(19)
(11) EP 0 926 306 A1

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(43) Date of publication:
30.06.1999 Bulletin 1999/26

(21) Application number: 98122703.6

(22) Date of filing: 30.11.1998
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)6E05B 65/19, E05B 53/00
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE
Designated Extension States:
AL LT LV MK RO SI

(30) Priority: 23.12.1997 IT TO971131

(71) Applicant: FIAT AUTO S.p.A.
10135 Torino (IT)

(72) Inventors:
  • Rinaldi, Giuseppe
    16011 Arenzano (GE) (IT)
  • Zantedeschi, Renzo
    10142 Torino (TO) (IT)
  • Doria, Mario
    10144 Torino (TO) (IT)

(74) Representative: Di Francesco, Gianni et al
Ing. Barzanò & Zanardo Milano S.p.A. Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, 61
10128 Torino
10128 Torino (IT)

   


(54) Anti-effraction device for the hood of a vehicle


(57) The object of the present invention is a coupler anti-effraction device for the hood of a vehicle, comprising a bolt member in the form of a coupling lever (4) that can be moved from a first position, in which it is hooked on to a pin (6) on the vehicle hood, and a second position, in which said pin (6) can be released from the lever (4). An off-hooking lever (10), rotatable from the position in which it is hooked on to the pin (6) of the engine hood, and a second position in which said lever (10) is released. A protection box (3), that can be mounted on the section of the compartment covered by the hood, for the pivoting of said coupling (4) and off-hooking levers (10). A Bowden cable (13) that activates said off-hooking lever (10) in reaction to the moving of a manoeuvre lever (17) located inside the vehicle. Said box (3) is designed in order that it is open only on the top section, when the hood is open; the Bowden cable (13) ends are connected to the manoeuvre lever (17)(one) and to a fixed point on the box, respectively. The Bowden cable jacket (14) ends are connected to a fixed point on the vehicle and to the non inserted end of the off-hooking lever (10) respectively.




Description


[0001] The object of the present invention is to describe a device designed to impede the unauthorized opening of the hood of a vehicle.

[0002] In many types of vehicles, it is currently possible to move the coupling lever of the pin mounted on the engine hood by using a tool, such as a screwdriver, and manipulating the Bowden cable that transmits the signal from the vehicle compartment to the coupling device of the engine hood. The coupling device is not protected by external manipulations and even the Bowden cable is used in the common way, with the jacket fixed to two hold down points integral with the vehicle or any part of the vehicle itself.

[0003] It is an object of the present invention to provide a system that will make it possible to avoid the previously mentioned disadvantages.

[0004] The object of the invention is achieved by way of an anti-effraction device designed for the hood of a vehicle, presenting the characteristics of the first claim.

[0005] Other characteristics and advantages will appear clear in the following description, reference being made to enclosed figures, provided as non limiting examples, in which :
  • Figure 1 is a front view of the system object of the present invention, before it is mounted on the vehicle, and
  • Figure 2 is a partial view, from above, of the device illustrated in figure 1, mounted on the front section of the motor compartment.
Reference being made to the figures, in which 1 indicates the front of the motor compartment. Box 3 of fork-type coupling lever is mounted on this motor compartment. Said fork-type coupling lever hooks on to pin 6 of a hood (first position), for example an engine hood (not illustrated). Said lever 4 is released and can rotate on pin 7, fixed to box 3, and is maintained in the second position, and rotates in the anticlockwise direction for its entire run, by way of spring 8, connected to one end of box 3 on one end, and to the lever itself on the other end.

[0006] An off-hooking lever 10 is mounted on a second pin 11, rotatable as of position one, in which it is acts with lever 4 to block it when it has hooked on to the hood pin, and position two in which it is released from said coupling lever 4. Lever 10 is maintained in a normally rotated second position by way of spiral-type spring 12.

[0007] A Bowden cable 13, composed of jacket 14 and of the internal cable 15, is located with cable 15, connected to one end 16 by way of a manoeuvre lever 17, mounted in the inside of the vehicle compartment, on flask 19, and on the other end 21 to box 3.

[0008] The cable jacket 14 is fixed on one end 23 to flask 19, and on the other end 25 to the non positioned end of the off-hooking lever 10.

[0009] Box 3 is composed of a front wall 26, two lateral walls 27 and 28, and one end wall 29, in order that once it is fixed on compartment 1 of the motor compartment, only the top section can be accessed from the outside, with the engine hood open, of course. If, on the contrary, the engine hood is closed, it is impossible to access the lever in any way, to free the coupling lever and off-hook pin 6 of the engine hood.

[0010] It is also impossible to rotate the lever by pulling the Bowden cable from the outside with jacket 14, since end 25 of the jacket is connected to the off-hook lever 10, the latter therefore rotates in the clockwise direction, and therefore in the direction in which the coupling lever is eventually blocked.

[0011] If, on the contrary, cable 15 is pulled with lever 17, since the other end of the cable is held down in a fixed point, the cable run is reduced, and, consequently, jacket 14, which has a fixed length. It is also impossible for it to move, with end 23, since it is connected to a fixed, non moving point on the vehicle, so it will exert pressure on lever 10 and will force it to rotate in the anticlockwise direction, in its first off-hook position of the coupling lever 14.


Claims

1. Coupling anti-effraction device designed for the hood of a vehicle, composed of : a coupling lever, movable from position one, in which it hooks on to a pin located on the hood, and position two, in which said pin can be released from the lever. An off-hook lever, rotatable from position one, in which is blocks said coupling lever in the position in which it hooks on to the pin on the engine hood, and position two, in which said coupling lever is released; a protection box, that can be mounted on the one section of the compartment covered by the hood, on which are located said coupling and off-hooking levers; a Bowden cable designed to activated said off-hooking lever in response to the movement of a manoeuvre lever located in the inside of the vehicle, characterised by the fact that the box (3) is designed in such a way to be opened on the upper section when the hood is open, that the ends of the cable (15) of the Bowden cable are connected to the manoeuvre lever (17) and to a fixed point on the box (3) respectively, and that the ends of the of the Bowden cable jacket (14) are connected to a fixed point on the vehicle and to the non inserted end of the off-hooking lever (10) respectively.
 
2. Coupling anti-effraction device as claimed in claim 1, characterised by the fact that the box (3) is composed of a front wall (26), two lateral walls (27 28), and one end wall (29).
 




Drawing







Search report