Hood latch mechanism

• US 4,875,724 A
• Filed: 10/26/1987
• Issued: 10/24/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Atoma International, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Magna International Incorporated
• Inventors: Gruber, Herbert
• Primary Examiner(s): MOORE, RICHARD
• Application Number:
  US07/112,478
• Time in Patent Office: 729 Days
• Field of Search: 292/216, 292/280, 292/25, 292/28, 292/DIG. 14, 292/DIG. 65
• US Class Current: 292/216
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 83/16 Locks for luggage compartments, car boot lids or car bonnets
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 83/24 for car bonnets
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 292/14 Hood latches
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 292/65 Emergency or safety
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1047 Closure

Abstract

A latch mechanism comprising:

(a) a mounting plate carrying a slot having a bottom and mouth,

(b) a pivotably biased pawl mechanism comprising a top arm portion for pivoting from a position over the slot to a position spaced from it, a bottom arm portion and follower apparatus,

(c) a ratchet mechanism biased for rotation and carrying a notch having a mouth and control apparatus for controlling the follower apparatus of the pawl mechanism, and

(d) stop means for stopping rotation of the ratchet mechanism with the mouth of the notch proximate the mouth of the slot both directed towards the top arm portion of the pawl, the top arm portion normally positioned over the slot and being precluded from movement away from the slot unless the mouth of the notch and mouth of the slot are both directed towards the top arm portion.

Claims

1. A latch mechanism comprising a mounting plate carrying a slot having a mouth, a pivotably-biased pawl mechanism comprising a top arm and bottom arm and centrally disposed detent, a ratchet mechanism biased for rotation carrying a notch having a mouth, a detent on one side of the notch for engaging the detent of the pawl mechanism for precluding the rotation of the ratchet mechanism, the mouth of the notch of the ratchet mechanism for aligning with the mouth of the slot for both receiving a striker, and stop means to stop the rotation of the ratchet mechanism when the mouth of the notch is aligned with the mouth of the slot to prevent over-rotation of the ratchet mechanism, the ratchet mechanism arranged for guiding the striker to proximate the bottom of the slot so that the detent of the pawl engages the detent of the ratchet mechanism precluding the ratchet mechanism from rotating to release the striker, the arm on the top of the pawl mechanism normally positioned over the slot and being precluded from movement away from the slot unless the mouth of the notch and mouth of the slot are both directed towards the top arm and whereby if the mouths of the notch and slot are not aligned but the striker is proximate the mouths of the notch and slot and the ratchet mechanism has not engaged the stop means but is proximate thereto, movement of the pawl mechanism away from the ratchet mechanism causes the portion of the ratchet mechanism remote the notch to be engaged by the bottom arm of the pawl mechanism and align the mouth of the notch with the mouth of the slot, and when aligned, a clearance is provided between the bottom arm and portion of the ratchet mechanism remote the notch to permit the top arm to be pivoted away from over the slot, and whereby when the arm on the top of the pawl mechanism is pivoted from over the slot and rotation is attempted of the ratchet mechanism, the ratchet mechanism attempts to cause the arm on top of the pawl mechanism to be pivoted to a position over the slot thereby preventing accidental release of the striker.

12. The hood latch assembly of claim 1, wherein the pawl mechanism has disposed upon its surface an opening, said opening being in a preferred embodiment a slot, said opening also extending through the mounting bracket and the actuator is a resiliently-biased detent mechanism secured therethrough precluding the pivoting of the pawl mechanism about its pivot until the detent mechanism is disengaged from extending through the opening extending through the mounting bracket allowing the resiliently-biased pawl mechanism to rotate disengaging contact between said pawl and said ratchet mechanism whereby said ratchet mechanism is permitted to rotate.

15. The hood latch assembly of claim 1, wherein the pawl mechanism is curved on its surface closer the ratchet mechanism to provide a pair of recesses spaced by the detent.

18. The latch assembly of claim 1, wherein spring means is provided to secure the ratchet mechanism to the pawl mechanism whereby when the detent of the pawl is rotated away from ratchet mechanism releasing the ratchet mechanism for rotation, the ratchet is urged to rotate by the spring to position the notch in alignment with the slot in the mounting plate thereby releasing the striker from the slot (the striker mechanism being spring-loaded for ease of release).

21. The hood latch assembly of claim 1, wherein the peripheral configuration of the resiliently-biased ratchet mechanism closer the pawl mechanism is irregularly-shaped and provides the notch for receiving the striker and has disposed upon the side of the notch remote the nose, a cam surface terminating in the detent which detent in a preferred embodiment, is a tooth compatibly-shaped to interact with the detent disposed upon the periphery of said pawl for engagement therewith.

24. The hood latch assembly of claim 1, wherein the ratchet mechanism has disposed upon, within, or as part of its body or perimeter, stop means for abutting against abuttment means upon the mounting bracket to prevent over-rotation of the ratchet mechanism and ensure proper alignment thereof for the notch to receive or release the compatibly-shaped striker mechanism.

27. The hood latch assembly of claim 12, wherein the resiliently-biased detent mechanism has a central connector having oppositely-directed arm or hook portions at the extremities thereof for co-operative engagement through the overlapping slots through the pawl mechanism and the mounting bracket, said detent mechanism being remotely disengaged from said slot within the mounting bracket allowing rotation of the pawl mechanism in a clockwise direction thereby allowing rotation of the ratchet mechanism in a counterclockwise direction to commence the release of the striker mechanism.

30. The hood latch assembly of claim 12, wherein the resiliently or alternately-biased pawl mechanism, has disposed upon its surface instead of a slotted opening, a recessed, or raised portion, or an alternate opening, said portion or opening securing a compatibly-shaped resiliently-biased detent mechanism, thereby precluding the rotation of said pawl mechanism, about its pivot until said detent mechanism disengages said portion or opening allowing the resiliently-biased pawl mechanism to pivot away from the ratchet mechanism disengaging contact between the detent of the pawl mechanism and the detent of the ratchet mechanism whereby said ratchet mechanism will rotate in the opposite direction.

2. A hood latch assembly for securing a striker to it the latch assembly comprising a mounting plate carrying a vertically-oriented elongated slot having a mouth opening through the top of the mounting plate and its bottom spaced from the mouth, a resiliently-biased pawl mechanism comprising a top, bottom, and two sides, pivotably secured proximate its bottom to the mounting plate on one side of the slot and a resiliently-biased ratchet mechanism rotatably-biased on the mounting plate on the other side of the slot, one side of the pawl mechanism lying closer to the ratchet mechanism than the other side, the top of the pawl mechanism carrying a curved or bent arm portion directed towards the slot and the ratchet mechanism, and overlying the slot, the bottom of the pawl mechanism carrying a curved or bent arm portion directed towards the ratchet mechanism extending below the ratchet mechanism, the top of the curved or bent arm portion on the top of the pawl mechanism being sloped angularly downwardly towards the ratchet mechanism, the pawl having on its side closer the ratchet mechanism a protruding detent, the detent for engaging the side of the ratchet mechanism closest the pawl mechanism, the pawl secured to an actuator for pivoting the pawl mechanism and thus the detent away from the ratchet mechanism, spring means to bias the pawl mechanism to urge the top of the pawl mechanism to cover the slot and the detent towards the ratchet mechanism and the arm portion at the bottom of the pawl away from the ratchet mechanism when the actuator is released, the ratchet mechanism carrying a notch having a mouth, and a detent below the notch, the detent terminating in a landing above the shoulder directed towards the ratchet mechanism, the landing of the detent on the ratchet mechanism for being engaged by the landing of the detent of the pawl mechanism for precluding rotation of the ratchet mechanism, stop means for stopping rotation of the ratchet mechanism with the mouth of the slot of the mounting plate and the mouth of the notch aligned for both receiving the striker mechanism, the ratchet mechanism carrying a portion remote the notch for being engaged by and engaging the curved or bent arm portion at the bottom of the ratchet mechanism when the curved or bent arm portion on the top of the pawl mechanism is not over the slot and rotation of the pawl is attempted and when the curved or bent arm portion is being retracted from over the slot and the notch of the ratchet mechanism is not aligned with the slot, the ratchet mechanism is rotated aligning the mouth of the notch with the mouth of the slot, the pawl mechanism carrying additional means for pivoting the pawl mechanism, the curved or bent arm portion at the top of the pawl mechanism normally extending across the slot and being pivotable by rotation of the pawl mechanism from a position over the slot only when the mouths of the notch and the slot are aligned, without the curved or bent arm portion at the bottom of the pawl engaging the portion of the ratchet mechanism remote the notch, the portion of the ratchet mechanism remote the notch and the curved or bent arm portion being positioned relative to one another to move in a manner relative to one another (providing a clearance between the two) as the detent on the pawl mechanism engages the side of the ratchet mechanism and precludes the curved or bent arm at the top of the pawl mechanism form pivoting away from over the slot and, where the mouth of the notch and slot have been aligned and the curved or bent arm portion on the top of the pawl mechanism has been pivoted away from the slot and is restrained in a position away from over the slot, the rotation of the ratchet mechanism from a position where the mouth of the notch is aligned with the mouth of the slot to a position with the notch aligned with the bottom of the slot, the portion of the ratchet mechanism remote the notch engages the curved or bent arm portion at the bottom of the pawl mechanism, causing the curved or bent arm portion on the bottom of the pawl mechanism to be pivoted away from the ratchet mechanism pivoting the curved or bent arm portion at the top of the pawl mechanism to lie over the slot.

3. The hood latch assembly of claim 2, wherein the striker is a spring-biased striker.

4. The hood latch assembly of claim 2, wherein the curved or bent arm portion below the pawl mechanism carries a rounded portion on the end of the arm portion.

5. The hood latch assembly of claim 2, wherein the protruding detent on the side of the pawl closer the ratchet mechanism comprises a rounded shoulder terminating in the landing below the shoulder directed towards the side of the pawl mechanism.

6. The hood latch assembly of claim 2, wherein a protruding nose is provided on the side of the notch remote the detent.

7. The hood latch assembly of claim 2, wherein the spring means to bias the pawl mechanism to pivot the top of the pawl mechanism towards the slot comprises a spring secured to the pawl mechanism and ratchet mechanism to bias the two mechanisms in opposite directions and urge the two structures towards one another and cause the detent on the pawl mechanism to be urged to engage the side of the ratchet mechanism closest the pawl mechanism.

8. The hood latch assembly of claim 2, wherein the ratchet mechanism carries a raised curved shoulder on the side of the ratchet mechanism closer the pawl mechanism between the portion of the ratchet mechanism remote the notch which engages the curved or bent arm portion at the bottom of the pawl mechanism, and the notch whereby when the detent on the pawl mechanism engages this rounded shoulder, the pawl mechanism is caused to pivot orienting the curved or bent arm portion at the bottom of the pawl mechanism with respect to the portion of the ratchet mechanism remote the notch to ensure the curved or bent arm at the top of the pawl mechanism is not pivotable unless the mouth of the notch is aligned with the mouth of the slot for receiving a striker.

13. The hood latch assembly of claim 2, wherein the pawl mechanism has disposed upon its surface an opening, said opening being in a preferred embodiment a slot, said opening also extending through the mounting bracket and the actuator is a resiliently-biased detent mechanism secured therethrough precluding the pivoting of the pawl mechanism about its pivot until the detent mechanism is disengaged from extending through the opening extending through the mounting bracket allowing the resiliently-biased pawl mechanism to rotate disengaging contact between said pawl and said ratchet mechanism whereby said ratchet mechanism is permitted to rotate.

16. The hood latch assembly of claim 2, wherein the pawl mechanism is curved on its surface closer the ratchet mechanism to provide a pair of recesses spaced by the detent.

19. The latch assembly of claim 2, wherein spring means is provided to secure the ratchet mechanism to the pawl mechanism whereby when the detent of the pawl is rotated away from ratchet mechanism releasing the ratchet mechanism for rotation, the ratchet is urged to rotate by the spring to position the notch in alignment with the slot in the mounting plate thereby releasing the striker from the slot (the striker mechanism being spring-loaded for ease of release).

22. The hood latch assembly of claim 2, wherein the peripheral configuration of the resiliently-biased ratchet mechanism closer the pawl mechanism is irregularly-shaped and provides the notch for receiving the striker and has disposed upon the side of the notch remote the nose, a cam surface terminating in the detent which detent in a preferred embodiment, is a tooth compatibly-shaped to interact with the detent disposed upon the periphery of said pawl for engagement therewith.

25. The hood latch assembly of claim 2, wherein the ratchet mechanism has disposed upon, within, or as part of its body or perimeter, stop means for abutting against abuttment means upon the mounting bracket to prevent over-rotation of the ratchet mechanism and ensure proper alignment thereof for the notch to receive or release the compatibly-shaped striker mechanism.

28. The hood latch assembly of claim 13, wherein the resiliently-biased detent mechanism has a central connector having oppositely-directed arm or hook portions at the extremities thereof for co-operative engagement through the overlapping slots through the pawl mechanism and the mounting bracket, said detent mechanism being remotely disengaged from said slot within the mounting bracket allowing rotation of the pawl mechanism in a clockwise direction thereby allowing rotation of the ratchet mechanism in a counterclockwise direction to commence the release of the striker mechanism.

31. The hood latch assembly of claim 13, wherein the resiliently or alternately-biased pawl mechanism, has disposed upon its surface instead of a slotted opening, a recessed, or raised portion, or an alternate opening, said portion or opening securing a compatibly-shaped resiliently-biased detent mechanism, thereby precluding the rotation of said pawl mechanism, about its pivot until said detent mechanism disengages said portion or opening allowing the resiliently-biased pawl mechanism to pivot away from the ratchet mechanism disengaging contact between the detent of the pawl mechanism and the detent of the ratchet mechanism whereby said ratchet mechanism will rotate in the opposite direction.

9. A hood latch assembly for securing a striker to it, the latch assembly comprising a mounting plate carrying a vertically oriented slot having a mouth opening through the top of the mounting plate, a resiliently-biased pawl mechanism comprising a top, bottom, and two sides, pivotably secured proximate its bottom to the mounting plate on one side of said slot and a resiliently-biased ratchet mechanism pivotably secured to the mounting plate on the other side of the slot;

one side of the pawl mechanism lying closer to the ratchet mechanism than the other side, the top of the pawl mechanism carrying a curved or bent arm portion directed towards the mouth of the slot and the ratchet mechanism, and carrying a sloped surface proximate the end of the arm on the top thereof extending to the end of the arm, the sloped surface sloping angularly towards the bottom of the pawl mechanism, the pawl having upon its side closer the ratchet mechanism, a detent extending from the surface;

the bottom of the pawl mechanism carrying a bent or curved arm directed towards the ratchet mechanism;

the pawl mechanism being secured to an actuator for pivoting the pawl mechanism and thus the top curved or bent arm portion of the pawl mechanism proximate the mouth of the slot and the detent or tooth array from the slot and ratchet mechanism;

spring means secured to the pawl mechanism to bias it towards the slot when the actuator is released;

the pawl mechanism also carrying other means to permit pivotable movement of the pawl mechanism, the rotatable ratchet mechanism rotatably biased between a locking position and a releasing position and having a top, bottom, and a side portion, comprising upon its top a striker-receiving notch, a detent on one side of the notch for engaging the detent on the perimeter of the pawl mechanism and preventing the ratchet mechanism from rotating when the detent of the ratchet mechanism engages the detent of the pawl mechanism, the detent of the pawl mechanism in constant engagement with a side portion of the ratchet mechanism when the ratchet mechanism is permitted to rotate and the pawl mechanism is not pivoted away from the ratchet mechanism, the ratchet mechanism also carrying a portion remote the notch adjacent the bottom end of the pawl mechanism for engaging the bent or curved arm on the bottom of the pawl mechanism as the ratchet rotates in the event the pawl mechanism is pivoted laterally away from the ratchet mechanism and does not restore to its position over the slot to cause the curved or bent arm on the top of the pawl mechanism proximate the slot to extend over the slot, and spring means secured to the ratchet mechanism to urge the ratchet to rotate from a position when the notch is proximate the bottom of the slot with the nose extending across the slot above the notch and with the ratchet mechanism not being restrained, to a position with the mouth of the notch between the nose and detent, generally aligned with the mouth of the slot;

stop means to stop further rotation of the ratchet mechanism when the notch of the ratchet mechanism is aligned with the mouth of the slot mechanism, whereby;

(a) when the striker is not secured to the latch assembly, the ratchet is rotated to generally align the mouth of the notch with the mouth of the slot opening vertically whereby the stop means prevents further rotation of the ratchet and the bent or curved arm upon the top of the pawl mechanism proximate the mouth extends across the slot with the sloped portion of the arm over the mouth of the slot so that when a striker engages the sloped portion of the arm, the arm and thus the pawl mechanism is pivoted away from the mouth of the slot causing the mouth of the notch to be aligned with the mouth of the slot when the striker engages the sloped top of the arm on top of the pawl mechanism, as the striker passes into the notch and slot;

(b) when the striker is pushed past the bent or curved arm causing the pawl mechanism to pivot to permit the striker to pass into the slot, the striker is received in the notch of the ratchet mechanism and slot, causing the ratchet mechanism to rotate, tensioning the spring mechanism and causing the striker to be urged and guided towards the bottom of the slot with the nose extending generally across the slot and notch between the bottom of the slot and mouth of the slot and with the detent of the pawl mechanism engaging the perimeter of the ratchet mechanism on the side of the notch remote the nose, positioning the pawl mechanism to cover the mouth of the slot (while the ratchet continues to rotate and captures the striker) in the event of breakage of the ratchet mechanism;

(c) when the ratchet mechanism continues to rotate by the action of the striker, the detent of the ratchet mechanism passes the detent of the pawl mechanism remote the nose thereof locking the ratchet mechanism and thereby positions the striker at the bottom of the slot remote the slot mouth with the nose extending generally across the slot in the primary latching position, and a clearance is provided between the portion of the ratchet mechanism remote the notch and the arm portion on the bottom of the pawl mechanism;

(d) when releasing the latching mechanism by actuating the actuator to release the striker, the actuator means pivots the pawl mechanism and thus the detent away from the slot and ratchet mechanism, thereby freezing the biased ratchet mechanism to rotate with the detent of the ratchet mechanism passing the detent of the pawl mechanism to align the mouth of the notch with the mouth of the slot with the curved or bent arm carried by the top of the pawl mechanism covering the mouth of the slot, the pawl mechanism being thereafter positioned to maintain the bent arm portion over the mouth of the slot to protect against premature release of the striker by the ratchet mechanism resulting from the failure thereof, the ratchet mechanism under normal conditions continuing to rotate to a position aligning the mouth of the notch with the mouth of the slot; and

(e) when the curved or bent arm of the pawl mechanism is remote from the slot and the ratchet mechanism, if the pawl mechanism is ever partially restrained (for example, in freezing weather) in a position without the bent or curved arm at the top of the pawl aligned covering the slot to preclude release of the striker from the slot and the ratchet mechanism is permitted to rotate, the bottom of the ratchet mechanism engages the arm portion on the bottom of the pawl mechanism and causes the pawl mechanism to pivot to cause the bent arm to extend across the slot precluding the striker from being released until the pawl mechanism is pivoted to remote the bent arm proximate the slot out of alignment with the slot.

10. The hood latch assembly of claim 9, wherein the striker is a spring-biased striker.

11. The hood latch assembly of claim 9, wherein when the mouth of the notch of said ratchet mechanism is proximate the mouth of the slot but not aligned with the mouth of the slot when the striker is to be pushed down on the top of the arm on the top of the pawl mechanism, the pawl mechanism will cause the curved arm portion upon its bottom to rotate towards said ratchet mechanism to thereby engage said portion of the ratchet mechanism remote the notch, thereby pivoting said ratchet mechanism to align the mouth of the notch with the mouth of the slot to thereby receive the striker.

14. The hood latch assembly of claim 9, wherein the pawl mechanism has disposed upon its surface an opening, said opening being in a preferred embodiment a slot, said opening also extending through the mounting bracket and the actuator is a resiliently-biased detent mechanism secured therethrough precluding the pivoting of the pawl mechanism about its pivot until the detent mechanism is disengaged from extending through the opening extending through the mounting bracket allowing the resiliently-biased pawl mechanism to rotate, disengaging contact between said pawl and said ratchet mechanism whereby said ratchet mechanism is permitted to rotate.

17. The hood latch assembly of claim 9, wherein the pawl mechanism is curved on its surface closer the ratchet mechanism to provide a pair of recesses spaced by the detent.

20. The latch assembly of claim 9, wherein spring means is provided to secure the ratchet mechanism to the pawl mechanism whereby when the detent of the pawl is rotated away from ratchet mechanism releasing the ratchet mechanism for rotation, the ratchet is urged to rotate by the spring to position the notch in alignment with the slot in the mounting plate thereby releasing the striker from the slot (the striker mechanism being spring-loaded or ease of release).

23. The hood latch assembly of claim 9, wherein the peripheral configuration of the resiliently-biased ratchet mechanism closer the pawl mechanism s irregularly-shaped and provides the notch for receiving the striker and has disposed upon the side of the notch remote the nose, a cam surface terminating in the detent which detent in a preferred embodiment, is a tooth compatibly-shaped to interact for engagement therewith.

26. The hood latch assembly of claim 9, wherein the ratchet mechanism has disposed upon, within, or as part of its body or perimeter, stop means for abutting against abuttment means upon the mounting bracket to prevent over-rotation of the ratchet mechanism and ensure proper alignment thereof for the notch to receive or release the compatibly-shaped striker mechanism.

29. The hood latch assembly of claim 14, wherein the resiliently-biased detent mechanism has a central connector having oppositely-directed arm or hook portions at the extremities thereof for co-operative engagement through the overlapping slots through the pawl mechanism and the mounting bracket, said detent mechanism being remotely disengaged from said slot within the mounting bracket allowing rotation of the pawl mechanism in a clockwise direction thereby allowing rotation of the ratchet mechanism in a counterclockwise direction to commence the release of the striker mechanism.

32. The hood latch assembly of claim 14, wherein the resiliently or alternately-biased pawl mechanism, has disposed upon its surface instead of a slotted opening, a recessed, or raised portion, or an alternate opening, said portion or opening securing a compatibly-shaped resiliently-biased detent mechanism, thereby precluding the rotation of said pawl mechanism, about its pivot until said detent mechanism disengages said portion or opening allowing the resiliently-biased pawl mechanism to pivot away from the ratchet mechanism disengaging contact between the detent of the pawl mechanism and the detent of the ratchet mechanism whereby said ratchet mechanism will rotate on the opposite direction.

33. A latch mechanism comprising,

(a) a mounting plate carrying a slot having a bottom and mouth,

(b) a pivotably biased pawl mechanism comprising a top arm portion arranged for pivoting from a position over the slot to a position spaced from it, a bottom arm portion and follower means,

(c) a ratchet mechanism biased for rotation and carrying a notch having a mouth and control means for controlling the follower means of the pawl mechanism, and

(d) stop means with the latch mechanism for stopping rotation of the ratchet mechanism with the mouth of the notch proximate the mouth of the slot both directed towards the top arm portion of the pawl,

the top arm portion normally positioned over the slot and being precluded from movement away from the slot unless the mouth of the notch and mouth of the slot are both directed towards the top arm portion.

34. The latch mechanism of claim 33 wherein the control means for controlling the follower means of the pawl mechanism comprises a control surface on the ratchet mechanism and the follower means comprises a detent carried at the side edge of the pawl mechanism to engage the control surface to

(a) lock the ratchet mechanism with any striker in the slot and notch at the bottom of the slot with the top arm covering the slot mouth, and

(b) ensure the top arm portion cannot be pushed away from over the slot unless the mouth of the notch and mouth of the slot are both proximate one another and directed toward the top arm portion.

35. The latch mechanism of claim 33 wherein the control means for controlling the follower means comprises a control structure or formation carried by the ratchet mechanism and the follower means comprises a pin carried by the pawl mechanism.

36. The latch mechanism of claim 35 wherein the control structure or formation comprises a Z-shaped slot formation through the body of the ratchet mechanism.

37. A latch mechanism comprising a mounting plate carrying a slot having a bottom and mouth, a pivotably-biased pawl mechanism comprising a top arm portion (for pivoting from a position over the slot to a position spaced from it), a bottom arm portion, and follower and engaging means, a ratchet mechanism biased for rotation and carrying a notch having a mouth and control means for controlling the follower and said engaging means on the pawl mechanism and stop means to stop the rotation of the ratchet mechanism, the ratchet mechanism arranged for guiding the striker to proximate the bottom of the slot, the arm on the top of the pawl mechanism normally positioned over the slot and being precluded from movement away from the slot by the control means of the ratchet mechanism unless the mouth of the notch and mouth of the slot are both directed towards the top arm portion.

38. The latch mechanism of claim 37 wherein the follower and engaging means comprises a centrally disposed detent.

39. The latch mechanism of claim 37 wherein the follower and engaging means comprises a pin or projection extending from the bottom arm and projecting through a slot in the mounting plate.

40. The latch mechanism of claim 37 wherein the plane of the ratchet lies in the same plane as the pawl mechanism.

41. The latch mechanism of claim 38 wherein the plane of the ratchet lies in the same plane as the pawl mechanism.

42. The latch mechanism of claim 37 wherein the plane of the ratchet lies in a plane spaced by the mounting plate from and is parallel to the plane of the pawl mechanism.

43. The latch mechanism of claim 39 wherein the plane of the ratchet lies in a plane spaced by the mounting plate from and is parallel to the plane of the pawl mechanism.

44. The latch mechanism of claim 37 or 39 wherein the control means comprises a substantially Z-shaped slot through the body of the ratchet mechanism for receiving the projection, the substantially Z-shaped slot comprising a centrally curved portion, being an arc of a circle about the pivot of the ratchet mechanism, a forward arm portion in communication with the centrally curved portion for carrying the projection when the notch of the ratchet mechanism is aligned with the bottom of the slot of the mounting plate and a rearward arm portion in communication with the centrally curved portion for permitting the top arm of the pawl mechanism to pivot from a position over the slot in the mounting plate to a position spaced from it.

45. The latch mechanism of claim 37 or 38 wherein the bottom arm portion comprises engaging means whereby if the mouths of the notch and slot are not aligned but the striker is proximate the mouths of the notch and slot and the ratchet mechanism has not engaged the stop means but is proximate thereto, movement of the pawl mechanism away from the ratchet mechanism remote the notch will engage the ratchet mechanism by the engaging means of the bottom arm portion of the pawl mechanism and align the mouth of the notch with the mouth of the slot.

46. The latch mechanism of claim 44 wherein the bottom arm portion comprises engaging means further comprising a projection or pin whereby if the mouths of the notch and slot are not aligned but the striker is proximate the mouths of the notch and slot and the ratchet mechanism has not engaged the stop means but is proximate thereto, pivoting of the pawl mechanism causes the projection or pin to move in the centrally curved portion to its rearward position, thereby positioning the ratchet to release the striker from the notch wherein the control means of the ratchet will permit the top arm of the pawl to be pivoted away from over the slot.

49. The latch mechanism of claim 42 wherein the follower and engaging means comprises a pin or projection extending from the bottom arm and projecting through a control slot in the mounting plate.

50. The latch mechanism of claim 49 wherein the control means comprises a substantially Z-shaped slot through the body of the ratchet mechanism for receiving the projection, the substantially Z-shaped slot comprising a centrally curved portion being an arc of a circle about the pivot of the ratchet mechanism), a forward arm portion in communication with the centrally curved portion for carrying the projection when the notch of the ratchet mechanism is aligned with the bottom of the slot of the mounting plate for stopping the striker at the bottom of the slot and a rearward arm portion in communication with the centrally curved portion for carrying the projection permitting the top arm of the pawl mechanism to pivot from a position over the slot in the mounting plate to a position spaced from it when the mouth of the notch of the ratchet mechanism is aligned with the mouth of the slot.

51. The latch mechanism of claim 49 wherein when the striker is guided to proximate the bottom of the slot, the detent of the pawl mechanism engages the detent of the ratchet mechanism.

52. The latch mechanism of claim 50 wherein when the striker is guided to proximate the bottom of the slot, the projection is in the forward arm portion in communication with the centrally curved portion so that the ratchet mechanism is precluded from rotating to release the striker.

47. A latch mechanism comprising,

(a) a mounting plate carrying a slot having a bottom and a mouth,

(b) a pivotably-biased pawl mechanism comprising, (i) a top arm for pivoting from a normal position over the slot to a position spaced from it, (ii) a bottom arm, and, (iii) follower and engaging means, and

(c) a ratchet mechanism biased for rotation and carrying, (i) a notch having a mouth, the notch for receiving for example the striker, and (ii) control means for controlling the follower and said engaging means on the pawl mechanism, the ratchet mechanism arranged for guiding the striker to proximate the bottom of the slot, the arm on the top of the pawl mechanism normally positioned over the slot and being precluded from movement away from the slot by the control means of the ratchet mechanism unless the mouth of the notch and mouth of the slot are both directed towards the top arm.

48. The latch mechanism of claim 47 wherein the follower and engaging means comprises a centrally disposed detent.