Patent Publication Number: US-11661769-B2

Title: Emergency release device of lock system

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     Embodiments described herein relate generally to an emergency release device of a lock system. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Patent Document 1 discusses a lock mechanism for locking a trunk lid (openable/closable body) by engaging a hook with a ratchet and unlocking the trunk lid by disengaging the hook from the ratchet. When the trunk lid is unlocked by disengaging the hook from the ratchet, the trunk lid pops up by virtue of a reactive force of a pop-up lever or a weather strip, and the hook is released from the striker, so that the trunk lid is opened. 
     Patent Document 2 discusses an emergency release lever interlocking with the lock mechanism and manipulatable between an initial position where the hook and the ratchet are engaged and a pulled position where the hook and the ratchet are disengaged. The emergency release lever is installed inside the trunk lid. In a case where the trunk lid is erroneously closed while a person exists inside, the trapped person can open the trunk lid by pulling the emergency release lever to manipulate the emergency release lever from the initial position to the pulled position. 
     In the prior art described above, the trunk lid may be driven to be opened or closed by a drive mechanism in some cases. The drive mechanism has, for example, an expansion/contraction drive unit provided with one end and the other end installed in the main body and the trunk lid, and driven to expand or contract using the drive motor. 
     CITATION LIST 
     Patent Documents 
     Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2015-158040 
     Patent Document 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2012-036579 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     However, in a case where a battery of the drive motor is bulged out while the trunk lid is fully closed, the trunk lid does not pop up, the hook is not released from the striker, and the trunk lid is not opened due to a holding force (sliding resistance) of the expansion/contraction drive unit even by pulling the emergency release lever. That is, the hook is not released from and stays in the striker even by pulling the emergency release lever and disengaging the ratchet from the hook. Therefore, the ratchet and the hook are re-engaged immediately after the emergency release lever is released, so that it is difficult to open the trunk lid. This technical problem similarly applies to a case where the trunk lid does not pop up, the hook is not released from the striker, and the trunk lid is not opened due to freezing in a cold weather or the like. 
     In view of the aforementioned problems, it is therefore an object of the invention to provide an emergency release device of a lock system, capable of opening the trunk lid using the emergency release lever. 
     According to an embodiment of the invention, there is provided an emergency release device of a lock system provided in one of a rim of a trunk formed in a vehicle body and a lid that opens or closes the trunk and locked to or unlocked from a striker provided in another one, the emergency release device including: a hook having a groove where the striker is insertable, the hook being rotatable from an unlock position where the striker is insertable into the groove to a lock position in which the striker is inhibited from being released from the groove; a pawl rotatable between an engagement position where the pawl is engaged with the hook placed in the lock position to inhibit rotation of the hook to an unlock direction and a non-engagement position where the pawl is not engaged with the hook, the pawl being biased toward the engagement position; an emergency release lever manipulatable from an inner side of the trunk between a first position for placing the pawl in the engagement position and a second position for placing the pawl in the non-engagement position, the emergency release lever being biased toward the first position; and an anti-return mechanism configured to prevent the emergency release lever from returning from the second position to the first position when the emergency release lever is manipulated from the first position to the second position. 
     The lock system may have a housing member configured to house the emergency release lever in the first position and a connecting member connected to the emergency release lever to directly or indirectly pivot the pawl from the engagement position to the non-engagement position by manipulating the emergency release lever from the first position to the second position. The anti-return mechanism may have an engagement portion supported by the connecting member and an engagement target portion supported by the housing member, and the emergency release lever may be held in the second position by engaging the engagement portion with the engagement target portion. 
     The lock system may have a housing member configured to house the emergency release lever in the first position and a connecting member connected to the emergency release lever to directly or indirectly pivot the pawl from the engagement position to the non-engagement position by manipulating the emergency release lever from the first position to the second position. The anti-return mechanism may have an elastic member supported by the connecting member and provided between the housing member and the emergency release lever, and the elastic member may be in a compressed state when the emergency release lever is in the first position. The elastic member may be in a free state, and the emergency release lever may be held in the second position when the emergency release lever is manipulated from the first position to the second position. 
     According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain an emergency release device of a lock system, capable of opening the trunk lid using the emergency release lever. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a power trunk lid having an emergency release device of a lock system according to an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG.  2    is a cross-sectional view illustrating an open/close operation of the power trunk lid of  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  3    is a conceptual diagram illustrating a configuration of an expansion/contraction drive unit; 
         FIG.  4    is a conceptual diagram illustrating a configuration of a closer drive mechanism; 
         FIG.  5    is a conceptual diagram illustrating a configuration of an emergency release lever; 
         FIG.  6    is a conceptual diagram illustrating another configuration of the closer drive mechanism; 
         FIGS.  7 A to  7 C  are conceptual diagrams illustrating a first specific mode of an anti-return mechanism; 
         FIGS.  8 A to  8 D  are first conceptual diagrams illustrating a second specific mode of the anti-return mechanism; 
         FIGS.  9 A to  9 B  are second conceptual diagrams illustrating the second specific mode of the anti-return mechanism; and 
         FIGS.  10 A to  10 D  are conceptual diagrams illustrating a third specific mode of the anti-return mechanism. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     A power trunk lid  1  having an emergency release device of a lock system according to an embodiment of the invention will now be described in details with reference to  FIGS.  1  to  10   . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS.  1  and  2   , the power trunk lid  1  is to make a trunk (trunk opening)  3  provided in a vehicle body  2  openable or closable by a trunk lid (lid)  4 . The trunk lid  4  is pivotally installed in the vehicle body  2  using a pair of hinge members  5  provided in both sides of a vehicle left-right direction and is openable or closable with respect to a pivot shaft  5   a  of the hinge member  5 . A pair of stopper members  6  respectively abutting on a pair of hinge members  5  in a fully opened position of the trunk lid  4  are provided in the vehicle left-right direction of the trunk  3  of the vehicle body  2  to match a pair of hinge members  5  of the trunk lid  4 . A weather strip  7  elastically deformed between the vehicle body  2  and the trunk lid  4  in a fully closed position of the trunk lid  4  to prevent water from flowing to the trunk  3  is provided along the entire periphery of the edge of the trunk  3  of the vehicle body  2 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS.  1  to  3   , the power trunk lid  1  has an expansion/contraction drive unit  10  that openably/closably drives the trunk lid  4 . The expansion/contraction drive unit  10  has one end and the other end pivotally installed in a wall surface of the trunk  3  of the vehicle body  2  and the hinge member  5  of the trunk lid  4  for expansion/contraction driving using a trunk drive motor M 1 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  3   , the expansion/contraction drive unit  10  has a bottomed cylindrical outer tube  11 , a spindle nut  12  provided in the vicinity of an opening separated from a bottom of the inner tubular surface of the outer tube  11 , and a spindle thread portion  13  screwed to the spindle nut  12  on the inner tubular surface of the outer tube  11 . A part of the spindle thread portion  13  protruding from the spindle nut  12  of the inner tubular surface of the outer tube  11  enters into the inside of a housing  14  and is fixed to an outer circumferential gear  15 . A pinion gear  16  meshing with the outer circumferential gear  15  and the trunk drive motor M 1  having a rotation shaft rotating in synchronization with the pinion gear  16  are stored in the housing  14 . As the trunk drive motor M 1  rotates forward or backward, a driving force of the trunk drive motor M 1  is transmitted to the spindle thread portion  13  via the pinion gear  16  and the outer circumferential gear  15 , so that the spindle thread portion  13  advances or recedes with respect to the outer tube  11  inside the outer tube  11 . As a result, the outer tube  11  moves between a stored position ( FIG.  3   ) in which most of the spindle thread portion  13  is stored in the inner tubular surface of the outer tube  11  and a protruding position in which most of the spindle thread portion  13  protrudes from the inner tubular surface of the outer tube  11  (that is, the expansion/contraction drive unit  10  is expanded or contracted). The housing  14  is fixed to the wall surface of the trunk  3  of the vehicle body  2 . A socket  17  having a ball receptacle  17   a  is combined in the backside of the bottom of the outer tube  11 , and a ball stud (not shown) provided in the hinge member  5  of the trunk lid  4  is fitted to the ball receptacle  17   a . In this configuration, the expansion/contraction drive unit  10  is expanded or contracted depending on a forward or backward rotation of the trunk drive motor M 1 , so that the trunk lid  4  is opened or closed. 
     The expansion/contraction drive unit  10  is switched to any one of a non-operation state (manual operation state) or an operation state (electric operation state) as an operation mode for opening or closing the trunk lid  4 . In the non-operation state of the expansion/contraction drive unit  10 , a regenerative brake circuit (not shown) having the trunk drive motor M 1  is open-circuited, and the trunk drive motor M 1  is not rotationally driven. In addition, the trunk lid  4  is not opened or closed unless an external force (such as an intentional open/close force or an external force caused by wind or rain) is applied. In the operation state of the expansion/contraction drive unit  10 , the regenerative brake circuit (not shown) having the trunk drive motor M 1  is close-circuited, and the trunk drive motor M 1  rotationally drives the trunk lid  4  to be opened or closed. Therefore, the trunk lid  4  is automatically opened or closed even when an operator does not press the trunk lid  4 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS.  1  and  4   , the power trunk lid  1  has a closer drive mechanism  20  that drives the trunk lid  4  between a half latch position and a full latch position. The closer drive mechanism  20  has a lock system  30  provided in the trunk lid  4  and a striker  40  provided on a rim of the trunk  3  of the vehicle body  2 . Note that a positional relationship between the lock system  30  and the striker  40  may be reversed. That is, the lock system  30  may be provided on the rim of the trunk  3  of the vehicle body  2 , and the striker  40  may be provided in the trunk lid  4 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  4   , the lock system  30  has a hook  32  coupled to a rotation shaft member  31  and a pawl  34  rotatable around the rotation shaft member  33 . 
     The hook  32  has a rotation support hole  32   a  supported rotatably with respect to the rotation shaft member  31 , a striker holding groove (groove)  32   b , a full latch engagement portion  32   c , and a half latch engagement portion  32   d . The striker holding groove  32   b  is insertable into the striker  40 . The hook  32  is biased rotatably in a clockwise direction in  FIG.  4    by a spring (not shown). The hook  32  is rotatable between an unlock position (counterclockwise rotation position indicated by a solid line in  FIG.  4   ) in which the striker  40  is insertable into the striker holding groove  32   b  and a lock position (clockwise rotation position indicated by a two-dotted chain line in  FIG.  4   ) in which the striker  40  is inhibited from being released from the striker holding groove  32   b.    
     The pawl  34  has a lock portion  34   a  that can be locked to or unlocked from the full latch engagement portion  32   c  and the half latch engagement portion  32   d  of the hook  32 . The pawl  34  is rotatable between an engagement position (counterclockwise rotation position in  FIG.  4   ) in which the hook  32  is inhibited from being rotated in the unlock direction as the full latch engagement portion  32   c  of the hook  32  located in the lock position is engaged with the lock portion  34   a , and a non-engagement position (clockwise rotation position in  FIG.  4   ) in which the lock portion  34   a  is not engaged with the full latch engagement portion  32   c  of the hook  32 . The pawl  34  is rotatably biased in the counterclockwise direction (engagement position of the pawl  34 ) in  FIG.  4    by a spring (not shown). 
     Each of the hook  32 , the pawl  34 , and the striker  40  described above holds the trunk lid  4  in the half latch position and the full latch position, respectively. 
     The closer drive mechanism  20  has a closer drive motor M 2  that rotationally drives the hook  32  forward or backward ( FIG.  1   ). The closer drive mechanism  20  is driven between a half latch state and a full latch state as the closer drive motor M 2  is rotated forward or backward. 
     Herein, the “half latch position of the trunk lid  4 ” refers to an intermediate opened position of the trunk lid  4  while the closer drive mechanism  20  has a half latch state, and the “full latch position of the trunk lid  4 ” refers to a fully closed position of the trunk lid  4  while the closer drive mechanism  20  has a full latch state. In addition, an “arbitrary opened position (including a fully opened position)” refers to an arbitrary opened position of the trunk lid  4  (including a fully opened position) while the closer drive mechanism  20  has a released state. 
     When the trunk lid  4  is located in the full latch position, the closer drive mechanism  20  has a full latch state in which the striker  40  is engaged with the striker holding groove  32   b  of the hook  32 , and the full latch engagement portion  32   c  of the hook  32  is engaged with the lock portion  34   a  of the pawl  34 . 
     In a case where the trunk lid  4  is opened from the full latch position by driving the closer drive motor M 2 , the pawl  34  is rotated in the clockwise direction in  FIG.  4    as the hook  32  is rotated in the counterclockwise direction in  FIG.  4   . As a result, the engagement between the full latch engagement portion  32   c  and the lock portion  34   a  is released. Then, the hook  32  is rotated slightly in the clockwise direction by a biasing force of a spring (not shown), so that the lock portion  34   a  is engaged with the half latch engagement portion  32   d . This position is the half latch position (half latch state) of the trunk lid  4  using the closer drive mechanism  20 . 
     In a case where the trunk lid  4  is opened from the half latch position by driving the closer drive motor M 2 , the pawl  34  is rotated in the clockwise direction in  FIG.  4    as the hook  32  is rotated in the counterclockwise direction in  FIG.  4   . As a result, the engagement between the lock portion  34   a  and the half latch engagement portion  32   d  is released. Then, the hook  32  is rotated slightly in the clockwise direction by a biasing force of a spring (not shown), so that the striker  40  is disengaged from the striker holding groove  32   b  of the hook  32 . That is, the closer drive mechanism  20  has a released state. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS.  4  and  5   , an emergency release lever  60  is connected to the pawl  34  of the lock system  30  via a connection cable (connection member)  50 . The emergency release lever  60  is held on a wall surface of the trunk  3  of the vehicle body  2  and can be manipulated from the inner side of the trunk  3 . If the trunk lid  4  is erroneously closed while a person exists in the trunk  3  of the vehicle body  2 , the trapped person is allowed to release the lock system  30  and open the trunk lid  4  by pulling the emergency release lever  60  inside the trunk  3  of the vehicle body  2 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  5   , the emergency release lever  60  has a generally T-shape having a lever body  61  extending in one direction (left-right direction in  FIG.  5   ) and a lock system interlocking body  62  extending in the other direction (vertical direction in  FIG.  5   ) from a middle part of the extending direction of the lever body  61 . A connection cable  50  is connected to an end of the lock system interlocking body  62 . The lever body  61  may be formed of a phosphorescent resin material containing a phosphorescent material so as to be visually recognizable in a dark place. The lock system interlocking body  62  may be formed of a non-phosphorescent resin material having a high mechanical strength and inexpensive cost lower than that of the lever body  61 . Note that the lever body  61  and the lock system interlocking body  62  of the emergency release lever  60  may not be formed of different materials but may be integrated with each other using the same material. 
     The emergency release lever  60  is manipulatable between an initial position (first position) and a pulled position (second position) pulled from the initial position (first position). The emergency release lever  60  is biased toward the initial position (first position) by being attracted by the connecting cable  50  by virtue of the biasing force applied to the pawl  34 . In a case where the emergency release lever  60  is placed in the initial position (first position), the pawl  34  is placed in the engagement position, and the lock portion  34   a  of the pawl  34  is engaged with the full latch engagement portion  32   c  of the hook  32 , so that the trunk lid  4  is locked. In a case where the emergency release lever  60  is pulled from the initial position (first position) to the pulled position (second position), the pawl  34  is placed in the non-engagement position, and the lock portion  34   a  of the pawl  34  is disengaged from the full latch engagement portion  32   c  of the hook  32 , so that the trunk lid  4  is unlocked. 
       FIG.  6    illustrates another configuration of the closer drive mechanism  20 . In the closer drive mechanism  20  of  FIG.  6   , the connection cable  50  is not directly interlocked with the pawl  34 , but is indirectly interlocked with the pawl  34  using an open lever  35 . The emergency release lever  60  and the open lever  35  are connected to each other by the connection cable  50 , and the open lever  35  is rotationally biased in the clockwise direction in  FIG.  6    by a biasing means (not shown). As a result, the emergency release lever  60  is biased toward the initial position (first position). As the emergency release lever  60  is pulled from the initial position (first position) to the pulled position (second position), the open lever  35  is rotated in the counterclockwise direction in  FIG.  6    and lifts the pawl  34 , so that the pawl  34  is pivoted from the engagement position with the hook  32  to the non-engagement position. Basic functions of the hook  32  and the pawl  34  are similar to those described in conjunction with  FIG.  4   , and they will not be described here. The hook  32  and the pawl  34  are connected to each other with a coil spring  36 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS.  4  to  6   , preferably, the connection cable (connecting member)  50  is connected to the emergency release lever  60 , and has a function of directly or indirectly pivoting the pawl  34  from the engagement position with the hook  32  to the non-engagement position by manipulating the emergency release lever  60  from the initial position (first position) to the pulled position (second position). 
     The inventors made diligent studies and found that, in a case where the batteries of the trunk drive motor M 1  and/or the closer drive motor M 2  are bulged out while the trunk lid  4  is locked, the trunk lid  4  does not pop up due to a holding force (sliding resistance) of the expansion/contraction drive unit  10 , and the striker holding groove  32   b  of the hook  32  is not released from the striker  40 , so that the trunk lid  4  is not opened even by pulling the emergency release lever  60  from the initial position (first position) to the pulled position (second position). That is, the striker holding groove  32   b  of the hook  32  is not released from the striker  40  and still stays even by pulling the emergency release lever  60  to the pulled position (second position) to disengage the lock portion  34   a  of the pawl  34  from the full latch engagement portion  32   c  of the hook  32 . Therefore, the emergency release lever  60  returns to the initial position (first position) immediately after the emergency release lever  60  is released, and it is difficult to re-engage the lock portion  34   a  of the pawl  34  with the full latch engagement portion  32   c  of the hook  32  and open the trunk lid  4 . Such a problem similarly applies to a case were the trunk lid  4  does not pop up, and the striker holding groove  32   b  of the hook  32  is not released from the striker  40 , so that the trunk lid  4  is not opened due to freezing in a cold weather or the like. 
     In order to address the aforementioned problem, the inventors conceived an “anti-return mechanism” capable of preventing the emergency release lever  60  from returning from the pulled position (second position) to the initial position (first position) when the emergency release lever  60  is pulled (manipulated) from the initial position (first position) to the pulled position (second position). Since the lock portion  34   a  of the pawl  34  is prevented from re-engaging with the full latch engagement portion  32   c  of the hook  32  by the “anti-return mechanism”, it is possible to open the trunk lid  4  by applying an external force from the inside and/or outside of the trunk  3  of the vehicle body  2  to lift the trunk lid  4 . In the following description, specific modes of the “anti-return mechanism” will be described. 
     &lt;&lt;First Specific Mode of Anti-Return Mechanism&gt;&gt; 
       FIGS.  7 A to  7 C  are conceptual diagrams illustrating a first specific mode of the anti-return mechanism. The emergency release lever  60  is stored in the lever storage member (housing member)  70  provided on the wall surface of the trunk  3  of the vehicle body  2 . The lever storage member  70  stores (houses) the emergency release lever  60  in the initial position (first position). The lever storage member  70  has a cable support wall  75  that telescopably supports the connection cable  50  connected (interlocked) to the lock system interlocking body  62 . 
     A part of the connection cable  50  placed between the lock system interlocking body  62  and the cable support wall  75  supports the engagement protrusion (engagement portion)  80 . The engagement protrusion  80  has a conical shape widening from the lock system interlocking body  62  toward the cable support wall  75 . The lever storage member  70  is placed in a later side of the connection cable  50  to support the elastic engagement claw (engagement target portion)  90 . The elastic engagement claw  90  includes a main body  91  extending approximately in parallel with the lock system interlocking body  62  and a hook-shaped portion  92  extending from the main body  91  to a connecting wire  50 . 
       FIG.  7 A  illustrates a state in which the emergency release lever  60  is placed in the initial position (first position). In the state of  FIG.  7 A , the engagement protrusion  80  is not engaged with the hook-shaped portion  92  of the elastic engagement claw  90 . As the emergency release lever  60  is pulled from the initial position (first position) to the pulled position (second position) as illustrated in  FIG.  7 B , the conical surface of the engagement protrusion  80  elastically deforms the hook-shaped portion  92  of the elastic engagement claw  90  so as to be pushed laterally. Then, as illustrated in  FIG.  7 C , a bottom face of the engagement protrusion  80  is engaged with the hook-shaped portion  92  of the elastic engagement claw  90  elastically returning to a free state, so that the emergency release lever  60  is maintained in the pulled position (second position). That is, by using the engagement protrusion  80  and the elastic engagement claw  90  as the “anti-return mechanism”, it is possible to prevent the emergency release lever  60  from returning from the pulled position (second position) to the initial position (first position) when the emergency release lever  60  is pulled from the initial position (first position) to the pulled position (second position). 
     &lt;&lt;Second Specific Mode of Anti-Return Mechanism&gt;&gt; 
       FIGS.  8 A to  8 D and  9 A to  9 B  are conceptual diagrams illustrating a second specific mode of the anti-return mechanism. Like reference numerals denote like elements as in the first specific mode described above, and they will not be described repeatedly. 
     A compression spring (elastic member)  100  is supported in the vicinity of a part of the connection cable  50  between the lock system interlocking body  62  and the cable support wall  75 . The lever storage member  70  has a pair of interlocking body holding portions  110  positioned in the outer circumference of the lock system interlocking body  62  of the emergency release lever  60  to hold the lock system interlocking body  62 . The lever storage member  70  has a pair of locking claws  120  locked to a flat plane (face opposite to the lock system interlocking body  62 ) of the main body  61  of the emergency release lever  60  to maintain the compression spring  100  in a compressed state. 
       FIGS.  8 A,  8 B, and  9 A  illustrate a state in which the emergency release lever  60  is in the initial position (first position). In the state of  FIGS.  8 A,  8 B, and  9 A , the flat plane (face opposite to the lock system interlocking body  62 ) of the main body  61  of the emergency release lever  60  is locked to a pair of locking claws  120 , so that the compression spring  100  is maintained in a compressed state. As illustrated in  FIGS.  8 C,  8 D, and  9 B , when the emergency release lever  60  is lifted, locking between the flat plane (face opposite to the lock system interlocking body  62 ) of the main body  61  of the emergency release lever  60  and a pair of locking claws  120  is released (unlocked), and the compression spring  100  has a free state, so that the emergency release lever  60  is maintained in the pulled position (second position). In this state, a pair of locking claws  120  are placed in both sides of the lock system interlocking body  62  of the emergency release lever  60 . In this manner, by the compression spring  100  and a pair of locking claws  120  serving as the “anti-return mechanism”, the emergency release lever  60  is prevented from returning to the initial position (first position) from the pulled position (second position) when the emergency release lever  60  is pulled from the initial position (first position) to the pulled position (second position). 
     &lt;&lt;Third Specific Mode of Anti-Return Mechanism&gt;&gt; 
       FIGS.  10 A to  10 D  are conceptual diagrams illustrating a third specific mode of the anti-return mechanism. Like reference numerals denote like elements as in the first specific mode described above, and they will not be described repeatedly. 
     An extension spring (elastic member)  130  is supported in the vicinity of a part of the connection cable  50  between the lock system interlocking body  62  and the cable support wall  75 . The lever storage member  70  has a pair of interlocking body holding portions  110  placed in the outer circumference of the lock system interlocking body  62  of the emergency release lever  60  to hold the lock system interlocking body  62 . The lever storage member  70  has a pair of first locking claws  140  locked to faces of the main body  61  of the emergency release lever  60  placed in both sides of the lock system interlocking body  62  to maintain the extension spring  130  in an approximately free state (perfect free state or slightly pulled state). The lever storage member  70  has a pair of second locking claws  150  locked to faces of the main body  61  of the emergency release lever  60  placed in both sides of the lock system interlocking body  62  to maintain the extension spring  130  in the pulled state. 
       FIGS.  10 A and  10 B  illustrate a state in which the emergency release lever  60  is in the initial position (first position). In the state of  FIGS.  10 A and  10 B , the faces of the main body  61  of the emergency release lever  60  placed in both sides of the lock system interlocking body  62  are locked to a pair of first locking claws  140 , so that the extension spring  130  is maintained in an approximately free state (perfect free state or slightly pulled state). As illustrated in  FIGS.  10 C and  10 D , when the emergency release lever  60  is pulled from the initial position (first position) to the pulled position (second position) to lock the faces of the main body  61  of the emergency release lever  60  placed in both sides of the lock system interlocking body  62  to a pair of second locking claws (engagement target portion)  150 , the extension spring  130  is in the pulled state, and the emergency release lever  60  is maintained in the pulled position (second position). In this manner, when the emergency release lever  60  is pulled from the initial position (first position) to the pulled position (second position) by the extension spring  130  and a pair of second locking claws  150  serving as the “anti-return mechanism”, the emergency release lever  60  is prevented from returning to the initial position (first position) from the pulled position (second position). 
     Note that the first to third specific modes of the anti-return mechanism described above are for illustrative purposes, and their configurations may be free. That is, various changes in the design may be possible for the specific modes of the “anti-return mechanism” as long as the emergency release lever  60  is prevented from returning to the initial position (first position) from the pulled position (second position) when the emergency release lever  60  is pulled (manipulated) from the initial position (first position) to the pulled position (second position). 
     REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 
     
         
         
           
               1  power trunk lid (emergency release device of lock system) 
               2  vehicle body 
               3  trunk (trunk opening) 
               4  trunk lid (lid) 
               5  hinge member 
               5   a  pivot shaft 
               6  stopper member 
               7  weather strip 
               10  expansion/contraction drive unit 
               11  outer tube 
               12  spindle nut 
               13  spindle thread portion 
               14  housing 
               15  outer circumferential gear 
               16  pinion gear 
               17  socket 
               17   a  ball receptacle 
               20  closer drive mechanism 
               30  lock system 
               31  rotation shaft member 
               32  hook 
               32   a  rotation support hole 
               32   b  striker holding groove (groove) 
               32   c  full latch engagement portion 
               32   d  half latch engagement portion 
               33  rotation shaft member 
               34  pawl 
               34   a  lock portion 
               35  open lever 
               36  coil spring 
               40  striker 
               50  connection cable (connecting member) 
               60  emergency release lever 
               61  lever body 
               62  lock system interlocking body 
               70  lever storage member (housing member) 
               75  cable support wall 
               80  engagement protrusion (anti-return mechanism, engagement portion) 
               90  elastic engagement claw (anti-return mechanism, engagement target portion) 
               91  main body 
               92  hook-shaped portion 
               100  compression spring (anti-return mechanism, elastic member) 
               110  interlocking body holding portion 
               120  locking claw (anti-return mechanism) 
               130  extension spring (anti-return mechanism, elastic member) 
               140  first locking claw 
               150  second locking claw (anti-return mechanism, engagement target portion) 
             M 1  trunk drive motor 
             M 2  closer drive motor