Patent Description:
Vehicles, such as automobiles, include a hood locking device that fixes and unfixes an engine hood at a closed position. The hood locking device includes a base plate attached to a radiator support at a front end of the vehicle, a locking mechanism that fixes and unfixes the engine hood, and an operation cable used to operate the locking mechanism. The operation cable extends in the width direction of the vehicle.

A locking device for locking two structural parts with two latches is known from the document <CIT>. The document <CIT> discloses a hood locking device with two latches which one of the two latches includes one of a projection and a recess and the other one of the two latches includes the other one of the projection and the recess.

Patent Document <NUM> discloses a locking mechanism that includes a latch and a pawl. The latch and the pawl are pivotally supported by a base plate. When the latch engages with a striker included in the engine hood, the pawl engages with the latch. This restrains the striker and locks the engine hood. As a result, the engine hood is fixed at the closed position. When an operation using the operation cable is performed to pivot the pawl to a detachment position, the pawl disengages from the latch. This permits the striker to rise.

Patent Document <NUM> discloses a hood locking device included in a pop-up hood device. The hood locking device is supported by a locking base such that the hood locking device can pop up. The hood locking device includes a latch that is rotationally supported by the locking base and an intermediate operation portion configured to keep the latch engaged with the striker. The intermediate operation portion is rotationally supported by the hood locking device.

When latched to a fixing hook rotationally supported by the locking base, the hood locking device is prohibited from popping up. When the fixing hook is unlatched, the hood locking device pops up and moves upwards.

When the hood locking device is prohibited from popping up, the intermediate operation portion is arranged so as to face a vehicle body-side operation portion. The vehicle body-side operation portion is rotationally supported by the locking base.

In the state in which the hood locking device is prohibited from popping up, when the vehicle body-side operation portion is operated using an operation cable, the intermediate operation portion is pivoted by a vehicle body operation portion. This disengages the intermediate operation portion from the latch and permits rising of the striker (and engine hood) that has been latched by the latch.

In Patent Document <NUM>, the distance between the rotary shaft of the latch and the rotary shaft of the pawl (for example, the separation distance in the up-down direction and the width direction of the vehicle) needs to be increased in order to provide a region for rotating the latch and the pawl. This enlarges the hood locking device.

Also, in Patent Document <NUM>, the distance between the rotary shaft of the latch and the rotary shaft of the intermediate operation portion (for example, the separation distance in the up-down direction and the width direction of the vehicle) needs to be increased in order to provide a region for rotating the latch and the intermediate operation portion. This enlarges the hood locking device.

It is an objective of the present disclosure to provide a hood locking device capable of being reduced in size.

A hood locking device according to the invention includes a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism includes two latches. The two latches are configured to fix an engine hood at a closed position by latching a striker included with the engine hood of a vehicle and unfix the engine hood by releasing the striker. One of the two latches includes one of a projection and a recess and the other one of the two latches includes the other one of the projection and the recess. The projection and the recess form a fitting portion and the projection is fitted to the recess. The two latches are pivotally supported by a base plate fixed to the vehicle and configured such that latching directions of the two latches for the striker are opposite to each other. One of the two latches includes a right-hand-drive operation cable attachment portion and the other one of the two latches includes a left-hand-drive operation cable attachment portion.

A hood locking device according to a first embodiment will now be described with reference to <FIG>.

<FIG> shows a vehicle <NUM> that includes an engine compartment <NUM>, an engine hood <NUM> on the upper side of the engine compartment <NUM>, a radiator support <NUM>, and a hood locking device <NUM>. In the present disclosure, the up, down, right, left, front, and rear correspond to the up, down, right, left, front, and rear of the vehicle, respectively. Further, the width direction of the present disclosure corresponds to the width direction of the vehicle <NUM>. The engine hood <NUM> is configured to open and close the engine compartment <NUM> by moving (pivoting) upwards and downwards. The hood locking device <NUM> is configured to fix the engine hood <NUM> at a closed position (the long dashed double-short dashed line in <FIG>) and unfix the engine hood <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the engine hood <NUM> is capable of being opened to a fully-open position (a position at which the opening angle is the maximum) when the engine hood <NUM> is released from a catch <NUM> (described later) of the hood locking device <NUM>. The radiator support <NUM> has the shape of a quadrilateral frame. The radiator support <NUM> is located on the front side of the engine compartment <NUM> (the front side in the direction that is orthogonal to the sheet of <FIG>). The upper part of the radiator support <NUM> is made of a synthetic plastic material. The other part of the radiator support <NUM> is made of a metal material. The hood locking device <NUM> is attached to the upper part of the radiator support <NUM>.

<FIG> shows the hood locking device <NUM> as viewed from the rear of the vehicle <NUM>. <FIG> shows the hood locking device <NUM> as viewed from the front of the vehicle <NUM>. The hood locking device <NUM> includes a base plate <NUM> that is attached to the upper part of the radiator support <NUM>. The base plate <NUM> includes a flat portion 6a that extends in the width direction. The flat portion 6a includes a notch <NUM> that extends downwards from the upper end of the flat portion 6a. The notch <NUM> is located at the substantially middle part of the flat portion 6a in the width direction. The notch <NUM> includes an opening that opens upwards and two opposing end surfaces. The distance between the two end surfaces increases toward the opening.

The engine hood <NUM> (<FIG>) includes a striker <NUM> that protrudes downwards from the lower surface of the engine hood <NUM>. The striker <NUM> is located in correspondence with the notch <NUM> in the width direction. When the engine hood <NUM> is moved from the open position to the closed position, the striker <NUM> moves into the notch <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the front part of the base plate <NUM> includes the catch <NUM> that has a flat shape and is parallel to the base plate <NUM>. The catch <NUM> permits the striker <NUM> to move into the notch <NUM>. Further, the catch <NUM> is configured to hinder the engine hood <NUM> from become fully open by preventing the removal of the striker <NUM> from the notch <NUM>. Being fully open means that the engine hood <NUM> is open at the maximum opening angle.

The catch <NUM> is supported by the base plate <NUM> such that the catch <NUM> is rotatable about a pin <NUM>. The catch <NUM> includes a lever <NUM> and an arm <NUM>. The lever <NUM> is located on one side of the notch <NUM> in the width direction (left-right direction in <FIG>). The arm <NUM> is located on the other side of the notch <NUM> in the width direction. The arm <NUM> includes a hook <NUM> that is bent from the upper end of the arm <NUM> toward the lever <NUM> such that the hook <NUM> has the shape of a hook. The upper end surface of the hook <NUM> is an inclined surface that becomes lower toward the lever <NUM>.

The catch <NUM> is held by a biasing force of a spring <NUM> at a position where the hook <NUM> closes the opening of the notch <NUM> in the direction in which the catch <NUM> rotates about the pin <NUM>. That is, the catch <NUM> is biased by the spring <NUM> such that the catch <NUM> moves onto a movement trajectory of the striker <NUM>. The spring <NUM> is an example of a biasing member.

Downward movement of the engine hood <NUM> from the open position toward the closed position causes the striker <NUM> of the engine hood <NUM> to abut against the upper end surface of the hook <NUM>. Further, the striker <NUM> presses the hook <NUM> against the biasing force of the spring <NUM> in the direction in which the opening of the notch <NUM> is opened. Then, the striker <NUM> moves into the notch <NUM> from the section between the tip of the hook <NUM> and the end surface of the notch <NUM>. After the striker <NUM> moves into the notch <NUM> in this manner, the hook <NUM> (catch <NUM>) is returned to the original position by the biasing force of the spring <NUM>.

To open the engine hood <NUM> at the closed position, the lever <NUM> of the catch <NUM> is operated with the engine hood <NUM> unfixed at the closed position. This operation causes the catch <NUM> to rotate about the pin <NUM> so that the hook <NUM> opens the opening of the notch <NUM>. At this time, the catch <NUM> rotates against the biasing force of the spring <NUM>. When the opening of the notch <NUM> is not opened, the hook <NUM> hinders the striker <NUM> from being upwardly removed from the inside of the notch <NUM>. When the opening of the notch <NUM> is opened in the above-described manner (in other words, after the hook <NUM> is moved to a position that does not overlap the opening of the notch <NUM>) by the rotation of the catch <NUM> and then the engine hood <NUM> is lifted, the striker <NUM> is upwardly removed from the notch <NUM>. This causes the engine hood <NUM> to open.

When the engine hood <NUM> is opened and then the operation of the lever <NUM> of the catch <NUM> is stopped, the biasing force of the spring <NUM> causes the catch <NUM> to rotate about the pin <NUM> to the position where the opening of the notch <NUM> is closed by the hook <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, the hood locking device <NUM> includes a locking mechanism <NUM> that fixes and unfixes the engine hood <NUM> of the vehicle at the closed position. The hood locking device <NUM> further includes an operation cable <NUM> used to operate the locking mechanism <NUM>. The operation cable <NUM> extends in the width direction.

As shown in <FIG>, the operation cable <NUM> includes a cable covering <NUM> and a wire <NUM> that passes through the cable covering <NUM>. The wire <NUM> includes a spherical coupling portion <NUM> at the tip of the portion of the wire <NUM> protruding from the cable covering <NUM>. The coupling portion <NUM> connects the wire <NUM> to the locking mechanism <NUM>. The vehicle of the present embodiment is a right-hand-drive vehicle. The operation cable <NUM> is used for right-hand drive.

The locking mechanism <NUM> includes a first latch <NUM> and a second latch <NUM> that are arranged in the width direction at the rear of the base plate <NUM>. The first latch <NUM> and the second latch <NUM> are plates parallel to the flat portion 6a. The first latch <NUM> and the second latch <NUM> are pivotally supported on the opposite sides of the notch <NUM> in the base plate <NUM> in the width direction. The substantially middle part of the first latch <NUM> in the up-down direction includes a pin <NUM> serving as a pivot shaft. The substantially middle part of the second latch <NUM> in the up-down direction includes a pin <NUM> serving as a pivot shaft.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the upper part of the first latch <NUM> is a curved protrusion <NUM> that protrudes toward the second latch <NUM>, and the upper part of the second latch <NUM> is a curved protrusion <NUM> that protrudes toward the first latch <NUM>. When the curved protrusions <NUM>, <NUM> overlap each other in the thickness direction (front-rear direction), the striker <NUM> is hindered from upwardly moving toward the opening of the notch <NUM>. Hereinafter, in a simulated manner, the state in which the upward movement of the striker <NUM> is hindered is referred to as a state in which the opening of the notch <NUM> is closed. Further, the state in which the upward movement of the striker <NUM> is permitted is referred to as a state in which the opening is opened. The curved protrusions <NUM>, <NUM> are engagement portions that engage with the striker <NUM> at the position where the curved protrusions <NUM>, <NUM> close the opening of the notch <NUM>.

The upper end surface of the curved protrusion <NUM> may have an arcuate shape that becomes lower toward the second latch <NUM>. The upper end surface of the curved protrusion <NUM> may have an arcuate shape that becomes lower toward the first latch <NUM>. Each of the upper end surfaces of the curved protrusions <NUM>, <NUM> does not have to be arcuate and may be, for example, a straight inclined surface that becomes lower toward the other adjacent latch.

The first latch <NUM> includes a recess 20a at the substantially middle portion of the first latch <NUM> in the up-down direction and between the pin <NUM> and the second latch <NUM> in the width direction. The second latch <NUM> includes a projection 21a that protrudes toward the pin <NUM>. The second latch <NUM> is located at the substantially middle portion of the second latch <NUM> in the up-down direction and is located between the pin <NUM> and the first latch <NUM> in the width direction. The projection 21a is designed to be fitted to the recess 20a when inserted into the recess 20a. Thus, when the first latch <NUM> is rotated about the pin <NUM> so that the projection 21a is fitted to the recess 20a, the second latch <NUM> is rotated about the pin <NUM> in the direction opposite to the first latch <NUM>. That is, the first latch <NUM> and the second latch <NUM> are rotated such that latching directions for the striker <NUM> are opposite to each other. The recess 20a and the projection 21a correspond to a fitting portion of the present embodiment.

When the first latch <NUM> and the second latch <NUM> rotate in a direction in which the curved protrusions <NUM>, <NUM> are separated from each other, the opening of the notch <NUM> is opened. When the first latch <NUM> and the second latch <NUM> rotate in a direction in which the curved protrusions <NUM>, <NUM> approach each other, the curved protrusions <NUM>, <NUM> overlap each other in the thickness direction. This closes the opening of the notch <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, a spring <NUM> is attached to the rear surface of the base plate <NUM>. The spring <NUM> is bent so as to surround the upper sides of the first latch <NUM> and the second latch <NUM> and surround the opposite sides of the first latch <NUM> and the second latch <NUM> in the width direction (the right and left sides in <FIG>). The spring <NUM> is, for example, a torsion coil spring. The spring <NUM> includes a wound portion 22a, extensions 22b, 22c that respectively extend from the opposite ends of the wound portion 22a, and an extension 22d that downwardly extends from the tip of the extension 22b. The wound portion 22a is wound on a guide piece 6b that protrudes from the base plate <NUM>. The extension 22b extends in the width direction on the upper sides of the first latch <NUM> and the second latch <NUM>. The extension 22b passes through the section of the notch <NUM> between the curved protrusions <NUM>, <NUM> and the hook <NUM>. The extension 22c is in contact with the flat portion 6a of the base plate <NUM>. The extension 22d is in contact with a switch <NUM> that is attached to the base plate <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, each of the first latch <NUM> and the second latch <NUM> includes a lower part (protrusion) that protrudes frontward from the base plate <NUM> on the lower side of the base plate <NUM>. The lower part (protrusion) of the first latch <NUM> includes a first cable attachment portion 25A. The coupling portion <NUM> of the operation cable <NUM>, which is used for right-hand drive, engages with the first cable attachment portion 25A. The lower part (protrusion) of the second latch <NUM> includes a second cable attachment portion 25B. The second cable attachment portion 25B is configured to engage with a coupling portion used for left-hand drive. The first cable attachment portion 25A is a right-hand-drive operation cable attachment portion. The second cable attachment portion 25B is a left-hand-drive operation cable attachment portion.

The first and second coupling portions 25A, 25B are provided such that they are arranged in the width direction (such that they are located on a straight line in the width direction). The first and second coupling portions 25A, 25B respectively include groove-shaped slits 36A, 36B. The wires of the operation cables extending in the width direction are respectively insertable into the slits 36A, 36B from the diagonally front upper side.

When the coupling portion <NUM> of the right-hand-drive operation cable <NUM> is attached to the first cable attachment portion 25A as shown in <FIG>, the wire <NUM> is loosely inserted into the slit 36B (refer to <FIG>). Although not illustrated in the drawings, when the coupling portion of the left-hand-drive operation cable is attached to the second cable attachment portion 25B, the wire <NUM> is loosely inserted into the slit 36A (refer to <FIG>).

The lower end of the spring <NUM> is coupled to the lower part (protrusion) of the first latch <NUM>. The spring <NUM> biases the first latch <NUM> in a rotation direction in which the curved protrusion <NUM> approaches the curved protrusion <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the upper end of the spring <NUM> is coupled to a portion of the catch <NUM> located above the base plate <NUM>. This allows the catch <NUM> and the first latch <NUM> to be biased by the same spring <NUM>.

<FIG> shows the locking mechanism <NUM> and a cable supporting base <NUM> from above. <FIG> shows the operation cable <NUM> attached to the locking mechanism <NUM> and the surrounding structure of the operation cable <NUM> in the hood locking device <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the cable supporting base <NUM> is arranged at the portion of the radiator support <NUM> on the front side of the locking mechanism <NUM>. The cable supporting base <NUM> includes a plate-shaped first covering attachment portion 30A in the vicinity of the lower part of the second latch <NUM>. The first covering attachment portion 30A is arranged at a position corresponding to the first cable attachment portion 25A in the width direction.

As shown in <FIG>, the first cable attachment portion 25A includes an abutment surface 34A on the opposite side of the first covering attachment portion 30A. The slit 36A opens in the abutment surface 34A. The coupling portion <NUM> of the operation cable <NUM> engages with the first cable attachment portion 25A so as to abut against the abutment surface 34A. The portion of the wire <NUM> of the operation cable <NUM> connecting to the coupling portion <NUM> is loosely inserted into the slit 36A. The slit 36A is inclined so as to become upper toward the front.

As shown in <FIG>, the tip of the cable covering <NUM> is engaged with the first covering attachment portion 30A of the cable supporting base <NUM>. The wire <NUM> protrudes from the tip of the cable covering <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the plate-shaped first covering attachment portion 30A includes a recess 37A that opens upward. The tip of the cable covering <NUM> is inserted into the recess 37A.

As shown in <FIG>, the cable covering <NUM> includes an annular groove 17a that extends in the circumferential direction. The groove 17a is close to the tip of the cable covering <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the groove 17a of the cable covering <NUM> is fitted to the recess 37A (more specifically, the bottom and the inner side of the recess 37A). In this manner, the cable covering <NUM> of the operation cable <NUM> engages with the first covering attachment portion 30A. This causes the cable covering <NUM> to be positioned such that the cable covering <NUM> does not move in the extending direction of the operation cable <NUM>.

Since the vehicle <NUM> of the present embodiment is a right-hand-drive vehicle, the right-hand-drive operation cable <NUM> is attached to the hood locking device <NUM>. If the vehicle <NUM> is a left-hand-drive vehicle, the left-hand drive operation cable simply needs to be attached to the hood locking device <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the cable supporting base <NUM> includes a plate-shaped second covering attachment portion 30B in the vicinity of the lower part of the first latch <NUM>. The second covering attachment portion 30B is arranged at a position corresponding to the second cable attachment portion 25B in the width direction.

As shown in <FIG>, the second cable attachment portion 25B includes an abutment surface 34B on the opposite side of the second covering attachment portion 30B. The slit 36B opens in the abutment surface 34B. The coupling portion of the left-hand-drive operation cable engages with the second cable attachment portion 25B so as to abut against the abutment surface 34B.

The portion of the wire of the operation cable connecting to the coupling portion is loosely inserted into the slit 36B. The slit 36B is inclined so as to become upper toward the front.

As shown in <FIG>, the second covering attachment portion 30B of the cable supporting base <NUM> is configured to be engaged with a left-hand-drive cable covering. More specifically, the second covering attachment portion 30B includes a recess 37B that opens upward, and the tip of the cable covering is inserted into the recess 37B. The tip of the cable covering is inserted into the recess 37B in the same manner as the right-hand-drive cable covering.

When the groove of the cable covering is fitted to the recess 37B, the cable covering engages with the second covering attachment portion 30B. This allows the cable covering to be positioned such that the cable covering does not move in the extending direction of the operation cable.

The right-hand-drive operation cable <NUM> extends to the driver's seat of the vehicle <NUM> and connects to an operation lever on the driver's seat.

The operation of the hood locking device <NUM> in the present embodiment will now be described.

When the operation lever is not operated, that is, when the wire <NUM> is not pulled, the locking mechanism <NUM> of the hood locking device <NUM> is in the state shown in <FIG>. In this state, the engine hood <NUM> is downwardly moved from the open position (shown by the long dashed double-short dashed line in <FIG>) toward the closed position. This causes the striker <NUM> of the engine hood <NUM> to push the curved protrusions <NUM>, <NUM> and push open the first and second latches <NUM>, <NUM> against the biasing force of the spring <NUM>. Subsequently, the striker <NUM> moves into a region (locking region) that is located in the notch <NUM> of the base plate <NUM> and below the curved protrusions <NUM>, <NUM>. This elastically deforms the wound portion 22a of the spring <NUM> so that the spring <NUM> biases the striker <NUM> upwards. The elastic deformation of the wound portion 22a separates the extension 22d of the spring <NUM> from the switch <NUM>.

As the striker <NUM> moves into the notch <NUM>, the second latch <NUM> is returned to the original position (position shown in <FIG>) by the biasing force of the spring <NUM> transmitted through the first latch <NUM> and the fitting portion. This causes the curved protrusions <NUM>, <NUM> to overlap each other in the thickness direction and causes the first and second latches <NUM>, <NUM> to engage with the striker <NUM>. That is, the striker <NUM> is restricted from being upwardly removed from the locking region, which is in the notch <NUM> and below the curved protrusions <NUM>, <NUM>. As a result, the engine hood <NUM> (striker <NUM>) is fixed at the closed position.

<FIG> shows the engine hood <NUM> fixed by the hood locking device <NUM> at the closed position. To unfix the engine hood <NUM>, the operation lever of the driver's seat is operated to pull the wire <NUM> of the operation cable <NUM>. This causes the first latch <NUM> connected to the coupling portion <NUM> of the wire <NUM> to be rotated about the pin <NUM> against the biasing force of the spring <NUM> (refer to <FIG>). This rotation is transmitted to the second latch <NUM> through the fitting portion so that the second latch <NUM> also rotates about the pin <NUM> in the direction opposite to the first latch <NUM> (refer to <FIG>). The rotation of the first and second latches <NUM>, <NUM> in the opposite directions unfixes the engine hood <NUM> at the closed position.

In more detail, the first and second latches <NUM>, <NUM> rotate against the biasing force of the spring <NUM> (<FIG>) such that the curved protrusions <NUM>, <NUM> overlapping in the thickness direction are separated from each other. The rotation direction in which the first and second latches <NUM>, <NUM> unlatch the striker <NUM> is referred to as an unlatching direction. When the engine hood <NUM> is unfixed, the striker <NUM> in the locking region, which is in the notch <NUM> and below the curved protrusions <NUM>, <NUM>, is upwardly moved from the locking region by the biasing force of the spring <NUM> (refer to <FIG>).

The upward movement of the striker <NUM> returns the spring <NUM> to the original position (shown by the solid line in <FIG>). This causes the extension 22d of the spring <NUM> to be in contact with the switch <NUM>. The switch <NUM> detects whether the engine hood <NUM> (striker <NUM>) is fixed or unfixed at the closed position depending on whether the spring <NUM> is in contact with the switch <NUM>.

After moving upwards from the locking region, the striker <NUM> is restricted from further moving by engaging with the hook <NUM> of the catch <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. That is, after the engine hood <NUM> is unfixed, the striker <NUM> remains in the notch <NUM>.

Then, when the lever <NUM> of the catch <NUM> is operated to rotate the catch <NUM> about the pin <NUM>, the hook <NUM> opens the opening of the notch <NUM>. Lifting the engine hood <NUM> in this state removes the striker <NUM> upwards from the notch <NUM>. This causes the engine hood <NUM> to open.

The present embodiment described above in detail has the following advantages.

A hood locking device according to a second embodiment will now be described with reference to <FIG>. The following description focuses on the difference from the first embodiment. Like or the same reference numerals are given to the corresponding components of the first embodiment. Such components will not be described. In <FIG>, the switch <NUM> is omitted for illustrative purposes, but it should be understood that the switch <NUM> is provided in the same manner as the first embodiment.

The present embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the structure of fixing the cable coverings of the operation cables and the manner of biasing the first and second latches <NUM>, <NUM> in the latching directions.

As shown in <FIG>, the first and second coupling portions 25A, 25B protrude rearward from the base plate <NUM> at the lower parts of the first and second latches <NUM>, <NUM>. The slits 36A, 36B open frontward and extend horizontally. In the present embodiment, the first and second coupling attachment portions 5A, 25B are arranged in the width direction in the same manner.

The fixing structure of the cable covering does not include the first and second covering attachment portions 30A and 30B. Instead, as shown in <FIG>, in the base plate <NUM>, a first covering attachment portion 40A and a second covering attachment portion 40B are provided on the right side of the first latch <NUM> and the left side of the second latch <NUM> (on the left and right sides in <FIG>), respectively.

The first and second covering attachment portion 40A, 40B protrude rearward from the base plate <NUM>. The first covering attachment portion 40A opposes the second cable attachment portion 25B. The second covering attachment portion 40B opposes the first cable attachment portion 25A. The first cable attachment portion 25A and the second cable attachment portion 25B oppose each other. That is, in <FIG>, the second covering attachment portion 40B, the first cable attachment portion 25A, the second cable attachment portion 25B, and the first covering attachment portion 40A are arranged in this order in the width direction from left to right. The first and second covering attachment portions 40A, 40B respectively include upwardly-opening recesses 41A, 41B.

As shown in <FIG>, in the case of a right-hand-drive vehicle, the groove 17a of the right-hand-drive cable covering <NUM> is fitted to the recess 41A of the first covering attachment portion 40A and the coupling portion <NUM> is engaged with the first cable attachment portion 25A. Further, when the right-hand-drive coupling portion <NUM> is attached, the wire <NUM> is loosely inserted into the slit 36B of the second cable attachment portion 25B.

As shown in <FIG>, in the case of a left-hand-drive vehicle, the groove 17a of a left-hand-drive cable covering 17A is fitted to the recess 41B of the second covering attachment portion 40B and a coupling portion 19A is engaged with the second cable attachment portion 25B. Further, when the left-hand-drive coupling portion 19A is attached, a wire 18A is loosely inserted into the slit 36A of the first cable attachment portion 25A.

As shown in <FIG>, the first and second latches <NUM>, <NUM> include spring latching pieces 20b, 21b, respectively. The spring latching piece 20b protrudes rearward from the side end of the first latch <NUM> opposite to the second latch <NUM>. The spring latching piece 21b protrudes rearward from the side end of the second latch <NUM> opposite to the first latch <NUM>. Opposite ends of a coil spring <NUM>, which is a biasing member, are latched to the spring latching pieces 20b, 21b, respectively. The coil spring <NUM> biases the first and second latches <NUM>, <NUM> in a latching direction in which the striker <NUM> that has moved into the notch <NUM> is latched. Although not illustrated in the drawings, the lower end of the spring <NUM> is latched to the base plate <NUM> and the upper end of the spring <NUM> is latched to a part of the catch <NUM> located above the base plate <NUM>.

The sixth embodiment has the following advantage in addition to advantages (<NUM>) to (<NUM>) and (<NUM>) of the first embodiment.

(<NUM>) The slits 36A, 36B open frontward and extend horizontally. This limits the upward removal of the coupling portions <NUM>, 19A.

A hood locking device according to a third embodiment will now be described with reference to <FIG>. The following description focuses on the difference from the second embodiment. Like or the same reference numerals are given to the corresponding components of the second embodiment. Such components will not be described. In <FIG>, the switch <NUM> and the coil spring <NUM> are omitted for illustrative purposes, but it should be understood that the switch <NUM> and the coil spring <NUM> are provided in the same manner as the second embodiment.

The first cable attachment portion 25A and the first covering attachment portion 40A are respectively offset in the front-rear direction from the second cable attachment portion 25B and the second covering attachment portion 40B.

The offset is preferably made by the following structure (a) or (b).

In the present embodiment, as shown in <FIG>, in the base plate <NUM>, the separation distance to the wire <NUM> from the flat surface of the part (flat portion 6a) of the base plate <NUM> including the notch <NUM> is longer than the separation distance to the wire 18A from that flat surface.

The second embodiment has the following advantage in addition to advantages (<NUM>) to (<NUM>) and (<NUM>) of the first embodiment.

(<NUM>) The position for coupling the coupling portion <NUM> to the cable covering <NUM> and the position for coupling the coupling portion 19A to the cable covering 17A differ from each other in the width direction (the longitudinal direction for coupling the operation cables). This prevents erroneous coupling of the right-hand-drive operation cable <NUM> or the left-hand-drive operation cable 16A.

Each of the above-described embodiments may be modified as follows.

In the first embodiment, the cable supporting base <NUM> includes the first covering attachment portion 30A. Instead, the first covering attachment portion 30A may be attached or fixed to the base plate <NUM>. In this case, the cable covering <NUM> of the operation cable <NUM> is coupled to the radiator support <NUM> by the base plate <NUM>, which is attached to the radiator support <NUM>, and by the first covering attachment portion 30A, which is fixed to the base plate <NUM>.

Likewise, the cable supporting base <NUM> includes the second covering attachment portion 30B. Instead, the second covering attachment portion 30B may be attached or fixed to the base plate <NUM>. In this case, the cable covering of the operation cable is coupled to the radiator support <NUM> by the base plate <NUM>, which is attached to the radiator support <NUM>, and by the second covering attachment portion 30B, which is fixed to the base plate <NUM>.

In the first embodiment, the first and second latches <NUM> respectively include the recess 20a and the projection 21a. Instead, each of the first and second latches <NUM>, <NUM> may include a projection and a recess.

In the first embodiment, the fitting portion in which the projection is fitted to the recess is not limited to the recess 20a and the projection 21a. Instead, for example, each of the first and second latches <NUM>, <NUM> may integrally include a gear (including a gear segment) that rotates about the corresponding one of the pins <NUM>, <NUM> so that these gears function as the fitting portion. The gears rotate the first and second latches <NUM>, <NUM> preferably at an equal speed. However, the gears are not limited to this configuration.

The biasing member of the first embodiment is not limited to the spring <NUM>. Instead, the biasing member of the first embodiment may be, for example, a spiral spring wound around the pin <NUM> or the pin <NUM>.

In the first embodiment, one end of the spring <NUM>, which is a biasing member, may be coupled to the base plate <NUM> instead of the catch <NUM>. In this case, the catch <NUM> simply needs to include an additional spring that biases the striker <NUM> in the latching direction. The spring may be, for example, a spiral spring or a coil spring.

In the third embodiment, the first cable attachment portion 25A and the first covering attachment portion 40A are respectively offset in the front-rear direction from the second cable attachment portion 25B and the second covering attachment portion 40B. Instead, the first cable attachment portion 25A and the first covering attachment portion 40A may be respectively offset in the up-down direction from the second cable attachment portion 25B and the second covering attachment portion 40B. Alternatively, the first cable attachment portion 25A and the first covering attachment portion 40A are respectively offset in the front-rear direction and the up-down direction from the second cable attachment portion 25B and the second covering attachment portion 40B.

Claim 1:
A hood locking device (<NUM>), comprising a locking mechanism (<NUM>), wherein
the locking mechanism (<NUM>) includes two latches (<NUM>, <NUM>),
the two latches (<NUM>, <NUM>) are configured to fix an engine hood (<NUM>) at a closed position by latching a striker (<NUM>) included with the engine hood (<NUM>, <NUM>) of a vehicle (<NUM>) and unfix the engine hood (<NUM>) by releasing the striker (<NUM>),
one of the two latches (<NUM>, <NUM>) includes one of a projection (21a) and a recess (20a) and the other one of the two latches (<NUM>, <NUM>) includes the other one of the projection (21a) and the recess (20a), wherein the projection (21a) and the recess (20a) form a fitting portion and the projection (21a) is fitted to the recess (20a),
the two latches (<NUM>, <NUM>) are pivotally supported by a base plate (<NUM>) fixed to the vehicle (<NUM>) and configured such that latching directions of the two latches (<NUM>, <NUM>) for the striker (<NUM>) are opposite to each other,
characterized in that
one of the two latches (<NUM>, <NUM>) includes a right-hand-drive operation cable attachment portion (25A) and the other one of the two latches (<NUM>, <NUM>) includes a left-hand-drive operation cable attachment portion (25B).