Adjustable hood latch assembly

A latching mechanism for selectively retaining a closure having a striker, the latching mechanism comprising, in combination:

• a housing forming a vertically extending groove for receiving the striker;
• first and second axles located on opposite sides of the groove;
• a striker spring located at the groove;
• a pawl pivotable about the first axle and defining a notch;
• a ratchet pivotable about the second axle and defining a protrusion adapted to cooperate with the notch of the pawl to selectively retain the ratchet in a locked position, the ratchet also defining a pocket for receiving the striker and retaining the striker in the groove when the ratchet is in the locked position;
• and
• wherein the striker spring is positioned at the groove to be directly engaged by the striker when the ratchet is in the locked position.

A latching mechanism for selectively retaining a closure having a striker, the latching mechanism comprising, in combination:

• a housing forming a vertically extending groove for receiving the striker;
• first and second axles located on opposite sides of the groove;
• a striker bring located at the groove;
• a pawl pivotable about the first axle and defining a notch;
• a ratchet pivotable about the second axle and defining a protrusion adapted to cooperate with the notch of the pawl to selectively retain the ratchet in a locked position, the ratchet also defining a pocket for receiving the striker and retaining the striker in the groove when the ratchet is in the locked position;
• a hook pivotal about the first axle and defining a catch for receiving the striker to retain the striker in the groove;
• and
• wherein the hook is operatively connected to both the pawl and the ratchet with pin and slot connections.

A latching mechanism for selectively retaining a closure having a striker, the latching mechanism comprising, in combination:

• a housing forming a vertically extending groove for receiving the striker;
• first and second axles located on opposite sides of the groove;
• a striker spring located at the groove;
• a pawl pivotable about the first axle and defining a notch;
• a ratchet pivotable about the second axle and defining a protrusion adapted to cooperate with the notch of the pawl to selectively retain the ratchet in a locked position, the ratchet also defining a pocket for receiving the striker and retaining the striker in the groove when the ratchet is in the locked position;
• a hook pivotal about the first axle and defining a catch for receiving the striker to retain the striker in the groove;
• and
• a paddle pivotable about the second axle for manually pivoting the hook.

A latching mechanism for selectively retaining a closure having a striker, the latching mechanism comprising, in combination:

• a housing forming a vertically extending groove for receiving the striker;
• first and second axles located on opposite sides of the groove;
• a striker spring located at the groove;
• a pawl pivotable about the first axle and defining a notch;
• a ratchet pivotable about the second axle and defining a protrusion adapted to cooperate with the notch of the pawl to selectively retain the ratchet in a locked position, the ratchet also defining a pocket for receiving the striker and retaining the striker in the groove when the ratchet is in the locked position;
• and
• means for adjusting the position of the striker spring relative to the groove to adjust the spring force.

A latching mechanism for selectively retaining a closure having a striker, the latching mechanism comprising, in combination:

• a housing forming a vertically extending groove for receiving the striker;
• first and second axles located on opposite sides of the groove;
• a striker spring located at the groove;
• a pawl pivotable about the first axle and defining a notch;
• a ratchet pivotable about the second axle and defining a protrusion adapted to cooperate with the notch of the pawl to selectively retain the ratchet in a locked position, the ratchet also defining a pocket for receiving the striker and retaining the striker in the groove when the ratchet is in the locked position;
• and
• a stop supported by at least one of the axles and adapted to limit rotation of the ratchet upon downward movement of the striker in the groove.