Hood latch

A latch mechanism with an operative cable for actuating the latch mechanism to release a striker to a raised position, the latch mechanism comprising a mounting plate carrying a slot having a bottom and mouth, the latch mechanism having disposed therewith a pivotably biased pawl mechanism comprising a top arm portion for pivoting from a position over the slot to a position spaced from it, the pawl having a bottom arm portion and follower means for positioning the pawl with respect to the slot of the mounting plate, the pawl mechanism having a primary pivot about which it normally pivots or rotates and a secondary safety pivot about which the pawl is able to rotate if the primary pivot breaks and which secondary safety pivot does not interfere with any normal operation motion, the latch mechanism having disposed therewith a ratchet mechanism biased for rotation and carrying a notch having a mouth and control means for controlling the position of the pawl mechanism with respect to the slot when the control means of the ratchet engages the follower means of the pawl the latch mechanism having disposed therewith stop means for stopping rotation of the ratchet mechanism with the mouth of the notch proximate the mouth of the slot both directed towards the top arm portion of the pawl the latch mechanism having disposed therewith, a safety device securing the operative cable to the pawl mechanism which device permits actuation of the latch mechanism to only release the striker to a raised position but precludes any further operation of the cable to release the striker from the latch mechanism, the top arm portion normally positioned over the slot and being precluded from movement away from the slot unless the mouth of the notch and mouth of the slot are both directed towards the top arm portion.

A latch mechanism with an operative cable for actuating the latch mechanism to release the striker to a raised position, the latch mechanism comprising a mounting plate carrying a slot having a bottom and mouth, the latch mechanism having disposed therewith, a pivotably biased pawl mechanism comprising a top arm portion for pivoting from a position over the slot to a position spaced from it, the pawl having a bottom arm portion, and follower means for positioning the pawl with respect to the slot of the mounting plate, the latch mechanism having disposed therewith, a ratchet mechanism biased for rotation and carrying a notch having a mouth and control means for controlling the position of the pawl mechanism with respect to the slot when the control means of the ratchet engages the follower means of the pawl the latch mechanism having disposed therewith stop means for stopping rotation of the ratchet mechanism with the mouth of the notch proximate the mouth of the slot both directed towards the top arm portion of the pawl, the latch mechanism having disposed therewith a safety device securing the operative cable to the pawl mechanism which devices permits actuation of the latch mechanism to only release the striker to a raised position but precludes any further operation of the cable to release the striker from the latch mechanism, the top arm portion normally positioned over the slot and being precluded from movement away from the slot unless the mouth of the notch and mouth of the slot are both directed towards the top arm portion.

A latch mechanism comprising a mounting plate carrying a slot having a bottom and mouth;

• the latch mechanism having a pivotably-biased pawl mechanism having a top arm portion, a bottom arm portion, and follower and engaging means for positioning the pawl with respect to the slot of the mounting plate;
• the latch mechanism having a ratchet mechanism biased for rotation and carrying a notch having a mouth and control means for controlling the position of the pawl mechanism with respect to the slot when the control means of the ratchet engages the follower and engaging means of the pawl, the plane of the ratchet in one embodiment lying in the same plane as the pawl mechanism;
• the latch mechanism having disposed therewith stop means to stop the rotation of the ratchet mechanism, the ratchet mechanism for guiding the striker to proximate the bottom of the slot so that the detent of the pawl mechanism engages a detent of the ratchet mechanism so that the ratchet mechanism is precluded from rotating to release the striker, the arm on the top of the pawl mechanism normally positioned over the slot and being precluded from movement away from the slot unless the mouth of the notch and mouth of the slot are both directed towards the top arm portion, the improvement comprising the pawl mechanism having a primary pivot about which it normally pivots or rotates and a secondary safety pivot about which the pawl is able to rotate if the primary pivot breaks and which secondary pivot does not interfere with any normal operation motion, and having a safety device securing the operative cable to the pawl mechanism which device permits only release of the striker to a raised position when the cable is activated but precludes any further operation of the cable to release the striker from the latch mechanism.