Technical Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a mascot retraction mechanism, in particular for an automobile.

Background to the Invention

Regulations require that certain ornaments which project from vehicles retract, detach or bend over when a specified minimum force is applied in a plane approximately parallel to the surface on which they are mounted.

US4061303 discloses an arrangement for automatically retracting a mascot mounted to a radiator shell of a vehicle. The mascot rises upwards from a circular base. The edge of the underside of the base is flat and is urged onto an annular supporting surface by a spring loaded rod connected to the underside of the base. A finishing ring surrounds the annular supporting surface. When a lateral force is applied to the mascot it causes it to tilt, the edge of the circular base hinging against the annular surface and/or finishing ring. As the mascot hinges the spring loaded rod is moved against the spring force. Movement of the rod causes a mechanism to retract the mascot into the radiator shell. As the base is circular the mascot will retract when a similar minimum lateral force is applied to it in any direction. The retraction mechanism comprises pivotally mounted levers to which the mascot is attached. The levers move to retract the mascot into the radiator shell in a downward arc, leaving the tip of the mascot protruding from the radiator shell. The mascot is returned to its original position manually by rotating a nut with a spanner.

There are a number of disadvantages with this arrangement. The need for a circular base imposes limitations on the design of the mascot. The retraction mechanism occupies a significant amount of space to the side of the space directly beneath the mascot into which the mascot retracts. Part of the mascot continues to protrude from the radiator shell after retraction which is unsightly and exposes the mascot to tampering or theft, even when retracted. Arranging for the mascot to fully retract would likely involve the retraction mechanism occupying additional space. Returning the mascot to its original position involves manual intervention, which is inconvenient. It is an object of embodiments of the present invention to address some of all of these problems.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a mascot retraction mechanism comprising a track, a support for supporting a mascot, the support being mounted for movement along the track between a mascot deployed position and a mascot stowed position, and a drive mechanism arranged to drive the support along the track, the drive mechanism comprising a carriage which is also mounted for movement along the track.

A track may be positioned vertically beneath an aperture in a generally horizontal surface, such as the top of a radiator shell, through which it is intended to deploy a mascot. The mechanism can thus conveniently occupy space directly below the aperture. It can also provide for deployment and retraction of a mascot with a linear upright motion, which is thought to be aesthetically more pleasing than the curved paths provided by prior art systems. Thus, the track may be substantially straight.

The track may comprise substantially parallel edges. The support may be mounted for movement along one edge and the carriage for movement along the other edge. The support and/or carriage may be movable mounted to the track. The track may comprise two pairs of spaced apart substantially parallel edges, each pair substantially parallel to the other pair. The support may be mounted to one pair of edges and the carriage to the other pair of edges. In one arrangement the track comprises a pair of outside parallel edges, forming respective opposite sides of the track, and a pair of opposed inside parallel edges, forming edges of an aperture through the support. In this arrangement the support is mounted for movement along one of the outside or inside edges and the carriage for movement along the other of the outside or inside edges. The support may be mounted to the outside edges and the carriage to the inside edges. The support may be mounted to the track via runners. There may be four runners.

The mascot retraction mechanism may comprise a biasing element arranged to resiliently bias the support towards one end of the track. This may be a resilient member such as a spring. The drive mechanism may comprise two pivotally connected levers and an actuator arranged to pivot the two levers relative to each other thereby to move the support relative to the track. The actuator may comprise an electric motor. One lever may be pivotally connected to the carriage, preferably at one end of the lever. The other lever may be pivotally connected to a support which is fixed relative to the track, preferably at one end of the lever. The two levers may be pivotally connected to one another by the actuator. There may be a releasable latch via which the drive mechanism drives the support. The latch may be releasable to enable the support to move along the track free of the drive mechanism. The releasable latch may releasably connect the carriage to the support. The releasable latch may comprise a latch member mounted to one of the support or carriage. The latch member may be arranged to releasably engage with the other of the support or carriage, thereby enabling the carriage to drive the support along the track. Unless released, the releasable latch may permit the carriage and support to pass one another in one relative direction but not the opposite relative direction. For example, the releasable latch may permit the carriage to move along the track past the support in one direction but not the opposite direction. A release mechanism may be provided arranged to release the releasable latch when a mascot mounted on the support is tilted.

Any other suitable drive mechanism may be employed to move the support along the track. This may comprise a belt or chain drive or a piston and cylinder assembly. In all cases though it is desirable that the drive mechanism may be decoupled from the support by a release mechanism in response to tilting of a mascot mounted to the support.

A cover may be arranged to close an aperture through which a mascot has been retracted. The cover may be mounted to a lever mechanism which is operated by a follower which bears on a drive surface or surfaces of the support.

The mascot retraction mechanism may be arranged so that when the support moves to the mascot stowed position the door moves to closed position and is locked against movement from the closed position whilst the support for a mascot remains in the retracted position. The lever mechanism may be arranged so that when the support moves the mascot from the mascot stowed position to the mascot deployed position the cover is moved downwards and to one side of the aperture. This permits a mascot to be moved vertically between deployed and stowed positions.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a mascot retraction mechanism comprising a mascot base with a non-circular outline shape, the base extending over and concealing in use a contact area with a substantially circular edge, a support comprising a support surface and an arrangement for resiliently biasing the contact area of the mascot base into contact with the support surface permitting the mascot base to pivot relative to the support about the substantially circular edge.

This allows the shape of the mascot base to be any non-circular desired shape, whilst permitting the mechanism to be responsive to lateral forces which tilt a mascot with equal sensitivity from all directions.

The mascot base may for example have has a generally polygonal shape, such as square, rectangular, diamond shaped, trapezoidal or hexagonal such as a coffin shape. The shape may have curved comers and may be elongate.

The substantially circular edge may have an angular profile, such as a right angle formed at the edge of a disc or raised circular surface. Or, the substantially circular edge has a curved profile, such as by the surface of an annular ring with a U- shaped cross-section, or by a substantially circular ridge raised on a surface.

The contact area and / or the support surface may be annular or circular. The contact area may be formed only by the substantially circular edge.

The substantially circular edge is formed integrally with the mascot base or comprised in a pivot member connected to the mascot base.

Respective co-operating formations associated with the mascot base and the support may be provided which cooperate to locate the mascot base in a desired position relative to the support when the contact area is biased into contact with the support surface. The formations may comprise respective male and female members, such as a protrusion with a non-circular cross-section which is received into an aperture, or a ring with a generally u-shaped cross section which is received into a circular channel with a corresponding cross-section with one or more additional formations to provide rotational alignment.

The support may comprise an aperture of corresponding shape to the outline shape of the mascot base, and arranged so that the mascot base is located in and / or aligned with the aperture when the contact area is biased into contact with the support surface. In this case a clearance is preferably provided between the edge of the mascot base and the aperture, and beneath the underside of the mascot base and the support, when the contact area is biased into contact with the support surface. This permits the mascot base to pivot relative to the support about the substantially circular edge.

The support may comprise a plinth and the aperture may be formed in the plinth.

The mascot retraction mechanism may be arranged so that sufficient pivoting of the mascot base relative to the support causes the mechanism to retract the mascot. In particular, the mascot base may be connected to or urged into contact with a member such that pivoting of the mascot base causes movement of the member, the member being operatively connected to a latch such that sufficient movement of the member causes the latch to release, and release of the latch permits the support to move from a mascot deployed position to a mascot retracted position. The member may comprise or be connected to a cable. The member may comprise or be connected to a push-rod and / or lever.

The arrangement for resiliently biasing may be a resilient member such as a spring, in particular a helical spring. The mascot base may be biased downwards or upward to urge the contact area into contact with the support surface.

The first aspect of the invention may include any or all of the features of the second aspect of the invention and vice versa.

Detailed Description of the Invention

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood one or more embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

Figure 1 is a cross-section of part of a mascot retraction mechanism; Figure 2 corresponds to figure 1 showing operation of the release mechanism; Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the mechanism of figure 1;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the mascot and pivot member figure 1 ;

Figure 5 is a bottom perspective view of the plinth of figure 1 ;

Figure 6 is an enlarged cross-section of the top of the mechanism of figure 1; Figure 7 is a corresponding view to figure 6, showing operation of the release mechanism;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the mechanism of figure 1 mounted to a track and drive mechanism;

Figure 9 is a partially exploded perspective view of the arrangement of figure 8; Figure 10 is a front view of the arrangement of figure 8, in a mascot stowed position;

Figure 11 is a front view of the arrangement of figure 8, part way between the mascot stowed position and mascot deployed position;

Figure 12 is a front view of the arrangement of figure 8, in the mascot deployed position;

Figure 13 is a perspective view of arrangement of figure 8, in the mascot deployed position, together with a mascot cover mechanism;

Figure 14 is an exploded perspective view of the mascot cover mechanism of figure 13;

Figure 15 is a front view of the arrangement of figure 13, in a mascot deployed position;

Figure 16 is a front view of the arrangement of figure 13, between the mascot deployed and mascot stowed positions;

Figure 17 is a front view of the arrangement of figure 13, between the mascot deployed and mascot stowed positions; Figure 18 is a front view of the arrangement of figure 13, in the mascot stowed position;

Figure 19 is a perspective view of the top of a radiator shell of a vehicle with mascot deployed; and

Figure 20 corresponds to figure 19 with the mascot stowed.

In what follows the terms up, down, top, bottom and like terms are used to refer to the described apparatuses in the orientation shown in the drawings, which is the orientation in which it is intended to be used, but should not be taken as otherwise limiting. Like reference numerals are used to denote like features throughout the drawings, but should not be taken as otherwise limiting.

Referring initially to figures 1 to 20, these show a mascot retraction mechanism 1 best shown in figure 13. The mechanism is mounted to mount a mascot 2 to the radiator shell of an automobile and operable to move the mascot 2 between a deployed position, shown in figure 19, where it protrudes through an aperture 3 in the radiator shell and a stowed position where mascot is withdrawn, via the aperture 3, into the radiator shell, and to close the aperture 3 in the radiator shell with a cover 4. The mechanism enables a user to selectively move the mascot between the deployed and stowed positions, and automatically moves the mascot from the deployed position to the stowed position when the mascot is subjected to at least a minimum lateral force, that is to say having at least a component in a plane approximately parallel to the surface on which it is mounted.

The retraction mechanism comprises a track 5 which is mounted generally vertically beneath the aperture 3 in the vehicle radiator shell. A support 6 is movably mounted to the track. A drive mechanism 7 is mounted to the track 5 and the support 6, operable to move the support 6 up and down the track 5. The support 6 supports the mascot 2 and includes a release mechanism which releases the support from the drive mechanism when the mascot 2 is tilted, allowing the support 6 to move down the track 5 under the influence of gravity, augmented by force provided by a retraction spring 36. The cover 4 is mounted to a cover deployment mechanism which interacts with the support 6 to cause the cover 4 to close the aperture 3 in the radiator shell when the support 6 moves towards the bottom of the track 5, and to open the aperture 3 when the support 6 moves towards the top of the track 5.

The illustrated retraction mechanism will now be described in greater detail.

The mascot 2 comprises a stylised, forward facing capital letter B from the rear of which extends two feathered wings. The wings are at least partially formed from a semi-transparent material. A lamp or lamps 8 (such as LEDs) are positioned to the rear of the letter B to illuminate the wings.

The mascot 2 also comprises a pedestal 9 extending downward and backwards from the rear of the bottom of the letter B. Away from the B the pedestal 9 thickens and extends into a base 10. The base 10 has a generally trapezoidal outline shape with rounded off comers and a flat underside.

An electrical wire 11 is connected to the lamp 8 and extends from it through the letter B and pedestal 9, downwards and backwards, and exits the body of the mascot through the bottom surface of the base 10 and connects to a power supply (not shown) within the radiator shell, thereby to power the lamp 8.

A generally cylindrical column 12 extends from the bottom surface of the base 10. Four radially projecting tabs 13 are evenly spaced around the column, forming a cross. The bottom of each tab is generally rectangular with a lower edge flush with the bottom of the column. The top of each tab is triangular. There are two mirror opposite, shorter, laterally extending tabs, and two mirror opposite, longer, longitudinally extending tabs.

The mascot 2 is mounted to a plinth 14 which is in turn mounted on top of the support 6. The plinth has 14 a body with an outline generally trapezoidal shape with rounded comers that corresponds to the outline shape of the base of the mascot. A flange 15 extends around the outside of the lower edge of the body 14. The shape of the aperture 3 in the radiator shell corresponds to that of the plinth 14. When the support is moved to its uppermost position on the track, to move the mascot 2 to its deployed position, the body of the plinth partially projects out of the aperture. The flange 15 slightly exceeds the dimensions of the aperture 3 and remains within the radiator shell. The plinth 14 defines a passage which extends there through. The top of the plinth is slightly concave. Within this concavity there is a generally trapezoidal aperture with rounded corners which broadly corresponds in shape to and is aligned with both the outline shape of the plinth and that of the base 4 of the mascot 2. The aperture is slightly larger than the base 4 of the mascot so that the base of the mascot can be received into the aperture with a slight clearance all around. The plinth further defines a ring 16 which projects into the passage at a position spaced beneath the edge of the trapezoidal aperture. The ring has an inverted U-shaped cross-section which opens out at diametrically opposed lateral positions to form a part spherical, concave shape and defines a generally circular opening.

The column 12 of the mascot extends through the ring 16 where it connects to a pivot member 17. The pivot member 17 comprises an annular body defining a central generally circular opening. Ribs 18 extend in the opening to define a smaller central, generally circular, opening with four evenly spaced radial slots extending off, into which is received the column 12 and tabs 13 of the mascot rotationally fixing the mascot to the pivot member 17. The pivot member has a flat annular base the central opening through which has a diameter of about half that of the column 12. A fastener 19 extends through the central aperture of the pivot member 17 into a central aperture in the column 12 fastening the column, and thus mascot 2, to the pivot member 17. The top of the annular body of the pivot member 17 is slightly domed and includes two diametrically opposed part spherical formations so that it fits and rotationally locates into the underside of the ring 16. To the bottom of the annular body there is a radially outwardly extending flange having a substantially circular edge. The underside of the flange, and that of the remainder of the pivot member is substantially flat save for a raised substantially circular ridge 20 at the periphery of the flange. This provides a contact area with a substantially circular edge. Spacing between the underside of the base 10 of the mascot 2 and the top of the pivot member 17 is such that the mascot floats within the plinth 14.

Fasteners 21 secure the plinth to the top of the support 6. A passage extends through the support at the top of which is housed a plunger 22. The plunger has a generally cylindrical lower part above which there is a frustroconcial part with a greater diameter towards its flat top from which a radial flange projects to form a substantially flat annular support surface surrounding a central recess. A blind bore with counter bore extends up from the bottom of the plunger along its long axis. The plunger 22 is supported in the support body by two curved perpendicular links 23, each pivotally connected to the plunger and to the support 6 allowing the plunger 22 to move axially up and down within the passage in the support 6.

A helical spring 24 is positioned in the counter-bore in the plunger 22 and bears between the plunger 22 and support 6 to urge the plunger upwards and into contact with the pivot member 17. This in turn urges the top of the pivot member 17 into contact with the ring 16 of the plinth 14. This locates the base 4 of the mascot 2 correctly both laterally and vertically within the plinth 14, as shown in figure 1, with the top of the base generally flush or slightly recessed into with the edge the aperture in the plinth and a clearance between the bottom of the base 4 and the top of the ring 16.

An elongate cylindrical push rod 25 is fitted into the blind bore in the plunger 22 and extends through the helical spring 24 to bear against a generally horizontally extending arm 26 of a bell-crank pivotally mounted to the support at pivot 27. The bell crank has an upright arm 28. A helical spring 29 located by a protrusion on the upright arm 28 is positioned between this and the support 6, biasing the upright arm 28 away from the support 6 and thus biasing the horizontal arm against the push rod 25. On the opposite side of the upright arm 28, facing away from the support 6, is a latch member 30 with a lower generally horizontal surface and an upper top surface consisting of by two side by side sloping surfaces one more steeply raked than the other.

The track 5 is comprises an elongate rectangular body with an elongate rectangular open therein, the long sides of the opening being parallel to the long outer edges of the body. Four runners 31 on the support 6 slidably mount it to the opposite outside edges of the track 5 allowing it to travel up and down the track 5, with the latch member 30 projecting towards the track. A carriage 32 is mounted to the opposed inside edges to travel up and down the track 5. The carriage 32 comprises a body which defines a recess 33 for receiving the latch member 30. The recess is shaped to confirm to the latch member with a close fit. When the latch member is received into the recess the support 6 will move up and down the track 5 with the carriage 32. The carriage 32 forms part of a drive mechanism. A first elongate drive crank 34 is pivotally connected to the carriage at one end. At its opposite end a splined shaft connects to an output drive of an electric motor and gearbox assembly 35. The motor and gearbox assembly comprises a housing and the output drive is disposed at one end of the housing. The housing forms a second crank and is pivotally connected to the track 5 at its end opposite to where the output drive is located. Operation of the motor causes the two cranks 34, 35 to be pivoted relative to one another driving the carriage 32 along the track 5. The gearbox is self-locking (or a brake could be provided) so as to lock the carriage 32 in any desired position along the track.

One end of the retraction spring 36 is connected to the support 6 and the other to a fixed position in the vehicle beneath the support’s lowest position, biasing the support downwards.

The cover 4 takes the form of a plug, shaped to fit closely in the aperture 3 in the radiator shell, with a flange 37 extending around its lower edge which slightly exceeds the size of the aperture 3. The cover is mounted to a cover mechanism, best shown in figures 13 and 14.

The cover mechanism comprises a type of four bar linkage. The linkage comprises a pair of upper 38 links, a lower 39 link and a drive lever 40. Each comprises a lever pivotally mounted to a respective fixed position 41 in the vehicle at one end, the drive lever being mounted below the lower link which is mounted beneath the upper links. The cover 4 is mounted to a carrier comprising an elongate arm 41 extending from the underside of the cover 4. The free end of the carrier is pivotally connected to the free end of the lower link 39. The free end of the upper arm is pivotally connected to a point on the carrier 41 between its ends. The free end of the drive lever 40 is pivotally connected to one end of a drive link, the opposite end of which is pivotally connected to a point about midway along the length of one of the upper links 38.

The linkage is arranged so that pivoting of the drive lever 40 away from the support 6 causes the carrier 41 to move the cover 4 from a deployed position, where it sits in the aperture 3 in the radiator shell, downwards out of the aperture and to one side of it, and vice versa. The drive lever 40 is elongate and arcuate. About a third of the way along the lever from its fixed pivot 41 there is a projecting arm to which is mounted a follower wheel 43, the axis of rotation of which is parallel to the axes of rotation of the arm’s pivotal connections. The follower wheel 43 is positioned to bear against an adjacent drive surface 44 on a side of the support 6 and is sized to be received into a channel defined between the side of the support and a guide wall 45 forming part of the support 6. The side wall 44 extends generally vertically over about three quarters of the height of the support 6 from its base, and then curves to a horizontal portion. The guide wall 45 is parallel and spaced apart from the side wall 44 and extends around the curve and a short distance either side of the curve. The drive surface of the support 6 and the guide wall 45 are shaped to that as the support 6 moves up and down the track 5 the drive lever 40 is moved through an arc.

When the mascot 2 is in the stowed position, shown in figures 10, 13 and 18 the carriage 32 and support 6 are in their lowermost positions on the track 5. The mascot 2 and plinth 14 are withdrawn into the radiator shell and the aperture 3 is closed by the cover 4. In this state the follower wheel 43 is captured between horizontal part of the drive surface 44 of the support 6 and a lower surface of the guide wall 45. This prevents movement of the drive lever 40 and thus locks the cover 4 in place.

To deploy the mascot the motor drive is actuated to drive the carriage 32 up the track 5. Since the latch member 30 is received into the recess 33 in the support 6 the carriage 32 moves the support 6 up the track 5. Initial movement of the support 6, as shown in figures 17 and 16 causes the drive lever 40 to pivot, moving the cover 4 out of and clear from the aperture 3 when the follower wheel 43 is bearing against the vertical part of the drive surface 44 of the support 6. Continued operation of the motor raises the support 6, through the positions shown in figures 8, 11 and 12 to an uppermost position where the mascot 2 and plinth 14 extend out of the aperture 3 in the radiator shell as shown in figures 12, 13 and 19. At this position the motor is stopped, locking the mascot 2 and plinth 14 in position. Alternatively (or in addition) the motor may drive the levers to an over-centre position. The mascot 2 may be deployed in response to a user command, or automatically when the vehicle being put into an operational state, such as starting the engine or turning an ignition switch to a particular position.

If it is desired to stow the mascot 2, for example when leaving the vehicle, the process is reversed. The motor operates to allow the carriage 32 and support 6 to descend down the track 5 retracting the mascot 2 into the radiator shell. As the support 6 reaches the bottom of its travel the follower wheel 43 of the drive lever 40 is captured between the guide wall 45 and side 44 of the support 6 causing the lever 40 to pivot and the cover 4 to return to plug the aperture 3.

If, whilst deployed, the mascot 2 is subjected to a sufficient lateral force in any direction, and as shown for example in figure 2, the mascot tilts causing a circular or substantially circular edge of the pivot member 17 to pivot against the ring 16 of the plinth 14 and the top of the plunger 22. The base 10 of the mascot 2 tilts with the mascot, the downwardly moving part of the base moving into the clearance between the base 10 and the top of the ring 16 but remaining clear from contact with the plinth 14. Pivoting of the pivot member 17 forces the plunger 22 downwards against the action of the spring 24. In turn this causes the push rod 25 to depress the bell crank 26 and moves the latch member 30 out of the recess 33 in the carriage 32. This releases the support 6 from the carriage 32 allowing it to travel freely down the track under the combined influence of gravity and the retraction spring 36. This retracts the mascot 2 and during the final movement of the support to its lowermost position closes and locks the cover 4. The mascot 2 is therefore quickly retracted in the event of it colliding with a person or object or being tampered with.

In this state the support 6 has descended the bottom of the track 5 whilst the carriage 32 remains at the top. To deploy the mascot 2 again the motor is operated to drive the carriage 32 to the bottom of the track 5. As the carriage 32 contacts the angled side of the latch member 30 it will deflect the latch member 30 against the spring 29. This allows the carriage 32 to pass over the latch member 30 until it reaches its lowermost position where the latch member will be urged into the recess 33 by the spring 29. Provision of two differently sloping surfaces to the upper side of the latch member facilitates its return to the recess, whilst reducing the risk of it coming out of the recess without the latch member being retracted. The motor can then be reversed to drive the carriage 32 upwards, this time together with the support 6. This motion can be achieved by a user selecting the mascot 2 to a stowed position before re-selecting a deployed position. Or, a detector, such as a micro switch, could be employed to detect when the latch member 30 is released and in response cause the motor to drive the carriage to its lowermost position to re-engage with the support 6 ready to re-deploy the mascot 2 when required.

The one or more embodiments are described above by way of example only. Many variations are possible without departing from the scope of protection afforded by the appended claims.