a secondary latch mechanism for managing operation of the primary latch in response to activation of a safety release within the compartment and/or an external trigger to open the compartment.
The secondary latch mechanism secures the latch mechanism in a closed configuration in which the compartment hatch remains fully closed. However, the secondary latch mechanism enables the primary latch to allow partial opening of the compartment hatch, for example, to enable air to get into the compartment. In various embodiments, the secondary hatch mechanism may include a first latch member that prevents the primary latch from moving from the closed position. However, responsive to activation of the safety release, the secondary latch mechanism (e.g., via movement of the first latch member) enables partial opening of the primary latch. The secondary latch mechanism, such as via a second latch member, prevents the hatch compartment from being opened further unless the vehicle is traveling at or below a threshold speed. Therefore, for example, if the compartment is a front compartment, activation of the safety release will not result in the compartment hatch opening fully while the vehicle is moving (or is only moving slowly) and, thus, possibly obstructing vision of a vehicle operator and creating a safety hazard.
When the vehicle is traveling at or below the threshold speed, the secondary latch mechanism (e.g., via movement of the second latch member) enables the primary latch to fully release the striker to enable the compartment hatch to fully open. In this case, the secondary latch mechanism, in response to activation of the safety release or an external trigger (such as a hatch release) allows the compartment hatch to open.
Now that a general overview has been given, details of various embodiments will be explained by way of non-limiting examples given by way of illustration only and not of limitation.
Referring to
In various embodiments, the latch apparatus 130 maintains the compartment hatch 110 in a closed position 111 (represented by a dashed line in
The latch apparatus 130 includes an emergency release 180 disposed inside the compartment 104 that can be used by someone inside the compartment 104 to release the compartment hatch 110. According to various embodiments, when the emergency release 180 is engaged when the vehicle 100 is traveling in excess of a threshold speed, the latch apparatus 130 enable the compartment hatch 110 to open to a partially open position 112 (represented by a dashed and dotted line in
According to various embodiments, as further described below, the second latch member of a secondary latch mechanism (described below) prevents the compartment hatch from opening further until the vehicle 100 is traveling at or below a threshold speed. In various embodiments, the threshold speed may be zero miles per hour, dictating that the vehicle 100 be stopped or traveling at a low speed at which opening of the compartment hatch 110 will not present a hazard before the compartment hatch 110 is permitted to fully open. When the vehicle 100 is traveling at or below the threshold speed, engagement of the emergency release 180 or an external trigger, such as activation of a mechanical or electromechanical hatch release, allows the compartment hatch 110 to open to a fully open position 113 (represented by a dotted line in
Referring to
The secondary latch mechanism 260 includes a first latch member 262 rotatably mountable about a first pivot 264 and a second latch member 272 rotatably mounted about a second pivot 274. An emergency release 280 is coupled to a first actuator 282 that is connected by a first linkage 284, such as a cable, with the first latch member 262 and by a second linkage 286, such as a cable, that is connected with the primary latch 240 to direct the movement of each as described below. In various embodiments, a second actuator 288 is mechanically engaged to with the second latch member 272 to direct its movement as described below.
In the locked configuration depicted in
Referring to
Engaging the emergency release 280 activates the first actuator 282. The first actuator 282 motivates the first linkage 284 to cause the first latch member 262 to rotate in a direction 265 about the first pivot 264 which moves the distal end 266 of the first latch member 262 clear of the locking surface 246 of the primary latch 240. The first actuator 282 also motivates the second linkage 286 to enable the primary latch to rotate in the first (opening) direction 245. As a result, the primary latch rotates about the pivot 244 in the first (opening) direction 245, enabling the striker 220 to move within the slot 242.
However, the primary latch 240 is able to rotate in the first (opening) direction 245 only until the locking surface 246 of the primary latch 240 abuts a distal end 276 of the second latch member 272. Because the vehicle is moving in excess of the threshold speed, the second actuator 288 does not move the second latch member 272 and the second latch member 272 blocks further rotation of the primary latch 240. As a result, the compartment hatch 110 (
Referring to
Referring to
The pawl latches 362 and 372 are configured to selectively engage notches 346 and 348, respectively, on the primary latch to selectively prevent the primary latch 340 from rotating in an opening direction 345 which moves the slot 342 to enable the striker to pass out of the channel 333, as further described below. In various embodiments, the pawl latches 362 and 372 are biased by springs or similar mechanisms to rotate the pawl latches 362 and 372 to engage the primary latch 340, as further described below.
In the closed position shown in
The first pawl latch 362 may be rotated about a first pivot 364 in a first direction 365 by engaging an emergency release 380 that is coupled to the primary pawl latch 362 by a linkage 382, such as a cable. In cases in which the primary pawl latch 362 is biased by a spring, the primary pawl latch 362 may be biased in a direction opposite to the first direction 365, but the bias may be overcome by engaging the emergency release 380. Moving the emergency release 380 in a direction 381 causes the first pawl latch 362 to rotate in the first direction 365 and move the first protrusion 366 away from the first notch 346 in the primary latch 340, enabling the primary latch 340 to rotate in the opening direction 345.
As will be further described below, the pawl latches 362 and 372 are engaged by a slidable linkage 350. A first pin 351 extends from the first pawl latch 362 into a slot 355 on the sliding linkage 350 where the first pin 351 is slidably and rotatably received. A second pin 353 extends from the second pawl latch 372 and is rotatably received by the sliding linkage 350. As will be appreciated, when the first pawl latch 362 is rotated in the first direction 365, the first pin 351 is able to move within the slot 355 so that the first pawl latch 362 may be rotated in the first direction 365 without the second pawl latch 372 being rotated.
Referring to
However, the movement of the emergency release 380 described with reference to
In the example shown, opening the compartment hatch requires that an actuator 385 be engaged by an external trigger 387, which may be a mechanical or electromechanical switch (which may be remotely activated), which may include a key latch, a release cable, a motor, or another device. The actuator 385 is coupled to the second pawl latch 372 by a release linkage 389 such that, when the external trigger 387 engages the actuator 385, the release linkage 389 causes the second pawl latch 372 to rotate in a second direction 375 to enable movement of the primary latch, as further described below.
Referring to
It will be appreciated that, when the actuator 385 is engaged to rotate the second pawl latch 372 in the second direction 375, the linkage 350 will also cause the first pawl latch 362 to rotate in the first direction 365. When the second pawl latch 372 rotates in the second direction, the pin 353 drives the slidable linkage 350 toward the first pin 351. A trailing end 357 of the slot 355 (which enables the first pawl latch 362 to move independently, as described with reference to
In various embodiments, the latch apparatuses 230 and 330 may be used with any number of vehicles and may be used with any hatch—front, rear, side, or otherwise—for which a partial, but not full opening may be desired. In various embodiments, the latch apparatuses 230 and 330 may be integrated into a vehicle such as a car, truck, sport utility vehicle, van, or recreational vehicle. In various embodiments, the vehicle also may include a motorcycle, all-terrain vehicle, or an electrically-powered moped or bicycle. In various embodiments, the vehicle also may include a marine vessel (such as a boat or a ship). In various embodiments, the vehicle also may include an aircraft (such as fixed-wing aircraft, rotary wing aircraft, and lighter-than-air craft).
By way of example, referring to
As previously described, the latch apparatus 430 may be used to enable a compartment hatch 490 to be partially opened to permit airflow into a compartment closable by the compartment hatch 490 unless the vehicle 400 is traveling at or below a threshold speed to, for example, prevent the compartment hatch 490 from opening and blocking the view of an operator when the vehicle 400 is not stopped or cannot be immediately stopped. To this end, a speed sensor 470 (which may be part of the vehicle control system 460 or may be a separate device) communicates via a physical or communicative connection 480. Thus, for example, if the vehicle 400 is traveling in excess of the threshold speed when an emergency release (not shown in
Referring to
Referring to
In some instances, one or more components may be referred to herein as “configured to,” “configured by,” “configurable to,” “operable/operative to,” “adapted/adaptable,” “able to,” “conformable/conformed to,” etc. Those skilled in the art will recognize that such terms (for example “configured to”) generally encompass active-state components and/or inactive-state components and/or standby-state components, unless context requires otherwise.
While particular aspects of the present subject matter described herein have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that, based upon the teachings herein, changes and modifications may be made without departing from the subject matter described herein and its broader aspects and, therefore, the appended claims are to encompass within their scope all such changes and modifications as are within the true spirit and scope of the subject matter described herein. It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (for example, bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as “open” terms (for example, the term “including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,” etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to claims containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an” (for example, “a” and/or “an” should typically be interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (for example, the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (for example, “a system having at least one of A, B, and C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that typically a disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms unless context dictates otherwise. For example, the phrase “A or B” will be typically understood to include the possibilities of “A” or “B” or “A and B.”
With respect to the appended claims, those skilled in the art will appreciate that recited operations therein may generally be performed in any order. Also, although various operational flows are presented in a sequence(s), it should be understood that the various operations may be performed in other orders than those which are illustrated or may be performed concurrently. Examples of such alternate orderings may include overlapping, interleaved, interrupted, reordered, incremental, preparatory, supplemental, simultaneous, reverse, or other variant orderings, unless context dictates otherwise. Furthermore, terms like “responsive to,” “related to,” or other past-tense adjectives are generally not intended to exclude such variants, unless context dictates otherwise.
While the disclosed subject matter has been described in terms of illustrative embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the claimed subject matter as set forth in the claims.
It will be appreciated that the detailed description set forth above is merely illustrative in nature and variations that do not depart from the gist and/or spirit of the claimed subject matter are intended to be within the scope of the claims. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the claimed subject matter.
