DESC:FORM 2

THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENT RULES, 2003

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See Section 10 and Rule 13)

Title of invention:
A TRUNK LID AND A FUEL LID RELEASING SYSTEM

Applicant:
Tata Motors Limited
A company Incorporated in India under the Companies Act, 1956
Having address:
Bombay House, 24 Homi Mody Street,
Hutatma Chowk, Mumbai 400001,
Maharashtra, India

The following specification describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS AND PRIORITY
[001] The present application claims priority from Indian patent application no. 201821012251, filed on 31st March, 2018 the complete disclosure of which, in its entirety is herein incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[002] The present subject matter relates to a trunk lid and a fuel lid releasing system in a vehicle, and more particularly, to the trunk lid and the fuel lid release system which is operated by a single knob.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[003] Conventionally, a trunk lid and a fuel lid of a vehicle are opened by accessing two separate knobs provided in a driver's cabin. One knob is provided to open the trunk lid and the other is provided to open the fuel lid. The two knobs require two separate cables that connect to the trunk lid and the fuel lid, respectively, to open the trunk lid and the fuel lid. Such conventional system requires cumbersome cable routing. This also adds to weight of the system.

[004] Indian Patent Application No. 201621011183 discloses a common lever mechanism for rear door or tail gate and fuel flap opening. Both tail gate and fuel flap lid are mounted on a lever mounting bracket with one end for tail gate whereas the other end for the fuel lid. Though this deceases the effort of identifying which knob is to be used for which lid, however, the entire mechanism including two separate cables remains the same as in conventional system.

[005] Therefore, the problem to be solved is to provide a single knob mechanism to reduce the requirement of separate cables for trunk lid and fuel lid, and the problem is solved in the present invention by a fuel lid and trunk lid releasing mechanism which includes a first and a second flap which are connected with trunk lid and the fuel lid respectively, each of these flaps includes a provision angled to each to receive lock nut, which is connected to a knob through a cable, such that when the knob is lifted i.e. with or without rotation, either of the lock nut pushes one of the flaps to enables opening of either fuel lid and the trunk lid.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
[006] The object of the present subject matter is to provide a trunk lid and a fuel lid releasing system that incorporates a single knob for its operation.

[007] Yet another object of the present subject matter is to provide a trunk lid and a fuel lid release system that is compact in size, light weight, easy to use, and cost effective.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[008] An embodiment of the present invention discloses a trunk lid and a fuel lid releasing system for a vehicle comprising: a first flap connected to a trunk lid latch through a first connecting link, said first flap includes a first provision structured to receive a first lock nut; a second flap connected to a fuel lid latch of said fuel lid through a second connecting link, said second flap includes a second provision structured to receive a second lock nut; and a knob connected to a cable extending longitudinally to connect said knob with said first lock nut and said second lock nut, said knob rotates to rotate said first lock nut and said second lock nut, wherein said first provision and said second provision are angled to each other such that when said knob is lifted at different angles, said cable shifts longitudinally towards said knob direction thereby shifting both said first lock nut and said second lock nut, resulting in latching one of said first flap and said second flap to open one of said trunk lid and said fuel lid of said vehicle.

[009] An embodiment of the present invention discloses that longitudinal axis of said first provision of said first flap is perpendicular to longitudinal axis of said second provision of said second flap.

[010] An embodiment of the present invention discloses that second provision receives said second lock nut, and said first lock nut pushes said first flap to open said trunk lid when said knob is lifted.

[011] An embodiment of the present invention discloses that first provision receives said first lock nut, and said second lock nut pushes said second flap to open said fuel lid when said knob is rotated at 90 degrees and lifted.
[012] An embodiment of the present invention discloses that first provision and said second provision is a through hole.

[013] An embodiment of the present invention discloses that first provision and said second provision is a provision.

[014] An embodiment of the present invention discloses that first lock nut and said second lock nut are perpendicular to each other such that in a home position when said knob is lifted said first lock nut pushes said first flap to open said trunk lid, and in a shift position said knob is rotated at 90 degree to enables said lock nut to push said second flap to open said fuel lid.

[015] An embodiment of the present invention discloses that opening of said fuel lid and said trunk lid is supported by a pulley.

[016] An embodiment of the present invention discloses that knob includes a spring to enable retaining of said knob to original position

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[017] The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present subject matter in any way.

[018] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a trunk lid and a fuel lid release system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.

[019] FIG. 2 is an isometric view of knob with spring and a base of a trunk lid and a fuel lid release system.

[020] FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a trunk lid and a fuel lid release system in a home position, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.

[021] FIG. 4 is an isometric view of a trunk lid and a fuel lid release system in a shift position, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.

Name of element Reference Numeral
Knob 1
First flap 2
Second flap 3
First connecting link 4
Second connecting link 5
First lock nut 6
Second lock nut 7
First support link 8
Second support link 9
Spring 10
Base platform 11
Cable 12
Trunk lid latch 13
Fuel lid latch 14
First pulley 15
Second pulley 16
System 100

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[022] Reference will now be made in detail to various embodiments of the present subject matter, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described below. While the present subject matter will be described in conjunction with exemplary embodiments, it will be understood that present description is not intended to limit the present subject matter to those exemplary embodiments. On the contrary, the present subject matter is intended to cover not only the exemplary embodiments, but also various alternatives, modifications, equivalents, and other embodiments, which may be included within the scope of the invention.

[023] To overcome the problems identified by the conventional systems, the present subject matter proposes a trunk lid and a fuel lid releasing system which is operated by a single knob. As referred in FIG. 1, the system 100 comprises a knob 1, a first flap 2 for switching a trunk lid latch 13 and a second flap 3 for the fuel lid latch 14. A cable 12 is provided that connects to the trunk lid latch 13 and the fuel lid latch 14. The cable 12 extends longitudinally to connect the knob 1 with first lock nut 6 and second lock nut 7. The knob 1 rotates to rotate the first lock nut 6 and second lock nut 7. Further, the first lock nut 6 and a second lock nut 7 are provided for the trunk lid latch 13 and the fuel lid latch 14, respectively. The first lock nut 6 and the second lock nut 7 are perpendicular to each other. There are provided a first support link 8 and a second support link 9 for first flap 2 and second flap 3, respectively. The first flap 2 includes a first provision structured to receive a first lock nut 6, whereas the second flap 3 includes a second provision structured to receive the second lock nut 7. The provisions can be a slot or an opening and of the size or dimension to receive the lock nut at a particular angle. The provisions herein is a slot in rectangular shape to receive the lock nuts, which are also of rectangular shape. The longitudinal axis of the first and the second provision are angled or perpendicular with each other i.e. if the first provision or slot is vertical and whereas the second provision or slot is horizontal, and are fixed. A spring 10, a base platform 11 for knob 1, a cable 12, and a first pulley 15 and a second pulley 16 for supporting the connecting links 4, 5 are also provided. The system 100 incorporates two positions of operation, namely: a home position and a shift position.

[024] Referring to FIG. 2, a knob 1 is shown connected with a base platform 11and a cable 12. The cable also includes a spring 10 that enabled the knob to retain its original position.

[025] Referring now to FIG. 3, during the home position, the knob 1 is lifted up for shifting the cable 12 towards knob direction. In this position, the first flap 2 is latched. Further, during operation, the first flap 2 is shifted towards a knob 1 end. In this case, the first connecting link 4 will lead to the operation of the trunk lid latch 13 and the second lock nut 7 comes out from a slot or a hole given on the second flap 3. When the knob 1 is released, the knob 1 and first lock nut 6 and the second lock nut 7 regains its original position, due to the spring action.

[026] Further referring to FIG. 4, during the shift position, the knob 1 is shifted or rotated 90° from the home position, which in turn, rotates the first lock nut 6 and the second lock nut 7 by 90°. When at the shift position, the knob 1 is lifted up for shifting the cable 12 towards the knob direction. In this position, the second lock nut 7 and the second flap 3 are latched. The second flap 3 is then shifted towards the knob 1 end. In this case, the second connecting link 5 leads to the operation of the fuel lid latch 14, thereby opening fuel lid, and further the first lock nut 6 comes out from a slot or a hole given on first flap 2. When the knob 1 is released, the knob 1 and the first lock nut 6, second lock nut 7 come to respective original positions due to the spring action. This leads to regain the home position of the second flap 3.

[027] Advantages of the present subject matter:
1) The system can be used universally in any vehicle
2) As the number of parts required for the operation are reduced, there is a significant reduction in cost
3) Inventory cost can be controlled
4) There is a significant reduction in weight of the system
4) Production is made easier than the conventional systems
5) Time taken for the fitment of the cables is reduced

[028] The foregoing descriptions of specific exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The exemplary embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain certain principles of the invention and their practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to make and utilize various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, as well as various alternatives and modifications thereof.
,CLAIMS:1. A trunk lid and a fuel lid releasing system for a vehicle comprising:
a first flap 2 connected to a trunk lid latch 13 through a first connecting link 4, said first flap 2 includes a first provision structured to receive a first lock nut 6;
a second flap 3 connected to a fuel lid latch 14 of said fuel lid through a second connecting link 5, said second flap 3 includes a second provision structured to receive a second lock nut 7; and
and a knob 1 connected to a cable 12 extending longitudinally to connect said knob 1 with said first lock nut 6 and said second lock nut 7, said knob 1 rotates to rotate said first lock nut 6 and said second lock nut 7,
wherein said first provision and said second provision are angled to each other such that when said knob 1 is lifted at different angles, said cable 12 shifts longitudinally towards said knob 1 direction thereby shifting both said first lock nut 6 and said second lock nut 7, resulting in latching one of said first flap 2 and said second flap 3 to open one of said trunk lid and said fuel lid of said vehicle.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein longitudinal axis of said first provision of said first flap 2 is perpendicular to longitudinal axis of said second provision of said second flap 3.

3. The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said second provision receives said second lock nut 7, and said first lock nut 6 pushes said first flap 2 to open said trunk lid when said knob 1 is lifted.

4. The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said first provision receives said first lock nut 6, and said second lock nut 7 pushes said second flap 3 to open said fuel lid when said knob 1 is rotated at 90 degrees and lifted.

5. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first provision and said second provision is a through hole.

6. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first provision and said second provision is a slot.

7. The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said first lock nut 6 and said second lock nut 7 are perpendicular to each other such that in a home position when said knob 1 is lifted said first lock nut 6 pushes said first flap 2 to open said trunk lid, and in a shift position said knob 1 is rotated at 90 degree to enables said second lock nut 7 to push said second flap 3 to open said fuel lid.

8. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein opening of said fuel lid and said trunk lid is supported by a pulley 15 16.

9. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said knob 1 includes a spring 10 to enable retaining of said knob 1 to original position.