Vehicle hood lock apparatus

Abstract

To provide a vehicle hood lock apparatus which can easily open / close a hood, is relatively small-sized, smoothly operates when opening / closing the hood, and ensures that a latch and a ratchet are securely engaged with each other.SOLUTION: A vehicle hood lock apparatus 1 is provided with a rotating member 5 which is supported by a rotating shaft 11 provided at a latch 3 and is provided with a forced engagement application part 52. When the latch 3 rotates from a primary latch position to a secondary latch position, the forced engagement application part 52 presses a contact part 62 of a ratchet 6, evacuates the contact part 62 to the outside of a movement locus L1 of the forced engagement application part 52, forcedly rotates the ratchet 6 toward a direction in which it is engaged with the latch 3, and when the latch 3 rotates from an un-latch position to a latch direction, rotates in a direction where it evacuates from the contact part 62 by pressing the forced engagement application part 52 by the contact part 62.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle hood locking device for opening and closing the hood of a vehicle, and more particularly to a vehicle hood locking device that allows the hood to be opened and closed easily, is relatively small, operates smoothly when opening and closing the hood, and has a latch and ratchet that mesh securely. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, vehicle hood locking devices for locking the front trunk (also known as the frunk) or front-engine hood of a vehicle such as an automobile have been equipped with a primary latch that engages with a striker attached to a hood that is attached near the front of the front trunk or to a radiator core support in the engine compartment and is pivotally supported on the vehicle body so that it can be opened and closed freely in the vertical direction; a ratchet that engages with the primary latch that is engaged with the striker to hold the hood in a fully closed position; and a secondary latch that engages with the striker that has disengaged from the primary latch to hold the hood in a half-open position, which is slightly open from the fully closed position.From a safety standpoint, when opening the hood, a first operation is required in which the ratchet and primary latch are disengaged from each other to place the hood in a half-open position in response to the operation of an opener handle or the like located near the driver's seat, and a second operation is required in which, with the hood in the half-open position, the user moves to the front of the vehicle, inserts their hand into the gap between the front end of the hood and the radiator grille, and operates a release handle portion attached to the secondary latch.

[0003] However, in the vehicle hood lock device described above, the second operation requires the user to reach into the gap between the hood and the radiator grille from outside the vehicle and feel around for and operate the release handle portion of the secondary latch. This means that, particularly in vehicles designed so that the hood lock device is positioned in a recessed position, it is difficult to find the release handle portion, making it very difficult to operate.

[0004] To address this issue, a vehicle hood locking device has been proposed in which a latch that engages with a striker is rotated from a primary latch position (corresponding to the fully closed hood position) to a secondary latch position (corresponding to the first half-open hood position) with a first operation of an opener handle, operating switch, etc. inside the vehicle cabin, and then rotated to an unlatched position (corresponding to the second half-open hood position) where the striker can be released from the latch, allowing the hood to be opened. With this type of hood locking device, there is no need for the user to reach into the gap between the hood and radiator grille from outside the vehicle and fumble around to find and operate the release handle after setting the hood locking device to the half-open position, as was the case with conventional hood locking devices.

[0005] As an example of such a hood lock device, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2022 / 0162887 (Patent Document 1) describes a latch system for a vehicle hood or trunk, which has a latch (referred to as a "ratchet" in Patent Document 1) and first and second ratchets (referred to as "first and second pawls" in Patent Document 1), where the latch engages with the first ratchet to hold a striker at a primary latch position (referred to as the "primary closed position" in Patent Document 1), where a first operation of an actuator releases the latch from the first ratchet and causes the latch to rotate from the primary latch position, where a secondary latch position (referred to as the "secondary closed position") releases the latch from the second ratchet to hold the striker, and where a second operation of the actuator releases the latch from the second ratchet and causes the latch to rotate from the secondary latch position to an unlatched position (referred to as the "fully open position") where the striker can be released from the latch, thereby enabling the hood to be opened. The device of Patent Document 1 is superior to conventional devices with two latches, a primary latch and a secondary latch, in that it can hold the striker in both the primary latch position and the secondary latch position with a single latch. However, the device of Patent Document 1 has two ratchets, which makes the structure complex and costly, and there is a demand for further miniaturization.

[0006] Therefore, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2022-073691 (Patent Document 2) proposes a vehicle hood locking device that is compact and has reduced manufacturing costs. The vehicle hood locking device includes a latch that is rotatable from a primary latch position (corresponding to the fully closed position of the hood) in which it engages with a striker, via a secondary latch position (corresponding to a first half-open position of the hood), to an unlatched position (corresponding to a second half-open position of the hood) in which the striker can be released, the latch having a primary latch portion and a secondary latch portion, and a ratchet that has a claw portion that can engage with each of the primary latch portion and the secondary latch portion of the latch, and the ratchet that is rotatable in the release direction from an engagement position in which the claw portion engages with each of the primary latch portion and the secondary latch portion in response to operation of a release operating means, and the latch has a forced engagement providing portion that, when the latch rotates from the primary latch position to the secondary latch position, abuts on an abutment portion provided on the ratchet at an intermediate position between these positions, thereby forcibly rotating the ratchet in the direction in which it engages with the latch.

[0007] The device of Patent Document 2 can hold the striker in the primary latch position and the secondary latch position with one latch and one ratchet, which allows for miniaturization and reduces manufacturing costs.However, with the device of Patent Document 2, even when the latch rotates in the closing direction due to the entry of the striker, the forced engagement imparting portion abuts relatively strongly against the abutment portion of the ratchet, which may reduce the force that rotates the latch and make it difficult to operate. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] US Patent Application Publication No. 2022 / 0162887 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-073691 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0009] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle hood locking device that allows the hood to be opened and closed easily, is relatively small, operates smoothly when the hood is opened and closed, and has a latch and ratchet that reliably engage. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] As a result of intensive research in light of the above-mentioned object, the inventors have discovered that by providing a rotating member that is supported by a pivot shaft provided on the latch and that has a forced engagement portion, when the latch rotates from the primary latch position to the secondary latch position, the forced engagement portion presses against the abutment portion of the ratchet, causing the abutment portion to retract outside the movement trajectory of the forced engagement portion, thereby forcibly rotating the ratchet in the direction of engaging with the latch, and when the latch rotates from the unlatched position to the latching direction, the forced engagement portion is pressed by the abutment portion, causing the rotating member to rotate in the direction of retraction from the abutment portion, thereby making it possible to obtain a vehicle hood lock device that can easily open and close the hood, is relatively small, operates smoothly when the hood is opened and closed, and in which the latch and ratchet reliably engage, and have thus conceived the present invention.

[0011] That is, the vehicle hood lock device of the present invention is a base plate fixed to a vehicle body, the base plate having a striker entrance groove into which a striker provided on a hood supported on the vehicle body in an openable and closable manner enters and exits in association with a closing operation and an opening operation of the hood; a latch that is rotatably supported on the base plate by a latch shaft provided at a position spaced from the striker entrance groove in a direction perpendicular to the striker entrance groove, the latch having an engagement groove with which the striker engages, the latch rotating between a primary latch position where the latch engages with the striker that has entered the striker entrance groove to hold the hood in a fully closed position, a secondary latch position where the latch holds the hood in a position slightly open from the fully closed position, and an unlatched position where the striker can advance and retreat; a ratchet rotatably supported on the base plate by a ratchet shaft provided in an area opposite to the latch shaft across the striker entrance groove, the ratchet engaging with the latch to hold the latch at the primary latch position, and rotating in response to operation of a release operating means to move the latch from the primary latch position, via the secondary latch position, to the unlatched position, the latch has a primary latch portion provided on the latch direction side of the engagement groove and engaging with the ratchet at the primary latch position, and a secondary latch portion provided on the latch direction side of the primary latch portion and engaging with the ratchet at the secondary latch position, the ratchet has a pawl portion which, when engaged with the primary latch portion, puts the latch in a first engagement state in which it holds the latch at the primary latch position, and which, when engaged with the secondary latch portion, puts the latch in a second engagement state in which it holds the latch at the secondary latch position, and the pawl portion rotates by being released from each of the first and second engagement states in response to operation of the release operation means; When the release operating means is operated with the ratchet in the first engaged state, the claw portion disengages from the primary latch portion and immediately thereafter engages with the secondary latch portion, and when the release operating means is operated with the ratchet in the second engaged state, the claw portion disengages from the secondary latch portion, allowing the latch to rotate to the unlatched position, thereby opening the hood from a closed state by two operations of the release operating means, in a vehicle hood lock device, a rotary member supported by a rotary shaft provided on the latch on the unlatch direction side of the engagement groove of the latch, the rotary member having a forced engagement providing portion that comes into contact with a contact portion provided on the ratchet at an intermediate position between the primary latch position and the secondary latch position when the latch rotates from the primary latch position to the secondary latch position, the contact portion being provided on the ratchet at a position opposite the pawl portion across the ratchet shaft; When the latch rotates from the primary latch position to the secondary latch position, the forcible engagement portion presses the abutment portion to retract the abutment portion from a movement locus of the forcible engagement portion, whereby the rotating member forcibly rotates the ratchet in a direction in which the pawl portion engages with the latch, When the latch rotates from the unlatched position to the latching direction, the forced engagement portion is pressed by the abutment portion, causing the rotating member to rotate in a direction away from the abutment portion.

[0012] In a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, the rotating member further has a stopped portion provided on the opposite side of the rotation axis from the forced engagement providing portion, the stopped portion abutting against a rotation stopper portion provided on the latch, and the stopped portion is biased in a direction of abutting against the rotation stopper portion by an initial position maintaining biasing member, When the latch rotates from the primary latch position to the secondary latch position, in a non-rotating state in which the stopped portion abuts against the rotation stopper portion, the forcible engagement providing portion presses the abutment portion to retract the abutment portion out of a movement locus of the forcible engagement providing portion, whereby the rotating member forcibly rotates the ratchet in a direction in which the pawl portion engages with the latch, When the latch rotates from the unlatched position to the latching direction, the forced engagement portion is pressed by the abutment portion, causing the rotating member to rotate in a direction away from the abutment portion and in a direction in which the stopped portion moves away from the rotation stopper portion.

[0013] By using the configuration of the first example, when the latch rotates from the primary latch position to the secondary latch position, the abutment portion is retracted outside the movement trajectory of the forced engagement portion without generating a loud collision sound, and when the latch rotates from the unlatched position in the latch direction, the latch can be rotated smoothly.

[0014] In a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, the rotating member further has a stopped portion provided on the opposite side of the rotation axis from the forced engagement providing portion, the stopped portion abutting against a rotation stopper portion provided on the latch, and the stopped portion is biased in a direction of abutting against the rotation stopper portion by an initial position maintaining biasing member, When the latch rotates from the primary latch position to the secondary latch position, in a non-rotating state in which the stopped portion abuts the rotation stopper portion, the forced engagement portion presses the abutment portion, causing the abutment portion to move out of the movement trajectory of the forced engagement portion, and the primary latch portion moves while sliding against a first arc portion provided near the ratchet shaft and between the abutment portion and the pawl portion.

[0015] By using the configuration of the second example, when a release operation is performed on a hood that is in the first engagement state, the claw portion can be reliably engaged with the secondary latch portion, and the hood can transition to the second engagement state.

[0016] In a third preferred example of the present invention, the forced engagement portion has a shape that protrudes from the outer periphery of the latch toward the ratchet, and the abutment portion has a shape that protrudes toward the forced engagement portion.

[0017] In a fourth preferred example of the present invention, when the ratchet is in each of the first and second engagement states, the abutment portion is retracted outside the movement trajectory of the forcible engagement portion, and when the ratchet rotates from each of the first and second engagement states in the release direction, the abutment portion enters the movement trajectory of the forcible engagement portion.

[0018] By adopting the configurations of the third and fourth examples, the forced engagement portion reliably abuts against the abutment portion at an intermediate position between the primary latch position and the secondary latch position, and the forced engagement portion can forcibly rotate the ratchet in the direction of engaging with the latch.

[0019] In a fifth preferred example of the present invention, when the forced engagement portion abuts on the abutment portion, the pawl enters the movement trajectory of the secondary latch portion before the latch reaches the secondary latch position from the primary latch position, thereby enabling the pawl of the ratchet to reliably engage with the secondary latch portion.

[0020] In a sixth preferred example of the present invention, when the latch rotates from the unlatched position in the latching direction, passes through the primary latch position, and rotates to the overlatched position, a pressing portion provided on the latch on the unlatch direction side of the rotating member abuts against a pressed portion provided on the ratchet on the ratchet shaft side of the abutting portion, forcibly rotating the ratchet further in the engagement direction from the first engaged state. This makes it possible to more reliably engage the latch and the ratchet and to suppress deformation of the hood locking device, thereby improving safety.

[0021] In the sixth example, preferably, when the latch reaches the over-latched position, the latch is supported by at least a first support portion where the striker abuts against the bottom wall of the striker entrance groove, a second support portion where the pressing portion of the latch abuts against the pressed portion of the ratchet, a third support portion where the secondary latch portion of the latch abuts against a second arc portion provided between the end of the ratchet opposite the abutment portion and the pawl, with the pawl in between, and a fourth support portion where the tail end of the latch on the opposite side of the latch shaft from the engagement groove abuts against a side wall portion provided on the latch side of the base plate. Because the latch is stably supported by multiple support portions when it reaches the over-latched position, deformation of the hood locking device can be suppressed and the device can be made more compact.

[0022] In the sixth example, more preferably, the first to fourth support portions are distributed in three or more quadrants on a coordinate plane centered on the latch axis. This allows the stress acting on the hood locking device to be dispersed overall, thereby more stably supporting the latch and further improving the effects of suppressing deformation of the hood locking device and reducing the size of the device.

[0023] In a seventh preferred example of the present invention, the latch is provided with a lift lever rotatably supported on the base plate by the latch shaft, the lift lever having an engagement groove with which the striker engages, and connected to the latch so that an unlatch biasing member applies a biasing force to the latch in the unlatch direction, and the rotating member is supported on the lift lever by the pivot shaft on the unlatch direction side of the engagement groove of the lift lever.

[0024] In the seventh example, preferably, the rotating member further has a stopped portion provided on the opposite side of the rotation shaft from the forced engagement providing portion, the stopped portion being in contact with a rotation stopper portion provided on the latch or the lift lever, and the stopped portion is biased in a direction in which it contacts the rotation stopper portion by an initial position maintaining biasing member, When the latch rotates from the primary latch position to the secondary latch position, in a non-rotating state in which the stopped portion abuts against the rotation stopper portion, the forcible engagement providing portion presses the abutment portion to retract the abutment portion out of a movement locus of the forcible engagement providing portion, whereby the rotating member forcibly rotates the ratchet in a direction in which the pawl portion engages with the latch, When the latch rotates from the unlatched position to the latching direction, the forced engagement portion is pressed by the abutment portion, causing the rotating member to rotate in a direction away from the abutment portion and in a direction in which the stopped portion moves away from the rotation stopper portion of the lift lever. [Effects of the Invention]

[0025] According to the present invention, a rotary member is provided that is supported by a rotary shaft provided on the latch and is provided with a forced engagement portion, and when the latch rotates from the primary latch position to the secondary latch position, the forced engagement portion presses the abutment portion of the ratchet, causing the abutment portion to retract outside the movement trajectory of the forced engagement portion, forcibly rotating the ratchet in the direction of engaging with the latch, and when the latch rotates from the unlatched position to the latching direction, the forced engagement portion is pressed by the abutment portion, causing the rotary member to rotate in the direction of retraction from the abutment portion.This results in a vehicle hood lock device that can easily open and close the hood, is relatively small, operates smoothly when the hood is opened and closed, and ensures reliable engagement of the latch and ratchet. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0026] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing an automobile equipped with a vehicle hood lock device according to an embodiment of the present invention, viewed obliquely from the front side; [Figure 2] 1 is a perspective view showing a vehicle hood lock device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 3] 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the vehicle hood lock device shown in FIG. 2. FIG. [Figure 4] 1 is a front view showing a vehicle hood lock device in a state where the latch is held in a primary latch position. FIG. [Figure 5] 1 is a front view showing a vehicle hood lock device in a state where the latch is in a primary latch position and the ratchet is actuated in a release direction. FIG. [Figure 6] 10 is a front view showing the vehicle hood lock device in a state where the ratchet is disengaged from the primary latch portion. FIG. [Figure 7] 1 is a front view showing a vehicle hood lock device in a state in which the latch is rotated from a primary latch position toward a secondary latch position. FIG. [Figure 8] 10 is a front view showing the vehicle hood lock device in a state in which the ratchet is forcibly operated in an engagement direction by the rotating member. FIG. [Figure 9]1 is a front view showing a vehicle hood lock device in a state where the latch is held in a secondary latch position. FIG. [Figure 10] 1 is a front view showing a vehicle hood lock device with a latch in an unlatched position. FIG. [Figure 11] 1 is a front view showing a vehicle hood lock device in a state where the latch is rotated from an unlatched position to a latching direction. FIG. [Figure 12] 1 is a front view showing a vehicle hood lock device in a state in which a rotating member abuts against a ratchet in a latch direction. FIG. [Figure 13] 4 is a front view showing the vehicle hood lock device in a state where the rotating member is rotated by the ratchet. FIG. [Figure 14] FIG. 2 is a front view showing the vehicle hood lock device in an over-latched state. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0027] An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description and accompanying drawings, unless otherwise specified, up, down, front, rear, left, and right directions are expressed relative to the vehicle, such as an automobile. As shown in FIG. 1 , a vehicle hood locking device 1 of the present invention is attached to the body of a vehicle V, such as an automobile, having a hood H whose rear portion is pivotally supported on the vehicle body and which can be opened and closed vertically. The vehicle hood locking device 1 holds the hood H in a fully closed position by engaging with a striker S provided at the front of the hood H and opens the hood H based on the operation of a release operating device 13. Examples of the release operating device 13 include a manual opener handle located near the driver's seat and an electric actuator located near the driver's seat or in the engine compartment. The electric actuator is operated by a button, switch, or touch panel located near the driver's seat, or by a key fob, smartphone, or the like.

[0028] As shown in Figures 2 to 14, the vehicle hood lock device 1 has a metal base plate 2 fixed to the vehicle body, and is configured by arranging on the base plate 2 a latch 3 and a lift lever 4 connected thereto, each of which engages with a striker S, a ratchet 6 which engages with the latch 3, a rotating member 5 rotatably supported on the lift lever 4, an unlatch biasing member (lift spring) 7 which applies a biasing force to the latch 3 in the lift direction (clockwise on the paper in Figure 4) via the lift lever 4, an engagement biasing member (ratchet spring) 9 which applies a biasing force to the ratchet 6 in the direction in which it engages with the latch 3 (counterclockwise on the paper in Figure 4), and an initial position maintaining biasing member (initial position maintaining spring) 8 which applies a biasing force to the rotating member 5 in the direction in which it engages with the lift lever 4 (counterclockwise on the paper in Figure 4) to maintain it in its initial position.

[0029] A striker entrance groove 21 that is open at the top and center of the base plate 2 is provided so that the striker S can advance and retreat as the hood H is opened and closed.

[0030] The latch 3 is supported by a latch shaft 10 facing in the front-to-rear direction at a position horizontally spaced apart from the striker entrance groove 21 of the base plate 2 (to the right of the striker entrance groove 21 in relation to the plane of the page in FIG. 4) so ​​as to be rotatable by a predetermined angle. The lift spring 7 is attached by engaging one end with a hole in the side wall portion 24a on the ratchet 6 side of the base plate 2, and by engaging the other end with a spring attachment portion 45 provided at the tail end of the lift lever 4 on the side opposite the engagement groove 43, with the latch shaft 10 sandwiched between them.

[0031] When the hood H is opened, the latch 3 rotates from the primary latch position shown in FIG. 4 in the unlatch direction (clockwise with respect to the plane of the paper in FIG. 4) due to the biasing force of the lift spring 7 acting on the lift lever 4, then rotates via the secondary latch position shown in FIG. 9 to the unlatch position shown in FIG. 10. When the hood H is closed, the striker S that has entered the striker entrance groove 21 engages with the engagement groove 31, causing the latch 3 to rotate from the unlatch position shown in FIG. 10 in the latch direction (counterclockwise with respect to the plane of the paper in FIG. 10) against the biasing force of the lift spring 7 acting on the lift lever 4, to the primary latch position shown in FIG. 4.

[0032] Furthermore, in addition to the engagement groove 31, the latch 3 has a primary latch portion 32 that is provided on the latch direction side of the engagement groove 31 (below the engagement groove 31 in FIG. 4) and engages with the claw portion 61 of the ratchet 6 when the latch 3 is in the primary latch position, a secondary latch portion 33 that is provided on the latch direction side of the primary latch portion 32 (below the primary latch portion 32 (counterclockwise) in FIG. 4) and engages with the claw portion 61 of the ratchet 6 when the latch 3 is in the secondary latch position, a pressing portion 34 that is provided on the unlatch direction side of the engagement groove 31 (above the engagement groove 31 (clockwise) in FIG. 4) and protrudes toward the ratchet 6 side and abuts against the pressed portion 63 of the ratchet 6 when the latch 3 is in the over-latch position, and a protrusion 35 that protrudes forward and engages with a connecting hole 41 provided in the lift lever 4.

[0033] In the description of this embodiment, the primary latch position of the latch 3 corresponds to a fully closed position in which the hood H is completely closed, the secondary latch position of the latch 3 corresponds to a first half-open position in which the hood H is slightly open from the fully closed position, and the unlatched position of the latch 3 corresponds to a second half-open position in which the hood H is further open from the first half-open position (a position to the extent that a hand can be inserted into the gap between the front end of the hood H and the radiator grille).

[0034] The lift lever 4 is supported by a latch shaft 10 on the front side of the base plate 2 so as to be rotatable by a predetermined angle, and holds the latch 3 between itself and the base plate 2. The lift lever 4 is biased in a lift direction (clockwise relative to the plane of the paper in FIG. 4) by the biasing force of a lift spring 7, and is connected to the latch 3 with some play in the rotational direction. The biasing force of the lift spring 7 acts as a force to rotate the latch 3 from the primary latch position to the unlatched position, and also acts as a lift force to lift the hood H from the fully closed position to the second half-open position.

[0035] The slight play in the rotational direction of the lift lever 4 relative to the latch 3 is achieved by engaging the protrusion 35 provided on the latch 3 so that it protrudes forward with the connecting hole 41 provided on the lift lever 4, so that there is a slight play in the rotational direction.

[0036] The lift lever 4 has an engagement groove 43 with which the striker S engages, and a lift arm portion 42 that overlaps the front side of the latch 3. Due to the slight play described above, the lift arm portion 42 is located on the latch direction side of the engagement groove 43 (below the engagement groove 43 in FIG. 4) and can enter slightly into the engagement groove 31 of the latch 3 in the unlatch direction (from below in FIG. 4). When the hood H is in the fully closed position and the latch 3 is held in the primary latch position as shown in FIG. 4, the strong biasing force of the lift spring 7 causes the lift arm portion 42 to strongly press the striker S, which is engaged with the engagement groove 31 of the latch 3, against the upper edge of the engagement groove 31, thereby preventing rattling of the striker S within the engagement groove 31 and, ultimately, rattling of the hood H.

[0037] At the top of the lift lever 4, there is provided a wall-shaped rotation stopper portion 44 that protrudes forward, and when the rotating member 5 rotatably supported on the lift lever 4 is in its initial position, its stopped portion 51 abuts against the rotation stopper portion 44.

[0038] The rotating member 5 is supported on the front side of the lift lever 4 by the rotating shaft 11, on the unlatch direction side of the engagement groove 43 of the lift lever 4 (in Figure 4, above the engagement groove 43 (clockwise side)), so as to be rotatable by a predetermined angle. The rotating member 5 has a forced engagement portion 52 that protrudes from the outer periphery of the latch 3 toward the ratchet 6. The initial position maintaining spring 8 is attached so that one end engages with the rotation stopper portion 44 of the lift lever 4 and the other end engages with the forced engagement portion 52 of the rotating member 5. The initial position maintaining spring 8 biases the rotating member 5 in the direction of engagement with the rotation stopper portion 44 of the lift lever 4 (counterclockwise with respect to the plane of the paper in Figure 4), and when the rotating member 5 is in the initial position, the stopped portion 51 of the rotating member 5 abuts against the rotation stopper portion 44 of the lift lever 4.

[0039] As shown in Figures 6 to 8, when the latch 3 rotates from the primary latch position to the secondary latch position, the forced engagement portion 52 abuts against an abutment portion 62 that is provided at the upper end of the ratchet 6 and has a shape that protrudes toward the forced engagement portion 52 at an intermediate position between the primary latch position and the secondary latch position, thereby forcibly rotating the ratchet 6 in the direction of engaging with the latch 3 (counterclockwise relative to the paper in Figures 6 to 8) and securely engaging the claw portion 61 of the ratchet 6 with the secondary latch portion 33.

[0040] As shown in Figures 11 to 13, when the latch 3 rotates from the unlatched position in the latching direction, the forced engagement portion 52 is pressed by the abutment portion 62 of the ratchet 6, causing the stopped portion 51 to move away from the rotation stopper portion 44 of the latch 3 and rotate in a direction away from the abutment portion 62 (clockwise relative to the paper in Figures 12 and 13), moving together with the latch 3.

[0041] The ratchet 6 has a ratchet shaft 12 oriented in the front-to-rear direction inserted into its upper part, and is supported rotatably by a predetermined angle on the base plate 2 at a position horizontally spaced apart from the striker entry groove 21 near the opening of the striker entry groove 21, and at a position in the area opposite the latch shaft 10 across the striker entry groove 21 (in Figure 4, the left side of the striker entry groove 21 with respect to the plane of the paper).

[0042] The ratchet 6 has a stepped claw portion 61 provided in the vertical center below the ratchet shaft 12, a contact portion 62 provided at the upper end on the opposite side of the ratchet shaft 12 from the claw portion 61 and having a shape that protrudes toward the forced engagement imparting portion 52 of the turning member 5, a pressed portion 63 provided on the ratchet shaft 12 side of the contact portion 62 directly below the contact portion 62 and closer to the ratchet shaft 12 than the contact portion 62 and abutting against the pressing portion 34 of the latch 3, a stopped piece 64 provided at the vertical center opposite to the claw portion 61 and abutting against the side wall portion 24a of the base plate 2 on the ratchet 6 side, and a connecting portion provided at the lower end and connected to the release operating means 13 via the operating force transmitting member 14. 65, a step portion 66 provided at the lower end portion and abutting against the ratchet stopper portion 22 of the base plate 2, a spring mounting portion 67 provided at the lower end portion, an upper arc portion (first arc portion) 69 provided between the abutment portion 62 and the claw portion 61 in the vicinity of the ratchet shaft 12, and a lower arc portion (second arc portion) 68 provided between the end portion opposite the abutment portion 62 and the claw portion 61 with the claw portion 61 in between, i.e., between the lower end portion and the claw portion 61, and the biasing force of the ratchet spring 9 biases the claw portion 61 in an engagement direction (counterclockwise with respect to the paper in Figure 4) in which it engages with each of the primary latch portion 32 and the secondary latch portion 33 of the latch 3. The ratchet spring 9 is attached by engaging one end with a hole in the side wall portion 24b on the latch 3 side of the base plate 2 and engaging the other end with a spring mounting portion 67 provided at the lower end of the ratchet 6.

[0043] The ratchet 6 has a connecting portion 65 at its lower end connected to the release operating means 13 via an operating force transmission member 14 configured by a Bowden cable or the like, and when the release operating means 13 is operated in one direction, the ratchet 6 rotates a predetermined angle in the release direction (clockwise relative to the plane of the paper in FIG. 4) around the ratchet shaft 12 against the biasing force of the ratchet spring 9, causing the claw portion 61 to disengage from each of the primary latch portion 32 and secondary latch portion 33 of the latch 3, allowing the latch 3 to rotate in the unlatch direction (clockwise). At this time, as shown in FIG. 6, the stopped piece 64 abuts against the side wall portion 24a on the ratchet 6 side of the base plate 2, thereby restricting the rotation range of the ratchet 6 and preventing it from rotating more than necessary.

[0044] When the latch 3 is permitted to rotate in the unlatch direction in the primary latch position, the force of the lift spring 7 acting on the lift lever 4 causes the latch 3 to rotate from the primary latch position to the secondary latch position, and the hood H is opened to the first half-open position via the striker S engaged in the engagement groove 31.When the latch 3 is permitted to rotate in the unlatch direction in the secondary latch position, the force of the lift spring 7 acting on the lift lever 4 causes the latch 3 to rotate from the secondary latch position to the unlatch position, and the striker S engaged in the engagement groove 31 causes the hood H to open to the second half-open position.

[0045] When the hood H is in the fully closed position, as shown in FIG. 4, the latch 3 is in the primary latch position in which the striker S is engaged with the engagement groove 31, the ratchet 6 is in the engagement position in which the claw portion 61 is engaged with the primary latch portion 32 of the latch 3, and the hood locking device 1 is in a first engagement state in which the ratchet 6 holds the latch 3 in the primary latch position.

[0046] When the hood H is in the first half-open position, as shown in Figure 9, the latch 3 is in the secondary latch position in which the striker S is engaged with the engagement groove 31, the ratchet 6 is in the engagement position in which the claw portion 61 is engaged with the secondary latch portion 33 of the latch 3, and the hood locking device 1 is in a second engagement state in which the ratchet 6 holds the latch 3 in the secondary latch position.

[0047] When the hood H is in the second half-open position, as shown in Figure 10, the latch 3 is stopped by the pressing portion 34 abutting against the latch stopper portion 23 provided on the side wall 24b of the base plate 2 on the latch 3 side, and the striker S is in an unlatched position where it can be removed from the engagement groove 31, and the ratchet 6 is pulled in the engagement direction (counterclockwise) by the biasing force of the ratchet spring 9, and the step portion 66 at the lower end abuts against the ratchet stopper portion 22 provided on the bottom of the base plate 2, so that it is in a stopped position.

[0048] The abutment portion 62 is located on the opposite side of the striker entry groove 21 of the base plate 2 from the latch shaft 10 (in Figure 4, it is on the left side of the striker entry groove 21 as viewed from the page), and when the hood locking device 1 is in either the first or second engagement state, that is, when the ratchet 6 is in the engagement position (a position where the claw portion 61 is fully engaged with each of the primary latch portion 32 and the secondary latch portion 33), the abutment portion 62 is located in a retracted position outside the movement trajectory L1 of the forced engagement portion 52 of the rotating member 5, as shown in Figures 4 and 9.

[0049] When the ratchet 6 rotates a predetermined amount from the engaged position in the release direction (the direction in which the pawl 61 disengages from each of the primary latch portion 32 and the secondary latch portion 33), the abutting portion 62 enters the movement locus L1 of the forcible engagement imparting portion 52 of the rotating member 5, and when the latch 3 rotates from the primary latch position in the unlatch direction, the abutting portion 62 abuts against the forcible engagement imparting portion 52 at an intermediate position (the position shown in FIGS. 6 to 8 ) between the primary latch position and the secondary latch position. At this time, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 , the rotating member 5 is in a non-rotating state in which the stopped portion 51 abuts against the rotation stopper portion 44 of the latch 3. As the latch 3 rotates, the forcible engagement imparting portion 52 abuts against the abutting portion 62 from below and moves upward while sliding. Therefore, the abutting portion 62 is gradually forcibly rotated counterclockwise around the ratchet shaft 12 and is retracted from the movement locus L1 of the forcible engagement imparting portion 52. As a result, the ratchet 6 is forcibly rotated in the direction in which the claw portion 61 engages with the latch 3 (counterclockwise in Figures 6 to 8), and the ratchet 6 can reliably engage with the secondary latch portion 33 of the latch 3, thereby improving quality.

[0050] As shown in the example, by making both the lower surface of the abutment portion 62 and the upper surface of the forced engagement portion 52 flat, the abutment portion 62 and the forced engagement portion 52 can be reliably engaged with each other, and the abutment portion 62 can be reliably forcibly rotated.

[0051] When the latch 3 rotates from the unlatched position in the latching direction, as shown in Figures 11 to 13, the forced engagement portion 52 is pressed by the abutment portion 62 of the ratchet 6, causing the rotating member 5 to rotate in a direction retracting from the abutment portion 62. Therefore, when the hood H is closed and the ratchet 6 comes into contact with the forced engagement portion 52, the latch 3 can rotate with only relatively little resistance even when it comes into contact with the ratchet 6, and the ratchet 6 receives only a relatively little pressing force from the latch 3. Therefore, the latch 3 rotates smoothly during the closing operation of the hood locking device 1, allowing for a smooth closing operation, and the ratchet 6 can reliably engage with each of the primary latch portion 32 and the secondary latch portion 33 of the latch 3, thereby improving quality.

[0052] As shown in the example, by providing an inclined portion 62a on the upper surface of the abutment portion 62 on the side facing the forced engagement portion 52 and making the lower surface of the forced engagement portion 52 a curved surface, the rotation of the rotating member 5 in the direction of retreating from the abutment portion 62 can be made even smoother.

[0053] The pressed portion 63 is provided directly below the abutting portion 62, closer to the ratchet shaft 12 than the abutting portion 62, and the latch 3 has a pressing portion 34 that abuts against the pressed portion 63, which is provided on the unlatch direction side of the rotating member 5 (above the rotating member 5 in FIG. 4). As shown in FIG. 14, when the latch 3 rotates from the unlatch position in the latch direction, passes through the primary latch position (see FIG. 4) and rotates to the overlatch position, the pressing portion 34 abuts against the pressed portion 63, forcing the ratchet 6 to further rotate in the engagement direction. This allows the latch 3 and the ratchet 6 to mesh more reliably, and also suppresses deformation of the hood locking device 1, improving safety. Note that the rotation of the latch 3 to the over-latch position does not occur when the hood H is closed in the usual way, such as by lowering the hood H while supporting it with one's hand and letting it fall naturally using gravity from a height of about 20 to 30 cm, or by using an electric actuator to support the hood H, but rather occurs when the hood H is pushed in artificially with a relatively strong force.

[0054] 14, when the latch 3 reaches the over-latch position, the latch 3 is supported by at least a first support portion I where the striker S abuts against the bottom wall of the striker entrance groove 21, a second support portion II where the pressing portion 34 of the latch 3 abuts against the pressed portion 63 of the ratchet 6, a third support portion III where the secondary latch portion 33 of the latch 3 abuts against a lower arc portion 68 provided between the claw portion 61 and the lower end of the ratchet 6, and a fourth support portion IV where the tail end 36 of the latch 3 on the side opposite the engagement groove 31 with the latch shaft 10 in between abuts against a side wall portion 24b provided on the latch 3 side of the base plate 2. In this way, when the latch 3 reaches the over-latch position, the latch 3 is stably supported by the multiple support portions I to IV, which prevents deformation of the hood locking device 1 and allows the device 1 to be made more compact.

[0055] 14, the first to fourth support portions I to IV are distributed in three or more quadrants on a coordinate plane centered on the latch shaft 10, thereby distributing the stress acting on the hood locking device 1 overall. As a result, the latch 3 is supported more stably, further improving the effect of suppressing deformation of the hood locking device 1 and the effect of making the device 1 more compact.

[0056] When the latch 3 rotates to the over-latch position, the ratchet 6 is forcibly rotated in the engagement direction, but is stopped when the step portion 66 at the lower end of the ratchet 6 abuts against the ratchet stopper portion 22 of the base plate 2, thereby strengthening the support of the latch 3 by the first to fourth support portions I to IV.

[0057] It is preferable to provide the lift lever 4 to prevent rattle of the striker S within the engagement groove 31 of the latch 3, but it is not an essential element. If the lift lever 4 is not provided, one end of the lift spring 7 may be attached directly to the latch 3, the rotating member 5 may be rotatably supported, and the rotation stopper 44 may be provided. Even if the lift lever 4 is provided, the rotating member 5 may be rotatably supported on the lift lever 4, and the rotation stopper 44 may be provided directly on the latch 3.

[0058] Next, the operation of the vehicle hood lock device 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0059] First, the operation when the hood H is opened will be described. When the hood locking device 1 is in the first engagement state, i.e., when the hood H is held in the fully closed position, as shown in Figure 4, the latch 3 is in the primary latch position, the ratchet 6 is in an engagement position where the claw portion 61 is engaged with the primary latch portion 32 of the latch 3, and the striker S is engaged with the engagement groove 31 of the latch 3. In the first engagement state, the striker S is sandwiched between the lift arm portion 42 of the lift lever 4 and the upper edge of the engagement groove 31 of the latch 3 so that there is no rattle due to the biasing force of the lift spring 7 acting on the lift lever 4. In addition, the abutment portion 62 of the ratchet 6 is in a retracted position outside the movement locus L1 of the forced engagement portion 52 of the latch 3.

[0060] In the first engaged state, when a first release operation is performed by the release operating means 13, this release operation is transmitted to the ratchet 6 via the operating force transmission member 14. As a result, the ratchet 6 rotates against the biasing force of the ratchet spring 9 from the engaged position through the half-stroke position shown in FIG. 5 (a position where the pawl portion 61 is barely engaged with the primary latch portion 32) to the full-stroke position shown in FIG. 6. As a result, the pawl portion 61 completely disengages from the primary latch portion 32 of the latch 3, and the abutment portion 62 enters the movement locus L1 of the forcible engagement portion 52. Preferably, as shown in FIG. 5, the abutment portion 62 enters the movement locus L1 of the forcible engagement portion 52 before the pawl portion 61 of the ratchet 6 completely disengages from the primary latch portion 32 of the latch 3.

[0061] As shown in Figure 6, when the claw portion 61 of the ratchet 6 is completely disengaged from the primary latch portion 32 of the latch 3, as shown in Figure 7, the latch 3 rotates from the primary latch position in the unlatch direction due to the biasing force of the lift spring 7 acting on the lift lever 4, and as shown in Figures 7 and 8, at an intermediate position between the primary latch position and the secondary latch position, the forced engagement portion 52 abuts against the abutment portion 62 of the ratchet 6 in the unlatch direction (from below in Figures 7 and 8). 7 and 8, while the rotating member 5 is in a non-rotating state with its stopped portion 51 abutting against the rotation stopper portion 44 of the lift lever 4 (substantially of the latch 3), as the latch 3 rotates, the forcible engagement portion 52 abuts against the abutment portion 62 from below and moves upward while sliding. This causes the abutment portion 62 to be gradually and forcibly rotated counterclockwise around the ratchet shaft 12 without generating a loud collision noise, and is retracted from the movement locus L1 of the forcible engagement portion 52, forcibly rotating the ratchet 6 in the engagement direction. As a result, as shown in FIG. 8, the pawl portion 61 of the ratchet 6 enters the movement locus L2 of the secondary latch portion 33 before the latch 3 reaches the secondary latch position. In this way, the pawl portion 61 of the ratchet 6 can be reliably engaged with the secondary latch portion 33.

[0062] 8, the forced engagement portion 52 retracts the contact portion 62 outside of its movement locus L1, and the primary latch portion 32 of the latch 3 moves while sliding against the upper arc portion 69 provided between the contact portion 62 and the pawl portion 61 of the ratchet 6 near the ratchet shaft 12. Therefore, when a release operation is performed on the hood H in the first engaged state, the pawl portion 61 can be reliably engaged with the secondary latch portion 33, and the hood H can transition to the second engaged state.

[0063] When the latch 3 rotates further in the unlocking direction from the position shown in Fig. 8, the forced engagement portion 52 passes the abutment portion 62 before the latch 3 reaches the secondary latch position, and when the latch 3 rotates further in the unlocking direction, the secondary latch portion 33 engages with the pawl portion 61 of the ratchet 6 that has already entered the movement trajectory L2, as shown in Fig. 9. This allows the latch 3 to be reliably stopped and held at the secondary latch position.

[0064] As is clear from the above, during the first release operation of the release operating means 13, the latch 3 is prevented from rotating from the primary latch position to the unlatched position, the latch 3 is reliably stopped at the secondary latch position, and the hood H is reliably held in the first half-open position, thereby preventing the hood H from opening inadvertently and ensuring safety.

[0065] Next, in the state shown in FIG. 9 , i.e., the second engaged state, when a second release operation is performed by the release operating means 13, the ratchet 6 again rotates in the release direction against the biasing force of the ratchet spring 9, causing the claw portion 61 to disengage from the secondary latch portion 33 of the latch 3. As a result, the latch 3 rotates in the unlatching direction together with the lift lever 4 due to the biasing force of the lift spring 7, and as shown in FIG. 10 , the pressing portion 34 of the latch 3 abuts against the latch stopper portion 23 provided on the side wall 24b of the base plate 2 on the latch 3 side, causing the latch 3 to stop in the unlatched position. This holds the hood H in the second half-open position. Then, by returning the release operating means 13 to its initial position, the ratchet 6 rotates in the engagement direction due to the biasing force of the ratchet spring 9, and the stepped portion 66 at the lower end of the ratchet 6 abuts against the ratchet stopper portion 22 of the base plate 2, causing the latch 3 to stop in the position shown in FIG. 10 .

[0066] The user then moves to the front of the hood H and lifts the front end of the hood H held in the second half-open position, causing the striker S to come out of the engagement groove 31 of the latch 3, allowing the hood H to be opened. Therefore, there is no need to reach between the hood H and the vehicle body and grope around to find the operating part, as in the conventional case. Note that the hood H held in the second half-open position may be opened using an electric actuator that supports the hood H.

[0067] Next, the operation when the hood H is closed will be described. When the hood H is open, the latch 3 is held in the unlatched position as shown in Figure 10. However, because the hood H is open, the striker S is positioned above and away from the latch 3. From this state, the hood H is closed manually or using an electric actuator. When the hood H is closed, the striker S enters the striker entrance groove 21 from above and engages with the engagement groove 31 of the latch 3. This causes the latch 3 to rotate in the latching direction together with the lift lever 4 against the biasing force of the lift spring 7.

[0068] 11, when the secondary latch portion 33 abuts against the claw portion 61 to rotate the ratchet 6 in the release direction, the abutting portion 62 enters the movement locus L1 of the forcible engagement portion 52 as shown in Fig. 12. When the forcible engagement portion 52 abuts against the abutting portion 62 of the ratchet 6, as shown in Figs. 12 and 13, the forcible engagement portion 52 is pressed by the abutting portion 62, so that the stopped portion 51 moves away from the rotation stopper portion 44 of the lift lever 4 (effectively, of the latch 3), and the rotating member 5 moves together with the latch 3 while rotating in a direction away from the abutting portion 62 (clockwise relative to the plane of the paper in Figs. 12 and 13).

[0069] Furthermore, when the latch 3 rotates in the latching direction, the forced engagement portion 52 passes through the abutment portion 62, and the rotating member 5 returns to the initial position where it engages with the rotation stopper portion 44 due to the biasing force of the initial position maintaining spring 8, and finally, as shown in Figure 4, the latch 3 rotates to the primary latch position, and the claw portion 61 of the ratchet 6 engages with the primary latch portion 32, thereby maintaining the latch 3 in the primary latch position. As a result, the hood H is maintained in the fully closed position.

[0070] Furthermore, if the latch 3 rotates from the unlatched position in the latching direction due to circumstances such as the hood H being artificially pushed in with a relatively strong force and rotates past the primary latch position (see Figure 4) to the overlatched position, as shown in Figure 14, the latch 3 will be supported by at least the first support portion I where the striker S abuts against the bottom wall of the striker entrance groove 21, the second support portion II where the pressing portion 34 of the latch 3 abuts against the pressed portion 63 of the ratchet 6, the third support portion III where the secondary latch portion 33 of the latch 3 abuts against the lower arc portion 68 provided between the claw portion 61 and the lower end of the ratchet 6, and the fourth support portion IV where the tail end 36 of the latch 3 on the opposite side of the latch shaft 10 from the engagement groove 31 abuts against the side wall portion 24b provided on the latch 3 side of the base plate 2. Since the latch 3 is stably supported by the plurality of support portions I to IV, deformation of the hood lock device 1 can be suppressed, and safety can be improved.

[0071] As described above, in this embodiment, a vehicle hood lock device that opens the hood H from a closed state by operating the release operating means 13 twice includes a pivoting member 5 supported by the pivot shaft 11 on the lift lever 4 (effectively on the latch 3), and when the latch 3 pivots from the primary latch position to the secondary latch position, the forced engagement portion 52 presses against the abutment portion 62, causing the abutment portion 62 to retract outside the movement trajectory L1 of the forced engagement portion 52, forcing the ratchet 6 to rotate in the direction of engaging with the latch 3. When the latch 3 pivots from the unlatched position to the latched position, the forced engagement portion 52 is pressed by the abutment portion 62, causing the pivoting member 5 to rotate in the direction of retraction from the abutment portion 62. This not only makes it possible to easily open and close the hood H from outside the vehicle, but also provides a vehicle hood lock device that is relatively small, operates smoothly when the hood H is opened and closed, and enables the latch 3 and ratchet 6 to reliably engage.

[0072] The pivoting member 5 has a stopped portion 51 provided on the opposite side of the pivot axis 11 from the forced engagement portion 52, and the stopped portion 51 abuts against a pivot stopper portion 44 provided on the lift lever 4 (substantially on the latch 3), and the initial position maintaining spring 8 urges the stopped portion 51 in the direction of abutting against the pivot stopper portion 44. Therefore, when the latch 3 pivots from the primary latch position to the secondary latch position, the forced engagement portion 52 presses against the abutment portion 62, causing the abutment portion 62 to retract outside the movement trajectory L1 of the forced engagement portion 52 without generating a loud collision sound, and when the latch 3 pivots from the unlatched position in the latching direction, the forced engagement portion 52 is pressed by the abutment portion 62, and can be pivoted in the direction of retracting from the abutment portion 62.

[0073] When the latch 3 rotates from the primary latch position to the secondary latch position, the stopped portion 51 is in a non-rotating state abutting the rotation stopper portion 44, and the forced engagement portion 52 presses the abutment portion 62, causing the abutment portion 62 to move out of the movement trajectory of the forced engagement portion 52, and the primary latch portion 32 moves while sliding against the upper arc portion 69 provided between the abutment portion 62 and the claw portion 61 near the ratchet shaft 12.Therefore, when a release operation is performed on the hood H in the first engagement state, the claw portion 61 can be reliably engaged with the secondary latch portion 33, and the hood can transition to the second engagement state.

[0074] The forced engagement portion 52 has a shape that protrudes toward the ratchet 6 from the outer periphery of the latch 3, and the abutment portion 62 has a shape that protrudes toward the forced engagement portion 52. Furthermore, when the ratchet 6 is in the first engagement state, the abutment portion 62 retreats outside the movement trajectory L1 of the forced engagement portion 52, and when the ratchet 6 rotates from the first engagement state in the release direction, it enters the movement trajectory L1 of the forced engagement portion 52. Therefore, at an intermediate position between the primary latch position and the secondary latch position, the forced engagement portion 52 reliably abuts against the abutment portion 62, and the forced engagement portion 52 can forcibly rotate the ratchet 6 in the direction of engaging with the latch 3.

[0075] Before the latch 3 reaches the secondary latch position from the primary latch position, the claw portion 61 enters the movement trajectory of the secondary latch portion, so that the claw portion 61 of the ratchet 6 can be reliably engaged with the secondary latch portion 33.

[0076] When the latch 3 rotates from the unlatched position in the latching direction, the forced engagement portion 52 is pressed by the abutment portion 62 of the ratchet 6, causing the rotating member 5 to rotate in a direction away from the abutment portion 62. Therefore, when the hood H is closed and the ratchet 6 comes into contact with the forced engagement portion 52, the latch 3 can rotate with only relatively little resistance even when it comes into contact with the ratchet 6, and the ratchet 6 receives only a relatively little pressing force from the latch 3. Therefore, the hood locking device 1 can perform a smooth closing operation, and during the closing operation, the ratchet 6 can reliably engage with each of the primary latch portion 32 and the secondary latch portion 33 of the latch 3, thereby improving quality.

[0077] When the latch 3 rotates to the over-latch position, the pressing portion 34 on the latch 3 abuts against the pressed portion 63 on the ratchet 6, forcing the ratchet 6 to rotate further in the engagement direction from the first engagement state, and the latch 3 is supported by the first to fourth multiple support portions I to IV, so that it is stably supported, deformation of the hood lock device can be suppressed, and the device can be made smaller.

[0078] Since the first to fourth support parts I to IV are distributed in three or more quadrants on a coordinate plane centered on the latch axis 10, the stress acting on the hood lock device 1 can be distributed overall, the latch 3 is supported more stably, and the effect of suppressing deformation of the hood lock device and the effect of reducing the size of the device are further improved.

[0079] Furthermore, by providing the contact portion 62 near the rotation shaft 12 of the ratchet 6, the rotation range of the contact portion 62 can be reduced, thereby enabling the device to be made more compact.

[0080] Furthermore, by providing a forced engagement portion 52 on the unlatch direction side of the engagement groove 31 in the latch 3, and by providing a primary latch portion 32 and a secondary latch portion 33 on the latch direction side, the latch 3 can be prevented from becoming larger, thereby making it possible to miniaturize the device.

[0081] Furthermore, by using the striker entry groove 21 of the base plate 2 as a reference, the latch 3 is pivotally supported on one side by the latch shaft 10, and the ratchet 6 is pivotally supported on the other side by the ratchet shaft 12 located near the opening of the striker entry groove 21, it is possible to make the base plate 2 smaller, thereby enabling the device to be made more compact, and by providing the forced engagement portion 52 of the latch 3 and the abutment portion 62 of the ratchet 5 so that they fit within the range of the base plate 2, it can be used for vehicles with different specifications.

[0082] Furthermore, by arranging the abutment portion 62 of the ratchet 6 and the forced engagement portion 52 of the latch 3 to move in an area on one side of the striker entry groove 21 in the base plate 2, the base plate 2 can be made smaller.

[0083] Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above with reference to the accompanying drawings, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications and alterations can be made to this embodiment within the scope of the technical concept of the present invention. For example, the lift lever 4 is preferably provided to prevent rattle of the striker S within the engagement groove 31 of the latch 3, but is not an essential element. If the lift lever 4 is not provided, one end of the lift spring 7 may be attached directly to the latch 3, the pivot member 5 may be pivotally supported, and the pivot stopper 44 may be provided. Even if the lift lever 4 is provided, the pivot member 5 may be pivotally supported on the lift lever 4, and the pivot stopper 44 may be directly provided on the latch 3. [Explanation of symbols]

[0084] 1. Vehicle hood lock device 2. Base plate 21 Striker entry groove 22 Ratchet stopper 23 Latch stopper part 24a Ratchet side wall 24b Latch side wall 3. Latch 31 Engagement groove 32 Primary latch section 33 Secondary latch section 34 Pressing section 35. Projection 36...tail end 4. Lift lever 41...Connection hole 42 Lift arm section 43 Engagement groove 44 Rotation stopper part 45 Spring mounting part 5. Rotating member 51...Stopped part 52...Forcible engagement section 6. Ratchet 61 Claw part 62...Contact part 62a...Slope part 63 Pressed part 64...Stopped piece 65...Connection part 66...Stepped section 67 Spring mounting part 68 Lower arc section (second arc section) 69 Upper arc section (first arc section) 7. Unlatch biasing member (lift spring) 8. Initial position maintaining biasing member (initial position maintaining spring) 9. Engagement biasing member (ratchet spring) 10. Latch shaft 11. Rotating shaft 12 Ratchet shaft 13...Release operation means 14. Operational force transmission member L1: Movement trajectory of the forced engagement part L2: Secondary latch movement trajectory H... Hood S... Striker V...Vehicle I...First support II. Second Support III. Third support IV...Fourth support

Claims

1. a base plate fixed to a vehicle body, the base plate having a striker entrance groove into which a striker provided on a hood supported on the vehicle body in an openable and closable manner enters and exits in association with a closing operation and an opening operation of the hood; a latch that is rotatably supported on the base plate by a latch shaft provided at a position spaced from the striker entrance groove in a direction perpendicular to the striker entrance groove, the latch having an engagement groove with which the striker engages, the latch rotating between a primary latch position where the latch engages with the striker that has entered the striker entrance groove to hold the hood in a fully closed position, a secondary latch position where the latch holds the hood in a position slightly open from the fully closed position, and an unlatched position where the striker can advance and retreat; a ratchet rotatably supported on the base plate by a ratchet shaft provided in an area opposite to the latch shaft across the striker entrance groove, the ratchet engaging with the latch to hold the latch at the primary latch position, and rotating in response to operation of a release operating means to move the latch from the primary latch position, via the secondary latch position, to the unlatched position, the latch has a primary latch portion provided on the latch direction side of the engagement groove and engaging with the ratchet at the primary latch position, and a secondary latch portion provided on the latch direction side of the primary latch portion and engaging with the ratchet at the secondary latch position, the ratchet has a pawl portion which, when engaged with the primary latch portion, puts the latch in a first engagement state in which it holds the latch at the primary latch position, and which, when engaged with the secondary latch portion, puts the latch in a second engagement state in which it holds the latch at the secondary latch position, and the pawl portion rotates by being released from each of the first and second engagement states in response to operation of the release operating means; When the release operating means is operated with the ratchet in the first engaged state, the claw portion disengages from the primary latch portion and immediately thereafter engages with the secondary latch portion, and when the release operating means is operated with the ratchet in the second engaged state, the claw portion disengages from the secondary latch portion, allowing the latch to rotate to the unlatched position, thereby allowing the hood to be opened from a closed state by two operations of the release operating means, in this vehicle hood lock device, a rotary member supported by a rotary shaft provided on the latch on the unlatch direction side of the engagement groove of the latch, the rotary member having a forced engagement providing portion that comes into contact with a contact portion provided on the ratchet at an intermediate position between the primary latch position and the secondary latch position when the latch rotates from the primary latch position to the secondary latch position, the contact portion being provided on the ratchet at a position opposite the pawl portion across the ratchet shaft; When the latch rotates from the primary latch position to the secondary latch position, the forcible engagement portion presses the abutment portion to retract the abutment portion from a movement locus of the forcible engagement portion, whereby the rotating member forcibly rotates the ratchet in a direction in which the pawl portion engages with the latch, When the latch rotates from the unlatched position to the latching direction, the forced engagement portion is pressed by the abutment portion, causing the rotating member to rotate in a direction away from the abutment portion.

2. the rotating member further has a stopped portion provided on the opposite side of the rotation axis from the forced engagement providing portion, the stopped portion abutting against a rotation stopper portion provided on the latch, and the stopped portion is biased in a direction of abutting against the rotation stopper portion by an initial position maintaining biasing member, When the latch rotates from the primary latch position to the secondary latch position, in a non-rotating state in which the stopped portion abuts against the rotation stopper portion, the forcible engagement providing portion presses the abutment portion to retract the abutment portion out of a movement locus of the forcible engagement providing portion, whereby the rotating member forcibly rotates the ratchet in a direction in which the pawl portion engages with the latch, 2. The vehicle hood lock device according to claim 1, wherein when the latch rotates from the unlatched position to the latching direction, the forced engagement portion is pressed by the abutment portion, causing the rotating member to rotate in a direction away from the abutment portion and in a direction in which the stopped portion moves away from the rotation stopper portion.

3. the rotating member further has a stopped portion provided on the opposite side of the rotation axis from the forced engagement providing portion, the stopped portion abutting against a rotation stopper portion provided on the latch, and the stopped portion is biased in a direction of abutting against the rotation stopper portion by an initial position maintaining biasing member, 2. The vehicle hood lock device according to claim 1, wherein when the latch rotates from the primary latch position to the secondary latch position, in a non-rotating state in which the stopped portion abuts the rotation stopper portion, the forcible engagement portion presses the abutment portion to retract the abutment portion outside the movement trajectory of the forcible engagement portion, and the primary latch portion moves while sliding against a first arc portion provided between the abutment portion and the claw portion near the ratchet shaft.

4. 2. The vehicle hood lock device according to claim 1, wherein the forced engagement portion has a shape that protrudes from the outer periphery of the latch toward the ratchet, and the abutment portion has a shape that protrudes toward the forced engagement portion.

5. 2. The vehicle hood lock device according to claim 1, wherein the abutment portion is retracted outside the movement locus of the forced engagement portion when the ratchet is in each of the first and second engaged states, and enters the movement locus of the forced engagement portion when the ratchet rotates in the release direction from each of the first and second engaged states.

6. 2. The vehicle hood lock device according to claim 1, wherein when the forced engagement portion abuts against the abutment portion, the claw portion enters into the movement trajectory of the secondary latch portion before the latch reaches the secondary latch position from the primary latch position.

7. 2. The vehicle hood lock device according to claim 1, wherein when the latch rotates from the unlatched position in the latching direction, passes through the primary latch position, and rotates to the overlatched position, a pressing portion provided on the latch on the unlatching direction side of the pivoting member abuts a pressed portion provided on the ratchet on the ratchet shaft side of the abutting portion, forcibly rotating the ratchet further in the engagement direction from the first engaged state.

8. 8. The vehicle hood lock device according to claim 7, wherein when the latch reaches the over-latched position, the latch is supported by at least a first support portion where the striker abuts against a bottom wall of the striker entrance groove, a second support portion where the pressing portion of the latch abuts against the pressed portion of the ratchet, a third support portion where the secondary latch portion of the latch abuts against a second arc portion provided between the end of the ratchet opposite the abutment portion with the pawl portion therebetween, and a fourth support portion where a tail end of the latch on the side opposite the engagement groove with the latch shaft therebetween abuts against a side wall portion provided on the base plate on the latch side.

9. 9. The vehicle hood lock device according to claim 8, wherein the first to fourth support portions are distributed in three or more quadrants on a coordinate plane centered on the latch shaft.

10. The latch is provided with a lift lever rotatably supported on the base plate by the latch shaft, the lift lever having an engagement groove with which the striker engages, and connected to the latch so that an unlatch biasing member applies a biasing force to the latch in the unlatch direction, 2. The vehicle hood lock device according to claim 1, wherein the rotating member is supported by the lift lever by the rotating shaft on a side of the engagement groove of the lift lever in the unlatching direction.

11. the rotating member further has a stopped portion provided on the opposite side of the rotation shaft from the forced engagement providing portion, the stopped portion being in contact with a rotation stopper portion provided on the latch or the lift lever, and the stopped portion is biased in a direction in which it contacts the rotation stopper portion by an initial position maintaining biasing member, When the latch rotates from the primary latch position to the secondary latch position, in a non-rotating state in which the stopped portion abuts against the rotation stopper portion, the forcible engagement providing portion presses the abutment portion to retract the abutment portion out of a movement locus of the forcible engagement providing portion, whereby the rotating member forcibly rotates the ratchet in a direction in which the pawl portion engages with the latch, 11. The vehicle hood lock device according to claim 10, wherein when the latch rotates from the unlatched position to the latching direction, the forced engagement portion is pressed by the abutment portion, causing the rotating member to rotate in a direction away from the abutment portion and in a direction in which the stopped portion moves away from the rotation stopper portion of the lift lever.

Images