Patent ID: 6916052

Claim:
A locking/unlocking mechanism for a cover connected to a body for opening and closing the body, comprising: a cover-side engaging part connected to the cover; a body-side engaging part for locking the cover to the body when engaging the cover-side engaging part; a cover lifting part for pushing the cover-side engaging part in a direction for opening the cover; a manual operating member disposed to the body for controlling the disengagement of the cover-side engaging part from the body-side engaging part for releasing the cover from the locked state; and a locking lever disposed to the body in an arrangement with the body-side engaging part and cover lifting part for sliding and swinging the locking lever in a given sequence in response to movement of the manual operating member such that the locking lever slides in response to movement of the manual operating member to a first operating position from a locked position in which the body-side engaging part engages the cover-side engaging part wherein when the manual operating member is moved to the first operating position the locking lever is retracted a specific distance to a control position and the cover is unlocked; and swings in response to movement of the manual operating member to a second operating position into an uplifted position to cause the cover lifting part to lift the cover-side engaging part up a specific distance for opening the cover.