Spaced-apart hood latch cable retaining system

• US 7,059,639 B2
• Filed: 08/16/2002
• Issued: 06/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Ellison, Patrick Joesph, Gates, Lee Bettencourt
• Primary Examiner(s): Glessner, Brian E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lugo, Carlos
• Application Number:
  US10/222,086
• Publication Number:
  US 20040032129A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,397 Days
• Field of Search: 292/125, 292/216, 292/133, 292/225, 292/235, 292/141, 292/171, 292/DIG.65, 745/024, 745/026
• US Class Current: 292/125
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 79/20 using flexible connections, e.g. Bowden cables
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 83/16 Locks for luggage compartments, car boot lids or car bonnets
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 1/12 Arrangements for transmitting movement to or from the flexible member
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2350/52 Locks, e.g. cables to actuate door locks
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/0931 Flexible
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/0992 Flexible
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1017 Flexible
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1057 Flexible
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2045 and sheath support, connector, or anchor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20462 Specific cable connector or guide

Abstract

A method and apparatus for a hood latch cable retaining system. A cable mounting cavity for a conventional snap-fit cable fastener is provided in a latch support structure of the hood release mechanism. A retainer is mounted to the latch support structure and positioned such that a flange portion of the retainer having a confronting edge is spaced a predetermined distance and offset from the center line of the cable mounting cavity. The latch support structure may be deformed or repositioned during a frontal vehicle impact, causing the confronting edge of the flange to come into contact with the control cable. The confronting edge impedes the snap-fit fastener from disengaging from the latch support structure, preventing the vehicle hood from inadvertently opening.

Claims

1. A hood latch cable retaining system for a vehicle, comprising:

a control cable comprising a sheath, a cable wire, and a snap-fit fastener;

a latch support structure having a cable mounting cavity, the mounting cavity having an opening contiguous to an outside edge of the latch support, said opening being laterally engageable and shaped to receive and captively retain said snap-fit fastener when engaged with the mounting cavity; and

a stationary retainer member connected to and extending from the latch support structure, the retainer member having a flange with a retaining cavity contiguous to an edge and spaced apart from and oriented substantially parallel to said latch support structure and positioned such that the retaining cavity of the flange is mounted in opposition to the opening of the mounting cavity, effective to restrain the control cable from substantially transverse movement during a frontal vehicle impact, thus maintaining engagement of the snap-fit fastener within the cable mounting cavity.

2. The hood latch cable retaining system of claim 1 wherein said retaining cavity has a radius.

3. The hood latch cable retaining system of claim 1 wherein said cable mounting cavity is a slot.

4. A hood latch cable retaining system for a vehicle, comprising:

a control cable comprising a sheath, a cable wire, and a snap-fit fastener;

a latch support structure having a cable mounting cavity, the mounting cavity having an opening contiguous to an outside edge of the latch support, said opening being laterally engageable and shaped to receive and captively retain said snap-fit fastener when engaged with the mounting cavity; and

a stationary retainer member connected to and extending from the latch support structure, the retainer member having a flange with a confronting edge spaced apart from and oriented substantially parallel to said latch support structure and positioned such that the confronting edge is mounted in opposition to the opening of the mounting cavity, effective to restrain the control cable from substantially transverse movement during a frontal vehicle impact, thus maintaining engagement of the snap-fit fastener within the cable mounting cavity.

5. The hood latch cable retaining system of claim 4 wherein the confronting edge is one of a tab, an angled surface and a notch.