US 6,712,405 B2Granted

Latch mechanism for a snowmobile engine cover

AssigneeBombardier Recreational Products Inc.

InventorsJean-François Desmarais, Philip Godfrey

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Abstract

A latch mechanism for a vehicle, e.g., a snowmobile, includes a latch and a base. The latch is resiliently coupled to the base using a resilient member, for example, a ring-shaped member. The latch is movable, e.g., pivotable, between first and second stable positions. In the first stable position, the latch can be inserted through an aperture in the base, and in the second stable position, the latch can be moved or pivoted to secure the base with respect to the latch. The base may be attached to a cover member for an engine compartment of the vehicle. In the second stable position, a tab of the latch engages against a first engageable surface of the base, and portion of the latch opposite the tab includes a second engagement surface that cooperates with a second engageable surface provided on the base.

Claims26

Dependent claims

A motor vehicle having at least one compartment that can be accessed using a latch mechanism, the motor vehicle comprising a first member and a second member moveable with respect to the first member, wherein the latch mechanism includes a latch provided to the first member and a base provided to the second member,

the latch including a foot portion at a proximal end thereof and a tab at a distal end thereof opposite the proximal end, the tab having a first engagement surface and the foot portion having a second engagement surface, the latch being movable between a first stable position in which the tab of the latch extends away from the first member and a second stable position in which the tab extends substantially parallel to the first member,
the base including an aperture sized to receive the tab of the latch, the base including a first engageable surface adjacent a first side of the aperture and a second engageable surface on a second side of the aperture diametrically opposite to the first side,
wherein, in order to secure the first member to the second member, the tab of the latch, in its first stable position, is inserted through the aperture of the base, and the latch is moved from the first stable position to the second stable position in which the first engagement surface of the tab engages the first engagement surface of the base and the second engagement surface of the foot portion engages the second engagement surface of the base.

A latch mechanism for securing together first and second members, comprising:

a latch provided to the first member, the latch including a foot portion at a proximal end thereof and a tab at a distal end thereof opposite the proximal end, the tab having a first engagement surface and the foot portion having a second engagement surface, the latch being movable between a first stable position in which the tab of the latch extends away from the first member and a second stable position in which the tab extends substantially parallel to the first member;
and
a base provided to the second member, the base including an aperture sized to receive the tab of the latch, the base including a first engageable surface adjacent a first side of the aperture and a second engageable surface on a second side of the aperture diametrically opposite to the first side,
wherein, in order to secure the first member to the second member, the tab of the latch, in its first stable position, is inserted through the aperture of the base, and the latch is moved from the first stable position to the second stable position in which the first engagement surface of the tab engages the first engageable surface of the base and the second engagement surface of the foot portion engages the second engageable surface of the base.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/986,158Filed 7 Nov 2001 · us provisional application
Priority: 7 Nov 2000
Published: US 2002/0053804 A19 May 2002
Granted: 30 Mar 2004
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification17 codes

B62M 27/00
Propulsion devices for sledges or the like
E05B 65/006
Locks or fastenings for special use: for covers or panels
E05B 83/243
For car bonnets: hood clamps, i.e. individually actuated, usually yielding hooks
E05C 3/02
Fastening devices with bolts moving pivotally or rotatively: without latching action