Over travel hood latch
US9027971B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 20, 2012 |
| Grant date | May 12, 2015 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 27, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T292/0949
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A hood latch having an extra-long fishmouth for enabling a vehicle hood to deflect downwardly upon impact, such as when hit by a pedestrian in a frontal crash. To prevent this deflection when the hood is slammed shut in ordinary use, a stop lever is pivotally mounted to the latch housing. The stop lever features first and second arms defining a slot therein. One arm has a proboscis thereon and is biased to align the slot with the fishmouth, with the proboscis jutting into the fishmouth. The proboscis receives an impact from the striker and rotates the stop lever to a blocking position wherein the non-proboscis arm intercepts the striker and prevents it from reaching the bottom end of the fishmouth. In the closed position the ratchet retains the striker at an intermediate depth in the fishmouth, enabling the striker to travel toward the bottom end thereof.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.