Machine element or mechanism – Control lever and linkage systems – Hand operated
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-22
2001-07-03
Bucci, David A. (Department: 3682)
Machine element or mechanism
Control lever and linkage systems
Hand operated
C074S501600, C074S523000, C070S256000, C267S179000, C292S225000, C292S336300, C292SDIG002
Reexamination Certificate
active
06253634
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vehicular opener device, and more particularly to an opener device for opening a lid of a vehicle by a remote operation.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, in a motor vehicle, operation levers coupled to a fuel lid and a trunk lid, which are located on the rear side of the vehicle, are located near and under a driver's seat. The driver operates the operation levers to remotely open those lids.
An example of the conventional opener device of this type is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. Hei. 7-20293. The disclosed opener device
22
includes levers
17
,
18
, and a spring
19
and L-shaped pawl portions
20
,
21
as shown in
FIGS. 6 and 7
. The levers
17
,
18
are rotatably held by a base
16
secured to the vehicle body. The spring
19
includes circular hooking portions
19
a
,
19
b
integrally formed at both ends thereof, and constantly urges the lever
17
to an initial position (a spring for another lever
18
being not shown). The pawl portions
20
and
21
are integrally formed with the base
16
and and the lever
17
. The bending portions
20
a
of the pawl portion
20
is slightly rounded. The diagonal length from the bending portion
20
a
to the tip
20
b
is larger than the diameter of each of hooking portions
19
a
,
19
b
. The hooking portions
19
a
,
19
b
are fastened to the pawl portions
20
,
21
, and the spring
19
is disposed between the pawl portions
20
,
21
.
In the spring hooking structure provided within the cross member of the vehicle body, the hooking portion of the spring is hooked to the spring receiving portion protruding outward from the surface
17
a
of the operation lever, And the coiled portion of the spring is disposed at a location separated from the surface of the operation lever.
In the conventional opener device, the spring hooking portion to which the spring is hooked protrudes outward from the surface of the operation lever, occupies a large area and is obstructive. The coiled portion of the spring is located apart from the surface of the operation lever. Therefore, the opener device, which is inserted into and placed within the cross member, is large, and the opening of the cross member is large. And the cross member as a reinforcing member is reduced in its strength. As a consequence, the vehicle body is reduced in rigidity and strength.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To remove the above disadvantages, an opener device of the present invention is constructed such that a hook-receiving portion of an operation lever to which the hook portion of a spring is hooked is buried in the operation lever to as to not to be obstructive.
To achieve the above object there is provided an opener device for opening a lid member of a vehicle body through a pulling member by a remote operation, comprising: an operation lever rotatably supported by a part of the vehicle body; a spring having a coiled portion and first and second hook portions disposed at both ends of the coiled portion; and means for hooking the spring, being disposed at one end of the operation lever, wherein the first hook portion of the spring in hooked to the hooking means and the second hook portion of the spring is hooked to a part of the vehicle body, whereby the spring elastically urges the operation lever, and the hooking means comprising: a recess located at the one end of the operation lever; and a hook-receiving portion being provided in the recess, the hook-receiving portion being located at an internal position in a thickness direction of the operation lever so that the hook-receiving portion does not protrude from a surface of the operation lever, wherein the first hook portion of the spring is hooked to the hook-receiving portion while being disposed in the recess, so that the coiled portion of the spring is continuously disposed along a thickness of the operation lever.
Preferably, in the above opener device, the hook-receiving portion of the hooking means is smaller than an inner diameter of the first hook portion of the spring, and the recess is larger than an outer diameter of the first hook portion.
Further, the hook-receiving portion can be constituted by a protrusion protruded from a bottom portion or the recess and having an L-shaped side view.
Still further, two recesses can be formed on both sides of the one and of the operation recess, and the hook-receiving portion can be constituted by a through hole formed through bottom portions of the two recesses.
Thus, in the opener device, the spring hooking member comprises the recess located at the base end of the operation lever, and the hook-receiving portion is provided in the recess, which is located at an internal position in the thickness direction of the operation lever. In other words, the hook-receiving portion of the spring hooking member is buried in the operation lever. Therefore, the hook portion of the spring is hooked to the spring hooking member without protruding upward from the surface of the operation lever. The coiled portion of the spring is continuously disposed along the thickness of the operation lever. In other words, the coiled portion of the spring is located at a position so as to be substantially overlapped with the operation lever in the width direction of the thickness at the base end of the operation lever. With such a construction, there is no chance that the spring is unintentionally slipped off from the operation lever, and hence the spring is firmly hooked to the operation lever. Further, the operation lever is reduced in thickness, and may easily be manufactured by molding proceed. Therefore, the opener device is reduced in size as a whole, and the spring after assembled never be slipped off from the operation lever.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2452208 (1948-10-01), Reger
patent: 4032129 (1977-06-01), Larsson
patent: 4476354 (1984-10-01), Uchino et al.
patent: 4917424 (1990-04-01), Ishihara et al.
patent: 4958536 (1990-09-01), Baumgarten
patent: 5535608 (1996-07-01), Brin
patent: 5551793 (1996-09-01), Lewis
patent: 936721 (1963-09-01), None
Bucci David A.
Foley & Lardner
Joyce William C
Ohi Seisakusho Co., LTD
LandOfFree
Vehicular opener device having a recessed operation lever does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Vehicular opener device having a recessed operation lever, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Vehicular opener device having a recessed operation lever will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2464511