Latch assembly for vehicles
First Claim
1. In a vehicle having a pivotal member movably mounted on a fixed portion of the vehicle, the pivotal member being movable between open and closed positions and defining a gap between an edge of the pivotal member and the fixed vehicle portion when the pivotal member is in an open position, an improved latch assembly for securing the pivotal member to the fixed vehicle portion comprising:
- primary latch means adapted for mounting on one of the pivotal member and fixed vehicle portion and movable between a latched position for retaining a striker member on the other of the pivotal member and fixed vehicle portion and an unlatched position for releasing the striker member;
secondary latch means adapted for mounting on one of the pivotal member and fixed vehicle portion and movable between a latched position for holding said pivotal member partially opened when said primary latch means is unlatched and released and an unlatched position allowing the pivotal member to be fully opened;
movable handle means for moving said secondary latch means betwen said latched and unlatched positions;
mounting means for mounting said movable handle means on the same pivotal member or fixed vehicle portion on which said secondary latch means is mounted and moving said handle means from a first position withdrawn from the gap between the pivotal member and the fixed vehicle portion into a second position in the gap when said primary latch means is unlatched and released whereby said handle means is positioned for easy access in the gap to move said secondary latch means to said unlatched position to fully open the pivotal member after said primary latch means is released.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A latch assembly for vehicles is disclosed for securing engine hoods, trunk lids, or other pivotal members to fixed portions of a vehicle. The assembly includes a primary latch preferably releasable from a remote position within the vehicle, and a secondary latch to hold the pivotal member only partially open after release of the primary latch. A secondary latch release handle is mounted for automatic movement into the gap between the partially opened pivotal member and the fixed vehicle portion for easy, convenient access outside the pivotal member to release the secondary latch to fully open the pivotal member. A safety retaining arm is included to hold the pivotal member partially closed even if the fasteners for the latch assembly loosen or fail.
51 Citations
53 Claims
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1. In a vehicle having a pivotal member movably mounted on a fixed portion of the vehicle, the pivotal member being movable between open and closed positions and defining a gap between an edge of the pivotal member and the fixed vehicle portion when the pivotal member is in an open position, an improved latch assembly for securing the pivotal member to the fixed vehicle portion comprising:
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primary latch means adapted for mounting on one of the pivotal member and fixed vehicle portion and movable between a latched position for retaining a striker member on the other of the pivotal member and fixed vehicle portion and an unlatched position for releasing the striker member; secondary latch means adapted for mounting on one of the pivotal member and fixed vehicle portion and movable between a latched position for holding said pivotal member partially opened when said primary latch means is unlatched and released and an unlatched position allowing the pivotal member to be fully opened; movable handle means for moving said secondary latch means betwen said latched and unlatched positions; mounting means for mounting said movable handle means on the same pivotal member or fixed vehicle portion on which said secondary latch means is mounted and moving said handle means from a first position withdrawn from the gap between the pivotal member and the fixed vehicle portion into a second position in the gap when said primary latch means is unlatched and released whereby said handle means is positioned for easy access in the gap to move said secondary latch means to said unlatched position to fully open the pivotal member after said primary latch means is released. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. In a vehicle having a pivotal member movably mounted on a fixed portion of the vehicle, an improved latch assembly for securing the pivotal member to the fixed vehicle portion, the pivotal member being movable between open and closed positions, the vehicle being of the type having a striker member and a secondary keeper member secured to one of the fixed portion and pivotal member and adapted to engage said latch assembly, said improved latch assembly being secured to the other of the fixed portion and pivotal member and comprising:
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mounting plate means for securing said assembly to the vehicle; primary latch means on said mounting plate means and movable between a latched position for engaging and retaining the striker member to hold the pivotal member in its closed position and an unlatched position in which the striker member is released; secondary latch means on said mounting plate means and movable between a latched position for engaging the secondary keeper member and holding the pivotal member in a partially opened position after said primary latch member is released and an unlatched position in which said secondary keeper member is not engaged thereby, the pivotal member defining a gap with the fixed vehicle portion when the pivotal member is partially opened; swing-out handle means on said mounting plate means for moving said secondary latch means between said latched and unlatched positions; securing means for movably mounting said swing-out handle means on said mounting plate means for movement between three positions including a first nonaccessible position in which said handle means is withdrawn from the gap when the pivotal member is closed, a second accessible position in which said handle means is extended into the gap after said primary latch means is released, and a third position in which said handle means is further extended into the gap beyond said second accessible position and in which said secondary latch means is unlatched to allow the pivotal member to fully open; biasing means for biasing said handle means into said second accessible position when said primary latch means is released. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. In a vehicle having a pivotal member movably mounted on a fixed portion of the vehicle, an improved latch assembly for securing the pivotal member to the fixed vehicle portion, the pivotal member being movable between open and closed positions, the vehicle being of the type having a striker member and a secondary keeper member adapted to engage portions of said latch assembly, said improved latch assembly comprising:
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primary latch means on one of the pivotal member and fixed vehicle portion and movable between a latched position for engaging and retaining the striker member to hold the pivotal member in its closed position and an unlatched position in which the striker member is released, the striker member being on the other of the pivotal member and fixed vehicle portion; secondary latch means on one of the pivotal member and fixed vehicle portion and movable between a latched position for engaging the secondary keeper member and holding the pivotal member in a partially opened position after said primary latch member is released and an unlatched position in which said secondary keeper member is not engaged thereby, the pivotal member defining a gap with the fixed vehicle portion when the pivotal member is partially opened; spring means for biasing the pivotal member of the vehicle toward an open position; swing-out handle means on the one of the pivotal member and fixed vehicle portion to which said secondary latch means is mounted for moving said secondary latch means between said latched and unlatched positions; securing means for movably mounting said swing-out handle means on the one pivotal member and fixed vehicle portion for movement between three positions including a first nonaccessible position in which said handle means is withdrawn from the gap when the pivotal member is closed, a second accessible position in which said handle means is extended into the gap after said primary latch means is released, and a third position in which said handle means is further extended into the gap beyond said second accessible position and in which said secondary latch means is unlatched to allow the pivotal member to fully open; biasing means for biasing said handle means into said second accessible position when said primary latch means is released. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. In a vehicle having a pivotal member movably mounted on a fixed portion of the vehicle and movable between open and closed positions, the vehicle including a striker member secured to one of the fixed portion and pivotal member on the vehicle, an improved latch assembly for vehicles for releasably securing the pivotal member to the fixed vehicle portion, said latch assembly comprising:
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primary latch means on one of the pivotal member and fixed vehicle portion for engaging and releasably holding the striker member on the vehicle to releasably hold the pivotal member in closed position; a mounting plate and fastening means for securing said mounting to one of the pivotal member and fixed vehicle portion; safety retaining means on said mounting plate for engaging a portion of the pivotal member or fixed vehicle portion to which mounting plate is secured when said fastening means are loose or released whereby said pivotal member will be maintained at least partially closed even if said fastening means are loose or accidentally fail, said safety retaining means including arm means positioned behind a portion of said one of the pivotal member and fixed vehicle portion to which said mounting plate is secured. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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51. In a vehicle having a pivotal member movably mounted on a fixed portion of the vehicle and movable between open and closed positions, the vehicle including a striker member and a keeper member secured to one of the fixed portion and pivotal member on the vehicle, an improved latch assembly for vehicles for releasably securing the pivotal member to the fixed vehicle portion, said assembly comprising:
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a mounting plate secured to one of the pivotal member and fixed vehicle portion; primary latch means on said mounting plate for engaging and releasably holding the striker member on the vehicle to releasably hold the pivotal member in closed position; secondary latch means on said mounting plate for engaging and releasably holding the keeper on the vehicle to releasably hold the pivotal member in partially open position after said primary latch means has been released; spring means on said mounting plate for biasing the pivotal member toward its open position; release means on said mounting plate for releasing said primary and secondary latch means to open the pivotal member; fastening means for securing said mounting plate to said one of the pivotal member and fixed vehicle portion; and safety retaining means on said assembly for engaging a portion of said one of the pivotal member or fixed vehicle portion to which said assembly is secured when said fastening means are loose or released such that said pivotal member will be maintained at least partially closed even if said fastening means are loose or accidentally fail; whereby said assembly is mounted to the vehicle as a single unit with said primary secondary latch means, release means, spring means and safety retaining means all assemblyed on one mounting plate for simplified installation and repair. - View Dependent Claims (52)
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53. In a vehicle having a pivotal member movably mounted on a fixed portion of the vehicle and movable between open and closed positions, the pivotal member defining a gap with the fixed vehicle portion when the pivotal member is partially opened, the vehicle including a striker member and a keeper member secured to one of the fixed portion and pivotal member on the vehicle, an improved latch assembly for vehicles for releasably securing the pivotal member to the fixed vehicle portion, said latch assembly comprising:
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a mounting plate secured to one of the pivotal member and fixed vehicle portion; primary latch means on said mounting plate for engaging and releasably holding the striker member on the vehicle to releasably hold the pivotal member in closed position; secondary latch means on said mounting plate for engaging and releasably holding the keeper on the vehicle to releasably hold the pivotal member in partially opened position after said primary latch means has been released; spring means on said mounting plate for biasing the pivotal member toward its open position; release means on said mounting plate for releasing said primary and secondary latch means to open the pivotal member;
said release means including movable handle means for moving said secondary latch means between said latched and unlatched positions and lever means for releasing said primary latch means;securing means for movably mounting said movable handle means on said mounting plate for movement between three positions including a first nonaccessible position in which said handle means is withdrawn from the gap when the pivotal member is closed, a second accessible position in which said handle means is extended into the gap after said primary latch means is released, and a third position in which said handle means is further extended into the gap beyond said second accessible positin and in which said secondary latch means is unlatched to allow the pivotal member to fully open;
biasing means for biasing said handle means into said second accessible position when said primary latch means is released; andfastening means for securing said mounting plate to one of the pivotal member and fixed vehicle portion whereby said assembly is mounted to the vehicle as a single unit with said primary and secondary latch means, release means and spring means all assembled on one mounting plate for simplified installation and repair.
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Specification