# US 8,783,738 B2 · Vehicle latch device

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 8,783,738 B2
- Document ID: US8783738B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/089,144
- Filed: 2011-04-18
- Published: 2011-11-17
- Granted: 2014-07-22
- Earliest claimed: 2010-05-11
- Assignees: Mitsui Kinzoku Act Corporation
- Applicants: Hirofumi Watanabe; Fuyuki Nakatsuka
- Inventors: Hirofumi Watanabe; Fuyuki Nakatsuka
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8783738B2

## CPC

- E05B 81/14: operating on bolt detents, e.g. for unlatching the bolt
- E05B 81/00: Power-actuated vehicle locks
- E05B 81/06: using rotary motors
- E05B 85/02: Lock casings
- E05B 85/26: Cooperation between bolts and detents
- E05B 81/25: {Actuators mounted separately from the lock and controlling the lock functions through mechanical connections}
- E05B 81/34: of geared transmissions
- E05B 81/36: Geared sectors, e.g. fan-shaped gears
- E05B 81/44: in the form of grooves
- E05B 81/50: Powered actuators with automatic return to the neutral position by non-powered means, e.g. by springs
- Y10S 292/42: Trunk latches
- Y10T 292/1082: Motor
- Y10T 292/308: Swinging catch
- Y10T 292/699: Motor controlled
- E05B: LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
- Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A vehicle latch device including: a releasing unit that rotates about a support shaft provided on a holding member of an electric actuator and includes a cam pin and an output unit that disengages a latch from a ratchet by rotation of the releasing unit about the support shaft, where a driving force of the electric actuator being input to the cam pin; and a gear member that rotates about the support shaft, connects the electric actuator to the releasing unit, and inputs a driving force of the electric actuator into the input unit. The cam pin is arranged to be superimposed on a plane of rotation of the gear member, and the vehicle latch device further includes a cover member that is attached to the holding member and covers at least the support shaft, the input unit, the electric actuator, and the gear member.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A vehicle latch device comprising:
a releasing unit configured to rotate about a first support shaft provided on a holding member of an electric actuator, and which includes an input unit configured to permit a driving force of the electric actuator to be input, and an output unit configured to disengage a latch from a ratchet by rotation of the releasing unit about the first support shaft;
a gear member configured to
rotate about a second support shaft provided on the holding member,
connect the electric actuator to the releasing unit, and
input the driving force of the electric actuator into the input unit; and
a cover member that is attached to the holding member and covers at least the first support shaft, the second support shaft, the input unit, the electric actuator, and the gear member,
wherein the second support shaft is provided at a first position closer to a center of a holding surface of the holding member on which the electric actuator is held than the first support shaft, and
wherein the input unit is arranged so as to be superimposed on a plane of rotation of the gear member at a second position closer to the center of the holding surface than the first support shaft.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The vehicle latch device according to claim 1,
wherein the gear member is a lock lever including:
a gear unit engaged with a worm gear provided on the electric actuator; and
a cam groove with which the input unit is slidably engaged, and
wherein the releasing unit includes:
a cable lever supported by the first support shaft, the cable lever including a cable engaging unit, one end of an operation cable connecting the vehicle latch device to an operation handle being engaged with the cable engaging unit,
an operation output unit configured to output an operation force of the operation handle transmitted via the operation cable to the input unit; and
an open lever that includes an input arm and an output arm,
wherein the open lever is configured to rotate about the first support shaft, a slider provided with the input unit is provided on the input arm so as to be movable along a longitudinal direction of the input arm, and the output unit is provided on an end of the output arm.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The vehicle latch device according to claim 1, wherein the gear member is a cam gear including:
a gear unit engaged with a worm gear provided on the electric actuator; and
a cam wall with which the input unit is slidably engaged,
wherein the releasing unit includes an open lever including an input arm provided with the input unit and an output arm configured such that the output unit is provided on an end of the output arm, and
wherein the open lever is configured to transmit an input from the input unit to the output unit.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The vehicle latch device according to claim 3, wherein the first support shaft and the second support shaft, the open lever is configured to rotate about the first support shaft, and the cam gear is configured to rotate about the second support shaft.

### Claim 5

A vehicle latch device comprising:
a releasing unit configured to rotate about a first support shaft provided on a holding member of an electric actuator, and which includes an input unit configured to permit a driving force of the electric actuator to be input, and an output unit configured to disengage a latch from a ratchet by rotation of the releasing unit about the first support shaft;
a gear member configured to
rotate about a second support shaft,
connect the electric actuator to the releasing unit, and
input the driving force of the electric actuator into the input unit; and
a cover member that is attached to the holding member and covers at least the first support shaft, the second support shaft, the input unit, the electric actuator, and the gear member,
wherein the input unit is arranged so as to be superimposed on a plane of rotation of the gear member,
wherein the gear member is a lock lever including:
a gear unit engaged with a worm gear provided on the electric actuator; and
a cam groove with which the input unit is slidably engaged, and
wherein the releasing unit includes:
a cable lever supported by the first support shaft, the cable lever including a cable engaging unit, one end of an operation cable connecting the vehicle latch device to an operation handle being engaged with the cable engaging unit,
an operation output unit configured to output an operation force of the operation handle transmitted via the operation cable to the input unit; and
an open lever that includes an input arm and an output arm,
wherein the open lever is configured to rotate about the first support shaft, a slider provided with the input unit is provided on the input arm so as to be movable along a longitudinal direction of the input arm, and the output unit is provided on an end of the output arm.