Abstract: A pair of restraining plates are pivotally installed in a housing of a lock unit. The restraining plates have respective cam portions that are arranged to put therebetween a striker when the restraining plates are pivoted in respective given directions. A biasing member is arranged to bias one of the restraining plates to pivot in the given direction thereof, and a transmission mechanism is arranged between the restraining plates to induce a synchronized pivoting of the two restraining plates. Thus, when one of the restraining plates is pivoted in the given direction thereof, the other of the restraining plates is pivoted in the given direction thereof. With this arrangement, once the striker is locked by the lock unit, at least one of the cam portions of the restraining plates is pressed against the striker thereby to suppress or at least minimize undesirable play of the lock unit relative to the striker.

Abstract: A pair of restraining plates are pivotally installed in a housing of a lock unit. The restraining plates have respective cam portions that are arranged to put therebetween a striker when the restraining plates are pivoted in respective given directions. A biasing member is arranged to bias one of the restraining plates to pivot in the given direction thereof, and a transmission mechanism is arranged between the restraining plates to induce a synchronized pivoting of the two restraining plates. Thus, when one of the restraining plates is pivoted in the given direction thereof, the other of the restraining plates is pivoted in the given direction thereof. With this arrangement, once the striker is locked by the lock unit, at least one of the cam portions of the restraining plates is pressed against the striker thereby to suppress or at least minimize undesirable play of the lock unit relative to the striker.

Abstract: A hood latch device for a vehicle comprises a base plate secured to a vehicle body. A striker is secured to a pivotal hood of the vehicle body. A primary latch plate and a locking plate are pivotally connected a rear surface of the base plate and engageable with the striker to permit the hood to have a locked full-close position and a released open position. A secondary latch plate is pivotally connected to a front surface of the base plate and engageable with the striker to permit the hood to have a slightly open position and the released open position. A first stopper is arranged to stop an excessive pivoting of the secondary latch plate by contacting a given part of the secondary latch plate. The first stopper is provided by bending an end portion of the base plate without producing an opening therethrough.

Abstract: A hood latch device for a vehicle comprises a base plate secured to a vehicle body. A striker is secured to a pivotal hood of the vehicle body. A primary latch plate and a locking plate are pivotally connected a rear surface of the base plate and engageable with the striker to permit the hood to have a locked full-close position and a released open position. A secondary latch plate is pivotally connected to a front surface of the base plate and engageable with the striker to permit the hood to have a slightly open position and the released open position. A first stopper is arranged to stop an excessive pivoting of the secondary latch plate by contacting a given part of the secondary latch plate. The first stopper is provided by bending an end portion of the base plate without producing an opening therethrough.

Abstract: A base plate has mutually opposed first and second side surfaces. A first group of parts are arranged on the first side surface, which includes an electric motor, a speed reduction unit and an electromagnetic clutch. The speed reduction unit has a gear member which is projected to the second side surface from the first side surface through an opening formed in the base plate and driven by the motor when the electromagnetic clutch assumes ON condition. A second group of parts are arranged on the second side surface, which includes an intermediate gear which is rotatably connected to the base plate and meshed with the gear member, an output gear which is rotatably connected to the base plate through a shaft secured to the output gear and meshed with the intermediate gear and an output arm which is connected to the output gear to rotate therewith. The output arm is connected to the lid through a link.

Abstract: In closure apparatus and method for an elongated lid of a compartment, the lid being pivotally supported on a wall defining the compartment via a pair of mutually spaced apart hinge arms, a control device controls each of a first driving device and an electromagnetic clutch to make a deformation of the lid to the compartment return to its original form in response to an output of the locked state detection signal from the detecting section. In the first embodiment, a rotation direction of a reversible motor is changed to a reverse direction which corresponds to an open direction of the lid to drive the lid toward the open direction in response to the output of the locked state detection signal.

Abstract: The lock device has a latch which is interposed between a base member and a reinforcing plate and is for rotating between an engagement position and an engagement released position. The engagement position is where the latch is to be engaged with a striker when closing an openable body. In addition, the lock device has a locking lever for constraining the latch at the engagement position. The latch by a latch shaft and the locking lever by a lever shaft each are mounted to a back side of the base member with the reinforcing plate. While the reinforcing plate is provided with a projection for fixing engagement which projects toward inside as seen from outside. The projection for fixing engagement fixes a detecting switch to be supported for detecting movement of the latch by fitting in a fitting portion provided to a switch body of the detecting switch.

Abstract: In closure apparatus and method for an elongated lid of a compartment, the lid being pivotally supported on a wall defining the compartment via a pair of mutually spaced apart hinge arms, a control device controls each of a first driving device and an electromagnetic clutch to make a deformation of the lid to the compartment return to its original form in response to an output of the locked state detection signal from the detecting section. In the first embodiment, a rotation direction of a reversible motor is changed to a reverse direction which corresponds to an open direction of the lid to drive the lid toward the open direction in response to the output of the locked state detection signal.

Abstract: A base plate has mutually opposed first and second side surfaces. A first group of parts are arranged on the first side surface, which includes an electric motor, a speed reduction unit and an electromagnetic clutch. The speed reduction unit has a gear member which is projected to the second side surface from the first side surface through an opening formed in the base plate and driven by the motor when the electromagnetic clutch assumes ON condition. A second group of parts are arranged on the second side surface, which includes an intermediate gear which is rotatably connected to the base plate and meshed with the gear member, an output gear which is rotatably connected to the base plate through a shaft secured to the output gear and meshed with the intermediate gear and an output arm which is connected to the output gear to rotate therewith. The output arm is connected to the lid through a link.

Abstract: An opener device having an operation lever rotatably supported so as to open a lid member through a remote operation, and a spring hooked at one end to spring hooking member of the operation lever so as to elastically urge the operation lever, and hooked at the other end to a fixing member. The opener device is improved such that the spring hooking member includes: a recess located at the base end of the operation lever; and a hook-receiving portion provided in the recess, while being located in an internal position of the thickness direction of the operation lever.

Abstract: A lid opener for use in a vehicle comprises a base member secured to a vehicle body. A control lever is pivotally connected to the base member. A rear portion of the control lever is connected through a wire to a latch mechanism of a lid member. The control lever is capable of canceling a latched condition of the latch mechanism when pivoted in a normal direction from a rest position to a work position. A spring is used for biasing the control lever to assume the rest position. A first stopper structure includes the rear portion of the control lever and a part of the base member. The rear portion is kept in contact with the part of the base member when the control lever assumes the rest position. A second stopper structure includes a part of the control lever and a stopper member which is defined by either one of the vehicle floor and the base member.