Dual actuated latch mechanism for a vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11261625-B2
Application number	US-201916458812-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 1, 2019
Priority date	Jul 1, 2019
Publication date	Mar 1, 2022
Grant date	Mar 1, 2022

Abstract

A vehicle hood latching mechanism is disclosed. The latching mechanism includes a housing securable to the vehicle body, a latch member pivotally connected to the first side of the housing, the latch member includes an external surface defining an abutment surface, a fork bolt adjustably connected to the second side of the housing and movable between a fully latched position, and an actuator assembly pivotally connected to the second side of the housing. The actuator assembly includes a first lever configured to selectively abut against the engagement surface of the fork bolt and a second lever configured to selectively engage the abutment surface of the latch member. The first lever is pivotally connected proximal to a first end of the mounting plate and the second lever is pivotally connected proximal to a second end of the mounting plate.

First claim

We claim:

1. A vehicle comprising:
a vehicle body defining a compartment;
a hood panel adjustably mounted to the vehicle body and configured to selectively cover and uncover the compartment, the hood panel includes a striker; and
a latching mechanism configured to selectively engage and release the striker, the latching mechanism includes:
a housing secured to the vehicle body, wherein the housing includes a first side, an opposing second side;
a latch member pivotally connected to the first side of the housing, the latch member includes an external side surface defining an abutment surface;
a fork bolt pivotally connected to the opposing second side of the housing, the fork bolt includes an engagement surface; and
an actuator assembly pivotally connected to the opposing second side of the housing, the actuator assembly includes a first lever configured to selectively abut against the engagement surface of the fork bolt and a second lever configured to selectively engage the abutment surface of the latch member; and
wherein the actuator assembly includes an elongated mounting plate pivotally connected to the housing, the elongated mounting plate includes a first end and a second end opposite the first end; and

wherein the first lever is pivotally connected proximal to the first end of the elongated mounting plate and the second lever is pivotally connected proximal to the second end of the elongated mounting plate.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the elongated mounting plate and the first lever are co-axially pivotally connected to the housing.

3. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the first lever and the second lever are pivotally connected to the elongated mounting plate between the elongated mounting plate and the housing.

4. The vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the elongated mounting plate includes a side surface defining a stop tab configured to cooperate with an abutment surface defined on the housing to limit a pivotal rotation of the elongated mounting plate with respect to the housing.

5. The vehicle of claim 1 ,
wherein the fork bolt includes an external cam surface,
wherein the second lever includes a first arm and a second arm defining a substantially C-shaped profile, and
wherein the first arm includes a distal end configured to ride against the external cam surface of the fork bolt.

6. The vehicle of claim 5 , wherein the second arm includes a distal end having a projection configured to engage the abutment surface defined on the latch member.

7. The vehicle of claim 6 , wherein the latching mechanism includes a biasing member having a first end attached to the housing and a second end attached to the second arm of the second lever such that the biasing member rotatably biases the elongated mounting plate in a first direction.

8. The vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the second lever is adapted to cooperate with the elongated mounting plate such that the projection on the second arm of the second lever selectively moves in translational direction clearing the abutment surface of the latch member.

9. The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the biasing member is a coiled spring under tension.

10. A latching mechanism for releasably engaging a striker of a hood panel to a vehicle body comprising:
a housing securable to the vehicle body, the housing includes a first side, an opposing second side, and at least one housing cam surface;
a latch member pivotally connected to the first side of the housing, the latch member includes an external surface defining an abutment surface;
a fork bolt adjustably connected to the opposing second side of the housing and movable between a fully latched position, wherein the fork bolt secures the striker to fasten the hood panel to the vehicle body, and a first actuated position, wherein the striker is released from the fork bolt, and wherein the fork bolt includes an external cam surface and an engagement surface; and
an actuator assembly pivotally connected to the opposing second side of the housing, the actuator assembly includes a first lever configured to selectively abut against the engagement surface of the fork bolt and a second lever configured to selectively engage the external cam surface of the fork bolt; and
wherein the actuator assembly includes a pivotal elongated mounting plate having a first end, an opposite second end, and a side surface, wherein the first lever and the second lever are pivotally connected to the elongated mounting plate between the elongated mounting plate and the housing.

11. The latching mechanism of claim 10 , wherein the first lever is pivotally connected on the elongated mounting plate proximal to the first end and the second lever is pivotally connected on the elongated mounting plate proximal to the second end.

12. The latching mechanism of claim 11 , wherein the first lever includes a first distal end configured to selectively abut against the engagement surface of the fork bolt to retain the fork bolt in the fully latched position.

13. The latching mechanism of claim 11 , wherein the second lever includes a first arm and a second arm cooperating with the first arm defining a substantially C-shaped profile.

14. The latching mechanism of claim 13 , wherein the first arm includes a distal end configured to ride against the external cam surface of the fork bolt.

15. The latching mechanism of claim 14 , wherein the second arm includes a distal end having a projection configured to engage the abutment surface defined on the latch member.

16. The latching mechanism of claim 15 , wherein the latching mechanism includes a spring having a first end attached to the housing and a second end attached to the second arm of the second lever such that the spring rotatably biases the elongated mounting plate in a first direction.

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc
• Pyeonghwa Automotive Co Ltd

Inventors

• Nelsen James N
• Kim Sung Han

Classifications

• E05B83/24 Primary

  for car bonnets · CPC title

• E05B81/24

  characterised by constructional features of the actuator or the power transmission · CPC title

• E05B85/24

  Bolts rotating about an axis · CPC title

• E05B81/06 Primary

  using rotary motors · CPC title

• E05Y2900/536

  Hoods · CPC title