Patent ID: 7588211

Claim:
A baggage compartment, comprising a housing having a baggage accommodation space; a hinged cover coupled to the housing and the hinged cover having an exterior surface facing away from the baggage accommodation space of the housing; a latching mechanism comprising a rod, a hook and a pin, the rod being mounted on the exterior surface of the hinged cover, and the pin being mounted on the housing such that the hook extends from the rod and latches the pin when the hinged cover is latched; an operating element operatively coupled to the rod; and a covering element mounted to the exterior surface of the hinged cover such that the covering element covers the rod and leaves at least a portion of the operating element operatively exposed such that the operating element may be operated to unlatch the latching mechanism when the covering element is mounted to the exterior surface of the hinged cover, wherein by moving the hinged cover, the baggage accommodation space may be made accessible or inaccessible, selectively.