Vehicle hood latch assembly
AssigneeIllinois Tool Works Inc.
InventorsLawrence W. Johnson, Alexander W. Sherrill, Nicholas Capito, Jr., Frank P. Romero
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A hood latch assembly configured to securely latch a striker bar of a hood to a main frame of a vehicle includes a main body having a moveable secondary latch pivot arm, and a moveable primary latch member. The primary latch member is configured to secure the striker bar in a primary closed position, and the secondary latch pivot arm is configured to secure the striker bar in a secondary closed position above the primary latch member.
Claims18
A hood latch assembly configured to securely latch a striker bar of a hood to a main frame of a vehicle, the hood assembly comprising:
- a main body including a moveable secondary latch pivot arm, wherein said secondary latch pivot arm comprises opposed slide ramps and an integral handle, wherein said secondary latch pivot arm is configured to pivot away from said main body when an operator grasps and pulls said integral handle away from said main body;
- and
- a moveable primary latch member,
- wherein said primary latch member is configured to secure the striker bar in a primary closed position, wherein said main body, said secondary latch pivot arm, and said primary latch member are integrally formed as a single piece from a single piece of material, wherein the secondary latch pivot arm and the primary latch member can flexibly bend with respect to the main body without a pivot pin, and wherein said secondary latch pivot arm is configured to secure the striker bar in a secondary closed position above said primary latch member.
A hood latch assembly configured to securely latch a striker bar of a hood to a main frame of a vehicle, the hood assembly comprising:
- a main body including a secondary latch pivot arm, wherein said secondary latch pivot arm includes opposed slide ramps and an integral handle, wherein said secondary latch pivot arm is configured to pivot away from said main body;
- and
- a primary latch member,
- wherein said primary latch member is configured to secure the striker bar in a primary closed position, wherein said main body, said secondary latch pivot arm, and said primary latch member are integrally formed as a single piece from a single piece of material, wherein the secondary latch pivot arm and the primary latch member can flexibly bend with respect to the main body without a pivot pin, and wherein said secondary latch pivot arm is configured to secure the striker bar in a secondary closed position above said primary latch member.
A hood latch assembly configured to securely latch a striker bar of a hood to a main frame of a vehicle, the hood assembly comprising:
- a main body including an integrally-formed moveable secondary latch pivot arm, wherein said secondary latch pivot arm includes opposed slide ramps and an integral handle, wherein said secondary latch pivot arm is configured to pivot away from said main body when an operator grasps and pulls said integral handle away from said main body, wherein said main body securely fastens to the main frame of the vehicle through a single fastener;
- a moveable primary latch pivot arm, wherein said main body, said secondary latch pivot arm, and said primary latch member are integrally formed as a single piece from a single piece of material, wherein the secondary latch pivot arm and the primary latch member can flexibly bend with respect to the main body without a pivot pin, wherein said primary latch pivot arm includes opposed flanges, wherein said primary latch pivot arm is configured to pivot away from said main body when pulled by a cable that is operatively connected to a hood release activation handle;
- and
- a coil spring retained within said main body, wherein said coil spring is configured to exert a resistive force into the striker bar,
- wherein said primary latch pivot arm is configured to secure the striker bar in a primary closed position, and wherein said secondary latch member is configured to secure the striker bar in a secondary closed position above said primary latch member, wherein said primary latch pivot arm is configured to pivot away from said main body in a first direction to disengage the striker bar, and said secondary latch pivot arm is configured to pivot away from said main body in a second direction to disengage the striker bar, wherein the first direction is opposite that of the second direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.