Other Classes:
292/DIG.049, 292/DIG.014, 292/DIG.030, 292/228
Field of Search:
292/128,198,216,DIG.4,DIG.14,DIG.30,DIG.49
Claims:
Having thus described my invention, what I claim is
1. A latch assembly for releasably securing a first member to a second member including in combination, a strike carried by said first member, a reset tab carried by said first member in laterally spaced relationship to said strike, a latch and operating lever, a latching element on one end of said lever, a handle on the other end of said lever, means mounting said lever on said second member for pivotal movement between a first position at which said element is adapted to engage said strike and a second position at which said element is clear of said strike, an over center spring extending between said second member and said handle for releasably holding said lever in each of said positions, a foot on said one end of said lever, a first cam surface on said foot for engaging said strike in the first position of said lever as said parts move toward each other to cam said lever to an intermediate position between said first and second positions against the action of said spring, and to permit said spring to move said lever back to said first position as said latching element moves beyond said strike to cause said latching element to snap into position under said strike for securing said members, said lever adapted manually to be moved from said first position to said second position, a second cam surface on said lever for engaging said reset tab in the second position of the lever as said first member moves away from the first member to move said lever from said second position back to said first position, and a flange on said first member having a recess for receiving said foot in the secured position of said members to prevent said catch from sliding off said strike.
2. A latch assembly as in claim 1 in which said reset tab is vertically spaced from said strike.
Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Various forms of latches are known in the prior art. Some of these latches are normally concealed from view, such for example as the latch which is employed releasably to hold a car hood to the frame. Latches of this type snap into engagement as the hood is closed on the frame. In order to release a latch of this type, the fingers of the hand are inserted under the front of the hood and a pivoted element is moved to a released position. This element must be held in the released position against the action of a restoring spring as the hood is raised. Operation of such a latch is relatively difficult for the reason that the latching element must be held in the released position as the hood is raised.
I have invented a hood latch which overcomes the difficulty of hood latches of the prior art. My hood latch obviates the necessity for holding an element in released position as the hood is raised. My latch is automatically reset as the hood is raised after the latch has been released. It is simple in construction and in operation. It is relatively inexpensive to manufacture for the result achieved thereby.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One object of my invention is to provide a hood latch which overcomes the difficulty of hood latches of the prior art.
Another object of my invention is to provide a hood latch which is easy to operate.
A further object of my invention is to provide a hood latch which obviates the necessity for holding an element in released position as the hood is raised.
Yet another object of my invention is to provide a hood latch which is automatically reset as the hood is raised.
A still further object of my invention is to provide a hood latch which is relatively simple in construction and in operation.
Yet another object of my invention is to provide a hood latch which is inexpensive to construct.
Other and further objects of my invention will appear from the following description.
In general my invention contemplates the provision of a hood latch in which an over center spring releasably holds a unitary latch and handle member pivoted on the hood alternatively in a first position at which a latch snaps into engagement with a strike on the frame as the hood is closed and a second position to which the member is manually moved so that the latch element is clear of the strike together with interengageable means on the member and on the frame for restoring the member to its first position as the hood is moved away from the frame.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the accompanying drawings to which reference is made in the instant specification and in which like reference characters are used to indicate like parts in the various views:
FIG. 1 is a front elevation of my hood latch.
FIG. 2 is an end elevation of my hood latch taken along the line 2--2 of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a sectional view of my hood latch taken along the line 3--3 of FIG. 1.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to the drawings, my latch, indicated generally by the reference character 10, may be used, for example, to secure a member such as an automobile hood 12 to the frame 14 of the automobile.
I secure a strike bracket 16 to the frame 14 by any suitable means such as by a bolt 18 passing through a vertical slot 20 in the bracket 16 and a rivet 22. I form bracket 16 with a strike 24 at the left side of the upper edge thereof as viewed in FIG. 1. I form the right hand upper edge of the bracket 16 with a reset lug 32. As can be seen fom the FIGURE, lug 32 is spaced slightly above the strike 24. In addition, the lateral spacing between the strike 24 and the reset lug 32 is such as will permit the latch to be described hereinafter to pass through the space between the strike and the lug as the hood 12 is closed on the frame.
Respective bolts 36 and 38 passing through slots in mounting flanges 40 and 42 secure a bracket 44 having a central offset portion 46 to the hood 12. A pivot pin 48 on the offset 46 pivotally supports a unitary latch and handle member indicated generally by the reference character 50. This member 50 includes a latching element 52 formed as a curved flange on the member 50 at one side of the pivot pin 48. As will more fully be pointed out hereinbelow, latch 52 is adapted to engage the underside of strike 24 in the locked position of the hood latch 10. I form the end of member 50 remote from the latching element 52 with an offset handle 54 connected to the body of the member 50 by a web 56. A foot 30 on the end of member 50 adjacent to the latching element 52 is adapted to strike the reset tab 32 as the hood 12 moves away from the frame 14 in a manner to be described.
Pivot pin 48 also supports a spring bracket 58. A dimple 60 on the offset 46 restrains bracket 58 against rotation relative to the pin 48. An over center spring 62 extends between bracket 48 and a lug 64 formed in the upper edge of the web 56.
Preferably I provide my strike bracket 16 with a flange 66 along its lower edge. Flange 66 is formed with an opening 68 for receiving the foot 30 in the locked position of the latch to prevent the latching element 52 from sliding off the strike 24. I further provide the opening 68 with an enlarged portion 70 which permits the offset portion of foot 30 to pass flange 66 as the latch snaps into engagement with the strike when the hood is closed on the frame.
It will be appreciated that while I have shown and described a strike 52 on a bracket which is mounted on the frame by bolts or the like the strike may be formed as an integral part of a sheet metal or plastic part of the frame 14.
Further, while I have shown and described a form of my latch adapted to be operated at the right hand side, it will be appreciated that I can arrange the latch to be operated from the left hand side. While I have illustrated an arrangement in which the latch assembly is on the hood 12 and the strike is on the frame, I may mount the latch assembly on the frame and provide the hood with a strike. Moreover, while handle 54 is so oriented as to be pulled to release the latch it could be made to extend in the opposite direction or to the left as viewed in FIG. 1 so as to release the latch in response to pushing down on the handle.
One of the important features of my latch is that it permits of the use of three or more latches on one installation. That is, in use of latches of the prior art, as has been pointed out hereinabove, it is required that a spring-loaded element be held in released position as the parts are separated. As a result, for one man operation, only two latches can be employed in a single installation. With my latch, on the other hand, as many latches as desired can be employed in one installation.
In use of my hood latch, with the hood moved away from the frame 14 the handle member 50 normally is held in approximately the position illustrated in full lines in FIG. 1 under the action of the spring 62. When the hood is closed, foot 30 enters into the space between the strike 24 and the lug 32. In the course of this movement, the left edge of the foot 30 engages the right edge of strike 24 to pivot the latch and handle member 50 slightly in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1. When the hood is fully closed on the frame 14, latch element 52 moves under the strike 24 by virtue of the action of spring 62. The hood 12 then is securely held in closed position on the frame 14.
In order to release the hood latch 10, handle 54 is moved in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1 by grasping the handle 54. In the course of this action, the handle moves to such a position that spring 62 is in an over center position so that it retains the latch and handle member 50 in the broken line position illustrated in FIG. 1.
In this position of the latch and before resetting takes place the sloping portion of the right hand edge of the latch and handle member 50 opposite element 52 abuts wall 44. In this relative position of the parts, the latch element 52 is clear of the strike. Owing to the fact that the over center spring 62 releasably holds the latch and handle member 50 in this position, the hood 12 can be moved away from the frame 14 without the necessity of manually holding any element in its released position.
Next, the hood is moved manually away from the frame 14. As this occurs, the upper edge of the foot 30 engages the reset lug 32 which pivots the latch and handle member 50 back toward its original position. As the spring action moves past center again, the spring restores the latch and handle member to its initial position. Owing to the vertical spacing between the reset lug 32 and the strike 24, the latch element 52 clears the strike as the latch and handle member is reset. When the hood 12 is reclosed on the frame, the latch element 52 snaps into engagement with the underside of strike 24 as before.
It will be seen that I have accomplished the objects of my invention. I have provided a hood latch which overcomes a difficulty of hood latches of the prior art. My latch obviates the necessity for holding a member in released position as the hood is moved away from the frame. My latch is automatically reset as the hood moves away from the frame. The construction of my latch is simple. My hood latch is relatively inexpensive to manufacture for the result achieved thereby.
It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of my claims. It is further obvious that various changes may be made in details within the scope of my claims without departing from the spirit of my invention. It is, therefore, to be understood that my invention is not to be limited to the specific details shown and described.