Hold open lever integrated to latch housing
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A latch comprising:
- a fork bolt that moves between an open position and a closed position;
a first detent lever that that cooperates with the fork bolt and moves between a latched position and a released position;
a support for holding the fork bolt and the first detent lever; and
a second detent lever for biasing against the first detent lever when the first detent lever is in the released position, the second detent lever integrally molded to the support at a living hinge, the second detent lever being configured for movement between a first position and a second position, wherein the second detent lever is spring biased into the first position by only the living hinge and the second detent lever contacts the first detent lever when the first detent lever is in the release position and the second detent lever is in the first position thereby preventing movement of the first detent lever from moving from the released position to the latched position and wherein movement of the second detent lever from the first position to the second position is only facilitated by direct contact between a portion of the fork bolt and a portion of the second detent lever;
wherein the first detent lever and the fork bolt occupy a first plane and the second detent lever occupies a second plane; and
wherein the second detent lever has a stop portion extending therefrom and the first detent lever has a feature extending therefrom for engaging the stop portion.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A compartment latch is shown. It includes a fork bolt that moves between an open position and a closed position and a first detent lever that that cooperates with the fork bolt and that moves between a latched position and a released position. A support for holding the fork bolt and the detent lever is also provided. A second detent lever for biasing against the first detent lever when the first detent lever is in the released position is provided. The second detent lever is connected to the support at a hinge.
47 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A latch comprising:
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a fork bolt that moves between an open position and a closed position; a first detent lever that that cooperates with the fork bolt and moves between a latched position and a released position; a support for holding the fork bolt and the first detent lever; and a second detent lever for biasing against the first detent lever when the first detent lever is in the released position, the second detent lever integrally molded to the support at a living hinge, the second detent lever being configured for movement between a first position and a second position, wherein the second detent lever is spring biased into the first position by only the living hinge and the second detent lever contacts the first detent lever when the first detent lever is in the release position and the second detent lever is in the first position thereby preventing movement of the first detent lever from moving from the released position to the latched position and wherein movement of the second detent lever from the first position to the second position is only facilitated by direct contact between a portion of the fork bolt and a portion of the second detent lever; wherein the first detent lever and the fork bolt occupy a first plane and the second detent lever occupies a second plane; and wherein the second detent lever has a stop portion extending therefrom and the first detent lever has a feature extending therefrom for engaging the stop portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A latch comprising:
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a fork bolt that moves between an open position and a closed position; a first detent lever that cooperates with the fork bolt and moves between a latched position and a released position in a first plane; a feature extending from the first detent lever and in a second plane; a second detent lever, the second detent lever in the second plane; and a stop portion extending from the second detent lever and in the second plane and biasing against the feature when the first detent lever is in the released position, the second detent lever being integrally molded with a housing of the latch by a living hinge and being configured for movement between a first position and a second position, wherein the second detent lever is spring biased into the first position by only the living hinge and the stop portion contacts the feature when the first detent lever is in the release position and the second detent lever is in the first position thereby preventing movement of the first detent lever from moving from the released position to the latched position and wherein movement of the second detent lever from the first position to the second position is only facilitated by direct contact between a portion of the fork bolt and a portion of the second detent lever; wherein the first detent lever and the fork bolt occupy a first plane and the second detent lever occupies a second plane; and wherein the second detent lever has a stop portion extending therefrom and the first detent lever has a feature extending therefrom for engaging the stop portion. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. A latch comprising:
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a fork bolt that moves between an open position and a closed position; a first detent lever that that cooperates with the fork bolt and moves between a latched position and a released position; and a second detent lever for biasing against the first detent lever when the first detent lever is in the released position, the second detent lever integrally formed as part of a housing supporting the fork bolt and the detent lever, the second detent lever being configured for movement between a first position and a second position, wherein the second detent lever is spring biased into the first position by only a portion of the second detent lever integrally formed with the housing and the second detent lever contacts the first detent lever when the first detent lever is in the release position and the second detent lever is in the first position thereby preventing movement of the first detent lever from moving from the released position to the latched position and wherein movement of the second detent lever from the first position to the second position is only facilitated by direct contact between a portion of the fork bolt and another portion of the second detent lever; wherein the first detent lever and the fork bolt occupy a first plane and the second detent lever occupies a second plane; wherein the second detent lever has a stop portion extending therefrom and the first detent lever has a feature extending therefrom for engaging the stop portion; and wherein a portion of the second detent lever is a living hinge. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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Specification