US1824912A - Hood latch - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 29, 1931. N. A. MEARS HOOD LATCH Filed Nov. 7, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 H LWWT mhT [rave fzzor" Jnarz .17. Jean? Patented Sept. 29, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE NORTON A. HEARS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO CHICAGO FORGING & MANU- FACTURING 00., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION 01' ILLINOIS HOOD LATCH Application filed November 7, 1930. Serial No. 493,946.

My invention relates to a latch or closing means. One application thereof is as a hood latch for an automobile hood closure. One object is the provision of such a latch or 5 closure which shall be ellicient and positive in its action and which shall be easily actu ated. Another object is the provision of a latch or locking device which shall yieldingly draw a lower edge of a hood closure 10 downwardly and inwardly toward a limiting abutment. Another object is the provision of a closure which includes an interior locking device and an exterior control member adapted also to lift the closure to which the locking device is applied. Other objects will appear from time to time in the course of the specification and claims.

I illustrate my invention more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is an inside view illustrating the device in locking position;

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a similar section showing the parts in unlocked position; and

Figure at is a section on the line 44 of Figure 3.

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

Referring to the drawings, A generally indicates a frame of an automobile which is provided with an upwardly extending abut mcnt- A B indicates a side of an automobile hood closure, the lower edge 13 of which is adapted to be opposed exteriorly to the abutment A Mounted on the inner face of the hood closure B is the lock assembly plate or support generally indicated as C. It includes the bottom plate or horizontal portion C cut away as at C and upwardly extending side portions C terminating in ears C which may receive the bolts or rivets whereby the assembly is secured in place. C is a similar securing car at the bottom of the assembly. Each of the side portions C have an ear C, the two ears being ap proached and receiving the pivot member C passing therethrough. (1 indicates a recurved portion of the member C which serves as an abutment lip for the below described latch.

Mounted on this pivot member C is the handle and lever element generally indicated as D. It includes the outwardly extending handle leverportion D which may terminate in the finger engaging ring D D indicates an inner enlargement slotted as at D. It will be understood that the hood B is cut away as at B in order to permit the passage of the handle member or lever D E generally indicates a latch member proper, herein shown as of heavy wire or bar stock. It includes a lower hook member E an intermediate shoulder portion E whlch is connected by the angular portion E with an upper shank E The top of the shank is laterally recurved as at E the end E of this laterally recurved portion passing through the slot D. It is normally held against the inner end of said slot as by the spring generally indicated as E which includes a bend E abutting against one end of the aperture D, the coil spring portions E and the recurved ends E which are formed to engage the end E of the latch and hold said end at the inner end of the slot D G indicates any suitable keeper, herein shown as including a stem G outwardly extending from a base or plate G which may be secured in any suitable fashion to the automobile, at a position properly spaced inwardly from the hood B.

It will be realized that whereas I have described and shown a practical and operative device, nevertheless many changes might be made in the size, shape, number and disposi tion of parts without departing from the spirit of my invention. I therefore wish my description and drawings to be taken as in a broad sense illustrative and diagrammatic rather than as limiting me to my specific showing.

The use and operation of my invention are as follows:

In locking automobile hoods, I find it dedraw a lower edge of the hood closure downwardly and inwardly. I find it also desirable to associate with a concealed or inside hood latch an exterior handle or control member which serves to lift the hood after the latch has been released.

It will be seen from a consideration of Figures 2 and 3 that when the hook E is in looking position, as in Figure 2, the handle D is at the lower extremity of its rotation. The spring E draws the hook E upwardly against the bar or pin G urging its upper portion E upwardly in the slot D. The inclination of the axis or line along which this thrust is directed, as defined by the position in which the slot is shown in Figure 2, tends to draw the lower edge B of the hood B inwardly as well as downwardly toward the abutment A The parts are so proportioned also that when the handle is lowered to full locking position, the member E will be to the right of a line passing through the junction between the opposed hook and pin, and the pivot C referring to the parts in the position in which they are shown in Figure 2. 7

When the operator wishes to release the latch and lift the hood, he merely rotates the lever D into the position in which it is shown in Figure 3. He thereby moves the upper end or shank E of the hook inwardly away from the hood, and withdraws the hook E outwardly toward the hood.

The effect of the initial upward movement of the handle C is to cause an almost directly downward movement of the hook C until it is freed fro-m contact with the pin G An additional effect of the spring E is to tend to hold the hook against rotation in relation to the member D The aperture C is of sufficient length to permit a lateral movement of the shank of the hook and as the handle C is rotated the hook is thrown laterally in said slot.

lVhen the handle D is in the position shown in Figure 3 the hook is out of vertical alignment with the member G and the shank E is at the outer end of the aperture C When the operator lowers the handle D the frictional engagement of the portion E? with the member ID causes a lateral movement of the hook E which positions it beneath the pin G Further rotation of the handle I) then draws the hook E upwardly into locking contact and the end E is carried past a line drawn through the pin G and pivot C thereby holding the parts in locked position.

N otc that downward movement of the hook, and therefore upward movement of the handle D is limited by the engagement of the portion E of the hook member with the top of the member C This is shown for example in Figure 3. On the other hand the pad portion D by engaging the shank the finish on the E, limits the downward movement of the handleD This prevents battering of the .handle against the top or bottom of the aperture B and thus prevents marring of handle or of the finish on the hood.

I claim:

1. In a hood closure securing means, the combination, with a hinged door member to be latched, of a keeper within the hood, an actuating lever pivoted to the hood, for rotation about a horizontal axis generally parallel with the inner face of the hood, including an outwardly-extending handle portion, a latch pivoted to said lever within the hood, said latch including a hook, said lever being slotted to receive an end of said latch, and yielding means for holding said latch end at a predetermined position in said slot.

2. In a hood closure securing means, the combination, with a hinged door member to be latched, of a keeper within the hood, an actuating lever pivoted to the hood, for rotation about a horizontal axis generally parallel with the inner face of the hood, including an outwardly extending handle portion, a latch pivoted to said lever within the hood, said latch including a hook, said lever being slotted to receive an end of said latch, and yielding means for holding said latch end at a predetermined position in said slot, including a spring having a portion engaging one end of the slot, and a portion engaging the slot penetrating portion of the latch.

3. In a hood closure securing means, the

combination, with a hinged door member to be latched, of a keeper within the hood, a latch actuating lever pivoted to said hood, for rotation about a horizontal axis generally parallel with the inner face of the hood, including an outwardly extending handle portion, a latch pivoted to said lever within the hood, and including a hook and a shank therefor, a guide inwardly projecting from the hood, apertured to permit the passage therethrough of said shank, said shank including an oifset portion engaging the top of said guide, and limiting the downward movement of the latch, and opposed portions of latch and lever adapted to limit the rotation ofthe lever in the closing direction.

4. In a hood closure securing means, the combination, with a hinged door member to be latched, of a keeper within the hood, an actuating lever pivoted to the hood, for rotation about a horizontal axis generally parallel with the inner face of the hood, including an outwardly extending handle portion and an inwardly extending slotted portion, and a latch within the hood, including alhook and a shank portion penetrating said s 0t. 1

5. In a hood closure securin means, the combination, with a hinged oor member to be latched, of a keeper within the hood, an actuating lever pivoted to the hood, for rotation about a horizontal axis generally parallel with-the inner face of the hood, including an outwardly extending handle portion and an inwardly extending slotted ortion, and a latch within the hood, inclu in a hook and a shank portion penetrating sai slot, and yielding means for normally urging said penetrating shank portion upward y or inwardl alon said slot.

6. In a 00d 0 osure securing means, the combination, with a hinged door member to be latched, of a keeper within the hood, an actuating lever pivoted to the hood, for rotation about a horizontal axis generally parallel with the inner face of the hood, including an outwardly extending handle portion and an inwardly extending slotted ortion, a base member within the hoo to which said lever is pivoted, said base member including an apertured gluide portion below said pivot point, a late including a hook positioned below said guide portion, a shank passing through the aperture in aid guide portion and pivoted within the 7. In a hood closure securing means, the combination, with a hinged door member to be latched, of a keeper within the hood, an actuating ilever pivoted to the hood, for rotation about a horizontal axis generally parallel with the inner face of the 00d, including an outwardly extending handle portion and an inwardlyextending slotted portion, a base member within the hood, to which said lever is pivoted, said base member including an apertured guide portion below said pivot oint, a latch including a hook positioned low said guide portion, a shank passing through the aperture 'in said guide portion and pivoted within the slot, said shank including an ofiset portion adapted to engage said guide portion and 0 limit the ownward movement of the 8. In a hood closure securing means, the combination, with a hinged door member to be latched, of a keeper within the hood, an actuating lever pivoted to the hood, for rotation about a horizontal axis generally arallel with the inner face of the hood, inc udin an outwardly extending handle portion an an inwardly extending portion, a base member within the hood, to which said lever is pivoted, said base member including an apertured guide portion below said pivot oint, a latch including a hook positloned low said guidportion, a shank passing through the aperture in said guide rtion and pivoted to said inwardly exten 'ng portion, said shank including an ofiset portion adapted to engage said guide portion and to limit the NORTON A. MEARS.

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