Patent ID: 6572182
Filing Date: 2003-06-03
Classification: B60J,E05D,E05F,E05Y

Abstract:
A motorized vent and escape hatch assembly comprising:a substantially rectangular mounting ring for fastening to a vehicle roof, the rectangular mounting ring having rounded corners that protrude inwardly to provide four drive covers at the respective rounded corners, a substantially rectangular hatch cover, a first over center hinge linkage mechanism pivotally connecting a side of the hatch cover to the mounting ring, a second over center hinge linkage mechanism pivotally connecting an opposite side of the hatch cover to the mounting ring, each over center hinge linkage mechanism comprising first and second lever members pivotally connected to the mounting ring at one end for rotation between retracted and extended positions, the first and second lever members being spring biased toward their retracted and extended positions, a drive mechanism associated with each over center hinge linkage mechanism, each drive mechanism being disposed in two of the four drive covers for pivoting the first and second lever members toward or away from each other to raise or lower one side of the hatch cover with respect to the mounting ring, each drive mechanism having separate first and second drive units, and each drive unit having an electric motor and a gear set disposed in a respective one of the two of the four drive covers for driving a respective one of the first and second lever members.