Two stage hood lift spring assembly

A hood lift spring assembly comprising:

• a compression spring rod assembly comprising a housing having a longitudinal axis and axially opposite ends;
• a mounting element for securing said compression spring rod assembly to an associated hood;
• a horizontal rod member coaxial with said axis and having an inner end in said housing and an outer end axially outwardly of one of said opposite ends;
• a guide member on said inner end of said rod member for supporting said rod member during movement of said rod member;
• first and second spring assemblies, wherein said first spring assembly extends between one of said ends of said housing and said guide member, and said second spring assembly extends between said guide member and said other of said ends of said housing;
• and
• a spring biased latch comprising a clip pivotally attached to an end of said housing via a mounting member, wherein said clip comprises a spring which is received in an elongated notch within a mounting plate on said housing and an elongated notch within a first arm of said clip wherein said spring extends vertically between said elongated notch of said mounting plate and said elongated notch of said first arm of said clip;
• wherein said mounting plate is spaced from said first arm, and an L-shaped second arm of said clip comprising a first member substantially parallel to said horizontal rod member;
• and a second member which is perpendicular to said first member;
• wherein said second member and said spring are substantially parallel to each other;
• wherein said second member moves downwardly to engage a notch within said horizontal rod member when said rod member is in an extended position, wherein said notch in said rod member is larger in dimension than said second member of said second arm of said clip to provide for misalignment of said second arm and said rod.