Mechanism for locking a vent cover with a base

A vent assembly has a locking mechanism to retain its cover on its base. The locking mechanism includes a latch and linkage coupled with the latch to move the latch between a locked and an unlocked position. A post member extends from the cover to cooperate with the latch such that in a locked condition, the cover is locked with the base in a closed position. When the latch is moved to a second position, the cover is enabled to pivot away from the base to an open position.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to vent assemblies for motor vehicles and, more particularly, to a locking mechanism to retain a cover in position.

BACKGROUND

In motor vehicles, such as motor coaches, which include a living area, it is desirable to have a vent assembly which enables the interior of the coach to vent. Ordinarily, a vent assembly is utilized with a fan that is capable of moving air either into or out of the interior of the motor coach. One such vent assembly is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,633,769 entitled “Roof Vent Fan Assembly”.

Ordinarily, when the motor coach is being driven, the cover of the vent assembly is in the down position. The vent assemblies usually include an arm to raise and lower the cover between an open and closed position.

The disclosure provides a lock assembly to retain the cover in position during movement of the vehicle. The disclosure provides a locking mechanism which moves between an open and closed position to retain the cover in position during motion of the vehicle. The disclosure provides a fan assembly with a two point retention system to retain the cover in position during motion of the vehicle.

SUMMARY

According to a first aspect of the disclosure, a vent assembly comprises a base with an optional rotatable fan assembly mounted on the base to rotate a fan blade in the base. A cover is movably coupled with the base such that it moves between an open and a closed position. A locking mechanism is associated with the base. The locking mechanism includes a latch and a linkage coupled with the latch to move the latch between a locked and an unlocked position. A member extends from the cover. The member cooperates with the latch such that when the latch is in a locked condition, the cover is secured with the base in a closed position. When the latch is in an unlocked condition, the cover is enabled to be pivoted away from the base into an open position.

Accordingly to a second aspect of the disclosure, the locking mechanism is provided for use with a vent assembly including a base and a cover. The locking member comprises a latch and a linkage coupled with said latch. The linkage moves the latch between a locked and an unlocked position. A member extends from the cover. The member cooperates with the latch such that when in a locked condition, the cover is locked with said base in a closed position. When the latch is in an unlocked condition, the cover is enabled to pivot away from the base to its open position. The latch is hook shaped and includes a ramped surface. The member is a post extending from the cover which can be formed unitarily with the cover. The post includes a head with a planar surface which is contacted by the ramp surface of the latch. The linkage has two ends. The latch is secured at one end of the linkage and a handle is secured at the other end. The linkage includes a rotatable rod coupled to the latch.

Accordingly to a third aspect of the disclosure, a vent assembly includes a two point cover locking mechanism. A cover is movably coupled with a base between an open and a closed position. A locking mechanism is associated with the base. The locking mechanism includes a latch and a linkage coupled with the latch. The linkage moves the latch between a locked and an unlocked position. A member extends from the cover. The member cooperates with the latch such that when the latch is in a locked condition, the cover is secured with the base in a closed position. When the latch is in an unlocked condition, the cover may pivot away from the base to an open position. An arm is coupled with the cover. The arm raises and lowers to move the cover between its open and closed position. The arm is positioned adjacent the fan on one side of the base. The locking mechanism is positioned on a side opposite to that of the arm. The latch is hook shaped and includes a ramped surface. The member is a post extending from the cover which can be formed unitarily with the cover. The post includes a head which has a planar surface which is contacted by the ramp surface of the latch. The linkage has two ends with the latch at one end and a handle at the other end. The linkage includes a rotatable rod coupled to the latch.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Turning to the figures, particularlyFIG. 1, a vent assembly is illustrated and designated with the reference numeral10. The vent assembly includes a base12and a cover14pivotally attached to the base12. An arm mechanism16pivots the cover14between an open and closed position. A locking mechanism18is associated with the base12.

A fan20and motor22are optionally mounted in a cylindrical opening24in the base12. The base12includes a peripherally extending deck26which enables the base12to be mounted on a surface of the vehicle. The base12includes an upper portion28which enables securement of the cover14, generally via a hinge (not shown), with the base12. Also, a seal30is positioned about the periphery of the free end of the upper portion28. The base12includes a lower portion32which enables the fan assembly10to fit through an opening in the vehicle.

The arm16is secured with a bracket34. The bracket34is secured to extending members36on the cover14. The bracket32includes a slot38to enable an arm pin to slide within the slot38so that the cover14is moved between its open and closed position.

The locking mechanism18includes a latch40. The latch40is connected with a linkage42. The other end of the linkage42includes a handle44. The latch40is an overall C or U shaped hook. The latch40tapers peripherally from its connection with the linkage42to its free extending end46as best seen inFIG. 5. An opening48is defined between the free end46and the connection end50of the hook. The latch free end46includes a ramp surface52. The ramp52tapers away from the free end46such that the ramps52has its smallest thickness at the free end46.

The linkage42is defined by a rod member with the latch40at one end and the handle44at the other. The linkage42extends through the base housing to position the latch40on top of the upper portion28and the handle on the bottom of the lower portion32Thus, as the handle44is rotated, the rod linkage42directly rotates the latch40. The rotation of the handle44moves the latch40between an open or unlocked position to a closed or locked position as illustrated inFIGS. 2 and 3.

The cover12includes a projecting post member60. The post member includes a head62extending from the post60. The head62may be fastened with the post60or unitarily formed with it. The head62includes a planar surface64to contact the ramp52.

The latch40includes a stop70. The stop70is positioned at the end of the tapered ramp52. The stop70is defined by junction of the ramp surface52and end surface72. The end surface72intersects the ramp surface52to form a wedge. The stop70, with its wedge shape, has the end surface72angled towards or away from the tip46of the latch40. Thus, the stop70has a biting line contact into the planar surface64of the head62to lock the latch40in its retained position as illustrated inFIGS. 2,4, and6.

The cover14is locked with the base12as follows. The locking member18is rotated via handle44which, in turn, moves the ramps52on the free end46of the latch44into contact with the planar surface64of the head62. As this occurs, the ramp tapered surface54is in contact with the planar surface64. As the handle44continues to rotate, the ramp surface54moves along the planar surface64. As this occurs, the cover12is pulled downward in response to the tapered thickness of the ramp spaced away from the free end46. Also, the wedge shape stop70comes into the contact with the planar surface64. This biting action of the wedge shape stop70maintains the latch40on the head62while the latch is in contact with the head. Also, a portion of the latch40is above the head62to retain the head62from exiting the latch40. As the handle44reaches its end of rotation, the cover12is snuggly pulled against the seal30on the periphery of the upper portion28of the base12as seen inFIG. 4.

To unlock the cover14, the handle44is rotated in the opposite direction. As this occurs, the linkage42rotates the latch40. The thickest portion of the ramp52moves away from the planar surface64of the head62. This movement continues until the latch free end46releases from the planar surface64as seen inFIGS. 3 and 5. Thus, the cover14is able to be moved from its closed position to an open position.

A crank (not shown) is rotated which, in turn, causes the arm16to move away from the base12. As this occurs, the arm pin slides in the slot38in the bracket32. This movement raises the cover14, as illustrated in phantom inFIG. 1, to an open position.

To return the cover14to its closed position, the crank is rotated in the opposite direction. Thus, the arm16pulls the cover14down to contact with the base seal30. The arm16is on one side of the base12while the locking mechanism18is on the other. Thus, the arm16and locking mechanism18pull down two sides of the cover14to pull the cover14against the base12. Thus, a two point cover retention is achieved. This maintains the cover14snuggly against the base seal.