# US 2019/0169890 A1 · Front trunk latch exterior release system

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- Number: US 2019/0169890 A1
- Document ID: US20190169890A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/833,438
- Filed: 2017-12-06
- Published: 2019-06-06
- Earliest claimed: 2017-12-06
- Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
- Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
- Inventors: Venkatesh Krishnan; Thomas Michael Herline
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190169890A1

## CPC

- E05B 83/26: Emergency opening means for persons trapped in the luggage compartment
- E05B 79/20: using flexible connections, e.g. Bowden cables
- E05B 81/90: Manual override in case of power failure
- E05B 83/24: for car bonnets
- E05B 83/34: for fuel inlet covers essentially flush with the vehicle surface
- E05B: LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS

## Abstract

A front hood latch release system includes a primary latch and a secondary latch securing the front hood. A first handle is disposed within a vehicle cabin and linked to actuate the primary latch. An emergency handle is disposed within a compartment covered by the front hood and linked to actuate the primary latch. A secondary handle is accessible from outside the vehicle cabin and linked to actuate the secondary latch.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A front hood latch release system comprising:
a primary latch and a secondary latch securing the front hood;
a first handle disposed within a vehicle cabin and linked to actuate the primary latch;
an emergency handle disposed within a compartment covered by the front hood and linked to actuate the primary latch;
a secondary handle accessible from outside the vehicle cabin and linked to actuate the secondary latch.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The front hood latch release system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first handle and the emergency handle are coupled to a common link for actuating the primary latch.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The front hood latch release system as recited in claim 2, wherein the common link comprises a split Bowden cable including a first end attached to the primary latch, second end attached to the first handle and a third end attached to the emergency handle.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The front hood latch release system as recited in claim 1, wherein the secondary latch is actuated only by the secondary handle.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The front hood latch release system as recited in claim 1, wherein the secondary handle comprises a t-shaped handle coupled to the secondary latch through a flexible link.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The front hood latch release system as recited in claim 1, wherein the secondary handle is disposed within a closable compartment accessible from outside the vehicle cabin.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The front hood latch release system as recited in claim 6, wherein the closable compartment covers a charging port.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The front hood latch release system as recited in claim 1, wherein a Bowden cable is linked between the emergency handle and the secondary latch.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The front hood latch release system as recited in claim 1, wherein the primary latch releases the front hood only to a partial open position and the secondary latch releases the front hood to allow complete opening of the front hood such that the front hood may be moved to a fully open position only upon release of both the primary latch and the secondary latch.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The front hood latch release system as recited in claim 1, including a powered actuator coupled to the primary latch, wherein the first handle and the emergency handle comprise switches for actuating the actuator to release the primary latch.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The front hood latch release system as recited in claim 10, including a controller coupled to the powered actuator and the switches of both the first handle and the emergency handle for controlling release of the primary latch with the powered actuator.

### Claim 12

A method of securing a front hood of a motor vehicle comprising:
coupling a primary latch to a first handle disposed within a vehicle cabin and an emergency handle disposed within a compartment covered by a front hood;
coupling a secondary latch to a secondary handle disposed in a closed compartment accessible from outside the vehicle cabin; and
releasing the primary latch responsive to actuation of either the first handle and the emergency handle; and
releasing the secondary latch responsive to actuation of the secondary handle from outside the vehicle cabin.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method as recited in claim 12, wherein actuation of both the primary latch and the secondary latch are required to fully open the front hood.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the first handle and the emergency handle include switches that prompt a controller to drive an actuator coupled to the primary latch to release the primary latch.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the closed compartment including the secondary handle is not accessible from within the compartment covered by the front hood.