Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02460291 2004-03-09
PIVOT LOCK
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to pivot locks and, more particularly,
to
pivot locks adapted to lock a panel of a vehicle in an open position.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The engine compartments of most vehicles are provided with hoods which serve
to generally enclose the engine compartment. The hoods are mounted to the
vehicle
frame and pivotal about a hinge assembly between open and closed positions. In
the
closed position, the hood generally encloses the engine and other vehicle
components
during vehicle operation. In the open position, the hood exposes the engine
and other
vehicle components to allow easy access for maintenance and/or repair
operations.
In some previously developed designs, the hood is maintained in the open
position
by bracing the hood in the open position with a rod. Typically, the rod is
pivotally
connected to the frame or hood of the vehicle and is swung outward from a
stowed
position to extend between the hood and the frame of the vehicle to brace open
the hood.
Although this method is effective, it is not without its problems. For
instance, the user
must lift the hood with a single hand while manipulating the rod with the
other hand to
brace open the hood, an awkward and sometimes injury prone process. Further,
the rod
may be bumped and dislodged from its position, thereby permitting the weight
of the
hood to come crashing down, possibly injuring the user or equipment of the
truck.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A pivot lock adapted to extend between a vehicle and a panel of the vehicle,
the
panel reciprocal between an open position and a closed position, wherein the
pivot lock is
adapted to selectively lock the panel in the open position is provided. The
pivot lock
PCCR\201 S I AP.DOC ' 1'
CA 02460291 2007-04-26
62839-2223
includes a linkage assembly adapted to extend between and
pivotally couple to a first location on the vehicle and a
second location on the panel. The linkage assembly includes
a first link and a second link pivotally coupled to the
first link at a third location. When the panel is in the
open position, the first and second links are configured in
a locked position, wherein rotation of each of the first and
second links in at least one direction is impeded to thereby
restrain the panel from reciprocating to the closed
position. The pivot lock further includes a release
mechanism coupled to the linkage assembly, the release
mechanism selectively movable to a release position. When
the release mechanism is in the release position, the
release mechanism applies a force to the linkage assembly to
rotate the first and second links relative to one another to
an unlocked position, wherein the panel is permitted to
reciprocate into the closed position. The pivot lock still
further includes a cam surface disposed on the linkage
assembly, wherein when the panel is reciprocated between the
open and closed positions, the cam surface engages the
release mechanism, selectively moving the release mechanism
from the release position to a stowed position.
Thus, in one aspect the invention provides a pivot
lock adapted to extend between a vehicle and a panel of the
vehicle, the panel reciprocal between an open position and a
closed position, wherein the pivot lock is adapted to
selectively lock the panel in the open position, the pivot
lock comprising: (a) a linkage assembly pivotally coupled to
a first location on the vehicle and a second location on the
panel, the linkage assembly including; (i) a first link; and
(ii) a second link pivotally coupled to the first link at a
third location, the first and second links configurable in a
locked position, wherein rotation of the first and second
-2-
CA 02460291 2007-04-26
62839-2223
links relative to one another is impeded to restrain the
panel from reciprocating to the closed position; (b) a
release mechanism coupled to the linkage assembly, the
release mechanism selectively movable to a release position,
wherein the release mechanism applies a force to the linkage
assembly to rotate the first and second links relative to
one another to an unlocked position, wherein the panel is
permitted to reciprocate to the closed position; and (c) a
cam surface disposed on the linkage assembly, wherein when
the panel is reciprocated from the open position to the
closed position, the cam surface engages the release
mechanism, selectively moving the release mechanism from the
release position to a stowed position.
In another aspect the invention provides a pivot
lock adapted to extend between a vehicle and a panel of the
vehicle, the panel reciprocal between an open position and a
closed position, wherein the pivot lock is adapted to
selectively lock the panel in the open position, the pivot
lock comprising: (a) a linkage assembly adapted to pivotally
couple to the vehicle at a first location and the panel at a
second location, the linkage assembly including a first link
coupled to a second link at a third location; (b) wherein
the first link is rotatable in a first direction from an
unlocked position, wherein a separation angle between a
first line intersecting the first and the third locations
and a second line intersecting the second and the third
locations exceeds 180 degrees and, to a locked position,
wherein the separation angle is less than 180 degrees; and
(c) a release mechanism coupled to the linkage assembly, the
release mechanism movable into a release position, wherein
the release mechanism engages the linkage assembly to rotate
the first link in a direction opposite the first direction
to remove the first link from the locked position, thereby
-2a-
i
CA 02460291 2007-04-26
62839-2223
permitting the panel to recipr cate into the closed
position.
In another aspect the invention provides a pivot
lock adapted to extend between a vehicle and a panel of the
vehicle, the panel reciprocal between an open position and a
closed position, wherein the pivot lock is adapted to
selectively lock the panel in the open position, the pivot
lock comprising: (a) a linkage assembly adapted to pivotally
couple to the vehicle at a first location and to the panel
at a second location, the linkage assembly including a first
link pivotally coupled to the second link at a third
location; (b) wherein the first and second links are
rotatable relative to one another from an unlocked position,
wherein the panel is free to reciprocate to the closed
position, to an over center position, wherein the first link
engages the second link to impede the panel from
reciprocating to the closed position; and (c) a release
mechanism coupled to the first link, the release mechanism
adapted to toggle from a stowed position to a release
position causing the first and second links to reconfigure
from the over center position to the unlocked position,
thereby permitting the panel to reciprocate between the
closed and open positions, and wherein the release mechanism
engages the second link when in the release position.
In another aspect the invention provides a pivot
lock adapted to extend between a vehicle and a panel of the
vehicle, the panel reciprocal between an open position and a
closed position, wherein the pivot lock is adapted to
selectively lock the panel in the open position, the pivot
lock comprising: (a) a linkage assembly pivotally coupled to
a first location on the vehicle, and a second location on the
panel, the linkage assembly including; (i) a first link; and
(ii) a second link pivotally coupled to the first link at a
-2b-
CA 02460291 2007-04-26
62839-2223
third location, the first and second links configurable in a
locked position, wherein rotation of the first and second
links relative to one another is impeded to restrain the
panel from reciprocating to the closed position, and an
unlocked position, wherein rotation of the first and second
links relative to one another is permitted to allow the
panel to reciprocate to the closed position; and (b) a
release mechanism coupled to the linkage assembly, the
release mechanism selectively movable to a limit position,
wherein the release mechanism engages the first and second
links when in the unlocked position to impede the first and
second links from rotating to the locked position, wherein
the release mechanism is selectively movable to a release
position, wherein the release mechanism applies a force to
the linkage assembly to rotate the first and second links
relative to one another to configure the first and second
links from the locked position to the unlocked position.
In another aspect the invention provides a pivot
lock adapted to extend between a vehicle and a panel of the
vehicle, the panel reciprocal between an open position and a
closed position, wherein the pivot lock is adapted to
selectively lock the panel in the open position, the pivot
lock comprising: (a) a linkage assembly pivotally coupled to
a first location on the vehicle and a second location on the
panel, the linkage assembly including; (i) a first link; and
(ii) a second link pivotally coupled to the first link at a
third location, the first and second links configurable in a
locked position, wherein rotation of the first and second
links relative to one another is impeded to restrain the
panel from reciprocating to the closed position, and an
unlocked position, wherein rotation of the first and second
links relative to one another is permitted to allow the
panel to reciprocate to the closed position; and (b) a
-2c-
CA 02460291 2007-04-26
62839-2223
release mechanism coupled to the linkage assembly, the
release mechanism selectively movable to a limit position,
wherein the release mechanism engages the first and second
links when in the unlocked position to impede the first and
second links from rotating to the locked position; and (c) a
cam surface disposed on the linkage assembly, wherein when
the linkage assembly is reciprocated from the locked
position to the unlocked position, the cam surface engages
the release mechanism, selectively moving the release
mechanism into the limit position.
In another aspect the invention provides a pivot
lock adapted to extend between a vehicle and a panel of the
vehicle, the panel reciprocal between an open position and a
closed position, wherein the pivot lock is adapted to
selectively lock the panel in the open position, the pivot
lock comprising: (a) a linkage assembly pivotally coupled to
a first location on the vehicle and a second location on the
panel, the linkage assembly including; (i) a first link; and
(ii) a second link pivotally coupled to the first link at a
third location, the first and second links configurable in a
locked position, wherein rotation of the first and second
links relative to one another is impeded to restrain the
panel from reciprocating to the closed position, and an
unlocked position, wherein rotation of the first and second
links relative to one another is permitted to allow the
panel to reciprocate to the closed position; and (b) a
release mechanism coupled to the linkage assembly, the
release mechanism selectively movable to a limit position,
wherein the release mechanism engages the first and second
links when in the unlocked position to impede the first and
second links from rotating to the locked position, wherein
when the linkage assembly is in the unlocked position, a
separation angle between a first line intersecting the first
-2d-
CA 02460291 2007-04-26
62839-2223
and the third locations and a second line intersecting the
second and the third locations exceeds 180 degrees and, when
the linkage assembly is in the locked position, the
separation angle is less than 180 degrees.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant
advantages of this invention will become better understood
by reference to the following detailed description, when
taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,
wherein:
FIGURE 1 is a partial perspective view of a
portion of a front section of a vehicle depicting a portion
of a hood, a portion of the vehicle's frame, a wheel (shown
in phantom), and a hinge assembly coupling the hood to the
frame, wherein one embodiment of a pivot lock formed in
accordance with the present invention is shown extending
between the frame and the hood, the pivot lock shown in a
locked position;
FIGURE 2 is a partial perspective view of the
pivot lock depicted in FIGURE 1 and a portion of the
environment surrounding the pivot lock;
FIGURE 3 is an exploded perspective view of the
pivot lock depicted in FIGURE 1;
FIGURE 4 is an elevation view of the pivot lock
depicted in FIGURE 1, wherein the pivot lock is shown in a
locked position;
-2e-
CA 02460291 2008-11-20
62839-2223
FIGURE 5 is an elevation view of the pivot lock depicted in FIGURE 1, wherein
the pivot lock is shown in an unlocked position and a release mechanism is
depicted in a
release position;
FIGL'RE 6 is an elevation view of the pivot lock depicted in FIGURE 1, wherein
the pivot lock is shown in an unlocked position with a release mechanism
depicted in a
limit position;
FIGURE 7 is an elevation view of the pivot lock. depicted in FIGURE 1, wherein
the pivot lock is shown as the pivot lock transitions from the unlocked
position of
FIGURE 6 to a partially stowed position, wherein a cam on a first link of the
pivot lock
engages the release mechanism coupled to the pivot lock, thereby rotating the
release
handle from the release position to a non-release position;
FIGURE 8 is an elevation view of the pivot lock depicted in FIGURE 1, wherein
the pivot lock is shown as the pivot lock transitions from the partially
stowed position of
FIGURE 7 to the stowed position of FIGURE 9, wherein the cam on the first link
of the
pivot lock continues to engage the release mechanism of the pivot lock,
thereby rotating
the release handle from the non-release position to a stowed position; and
FIGURE 9 is an elevation view of the pivot lock depicted in FIGURE 1, wherein
the pivot lock and the release mechanism are both shown in stowed position.
FIGURE 10 is an elevation view of an alternate
embodiment of a pivot lock formed in accordance with the
present invention, wherein the linkage assembly is pivotally
and slidingly coupled to a panel.
- 3 -
CA 02460291 2008-11-20
62839-2223
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
FIGURES 1-9 illustrate a pivot lock 100 formed in accordance with one
embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIGURE 1, generally
described, the
pivot lock 100 extends between a frame 102 and a hood 104 of a vehicle. The
hood 104
is reciprocal between an open position, such as shown in FIGURE 1, and a
closed
position (not shown) about a hinge assembly 106. The pivot lock 100 is adapted
to
selectively lock the hood 104 in the open position to impede unintentional
closing of the
hood 104, thus protecting a user from injury.
Although the illustrated embodiment of the present invention is described as
implemented in conjunction with a hood of a vehicle, those skilled in the
relevant art will
appreciate that the disclosed pivot lock 100 and the disclosed embodiment are
illustrative
in nature and should not be construed as limited to application with a hood.
It should
therefore be apparent that the pivot lock 100 has wide application, and may be
used in
any situation where impeding the reciprocation of a panel of a vehicle is
desirable, the
- 3a -
CA 02460291 2004-03-09
term "panel" used for the purpose of this detailed description to generally
describe and
encompass any reciprocal portion of a vehicle such as a trunk lid, door,
enclosure,
housing, or other such portion of a vehicle.
Referring to FIGURES 1 and 2, the pivot lock 100 is shown in a locked
position,
thus the hood 104 is impeded from reciprocating from the open position shown
to a
closed position (not shown). Referring now to FIGURES 2 and 3, the pivot lock
100
includes a linkage assembly 121 having a first link 108 pivotally coupled to
the
frame 102 at a first location 112 by a well known fastener, such as a bolt
116. The
linkage assembly 121 further includes a second link 110 pivotally coupled to
the hinge
assembly 106 of the hood 104 at a second location 114 by a well known
fastener, such as
a bolt 118. The first and second links 108 and 110 are pivotally coupled to
one another at
a third location 120 by a well known fastener, such as a pivot pin 122. A
washer 138 is
disposed upon the pivot pin 122 between the first and second links 108 and 110
to
facilitate the rotating of the first and second links 108 and 110 relative to
one another.
The first link 108 includes a slot 124, the slot sized to pivotally and
slidingly
receive the bolt 116. The slot 124 permits the first link 108 to
longitudinally move along
its length relative to the bolt 116, while also permitting the first link 108
to rotate about
the bolt 116. In the illustrated embodiment, the slot 124 provides some play
during
operation of the pivot lock 100 such that the pivot lock 100 may
satisfactorily operate
despite some misalignment between the components of the pivot lock 100 and/or
frame 102, hinge assembly 106, or hood 104 of the vehicle. A structural web
140 is
formed along one of the longitudinal edges of the first link 108 by bending
outward a
planar surface of the first link 108 along a longitudinal edge. The structural
web 140
enhances the ability of the first link 108 to resist bending moments oriented
perpendicular
to the planar surface of the first link 108.
The second link 110 includes a stop 126 which extends perpendicularly outward
from a planar surface of the second link 110. The stop 126 is sized and shaped
to engage
the first link 108 when the pivot lock 100 is in a locked position, such as is
shown in
FIGURE 4, as will be described in further detail below. A structural web 142
is formed
along one of the longitudinal edges of the second link 110 by bending outward
the planar
surface of the second link 110 along the longitudinal edge. The structural web
142
PCCR\20151 AP.DOC -4-
CA 02460291 2008-11-20
enhances the ability, of the second link 110 to resist bending moments
oriented
perpendicular to the planar surface of the second link 110.
Coupled to the first link 108 is a release mechanism 128. The release
mechanism 128 of the illustrated embodiment is a lever, pivotally coupled to
the first
link 108 between opposite distal ends at a fourth location 130 by a well known
fastener,
such as a pivot pin 132. The release mechanism 128 includes a handle 134,
mounted at
one of the distal ends, and an engagement tab 136, mounted at the opposite
distal end.
Rotation of the release mechanism 128 in a clockwise direction causes the
engagement
tab 136 of the release mechanism 128 to bear down upon the stop 126 of the
second
link 110 to release the linkage assembly 121 from the locked position, as will
be
described in further detail below.
In light of the above detailed description of the structure of the pivot lock
100, the
operation of the pivot lock 100 will now be described. Referring to FIGURE 4,
the pivot
lock 100 is shown in a locked position, wherein rotation of the first link 108
relative to
the second link 110 in a counterclockwise manner is impeded. In the
illustrated
embodiment, the linkage assembly 121 is placed in the locked position by
placing the
linkage assembly 121 in an over center position, although it should be
apparent to those
skilled in the art that the linkage assembly 121 may be placed in a locked
position by
means other than placing the linkage assembly 121 in an over center
configuration. For
example, one suitable means of placing the linkage assembly in a locked
configuration
without placing the linkage assembly 121 in an over center portion, for
example,
in a position such that the linkage assembly is substantially linearly
aligned.
In the over center position of FIGURE 4, the third location 120 is located on
a
first side of an imaginary line 144 intersecting the first and second
locations 112 and 114.
25. Configured as such, the first, second and third locations 112, 114, and
120 are not linearly
aligned. More specifically, a separation angle 146 is formed between an
imaginary
line 148 intersecting the first and third locations 112 and 120 and an
imagiuary line 150
intersecting the second and third locations 114 and 120, the separation angle
146 being
less than 180 degrees. Thus, any force applied longitudinally along the length
of the
linkage assembly 121, such as a force tending to close the hood, would tend to
decrease
the separation angle 146 by rotating the first link 108 in a counterclockwise
manner and
the second link 110 in a clockwise manner. However, rotation of the first and
second
-5-
CA 02460291 2004-03-09
links 108 and 110 in the manner described is impeded by an edge 152 of the
first link 108
engaging the stop 126 of the second link 110, thereby impeding further
rotation of the
links 108 and 110.
Referring now to FIGURES 4 and 5, the configuring of the pivot lock 100 from
the over center and locked position shown in FIGURE 4 to the unlocked position
shown
in FIGURE 5 will now be described. The reconfiguring of the pivot lock 100
from the
locked to the unlocked position is made possible by the release mechanism 128
pivotally
coupled to the first link 108. In operation, a user grasps the handle 134 of
the release
mechanism 128, placing a force upon the handle 134 in the direction of the
arrow
indicated by reference numeral 156. This causes the release mechanism 128 to
pivot
about pivot pin 132 in a counterclockwise manner. This in turn causes the
engagement
tab 136 of the release mechanism 128 to engage the stop 126 of the second link
110.
Thus, the user applied force upon the handle 134 causes the first link 108 to
rotate
clockwise about the third location 120 and the second link -110 to rotate
counterclockwise
about the third location 120 to the unlocked configuration of the linkage
assembly 121
shown in FIGURE 5. Further, the described rotation causes the separation angle
146 to
increase to a non-over center value, i.e., an angle exceeding 180 degrees.
Referring to FIGURE 5, the pivot lock 100 is shown in an unlocked position.
When in the unlocked position, the linkage assembly 121 is removed from the
over center
position. In the unlocked position, the third location 120 is located on a
second side
opposite the first side of the imaginary line 144 intersecting the first and
second
locations 112 and 114. Configured as such, the first, second and third
locations 112, 114,
and 120 are not linearly aligned. More specifically, the separation angle 146
formed
between imaginary lines 148 and imaginary line 150 has increased to a value
exceeding
180 degrees. In this configuration, any force applied longitudinally along the
length of
the linkage assembly 121, such as a force tending to close the hood, would
increase the
separation angle 146 by rotating the first link 108 in a clockwise manner and
the second
link 110 in a counterclockwise manner, thus permitting the hood to reciprocate
into the
closed position.
Referring to FIGURE 6, the pivot lock 100 is shown in an unlocked position
with
the release mechanism 128 configured in a limit position. In the limit
position, the
engagement tab 136 of the release mechanism 128 becomes pinched, due to
gravity,
PCCR\-)0I 5I AP.DOC -6-
CA 02460291 2008-11-20
62839-2223
between the stop 126 of the second link 110 and the edge 152 of the first link
108. The
pinching of the engagement tab 136 between the stop 126 and the edge 152 of
the first
link 108 limits/impedes the pivot lock 100 from returning to the locked, over
center
position depicted in FIGURE 4. Thus, a user can leave the pivot lock 100 and
go to an
alternate location, such as to the front of the hood, to begin closing the
hood, without the
pivot lock 100 unintentionally returning to the locked position of FIGURE 4.
Referring to FIGURES 7-9, as the first link 108 is rotated further clockwise
and
the second link 110 is rotated further counterclockwise, the engagement tab
136 of the
release mechanism 128 engages the second link 110. More specifically, the
engagement
tab 136 engages a cam 158 of the second link 110. Engagement of the engagement
tab 136 with the cam 158 causes the release mechanism to rotate clockwise
about pivot
pin 132, configuring the release mechanism 128 from the release position shown
in
FIGURE 5, wherein the length of the release mechanism 128 is substantially
parallel with
the second link I10, to the stowed position shown in FIGURE 9, wherein the
length.of
the release mechanism 128 is substantially parallel with the first link 108.
Thus the
cam 158 automatically configures the release mechanism 128 in a controlled
manner
from the, release position to the stowed position, thereby impeding the
release
mechanism 128 from becoming jammed during the operation of the pivot lock 100
and
ensuring that the release mechanism 128 is positioned in a selected stowed
position.
Referring to FIGURES 4-9, when the release mechanism 128 is in the stowed
position and the pivot lock 100 is rotated from the stowed position of FIGURE
9 to the
locked position of FIGURE 4, such as would occur during the opening of. the
hood, the
engagement tab 136 of the release mechanism 128 passes over the top of the
stop 126.
Thus, the pivot lock 100 is permitted to configure into the locked position
without
interference between the engagement tab 136 and the stop 126.
- 7 -
CA 02460291 2008-11-20
62839-2223
Referring to FIGURE 10, an alternate embodiment of
a pivot lock 200 formed in accordance with the present
invention is shown. The alternate embodiment of FIGURE 10 is
substantially similar to the pivot lock 100 of FIGURES 1-9
with the exception that the slot 124 on the first link 108 of
the embodiment of FIGURES 1-9 has been swapped with the hole
on the second link 110 so that the pivot lock 200 is
pivotally and slidingly coupled to the panel instead of the
vehicle as illustrated and described in the above embodiment.
Moreover, the linkage assembly 221 of FIGURE 10 includes a
first link 208 adapted to be pivotally coupled to a frame of
the vehicle by a bolt interfacing with a hole 215 in the
first link 208. The linkage assembly 221 further includes a
second link 210 which includes a slot 224 which permits the
linkage assembly 221 to be pivotally and slidingly coupled to
a panel.
While the preferred embodiment of the invention has
been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated that
various changes can be made therein without departing from
the spirit and scope of the invention.
- 7a -
