Patent ID: 12233761

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numerals will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. In the drawings, the depicted structural elements are not to scale and certain components are enlarged relative to the other components for purposes of emphasis and understanding.

As required, detailed embodiments of the present disclosure are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the disclosure that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to a detailed design; some schematics may be exaggerated or minimized to show function overview. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present disclosure.

For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,” “left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the concepts as oriented inFIG.1. However, it is to be understood that the concepts may assume various alternative orientations, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise.

The present illustrated embodiments reside primarily in combinations of method steps and apparatus components related to a cargo compartment lock for a vehicle. Accordingly, the apparatus components and method steps have been represented, where appropriate, by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present disclosure so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein. Further, like numerals in the description and drawings represent like elements.

As used herein, the term “and/or,” when used in a list of two or more items, means that any one of the listed items can be employed by itself, or any combination of two or more of the listed items, can be employed. For example, if a composition is described as containing components A, B, and/or C, the composition can contain A alone; B alone; C alone; A and B in combination; A and C in combination; B and C in combination; or A, B, and C in combination.

In this document, relational terms, such as first and second, top and bottom, and the like, are used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action, without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element preceded by “comprises . . . a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises the element.

As used herein, the term “about” means that amounts, sizes, formulations, parameters, and other quantities and characteristics are not and need not be exact, but may be approximate and/or larger or smaller, as desired, reflecting tolerances, conversion factors, rounding off, measurement error and the like, and other factors known to those of skill in the art. When the term “about” is used in describing a value or an end-point of a range, the disclosure should be understood to include the specific value or end-point referred to. Whether or not a numerical value or end-point of a range in the specification recites “about,” the numerical value or end-point of a range is intended to include two embodiments: one modified by “about,” and one not modified by “about.” It will be further understood that the end-points of each of the ranges are significant both in relation to the other end-point, and independently of the other end-point.

The terms “substantial,” “substantially,” and variations thereof as used herein are intended to note that a described feature is equal or approximately equal to a value or description. For example, a “substantially planar” surface is intended to denote a surface that is planar or approximately planar. Moreover, “substantially” is intended to denote that two values are equal or approximately equal. In some embodiments, “substantially” may denote values within about 10% of each other, such as within about 5% of each other, or within about 2% of each other.

As used herein the terms “the,” “a,” or “an,” mean “at least one,” and should not be limited to “only one” unless explicitly indicated to the contrary. Thus, for example, reference to “a component” includes embodiments having two or more such components unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

With reference toFIG.1, reference numeral10generally designates a locking system for a vehicle12or a locking apparatus10for the vehicle12comprising a partition14for the vehicle12. The vehicle12includes a cabin16and a storage space18. The partition14may be a divider. The divider has a first face20that defines the cabin16, and the divider has a second face22that defines the storage space18that may be a cargo area. An occupant24may interact with the first face20of the divider, such that the divider may be a seatback. The seatback may be a row of seatbacks. The partition14gates off the cargo area18from the cabin16such that the partition14is a gate. While the partition14or cargo access panel gates off the cargo area18from the cabin16in an upright position, the cargo locking apparatus10also provides access to the cabin16from the cargo area18when the gate is in an open position.

With further reference toFIG.1, the vehicle12may include a liftgate88. The cargo space18may be further defined by the liftgate88. Additionally, or alternatively, the cargo space18may be further defined by a cover86or tonneau cover86. The tonneau cover86may also be a tray86. The occupant24may activate the liftgate88to access the cargo space18, and from the cargo space18, the occupant may interact with the cargo locking apparatus10.

With reference toFIGS.3A-4the cargo locking apparatus or cargo locking apparatus10comprises an actuator26that when activated, allows the partition14to move between the upright position and the open position. The actuator26may be a release actuator. The cargo locking apparatus10comprises a pivot assembly28. The pivot assembly28may be located on a lateral side30of the partition14. The pivot assembly28comprises a pivot bracket32and a pivot latch34. The pivot latch34is coupled with the pivot bracket32. The pivot latch or latch34outwardly extends from the pivot bracket32. The pivot latch34may radially extend from the pivot bracket32. The pivot assembly28may be unitarily formed or the pivot bracket32and the pivot latch34may be coupled (e.g., welding, bolt connection, etc.). The actuator26or release actuator is coupled with the pivot latch34. The pivot latch34is movable between a first position36and a second position38. The actuator26is configured to move the pivot latch34between the first position36and the second position38when the actuator26is activated. The actuator26may be located on a top side40of the seatback (e.g., a button, a switch, etc.). The gate or seatback is pivotable between the upright position and the open position when the pivot latch34is in the second position38.

Referring toFIGS.5and6A, the cargo locking system10or cargo locking apparatus comprises a locking assembly42. The locking assembly42comprises a mounting bracket44that is coupled with the partition14proximate to the pivot assembly28. The mounting bracket44may be sandwiched between the pivot assembly28and the partition14. The mounting bracket44may be coupled with the divider on the lateral side30. The mounting bracket44may extend along the depth of the seatback or the divider. The locking assembly42also comprises a housing46or a lock cover46, a lever48, a sleeve50, a shaft52, and a striker54or a protruding arm54.

With further reference toFIGS.5-6B, the sleeve50is coupled with the mounting bracket44. The sleeve50may include a flange56that is coupled with the mounting bracket44. The sleeve50and the mounting bracket44may be unitarily formed. The sleeve50extends along the depth of the seatback or the divider. The sleeve50may define a slot58that reveals a partial circumference of the shaft52. The shaft52extends through the sleeve50such that the sleeve50at least partially circumscribes the shaft52. The shaft may extend into the depth of the seatback. The shaft52comprises a distal end60and a proximal end62and extends therebetween. The distal end60of the shaft52is coupled with the striker54or the protruding arm54. The proximal end62of the shaft52is coupled with the lever48. The shaft52comprises a biasing member64that can be seen inFIG.6Bwhich is a cross section view. The biasing member64may be substantially Z-shaped. The biasing member64applies a biasing force to the sleeve50. The sleeve50defines a locked notch66and an unlocked notch68each configured to receive the biasing member64. The protruding arm54or the striker54, the shaft52, and the lever48may be unitarily formed.

The lock cover46or the housing46is coupled with the second face22of the divider or seatback. The seatback defines a cavity70that may house the pivot assembly28and the locking assembly42. The lock cover46is coupled with the seatback within the cavity70such that the lock cover is substantially flush with the second face22. The lock cover46defines an opening72and a recess74. The lever48extends through the opening72of the housing or the lock cover46into the recess74.

The lever48may be actuated from within the cargo space18to rotate the shaft52and, therefore, pivot the striker54. The lever48may rotate the shaft52by rotating the Z-shaped biasing member64within the shaft52. The striker54or the protruding arm54and the lever48pivots or moves between a locked position76and an unlocked position78. The lever48may be actuated mechanically by a user24, electromechanically via a human-machine interface (HMI), etc. The lever48may have a profile80, as shown inFIGS.4and5, the profile80comprising a plurality of curves82or a plurality of compound curves82. The plurality of curves82may border the mounting bracket44. The profile80of the lever48may interface with the mounting bracket44when the striker54is in the locked position76. The locked notch66of the sleeve50receives the biasing member64when the striker54is in the locked position76. The unlocked notch68of the sleeve50receives the biasing member64when the striker54is in the unlocked position78. The biasing member64applies a biasing force to the sleeve50such that the release latch34or the latch is biased toward one of the locked position76and the unlocked position78. The biasing member64applies a biasing force to the sleeve50such that the lever48is biased to extend toward an indicia84communicating the locked position76and the unlocked position78.

With reference toFIGS.3A and3B, the striker54or the protruding arm54selectively engages the pivot latch34. The striker54engages the pivot latch34when the striker54is in the locked position76. The striker54holds the latch34in the first position36when the striker54is in the locked position76. The striker54prevents the latch34from moving from the first position36toward the second position38. The striker54may inhibit the actuator26from moving as well. Alternatively, or additionally, when the striker54is in the locked position76, the actuator26may still move without actuating the pivot latch34to the second position38(e.g., a flip of a switch, a depression of a button, etc.). In other words, when the striker54is in the locked position76, the striker54prevents the release actuator or the actuator26from actuating the latch or the pivot latch34between the first position36and the second position38. The seatback or divider separates the cabin16from the cargo area18when the striker54is in the locked position.

The cargo locking assembly42includes the indicia84facing the cargo area18. The indicia84may be comprised from the lock cover46. Additionally, or alternatively, the second face22of the divider may comprise the indicia84. The indicia84communicate when the striker54or the protruding arm54is in the locked position76and when the striker54is in the unlocked position78. Additionally, or alternatively, the lever48may extend toward the indicia84to communicate when the striker54is in the locked position76or the unlocked position78. The profile80of the lever48may interface with the mounting bracket44when the striker54is in the locked position76.

Use of the cargo locking system10may provide for a variety of advantages. For example, the cargo locking apparatus or the cargo locking system10includes a locking assembly42. Additionally, the cargo locking apparatus10, is driven by the actuation of the lever48to transition the striker54between the locked position76and the unlocked position78. The locking apparatus10may provide for stored items within the cargo area or storage space18to remain within the vehicle12, specifically in the cargo area18.

According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, a cargo locking system (for a vehicle) comprises a gate and a pivot bracket coupled with the gate. The cargo locking system also comprises a latch radially extending from the pivot bracket. The latch is movable between a first position and a second position. The cargo locking system also comprises an actuator coupled with the latch. The cargo locking system further comprises a striker coupled with the gate. The striker is movable between an unlocked position and a locked position. The striker holds the latch in the first position when the striker is in the locked position.

According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, a cargo locking system (for a vehicle) comprises a divider separating a cargo space from a cabin space within the vehicle. The cargo locking system also comprises a pivot bracket coupled with the divider. The cargo locking system also comprises a pivot latch movable between a first position and a second position, the pivot latch coupled with the pivot bracket. The cargo locking system also comprises a release actuator coupled with the pivot latch, the release actuator configured to actuate the pivot latch between the first position and the second position. The cargo locking system also comprises a protruding arm selectively engaged with the pivot latch. The cargo locking system also comprises a lever movable between a locked position and an unlocked position. The cargo locking system also comprises a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end and extending therebetween. The proximal end is coupled with the lever. The distal end is coupled with the protruding arm. The cargo locking system also comprises a mounting bracket coupled with the divider and a sleeve coupled with the mounting bracket. The sleeve is configured to house the shaft. The cargo locking system further comprises a lock cover coupled with the divider. The lock cover defines recess that houses the lever. The lock cover is accessed from within the cargo space.

According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, a cargo locking system (for a vehicle) comprises a pivot bracket coupled with a lateral side of a cargo access panel. The cargo locking system also comprises a pivot latch movable between a first position and a second position. The pivot latch outwardly extends from the pivot bracket. The cargo locking system also comprises a release actuator coupled with the pivot latch. The release actuator is configured to actuate the pivot latch between the first position and the second position. The cargo locking system also comprises a protruding arm coupled with the lateral side of the cargo access panel. The protruding arm selectively engages the pivot latch. The cargo locking system also comprises a lever that is accessible from with a cargo space of the vehicle. The lever is coupled with the protruding arm. The lever transition the protruding arm between a locked position and an unlocked position.

It is to be understood that variations and modifications can be made on the aforementioned structure without departing from the concepts of the present disclosure, and further it is to be understood that such concepts are intended to be covered by the following claims unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise.