Abstract:
A safety release handle assembly for a trunk of a vehicle is positionable within the trunk or compartment space of the vehicle to allow for opening of the trunk or compartment lid from within the trunk or compartment. The safety release assembly comprises a housing and a handle positioned within a recess of the housing. The handle is connectable to a release mechanism of the trunk lid and is movable to actuate the release mechanism to open the trunk lid from within the trunk space. The handle provides a mechanical advantage such that the release mechanism may be actuated upon exertion of less than or equal to approximately 20 Newtons at the handle. The safety release assembly may further include an illumination source, whereby the handle may be illuminated to assist viewing of the handle when the trunk lid is closed.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/275,565, filed Mar. 24, 1999, by Robert L. Bingle and Roger L. Koops, entitled SAFETY HANDLE FOR TRUNK OF VEHICLE, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,086,131 the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to a handle for opening a door to a compartment, and more particularly, a handle for opening a deck lid of a vehicle from inside the space enclosed by the deck lid. 
     Typically, the deck lid or door to trunk spaces are opened by a key being inserted and turned in a lock cylinder from a position exteriorly of the deck lid or by a button or lever that is positioned within the passenger compartment of the vehicle. While it has been suggested that a handle be placed in the interior of the trunk space, because of numerous difficulties, to date, vehicle manufacturers have not included a device specifically for opening the trunk from the inside of the trunk space. Even fold down rear seats, which are common in many vehicles today, cannot be folded down from within the trunk space. Although placement of a release mechanism in the trunk space has been suggested in the prior art, no commercially acceptable mechanism or device has been developed. Therefore, if a person is within the trunk space when the deck lid is closed, there is no way for a person to open the deck lid and get out of the trunk. 
     When the deck lid is closed, the space within the trunk is typically small and very dark. Although a light source is typically provided in a trunk to provide light to the trunk space when the trunk space is open, these lights are deactivated when the trunk is closed, in order to prevent excessive drain on the battery of the vehicle. Therefore, when a person is trapped within a trunk, it is nearly impossible to see anything within the trunk, such that even if a release mechanism were operable within the trunk, a person would not be able to find the mechanism after the deck lid had been closed. Furthermore, due to the cramped and tight space within a trunk, a person&#39;s movements to reach and operate a release mechanism are extremely restricted. 
     This inability to open a trunk of a vehicle from inside the trunk space has unfortunately lead to many injuries and even deaths over the years. When the deck lid is closed, the interior space of the trunk may reach extreme temperatures during the summer time, such that a person can only survive therein for a short period of time. Typically, these injuries and deaths occur to children, who enter the trunk to either play or hide and then trap themselves within the trunk by closing the deck lid. 
     Therefore, there is a need in the art for an interior trunk release mechanism which is highly visible under minimal lighting conditions such as when the deck lid of the trunk is closed. Furthermore, the release mechanism should be easily recognizable and operable even by children, and should avoid damage or deterioration of existing vehicle systems such as the battery or electrical system while remaining operable. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is intended to provide a mechanical apparatus for activating a release mechanism for a deck lid of a trunk of a vehicle from within the interior space of the trunk. 
     According to a first aspect of the present invention, an apparatus is adapted for use in opening a deck lid of a vehicle and is positionable within a compartment substantially enclosed by the deck lid. The apparatus comprises a handle for activating a release mechanism for opening the compartment which is of a bright color and in contrast to a background upon which it is installed. Preferably, the color is selected to convey a safe and friendly image to a child, such as a yellow or bright green color. 
     Preferably, the apparatus includes at least one illumination source which is at least occasionally activated to provide illumination of the handle, and a control circuit for at least temporarily activating the at least one illumination source when the deck lid is closed. The control circuit activates the at least one illumination source in response to an occurrence of an activating event. 
     In one form, the illumination source is at least one light emitting diode which provides either direct or indirect illumination to the handle of the present invention. The illumination source is temporarily activated upon closure of the deck lid and may be further activated upon a second activating event, such as movement of the handle or detection of a person or animal within the trunk space by a motion detector or temperature sensor or the like. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, the apparatus includes a handle, an illumination source and a control circuit. The handle is interconnected to a release mechanism of the compartment and at least partially provides a mechanical advantage such that the release mechanism may be activated upon exertion of less than 20 Newtons in a predetermined direction on the handle. The illumination source provides illumination to the handle and is activated by the control circuit upon an occurrence of an activating event. 
     According to yet another aspect of the present invention, an apparatus is adapted for use in opening a compartment of a vehicle and is positionable within the compartment and substantially enclosed by a lid. The lid is openable by an electrically controlled latch. The apparatus is adapted to activate the latch in response to an activation of the apparatus. 
     In one form, the apparatus includes an electromechanical device which activates the latch when at least a portion of the device is moved. Preferably, the electromechanical device is a button and the activation is a pressing of the button. 
     Therefore, the present invention provides a trunk release apparatus which is easily recognizable and operable by a child, as children are the ones typically harmed by being trapped in a trunk. The release apparatus is easy to activate and is preferably a bright friendly color so as not to frighten or confuse a child who may be trapped within the trunk. Furthermore, an illumination source is preferably provided to increase the visibility of the release mechanism. The illumination source should only be activated for a limited period of time in order to prevent excessive drain on the battery of the vehicle. 
     These and other objects, advantages, purposes and features of this invention will become apparent upon review of the following specification in conjunction with the drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a deck lid of a vehicle incorporating the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the present invention prior to it being installed in the vehicle; 
     FIG. 3 is a front elevation of the housing and handle of the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 a  is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along line IVA—IVA in FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 4 b  is an enlarged view of the area labelled IVB in FIG. 4 a;    
     FIG. 5 is a rear elevation of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the control circuit of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now specifically to the drawings and the illustrative embodiments depicted therein, there is shown in FIG. 1 a safety release apparatus or assembly  10 , which includes a handle  12  which is interconnected to a release mechanism  14  for opening a deck lid or trunk lid or door  16  of a trunk or storage compartment or space  18  of a vehicle  20 . The vehicle  20  may be a sedan, coupe or even a hatchback or the like, which includes a trunk storage compartment space  18  substantially enclosed by a deck lid or door  16 , such as a trunk or the like. Handle  12  of safety release apparatus  10  is interconnected with release mechanism  14  of deck lid  16  such that release mechanism  14  is activated, and deck lid  16  subsequently opened, in response to a movement of handle  12 . Safety release apparatus  10  is mounted on an interior surface  16   a  of either the deck lid  16  or elsewhere within trunk space  18 , so as to allow an operator of safety apparatus  10  to open the trunk from within trunk space  18 . Most preferably, safety release apparatus  10  is mounted on a downward extending portion or waterfall  16   b  of deck lid  16 , as shown in FIG.  1 . However, clearly safety release apparatus  10  may be mounted elsewhere within trunk space  18  of vehicle  20 , such as on a side wall of the trunk space or the like, without affecting the scope of the present invention. 
     Handle  12  of the present invention is preferably injection molded from a resinous polymeric material such as polycarbonate/PBT or polycarbonate/ABS or the like and includes a long handle portion  12   a  and a shaft portion  12   b  (FIG. 4 a ), which provides for a pivot axis  22  of handle  12 . However, handle  12  may alternatively be a switch, push button or any other electromechanical device which may be electronically interconnected to an electronic latch mechanism, such that movement of at least a portion of the device releases the release mechanism in order to open the trunk. Handle  12  is designed and formed so as to be easily recognizable as an opening device for a door or the like, and further is formed with rounded edges along the handle portion  12   a  so as to make it a comfortable handle for a child or other occupant within the trunk to grasp and operate. Handle  12  may further include text or a picture on a facing surface  12   c  to convey to an operator of handle  12  that handle  12  is for opening the trunk. Furthermore, the color of handle  12  is selected to be a “friendly” color for children, so that any small child which may become trapped within trunk space  18  will not fear the handle as being something that is hot or otherwise harmful to touch. Preferably, the color selected is a bright green or yellow, which has been shown to convey a bright yet “friendly” or cool to touch appearance to the handle. It is important that the handle be child friendly so that even the smallest and youngest children who may be trapped within the trunk will not be afraid to operate the handle  12 . 
     By providing a light color which does not convey an image of heat or otherwise harmful material, the handle  12  of the present invention is more likely to be grasped and operated by small children than a handle which may otherwise be of a “harmful” color, such as red or orange, which a child may believe is hot to touch. In order to make handle  12  more visible in minimum lighting conditions, handle  12  is also preferably mounted adjacent to a background  24  that is of a substantially darker color than handle  12 , so as to provide a stark contrast between the handle and its background for better visibility of the handle in minimal lighting conditions. The background  24  may be a surface of a housing  28  for safety release assembly  10  or may be an interior surface of the trunk space  18  or deck lid  16  itself. 
     Safety release apparatus  10  preferably is installed within a housing  28 , which is secured within trunk space  18  such that handle  12  is positioned within a recess  30  of housing  28 . Housing  28  is preferably injection molded from a resinous polymeric material such as polycarbonate/PBT or polycarbonate/ABS or the like and may be black or another dark color. Housing  28  functions to protect handle  12  from being bumped or damaged by items which may be stored within trunk space  18  of vehicle  20 . Not only does this prevent damage to handle  12  or other components of safety release apparatus  10 , but housing  28  also substantially precludes the possibility of handle  12  being accidentally contacted and moved by the stored items so as to prevent unintentional opening of trunk space  18 . 
     As best shown in FIGS. 2-4 a , housing  28  includes a substantially flat and outward extending flange  32  along its rearward end and a raised, perimeter or front surface  33 . Flange  32  allows for easy installation of the present invention, as fasteners or adhesive or the like may be inserted through or applied to flange  32  and then secured to an interior surface of either deck lid  16  or other interior surface of the trunk space  18  of the vehicle  20 . Clearly, the safety release mechanism  10  may be installed on a vehicle during the assembly of the vehicle by the manufacturer, or may be installed later as an after market unit, without affecting the scope of the present invention. 
     Handle  12  is preferably positioned within recess  30  of housing  28  below or behind the plane of perimeter surface  33  such that the handle may pivot about its axis  22  within recess  30 . Perimeter surface  33  helps protect handle  12  from stored items within trunk or compartment  18 , and helps prevent accidental activation of handle  12 . Recess  30  may also include at least one stop  30   a , which limits rotational travel of handle  12  within a predetermined range. Preferably, as shown in FIGS. 4 a  and  4   b , handle  12  includes a cylindrical bearing or barrel section  35  which has longitudinally extending sections  35   a  separated by slots which are generally parallel to the pivot axis  22  of handle  12 . The slots allow the longitudinal sections  35   a  to flex inward as shaft  12   b  is inserted into opening  28   a  in housing  28 . Barrel section  35  may also include a plurality of resilient, angled flange or tabs  35   b  formed at a free end  35   c  of longitudinal sections  35   a  and extending radially outwardly therefrom. Tabs  35   b  each have an inclined outer edge or surface  35   d  and a substantially flat, planar edge  35   e  extending generally perpendicular to axis  22  when handle  12  is mounted in opening  28   a . As shaft  12   b  is inserted into opening  28   a , the inclined surfaces  35   d  of tabs  35   b  engage the opening  28   a  and cam the sections  35   a  inwardly and guide insertion of barrel section  35  through opening  28   a . As tabs  35   b  protrude through opening  28   a , flat edges  35   e  engage an interior surface  28   e  of housing  28  adjacent opening  28   a  so as to snap fit handle  12  into housing  28 . This allows handle  12  to be easily rotated within opening  28   a , yet substantially precludes handle  12  from being pulled outward from opening  28   a.    
     Additionally, a biasing member  34  such as a torisional spring or the like (FIG.  5 ), may be provided about shaft  12   b  of handle  12  in order to bias handle  12  in an initial position. Biasing member  34  preferably is positioned around a lower end  37  of handle shaft  12   b , such that one end  34   a  of biasing member  34  engages a stop tab  34   b  on housing  28  and another end  34   c  engages a slot  37   a  along lower portion  37  of shaft  12   b . This substantially fixes both ends  34   a  and  34   c  of biasing member  34  so that rotational movement of handle  12  about axis  22  winds the torisional spring, which then provides a rotational force on shaft  12   b  to return handle  12  to its initial position. 
     Preferably, handle  12  is interconnected to release mechanism  14  by a lever  36  and a cable  38 , as best shown in FIG.  5 . The lever  36  is attached to lower portion  37  of shaft  12   b , which extends downward from handle  12   a  through barrel section  35  and is of a lesser diameter than barrel section  35 . Lower portion  37  is substantially non-circular at its free end and includes slot  37   a  extending longitudinally along its axis  22 . Slot  37   a  allows lower portion  37  to flex inward for attachment of lever  36  thereto and further provides for the end  34   c  of biasing member  34 , as discussed above. An annular groove  37   b  may also be included around lower portion  37  for securing lever  36  thereto. 
     As best shown in FIGS. 4 a  and  4   b , lever  36  is preferably a substantially straight lever arm, which includes an opening  40  at one end  36   a  through which lower portion  37  of shaft  12   b  is inserted, such that lever  36  is fixedly secured to shaft  12   b  of handle  12 . Lever  36  may include angled tabs  40   a  protruding inwardly at opening  40  to engage a corresponding lip  37   c  along groove  37   b  of shaft  12   b , thereby snapping lever  36  onto lower portion  37  to prevent lever  36  from being removed from shaft  12   b . Tabs  40   a  of lever  36  function similarly to tabs  35   b  of barrel section  35  as they engage lip  37   c  and prevent lever  36  from being removed from shaft  12   b . As lower portion  37  of shaft  12   b  is inserted through opening  40  in lever  36 , tabs  40   a  cam lower portion  37  inward, as slot  37   a  allows lower portion  37  to flex inwardly, until tabs  40   a  snap into groove  37   b.    
     Preferably, both opening  40  and lower end  37  of shaft  12   b  are correspondingly substantially non-circular, such that lever  36  cannot rotate relative to shaft  12   b . More preferably, opening  40  and lower shaft end  37  are substantially square as shown in FIG.  5 . At a second end  36   b  of lever  36 , there is located an attaching slot  42  or the like, which may be secured to cable  38 . As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, an underside of housing  28  provides for a cavity in which lever  36  is also substantially encased, again to prevent damage to the lever and to further prevent accidental activation of the release mechanism  14 . 
     Cable  38  preferably comprises an inner cable  38   a  and an outer sheath  38   b  through which inner cable  38   a  may travel. At each end  38   c  and  38   d  of inner cable  38   a  is a pin  44  for engaging a corresponding slot or other attaching means. Pin  44  on a first end  38   c  of inner cable  38   a  is secured to slot  42  on lever  36  while pin  44  on a second end  38   d  of inner cable  38   a  is likewise secured to a slot (not shown) on release mechanism  14 . Outer sheath  38   b  of cable  38  is secured to housing  28  through a cable opening  28   b  in one side and to a bracket (not shown) substantially adjacent release mechanism  14 . Movement of first end  38   c  of inner cable  38   a  therefore results in a substantially similar amount of travel of second end  38   d  of inner cable  38   a , while cable  38  is maintained by sheath  38   b  in a predetermined path between housing  28  and release mechanism  14 . 
     When handle  12   a  is grasped and pivoted about its pivot axis  22 , lever  36  is correspondingly pivoted about the same axis  22 . As shown in FIG. 5, this results in second end  36   b  of lever  36  traveling along an arcuate path which causes a linear travel of substantially the same distance to occur to first end  38   c  of inner cable  38   a . As first end  38   c  travels along the arcuate path, second end  38   d  of inner cable likewise is moved a linear distance substantially equal to the linear travel of first end  38   c . Safety release assembly  10  is designed such that pivoting handle  12   a  until handle  12   a  is approximately at stop  30   a  in recess  30  results in a predetermined amount of cable travel in cable  38  so as to activate release mechanism  14 , thereby opening deck lid  16  of vehicle  20 . Preferably, this pivot requirement is less than approximately a 15 degree rotation of handle  12 . Although shown and described as including a lever and cable to activate release mechanism  14 , clearly the present invention may incorporate other mechanical means for interconnecting the handle  12  to the release mechanism  14 , without affecting the scope of the present invention. For example, second end  36   b  of lever  36  may be directly connected to release mechanism  14  or to another form of linkage, such as an additional lever arm or the like. 
     Although safety release assembly  10  is shown and described as including a handle, lever and cable system, it is envisioned that other means of activating a release latch or mechanism may be implemented. For example, for a vehicle including an electronically operated latch, the safety release assembly may include an electromechanical device for signaling or activating the latch and thus opening the deck lid. The electromechanical device may be a push button, handle or switch positioned within the trunk space and electronically interconnected with the latch mechanism, such that activation or movement of the device energizes a solenoid within the latch mechanism or otherwise causes the latch mechanism to release, thereby opening the trunk. The device may be a bright color and may be easily recognized and operated by a small child in accordance with the present invention as discussed above. 
     Preferably, safety release assembly  10  further includes at least one illumination source  46  for providing illumination to handle  12 , and an electronic control circuit  48  for at least temporarily activating the illumination source  46  in response to at least one activating event, as discussed below. The illumination provided by illumination source  46  allows a person who may be trapped within trunk space  18  to see handle  12  so as to grasp the handle and open the trunk, as the trunk space would otherwise be too dark for a person to see where the handle is located. This is especially critical when a child is trapped in the trunk, as a child would not even know to look for such a handle, much less know where the handle may be positioned within the trunk. Most preferably, the light emitted by illumination source  46  will be of low intensity and a “friendly” color to avoid frightening a child, who may believe that the handle is hot if it is illuminated by a bright light or the like. 
     Illumination source  46  is thus provided to illuminate handle  12  when the deck lid  16  of vehicle  20  is closed, as the trunk space  18  becomes very dark when fully enclosed. Preferably, illumination source  46  is at least one light emitting diode (LED) or other non-incandescent illumination source (such as organic or inorganic electroluminescent sources, phosphorescent sources, etc.), as these types of illumination sources minimize the drain on the vehicle battery when they are activated, as well as being highly durable and long-lasting. The LEDs may be selected to provide illumination in a preferred color, such as green or yellow, and may be selected to draw a minimal amount of current from the vehicle battery or the like. Preferably, an LED is selected which draws less than about 45 milliamps when activated, and more preferably, the LED draws less than or equal to about 30 milliamps when activated. Such LEDs are commercially available, examples being a Hyper-Bright LED manufactured by Siemens or other LEDs manufactured by Hewlett-Packard. Most preferably, illumination source  46  is at least two LEDs, so that if one fails for some unforeseen reason, there is still at least one additional LED providing illumination to handle  12 . Although illumination source  46  is shown and described as an LED or the like, clearly other illumination sources may be provided in varying locations within the trunk without affecting the scope of the present invention. For example, illumination source  46  may be within handle portion  12   a  of handle  12  itself, to provide direct illumination of handle  12 . Furthermore, illumination source  46  may be provided by handle  12  being made out of a highly visible and glowing phosphorus material or the like. Alternatively, illumination source  46  may be an incandescent source, such as a filament lamp, a halogen lamp, a neon lamp, or the like. Preferably, illumination source  46  may also serve as the standard trunk light, which is normally activated when the trunk or deck lid is opened, thereby providing light to the entire trunk space when the trunk is closed. 
     As shown in FIGS. 4 a  and  5 , illumination source  46  is most preferably located on a circuit board or chip  50  containing control circuit  48 , and is substantially encased along with control circuit  48  within housing  28  in order to prevent damage to illumination source  46  or control circuit  48  by items stored within the trunk. Illumination source  46  may project light through at least one slot or opening  52  in a side wall  30   b  of recess  30  such that illumination source  46  is directed toward handle portion  12   a  of handle  12 . Handle portion  12   a  may also be twisted or angled such that the facing surface  12   c  of handle portion  12   a  is angled toward illumination source  46  in order to receive and reflect illumination from illumination source  46  over a greater surface area. A removable access panel  28   c  (FIG. 2) may also be included on housing  28  to provide for easy access for installation and maintenance of both control circuit  48  and illumination source  46  within a cavity  28   d  formed by housing  28 . Preferably, control circuit  48  is snap fit onto an interior side  30   c  of side wall  30   b  such that illumination source  46  is aligned with slot  52 . Control circuit  48  further includes a wiring harness and connector  60  for connecting control circuit  46  to a power source located on vehicle  20 , such as the vehicle battery or the like. 
     Control circuit  48  functions to activate illumination source  46  upon an occurrence of an activating event. The activating event may be the closing of deck lid  16  and/or the closing or folding back of any fold-down rear seats which may be present in vehicle  20 . For example, as shown in FIG. 6, vehicle  20  may include a trunk closure sensor  54  and/or a seat sensor  56  to provide a signal to control circuit  48  when the trunk is closed or the seats are folded to their upright position, thereby enclosing trunk space  18 . Preferably, control circuit  48  also functions to deactivate illumination source  46  after a period of time following the activating event. For example, control circuit  48  may include a timer or other timing mechanism  58  which triggers deactivation of illumination source  46  after a predetermined period of time, such as thirty minutes or an hour, has elapsed following the initial activation of illumination source  46 . Control circuit  48  continues to reset and reactivate illumination source  46  upon subsequent occurrences of one or more activating events, following deactivation of illumination source  46  after the predetermined period of time has elapsed. 
     Referring to FIG. 6, control circuit  48  may also activate illumination source  46  in response to additional activating events, such as an ignition switch  62  of vehicle  20  being activated, a door sensor  64  signaling that a door of vehicle  20  is being opened or closed or other functions of vehicle  20  which pertain to the entering or leaving of vehicle  20  or movement of the vehicle. Safety release assembly  10  may further include a motion detector or sensor  66  (such as a pyro detector, preferably a low current pyro detector) and/or a temperature sensor  68  such as a bolometer within trunk space  18 , so as to provide a signal to control circuit  48  when a movement or predetermined temperature of an object in trunk space  18  is detected. The present invention may also include a handle sensor  70  which detects movement of handle  12  to provide an additional signal to control circuit  48 . Control circuit  48  may then, in response to a signal from the motion detector  66 , the temperature sensor  68 , or the handle sensor  70 , activate illumination source  46  to provide illumination of handle  12  in trunk space  18 . Furthermore, in response to such signals, which convey a message that a person or animal may be entrapped within trunk space  18 , control circuit  48  may activate other additional auxiliary signals or displays. For example, control circuit  48  may activate an alarm  72 , a horn  74 , an auxiliary light  76  elsewhere on vehicle  20 , a door or trunk lock or lock release  78  of vehicle  20 , an auxiliary message display  80 , which may be within vehicle  20  or remote from the vehicle, or the like, in order to provide an operator or anyone else within the vicinity of vehicle  20  information pertaining to a person or animal being entrapped within the trunk space  18  of the vehicle. The alarm  72 , auxiliary light  76 , horn  74 , message display  80 , lock system  78  or the like may be activated upon a first detection of motion or temperature within trunk space  18 , or may alternatively be activated upon a second, third, or fourth occurrence of such detections. The number of detections required prior to an alarm or the like being activated by control circuit  48  are preferably reset following an opening and closing of deck lid  16  or a folding down of a rear seat within vehicle  20 , if applicable. 
     When installed in the vehicle, the present invention therefore provides for illumination source  46  to be activated for a period of time following closure of the trunk and/or a folding of rear seats of vehicle  20 . While the illumination source  46  is activated, a child or other person that may be entrapped within trunk space  18  will be able to easily see and identify handle  12 . Because it is difficult for a person to move about within the small trunk space of a typical vehicle, and because typically it is a very small child that may be entrapped therein, the present invention also provides a handle  12  which is very easily pivoted about its axis so as to open deck lid  16  of vehicle  20 . Preferably, handle  12 , lever  36  and cable  38  cooperate to allow release mechanism  14  of deck lid  16  to be opened with only a minimal amount of force being applied to handle portion  12   a . The force required to pivot handle  12  about its pivot axis  22 , thereby activating release mechanism  14  of deck lid  16 , is preferably less than or equal to about 20 Newtons applied in a direction substantially perpendicular to the handle portion  12   a . More preferably, the force required to open deck lid  16  is less than or equal to about 15 Newtons and most preferably, the force required is less than or equal to about 10 Newtons. A person who is trapped within trunk space  18 , upon identifying the handle  12  as a means in which to open the trunk of the vehicle, merely grasps the handle and easily pivots the handle, which subsequently activates release mechanism  14  of vehicle  20  as discussed above. Once release mechanism  14  is activated, the trunk may be easily pushed open so as to allow the person to get out of the trunk. 
     An alternate embodiment of the present invention provides for a module, which includes a handle, illumination source, control circuit, and housing similar to those discussed above, and further includes a license plate holder and lock cylinder for the deck lid which are positioned on an exterior surface of the deck lid. This embodiment may also include an exterior handle such that the trunk may be opened from outside without having to insert a key within the lock cylinder or otherwise enter the vehicle to release the trunk release lever from within the vehicle. The module is installed through an opening in the trunk lid and preferably includes a lock cylinder and release mechanism for opening the trunk. 
     Therefore, the present invention provides a safety release apparatus for opening a deck lid or trunk of a vehicle from inside the trunk space. The apparatus of the present invention is easy to install in the vehicle, and is easily recognized and operated by a small child that may become trapped within the trunk of the vehicle. The color and intensity of the handles and illumination are selected to convey a friendly, non-hot appearance to the handle, such that a child will easily see the handle and not be afraid to grasp the handle in order to open the trunk. Furthermore, the control circuit of the present invention activates the illumination source or other auxiliary signal in response to an activating event and deactivates the illumination source after a period of time in order to minimize the overall drain on the vehicle battery. The illumination source is also selected to be a non-incandescent device, such as an LED or the like, which is highly durable and long lasting, yet requires a minimal amount of energy from the battery of the vehicle, even while it is activated. Although the illumination source and control circuit of the present invention require connection to an electrical power source in order to provide illumination to the handle of the present invention, no electrical power is required to operate the handle and thus release the release mechanism in order to open the trunk of the vehicle. The handle, lever, cable and release mechanism are all mechanical devices, such that the trunk may be opened even when there is a power loss to the vehicle itself. Furthermore, even if power is lost to the vehicle, the color of the handle is preferably selected to be a light bright color, and starkly contrasts the background on which the handle is installed so as to remain visible in very low light conditions. 
     Changes and modifications in the specifically described embodiments can be carried out without departing from the principles of the invention, which is intended to be limited only by the scope of the pending claims, as interpreted to the principles of patent law.