Fuel filler latch assembly

A self-compensating latch adapted to be mounted to a motor vehicle structure to engage a striker, comprising:

• a support frame adapted to be mounted to the vehicle structure;
• a carrier fixed for rotation with respect to said support frame about a first pivot, said carrier having a first camming surface engagable with the striker;
• a latch arm fixed for rotation with respect to said carrier about a second pivot, said latch arm having a second camming surface engagable with the striker;
• first biasing means for biasing said carrier and said latch arm about said first pivot in a direction toward a latched position;
• and
• second biasing means for biasing said latch arm about said second pivot to urge said latch arm into contact with a portion of said carrier to define a predetermined angular orientation between said first and second camming surfaces;
• said first camming surface of said carrier adapted to contact the striker such that said carrier and latch arm simultaneously rotate about said first pivot in a direction opposing said first biasing means to align said latch arm in a predetermined alignment relative to said carrier for compensating for alignment variation therebetween, said second camming surface of said latch arm adapted to thereafter engage the striker to secure the striker in said latched position.

A self-compensating latch adapted to be mounted to a motor vehicle structure to engage a striker, comprising:

• a support frame having a rear surface adapted to be mounted to the vehicle structure and a front surface having at least one side wall extending transversely therefrom;
• an elongated carrier fixed to said side wall for pivotable motion along a plane generally parallel thereto about a first pivot, said carrier having a top and bottom end with said top end having at least one upstanding leg member defining a first camming surface thereon engageable with the striker;
• a latch arm fixed for rotation to said carrier about a second pivot, said latch arm having a top end defining a second camming surface;
• first spring means associated with said carrier and said support frame for biasing said carrier and said latch arm about said first pivot toward a latched position;
• second spring means for biasing said latch arm about said second pivot to urge said latch ar into contact with said carrier to define a predetermined angular orientation therebetween such that said second camming surface is located a predetermined distance below said first camming surface;
• and
• actuation means associated with said latch arm for rotating said latch arm about said second pivot in opposition to said second spring means to release said striker from engagement with said latch arm thereby defining an unlatched position;
• said first camming surface of said carrier adapted to contact the striker such that said carrier and latch arm simultaneously rotate about said first pivot in a direction opposing said first spring means to align said latch arm relative to the striker, said second camming surface of said latch arm adapted to thereafter engage the striker such that continued engagement enables said latch arm to secure the striker in said latched position.

A remotely actuated latch adapted to be mounted to a motor vehicle structure and engageable with a striker, comprising:

• a solenoid assembly including a pole piece, an armature movable between a first position displaced from said pole piece to a second position attracted toward said pole piece, a solenoid winding creating a magnetic flux to attract said armature to said second position through energization of said winding, and spring means for urging said armature to said first position;
• and
• a self-compensating latch mechanism associated with said solenoid assembly for lockingly engaging the striker when said armature is in one of said positions and releasably disengaging the striker when said armature is in the other of said positions, said latch mechanism having alignment compensating means for varying the position of said latch mechanism relative to the striker to compensate for alignment variations between said latch mechanism and the striker, said self-compensating latch mechanism including:
• a carrier;
• a latch arm associated with said carrier;
• first pivot means for enabling said carrier and said latch means to rotate about a first pivot;
• biasing means for biasing said carrier and said latch arm about said first pivot, said biasing means adapted to normally maintain a predetermined angular relationship between said carrier and said latch arm;
• and
• coupling means for coupling said latch arm to said armature such that said latch arm is adapted to move to a latched position when said armature is in said first position and to an unlatched position when said armature is in said second position;
• said carrier adapted to initially contact the striker such that said carrier and said latch arm rotate about said first pivot to position said latch arm in a predetermined alignment relative to the striker to compensate for alignment variations of the striker relative to said latch arm, said latch arm thereafter adapted to engage the striker to secure the striker in said latched position.

A solenoid actuated latch adapted to be mounted to a motor vehicle structure and engageable with a striker, comprising:

• a solenoid assembly having an energization coil assembly defining a longitudinal bore, an armature assembly disposed in said bore and adapted to translate in response to energization of said coil assembly, pole means for defining a working air gap across which magnetic fields are transferred thereby generating an attracting force between said pole means and said armature assembly which urges said armature assembly to move toward said pole means when said coil assembly is energized, and first spring means disposed between said pole means and said armature assembly urging said armature assembly away from said pole means when said coil assembly is de-energized;
• a support frame adapted to be mounted to said solenoid assembly;
• a carrier fixed for rotation with respect to said support frame about a first pivot;
• a latch arm fixed for rotation with respect to said carrier about a second pivot;
• coupling means for interconnecting said latch arm to said armature assembly such that said latch arm is pivotally movable upon movement of said armature assembly;
• and
• second spring means for biasing said carrier and latch arm about said first pivot;
• said first spring means biasing said latch arm about said second pivot, said carrier adapted to contact the striker such that said carrier rotates about said first pivot in a direction opposing said second spring means to align the striker relative to said latch arm, said latch arm adapted to thereafter contact the striker to lockingly engage the striker in said latched position.

A door latching apparatus adapted to be mounted to a motor vehicle structure and engageable with a striker, comprising:

• a housing adapted to be mounted to the motor vehicle structure, said housing defining an inner chamber and having an access opening;
• a door assembly pivotally secured to said housing for enclosing said access opening when said door assembly is moved to a closed position, the striker being secured to said door assembly for entry into said chamber of said housing;
• a self-compensating latch mechanism associated with said housing and disposed within said chamber for lockingly engaging the striker when said door assembly is closed and for releasably disengaging the striker when said door assembly is open, said self-compensating latch mechanism comprising:
• a support frame mounted to the vehicle structure;
• a carrier;
• first pivot means for enabling said carrier to rotate relative to said support frame about a first pivot;
• a latch arm;
• second pivot means for enabling said latch arm to rotate relative to said carrier about a second pivot;
• and
• biasing means for biasing said carrier and said latch arm about said first pivot, said biasing means adapted to maintain a predetermined angular relationship between said carrier and said latch arm with respect to said second pivot;
• said carrier adapted to initially contact the striker such that said carrier and said latch arm rotate about said first pivot to align said latch arm in a predetermined alignment relative to the striker thereby compensating for alignment variations between the striker and said latch arm, said latch arm adapted to thereafter contact the striker and rotate about said second pivot until it lockingly engages the striker in a latch position;
• and
• actuation means coupled to said latch arm for selectively controlling movement of said latch arm relative to the striker bar from a latched position to an unlatched position for releasing said door assembly.

A fuel filler door latch assembly adapted to be mounted to a motor vehicle structure and engageable with a striker, comprising:

• a housing member defining an inner chamber and having an access opening, said housing adapted to be mounted to the motor vehicle structure;
• a door assembly pivotally secured to said housing for covering said access opening when said door assembly is in a closed position, the striker secured to said door assembly so as to be disposed within said chamber of said housing when said door assembly is in said closed position;
• a solenoid actuated latch assembly extending at least partially into said housing through an aperture therein, said latch assembly including a solenoid having an energization coil assembly defining a longitudinal bore, an armature assembly disposed in said bore and adapted to translate in response to energization of said coil assembly, pole means for defining a working air gap across which magnetic fields are transferred thereby generating an attracting force between said pole means and said armature assembly which urges said armature assembly to move toward said pole means when said coil assembly is energized and first spring means disposed between said pole means and said armature assembly urging said armature assembly away from said pole means when said coil assembly is de-energized;
• said latch assembly including a latch mechanism including a support frame mounted to said solenoid, an elongated carrier fixed for rotation with respect to said support frame about a first pivot, and a latch arm fixed for rotation with respect to said carrier about a second axis;
• coupling means for interconnecting said latch arm to said armature assembly;
• and
• second spring means for biasing said carrier and latch arm about said first pivot;
• said first spring means biasing said latch arm about said second pivot, said carrier adapted to contact the striker such that said carrier rotates about said first pivot in a direction opposing said second spring means to align said latch arm relative to the striker thereby compensating for alignment variations between the striker and said latch arm, said latch arm adapted to thereafter engage the striker to secure the striker in said latch position.