[0001] The present invention refers to a safety lock for the bonnet of a motor-vehicle.
[0002] Safety locks for bonnets are provided with a mechanism that allows the bonnet to
be hooked in two different positions, a completely closed and locked position and
a partially open position which allows the user to put his/her hand under the bonnet
in order to lift it completely, after releasing the lock.
[0003] In order to disengage the bonnet completely from the lock, this one presents a lever
generally hidden under the bonnet, next to its edge.
[0004] However, it is not very practical to locate the lever in that position because it
happens sometimes that it becomes necessary to look for the lever all along the edge
of the bonnet since its location is not at all indicated outside.
[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide a lock for bonnets, provided
with a release lever for the locking system which is clearly visible to the user while
he/she is releasing the bonnet and which is mounted on the bonnet, that is, on the
mobile part of the lock, so that no transmission is needed to operate the fixed part
of the lock mounted on the crosspiece of the radiator.
[0006] Said object is achieved by means of a lock for the bonnet of a motor-vehicle presenting
the characteristics set forth in claim 1.
[0007] Additional characteristics and advantages will become clear from the following description,
referring to the appended drawings provided as non-restrictive examples and in which:
figure 1 is a perspective view of a lock for the bonnet of a motor-vehicle in the
closed position;
figure 2 is a perspective view of the lock in figure 2 in a partially open position,
the safety hook being positioned, and
figure 3 is a perspective view of the lock in figure 1 with the safety lock in the
open position.
[0008] With reference to the figures, reference number 1 indicates a safety lock for a bonnet
of a motor-vehicle in general. A first main part of the lock is fixed in a known way
by means of a bracket 2, inside the motor compartment on the supporting crosspiece
of the radiator. It consists of said bracket 2 to which a hook 4 is rotatably connected
by means of a pivot 3, the hook consisting of a first main hook 4a and a second safety
hook 4b. Besides, the hook 4 is provided with a push finger 5 and can rotate from
a full engagement and locking position of the bonnet to a full release position when
the bonnet itself can be opened, passing through a so-called intermediate safety position,
in which the bonnet is kept some 25 mm higher than the front crosspiece of the bodywork.
[0009] In the engagement and locking position shown in figure 1, the hook 4 is rabbeted
against a stop 5a made on the bracket 2, being kept in this position by means of an
engagement (not shown), against the action of an elastic element not shown. Said engagement
can be operated from the interior compartment, in a known way, by means of a tie rod
6 so that the hook 4 is unlocked and the wire rod 8, which is integral with the bonnet
(not shown), is released.
[0010] The second mobile part of the lock is mounted on the bonnet. This part consists of
a curved lever 13 the outline of which is basically S-shaped and which is rotatably
mounted on a pivot 10, by means of a bolted bracket 12. Said lever is controlled by
an elastic element 14 so that, when the bonnet is closed, the lever is kept rotated
into a predefined position against a stop consisting of a metal rod iron integral
with the bracket 2.
[0011] One of the ends of the lever 13 is provided with a handle 16 while the other end
is provided with a push peak 17. Shape and dimensions of the lever are such that when
it is in its rest position against the stop 15, it remains disguised in the outline
of the motor-vehicle, among the bars of the grill in the case here shown, and its
push peak 17 is basically on the vertical of the push finger 5. The shape and dimensions
of said lever will obviously be adapted each time to the outline of the motor-vehicle
where the safety lock according to the invention is to be placed.
[0012] The safety lock works as follows.
[0013] When the hook 4 is released by means of the cable 6, it rotates counterclockwise
and releases the first hook 4a from the wire rod 8 thus allowing the edge of the bonnet
to get away from the front crosspiece. The two parts of the lock get then into the
position shown in figure 2, where the wire rod 8 is engaged to the second hook 4b
and the push peak 17 of the lever 13 is resting on the push finger 5, as a consequence
of both the counterclockwise rotation of the hook 4 and the counterclockwise rotation
of the lever 13, which is no longer retained by the stop 15, which is lowered due
to the fact that the bonnet has been lifted. The rotation of the lever 13 makes the
handle 16 come out from the outline of the motor-vehicle so that the user can operate
it.
[0014] An additional counterclockwise rotation of the lever 13 achieved by means of the
handle 16 (figure 3), makes the hook 4 rotates counterclockwise, since the peak 17
rests on the finger 5. Said rotation releases completely the wire rod 8 from the safety
hook 4b and allows the bonnet to be lifted.
1. A safety lock for the bonnet of a motor-vehicle including a main hook (4) provided
with a first locking hook (4a) and a second safety hook (4b) mounted on a bracket
(2) fixed to the bodywork, the main hook (4) being adapted to rotate from a position
in which it engages and locks the bonnet and a position in which the bonnet is completely
released, passing through a so-called intermediate safety position in which said bonnet
is disengaged from the bodywork and kept by the second hook (4b), characterised in that said hook (4) can be operated by means of a lever (13) rotatably supported on the
bonnet and adapted to push a push-finger (5) integral with said hook (4) in order
to pass from the safety position to the complete release position.
2. Lock as claimed in claim 1 characterised in that an elastic element (14) keeps the lever (13), at rest and with the bonnet locked,
resting on a stop (15) integral with the mounting bracket (2) of said hook (4).
3. Lock as claimed in claim 1 and 2 characterised in that the shape and dimensions of the lever (13) are such that when it is at rest it is
part of the outline of the motor-vehicle.
4. Lock as claimed in claim 1 and 2 characterised in that the shape and dimensions of the lever (13) are such that when the hook (4) is in
its safety position, one of its ends (16) protrudes from the outline of the motor-vehicle.