Latch mechanism for a vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10822846-B2
Application number	US-201715693809-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 1, 2017
Priority date	Sep 1, 2017
Publication date	Nov 3, 2020
Grant date	Nov 3, 2020

Abstract

A latching mechanism configured to fasten a hood panel to a vehicle body for covering a vehicle under-hood compartment includes a fork bolt positionable between a first position and at least one second position having a channel configured to capture the striker. A device releasably engages the fork bolt to adjust the fork bolt from the first position to the second position. A latch is positionable between at least the second position and a third position and includes a body including a primary catch portion and a secondary catch portion configured to releasably engage the striker in the second position. An actuator cooperates with the device and includes a projection configured to engage a portion of the latch body to adjust the latch from the second position to the third position. The secondary catch portion releases the striker in the third position.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A vehicle comprising:
a vehicle body defining a compartment;
a hood panel configured to cover the compartment, the hood panel including a striker extending therefrom; and
a latching mechanism releasably engaging the striker, the latching mechanism including:
a housing securable to a portion of the vehicle body, the housing having a first side, an opposing second side and at least one cam surface formed in a central region of the housing, wherein at least one cam surface is sized to receive and guide the striker,
a fork bolt pivotally connected to the second side of the housing and rotatably positionable between a latched position and a first unlatched position, wherein the fork bolt includes a channel configured to capture the striker to fasten the hood panel to the vehicle body in the latched position,
a device pivotally connected to the second side of the housing adjacent the fork bolt and adjustable between the latched position and the first unlatched position, wherein the device engages the fork bolt in the latched position and releases the fork bolt in the first unlatched position,
a latch including a latch body pivotally connected to the first side of the housing, wherein the latch body is rotatably positionable between at least one of the latched position, the first unlatched position and a second unlatched position, wherein the latch body includes a primary catch portion configured to releasably engage the striker in the latched position and a secondary catch portion configured to releasably engage the striker in the first unlatched position, and
an actuator connected to the housing and operatively connected to the device, wherein the actuator includes a projection configured to engage a portion of the latch body to adjust the latch body between the first unlatched position and the second unlatched position,
wherein the secondary catch portion of the latch body releases the striker in the second unlatched position to unfasten the hood panel from the vehicle body when the latch body is adjusted from the first unlatched position to the second unlatched position by the projection of the actuator.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the latching mechanism further comprises a limiting segment extending from the housing and at least partially through an arcuate slot formed in the latch body, wherein the limiting segment cooperates with the arcuate shaped slot the to define a range of travel of the latch body between a the latched position and the first unlatched position.

3. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the striker cooperates with the primary catch portion of the latch body when the latching mechanism is in the latched position to selectively fasten the hood panel to the vehicle body.

4. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the latch body of the latching mechanism further comprises a surface arranged between the primary catch portion and the secondary catch portion that is configured to guide the striker between the primary catch portion and the secondary catch portion when the striker is adjustably positioned between the latched position and the first unlatched position.

5. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the latching mechanism further comprises a first resilient element configured to selectively apply a force to preload the latch to facilitate closure of the compartment in the latched position and preload the secondary catch portion to limit the position of the hood panel in the first unlatched position.

6. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the latching mechanism further comprises a second resilient element configured to apply a preload force directed to move the fork bolt from the latched position to the first unlatched position to move the hood panel away from the vehicle body.

7. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the latching mechanism further comprises a third resilient element configured to apply a force to the device to release the fork bolt from the latched position to the first unlatched position in response to actuation of the device.

8. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the latching mechanism further comprises a fourth resilient element having a first portion positioned on the housing and a second portion operatively engaging the latch body, wherein the fourth resilient element is biased to retain the secondary catch portion of the latch body adjacent the central region of the housing to retain the striker in the secondary catch portion in the first unlatched position.

9. A latching mechanism releasably engaging a striker of a hood panel to selectively fasten the hood panel to a vehicle body, the latching mechanism comprising:
a housing securable to a portion of the vehicle body, the housing having a first side, an opposing second side and at least one cam surface formed in a central region of the housing, wherein at least one cam surface is sized to receive and guide the striker;
a fork bolt pivotally connected to the second side of the housing and rotatably positionable between a latched position and a first unlatched position, wherein the fork bolt includes a channel configured to capture the striker to fasten the hood panel to the vehicle body in the latched position;
a device pivotally connected to the second side of the housing adjacent the fork bolt and adjustable between the latched position and the first unlatched position, wherein the device engages the fork bolt in the latched position and releases the fork bolt in the first unlatched position;
a latch including a latch body pivotally connected to the first side of the housing, wherein the latch body is rotatably positionable between at least one of the latched position, the first unlatched position and a second unlatched position, wherein the latch body includes a primary catch portion configured to releasably engage the striker in the latched position and a secondary catch portion configured to releasably engage the striker in the first unlatched position; and
an actuator connected to the housing and operatively connected to the device, wherein the actuator includes a projection configured to engage a portion of the latch body to adjust the latch body between the first unlatched position and the second unlatched position,
wherein the secondary catch portion of the latch body releases the striker in the second unlatched position to unfasten the hood panel from the vehicle body when the latch body is adjusted from the first unlatched position to the second unlatched position by the projection of the actuator.

10. The latching mechanism of claim 9 further comprising a limiting segment extending from the housing and at least partially through an arcuate slot formed in the latch body, wherein the limiting segment cooperates with the arcuate shaped slot to define a range of travel of the latch body between a the latched position and the first unlatched position.

11. The latching mechanism of claim 9 wherein the latch body further comprises a surface arranged between the primary catch portion and the secondary catch portion that is configured to guide the striker between the primary catch portion and the secondary catch portion when the striker is adjustably positioned between the latched position and the first unlatched position.

12. The latching mechanism of claim 9 further comprising a first resilient element configured to selectively apply a force to preload the latch to facilitate closure of a compartment in the latched position and preload the secondary catch portion to limit the position of the hood panel in the first unlatched position.

13. The latching mechanism of claim 9 further comprising a second resilient element configured to apply a preload force

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc
• Pyeonghwa Automotive

Inventors

• Perring John
• Nelsen James N
• Park Hee Ra

Classifications

• E05B15/04

  Spring arrangements in locks {(E05B3/065, E05B15/101, E05B15/143, E05C19/06 take precedence)} · CPC title

• E05B83/24 Primary

  for car bonnets · CPC title

• E05B85/02

  Lock casings · CPC title

• E05B83/243

  Hood clamps, i.e. individually actuated, usually yielding hooks · CPC title

• E05B85/045

  for bifurcated bolts · CPC title