DUAL ACTION HOOD LATCH ASSEMBLY FOR A VEHICLE
First Claim
1. A vehicle, comprising:
- a hood providing closure for a forward compartment of the vehicle;
a hood latch assembly positioned within the forward compartment and configured to releasably retain the hood in a closed position with a first hood latch and in a partly open position with a second hood latch;
a hood latch release mechanism operable from within a passenger compartment of the vehicle and coupled to the hood latch assembly for releasing the first hood latch upon a first operation of the hood latch release mechanism and releasing the second hood latch upon a second operation of the hood latch release mechanism;
wherein, both the first and second hood latches are released from within the passenger compartment of the vehicle allowing the hood to move to an open position.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In accordance with exemplary embodiments, a hood latch assembly is provided for a vehicle. The hood latch assembly is configured to be positioned within a forward compartment of a vehicle and to releasably retain a hood of the vehicle in a closed position with a first hood latch and in a partly open position with a second hood latch. A hood latch release mechanism is configured to be positioned within a passenger compartment of the vehicle and be coupled to the hood latch assembly for releasing the first hood latch upon a first operation of the hood latch release mechanism and releasing the second hood latch upon a second operation of the hood latch release mechanism. This provides a dual-action release mechanism that can be operated entirely from within the vehicle.
34 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A vehicle, comprising:
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a hood providing closure for a forward compartment of the vehicle; a hood latch assembly positioned within the forward compartment and configured to releasably retain the hood in a closed position with a first hood latch and in a partly open position with a second hood latch; a hood latch release mechanism operable from within a passenger compartment of the vehicle and coupled to the hood latch assembly for releasing the first hood latch upon a first operation of the hood latch release mechanism and releasing the second hood latch upon a second operation of the hood latch release mechanism; wherein, both the first and second hood latches are released from within the passenger compartment of the vehicle allowing the hood to move to an open position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system, comprising:
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a hood latch assembly configured to be positioned within a forward compartment of a vehicle and to releasably retain a hood of a vehicle in a closed position with a first hood latch and in a partly open position with a second hood latch; and a hood latch release mechanism configured to be positioned within a passenger compartment of the vehicle and be coupled to the hood latch assembly for releasing the first hood latch upon a first operation of the hood latch release mechanism and releasing the second hood latch upon a second operation of the hood latch release mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. A method, comprising:
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releasing a first hood latch retaining a hood providing closure for a forward compartment of a vehicle upon a first operation of a hood latch release mechanism positioned within a passenger compartment of the vehicle; and releasing a second hood latch retaining the hood in a partly open position upon a second operation of the hood latch release mechanism positioned within the passenger compartment of the vehicle; whereby, both the first and second hood latches are released from within the passenger compartment of the vehicle allowing the hood to move to an open position.
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Specification