Adjustable locking for hood latch

• US 6,014,876 A
• Filed: 01/04/1999
• Issued: 01/18/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Taylor, Steven Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Barrett, Suzanne Dino
• Application Number:
  US09/224,984
• Time in Patent Office: 379 Days
• Field of Search: 70/240, 70/341, 70/370, 70/371, 70/416, 70/417, 70/451, 70/448, 292/DIG. 14, 292/43, 292/53, 292/54, 292/337, 292/346
• US Class Current: 70/240
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 292/14 Hood latches
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/79 Bolt guards
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5903 Hood
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7655 Cylinder attaching or mounting means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7921 Armoring
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/8541 Mounting arrangements

Abstract

A tamper-proof locking mechanism for a vehicular engine compartment, the compartment having a (a) hood closure member with a striker secured within the compartment to the hood; (b) a latch mechanism having a movable latch for catching and holding the striker when such striker is brought into a predetermined position relative to compartment; (c) a bracket secured or connected to the other closure member having (i) walls secured to the latch mechanism for fixing such mechanism in a desired spatial position for receiving the striker, (ii) a saddle with spaced walls defining a track closed at one end by the saddle; and (d) a lock having a housing provided with (i) a tumbler body slidable in and along the track and nestable on the saddle for being secured in an operative position, (ii) housing flanges at opposite regions of the body that overlap the edges of both of the spaced saddle walls, each flange contacting the edges of the side walls at one end of the body to ride thereon and fit flush thereagainst as well as stabilize the body in the track and prevent the tumbler body from being pulled out or pushed in, and (iii) a pair of ears extending from the body to fit flush with the interior of the respective track walls and prevent twisting of the body therein.

Claims

1. A tamper-proof vehicular compartment locking mechanism, the compartment having first and second closure members that come together in relatively close fitting relationship, comprising:

(a) a striker secured within the compartment to one closure member;

(b) a latch mechanism having a movable latch for catching and holding the striker when such striker is brought into a predetermined position relative to the other closure member;

(c) a bracket secured or connected to the other closure member having

(i) walls secured to the latch mechanism for fixing such mechanism in a desired spatial position for receiving the striker,

(ii) a saddle with spaced walls defining a track closed at one end by the saddle; and

(d) a lock having a housing provided with

(i) a tumbler body slidable in and along the track and nestable on the saddle for being secured in an operative position,

(ii) housing flanges at opposite regions of the body that overlap the edges of both the spaced saddle walls, each flange contacting the edges of the side walls at one end of the body to ride thereon, fit flush thereagainst, and stabilize the body in said track, preventing said tumbler body from being pulled out or pushed in,

(iii) a pair of ears extending from the body to fit flush with the interior of the respective track walls and prevent twisting of the body therein.

2. The mechanism as in claim 1, in which said latch housing is a unitary, cast piece having integral flanges and ears configured as plates with a thickness of at least 0.12 inches.

3. The mechanism as in claim 1, in which said saddle is U-shaped with flat, upright spaced walls, said ears being flat walls that slidingly fit against the interior of said flat walls.

4. The mechanism as in claim 1, in which said ears and side walls have openings for receiving fasteners to secure the lock against vibration when mounted.

5. A tamper-proof vehicular engine compartment hood latch and lock assembly, the compartment having a front grill panel and support, and a hood panel hinged about a horizontal axis just forward of the vehicular windshield for swinging down onto the front grill panel, the assembly comprising:

(a) a hasp secured to a forward underside position of the hood;

(b) a latch mechanism having a movable latch for catching and holding the hasp when such hasp is brought into a predetermined position relative to the front grill panel;

(c) a bracket depending from and secured to the support for said front grill panel, the bracket having

(i) walls forming a cup holder for said latch mechanism with a slot in a front wall of the cup holder,

(ii) securement for fixing the latch mechanism in such cup holder in a desired spatial position for receiving the hasp,

(iii) an integral U-shaped saddle extending from said front wall of the cup holder with its axis transverse to such wall and aligned with the slot therein;

(d) a key operated lock having a housing provided with

(i) a cylindrical tumbler body nestable in said U-shaped saddle with one end penetrating through said front grill panel for key access to the lock, said grill panel preventing raising and removal of the body from said saddle,

(ii) spaced housing flanges extending transversely and radially away from the body to fit flush against opposite open sides of the saddle body,

(iii) ears on said body aligned with said U-shaped saddle and extending tangentially from the opposite sides of the body to prevent rotation of the body relative to the saddle.

6. The assembly as in claim 5, in which said latch mechanism has a sleeve enclosing a shaft that actuates movement of the latch and said lock tumbler body having a sleeve enclosing an output crank, said sleeves telescoping into each other when said lock body and lock mechanism are assembled in said bracket.

7. The assembly as in claim 5, in which said slots or openings in said ears and U-shaped saddle receive a bolt to secure the lock body against vibration therein.