Hood latch mechanism with in-line striker spring

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, the housing being adapted to accept an over slam force from the striker at a bottom end of the groove;
• 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;
• wherein the housing comprises a mounting bracket and a support plate attached to the mounting bracket, the support plate adapted to support the striker spring;
• and
• wherein the support plate forms a cylinder portion for supporting the striker spring.

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 first stop attached to the ratchet and adapted to directly engage the housing to limit rotation of the ratchet upon downward movement of the striker in the groove;
• and
• a second stop attached to the ratchet and adapted to directly engage the housing to limit rotation of the ratchet upon upward movement of the striker out of the groove.

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 first stop attached to the ratchet and adapted to cooperate with the housing to limit rotation of the ratchet upon downward movement of the striker in the groove;
• a second stop attached to the ratchet and adapted to cooperate with the housing to limit rotation of the ratchet upon upward movement of the striker out of the groove;
• 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 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;
• first and second springs biasing the pawl and the ratchet in opposite directions of rotation;
• 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 spring located at the groove;
• wherein the striker spring is a helical coil compression spring;
• 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;
• spring members biasing the pawl and the ratchet in opposite directions of rotation;
• and
• wherein the housing comprises a mounting bracket and a support plate attached to the mounting bracket, the support plate adapted to support the striker spring, and wherein a bottom wall of the mounting bracket cooperates with the support plate to support the striker spring.