U.S. patent number 3,730,575 [Application Number 05/149,569] was granted by the patent office on 1973-05-01 for closure latch.
This patent grant is currently assigned to General Motors Corporation. Invention is credited to Alfonsas Arlauskas, Lloyd W. Rogers, Jr..
United States Patent |
3,730,575 |
Arlauskas , et al. |
May 1, 1973 |
CLOSURE LATCH
Abstract
A closure latch for releasably securing a vehicle closure in a
closed position and adapted for operation by a remote actuator
operatively connected to the latch, the latch including a lock bolt
rotatable between latched and unlatched positions corresponding to
the open and closed positions of the closure, a detent lever
operatively connected to the remote actuator and rotatable thereby
between a retracted position engaging a detent shoulder on the bolt
and an extended position releasing the shoulder, a cam on the bolt,
and a follower on the detent lever. After the detent lever is
actuated to release the bolt, movement of the latter toward the
unlatched position thereof initiates engagement between the cam and
the follower which thereafter cooperate to positively restore the
detent lever and connected remote actuator to their original
positions in response to further movement of the bolt toward the
unlatched position.
Inventors: |
Arlauskas; Alfonsas (Troy,
MI), Rogers, Jr.; Lloyd W. (East Detroit, MI) |
Assignee: |
General Motors Corporation
(Detroit, MI)
|
Family
ID: |
22530880 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/149,569 |
Filed: |
June 3, 1971 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
292/216;
292/DIG.14; 292/210; 180/69.2; 296/76 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E05B
83/16 (20130101); Y10T 292/1047 (20150401); Y10S
292/14 (20130101); E05B 83/24 (20130101); E05B
15/0046 (20130101); Y10T 292/1092 (20150401) |
Current International
Class: |
E05B
65/12 (20060101); E05B 65/19 (20060101); E05B
15/00 (20060101); E05c 003/26 () |
Field of
Search: |
;180/69R,69C ;296/76
;292/210,216,280,DIG.14 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Betts; Kenneth H.
Assistant Examiner: Paperner; Leslie J.
Claims
Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:
1. In a vehicle body having a closure supported thereon for
movement between an open position and a closed position, a closure
latch comprising, striker means rigidly affixed to one of said
closure and said vehicle body, bolt means on the other of said
vehicle body and said closure adapted for movement between a
latched position retainingly engaging said striker means in the
closed position of said closure and an unlatched position releasing
said striker means to permit movement of said closure to the open
position thereof; bolt retaining means, means supporting said bolt
retaining means on said other of said vehicle body and said closure
for movement between a retracted position engaging said bolt means
and maintaining the latter in the latched position thereof and an
extended position remote from said bolt means releasing the latter
for movement to the unlatched position thereof, cam and follower
means on said bolt means and on said retaining means responsive to
movement of said bolt means from the latched to the unlatched
position thereof to concurrently move said retaining means from the
extended to the retracted position thereof, and blocking means on
said bolt means and on said retaining means adapted for positively
preventing movement of said retaining means from the retracted
position when said bolt means is in the unlatched position.
2. In a vehicle body having a closure supported thereon for
movement between an open position and a closed position, the
combination comprising, striker means rigidly affixed to one of
said vehicle body and said closure, bolt means, means supporting
said bolt means on the other of said vehicle body and said closure
for movement between a latched position retainingly engaging said
striker means in the closed position of said closure and an
unlatched position releasing said striker means to permit movement
of said closure to the open position thereof, bolt retaining means,
means supporting said retaining means on said other of said vehicle
body and said closure for movement between a retracted position
engaging said bolt means and maintaining the latter in the latched
position thereof and an extended position remote from the bolt
means releasing the latter for movement to the unlatched position
thereof, a remote manual operator, means operatively connecting
said remote operator to said retaining means for movement as a unit
with the latter, means supporting said remote operator on said
vehicle body for movement between an inactive position and an
active position corresponding respectively to the retracted and the
extended positions of said retaining means, means on said bolt
means defining a cam movable as a unit with said bolt means, means
on said retaining means defining a follower movable as a unit with
said retaining means, said follower in the extended position of
said retaining means being situated in the path of movement of said
cam means for engagement on the latter during movement of said bolt
means from the latched toward the unlatched position thereof, said
cam thereafter cooperating with said follower in positively moving
said retaining means from the extended to the retracted position
thereof in response to continued movement of said bolt means toward
the unlatched position thereof, and means on said bolt means
defining a blocking surface adapted for engagement on said
retaining means in the unlatched position of said bolt means for
positively preventing movement of said retaining means from the
retracted position when said bolt means is in the unlatched
position.
3. In a vehicle body having a closure supported thereon for
movement between an open position and a closed position, a closure
latch comprising, striker means rigidly affixed to one of said
vehicle body and said closure, a latch bolt having striker engaging
means and a detent shoulder thereon, means supporting said latch
bolt on the other of said vehicle body and said closure for pivotal
movement between a latched position wherein said striker engaging
means retainingly engages said striker means in the closure
position of said closure and an unlatched position releasing said
striker means to permit movement of said closure to the open
position thereof, a detent lever, means supporting said detent
lever on said other of said vehicle body and said closure for
pivotal movement between a retracted position engaging said detent
shoulder on said latch bolt in the latched position of the latter
to maintain said latch bolt in the latched position thereof and an
extended position remote from said latch bolt releasing the latter
for movement to the unlatched position thereof, means on said latch
bolt defining a cam movable as a unit with said bolt, and means on
said detent lever defining a follower movable as a unit with said
detent lever, said follower in the extended position of said detent
lever being situated in the path of movement of said cam for
engagement on the latter during movement of said bolt from the
latched toward the unlatched position thereof, said cam thereafter
cooperating with said follower in positively rotating said detent
lever from the extended to the retracted position thereof in
response to continued movement of said bolt toward the unlatched
position thereof, and means defining a blocking surface on said
bolt movable as a unit with the latter, said blocking surface in
the unlatched position of said bolt engaging said follower to
prevent movement of said detent lever from the retracted to the
extended position thereof.
4. In a vehicle body having a closure supported thereon for
movement between an open position and a closed position, the
combination comprising, a striker, means rigidly supporting said
striker on said closure, a latch bolt having a mouth portion and a
detent shoulder, means supporting said latch bolt on said vehicle
body for pivotal movement between a latched position wherein said
mouth portion retainingly engages said striker in the closed
position of said closure and an unlatched position releasing said
striker to permit movement of said closure to the open position, a
detent lever, means supporting said detent lever on said vehicle
body for pivotal movement between a retracted position engaging
said detent shoulder on said latch bolt in the latched position
thereof to maintain said latch bolt to the latched position thereof
and an extended position remote from said latch bolt releasing the
latter for movement to the unlatched position thereof, a remote
manual operator, means operatively connecting said remote operator
to said detent lever for movement as a unit with the latter, means
supporting said remote operator on said vehicle body for movement
between an inactive position and an active position corresponding
respectively to the retracted and the extended positions of said
detent lever, means on said bolt defining a cam movable as a unit
with said bolt, means on said detent lever defining a follower
movable as a unit with said detent lever, said follower in the
extended position of said detent lever being situated in the path
of movement of said cam for engagement on the latter during
movement of said bolt from the latched toward the unlatched
position thereof, said cam thereafter cooperating with said
follower in positively rotating said detent lever from the extended
to the retracted position thereof in response to continued movement
of said bolt toward the unlatched position thereof, and means
defining a blocking surface on said bolt movable as a unit with the
latter, said blocking surface in the unlatched position of said
bolt engaging said follower to prevent movement of said detent
lever from the retracted to the extended position thereof.
Description
This invention relates generally to closure latches and in
particular to a remotely actuable closure latch incorporating means
for positively returning the remote actuator from an active latch
releasing position to an inactive position concurrently with
opening of the closure.
With respect to the vehicle security and operating convenience,
automotive designers have long appreciated the advantages of
locating latch release controls for various vehicle closure
members, such as the hood and the rear deck, within the interior of
the vehicle body remote from the particular latch to be controlled.
Typically, the release controls include a remote actuator in the
form of a handle mounted interiorly of the vehicle body for manual
manipulation between an inactive position and an active position
and a motion transmitting member, such as the core element of a
motion transmitting cable assembly, connected to the actuator and
to a releasing element in the remote latch. When the actuator is
moved to the active position the latch releases the closure, the
actuator and motion transmitting member then being restored to
their original positions by a spring. A closure latch according to
this invention is particularly adapted for such remote actuation
and incorporates means for positively or springlessly restoring the
remote actuator after each release cycle.
Accordingly, the primary feature of this invention is that it
provides a new and improved closure latch. Another feature of this
invention is that it provides a new and improved closure latch of
the type having a striker retaining latch bolt and a bolt retaining
detent lever, the detent lever being particularly adapted for
control by a remote actuator and the latch including means for
positively returning the detent lever and the remote actuator to
their initial positions after a release cycle has been initiated
and while the closure remains open. Other features of this
invention reside in the provision of a cam on the latch bolt and in
the provision of a follower on the detent lever, the cam engaging
the follower during releasing movement of the latch bolt to
positively restore the detent lever and the remote actuator to
their original positions corresponding to a latched condition of
the latch bolt. A still further feature of this invention resides
in the provision of blocking means on the latch bolt which
cooperates with the follower on the detent lever in preventing
operation of the remote latch operator when the closure is open
.
These and other features of this invention will be readily apparent
from the following specification and from the drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is a partially broken away perspective view of the front
portion of an automobile vehicle body having a closure latch
according to this invention;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken generally along the
plane indicated by lines 2--2 in FIG. 1 and showing the closure
latch in a latched condition;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken generally along the
plane indicated by lines 3--3 in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken generally along the plane
indicated by lines 4--4 in FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. 2 but showing the closure latch in an
unlatched condition;
FIG. 6 is a view of a portion of FIG. 2 but showing the closure
latch in an intermediate condition between the latched and
unlatched conditions; and
FIG. 7 is a fragmentary partially broken away perspective view of a
closure latch according to this invention.
Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawings, there is shown an
automobile vehicle body designated generally 10 including a left
front fender structure 12, a right front fender structure 14, a
transverse grille 16 and a collision bumper member 18 extending
between the fenders below the grille. The grille, bumper member,
and fender structures cooperate with the vehicle body sheet metal
below a windshield 20 in defining a conventional engine
compartment, not shown, the engine compartment being adapted to be
closed by a closure or hood 22 supported on the vehicle body by
conventional hinge means, not shown, for pivotal movement about a
lateral, horizontal axis between a closed position, FIG. 1, and an
open position, not shown. The hood 22 is releasably maintained in
the closed position by a closure latch according to this invention
and designated generally 24, the latch being adapted for remote
actuation from interiorly of the vehicle body.
Referring to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the closure latch 24 includes a
support member 26 having a flat web 28 with an integral inturned
flange 30 extending around the periphery thereof. The web 28 has an
elongated notch 31 therein and the flange 30 is terminated at
surfaces 32 and 33 at opposite ends of the notch. A pair of
mounting lugs 34 and 35 integral with flange 30 and another
mounting lug 36 integral with the web 28 are disposed in a common
plane perpendicular to the plane of web 28, lug 35 being extended
to define a rigid arm 37. The mounting lugs 34, 35 and 36 are
rigidly attached to a fixed structural member 38 of the vehicle
body by a plurality of nut and bolt assemblies 40 with the web 28
projecting upwardly through an aperture 42 in the structural
member. A generally U-shaped striker 44 having depending sides 45,
FIG. 1, and an interconnecting side 46 is rigidly attached to the
hood 22 such that during movement of the hood between the open and
closed positions the interconnecting side 46 of the striker moves
in and out of the notch 31 formed in the web 28.
A latch bolt 50 having a cam surface 56, a plurality of detent
notches 58, a holding surface 59, a ramp surface 60, and a mouth
defining a keeper surface 61 and a lip 62, is supported on a stud
63 rigidly mounted on web 28 for pivotal movement between a latched
position, FIG. 2, wherein an edge of the bolt engages the surface
33 of the flange 30, and an unlatched position, FIG. 5, wherein cam
surface 56 abuts the side of flange 30. A torsion spring 64 coiled
about the stud 63 has one leg bearing on the latch bolt 50 and the
other leg bearing on the flange 30 of the support member to thereby
resiliently urge the latch bolt toward the unlatched position
thereof.
The latch 24 further includes a latch bolt retaining means in the
form of a detent lever 66 having a detent projection 68, a cam
follower 70, and an inturned flange 72 with an aperture 74 therein.
The detent lever 66 is supported on a stud 76 projecting rigidly
from the web 28 for pivotal movement between a retracted position
wherein the detent 68 engages one of the notches 58 on the bolt to
prevent movement of the bolt toward the unlatched position thereof
and an extended position wherein the detent is remote from the
notches, the extended and retracted positions of the detent lever
being shown respectively in broken and solid lines in FIG. 2. A
relatively weak torsion spring 78 coiled about the stud 76 has one
leg bearing on the detent lever and another leg bearing on the
support member 26 to thereby resiliently urge the detent lever
toward the retracted position thereof.
Operating means remote from the latch 24 are provided for enabling
the vehicle operator to release the hood 22 for movement from the
closed to the open position from interiorly of the vehicle body,
the operating means including a motion transmitting core element 80
supported in a flexible conduit 82. The conduit 82 is rigidly
attached at one end to the interior of the vehicle body by
conventional means, not shown, and is rigidly attached at the other
end to the arm 37 by a fastener 84, FIG. 2. The core element 80
slidably projects through the aperture 74 in the detent lever 66
and is restrained against withdrawal therefrom by a retainer 86.
The opposite end of the core element has a remote actuator or
handle, not shown, rigidly attached thereto so that movement of the
remote actuator between an inactive position and an active position
is accompanied by corresponding bodily movement of the core element
80.
In the closed and latched condition of the hood, FIG. 1, the side
46 of the striker 44 is situated in the notch 31 in the web 28 and
is captured in the mouth portion of the latch bolt 50, the latter
being in the latched position thereof and the detent lever being in
the retracted position thereof. In the retracted position of the
detent lever, the detent projection 68 engages one of the detent
notches 58 on the latch bolt to prevent clockwise rotation of the
latter, FIG. 2, so that the keeper surface 61 of the latch bolt,
overlying side 46 of the striker, prevents movement of the hood
from the closed to the open position.
To open the hood 22, the remote actuator is manually moved from the
inactive to the active position to effect leftward bodily movement
of the core element, FIG. 2. As the core element moves to the left,
the retainer 86 engages the flange 72 on the detent lever to pivot
the latter against spring 78 from the retracted to the extended
position thereof and thereby release the latch bolt, the spring 78,
however, having insufficient strength to restore both the detent
lever and the core element to their initial positions. When the
hood 22 is subsequently lifted toward the raised position, the side
46 of the striker 44 initiates clockwise pivotal movement of the
latch bolt from the latched toward the unlatched position. As the
latch bolt approaches the unlatched position the cam surface 56
thereon engages the follower 70 on the detent lever so that
continued pivotal movement of the bolt toward the unlatched
position is accompanied by simultaneous counterclockwise pivotal
movement of the detent lever from the extended position back toward
the retracted position. As the detent lever is rotated toward the
retracted position, the flange 72 thereon engages the retainer to
initiate rightward, FIG. 2, bodily movement of the core member 80
which movement, of course, functions to positively return the
remote actuator from the active toward the inactive position
thereof. Just before the latch bolt achieves the unlatched
position, the follower 70 crosses from cam surface 56 onto holding
surface 59, FIG. 5, at which instant the detent lever 66 achieves
the retracted position wherein the remote actuator is repositioned
in the inactive position thereof. Subsequent movement of the bolt
50 to the unlatched position thereof is, of course, independent of
the detent lever so that in the unlatched position of the bolt 50
the holding surface 59 prevents pivotal movement of the detent
lever and thus immobilizes the remote actuator.
In the opposite direction of hood movement, as the latter
approaches the closed position, the side 46 of the striker engages
the lip 62 of the latch bolt and initiates counterclockwise
rotation, FIG. 6, of the latter from the unlatched toward the
latched position during which rotation the holding surface 59
slides out of the path of motion of the follower 70 thus releasing
the detent lever for clockwise pivotal movement. Further pivotal
movement of the latch bolt toward the latched position
corresponding to continued closing movement of the hood causes the
detent projection 68 on the detent lever to slide up on the ramp 60
on the latch bolt, FIG. 6. As a result, the detent lever is pivoted
clockwise through a relatively small angle against spring 78 while
the flange 72 moves away from retainer 86 on the core element 80,
the latter remaining stationary because the flange 72 is
ineffective to exert a force on the core element directed
leftwardly, FIG. 2. Subsequently, as the hood is finally lowered to
the fully closed position, the ramp 60 slides out of engagement
with the detent projection 68, the ramp being replaced by the
detent notches 58 which pass successively past the projection until
the closed position of the hood is achieved whereupon the spring 78
maintains the detent lever in the retracted position holding the
latch bolt in the latched position until another hood release cycle
is initiated by the remote actuator.
* * * * *