A HOOD OPENING SYSTEM Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a hood opening system which is designed to enable opening the hood used in vehicles more safely and easily. Background of the Invention

In commercial vehicles and automobiles, when the engine hood is open, the hood prevents sight of the driver partially or completely. For this reason, the engine hood lock should have two stages for homologation problems and safety purposes, and these two locks should be released successively for the engine hood of the vehicle to be opened. Generally the release arm of the first lock is provided in the vehicle and the release arm of the second lock is provided outside of the vehicle, directly under the hood. In order to open the hood, firstly the release arm within the cabin should be pulled and then the second lock should be unlocked by getting out of the vehicle and using the release arm that is under the hood. A person who is not accustomed to this cannot find the release arm provided under the engine hood whose first lock is unlocked.

Today, in commercial vehicles and automobiles, there are applications for opening the second lock from within and outside of the cabin after the first lock of the engine hood is opened. Examples of these applications include using an eyecatching color for the release arm under the engine hood, applying the release arm again from under the hood but from another place which can be located more easily, the safety lock being opened by an arm within the cabin just like the first lock, using moveable lock striker, and using wo-stage lock striker. The International patent document no. WO2013127002 (Al), an application in the state of the art, discloses a latch for locking the vehicle hoods. The ratchet is movable between a primary closed position, a secondary closed position and an open position.

The Korean patent document no KR20130049922 (A), an application in the state of the art, discloses a hood latch mechanism comprising two latches connected with each other. The hood latch device enables to elevate the hood by elevating the hood latch assembly and to return to an initial position after the elevation of the latch when a pedestrian collides with the vehicle.

Summary of the Invention

The objective of the present invention is to provide a hood opening system, wherein after unlocking the first lock of the engine hood from within the cabin, the driver does not need to look for a release arm for releasing the second lock under the engine hood after getting out of the vehicle.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a hood opening system wherein the release arm under the engine hood for releasing the second lock is cancelled and the second lock is released by means of a button or a touch sensitive surface that will be designed on the engine hood.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a hood opening system which enables the user to release the second lock by maximum comfort and ease.

Detailed Description of the Invention

The hood opening ^" system developed to fulfill the objective of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying figure, in which: Figure 1 is the schematic view of the hood opening system.

The components shown in the figures are each given reference numbers as follows:

1. Hood opening system

2. Hood lock

3. Controller

4. First release member

5. First drive member

6. First transmission member

7. Second drive member

8. Second release member

9. Second transmission member

10. Time counter

The hood opening system (1), which is designed to enable opening the hood used in vehicles more safely and easily, basically comprises

at least one hood lock (2), which enables the hood that is located at the front part of the vehicle, to be released and opened,

at least one controller (3) which controls whether the hood lock (2) is open or not and which also enables to lock or unlock the hood lock (2),

at least one first drive member (5), which is provided within the vehicle, preferably arranged on the key, and which, when pressed, enables to drive the first release member (4) provided on the hood lock (2) and the first release member (4) to open the hood,

at least one first transmission member (6) which provides the connection between the first drive member (5) and the first release member (4), at least one drive member (7), which is located at the outside of the vehicle and preferably has a capacitive surface, and which can be driven after the first release member (4) releases the hood, at least one second release member (8) which is opened after activation of the second drive member (7) and which enables the hood to be completely released,

at least one second transmission member (9) which provides the connection between the second drive member (7) and the second release member (8), at least one time counter (10) which, after the second release member (8) is activated, counts a certain period of time, and if the hood is not lifted within this period of time, sends a command to the controller (3) to relock the second release member (8).

In one embodiment of the invention, there is one first release member (4) and one second release member (8) in the hood lock (2). Drive of the first release member (4) is provided by means of a first drive member (5) which is located within the vehicle and is provided preferably on a button or the vehicle key. When the first drive member (5) is driven, this drive is transmitted to the first release member (4) via the first transmission member (6). When the first drive member (5) is activated; the first release member (4), which is the first latch of the hood lock (2), releases the hood. When the first release member (4) releases the hood, the hood is locked only by the second release member (8). The second release member (8) is driven by the second drive member (7). When the second drive member (7) is activated, this activation is transmitted to the second release member (8) via the second transmission member (9), and this way the second release member (8) releases the hood. The second drive member (7) is preferably located on or near the hood and can be easily contacted without exerting any force since it is preferably touch sensitive (capacitive); and as a result of this contact, it enables to activate the second release member (8). There is a time counter (10) provided on the controller (3). This time counter (10) controls the second release member (8), and if, after the second release member (8) releases the hood, the hood is not opened within a preferred period of time, it relocks the second release member (8) and thus prevents unsafe opening of the hood. The second drive member (7) used in another embodiment of the invention is preferably a button arranged on the hood. After opening the first release member (4), the user presses this second drive member (7) located on the hood and thus enables to release the hood completely.

The second drive member (7) used in another embodiment of the invention is arranged on the logo that depicts the brand of the vehicle. When the user contacts the second drive member (7) arranged on the logo, the second release member (8) is activated and allows the hood to be completely released.

Operation of the hood opening system (1) is as follows: When the user prefers to open the hood, s/he activates the first drive member (5) within the vehicle. The first drive member (5) transmits this drive to the first release member (4) via the first transmission member (6). This transmission is controlled by means of the controller (3). Then the first release member (4) enables to release the hood. In this position, since the second release member (8) is still locked, the hood is not completely released. After the hood is released from the first release member (4), the user gets out of the vehicle and then drives the second drive member (7) arranged on the hood. The second drive member (7) transmits this drive to the second release member (8) via the second transmission member (9). This process enables the hood to be released from the second release member (8). This way, the hood can be opened easily. Additionally, after disconnection of the second release member (8) with the hood, if there is no contact to the hood for a predefined period of time, the time counter (10) relocks the second release member (8). Thus, the hood lock is prevented from being opened accidentally.