Vehicle overcenter closure latch
US5624142A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 24, 1995 |
| Grant date | Apr 29, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 24, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T292/1041
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
An overcenter latch for securing a closure to a body panel includes a panel bracket disposed opposite a closure striker block with a rubber link pivotally connecting the bracket and an operating handle. The block has spaced apart outwardly opening recesses each having a transverse raceway providing opposed inboard and outboard pivot sockets. A pair of depending handle prongs, each terminating in an arcuate cam, are adapted to snap overcenter on an associated raceway for pivotal reception between respective inboard and outboard pairs of sockets. The cams are readily positioned in their associated inboard sockets without the link being tensed. During latching, the handle cams are initially rotated about an inboard socket axis to an overcenter point, wherein the link is tensed to a predetermined dimension less than the links theoretical latching overcenter length. At this point the cams snap outboard to their associated outboard pivot socket axis, whereby the handle is rotated to its latched position resulting in reduced operator latching effort. During unlatching, the handle cams are initially rotated about the outboard socket axis to an overcenter point, wherein the link is tensed t…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.