IP Library Granted Patent US 7,150,486
Granted Patent B2
US 7,150,486 · App. 10/895,128 · Granted Dec 19, 2006

Latch device for biaxial hinge tailgate

Assignee: Mitsui Mining & Smelting Co., Ltd.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,150,486
App. No.
10/895,128
Granted
Dec 19, 2006
Kind
B2
Abstract

A latch device includes a biaxial hinge, a horizontal hinge latch mechanism, a vertical hinge latch mechanism, a common latch mechanism, a swing actuation handle, and a flap actuation handle is provided on a tailgate for realizing selective movement about both a vertical axis and a horizontal axis. A first disengagement detection unit detects disengagement of the horizontal hinge latch mechanism and a second disengagement detection unit that detects disengagement of the vertical hinge latch mechanism. A tailgate release-latch unit disables the actuation of the flap actuation handle upon detection of the disengaged condition of the horizontal hinge latch mechanism by the first disengagement detection unit, and swing actuation handle upon detection of the disengaged condition of the vertical hinge latch mechanism by the second disengagement detection unit.

Claims (16)

1. A biaxial hinge tailgate latch device comprising:

a biaxial hinge supporting rotatably about a first axis and a second axis, a tailgate against a fixed part;

a first hinge latch mechanism that supports the tailgate rotatably about the first axis between an engaged condition and, by an actuation of a first actuation unit, a disengaged condition against the fixed part;

a second hinge latch mechanism that supports the tailgate rotatably about the second axis between the engaged condition and, by the actuation of a second actuation unit, the disengaged condition against the fixed part;

a first disengagement detection unit that detects the disengaged condition of the first hinge latch mechanism;

a second disengagement detection unit that detects the disengaged condition of the second hinge latch mechanism; and

a tailgate release-latch unit that disables the actuation of the second actuation unit when the first disengagement detection unit detects the first hinge latch mechanism to be in the disengaged condition and the actuation of the first actuation unit when the second disengagement detection unit detects the second hinge latch mechanism to be in the disengaged condition.

2. The biaxial hinge tailgate latch device according to claim 1 , wherein the tailgate release-latch unit,

includes a first transmission member that transmits the actuation of the first actuation unit to the first hinge latch mechanism, and a second transmission member that transmits the actuation of the second actuation unit to the second hinge latch mechanism, and,

permits, when the first disengagement detection unit detects the first hinge latch mechanism to be in the disengaged condition, the actuation of the second actuation unit but blocks the communication of the actuation to the second transmission member, and when the second disengagement detection unit detects the second hinge latch mechanism to be in the disengaged condition, the actuation of the first actuation unit but blocks the communication of the actuation to the first transmission member.

3. The biaxial hinge tailgate latch device according to claim 1 , wherein when the first actuation unit and the second actuation unit are concurrently actuated, and neither the first hinge latch mechanism nor the second hinge latch mechanism are detected to be in the disengaged condition respectively by the first disengagement detection unit and the second disengagement detection unit, the tailgate release-latch unit disables both the first actuation unit and the second actuation unit.

4. The biaxial hinge tailgate latch device according to claim 2 , wherein when the first actuation unit and the second actuation unit are concurrently actuated, and neither the first hinge latch mechanism nor the second hinge latch mechanism are detected to be in the disengaged condition respectively by the first disengagement detection unit and the second disengagement detection unit, the tailgate release-latch unit disables both the first actuation unit and the second actuation unit.

5. The biaxial hinge tailgate latch device according to claim 1 , wherein the first actuation unit and the second actuation unit are both provided on one side of the tailgate that faces a pivoting direction.

6. The biaxial hinge tailgate latch device according to claim 2 , wherein the first actuation unit and the second actuation unit are both provided on one side of the tailgate that faces a pivoting direction.

7. The biaxial hinge tailgate latch device according to claim 3 , wherein the first actuation unit and the second actuation unit are both provided on one side of the tailgate that faces a pivoting direction.

8. The biaxial hinge tailgate latch device according to claim 4 , wherein the first actuation unit and the second actuation unit are both provided on one side of the tailgate that faces a pivoting direction.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 25, 2011
From: MITSUI MINING & SMELTING CO., LTD.
To: MITSUI KINZOKU ACT CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 026336/0406 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 21, 2004
From: ICHINOSE, MIKIO
To: MITSUI MINING & SMELTING CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 015620/0089 →
Priority Claims (2)
JP 2003-293434 · Aug 14, 2003 · national
JP 2003-293435 · Aug 14, 2003 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20050035620A1 · Feb 17, 2005