IP Library Granted Patent US 8,538,637
Granted Patent B2
US 8,538,637 · App. 12/293,886 · Granted Sep 17, 2013

Vehicle with a luggage compartment and an operating element

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,538,637
App. No.
12/293,886
Granted
Sep 17, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

In a vehicle that features a luggage compartment with a cargo opening that can be closed, as well as an operating element that can be actuated in order to open the luggage compartment, an auxiliary function is provided for a function other than the function of opening the luggage compartment and assigned to the operating element while the cargo opening is open such that no additional operating elements.

Claims (31)

1. A vehicle featuring a luggage compartment with a cargo opening, comprising:

a lid having a closed configuration wherein the lid closes the cargo opening and having an open configuration wherein the lid is raised from the cargo opening;

a lid locking mechanism connected to the lid and configured to selectively lock the lid in the closed configuration and to selectively unlock the lid for movement to the open configuration;

a roof having a retracted configuration wherein the roof is located in the luggage compartment;

a roof lifting mechanism connected to the roof and configured to selectively raise the roof from the retracted configuration and to selectively lower the roof into the retracted configuration;

a switch connected to the lid locking mechanism and to the roof lifting mechanism, wherein the switch has a single switching function to transmit a single signal; and

a control in communication with the switch to receive the single signal, wherein the control assigns the single signal to the lid locking mechanism to unlock the lid when the lid is in the closed configuration, and wherein, when the lid is unlocked, the control assigns the single signal to the roof lifting mechanism to raise the roof from the retracted configuration.

2. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the control is in communication with the switch, the lid locking mechanism and the roof lifting mechanism.

3. The vehicle according to claim 2 , further comprising a sensor in communication with the control, wherein the sensor is configured to monitor the configuration of the lid, and wherein the sensor is configured to communicate the configuration of the lid to the control when the switch receives the single signal.

4. The vehicle according to claim 1 , further comprising an illumination element configured to illuminate the luggage compartment, wherein, when the lid is unlocked and the roof is raised, the control assigns the single signal to the illumination device to illuminate the luggage compartment.

5. The vehicle according to claim 1 , further comprising an illumination element configured to illuminate vehicle surroundings, wherein, when the lid is unlocked and the roof is raised, the control assigns the single signal to the illumination device to illuminate the vehicle surroundings.

6. The vehicle according to claim 1 , further comprising a loading mechanism connected to the luggage compartment and configured to selectively raise the luggage compartment and to selectively lower the luggage compartment, wherein, when the lid is unlocked and the roof is raised, the control assigns the single signal to the loading mechanism to raise the luggage compartment.

7. The vehicle according to claim 6 , wherein the loading mechanism comprises a device for unlocking a spare tire located in the luggage compartment.

8. The vehicle according to claim 7 , wherein the loading mechanism comprises a device for unlocking a folding back seat.

9. The vehicle according to claim 8 , wherein the loading mechanism comprises the roof lifting mechanism.

10. The vehicle according to claim 9 , wherein the loading mechanism raises the at least part of the roof a certain distance.

11. The vehicle according to claim 9 , wherein a movement of the roof realized by the loading mechanism corresponds to the beginning of a closing movement of the roof.

12. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the switch comprises a touch contact.

13. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the switch comprises a contact switch.

14. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the switch is integrated into a lock that can be actuated with a key.

15. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the switch is arranged underneath the cargo opening on a stationary part of the vehicle.

16. The vehicle according to one of claim 1 , wherein the switch is arranged on a movable element of the vehicle that closes the cargo opening.

17. The vehicle according to claim 16 , wherein the switch is arranged on the lid.

18. A vehicle comprising:

a luggage compartment formed with a cargo opening selectively closed with a lid;

a lid locking mechanism connected to the lid and configured to selectively lock the lid in a closed configuration and to selectively unlock the lid for movement to an open configuration;

a loading mechanism connected to the luggage compartment and configured to selectively raise the luggage compartment and to selectively lower the luggage compartment;

a switch configured to transmit a single signal upon actuation; and

a control in communication with the switch to receive the single signal, wherein the control assigns the single signal to the lid locking mechanism to unlock the lid upon a first actuation of the switch; and wherein the control assigns the single signal to the loading mechanism to raise the luggage compartment upon a second actuation of the switch.

19. The vehicle according to claim 18 , further comprising a roof retracted into the luggage compartment, wherein the loading mechanism includes a roof lifting mechanism connected to the roof and configured to selectively raise the roof from a retracted configuration and to selectively lower the roof into the retracted configuration.

20. The vehicle according to claim 19 , wherein the loading mechanism comprises a device for unlocking a spare tire located in the luggage compartment and a device for unlocking a folding back seat.

Assignments (12)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 7, 2014
From: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 034384/0758 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 10, 2011
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 025781/0245 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 8, 2010
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
Reel/Frame 025324/0515 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 5, 2010
From: UAW RETIREE MEDICAL BENEFITS TRUST
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 025315/0046 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 4, 2010
From: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 025245/0909 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 28, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UAW RETIREE MEDICAL BENEFITS TRUST
Reel/Frame 023162/0237 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 27, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Reel/Frame 023156/0313 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 21, 2009
From: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 023126/0914 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 21, 2009
From: CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR BANK PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES; CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR HEDGE PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 023155/0769 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 6, 2009
From: GIRSCHICK, ROBERT
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 023064/0062 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 16, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR BANK PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES; CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR HEDGE PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES
Reel/Frame 022554/0538 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 4, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Reel/Frame 022201/0448 →