Hood release latch mechanism including spring clutch means
First Claim
1. Latch apparatus for releasably connecting together a pair of relatively movable components such as the hood and frame components of a motor vehicle, comprising:
- (a) a mounting bracket adapted for mounting on one of said components;
(b) a striker member adapted for mounting on the other of said components adjacent said mounting bracket;
(c) a latch member pivotally connected with said mounting bracket for pivotal displacement between latched and released positions relative to said mounting bracket, said striker member being generally parallel with the pivot axis of said latch member;
(d) latch spring means normally biasing said latch member toward said released position;
(e) spring clutch means connected between said latch member and said mounting bracket, said spring clutch means normally having a first condition permitting pivotal movement of said latch member in the direction from said released position toward said latched position while simultaneously preventing pivotal movement of said latch member in the opposite direction, said clutch spring means including;
(1) a cylindrical clutch drum connected at one end with said latch member, said clutch drum having a longitudinal axis parallel with said latch member pivot axis;
(2) a helical clutch spring arranged concentrically about said clutch drum and including a plurality of helical turns normally biased radially inwardly into frictional engagement with the periphery of said drum, said turns extending in a direction to permit pivotal movement of said latch member toward said latched position, but to prevent movement of said latch member in the opposite direction toward said released position, said clutch spring having a pair of ends; and
(3) means connecting a first one of said clutch spring ends with said mounting bracket;
(f) cam means operable by said striker member during movement thereof toward said mounting bracket when said latch member is in said released position and said spring clutch means is in said normal first condition for pivoting said latch member toward said latched position, said latch member containing a locking recess for receiving said striker member when said latch member is in the fully latched position, thereby to lock said striker member to said mounting bracket; and
(g) release means cooperating with the other end of said clutch spring for operating said spring clutch means from said first condition to a released condition in which said clutch drum and said latch member are released for pivotal displacement by said latch spring means toward said released position, thereby to unlock said striker member from said mounting bracket.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A latching mechanism includes a latch member pivotally connected with a mounting bracket for movement between latched and released positions, together with a spring clutch device that normally permits pivotal movement of the latch member toward the latched position. The latch member includes a cam surface that is operable by a striker member to displace the latch member from the released position to the latched position as the striker member is displaced toward the mounting bracket (for example, during the closure movement of a hood component to which the striker member is attached). A release device serves to operate the spring clutch to a released condition, whereupon the latch member is spring-biased toward the released position, thereby to unlock the striker member from the mounting bracket.
40 Citations
7 Claims
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1. Latch apparatus for releasably connecting together a pair of relatively movable components such as the hood and frame components of a motor vehicle, comprising:
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(a) a mounting bracket adapted for mounting on one of said components; (b) a striker member adapted for mounting on the other of said components adjacent said mounting bracket; (c) a latch member pivotally connected with said mounting bracket for pivotal displacement between latched and released positions relative to said mounting bracket, said striker member being generally parallel with the pivot axis of said latch member; (d) latch spring means normally biasing said latch member toward said released position; (e) spring clutch means connected between said latch member and said mounting bracket, said spring clutch means normally having a first condition permitting pivotal movement of said latch member in the direction from said released position toward said latched position while simultaneously preventing pivotal movement of said latch member in the opposite direction, said clutch spring means including; (1) a cylindrical clutch drum connected at one end with said latch member, said clutch drum having a longitudinal axis parallel with said latch member pivot axis; (2) a helical clutch spring arranged concentrically about said clutch drum and including a plurality of helical turns normally biased radially inwardly into frictional engagement with the periphery of said drum, said turns extending in a direction to permit pivotal movement of said latch member toward said latched position, but to prevent movement of said latch member in the opposite direction toward said released position, said clutch spring having a pair of ends; and (3) means connecting a first one of said clutch spring ends with said mounting bracket; (f) cam means operable by said striker member during movement thereof toward said mounting bracket when said latch member is in said released position and said spring clutch means is in said normal first condition for pivoting said latch member toward said latched position, said latch member containing a locking recess for receiving said striker member when said latch member is in the fully latched position, thereby to lock said striker member to said mounting bracket; and (g) release means cooperating with the other end of said clutch spring for operating said spring clutch means from said first condition to a released condition in which said clutch drum and said latch member are released for pivotal displacement by said latch spring means toward said released position, thereby to unlock said striker member from said mounting bracket. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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Specification