Latch, lock and hinge system for use with closures such as tonneau covers

• US 6,427,500 B1
• Filed: 11/09/1999
• Issued: 08/06/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eastern Company The
• Original Assignee: Eastern Company The
• Inventors: Weinerman, Lee S., Arthurs, Scott A.
• Primary Examiner(s): BARRETT, SUZANNE LALE DINO
• Application Number:
  US09/437,033
• Time in Patent Office: 1,001 Days
• Field of Search: 701/35, 701/34, 702/08, 292/34-36, 292/38, 292/196, 292/216, 292/225, 292/DIG.39, 292/DIG.43, 296/10, 296/24.1, 296/37.6, 296/76, 296/100.1, 296/100.01, 296/100.02, 296/100-6-1
• US Class Current: 70/135
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 7/198 for locking tonneau covers such as covers for roof storage compartments or for pick-up truck beds
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 1/0038 Sliding handles, e.g. push buttons E05B13/105 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 63/14 Arrangement of several locks or locks with several bolts, e.g. arranged one behind the other locks having bolts with multiple head E05B15/108; with provision for latching E05B59/00, E05B61/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 79/20 using flexible connections, e.g. Bowden cables
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 3/24 in the form of a bifurcated member automatic catches with a bifurcated latch E05C19/024; locks with a bifurcated bolt E05B65/0046, E05B85/243
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 11/1071 specially adapted for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 7/121 specially adapted for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/516 for trucks or trailers
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/542 Roof panels
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2999/00 Subject-matter not otherwise provided for in this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 292/43 Rear deck lid latches
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/0841 Flexible
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1076 Link and lever
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5345 Swinging

Abstract

A latch, lock and hinge system having components that are well suited for use with closures such as tonneau covers that close the upwardly opening rear cargo compartments of pickup trucks and the like, includes rotary latch assemblies that are mounted on hinges for releasably engaging latch strikers to provide cover mounting connections that permit the cover both to pivot between open and closed positions, and to be removed when desired. The hinges have pivotally connected arms that are biased to hold the hinge-carried latches adjacent the cover when the cover is removed. Also included are other rotary latch assemblies that are connected by flexible cables to a latch operator assembly having an elongate housing that defines near its opposite ends a pair of recesses wherein latch operators are nested that can be concurrently moved toward each other by the fingers of one hand to unlatch and pivot open the cover. The latch operator assembly is lockable to prevent the cover from being opened and/or removed.

Claims

1. A set of rotary latch assemblies for being connected to a cargo compartment closure of a vehicle for at least assisting to hold the closure in a closed position, comprising:

a) first and second rotary latch assemblies for being connected to first and second hinges, respectively, wherein;

i) the first and second hinges are connected to first and second spaced-apart regions of the closure, respectively;

ii) the first and second hinges cooperate to pivot the closure about a common pivot axis for movement relative to the cargo compartment between an open position and the closed position; and

, iii) the first and second rotary latch assemblies are engageable, when the closure is in the closed position, with first and second latch strikers, respectively, that are connected to the vehicle;

b) third and fourth rotary latch assemblies for being connected to the closure at third and fourth spaced-apart regions of the closure, respectively, wherein the third and fourth rotary latch assemblies are engageable, when the closure is in the closed position, with third and fourth latch strikers, respectively, that are connected to the vehicle;

c) wherein each of the first, second, third and fourth rotary latch assemblies includes;

i) a housing that defines a notch for receiving an associated one of the first, second, third and fourth latch strikers;

ii) a latch bolt connected to the housing for rotation between A) a latched position wherein a notch defined by the bolt cooperates with the notch defined by the housing to latchingly engage said associated one of the first, second, third and fourth latch strikers, and B) an unlatched position wherein said associated one of the first, second, third and fourth latch strikers can be moved into and out of receiving engagement with the notch defined by the housing; and

,

iii) means for retaining the latch bolt in the latched position once the latch bolt is rotated to the latched position, and for being operated to release the latch bolt to permit the latch bolt to rotate away from the latched position toward the unlatched position.

2. The set of rotary latch assemblies of claim 1 additionally including a latch operator assembly connected to at least a chosen pair of the first, second, third and fourth rotary latch assemblies to permit the means of the chosen pair of rotary latch assemblies to be operated concurrently to release the latch bolts of the chosen pair of rotary latch assemblies.

3. The set of rotary latch assemblies of claim 2 wherein the latch operator assembly includes:

a) an elongate housing for being mounted on the closure at a location that is remote from at least one of the rotary latch assemblies of the chosen pair of rotary latch assemblies, wherein the elongate housing defines first and second recesses located near opposite end regions of the elongate housing;

b) first and second manually operable slides movable in the first and second elongate recesses, respectively, between operated positions and non-operated positions; and

,

c) means for connecting each of the first and second slides to a separate one of the rotary latch assemblies of the chosen pair of latch assemblies for enabling the first and second manually operable slides, when moved concurrently from the non-operated positions to the operated positions, to concurrently release the latch bolts of the chosen pair of rotary latch assemblies.

4. The set of rotary latch assemblies of claim 3 wherein the elongate housing has a generally C-shaped cross-section defined at least in part by a generally convex front wall and a generally concave rear wall, with the concave configuration of the rear wall defining a mounting surface for engaging a convex surface defined by the closure, and with the convex configuration of the front wall cooperating with the concave configuration of the rear wall to give the housing a relatively thin cross-section.

5. The set of rotary latch assemblies of claim 3 wherein the latch operator assembly additionally includes locking means for selectively preventing and permitting the first and second manually operable slides from moving away from the non-operated positions toward the operated positions.

6. The set of rotary latch assemblies of claim 3 additionally including means for biasing the first and second manually operable slides away from the operated positions toward the non-operated positions.

7. The set of rotary latch assemblies of claim 1 wherein the first and second latch strikers each has a latch striker housing of generally U-shaped cross-section that has a base wall that connects a pair of substantially parallel extending, spaced side walls that cooperate to extend about a central region configured to receive the housing of an associated one of the first and second rotary latch assemblies when the closure is in the closed position, and a formation extending into the central region from at least one of the side walls for being latchingly engaged by the associated one of the first and second rotary latch assemblies when the closure is in the closed position.

8. The set of rotary latch assemblies of claim 7 wherein the first and second latch strikers each has means for extending from at least a chosen one of the base wall and the spaced side walls for pressing resiliently against the housing of the associated one of the first and second rotary latch assemblies when the associated one of the first and second rotary latch assemblies is received in the central region.

9. The set of rotary latch assemblies of claim 1 wherein at least a designated one of the first, second, third and fourth rotary latch assemblies has a flexible, elongate release cable for operating the associated one of said means, with one end region of the release cable being connected to said associated one of said means, and with another end region of the release cable being provided with a manually graspable handle formation.

10. The set of rotary latch assemblies of claim 9 wherein the manually graspable handle formation is positioned by said designated one of the first, second, third and fourth rotary latch assemblies to be accessible for being manually grasped only when the closure is in the open position.

11. The set of rotary latch assemblies of claim 1 wherein the first and second rotary latch assemblies have first and second flexible release cables connected to said means of the first and second rotary latch assemblies for being manually operated to release the latch bolts of the first and second rotary latch assemblies, respectively, and the first and second hinges have first and second formations for engaging the first and second flexible release cables, respectively, to guide movements of the first and second flexible release cables when tension forces are applied to the first and second flexible release cables to release the latch bolts of the first and second rotary latch assemblies, respectively.

12. A latch and hinge system 1) for establishing a pivotal connection between a cargo compartment cover and body structure that defines a cargo compartment of a vehicle to permit the cover to pivot between an open position providing access to the cargo compartment and a closed position closing at least a selected portion of the cargo compartment, 2) for releasably retaining the cover in the closed position, and 3) for permitting the cover to be disconnected from and reconnected to the body structure, comprising:

a) a first latch striker and a second latch striker for being connected to the body structure at spaced locations along side regions of the cargo compartment;

b) a first latch assembly for being connected to the cover and for being positioned to engage the first latch striker to establish latching engagement between the first latch assembly and the first latch striker to latch the cover to the body structure when the cover is in the closed position;

c) a hinge having a first arm for connection to the cover, and having a second arm pivotally connected to the first arm for pivotal movement about a pivot axis;

d) a second latch assembly connected to the second arm for being positioned by the second arm to engage the second latch striker to establish latching engagement between the second latch assembly and the second latch striker to connect the cover and the second arm for concurrent pivotal movement about the pivot axis when the cover is in the open position, and to latch the cover to the body structure when the cover is in the closed position;

e) first means for releasing the latching engagement between first latch assembly and the first latch striker without releasing the latching engagement between the second latch assembly and the second latch striker to thereby permit the cover to be pivoted with the second arm about the pivot axis between the open position and the closed position; and

,

f) second means for releasing the latching engagement between the second latch assembly and the second latch striker to disconnect the cover from the body structure.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the second means can only be accessed to release the latching engagement between the second latch assembly and the second latch striker after 1) the first means has released the latching engagement between the first latch assembly and the first latch striker, and 2) the cover has been pivoted out of the closed position.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein the first means for releasing latching engagement is configured to be manually operated from outside the cargo compartment when the cover is in the closed position, and wherein the second means for releasing latching engagement is configured to be manually operated from outside the cargo compartment only when the cover is pivoted out of the closed position.

15. The system of claim 12 wherein the first latch assembly has a housing that mounts a first rotary bolt for rotation between an unlatched position and a latched position wherein the first rotary bolt and the first housing cooperate, when the cover is in the closed position, to receive the first latch striker in notches that are defined by the first housing and by the first rotary bolt to establish said latching engagement between the first latch assembly and the first latch striker.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the first rotary bolt is configured to be engaged and moved by the first latch striker as the cover is moved toward and into the closed position to cause the first rotary bolt to be moved toward and into the latched position, whereby the cover can be slammed to the closed position to establish said latching engagement between the first rotary latch and the first latch striker.

17. The system of claim 12 wherein the second latch assembly has a housing that mounts a second rotary bolt for rotation between an unlatched position and a latched position wherein the second rotary bolt and the second housing cooperate, when the cover is in the closed position, to receive the second latch striker in notches that are defined by the second housing and by the second rotary bolt to establish said latching engagement between the second latch assembly and the second latch striker.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the second rotary bolt is configured to be engaged by the second latch striker as the second latch assembly and the second latch striker are moved toward each other to pivot the second rotary bolt to the latched position to establish said latching engagement between the second latch assembly and the second latch striker, whereby the cover can be slammed toward the second arm of the hinge to establish said latching engagement between the second rotary latch and the second latch striker.

19. The system of claim 12 wherein:

a) the first latch assembly includes a first latch bolt that is movable between an unlatched position of the first latch bolt and a latched position of the first latch bolt wherein the first latch bolt retainingly engages the first latch striker; and

, b) the first latch bolt is configured to be engaged and moved by the first latch striker from the unlatched position of the first latch bolt to the latched position of the first latch bolt during movement of the cover toward and into the closed position.

20. The system of claim 12 wherein:

a) the second latch assembly includes a second latch bolt that is movable between an unlatched position of the second latch bolt and a latched position of the second latch bolt wherein the second latch bolt retainingly engages the second latch striker; and

, b) the second latch bolt is configured to be engaged and moved by the second latch striker from the unlatched position of the second latch bolt to the latched position of the second latch bolt during movement of the cover toward the second arm.

21. The system of claim 12 wherein the second means includes a flexible cable that carries a manually graspable formation that can be grasped and moved to tension the flexible cable to release the engagement between the second latch assembly and the second latch striker, and the second arm has a formation that engages and guides movement of the flexible cable.

22. A latch and hinge system 1) for establishing a pivotal connection between a generally rectangular cargo compartment cover and body structure that defines a generally rectangular cargo compartment of a vehicle to permit the cover to pivot between an open position providing access to the cargo compartment and a closed position wherein the cover closes the cargo compartment, 2) for releasably retaining the cover in the closed position, and 3) for permitting the cover to be disconnected from and reconnected to the body structure, a) wherein the generally rectangular cargo compartment has opposed front and rear sides, opposed left and right sides, and left-front, right-front, left-rear and right-rear corner regions located at the junctures of the front and rear sides with the left and right sides, b) wherein the cover has opposed front and rear edges configured to extend near the front and rear sides of the cargo compartment, opposed left and right edges configured to extend near the left and right sides of the cargo compartment, and left-front, right-front, left-rear and right-rear corner areas located at the junctures of the front and rear edges with the left and right edges, and, c) wherein the pivotal connection that is established by the latch and hinge system permits the cover to pivot relative to the body structure about a pivot axis that extends along and near to the front edge of the cover;

comprising;

a) a left-front latch striker, a right-front latch striker, a left-rear latch striker, and a right-rear latch striker for being connected to the body structure near the left-front, right-front, left-rear and right-rear corner regions, respectively;

b) a left-rear latch assembly and a right-rear latch assembly for being connected to the cover near the left-rear and right-rear corner areas, respectively, and for being engageable with the left-rear and right-rear strikers, respectively, to establish latching engagements between the left-rear latch assembly and the left-rear striker, and between the right-rear latch assembly and the right-rear striker to latch the cover to the body structure when the cover is in the closed position;

c) a left-front hinge having a first hinge arm of the left-front hinge connected to the cover near the left-front corner area and a second hinge arm of the left-front hinge pivotally connected to the first hinge arm of the left-front hinge to permit relative pivotal movement therebetween about said pivot axis, and a right-front hinge having a first hinge arm of the right-front hinge connected to the cover near the right-front corner area and a second hinge arm of the right-front hinge pivotally connected to the first hinge arm of the right-front hinge to permit relative pivotal movement therebetween about said pivot axis;

d) a left-front latch assembly connected to the second arm of the left-front hinge for being positioned by the second arm of the left-front hinge to engage the left front latch striker to establish latching engagement between the left-front latch assembly and the left-front latch striker to connect the cover and the second arm of the left-front hinge for concurrent pivotal movement about said pivot axis when the cover is in the open position, a right-front latch assembly connected to the second arm of the right-front hinge for being positioned by the second arm of the right-front hinge to engage the right front latch striker to establish latching engagement between the right-front latch assembly and the right-front latch striker to connect the cover and the second arm of the right-front hinge for concurrent pivotal movement about said pivot axis when the cover is in the open position, with the latching engagement between the left-front and right-front latch assemblies and the left-front and right-front striker assemblies also serving to latch the cover to the body structure when the cover is in the closed position;

e) first means for releasing the latching engagements between the left-rear and right-rear latch assemblies and the left-rear and right-rear latch strikers without releasing the latching engagements between the left-front and right front latch assemblies and the left-front and right-front strikers to thereby permit the cover to be pivoted with the second arms of the left-front and right-front hinges about said pivot axis between the open position and the closed position; and

,

f) second means for releasing the latching engagement between the left-front and right-front latch assemblies and the left-front and right-front striker assemblies to disconnect the cover from the body structure.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein at least a selected one of the left-front, right-front, left-rear and right-rear latch assemblies includes a housing and a rotary latch bolt connected to the housing for rotation between an unlatched position and a latched position wherein the selected latch assembly is operable to establish latching engagement with an associated one of the left-front, right-front, left-rear and right-rear latch strikers, and means for retaining the rotary latch bolt in the latched position until an associated one of the first and second means is operated to release the latching engagement between the selected latch assembly and the associated one of the latch strikers.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein the said associated striker includes a U-shaped cage structure having opposed side walls with a rod-like striker formation extending therebetween that is engaged by the said selected one of the latch assemblies, and having means for biasing the housing of the said selected one of the latch assemblies away from each of the opposed side walls.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein the said housing of the said selected one of the latch assemblies is connected to an associated second arm of an associated one of the left and right hinges, and the said associated second arm is configured to engage at least one of the opposed side walls of the U-shaped cage when the cover is in the closed position to assist in supporting the cover atop the associated one of the left and right hinges.

26. The system of claim 22 wherein the first means includes a latch operator assembly connected to the cover and to the left-rear and right-rear latch assemblies for concurrently releasing the latching engagements between the left-rear and right-rear latch assemblies and the left-rear and right-rear latch strikers.

27. The system of claim 26 wherein the latch operator assembly includes an elongate housing having left and right side portions, a left operator movably connected to the left side portion, a right operator movably connected to the right side portion, a left cable connecting the left operator to the left-rear latch assembly, a right cable connecting the right operator to the right-rear latch assembly, and the left and right operators are positioned sufficiently closely together to permit their being moved currently toward each other to operate the left-rear and right-rear latch assemblies to release the latching engagement between the left-rear and right-rear latch assemblies and the left-rear and right-rear latch strikers in response to force being applied to the left and right operators by fingers of a single hand.

28. The system of claim 27 wherein the elongate housing has a generally C-shaped cross-section defined at least in part by a generally convex front wall and a generally concave rear wall, with the concave configuration of the rear wall defining a mounting surface that substantially conforms to a convex surface defined by the cover, and with the convex configuration of the front wall cooperating with the concave configuration of the rear wall to give the housing a relatively thin cross-section.

29. The system of claim 27 wherein each of the left-front, right-front, left-rear and right-rear latch assemblies includes a notched housing that mounts a notched rotary bolt for movement between latched and unlatched positions wherein an associated one of the latch strikers is latchingly engaged in notches defined by the notched housing and by the notched rotary bolt.

30. The system of claim 29 wherein each of the left-front, right-front, left-rear and right-rear latch assemblies includes biasing means for biasing the rotary bolt toward the unlatched position.

31. The system of claim 30 wherein each of the left-front, right-front, left-rear and right-rear latch assemblies includes a release lever pivotally connected to the housing for movement between a release position wherein the release lever permits the rotary bolt to rotate under the influence of the biasing means toward the unlatched position, and a retaining position wherein the release lever engages the rotary bolt to hold the rotary bolt in the latched position.

32. The system of claim 22 wherein the second means includes a left release that can be manually operated to release the latching engagement between the left-front latch assembly and the left-front striker, and a right release that can be manually operated to release the latching engagement between the right-front latch assembly and the right-front striker, and wherein the left and right releases configured to be accessible for manual operation only after the cover has been pivoted to the open position.

33. The system of claim 32 wherein the left release includes a left cable that can be manually pulled when the cover is in the open position to release the latching engagement between the left-front latch assembly and the left-front striker, and wherein the right release includes a right cable that can be manually pulled when the cover is in the open position to release the latching engagement between the right-front latch assembly and the right-front striker.

34. A latch and hinge combination for compactly establishing separate pivotal and removable connections between a cargo compartment cover and body structure that defines a cargo compartment of a vehicle, comprising:

a) a hinge having a first arm for connection to the cover, and a second arm pivotally connected to the first arm for pivotal movement about a pivot axis of the hinge;

b) a latch striker for connection to the body structure; and

,

c) a latch assembly connected to the second arm and having movable latch components that are movable relative to a housing of the latch assembly between a latched position latchingly engaging the striker and un-latched position disengaged from the striker

     1) for establishing, when the movable latch components are moved to their latched position, a rigid connection between the second arm and the body that will permit the cover and the second arm to pivot together about the pivot axis of the hinge, and

     2) for disengaging the striker, when the movable latch components are moved to their unlatched position, to permit the cover to be completely removed from the body structure.

35. The latch and hinge combination of claim 34 wherein the movable latch components include a notched rotary bolt that is rotatably connected to the housing for movement between said latched and unlatched positions, a rotary pawl that is rotatably connected to the housing for movement between a release position that does not obstruct rotation of the rotary bolt, and a retaining position wherein the rotary pawl engages and retains the rotary bolt in the latched position.

36. The latch and hinge combination of claim 35 wherein the latch assembly also includes biasing means for biasing the rotary bolt toward the unlatched position and for biasing the rotary pawl toward the retaining position.

37. The latch and hinge combination of claim 34 wherein the latch assembly has a release arm that is pivotally connected to the housing, and a manually engageable formation is provided for pivoting the release arm to effect movement of the movable latch components from the latched position to the unlatched position.

38. The latch and hinge combination of claim 37 wherein latch assembly includes a flexible cable that connects the manually engageable formation to the release arm thereby permitting the release arm to be operated from a distance equal to the distance that the flexible cable positions the manually engageable formation from the release arm.

39. The latch and hinge combination of claim 38 wherein the second arm defines means for engaging the flexible cable for positioning and guiding movements of the flexible cable.

40. The latch and hinge combination of claim 34 additionally including biasing means for biasing the first and second arms relative to each other to maintain engagement between the first arm and the cover when the latch assembly is disengaged from the latch striker.

41. The latch and hinge combination of claim 40 wherein the first and second arms are positioned side by side and are pivotally connected by a pin that extends along the pivot axis and has opposite end regions that extend through pin-receiving formations defined by each of the first and second arms, and wherein the biasing means includes a spring having coils that wrap about a central region of the pin and spring end formations that each engage a different one of the first and second arms.

42. The latch and hinge combination of claim 41 wherein at least one of the first and second arms has a stamped indentation configured to receive one of the spring end formations.

43. The latch and hinge combination of claim 34 wherein the first and second arms are positioned side by side and are pivotally connected by a pin that extends along the pivot axis and has opposite end regions that extend through pin-receiving formations defined by each of the first and second arms, wherein one of the end regions of the pin is rigidly connected to one of the first and second arms, and wherein a rotation range limiting connection is provided between the other of the end regions of the pin and the other of the first and second arms to limit the range of permitted relative rotation between the first and second arms about the pivot axis.

44. The latch and hinge combination of claim 43 wherein the rotation range limiting connection includes a stop formation carried by the pin that extends into a slot defined by the pin-receiving formation of the said other of the first and second arms, wherein engagement of the stop formation with opposite ends of the slot limits the permitted relative rotation between the first and second arms.

45. The latch and hinge combination of claim 34 wherein the latch striker includes:

a) structure defining two spaced, overlying side walls interconnected by a transversely extending base wall that cooperates with the side walls to provide the structure with a generally U-shaped cross-section that extends about a latch-receiving chamber;

b) a striker rod that extends transversely into the latch-receiving chamber from at least one of the side walls; and

,

c) means connected to at least one of the side walls for engaging the housing of the latch assembly when the latch assembly enters the latch-receiving chamber to enable the latch assembly to latchingly engage the striker rod.

46. The latch and hinge combination of claim 45 wherein the means connected to at least one of the side walls includes means connected each of the side walls for engaging opposite sides of the housing of the latch assembly to bias the housing of the latch assembly away from each of the side walls and toward the center of the latch-receiving chamber.

47. The latch and hinge combination of claim 45 additionally including an end cap removably connected to at least one of the side walls for limiting access to the latch-receiving chamber.

48. A hinge-mounted latch and striker system for establishing a pivotal connection between a cargo compartment cover and body structure defining a cargo compartment of a vehicle to permit the cover to pivot between an open position that provides access to the cargo compartment and a closed position closing at least a selected portion of the cargo compartment, and for permitting the cover to be removed from the structure, comprising:

a) a hinge having a first arm for connection to a selected one of the cover and the body structure, and a second arm pivotally connected to the first arm;

b) a striker for connection to the other of the cover and the body structure; and

,

c) a rotary latch assembly having a notched housing rigidly connected to the second arm, a notched jaw rotatably connected to the housing, first means for retaining the notched jaw in a latched position wherein the notched jaw is cooperative with the notched housing to maintain a latched connection between the rotary latch assembly and the striker that enables the cover to pivot relative to the body structure between the open position and the closed position, and second means for being operated manually to release the latched connection between the rotary latch assembly and the striker to permit the cover to be removed from the body structure.

49. The system of claim 48 wherein the striker has a striker housing of generally U-shaped cross-section that has a base wall that connects a pair of substantially parallel extending, spaced side walls that cooperate to extend about a central region configured to receive the housing of the rotary latch assembly when the cover is in the closed position, and a formation extending into the central region from at least one of the side walls for being latchingly engaged by the rotary latch assembly when the closure is in the closed position.

50. The system of claim 49 wherein the striker also has means connected to at least a selected one of the base wall and the spaced side walls for pressing resiliently against the housing of the rotary latch assembly when the housing of the rotary latch assembly is received in the central region.

51. The system of claim 50 wherein the means for pressing resiliently against the housing of the rotary latch assembly biases the rotary latch assembly to move out of the central region when the latching engagement between the rotary latch assembly and the striker is released.

52. The system of claim 50 wherein the means for pressing resiliently against the housing of the rotary latch assembly biases the housing of the rotary latch assembly away from at least a chosen one of the side walls of the striker housing.

53. The system of claim 48 wherein the hinge includes biasing means interposed between the first arm and the second arm to bias the second arm into engagement with the cover when the latched connection between the rotary latch assembly and the striker is released.

54. The system of claim 48 wherein the hinge includes means for limiting a permitted range of relative pivotal movement that can take place between the first arm and the second arm.

55. The system of claim 48 wherein the first arm and the second arm are pivotally connected by a pivot pin that is rigidly connected to a selected one of the first and second arms, and means for limiting relative rotation between the first and second arms is provided that includes interactive formations defined by the other of the arms and the pivot pin.

56. The system of claim 48 wherein the rotary latch assembly and the striker are adapted to permit the striker to be slammed into latching engagement with the rotary latch assembly.

57. The system of claim 56 wherein the rotary latch assembly is positioned such that the second means can only be accessed when the cover is in the open position for being operated to manually release the latched connection between the rotary latch assembly and the cover.

58. A latch system for releasably retaining in a closed position a cargo compartment cover of a vehicle that is movable between the closed position and an open position that provides access to a cargo compartment defined by body structure of a vehicle, comprising:

a) first and second latch assemblies for being connected to the cover for latchingly engaging first and second latch strikers, respectively, connected to the body structure, and for being operated to release the cover so the cover can be moved to the open position;

b) a latch operating assembly having a housing for mounting at a selected location on the cover, wherein the housing is elongate and defines first and second end regions, with the first end region being located closest to the first latch assembly, and with the second end region being located closest to the second latch assembly;

c) with the housing having a generally curved cross-section defined at least in part by a generally concave rear wall that substantially conforms to a convex surface defined by the closure at the selected location;

d) with the latch operating assembly also including first and second latch operators connected to the first and second end regions, respectively, for movement toward and away from each other;

e) first means for connecting the first latch assembly to the first latch operator, and second means for connecting the second latch assembly to the second latch operator, such that, when the first and second latch operators are moved toward each other, the first and second latch assemblies are caused to substantially concurrently release the cover for movement to the open position; and

,

f) wherein the housing has-a curved front wall that cooperates with the curved rear wall to provide the housing with a generally C-shaped cross-section.

59. The latch system of claim 58 wherein the first and second end regions of the housing define first and second recesses that open through the curved front wall, and the first and second latch operators have first and second front portions located in and movable toward and away from each other in the first and second recesses, respectively, wherein the first and second front portions have curved first and second front surfaces, respectively, that substantially match the configuration of the curved front wall of the housing.

60. The latch system of claim 59 wherein the first and second latch operators define first and second undercut formations that extend rearwardly from the first and second front surfaces, respectively, to define first and second finger graspable formations that may be engaged and grasped by the fingers of one hand to move the first and second latch operators toward each other and to move the cover away from the closed position.

61. The latch system of claim 59 wherein the first and second recesses have first and second back walls, respectively, that substantially align, wherein first and second aligned slots are formed through the first and second back walls, respectively, and wherein the first and second latch operators have formations that extend through the first and second back walls, respectively, and wherein the first and second latch operators have first and second rear portions that connect with the first means and the second means, respectively.

62. The latch system of claim 61 wherein the housing has a central portion located between the first and second recesses, a key-operated lock cylinder is connected to the central portion for moving a locking formation located at the rear of the lock cylinder between an unlocked position wherein the locking formation does not interfere with movement of the first and second latch operators toward and away from each other, and a locked position wherein the locking formation prevents movement of the first and second latch operators toward each other by blocking paths of movement that are followed by the first and second rear portions of the first and second latch operators when the first and second latch operators move toward each other.

63. A latch system for releasably retaining in a closed position a cargo compartment of a vehicle that has one side region of the cover connected by hinges to body structure that defines a cargo compartment of a vehicle, with the cover being movable about a pivot axis defined by the hinges between the closed position and an open position, comprising:

a) first and second latch assemblies for being connected to the cover at first and second locations, respectively, that are near an opposite side region of the cover for latching engaging latch strikers connected to the body structure;

b) a latch operator assembly for being connected to the cover at a position located generally between the first and second locations, wherein the latch operator assembly includes an elongate housing that has substantially identical first and second end regions that are symmetrical about an imaginary, transversely extending center plane that intersects the housing between the first and second end regions, and wherein the first and second end regions define first and second recesses, respectively, that also are substantially identical and substantially symmetrical about the center plane;

c) wherein the latch operator assembly also includes first and second latch operators slidably connected to the housing and having first and second front portions located within the first and second recesses, respectively, for being moved relative to the housing between non-operated positions located relatively far from each other and operated positions located relatively closer to each other, and having first and second rear portions located behind the first and second recesses, respectively, and being connected to the first and second front portions, respectively, by first and second central portions that extend through first and second slots, respectively, that are defined by the housing to extend through first and second back walls of the housing located at the rear of the first and second recesses, respectively;

d) first means for connecting the first rear portion to a first release of the first latch assembly for moving the first release to unlatch the first latch assembly from the first latch striker in response to movement of the first latch operator from the non-operated position of the first latch operator to the operated position of the first latch operator; and

e) second means for connecting the second rear portion to a second release of the second latch assembly for moving the second release to unlatch the second latch assembly from the second latch striker in response to movement of the second latch operator from the non-operated position of the second latch operator to the operated position of the second latch operator.

64. The latch system of claim 63 additionally including means for biasing the first and second latch operators toward the non-operated positions.

65. The latch system of claim 64 wherein the means for biasing is connected to the first means and the second means so as to apply said biasing force to the first and second latch operators.

66. The latch system of claim 64 wherein a first locking member is connected to the first rear portion for movement with the first latch operator, a second locking member is connected to the second rear portion for movement with the second latch operator, and the means for biasing is interposed between the first and second locking members so as to apply said biasing force to the first and second latch operators.

67. The latch system of claim 63 additionally including means connected to the first and second latch operators for moving with the first and second latch operators for covering the first and second slots during such movement to minimize the passage of moisture through the first and second slots.

68. The latch system of claim 63 additionally including a key operated lock cylinder carried by the elongate housing at a central location between the first and second recesses, and means for being moved by the lock cylinder between an unlocked position that permits movement of the first and second latch operators between the non-operated and operated positions, and a locked position that blocks movement of the first and second latch operators to the operated positions.

69. A latch operator for independently and for concurrently operating a first latch assembly and a second latch assembly located at positions spaced from each other for releasing the first latch assembly from latchingly engaging a first latch striker, and for releasing a second latch assembly from latchingly engaging a second latch striker, comprising:

a) an elongate one-piece housing that has substantially identical first and second end regions located at opposite ends of a length of the housing,

     1) wherein the first and second end regions are connected by a central region,

     2) wherein the first and second end regions and the central region cooperate to define a front outer surface of the housing that extends along at least portions of the length of the housing,

     3) wherein the first end region defines a first recess that opens forwardly through the front outer surface and has a first back wall that closes rear portions of the first recess,

     4) wherein the second end region defines a second recess that opens forwardly through the front outer surface, that has a second back wall that closes rear portions of the second recess, and that is substantially identical to the first recess;

     5) wherein the central region extends between and separates the first recess from the second recess, and

     6) wherein the central region defines a substantially centrally located hole that opens forwardly through the front outer surface of the housing and that opens rearwardly through a back surface defined by the central region of the housing;

b) wherein the first back wall has a first slot formed therethrough that opens forwardly into the first recess and that has a length that substantially parallels the length of the housing, and wherein the second back wall has a second slot formed therethrough that opens forwardly into the second recess and that has a length that substantially parallels the length of the housing;

c) a first latch operator slidably connected to the housing and having a first front portion located within the first recess, wherein the first latch operator is movable within the first recess between a non-operated position of the first latch operator and an operated position of the first latch operator, with the first latch operator being located closer to the second recess when the first latch operator is in the operated position of the first latch operator than when the first latch operator is in the non-operated position of the first latch operator;

d) a second latch operator slidably connected to the housing and having a second front portion located within the second recess, wherein the second latch operator is movable within the second recess between a non-operated position of the second latch operator an operated position of the second latch operator, with the second latch operator being located closer to the first recess when the second latch operator is in the operated position of the second latch operator than when the second latch operator is in the non-operated position of the second latch operator;

e) wherein the first latch operator has a first rear portion located behind the first back wall of the first recess, and a first central portion that extends through the first slot to connect the first front portion and the first rear portion;

f) wherein the second latch operator has a second rear portion located behind the second back wall of the second recess, and a second central portion that extends through the second slot to connect the second front portion and the second rear portion;

g) wherein the first rear portion is adapted for connection to a release of a first latch for operating the release of the first latch in response to movement of the first latch operator from the non-operated position of the first latch operator to the operated position of the first latch operator;

h) wherein the second rear portion is adapted for connection to a release of a second latch for operating the release of the second latch in response to movement of the second latch operator from the non-operated position of the second latch operator to the operated position of the first latch operator;

i) wherein the first latch operator and the second latch operator are configured to permit independent movement of the first latch operator to release the first latch without causing movement of the second latch operator to release the second latch, to permit independent movement of the second latch operator to release the second latch without causing movement of the first latch operator to release the first latch, and to permit concurrent movement of the first and second latch operators to concurrently release the first and second latches;

j) a key operated lock cylinder mounted in the hole defined by the central region and having a cam located behind the back surface defined by the central region and adapted to be rotated between locked and unlocked position in response to rotation of an appropriately configured key inserted into the key cylinder; and

,

k) means

     1) for being connected to the first rear portion of the first latch operator,

     2) for being connected to the second rear portion of the second latch operator, and

     3) for being engaged by the cam when the cam is in the unlocked position to prevent movement of the first latch operator to the operated position of the first latch operator, and to prevent movement of the second latch operator to the operated position of the second latch operator.

70. The latch operator of claim 69 wherein the elongate housing defines a rearwardly facing mounting surface that is curved concavely to facilitate mounting of the elongate housing on a closure surface that is curved convexly.

71. The latch operator of claim 69 additionally including means for biasing the first latch operator toward the non-operated position of the first latch operator, and for biasing the second latch operator toward the non-operated position of the second latch operator.

72. The latch operator of claim 70 wherein the means 1) for being connected to the first rear portion of the first latch operator, 2) for being connected to the second rear portion of the second latch operator, and 3) for being engaged by the cam includes a first locking member located behind the first recess and connected to the first latch operator for movement therewith, a second locking member located behind the second recess and connected to the second latch operator for movement therewith, and the first and second locking members are configured to be engaged by the cam of the key operated lock cylinder when the cam is in the locked position to prevent movement of the first and second latch operators away from the non-operated positions of the first and second latch operators, and to be disengaged by the cam of the key operated lock cylinder when the cam is in the unlocked position to permit movement of the first and second latch operators to the operated positions of the first and second latch operators.

73. The latch operator of claim 69 additionally including first means connected to the first latch operator and positioned adjacent the first slot for blocking moisture passage through the first slot, and second means connected to the second latch operator and positioned adjacent the second slot for blocking moisture passage through the second slot.

74. The latch operator of claim 72 additionally including biasing means for acting on the first locking member and on the second locking member for biasing the first latch operator toward the non-operated position of the first latch operator, and for biasing the second latch operator toward the non-operated position of the second latch operator.

75. A latch striker for being latchingly engaged by a rotary latch assembly and for protectively enclosing at least portions of the rotary latch assembly during such engagement, comprising:

a) a stamped metal housing having a bottom wall that joins spaced, substantially parallel-extending side walls to provide a U-shaped housing for surrounding a latch receiving chamber;

b) a post extending into the chamber from at least one of the side walls for being latchingly engaged by the rotary latch assembly when the rotary latch assembly is moved into the latch receiving chamber;

c) means extending from at least a selected one of the bottom wall and the side walls for pressing resiliently against the rotary latch assembly when the rotary latch assembly is moved into the latch receiving chamber; and

,

d) wherein the means for pressing resiliently against the rotary latch assembly includes a spring carrying member movably connected to the bottom wall for pressing against the rotary latch assembly to urge the rotary latch assembly out of the latch receiving chamber.

78. The latch striker of claim 75 wherein the housing also has at least one end wall conected to at least a selected one of the bottom wall and the side walls that is configured to close at least a portion of a selected one of the ends of latch receiving chamber.

76. A latch striker for being latchingly engaged by a rotary latch assembly and for protectively enclosing at least portions of the rotary latch assembly during such engagement, comprising:

a) a stamped metal housing having a bottom wall that joins spaced, substantially parallel-extending side walls to provide a U-shaped housing for surrounding a latch receiving chamber;

b) a post extending into the chamber from at least one of the side walls for being latchingly engaged by the rotary latch assembly when the rotary latch assembly is moved into the latch receiving chamber;

c) means extending from at least a selected one of the bottom wall and the side walls for pressing resiliently against the rotary latch assembly when the rotary latch assembly is moved into the latch receiving chamber; and

,

d) wherein the means for pressing resiliently against the rotary latch assembly includes first and second spring members carried on opposite end regions of the post for biasing the rotary latch assembly away from each of the side walls toward a centered position within the latch receiving chamber.

77. The latch striker of claim 76 additionally including a first washer carried on the post adjacent the first spring, a second washer carried on the post adjacent the second spring, and a bushing carried at a central location on the post and having opposite ends that are engaged by the first and second washers.

79. The latch striker of claim 76 wherein the housing also has at least one end wall connected to at least a selected one of the bottom wall and the side walls that is configured to close at least a portion of a selected one of the ends of latch receiving chamber.

80. The latch striker of claim 77 wherein the housing also has at least one end wall connected to at least a selected one of the bottom wall and the side walls that is configured to close at least a portion of a selected one of the ends of latch receiving chamber.