JP2000104430A - Hood lock structure for automobile - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve operability of a secondary latch of a hood lock and reduce material cost of the secondary latch. SOLUTION: An operation cutout 4 opened upward is provided on the upper edge part of a front end 3. A horizontal plate-like forward projecting part 46 is projected in front of a latch part 43 on a secondary latch 40 engaged and disengaged with and from a striker 10 of a front hood 1, a vertical plate- like upward projecting part 47 is projected upward from the front end of the forward projecting part 46, and a horizontal plate-like operating part 48 is projected forward from the upper end of the upward projecting part 47. The operating part 48 is disposed in the operation cutout 4, and the rear of the operation cutout 4 is closed by the upward projecting part 47. Accordingly, in inserting a finger in a clearance gap S between the front edge part of the front hood 1 and the front end 3 to operate the secondary latch 40, the operation part 48 can be easily located by groping, and the operation part 48 can be operated without inserting the fingers to the deepest part.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a hood lock attached to a front cross member behind a front end of an automobile, and a striker attached to a front hood. TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a hood lock structure for an automobile provided with a secondary latch having an operating portion in a shape of an arrow.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, a front end (a front grill, a front bumper, etc.) 10 of an automobile is used.
A hood lock 120 is attached to the front cross member 2 on the rear side of the front hood 3, and a striker 10 is attached to a front edge portion of the front hood 1. The hood lock 120 is provided with a primary latch 30 (see FIG. 4) operated from inside the vehicle compartment and a secondary latch 140 operated from outside the vehicle compartment, and the primary latch 30 or the secondary latch 140 is attached to the striker 10. When engaged, the front edge of the front hood 1 is locked, the primary latch 30 is disengaged from the striker 10, and the secondary latch 140
Comes off the striker 10, the front hood 1
Is configured to be released.

The secondary latch 140 is rotatably supported by a base 22 fixed to the front cross member 2 via a pin (rotating shaft) 27. And
The secondary latch 140 includes a base 141 on which the pin 27 is disposed, a latch lever 142 protruding upward from one lateral side of the base 141, and an operation lever 145 protruding upward from the other lateral side of the base 141. The striker 1 is formed integrally with the upper end of the latch lever 142.
0, a flange-shaped latch portion 43 is provided to protrude inward in the horizontal direction, and a vertical flange-shaped operation portion 148 operated by a finger is provided at the upper end of the operation lever 145 forward from the flange portion on the side edge. It is provided so as to protrude. And the latch unit 4
3 is engaged with the striker 10, the front edge of the front hood 1 is locked with a gap S between the front end 103 and the front edge 103 of the front hood 1 and the front end 103. The operator inserts his / her finger and operates the secondary latch 140 via the operation unit 148.
When the is rotated, the latch portion 43 is detached from the striker 10 and the front edge portion of the front hood 1 is released.

[0004]

The upper edge of the front end 103 of the vehicle is located below the position of the operator's eyes, and the operator is required to provide a clearance between the front edge of the front hood 1 and the front end 103. The secondary latch 140 must be operated by inserting a finger from S and groping to search for the operation unit 148. However, the upper edge of the front end 103 is formed in a horizontal straight line, and the operating portion 14 of the secondary latch 140 of the hood lock 120 is formed.
8 is located behind the upper edge of the front end 103, it is necessary to insert a finger deeper than the upper edge of the front end 103 (into the engine room) when operating the secondary latch 140. Therefore, the operability is poor, and the arrangement of the operation unit 148 of the secondary latch 140 differs depending on the vehicle type.
There is a problem that it is particularly difficult for an operator who does not know the arrangement of the 48 to operate.

The latch lever 142 of the secondary latch 140 is formed to be long vertically so that the latch portion 43 is disposed above the pin (rotating shaft) 27.
The latch lever component of the plate-like intermediate product processed into the secondary latch 140 needs to have a large length in the vertical direction, while the operating portion 148 projects forward from the flange portion on the side edge of the operating lever 145. Since it is formed in a vertical plate shape, it is necessary to increase the width of the operation lever component of the plate-shaped intermediate product in the horizontal direction. Accordingly, since the plate-like intermediate product processed into the secondary latch 140 has a shape that is spread in the vertical and horizontal directions, when such a plate-like intermediate product is manufactured from a plate-like material, the plate-like material is wasted. There are many parts, that is, the yield is low, and the material cost of the secondary latch 140 is high.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to provide a hood lock structure for an automobile in which the secondary latch of the hood lock can be easily operated and the material cost of the secondary latch can be reduced. Aim.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a hood lock attached to a front cross member at a rear side of a front end of an automobile, and a striker attached to a front hood. Is provided with a base fixed to the front cross member, and a secondary latch rotatably supported on the base via a rotation shaft, wherein the secondary latch has a hook-shaped latch portion that engages and disengages with the striker. When the latch is engaged with the striker, the front hood is locked, and the operator operates the finger through a gap between the front edge of the front hood and the front end. When the secondary latch is turned through the operation unit and the secondary latch is released from the striker, In the hood lock structure for an automobile in which the hood is released, the upper edge portion of the front end is provided with an operation notch that is opened upward, and the secondary latch has a front projection projecting forward from the latch portion. The upper protruding portion is provided so as to protrude upward from the front end of the front protruding portion and close the rear of the operating notch, and the operating portion protrudes forward from the upper end of the upper protruding portion and is disposed in the operating notch. It is configured to be provided.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the secondary latch is operated by inserting a finger into the gap between the front edge portion of the front hood and the front end, the operation notch is formed in the upper edge portion of the front end. The operating part of the secondary latch is provided in the notch for operation via the front protruding part, so that the operating part can be easily searched by groping, and the operating part can be operated without inserting the finger to the back. be able to. In addition, since the rear of the operation cutout of the front end is closed by the upper protruding portion of the secondary latch, it is possible to prevent fingers from being inserted more than necessary, and the operability of the secondary latch is improved.

Further, in the invention according to claim 2,
The secondary latch is manufactured from a plate-like intermediate product having a vertical plate-like base component, a vertical plate-like latch lever component and an operation lever component that protrude linearly upward from the base component, and is turned around. The driving shaft is disposed on the base component, the latch is formed at the upper end of the latch lever component, and the front protruding portion, the upper protruding portion, and the operating portion are each formed in a horizontal plate shape by bending the operating lever component. It is formed in a vertical plate shape and a horizontal plate shape.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the front lever, the upward protrusion, and the operating lever component to be processed into the operating portion linearly project from the base component to the same side as the latch lever component. Since the length of the plate-shaped intermediate product processed into the secondary lever can be made relatively small, a large number of plate-shaped intermediate products can be manufactured from the plate-shaped material. Thus, the material cost of the secondary latch can be reduced. In addition, since the operation unit is formed in a horizontal plate shape, the secondary latch can be more easily operated by pushing the operation unit upward.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a side view showing a secondary locking state of a hood lock structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a view taken in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a side view showing a primary locking state of the hood lock structure of FIG. 1, and FIG.
It is an arrow view. 5 is a side view (a), a front view (b), and a plan view (c) of the secondary latch in FIG. 1, and FIG. 6 is a plate-like intermediate product processed into the secondary latch in FIG. FIG. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an automobile to which the hood lock structure of FIG. 1 is applied.

As shown in FIG. 7, in a motor vehicle to which a hood lock structure according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied, a front hood 1 is rotatable on a rear edge side such that a front edge side is moved up and down. It is supported so as to open and close the upper part of the engine room behind the front end (front grill, front bumper, etc.) 3. And FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, the front edge portion of the front hood 1 is in a state where a gap S is opened between the front hood 3 (secondarily locked state) and a completely closed state (primarily locked state). The front cross member 2 behind the front end 3 is configured to be locked. The front cross member 2 supports a radiator (not shown), which is a high heat component.

On the lower surface (inner surface) of the front edge portion of the front hood 1, a substantially U-shaped striker 10 comprising a front-rear locked portion and a vertical protrusion is provided so as to protrude downward (inward). Have been. A hood lock 20 is provided on the front cross member 2 behind the front end 3.
The front hood 1 is attached so as to be disengaged from the striker 10. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an operation notch 4 that opens upward is provided at an upper edge portion of the front end 3. The upper edge portion of the front end 3 is covered from the front by the front edge portion of the front hood 1 in the primary locking state, and is exposed forward from the gap S with the front edge portion of the front hood 1 in the secondary locking state. I do.

As shown in FIGS.
Comprises a base 22, a primary latch 30, a secondary latch 40, and the like. The base 22 has a striker insertion notch 24 that is long and open upward and downward.
A vertical plate-shaped latch support portion 23 having: a horizontal plate-shaped protrusion portion 28, 28, 29 protruding rearward from an upper end and a lower end of the latch support portion 23; and a rear end of the protrusion portion 28, 28, 29. Vertical plate-like flange portion 28 protruding upward or downward
f, 28f, and 29f are integrally formed. The base 22 has flange portions 28f, 28f, 29f on the front surface of the upper end portion of the front cross member 2 so that the latch support portion 23 is disposed between the upper end portion of the front end 3 and the upper end portion of the front cross member 2. The striker 10 of the front hood 1 is fixed to the striker insertion notch 24 of the latch support 23.
(The front and rear locked parts) are inserted so as to cross the latch support part 23 back and forth.

As shown in FIG. 4, a primary latch 3 is provided on the rear side of the latch support 23 of the base 22.
0, a pole 32, springs 34 and 36, a hood lock cable 38, and the like are attached.
The striker 10 (locked portion) is locked to the lower end portion of the striker insertion notch 24 (in a primary locked state), and the hood lock cable 38 is brought into the primary locked state in cooperation with the pawl 32 and the spring 36. It is configured to be released. As shown in FIG. 2, a secondary latch 40, a spring 49, and the like are mounted on the front side of the latch support portion 23. The stop portion is locked to the upper end portion of the striker insertion notch 24 (in a secondary locking state).

As shown in FIG. 5, the secondary latch 40 of the hood lock 20 has a vertical plate-like base (rotation support portion) 41 having a rotation support hole 41a, and one side of the base 41. A linear vertical plate-like latch lever 42 projecting upward and a bent plate-like operation lever 45 projecting forward and upward from the other lateral side of the base 41 are integrally formed.
At the upper end of the latch lever 42, a hook-shaped latch portion 43 is provided to protrude inward (toward the rotation support hole 41a), and a bead 44 is provided from the latch lever 42 to the base 41. ing. The operation lever 45 is provided with a horizontal plate-shaped front protruding portion 46 protruding forward from the base 41 (rather than the latch portion 43), and a vertical plate-shaped upper protruding portion 47 is provided upward from the front end thereof. A laterally plate-shaped (flange-shaped) operation portion 48 is provided so as to protrude forward from a front end thereof. And the operation lever 4
5 is a latch lever 42 when the bent front protruding portion 46, the upper protruding portion 47, and the operation portion 48 are expanded up and down.
Similarly to the above, it is formed so as to have a linear vertical plate shape protruding upward from the base 41.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the secondary latch 40 is laterally moved by a pin (rotation shaft) 27 below the striker insertion notch 24 of the base 22 through a rotation support hole 41 a of the base 41. When the secondary latch 40 rotates, the latch portion 43 projects and retreats from the lateral side with respect to the front upper portion of the striker insertion notch 24, and the striker 10 (the locked portion). It is configured to disengage with. Then, the secondary lever 40 has the latch portion 43 whose striker insertion notch 2
4 is urged by a spring 49 to the side protruding from the front upper part (the side engaging the striker 10). The operation section 48 is arranged in the operation notch 4 at the upper edge portion of the front end 3, and the upward projection 47 is arranged so as to close the rear of the operation notch 4.

As shown in FIG. 6, a plate-like intermediate product 50 to be processed into the secondary latch 40 includes a vertically-oriented plate-shaped base component 51 and an upper portion from one lateral side of the base component 51. A vertical plate-like latch lever component 52 projecting linearly and a vertical plate-like operation lever component 55 projecting linearly upward from the other lateral side of the base component 51 are integrally formed. ing. And the base component 51,
Latch lever component 52, operation lever component 55
Are processed into a base 41, a latch lever 42, and an operation lever 45, respectively. That is, the rotation support hole 41 a is provided in the base component 51, the latch 43 is provided at the upper end of the latch lever component 52, and the front projection 46 and the upper projection 4 of the operation lever 45 are provided.
7. The operation unit 48 includes an operation lever component 55
At bending positions 56, 57, and 58.

That is, the front projecting portion 46, the upper projecting portion 47, and the operating portion 48 of the secondary latch 40 are formed in a horizontal plate shape, a vertical plate shape, and a horizontal plate shape, respectively. The operating lever component 55 processed into the part 47 and the operating part 48 is the latch lever component 5
Similarly to 2, since it is formed so as to protrude linearly upward from the base component 51, the length of the plate-shaped intermediate product 50 in the horizontal direction is relatively large (compared to the case where the operation unit is formed in a vertical plate shape). do it)
The size of the secondary latch 40 can be reduced because a large number of plate-shaped intermediate products 50 can be manufactured from the plate-shaped material. In addition,
Pin (rotating shaft) 27 for supporting secondary latch 40
Is disposed below the striker insertion notch 24 and the latch portion 43 of the secondary latch 40 is disposed at the front upper part of the striker insertion notch 24, so that the latch lever 42 needs to be formed vertically long. Therefore, the plate-like intermediate product 5
Since the length of 0 is increased in the vertical direction by the latch lever component 52, the plate-shaped intermediate product 50 can be downsized even if the operation lever component 55 is vertically long.

In order to release the front hood 1 from the primary latched state by the primary latch 30 in the hood lock structure configured as described above, the operator operates the hood lock cable 38 from the vehicle interior and the pole 3
2. The primary latch 30 is rotated via the spring 36, and the primary latch 30 is
(See FIGS. 3 and 4). Then, striker 10 (the locked portion) moves to the upper end portion of striker insertion notch 24 and latch portion 43 of secondary latch 40.
And the front hood 1 is in a secondary locking state, and the front edge portion of the front hood 1 and the front end 3
Is formed between them (see FIGS. 1 and 2).

To release the front hood 1 from the secondary latching state by the secondary latch 40, the operator needs to move the front edge of the front hood 1 and the front end 3
The finger is inserted from the gap S between the
By operating the secondary latch 40 from outside the vehicle cabin by rotating the secondary latch 40 via the control unit 8, the latch unit 43 of the secondary latch 40 is connected to the striker 1.
Leave from zero. At this time, a notch 4 for operation is provided in the upper edge portion of the front end 3, and the secondary latch 4
Since the 0 operation unit 48 is arranged in the operation notch 4,
The operation unit 48 can be easily searched by fumbling, and the operation unit 48 can be operated without inserting the finger all the way. In addition, since the rear of the notch 4 for operation of the front end 3 is closed by the upper protruding portion 47 of the secondary latch 40, it is possible to prevent fingers from being inserted more than necessary, and the operability of the secondary latch 40 is improved. Is improved. Further, since the operation section 48 is formed in a horizontal plate shape, the secondary latch 40 can be easily operated by pushing the operation section 48 upward.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the front protruding portion, the upper protruding portion, and the operating portion of the operating lever of the secondary latch are respectively laterally bent by bending a linear plate-shaped operating lever component of the plate-shaped intermediate product. Plate-like, vertical plate-like, horizontal plate-like cases have been described, but the front protruding portion, the upper protruding portion, and the operating portion respectively protrude forward from the latch portion,
Any configuration may be used as long as the rear of the operation notch is closed and the operation notch is arranged.

[0023]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the secondary latch is operated by inserting a finger into the gap between the front edge of the front hood and the front end, the operation is performed on the upper edge of the front end. Notches are provided, and the operating part of the secondary latch is located in the operating notch via the front protrusion, so you can easily find the operating part by groping and operate the operating part without inserting your fingers all the way. Can be operated. In addition, since the rear of the operation cutout of the front end is closed by the upper protruding portion of the secondary latch, it is possible to prevent fingers from being inserted more than necessary, and the operability of the secondary latch is improved.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the operating lever component portion processed into the front projecting portion, the upper projecting portion, and the operating portion is linear from the base component portion to the same side as the latch lever component portion. Since it is formed so as to protrude, the lateral length of the plate-like intermediate product to be processed into the secondary lever can be formed relatively small, and therefore, a large number of plate-like intermediate products can be manufactured from the plate-like material. Therefore, the material cost of the secondary latch can be reduced. In addition, since the operation unit is formed in a horizontal plate shape, the secondary latch can be more easily operated by pushing the operation unit upward.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a secondary locking state of a hood lock structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view taken in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view showing a primary locking state of the hood lock structure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view taken in the direction of the arrow B in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a side view (a) of the secondary latch in FIG. 1,
It is a front view (b) and a plan view (c).

FIG. 6 is a front view of a plate-shaped intermediate product processed into the secondary latch of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an automobile to which the hood lock structure of FIG. 1 is applied.

FIG. 8 is a side view showing a secondary locking state of a conventional hood lock structure.

FIG. 9 is a view as viewed in the direction of arrow C in FIG. 8;

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Front Hood 2 Front Cross Member 3 Front End (Front Grill, Front Bumper) 4 Notch for Operation 10 Striker 20 Hood Lock 22 Base 23 Latch Support 24 Striker Insertion Notch 27 Pin (Rotating Axis) 28, 29 Projection 28f, 29f Flange part 30 Primary latch 32 Pole 34, 36 Spring 38 Hood lock cable 40 Secondary latch 41a Rotation support hole 42 Latch lever 43 Latch part 44 Bead 45 Operation lever 46 Front projection part 47 Upper projection part 48 Operation part 49 Spring 50 Plate shape Intermediate product 51 Base component 52 Latch lever component 55 Operation lever component 56, 57, 58 Bending position S Clearance

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A hood lock attached to a front cross member on a rear side of a front end of an automobile, and a striker attached to a front hood, wherein the hood lock includes a base fixed to the front cross member. A secondary latch rotatably supported on the base via a pivot shaft, wherein the secondary latch includes a hook-shaped latch portion that engages with and disengages from the striker, and a collar-shaped portion that is operated by fingers. And the front hood is locked when the latch unit is engaged with the striker,
When an operator inserts a finger through a gap between a front edge portion of the front hood and the front end and rotates the secondary latch via the operation unit, the latch unit is separated from the striker and the front hood is released. In the automotive hood lock structure, the upper edge portion of the front end is provided with an operation notch that is opened upward, and the secondary latch has a front projection portion located forward of the latch portion. An upper protrusion is provided so as to protrude upward from a front end of the front protrusion to close the rear of the operation notch, and the operation portion protrudes forward from an upper end of the upper protrusion. A hood lock structure for an automobile, wherein the hood lock structure is provided so as to be disposed in the operation notch. 2. The secondary latch according to claim 1, wherein the secondary latch includes a vertical plate-shaped base component, and a vertical plate-shaped latch lever component and an operation lever component protruding linearly upward from the base component. A pivot is disposed on the base component, a latch portion is formed at an upper end of the latch lever component, and a forward projection, an upward projection and an operation portion are provided on the operation lever component. 2. The hood lock structure for an automobile according to claim 1, wherein the hood lock structure is formed into a horizontal plate shape, a vertical plate shape, and a horizontal plate shape by bending.