Vehicle closure latch

Abstract

A ratchet for a vehicle closure latch that mounts on a vehicle closure so as to engage and retain a striker mounted on a vehicle body when the vehicle closure is closed. The ratchet comprises a metal substrate and a plastic covering, the metal substrate having a primary latching tooth for engaging a pawl to retain the ratchet in a latched position and a striker tooth for engaging a striker when the ratchet is in an unlatched position, and the plastic covering having a bumper with a series of spaced apart cantilevered fingers to reduce the noise generated by contact of the ratchet with another portion of the closure latch, the fingers being joined to an integral base and being inclined with respect thereto.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.