JP2002160670A - Hood lock device of automobile - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To satisfactorily keep the attractiveness of a body even if the operations of a lock mechanism and the portion of an unlocking cable extended from the lock mechanism are prevented. SOLUTION: The hood lock device 19 of an automobile 1 comprises a hood 17 capable of opening and closing an opening 16 at the upper end of a space 15 in a body unit 4, a lock mechanism 21 disposed near the front of the front upper end part of a body frame 3 and locking the front end part of the hood 17 to the body frame 3, an unlocking cable 23 transmitting an operating force inputted from the outside to the lock mechanism 21 to release the locked state of the lock mechanism 21, and a grille 27 covering the lock mechanism 21 and the portion 23a of the unlocking cable 23 near the lock mechanism 21 from the front thereof. In addition, the device comprises a cover body 51 supported on the body frame 3 and covering from the underside the lock mechanism 21 and the portion 23a of the unlocking cable 23.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a hood lock device for an automobile having a lock mechanism for releasably locking a front end of a hood to a vehicle body frame and a grill for covering the lock mechanism from the front. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional hood lock device for an automobile is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-150958.

According to the above publication, a hood lock device for a motor vehicle includes a vehicle body frame supported by wheels on a traveling road surface, a vehicle body body supported by the vehicle body frame and having a space therein, A hood for closing the opening at the upper end of the hood so as to be openable and closable from above, a lock mechanism disposed near the front of the front upper end of the vehicle body frame to releasably lock the front end of the hood to the vehicle body frame; A lock release cable extending from the mechanism and transmitting an operation force input from the outside to the lock mechanism so that the lock state of the lock mechanism can be released; and a lock mechanism positioned below a front end of the hood and the lock mechanism. And a grill which covers a portion of the unlock cable near the lock mechanism from the front.

When the operator transmits the operating force to the lock mechanism via the lock release cable to release the locked state of the lock mechanism, the front end of the hood is movable upward.

Here, conventionally, when the front end of the hood is slightly moved upward to make the opening half-open,
A lock is usually provided to temporarily prevent further upward movement of the front end of the hood.

In the above configuration, when the opening is to be fully opened, the operator inserts a finger from the front of the vehicle body through a gap between the front end of the hood and the upper end of the grill which are in the half-open state. The finger is operated by the finger to release the locked state. Then, it is possible to further move the front end of the hood upward from the half-open state,
The opening can be fully opened.

In the above case, it is necessary that the locking member can be operated from the front of the vehicle body through the gap, and the front upper end of the vehicle body frame does not interfere with the operation of the locking member. It is preferable to do so. Therefore, the locking member is disposed in front of the front upper end of the vehicle body frame. Here, since the locking tool and the lock mechanism are related to each other, the lock mechanism and the portion of the unlocking cable near the lock mechanism are:
It is arranged in front of the front upper end of the vehicle body frame together with the locking member.

On the other hand, when closing the opening, the front end of the hood may simply be moved downward, and by the downward movement for fully closing the opening, the front end of the hood is automatically again moved by the lock mechanism. Locked.

[0009]

By the way, in the above-mentioned prior art, since the lock mechanism is disposed in front of the front upper end of the vehicle body frame, another person can insert a finger from the front of the vehicle body through the ventilation hole of the grill. For example, the lock mechanism and the lock release cable may be easily operated without being obstructed by the front upper end of the vehicle body frame, and the lock mechanism may be unlocked.

Therefore, conventionally, even if a rib is projected from the back surface of the grill and a finger is inserted into the ventilation hole of the grill from the front of the vehicle body, the finger reaches the lock mechanism or the lock release cable. So that the ribs are suppressed,
Thus, there has been proposed a device in which an operation on the lock mechanism or the like cannot be performed.

However, if the ribs are protruded from the back surface of the grill as described above, the thickness of the joint between the grill and the base of the rib becomes large. There is a problem that sinks tend to occur on the surface of the grill corresponding to the above, and the appearance of the vehicle body deteriorates.

[0012] On the other hand, when the vehicle is running in rainy weather, a large amount of water droplets jumps from the road surface to the front of the vehicle body, and the water droplets pass from the front of the vehicle body through the ventilation holes of the grill, and obliquely rearward and upward. It may be directed to the mechanism or the unlocking cable part, in which case there is a possibility that mud may adhere to the locking mechanism or the unlocking cable part, and such contamination impedes the smooth operation of the locking mechanism. It is not preferable.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and locks the front end of the hood to the vehicle body frame even when another person inserts a finger from the front of the vehicle body through the ventilation hole of the grill. The lock mechanism and the lock release cable extending from the lock mechanism are prevented from being operated, and even in this case, the appearance of the vehicle body can be kept good. It is an object of the present invention to prevent the above-mentioned lock mechanism and the portion of the lock release cable from being stained by water droplets jumped up from a running road surface during traveling of the vehicle, thereby ensuring smooth operation of the lock mechanism. .

[0014]

A hood lock device for an automobile according to the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems comprises a body frame 3, a body body 4 supported by the body frame 3 and having a space 15 therein. A hood 17 for opening and closing the opening 16 at the upper end of the space 15 from above.
A lock mechanism 21 disposed near the front of the front upper end of the vehicle body frame 3 to releasably lock the front end of the hood 17 to the vehicle body frame 3, and extending from the lock mechanism 21 and input from outside. An unlocking cable 23 for transmitting an operating force to the lock mechanism 21 so that the lock state of the lock mechanism 21 can be released, and the lock mechanism 21 and the lock mechanism 21 located below the front end of the hood 17. A hood lock device for an automobile, comprising: a grille 27 that covers a portion 23a of the unlock cable 23 in the vicinity and a grill 27 that covers the portion 23a from the front thereof;

The lock mechanism 21 and the portion 23a of the unlock cable 23 supported by the body frame 3
And a cover body 51 that covers from below.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In the drawings, reference numeral 1 denotes a car, and an arrow Fr indicates the front of the car 1. The following left and right refer to the width direction of the car body 2 of the car 1 toward the front (hereinafter simply referred to as "width direction").
).

The vehicle body frame 3 includes a vehicle body frame 3 supported on a traveling road surface via wheels and the like, and a vehicle body 4 made of sheet metal supported by the vehicle body frame 3.

The body frame 3 extends in the front-rear direction of the body 2 and has a pair of left and right side members 6, 6 each having a free end protruding forward, and a "width direction".
And a cross member (not shown) for connecting these side members 6 and 6 to each other, and extending in the front-rear direction and located outside and above each of the side members 6 and 6, and each front end thereof projects forward. A pair of left and right upper side members 7, 7 which are free ends, and the side member 6 and the upper side member 7 on each side of the body frame 3.
And a pair of left and right connecting members 8, 8 for connecting the front portions of the radiator and the condenser to each other. The front members of the body frame 3 are supported by the front members of the side member 6 and the upper side member 7. A radiator support 11 for supporting a radiator 10 as an assembly is provided.

The side members 6, upper side member 7, and connecting member 8 are made of sheet metal and are firmly connected to each other by welding. Radiator support 11
Is made of a resin or a resin formed by combining a resin and a metal, and is detachably fastened to the front end portions of the side member 6 and the upper side member 7 by fasteners 12.
It is supported by the side member 6 and the upper side member 7.

The vehicle body 4 includes a pair of left and right front fenders 14 and 14 which cover the side member 6 and the upper side member 7 from outside thereof and are supported by the upper side member 7 by fasteners. The vehicle has a space 15 formed between the front fenders 14 and 14 for accommodating an engine that is a driving source of the automobile 1, that is, an engine room.
An opening 16 is formed at an upper end of the space 15 between the upper end edges of the opening 14 to open the space 15 above the vehicle body 4.

The vehicle body 4 is provided with a hood 17 for opening and closing the opening 16 from above. The hood 17 is pivotally supported by the vehicle body frame 3 at its rear end so that the front end of the hood 17 is directed upward and is capable of returning (up and down).

When the hood 17 rotates backward (rotates downward) and closes the opening 16 in a fully closed state, the front end (rotation end) of the hood 17 is moved to the front upper end of the vehicle body frame 3. A hood lock device 19 for releasably locking the radiator support 11 is provided at the upper end of the radiator support 11.

The hood lock device 19 is disposed in the vicinity of the upper end of the radiator support 11 in the vicinity of a front end of the radiator support 11 and a striker 20 projecting downward from the lower surface of the front end of the hood 17. A lock mechanism 21 that is supported and locks the striker 20 releasably with respect to the vehicle body frame 3 when the hood 17 rotates backward and closes the opening 16 in a fully closed state, and receives an external operating force. An unlocking operation tool 22 that transmits lever operating force to the lock mechanism 21 and enables the lock state of the lock mechanism 21 to be released.

The unlocking operation tool 22 is mounted on the vehicle body 4
An operation lever (not shown) provided in a vehicle interior of the vehicle, and a lock release cable 23 extending from the lock mechanism 21 and interlocking and connecting the operation lever to the lock mechanism 21 are provided. The operating force is transmitted to the lock mechanism 21 via the lock release cable 23, and the lock mechanism 21 is unlocked,
The lock of the lock mechanism 21 with respect to the striker 20 is released, and the forward rotation of the hood 17 is enabled.

The vehicle body 4 includes a bumper 26 which covers a lower portion of the radiator support 11 from the front thereof, and an upper portion of the radiator support 11 which is located below the front end of the hood 17 and above the bumper 26. And a grill 27 that covers the radiator support 11 from the front thereof. Both the bumper 26 and the grill 27 are made of resin or resin formed by combining resin and metal, and are integrally formed with each other. It is fastened and supported by fasteners. The upper portion of the grill 27 covers at least a part of the lock mechanism 21 and a portion 23a of the unlock cable 23 near the lock mechanism 21 from the front.

At the center of each of the bumpers 26 and the grill 27 in the “width direction”, the bumpers 26 and the grill 2
7 are formed in the front-rear direction. Each of the ventilation holes 28 has a shape that extends long in the “width direction” when the vehicle body 2 is viewed from the front, and includes a bumper 26 and a grill 27.
Are provided in the vertical direction. In addition, the lock mechanism 21 and the unlocking cable 23 of the portion 2
3a and a substantially central portion in the “width direction” of each of the ventilation holes 28 are located at the same position in the “width direction”.

Head lamps 29 are provided above the left and right sides of the bumper 26 and outside the grill 27, respectively. These head lamps 29 are supported on the respective sides of the radiator support 11. ing.

The radiator support 11 comprises a pair of left and right support side members 32, 32 which form the respective sides of the radiator support 11 in the "width direction" and extend in the vertical direction, and extend in the "width direction" to form the respective sides. An upper cross member 33 for connecting the upper ends of the support side members 32 to each other; a lower cross member 34 extending in the “width direction” and connecting the lower ends of the support side members 32 to each other; and the upper cross member 33. And a center member 35 that couples substantially the center portions of the lower cross member 34 in the "width direction" to each other. These 32 to 35 are formed integrally with each other by molding such as injection.

A support portion 38 for supporting the intermediate portion 37 at the front end of each of the side members 6 with the fastener 12 is formed at a middle portion 37 in the longitudinal direction (vertical direction) of each of the support side members 32. I have. Further, the upper and lower ends of the radiator 10 are detachably supported by intermediate parts 39 and 40 in the “width direction” (longitudinal direction) of the upper cross member 33 and the lower cross member 34 by support members 41 and 42, respectively. ing.

The radiator support 11 is provided with a pair of left and right spaces 44 and 45 surrounded by the support side member 32, the upper cross member 33, the lower cross member 34, and the center member 35.
4 and 45, one (left) space 44 penetrates the radiator support 11 back and forth, the radiator 10 is housed in the space 44, and the other (right).
The space 45 simply penetrates the radiator support 11 back and forth.

A blast means 47 is provided in the vicinity of the rear of the radiator 10 for promoting the passage of the traveling wind in the radiator 10. This blast means 47
A bracket 48 is formed near the rear of the one space 44 and integrally formed with the radiator support 11, and an electric fan 49 is positioned near the rear of the radiator 10 and supported by the bracket 48. ing.

In the above configuration, the lock mechanism 21 and the lock release cable 2 supported by the body frame 3
A cover body 51 is provided to substantially entirely cover the portion 23a of the grille 2 from below.
7 from the front.

For this reason, even if another person inserts a finger from the front of the vehicle body 2 through the ventilation hole 28 of the grill 27, the finger does not reach the lock mechanism 21 or the portion 23a of the unlock cable 23, but the cover body 51 does not. Is prevented by

Therefore, the operation of the lock mechanism 21 and the portion 23a of the lock release cable 23 by another person is prevented, so that the lock state of the lock mechanism 21 is prevented from being released, thereby preventing theft and mischief.

In the above case, the cover body 51 is supported by the vehicle body frame 3 and is not one in which the rib 52 is integrally formed on the back surface of the grill 27 unlike the prior art. The occurrence of sink marks on the surface of the grill 27 is prevented. The cover body 51 is
It is covered from the front by the grill 27 and is not easily visible in the appearance of the vehicle body 2.

Therefore, as described above, the lock mechanism 21
Even when the operation of the lock release cable 23 by another person on the portion 23a is prevented, the appearance of the vehicle body 2 is kept good.

Further, when the automobile 1 is traveling, a large amount of water droplets jumped up from the traveling road surface pass through the ventilation holes 28 of the grill 27 from the front of the vehicle body 2 and obliquely rearward and upward, the lock mechanism 21 and the unlock cable 23. The water drop may reach the lock mechanism 21 and the like, but is prevented by the cover body 51 that covers the lock mechanism 21 and the like from below.

Therefore, the lock mechanism 2 is formed by the water droplets.
1 and the portion 23a of the lock release cable 23 are prevented from being soiled, and the smooth operation of the lock mechanism 21 is ensured.

Further, as described above, the radiator support 11 made of resin and having the vehicle body frame 3 forming the front end thereof.
The front upper end of the vehicle body frame 3 is constituted by an upper cross member 33 at the upper end of the radiator support 11, and the upper cross member 33 is provided with the cover body 51.
Is integrally molded.

Therefore, as described above, the lock mechanism 2
Even when the operation of the hood lock device 19 by one or another person is prevented, the increase in the number of parts of the hood lock device 19 is suppressed, and thus the above-mentioned prevention of operation by another person is achieved by a simple configuration.

Further, as described above, since the cover body 51 is integrally formed with the upper cross member 33, the cover body 51 functions as a reinforcing material for the upper cross member 33, and the upper cross member 33 has a “width”. direction"
Although it is a long member and it is difficult to secure strength and rigidity, the strength and rigidity of the upper cross member 33 are improved by the cover body 51.

Therefore, when the front end of the hood 17 is locked by the upper cross member 33 via the lock mechanism 21, the front end of the hood 17 with respect to the upper cross member 33 uses the cover body 51. It is made firmly by the simple configuration.

Further, the cover body 51 is integrally protruded upward from the front end (projected end) of the cover body 51, and covers the lock mechanism 21 and the portion 23a of the lock release cable 23 almost entirely from the front. Another cover body 53 is provided.

Therefore, according to the other cover member 53, prevention of operation of the lock mechanism 21 and the like by another person and prevention of contamination of the lock mechanism 21 and the like are more reliably achieved.

Although the above description is based on the illustrated example, the cover body 51 and the other cover body 53 are
Of the upper cross member 33 in the "width direction". Further, the other cover body 53 may not be provided.

[0047]

The effects of the present invention are as follows.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle body frame, a vehicle body body supported by the vehicle body frame and having a space therein, a hood for opening and closing an opening at an upper end of the space from above the vehicle body, A lock mechanism that is disposed near the front of the front upper end of the frame and locks the front end of the hood releasably to the vehicle body frame, and extends from the lock mechanism and transmits an externally input operating force to the lock mechanism. A lock release cable that allows the locked state of the lever mechanism to be released, and a grill that is located below the front end of the hood and covers the lock mechanism and a part of the lock release cable near the lock mechanism from the front. In a hood lock device for an automobile having:

A cover is provided which is supported by the vehicle body frame and covers the lock mechanism and the lock release cable from below.

Therefore, even if another person inserts a finger through the ventilation hole of the grill from the front of the vehicle body, the finger prevents the finger from reaching the lock mechanism or the lock release cable.

Therefore, the operation of the lock mechanism and the lock release cable by another person is prevented.
Release of the locked state of the lock mechanism is prevented, thereby preventing theft and mischief.

In the above case, the cover body is supported by the vehicle body frame and is not one in which ribs are integrally formed on the back surface of the grill unlike the prior art. The occurrence of sink marks is prevented. Further, the cover body is covered from the front by the grill, and is not easily visible in the appearance of the vehicle body.

Therefore, as described above, the appearance of the vehicle body can be kept good even when the operation of the lock mechanism and the unlock cable by other persons is prevented.

Also, when the vehicle is traveling, a large amount of water droplets jumped up from the traveling road surface pass through the ventilation holes of the grill from the front of the vehicle body, and are directed obliquely rearward and upward toward the lock mechanism and the unlock cable. However, the water droplets are prevented from reaching the lock mechanism or the like by the cover body that covers the lock mechanism or the like from below.

Therefore, the lock mechanism and the lock release cable are prevented from being contaminated by the water droplets, and the smooth operation of the lock mechanism is ensured.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a front portion of a vehicle body.

FIG. 2 is a front view of a front portion of a vehicle body.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a front portion of a vehicle body.

FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a front portion of the vehicle body.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Automobile 2 Body 3 Body frame 4 Body main body 10 Radiator 11 Radiator support 15 Space 16 Opening 17 Hood 19 Hood lock device 21 Lock mechanism 22 Unlocking operation tool 23 Lock release cable 23a part 27 Grill 28 Ventilation hole 51 Cover body 53 Other Cover body

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2E250 AA21 HH02 JJ05 JJ10 KK01 LL15 QQ08 3D003 AA03 AA07 BB02 CA04 DA04 3D004 AA02 AA09 BA02 CA15 CA41 DA04 DA11

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A vehicle body frame, a vehicle body supported by the vehicle body frame and having a space therein, a hood for opening and closing an opening at an upper end of the space from above, and a front upper end of the vehicle body frame A lock mechanism disposed near the front of the hood to releasably lock the front end of the hood to the vehicle body frame; and an operating force extended from the lock mechanism and transmitted from the outside to the lock mechanism to transmit the operating force to the lock mechanism. An automobile having a lock release cable capable of releasing a locked state, and a grill located below a front end of the hood and covering the lock mechanism and a portion of the lock release cable near the lock mechanism from the front thereof. In the hood lock device according to the above, the lock mechanism supported by the vehicle body frame and the lock release cable portion Hood lock device in a motor vehicle provided with a cover for covering the.