Latch mechanism and latching method
AssigneeStrattec Security Corporation
InventorsGregory J. Organek, Steven J. Dimig, Mark S. Paulson, Kyle J. Beutin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A latch includes a catch pivotable about a first axis between a latched position for retaining a striker and an unlatched position for releasing the striker. The catch has a cam surface. A pawl is pivotable about a second axis and is engageable with the cam surface of the catch. In some embodiments, the pawl secures the catch in the latched position by resting on a first portion of the cam surface, the curvature of which is substantially concentric with the second axis when the catch is in the latched position. The pawl is movable off of the first portion of the cam surface to release the catch from the latched position. The catch can be drivable toward the latched position by the pawl.
Claims28
A latch comprising:
- a catch pivotable about a first axis between a latched position for retaining a striker and an unlatched position for releasing the striker, the catch having a cam surface;
- and
- a pawl pivotable about a second axis and engageable with the cam surface of the catch, the pawl securing the catch in the latched position by resting on a first portion of the cam surface, a curvature of which is substantially concentric with the second axis when the catch is in the latched position, the pawl further being movable off of the first portion of the cam surface to release the catch from the latched position;
- wherein the catch is drivable toward the latched position by the pawl when the pawl is driven to engage the first portion of the cam surface.
A latch comprising:
- a catch pivotable about a first axis between a latched position for retaining a striker and an unlatched position for releasing the striker, the catch including a cam surface;
- and
- a pawl pivotable about a second axis and engageable with the cam surface of the catch, the pawl securing the catch in the latched position by resting on a first portion of the cam surface, a curvature of which is substantially concentric with the second axis when the catch is in the latched position, the pawl further being movable off of the first portion of the cam surface to release the catch from the latched position;
- wherein the catch and the pawl are co-drivable, such that the pawl is drivable by the catch to rotate about the second axis when the catch rotates about the first axis, and the catch is drivable by the pawl to rotate about the first axis when the pawl rotates about the second axis.
A latch comprising:
- a catch pivotable about a first axis between a latched position for retaining a striker and an unlatched position for releasing the striker;
- a pawl pivotable about a second axis between a first position in which the pawl retains the catch in the latched position, and a second position in which the pawl releases the catch from the latched position;
- and
- an energy storage device coupled to the pawl, wherein pivoting of the catch toward the latched position generates pivoting of the pawl toward the first position and storage of energy in the energy storage device, and
- wherein the pawl is drivable from the first position toward the second position by release of the energy stored in the energy storage device to the pawl.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.