Patent ID: 7455333

Claim:
A side lock apparatus for a lid for covering and uncovering an opening of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising: a rotor rotatably supported on a rear side of the lid; a pair of rods which are brought into engagement with engagement portions having positions which are point symmetrical relative to an axial center of the rotor at proximal end portions thereof and are supported in such a manner that distal end portions thereof appear from and disappear into both ends of the lid so as to be brought into engagement with and disengagement from a circumferential edge of the opening; a knob mounted on a front side of the lid for the rotor to rotate, the knob comprising a pusher element for pushing on a bearing portion of the rotor; a return spring mounted on the rotor such that the pair of rods are rotationally biased in respective directions in which the rods are caused to protrude from both ends of the lid; and a retainer, the retainer comprising: a mounting portion which is fixed to the lid; a knob supporting portion which rotatably supports the knob; and a rotor supporting portion which rotatably supports the rotor, wherein the knob and the rotor are mounted on the retainer, wherein the rotor rotates against a biasing force of the return spring by pulling on the knob, so that the rods are withdrawn into the lid, wherein the rotor comprises a pair of extending portions which are caused to extend radially outwards from facing portions on an outer circumference thereof, wherein an arc-shaped elongated projection which is centered at a rotational center of the rotor is provided on either of contact surfaces of the extending portions and the retainer, and wherein the engagement portions with the rods are provided on an opposite side of the extending portions to a side thereof where the extending portions are brought into contact with the retainer.