US2864635A - Hood latch - Google Patents

Description

5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec., 16, 1958 A. c. LINDNER HOOD LATCH Filed March 16. 1954 Dec. 16, 1958 A. C. LINDNER HOOD LATCH Filed March 16. 1954 Dec. 16, 1958 A. c. LINDNER 2,864,63

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71 vez? for ,daffz C l naine/ y Par/rer 7a/fier United States cljatent HOOD LATCH Adam C. Lindner, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Chicago Forging and Manufacturing Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Application March 16, 1954, Serial No. 416,544

1 Claim. (Cl. 292-12) This invention relates to an improvement in latching or locking means and has for one object a latch mechanism useable with automobiles.

Another purpose is to provide a hood latch which may be applied to alligator-type automobile hood closures.

Another purpose is to provide a hood latch whereby a hood closure may be secured to a hood at a variety of positions of the hood closure in relation to the hood.

Another purpose is to provide a hood latch assembly which shall be simple in construction and economical to manufacture.

Other purposes will appear from time to time in the course of the specication and drawing.

The invention is illustrated more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side view, in partial cross-section of the invention as installed, for example, in a hood closure and hood of an automobile.

Figure 2 is a side view, in partial cross-section, and on an enlarged scale.

Figure 3 is a view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a view taken on a line 4 4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a detail view, in partial cross-section, of the latching mechanism illustrated in Figure 3 and showing the parts in latching position.

Figure 6 is a view similar to that of Figure 5, showing the parts in unlatched position;

Figure 7 is a view taken on line 7-7 of Figure 5 Figure 8 is a side view, in partial cross-section, and illustrating the invention as installed, for example, on the hood closure and hood of an automobile, the elements of the invention being reversed from the position shown in Figure 1; and

Figure 9 is a detail view illustrating a variant form of a part of my invention.

Like parts are indicated by like symbols throughout the specification and drawings.

Referring to Figure 1, a hood or forward portion of an automobile is generally indicated at 1. vA hood closure is generally indicated at 2. alligator-type hood referred to above is of the type which may be generally pivoted or hinged, for example, as illustrated at 3 in Figure l. A spring or similar means (not shown) may be associated with the hood 1 and closure 2 adjacent pivot point 3 to aid in raising the closure and separating the below-described keeper and latch assemblies.

Referring now to Figure 2, the numeral 5 indicates a plate or similar member which may be secured or may be a part of the hood closure 2. Plate 5 carries a keeper member 6. Surrounding the keeper 6 is aspring 8 which may be held in position by a top cage member 9 secured or clamped against plate 5 as by the nut and bolt connection 10, and a bottom cage member 11. The cage member 11 has an inwardly bent wall portion 12 which generally surrounds and is adjacent to the keeper 6.

The keeper 6, which may be cylindrical in cross-section, has a ring 13 secured in a generally circumferential It will be understood that the p 2,864,635 Patented Dec.l 16A, 1958 ice groove 14 therein at a point spaced from the plate 5. As best seen in Figure 3, the ring 13 extends outwardly from the keeper 6 a sucient distance to be contacted by the inwardly otlset portion 12 and thus to retain the cage member 11 in position on the keeper 6 when the hood closure is separated from the hood. The ring 13 maybe of the type generally known as a split ring. It will be realized that the ring 13 could be positionedjat a variety of points on the keeper 6. While I prefer the relationship of the parts as shown, the keeper 6 be of lesser extension, or the ring 13 could be positioned at a point closer to the keeper tip 15 to permit the keeper to retract entirely into the cage 11 upon release, if desired. The provision of a cylindrical rod-like, parallel-sided keeper escapes the necessity of forming an enlargement thereon as required in prior blade-type latches. The keeper may be quickly assembled by sliding the spring 8 and cup 11 thereon and thereafter setting the ring 13 in the groove 14. The cup and spring may be similarly removed and replaced without separating the keeper from the plate 9.

The keeper 6, as above described, may be circular yin cross-section and may be o-f substantial'linear extension. It may have the pointed or conical outer end 15 and may be secured to the top spring retaining member 9 as by the bolt or rivet 16.

The hood, which may have secured thereto a latch plate 20, may have generally centrally located thereon an aperture 21. The aperture 21 may be surrounded by ka generally upwardly offset and downwardly inwardly bent portion 22 of the plate 20. As best seen from a view of Figures 3, 5 and 7, the upset portion 22 of the plate 20 may have its inner portions formed in one manner, asin Figure 3, adjacent the sides of the aperture 21 and may have them formed in a different manner, as seen in Figure 5, adjacent the forward and aft edges of the aperture 21, considering the parts as illustrated in the drawings. Thus, while the aperture 21 may be generally circular, the plate portion 22 may form the generally elongated guide for the keeper 6, as best seen in Figure 7. i

Secured to the plate 20, as by the rivet connections 25, and for example to the bottom face of plate 20, is a latch housing member generally indicated at 26. The bracket member 26 may have the outwardly oppositely disposed attaching flanges 27, 28 through which the rivet connections 25 may extend. As best seen in Figures 3 and 7 the flanges 27, 28 extend to either side of the aperture 21. The ange 28 may have the downwardly, generally vertically depending side wall or plate portion29.

The housing 26 may have downwardly depending from the flanges 27, 28 a pair of generally vertical side walls 30, 31 which may in turn carry the generally horizontally disposed bottom wall 32 which is disposed generally beneath and spaced from the aperture 21. The bottom wall 32 has the aperture 33 therein, the aperture 33 being somewhat larger than the aperture 21 and generally axially in alignment therewith. The bottom wall 32 may have a downwardly bent portion 34 surrounding the aperture 33. The horizontal bottom wall 32 may have upwardly bent portions 35, 36 along its side edges, as best illus trated in Figures 5 and 6.

It will be observed that the upset portions 22 ofy the plate 20, the sidewalls 26, 31, 35 and 36 and the bottom Wall 32 together form a retaining and positioning cage for a ring 40. The ring 40 may have a generally vertical outer circumferential face 41 and an inwardly upwardly conical circumferential wall 42.

Arranged for positioning and slideable movement within the aperture 33 is the generally cylindrical hollow sleeve member generally indicated at 45. The sleeve 45 has the generally cylindrical side wall 46. The Wall 46 has adjacent its upper end a generally annular inwardly bent ange portion 47, the inner end of which defines an opening or aperture 48 of sufficient diameter to permit the passage therethrough of the keeper 6. The generally cylindrical wall 46 has a series of circumferentially spaced apertures 50 adjacent its upper edges. The Wall 46 has its generally inwardly conical edges 51 surrounding the aperture 50,

As best seen in Figures 3, 5 and 6 the upper portion of the cylindrical wall 46, which` extends upwardly through the aperture 33 and is therefore positioned between the ,plate and the bottom wall 32 of the housing 26. forms with the ring a case for a plurality of balls 69. The aperture is of less diameter than the balls 60 but of sufficient diameter to permit a portion of the balls to extend inwardly toward the axis of the hollow sleeve ,While I illustrate three apertures50 in the sleeve 45, it will be realized that the number of such apertures may be varied without departing from the nature and scope of my invention. The members 46, 50, 60 and 40 form, in efect,.a race of balls. As best seen in Figure 6 the balls '60 are of a diameter sufficient to permit the balls 60 to be in 'contact with the inwardly upwardly conical inner circumferential wall 42 of the ring 40. When the keeper 6 is separated from the latching assembly the sleeve 45 will have been temporarily forced downwardly as below described. The balls V60, however, since they extend outwardly from the sleeve 45, are thereby brought to rest upon the bottom wall 32 and thus serve to retain the sleeve 45 in position in the aperture 33.

The wall 46 of the sleeve 45 carries adjacent its bottom l edge the generally annular outwardly extending flange 65. Referring now to Figure 4, the downwardly depending plate portion 29 may have pivoted thereon, as at 66, a latch releasing member 67. The member 67 may have a pair of arms 68, 69 which may, in turn, carry the vertically extending portions 70, 71. The portions 70, 71 may have, respectively, the grooves 72, 73 adapted'to receive portions of the flange and to form an actuating connection thereby between the releasing member 67 and the sleeve 45. It will be observed that the grooves 72, 73 constitute with the flange 65 a lost-motion connection with the sleeve 45. The member 67 carries an abutment 75 which extends beyond the pivot 66 and which may be bent at right angles to provide a portion extending beyond the outer face of the plate portion 29 as indicated in the lower right-hand corner of Figure 4. Yielding means, such as at spring 80, may be secured to the plate 29 as at 81 and to a downwardly depending ear 82 on the releasing member 67. As best seen in Figure 2 the spring is effective to urge the arms 68, 69 upwardly and thus to urge the balls 60 upwardly along the inner wall 42 of the ring 40 which, since the sleeve 45 rises generally vertically, cause the balls 60 to move inwardly toward the axis of the sleeve 45. Thus when a part of the circular portion of the keeper 6-is in general horizontal alignment with the balls 60, the keeper 6 will be gripped "by the balls and thereby held in position. ln this regard it will be observed that the spring 8, since it has been compressed between the plate 5 and the` plate 20, is thus adapted to urge the keeper 6 upwardly through the ` apertures 48 and 21. Since such upward movement of the keeper 6 would tend to carry the balls 60 further upwardly along the wall 42 of the ring 40 and thus to force the balls inwardly against the keeper 6, it is seen that the spring 8 contributes alsoto the locking or holding action of the balls 60 against the keeper 6.

Referring now to Figures 2 and 3, it will be observed that the plate 29 carries a type of stub shaft 90. Rotatably or pivotally mounted on the shaft `is a safety latch and latch operating lever generally indicated at 91. The lever 91 may have a manually operable grip portion 92 adjacent the forwardly extending, as the parts are shown in the drawings, end of an arm 93. As best seen in Figure l, the` arm 93 extends a sucient distance to place the grip` 92 in position to be grasped by the operator from outside and infront of the hood r1. As best seen in Figure 4, the arm 93 underlies the abutment 75 on the latch releasing arm 67. The member 91 has the arm 95 which extends beyond the pivot point 90 in a direction generally opposite from the arm 93. The arm 95 may have secured thereto yielding means such as at spring 96. The spring 96 has its opposite end secured to an upper portion of the plate 29 as at 97. As best seen in Figure 2 the spring 96 is thus adapted to urge the arm 93 downwardly out of contact and spaced from the abutment 75. The member 91 may have the generally upwardly directed safety latch arm 98 which may extend through a slot 99 in the plate 20, the slot 99 being of sucient linear extension to permit the safety latch arm 98 to move therethrough, the edges of the slot 99, however, serving to act as limits for the movement of the arm 98 and since the arm 98 is rotatable with the operating arm 93, the edges of the slot 99 serve to limit also the movement of the arm 93. The arm 98 carries adjacent its upper end a hook or a safety latch portion 100. As best seen in Figures l and 2, the hood closure 2 may carry a generally inclined member 101. It will be observed that the safety latch hook `portion 100 is generally downwardly curved along its upper forward edge. Thus the member 101, as the hood closure approaches the hood, will ride along the curved upper edge of the member 100 and thus will force it out of position, since the member 101 is arranged for a general vertical alignment with the member 100 when the member 100 is held in its forward position under the influence of the spring 96. After the member 101 has passed beyond the member 100, the spring 96 causes the member 100 to move forward and thereafter to over-lie the member 101, as best seen in Figure 2.

In the variant form of my invention illustrated in Figure 8, the keeper plunger assembly is positioned on the hood, generally indicated at 1a, and the latching assembly is positioned on the hood closure generally indicated as 2a, that is to say, the two major assemblies of the structure of my invention are reversed in location. It will be observed, however, that all of the parts above described are essentially the same, with the exception of the latch operating and safety member 91, the variant form of which is generally indicated at 91a in the variant form of Figure 8. The safety latch portion generally indicated at 98a and 100e and the hook member cooperating therewith, generally indicated at 101a are essentially similar to that described in relation to Figures l-7. The forwardly extending arm 93 of Figures l-7, however, has been elongated and generally downwardly bent, as illustrated in Figure 8 as at 93a in order to place the hand-gripped portion 92a in the general position occupied by the grip 92 of the structure illustrated in Figures l-7. A spring 96a, having the function of the spring 96 of the earlier figures may be secured at one end to the plate 20 as at 97a and may be secured at its opposite end to a generally horizontal portion of the arm 93a asv at 105. The member 91a has an extension arm 95a extending beyond the pivot 90a a sufficient distance to over-lie an abutment 7541 which corresponds to the abutment 75 of Figures 1-7. It will be seen that forward movement of the arm 93a, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 8, causes the safety latch 100a to move forward or to the left as the parts are shown in Figure 8 and thus out of alignment with the hook 101e. A forward movement of the arm 93a causes also a downward movement, as indicated in dotted lines, of the arm 95a.

In the variant form of keeper mechanism illustrated in Figure 9, the spring 8, cup 11, and ring 13 are eliminated and the cylindrical keeper rod 6a is similar to the keeper 6, illustrated in the earlier figures. It will be understood that many of the hood closures presently in use are provided with means separate from the latch mechanism, which are effective to urge the closure lpward or toward open position. Since the keeper illustrated herein does not have an enlarged or hook portion which must be held iirmly against, for example, a latch bolt in order to prevent vibration and catching beneath the latch plate itself, it is feasible, in certain cases, to eliminate the elements 8, 11, and 13 without atfecting the efficiency of my device.

It will -be realized that whereas I have described and shown a practical and operative device, nevertheless many changes may be made in size, shape, number and disposition of p-arts without departing from the spirit of my invention. I therefore wish my description and drawings to be taken as in a broad sense illustrative or diagrammatic rather than as limiting -rne to my precise showing herein.

The use and operation of my invention are as follows:

I provide a hood latch assembly which is particularly free of the need for precise adjustments. A simple cylindrical keeper 6 may be utilized and the hood closure 2 may be held in a variety of positions by the latching balls 60. As the hood closure 2 approaches the hood 1 the conical end 15 of the keeper 6 is brought into general alignment with the aperture 21 in the plate 20. If the keeper is not in precise alignment with the aperture 21, fore and aft, the end 15 of the keeper 6 will ride along the inwardly and downwardly inclined walls of the upset portion 22 and thus the circular or body portion of the keeper 6 will, when it reaches the aperture 21, be in alignment therewith. The keeper 6 is free to move through the aperture 21- and the sleeve 45, whatever distance is necessary to bring the hood closure 2 into desired position on the hood 1. Undesired upward movement thereafter of the keeper 6 tends to pinch the balls 60 between the keeper 6 and the upwardly inwardly inclined wall 42 of the ring 40 and thus tends to grip the keeper 6 even tighter in position.

The sleeve 45 is, in fact, a ball-retaining and ballactuating member, When the operator desires to release the latch in order to separate the hood closure 2 and the hood 1 he need only grasp the portion 92 of the operating lever and safety latch 91 and move it generally upward. As illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 2 the arm 93 may be raised upwardly a distance suflicient to cause rotation of the safety latch arm 98 and hook 100 out of latching engagement with the portion 101 before the arm 93 is brought into contact with the abutment 75. Continued upward movement of the arm 93, after the safety latch has been moved out of latching position, causes the arm 93 to carry the abutment 75 upward with it. Upward movement of the portion 75 causes a corresponding downward movement of the arms 68, 69 and thus a downward movement of the sleeve 45, which is operatively connected therewith. As the sleeve or ball cage member 65 is thus moved downwardly it carries with it the balls 60. After the balls 60 are brought downwardly along the downwardly outwardly inclined wall 42 of the ring 40, the balls 60 are thus freed of pressure against the keeper 6 and are generally loosely held, as indicated in Figure 6, by the sleeve 45, the bottom wall 32 and the ring 40. Having been released of the pressure of the balls, the keeper 6 is free to move, under the inuence of the spring 8 upwardly through and outwardly from the aperture 21 in the plate 20. When the operator releases upward pressure on the arm 93 the spring 96 is effective to urge the arm 93 downwardly and the safety latch 98, 100 forwardly into latching position and the spring 80 is effective to urge the arms 68, 69 upwardly, which, in turn, carry the sleeve 45 upwardly into latching position once more.

The operation of the form illustrated in Figure 8 is essentially that described above.

I claim:

In a hood latch for yautomobiles and the like, a keeper rod, a latching structure for said rod comprising a latch plate, a generally U-shaped bracket secured to said latch plate and having a bottom wall spaced from and parallel with said plate, said bracket and said plate together forming a housing, a pair of axially aligned apertures, one in said plate and one in said bottom wall, a ring member in axial alignment with said apertures and enclosed in and positioned by said housing, said ring member having its upper edge in contact with said plate and its lower edge in contact with said bottom wall, a generally cylindrical hollow sleeve movably mounted in said bottom wall aperture and having an end portion positioned within said housing, said sleeve being in axial alignment with said plate and bottom wall apertures, lateral apertures in said sleeve end portion, a ball positioned in each of said sleeve apertures and having a major portion extending outside said sleeve and in contact with the inner wall of said ring, said inner ring wall being generally frusto-conical and converging toward said plate aperture, the least radius of said inner ring wall being less than the combined length of the radius of said rod and the diameter of said ball, the diameter of said bottom wall aperture being only slightly greater than the outside diameter of said sleeve whereby said outwardly extending ball portions are in position to contact said bott-om wall adjacent said bottom wall aperture to limit the outward movement of said sleeve from said housing, and means for moving said sleeve comprising a safety latch pivotally secured to said plate, said safety latch having a hook portion extending beyond said plate and positioned to limit the movement away from said plate of the member to which said keeper rod is secured, said safety latch having a manually operable handle lever having a lost-motion connection at one end with said sleeve, said second lever having an abutment portion at its opposite end, said second lever being pivotally supported intermediate its ends from said plate, said abutment portion being positioned to be contacted by said safety latch handle lever when said safety latch is moved toward unlatched position and to be moved thereby in a direction to urge said sleeve outwardly from said housing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,733,108 Bienaime Oct. 29, 1929 2,193,132 Hynes Mar. 12, 1940 2,211,217 Peterson Aug. 13, 1940 2,227,144 Krause Dec. 31, 1940 2,246,794 Dall June 24, 1941 2,275,740 DeOrlow Mar. 10, 1942 2,286,736 Hill June 16, 1942 2,302,957 Rhodes Nov. 24, 1942 2,333,465 Claud-Mantle Nov. 2, 1943 2,356,403 Heidman Aug. 22, 1944 2,558,959 Jandus July 3, 1951 2,567,662 Claud-Mantle Sept. 11, 1951 2,593,662 Dickinson Apr. 22, 1952 2,709,101 Dickinson May 24, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 229,052 Great Britain Feb. 19, 1925 700,057 France Feb. 24, 1931

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