Latch striker with integral back plate
AssigneeAnchor Tool & Die Company
InventorAlmantas K. Paskonis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A striker assembly for latch engagement has symmetrical sides of three intersecting plates including a mounting plate, a striker plate in which a striker throat and striker bar is formed, and a back plate which intersects the mounting plate and striker plate. The back plate adds substantial structural strength to the striker and prevents consumption of the striker by the latch under severe overload conditions such as in a collision. A cap weld over the contact surface of the striker bar further increases strength and reduces friction with the engaging latch pawl. One piece and two piece embodiments are described, and in combination with over-slam bumpers mounted on the back plates, and an insert piece in combination with the one piece embodiment.
Claims20
A one piece striker assembly configured for mounting to a supporting structure and for engagement with a latch mechanism, the striker assembly comprising:
- a first mounting plate connected through a radiused bend to a first striker plate, a
- second striker plate in parallel alignment with the first striker plate and connected to the first striker plate through at least one bend along an edge generally opposite the first mounting plate, aligned openings in each of the striker plates defining a double thickness striker bar along an edge of the first and second striker plates;
- a second mounting plate attached to the second striker plate at an edge generally opposite to the connection to the first striker plate;
- a first back plate which extends from an edge of the first mounting plate generally aligned with an edge of the first striker plate, and a second back plate which extends from an edge of the second mounting plate generally aligned with an edge of the second striker plate;
- the first back plate being connected to the first mounting plate through a radiused bend, and a proximate edge of the first back plate generally aligned with an edge of the first striker plate generally opposite the striker bar, the second back plate being connected to the first mounting plate through a radiused bend, and a proximate edge of the second back plate generally aligned with an edge of the second striker plate generally opposite the striker bar.
A striker for mounting to a support structure and engaging with a latch mechanism, the striker comprising:
- a mounting surface defined by at least one mounting plate;
- a striker plate attached to the mounting plate, the striker plate having an opening and a striker bar proximate to the opening, the striker bar being configured for engagement with a latch mechanism;
- a back plate which intersects the mounting plate and the striker plate, the back plate in a plane spaced from the striker bar and located on opposite sides of the striker plate.
A striker for engaging a latch pawl of a latch mechanism by entry of a striker bar through an opening in a housing of the latch mechanism into contact with the latch pawl, the striker comprising:
- a striker plate having a throat and a striker bar proximate to the throat, the striker plate and striker bar being oriented in alignment with an opening in a housing of a cooperating latch mechanism,
- a mounting plate connected to the striker plate and in a different plane than the striker plate, and a back plate which intersects the mounting plate and the striker plate in a plane spaced from the striker bar and on opposite sides of the striker plate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.