Patent Publication Number: US-2021172206-A1

Title: Frunk latch emergency opening structure

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) the benefit of priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2019-0162324 filed on Dec. 9, 2019, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND 
     (a) Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to a frunk latch emergency opening structure. More particularly, it relates to a frunk latch emergency opening structure, which is configured not only to be basically operated but also to be opened from the inside of a frunk in case of emergency through one latch structure. 
     (b) Background Art 
     In general, an engine compartment is provided in the front portion of a vehicle, and the engine compartment is opened and closed by a frunk lid (i.e., hood). The frunk lid functions not only to open and close the engine compartment but also to shield the engine compartment so as to block engine noise. Left and right sides of the rear end of the frunk lid are coupled to the upper portion of the engine compartment by hinge assemblies. Thus, the frunk lid is rotated around the hinge assemblies to open and close the engine compartment. 
     Recently, instead of mounting a traditional powertrain, such as an engine, a transmission, and the like, in an engine compartment, demand for electric vehicles in which a battery is mounted on a floor of a vehicle body has gradually increased. Therefore, the space of the engine compartment in which the traditional powertrain is mounted is used as a trunk. This trunk is generally referred to as a frunk, i.e., an abbreviation of a front trunk, because it is located in the front portion of the vehicle. 
     In general, a vehicle hood has a structure, which is locked in two steps by a safety lever. Thus, a two-step safety device for opening the vehicle hood is prepared such that, in order to release the locked hood, locking of the hood is primarily released through a front surface cable operation by operating a release lever inside the vehicle. The hood is secondarily opened by releasing the safety lever by putting a user hand into an engine compartment. 
     This serves to satisfy automobile safety standard regulations. Herein, a firm latch device must be installed in a vehicle hood, and a vehicle, having a structure in which a vehicle hood is opened and closed in a forward direction. If the vehicle hood is opened during driving, the hood may obscure the driver&#39;s view. Thus, the firm latch device is regulated so as to have a structure in which secondary locking or locking at two places are possible. 
     Usually, an operation to open a front hood includes a primary opening operation in which locking of a hood latch is released and a secondary opening operation in which a user turns over a safety lever in an opening direction. 
     The safety lever prevents the hood from momentarily popping up during the primary opening operation of the hood. The hood is lifted up by the secondary opening operation in which the safety lever is turned over in the opening direction. 
     However, if respective latch structures for the primary opening operation and the secondary opening operation are applied, the total weight of the hood is heavy, installation costs of the hood are excessively high, and a broad space is required to install the latch structures. Further, installation of a separate electric latch increases installation costs and failure probability. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The present disclosure has been made in an effort to solve the above-described problems associated with the prior art. It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a frunk latch emergency opening structure which is configured not only to be basically operated but also to be opened from the inside of a frunk in case of emergency through one latch structure. 
     It is another object of the present disclosure to provide a frunk latch emergency opening structure in which an electric method as a latch operation method may be replaced with a mechanical method. 
     In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a frunk latch emergency opening structure. The frunk latch emergency opening structure includes: a base configured to be fixed to a vehicle body; a pole provided on the base so as to be rotatable; a first cable connected to one end of the pole and configured such that tension is applied to the first cable by operating a vehicle inside handle; an emergency lever configured to be rotatable in an interlocking manner with the pole at one end of the emergency lever; a second cable connected to another end of the emergency lever and configured such that tension is applied to the second cable by operating a frunk inside handle; and a safety hook configured to be coupled to the base so as to be rotatable and to move due to operation of a front outside lever. 
     In an embodiment, the frunk latch emergency opening structure may further include a catch configured to move in an interlocking manner with rotation of the pole. The frunk latch emergency opening structure may also include a striker connected at one end to a frunk lid (i.e., hood) configured to cover a frunk and provided with another end configured to be detachably inserted into the catch so as to open and close the frunk lid according to rotation of the catch. 
     In another embodiment, a hook plate may be formed at one end of the safety hook. A hook protrusion configured to protrude through a rear surface of the base may be formed at another end of the safety hook. 
     In still another embodiment, the one end of the emergency lever may interlock with the pole and the other end of the emergency lever may be rotated in an interlocking manner with the hook protrusion. 
     In yet another embodiment, the frunk latch emergency opening structure may further include an emergency lever stopper located so as to correspond to the other end of the emergency lever and configured to interfere with the emergency lever during movement of the emergency lever. The emergency lever may be configured to move along a side surface of the emergency lever stopper when tension is applied to the second cable. 
     In still yet another embodiment, when tension is applied to the first cable, the one end of the pole may be rotated and the catch may be released from the striker, such that locking of the frunk may be released. 
     In a further embodiment, the safety hook may move due to operation of a frunk outside lever and may allow the frunk to pop up. 
     In another further embodiment, when tension is applied to the second cable, the other end of the emergency lever may be rotated, the pole may be rotated corresponding to the one end of the emergency lever, and the catch may be released from the striker, such that locking of the frunk may be released. 
     In still another further embodiment, the other end of the emergency lever may move along a side surface of the emergency lever stopper. The hook protrusion may move in an interlocking manner with the other end of the emergency lever. 
     In yet another further embodiment, the emergency lever may be inserted into a space between the hook protrusion and the emergency lever stopper, such that the emergency lever maybe fixed. 
     Other aspects and embodiments of the disclosure are discussed below. 
     The above and other features of the disclosure are discussed below. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and other features of the present disclosure are described in detail with reference to certain embodiments thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings which are given hereinbelow by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present disclosure, and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a rear view illustrating the configuration of a frunk latch emergency opening structure according to one embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a front view illustrating the configuration of the frunk latch emergency opening structure according to one embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating the configuration of the frunk latch emergency opening structure according to one embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 4  is a view illustrating a driving state of the frunk latch emergency opening structure according to one embodiment of the present disclosure when tension is applied to a first cable; 
         FIG. 5  is a view illustrating an unlocked state of the frunk latch emergency opening structure according to one embodiment of the present disclosure when tension is applied to the first cable; 
         FIG. 6  is a view illustrating a driving state of the frunk latch emergency opening structure according to one embodiment of the present disclosure when tension is applied to a second cable; 
         FIG. 7  is a view illustrating an unlocked state of the frunk latch emergency opening structure according to one embodiment of the present disclosure when tension is applied to the second cable; 
         FIGS. 8( a ) and 8( b )  are enlarged views of an emergency lever stopper of the frunk latch emergency opening structure according to one embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 9  is a view illustrating an emergency open state of the frunk latch emergency opening structure according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     It should be understood that the appended drawings are not necessarily to scale, presenting a somewhat simplified representation of various features illustrative of the basic principles of the disclosure. The specific design features of the present disclosure as disclosed herein, including, for example, specific dimensions, orientations, locations, and shapes, are determined in part by the particular intended application and use environment. 
     In the figures, reference numbers refer to the same or equivalent parts of the present disclosure throughout the several figures of the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Hereinafter, reference is made in detail to various embodiments of the present disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described below. While the disclosure is described in conjunction with various embodiments, it is understood that the present description is not intended to limit the disclosure to the various embodiments. On the contrary, the disclosure is intended to cover not only the disclosed embodiments, but also various alternatives, modifications, equivalents and other embodiments, which may be included within the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims. 
     In the following description of the embodiments, terms, such as “ . . . part” and the like mean units to process at least one function or operation, and they may be implemented by hardware or a combination of hardware. 
     In addition, in the following description of the embodiments, “frunks” conceptually include a front trunk and a rear trunk, and in the embodiments, one end of a frunk is subject to description. 
     Further, in the following description of the embodiments, “a rear surface” means a rear portion of a base  110  in the longitudinal direction of a vehicle based on the plan surface of the base  110 . Likewise, “a front surface” means a front portion of the base  110  in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle based on the plan surface of the base  110 . 
     Moreover, in the following description of the embodiments, “a basic mode” means a frunk open mode in general situations and “an emergency mode” means a mode in which a frunk can be opened by operating a frunk inside handle  400  in a situation in which a person is confined in the frunk. 
     When an element or component in the written description and/or claims is identified and described as having a purpose or performing or carrying out a stated function, step, set of instructions, or the like, the element or component may also be considered as being “configured to” do so. 
       FIG. 1  is a rear view illustrating the configuration of a frunk latch emergency opening structure according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.  FIG. 2  is a front view illustrating the configuration of the frunk latch emergency opening structure according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.  FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating the configuration of the frunk latch emergency opening structure according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     The frunk latch emergency opening structure according to one embodiment of the present disclosure may include the base  110  fixed to a vehicle body, a pole  120  provided on the base  110  so as to be rotatable, a first cable  210  connected to one end of the pole  120  and configured such that tension is applied to the first cable  210  by operating a vehicle inside handle  300 , an emergency lever  130  configured to be rotatable in an interlocking manner with the pole  120  at one end of the emergency lever  130 , a second cable  220  connected to the other end of the emergency lever  130  and configured such that tension is applied to the second cable  220  by operating the frunk inside handle  400 , and a safety hook  140  configured to be coupled to the base  110  so as to be rotatable and to move due to operation of a front outside lever  500 . 
     Further, the frunk latch emergency opening structure may further include a catch  150  configured to move in an interlocking manner with rotation of the pole  120 . The frunk latch emergency opening structure may also include a striker  160  connected at one end to a frunk lid configured to cover a frunk. The striker  160  may be provided with another end configured to be detachably inserted into the catch  150  so as to open and close the frunk lid according to rotation of the catch  150 . 
     The base  110  may be configured to form a frame of the frunk latch emergency opening structure and be fixed to the front end of the vehicle body. The base  110  may be provided with parts, such as the pole  120 , the first cable  210 , the emergency lever  130 , the second cable  220  and the safety hook  140 , on the rear and front surfaces thereof so as to fix these parts to the vehicle body and support the parts. 
     A guide groove may be formed by cutting the center of the upper end of the base  110  to a designated depth in the downward direction. The striker  160  adhered to the front end of the frunk may be inserted into the guide groove when the frunk is closed. 
     The pole  120  may be provided on the rear surface of the base  110  so as to be rotatable. More particularly, the pole  120  may be configured to be pin-coupled to the rear surface of the base  110  and thus be rotated when tension is applied to the first cable  210 . The first cable  210  may be connected to the one end of the pole  120 . The other end of the pole  120  may be located so as to interlock with one end of the emergency lever  130  and one end of the catch  150 , as described below. 
     The first cable  210  may be configured to be connected to one end of the pole  120  so that tension is applied to the first cable  210  by operating the vehicle inside handle  300 . In the basic mode, when the vehicle inside handle  300  is pulled, the first cable  210  may be pulled and the one end of the pole  120  may be rotated. 
     The emergency lever  130  may be provided on the rear surface of the base  110  so as to be rotatable. The emergency lever  130  may be configured such that one end of the emergency lever  130  interlocks with the pole  120  and the other end of the emergency lever  130  interlocks with a hook protrusion  142 , as described below, so as to be rotated. More particularly, the emergency lever  130  may be configured to be rotated coaxially with the pole  120 . 
     The frunk latch emergency opening structure according to one embodiment of the present disclosure may further include an emergency lever stopper  170  located so as to correspond to the other end of the emergency lever  130 . The emergency lever stopper  170  may be configured to interfere with the emergency lever  130  during horizontal movement of the emergency lever  130 . The emergency lever  130  may be configured to move along the side surface of the emergency lever stopper  170  when tension is applied to the second cable  220 , as described below. 
     The emergency lever stopper  170  may be located at the lower portion of the rear surface of the base  110 , close to the other end of the emergency lever  130 . More particularly, the emergency lever stopper  170  may be fixedly installed such that the side surface of the emergency lever stopper  170  is tilted at a designated angle with respect to the rear surface of the base  110 . In an initial state, the other end of the emergency lever  130  may interfere with the rear surface of the stopper  170 . When the other end of the emergency lever  130  is rotated, the other end of the emergency lever  130  may move along the side surface of the emergency lever stopper  170 . A projection may be formed on the front surface of the emergency lever stopper  170  so that the other end of the emergency lever  130  may be inserted into a space between the hook protrusion  142  and the emergency lever stopper  170 . In this regard, the emergency lever  130  may be fixed in the emergency mode as described below. 
     The second cable  220  may be connected to the other end of the emergency lever  130 . More particularly, the second cable  220  may be configured such that tension is applied to the second cable  220  by operating the frunk inside handle  400 . The second cable  220  to which tension is applied may pull the other end of the emergency lever  130  and thus rotate the emergency lever  130 . The second cable  220  may be configured to be separated from the first cable  210 , and thus not be operated in the basic mode and be operated only in the emergency mode. 
     The safety hook  140  may be coupled to the front surface of the base  110  so as to be rotatable. More particularly, the safety hook  140  may be configured to move due to operation of the frunk outside lever  500 . 
     A hook plate  141  may be formed at one end of the safety hook  140 . A hook protrusion  142 , which protrudes from the rear surface of the base  110 , may be formed at the other end of the safety hook  140 . The hook protrusion  142  may be provided close to the other end of the emergency lever  130  so as to interlock with rotation of the emergency lever  130 . 
     The hook plate  141  may close the guide groove so as to prevent the striker  160  from being released from the guide groove. The safety hook  140  may receive elastic restoring force from a hook return spring. The hook return spring may be mounted on a rotating shaft of the safety hook  140 . One end of the hook return spring may be fixed to the safety hook  140  and the other end of the hook return spring may be fixed to the base  110 . The hook return spring may provide elastic restoring force so as to return the safety hook  140  to an original position thereof when the safety hook  140  is rotated by the emergency lever  130  and thus opens the guide groove. 
     The catch  150  may be installed on the rear surface  110  so as to be rotatable. More particularly, the catch  150  may be configured to move in an interlocking manner with rotation of the pole  120 . The catch  150  may serve as a safety device which fixes the striker  160  and thus holds the frunk so as not to be opened during driving. 
     The catch  150  may be elastically supported by a coil spring. More particularly, one end of the coil spring is fixed to the catch  150  and the other end of the coil spring is fixed to the base  110 . Thus, the coil spring may provide restoring force which rotates the catch  150  in the counterclockwise direction if the catch  150  is rotated in the clockwise direction. 
     The striker  160  may be connected at one end of the striker  160  to the frunk lid which covers the frunk. The other end of the striker  160  may be detachably inserted into the catch  150  and may thus open and close the frunk lid depending on rotation of the catch  150 . In the initial state, the striker  160  may be locked with the catch  150 . 
       FIG. 4  is a view illustrating a driving state of the frunk latch emergency opening structure according to one embodiment of the present disclosure when tension is applied to the first cable  210 .  FIG. 5  is a view illustrating an unlocked state of the frunk latch emergency opening structure according to one embodiment of the present disclosure when tension is applied to the first cable  210 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the frunk latch emergency opening structure according to one embodiment of the present disclosure may be configured such that, when tension is applied to the first cable  210 , one end of the pole  120  is rotated, the catch  150  is released from the striker  160 , and thus, locking of the frunk is released. Further, the safety hook  140  may move due to operation of the frunk outside lever  500 , and the frunk may pop up. 
     In the initial sate in the basic mode, the striker  160  may be locked with the catch  150 . When a driver operates the vehicle inside handle  300  disposed at a driver&#39;s seat within the vehicle, tension may be applied to the first cable  210 . The pole  120  is pulled and rotated by the first cable  210  to which tension is applied, and thus, binding force applied to the catch  150  may be released. 
     When the catch  150  is rotated in an interlocking manner with rotation of the other end of the pole  120 , the striker  160  may be released from an insertion groove of the catch  150 . Thus, the frunk may be converted from a primary locked state to a primary open state, i.e., locking of the frunk may be released. Consequently, when the frunk outside lever  500  is pushed, the safety hook  140  connected to the frunk outside lever  500  is rotated, binding force which holds the striker  160  is released, and thus, the frunk may be secondarily opened. 
     As such, the frunk is opened through a two-step operation process in the basic mode. Thus, even if an opening operation occurs because of driver mistake, the frunk is not immediately opened, thereby being capable of preventing safety accidents caused by opening of the frunk during driving. 
       FIG. 6  is a view illustrating a driving state of the frunk latch emergency opening structure according to one embodiment of the present disclosure when tension is applied to the second cable  220 .  FIG. 7  is a view illustrating an unlocked state of the frunk latch emergency opening structure according to one embodiment of the present disclosure when tension is applied to the second cable  220 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the frunk latch emergency opening structure according to one embodiment of the present disclosure may be configured such that, when tension is applied to the second cable  210 , the other end of the emergency lever  130  is rotated, the pole  120  is rotated corresponding to the one end of the emergency lever  130 , the catch  150  is released from the striker  160 , and thus, locking of the frunk is released. 
     The frunk inside handle  400  may be formed so as to be connected to the second cable  220  within the frunk. If a person is confined in the frunk, the person may open the frunk by operating the frunk inside handle  400  without the aid of an outsider. 
     In the emergency mode, first, when the frunk inside handle  400  is pulled, tension is applied to the second cable  220 , and thus, the other end of the emergency lever  130  may be rotated. The one end of the emergency lever  130  may interlock with the other end of the pole  120 . More particularly, the one end of the emergency lever  130  may be rotated to push the other end of the pole  120  and locking of the striker  160  with the catch  150  may be released. 
     When the catch  150  is rotated in an interlocking manner with rotation of the other end of the pole  120 , the striker may be released from the catch  150 . Thus, the frunk may be converted from the primary locked state to the primary open state, i.e., locking of the frunk may be released. 
     Therefore, the safety hook  140  may be rotated without operation of the separate frunk outside lever  500 . More particularly, the other end of the emergency lever  130  may be rotated to push the hook protrusion  142 , and the safety hook  140  may be rotated. 
     In other words, when the safety hook  140  is rotated, binding force which holds the striker  160  is released, and thus, the frunk may be secondarily opened. Therefore, in the emergency mode, primary opening and secondary opening may be continuously performed only by operating the frunk inside handle  400 . 
       FIGS. 8( a ) and 8( b )  are enlarged views of the emergency lever stopper  170  of the frunk latch emergency opening structure according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.  FIG. 9  is a view illustrating an emergency open state of the frunk latch emergency opening structure according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 8( a ), 8( b )  and  9 , the frunk latch emergency opening structure according to one embodiment of the present disclosure may be configured such that the other end of the emergency lever  130  moves along the side surface of the emergency lever stopper  170  and the hook protrusion  142  moves in an interlocking manner with the other end of the emergency lever  130 . 
     Further, the emergency lever  130  may be inserted into the space between the hook protrusion  142  and the emergency lever stopper  170  and thus be fixed. 
     In the initial state, the other end of the emergency lever  130  may be located so as to interfere with the rear surface of the emergency lever stopper  170 . The hook protrusion  142  may be located close to the front surface of the emergency lever stopper  170 . Thereafter, when the frunk inside handle  400  is operated and tension is applied to the second cable  220 , the other end of the emergency lever  130  may move along the side surface of the emergency lever stopper  170 . 
     The other end of the emergency lever  130  may be rotated in an interlocking manner with the hook protrusion  142 . Thus, the hook plate  141  may be rotated. In other words, differently from the basic mode, in the emergency mode, the safety hook  140  may be rotated without operation of the frunk outside lever  500 . 
     In a state in which a second opening is completed, a sufficient space may be formed between the emergency lever stopper  170  and the hook protrusion  142 . 
     Therefore, the emergency lever  130  may be inserted into the space between the hook protrusion  142  and the emergency lever stopper  170  and thus be fixed. More particularly, the other end of the emergency lever  130  may be rotated along the side surface of the emergency lever stopper  170 , push the hook protrusion  142 , and be caught and fixed to the front surface of the emergency lever stopper  170 . 
     In other words, the other end of the emergency lever  130  may be fixedly inserted into the space between the hook protrusion  142  and the emergency lever stopper  170  so that the safety hook  140  is not returned to the original position thereof by the hook return spring. Therefore, the secondary unlocked state may be maintained and the frunk lid may be opened from the inside of the frunk through rotation of the safety hook  140 . 
     In summary, the present disclosure provides a frunk latch emergency opening structure which is configured not only to be basically operated but also to be opened from the inside of a frunk in case of emergency through a one latch structure. 
     As is apparent from the above description, the present disclosure may acquire the following effects through the above-described configuration and connection and usage relations. 
     The present disclosure provides a frunk latch emergency opening structure which is configured not only to be basically operated but also to be opened from the inside of a frunk in case of emergency through a one latch structure, thereby being capable of reducing the size of the latch structure and cutting down the cost of the latch structure. 
     Further, in the frunk latch emergency opening structure, an electric method as a latch operation method may be replaced with a mechanical method, thereby being capable of increasing the commercial value of the frunk latch emergency opening structure. 
     The disclosure has been described in detail with reference to embodiments thereof. However, it should be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the disclosure, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims and their equivalents. In other words, while the disclosure has been explained in relation to its embodiments, it is understood that various modifications thereof will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon reading the specification. These embodiments have been described to explain the best mode to implement the technical scope of the disclosure, and various modifications required in the specific application and purpose of the present disclosure are possible. For example, a frunk outside lever may be integrated with a safety hook. Therefore, the above detailed description of the present disclosure is not intended to limit the disclosure. Further, it must be interpreted that the accompanying claims encompass other modes.