US2274711A - Hood latch - Google Patents

Description

March 3, 1942-. w H KRAUSE 2,274,711

HOOD LATCH Filed Aug.. 2, 1940 3 sheets-sheet 1 March 3, 1942.

w. H. KRAusE HOOD LATCH Filed Aug. 42, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Np. .wy n. M n l 4 TIM fw www Md Q y w. H. KRAUSE -Hoon LATCH 'Filed Aug. 2,1940

March 3, 1942.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 matically Patented Mar. 3, 1942 '2,274,711 noon'wrcn Walter H. Krause, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Chicago Forging a Manufacturing Company, Chicago, lll., a corporation oi Illinois Application August 2, 1940, Serial No. 350,047

13 Claims.

My invention relates to an improvement in automobile hood latches and has for one Purpose the provision of an improved `hood latch or latches for an automobile hood closure in which a pair of closure members is hinged along a generally horizontal axis extending along the length of the car.

Another purpose is the provision of closure means which shall be secure and emcient and which .will prevent rattling.

, Another purpose is the provision oi improved hood latches which may be actuated from within the drivers compartment and which cannot be actuated from outside the drivers compartment.

Another purpose is the provision of such hoodm Another purpose is the provision oi' multiple.` and unitarily operated hood latches, and rattle preventing means therefor, for the so-called butteriLv type hood closures.

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

I illustrate my invention more or less diagramin the accompanying drawings wherein: 1

Fig. 1 is a side elevationwith parts broken away;

Fig. 2 is a plan view;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3--3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2, on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a detail on an enlarged scale, with parts in a diierent position Fig. 'l is a section on the line 'I-'I of Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is a section on the line 0-8 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 9 is a detail; and

Fig. 10 illustrates a detail of a variation.

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

Referring to the drawings, I generally indicates an automobile hood having a plurality of closures. 2, 2, hinged along the front and rear generally horizontal axis, as at i. `Located Within the walls of the hood 2 are a plurality of plates 4, there being herein shown two within each hood side wall. The plates 4 have lower flanges l spacing the plates from the inner face oi the and are shownas abutting against an inwardly extending ange 8 arranged along the top Aof each hood wall2.

It will be understood that the members4 cony stitute base plates which may be varied to suit any particular size or shape of hood, depending upon the car to which my hood latches are applied.

I0 indicates a pivot pin on each plate 4, having a head il at one end and an offset portion I2 at the other. Rotatablel about the pin I0 is a lever generally indicated as at I3, having an aperture I4, through 'which the pin I0 passes. The lever has a lower arm I5, apertured as at I0, which may receive the-onset end I8 of any suitable connecting rod Il. -The connecting rod may be sllldably mounted and guided in any suitable bracket I9, mounted upon the inner face oi' the hood I. as by a flange 20. The connecting rod has .an odset portion or eye 2l, adapted to receive the end 22 of the actuating rod 2l, which may extend through the dashboard 24, and may terminate in any suitable manual operating knob or member 25. A spring 26 normally holds the connecting rod I1 in the advanced position, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

It will be understood, of course, that one such connecting rod is shown at each side of the hood interior, and that there are two operating knobs 25, one at each side oi' the car,'as shown in Fig. 2. Thus, each side or closure 2 may be independently released from the interior of the car. at each end to one of the lowex` lever arms I5, the two identical latches being aligned along each sideI of the interior of the hood, as shown for example in Figs. 1 and 4.

The lever structure I3 has an upper arm 2l with an offset or top lug 28.' It will be observed that the upper arm 2l isoutwardly bent, as shown in Fig. 8. In addition, the lever structure I3 has a generally central extension 29,`

adjacent the aperture I4, and with an actuating offset 30. which is adapted to engage a link 3i,

one end of which is in pivotal relation tothe pin I0, the other end of which carries a transversely extending pin 32, having outer and inner ends 33, I4, respectively. The inner end 34 extends through a slot 35 in the plate 4. 'lihe ends are engaged respectively by one or more coil springs 38,A 3l, secured at their lower ends to earsl or any suitable abutments 2l, 39, on the plate 4, or on the lower extension 5 thereof. It will be understood that the springs 38, 31 are tension members which tend to hold the link Also, each connecting rod I1 is secured 3| over center of the pivot pin. I6 atone or another end of the slot 35. When the pin is in the upper end of the slot 35, the eect of the spring is to hold it in engagement with said upper end. The lower end of the slot 35 is sutilciently long, however, so that the pin is not necessarily held thereagainst by the springs, to provide a certain flexibility in the holding etlect on the closure`2.

Pivoted upon an intermediate enlarged portion 40 of the pin 32, which enlarged portion actually engages the slot 35, is the latch member generally indicated as 4I, which has a slot 42, through which extends a headed pin 43, secured to an upper portion of the plate 4. The member 4I has a latching arm 44, with a latching nose 45, adapted to extend over a lip 46 at one end of the slot 41, in the inwardly extending flange 48, along the bottom of the closure 2. It will be understood, ofcourse, that any suitable abutment means may be employed, but what is important is that the nose 45 may be slid over or hooked 'over some abutment part mounted on or secured to or associated with the closure 2. whereby the nose 45 will hold or assist in holding the closure 2 in closed position downwardly against the upper flange 8 of the hood wall I. However, it is not necessary that the closure 2 actually abut against the flange 8 or the interposed rubber bumper below described.

Note that the latch members 4| extend through slots 55 in the flange 8 of the hood wall I. Preferably the ange 8 is of suicient width to overlie the latch assemblies, in order to prevent outside tampering with the levers I3.

48 is any suitable rubber body buffer or the like, preferably of yielding material, which may, if desired, be interposed between the flanges 3 and 48, and which may be mounted either on the flange 1 or 48.

The latch member 4I has an additional arm 56, having a nose 5I adapted to engage the lower side of the flange 48, and thereby to lift the closure 2 when the latch structure 4I as a whole is given rotation, shown as clockwise in Fig. 6.

Referring to the position in which the parts are shown in Fig. 6, in the full line position of Fig. 6, the rotation of the latch element 4| has been effective to raise the closure 2 a substantial distance above the iiange 8 of the hood I, after it has been unlatched by the clockwise movement of the nose 45 out of engagement with the lip or abutment 46.

It will be observed, as in Fig. 8, that the portion 58 has an additional nose or extension 52,

which is in line or lies in the plane of the onset 23 of the upperlever arm 21 of the lever structure I3. It will be observed, in the dotted line position of Fig. 6, that when the portion 58 is given a counterclockwise movement, as by lowering the closure 2 downwardly against the nose 5|, the portion 52 cams against the offset 28 and imparts a counterclockwise rotation to the lever structure I3.

When the parts are in locked position. as shown in Fig. 4, the offset 52 of the member 50 is below the offset 28 of the lever arm 21. When in this position, even though some outsider inserts a thin tool, screw driver, or the like, into the crack between the anges 48 and 8, the onset 28 oi' the lever arm 26 is eiective to prevent sumcient.

clockwise rotation of the nose 45 to permit an undesired release of the latch structure.

In the use of the device, and assuming that the parts are in thelocked position in which they are shown in Fig. 4, the nose 45 of each latch structure 4I is in locking position above any appropriate abutment 46. By employing two latches, as shown in Fig. 4, the forward and rear ends of each closure 2 are held firmly downwardly.

The springs 36, 31 tend to rotate the link 3| in a clockwise direction, thus drawing the latch structure 4I downwardly in relation to the ilxed pin 43, the slot 42 permitting a substantial downward movement. Preferably, the pin 43 is not seated in the upper end of the slot 42, since it is desirable to have a continuing yielding downward pull on the members 45, which insures a firm closing contact and compensates for variations in dimensions of the associated parts, bending under wear, and the like.

It will be observed that the links 3| have been rotated over center in relation to the Isprings, as shown in Fig. 4, so that the springs 36, 31 tend to draw the pins 32 downwardly toward the lower ends of the slots 35. The latches are released by a rearward manual pull on the knobs 25. The initial result of this rearward pull is to impart a counterclockwise rotation to the lever structures I3. Some play is provided before the member 36 engages the link 3| to permit the oilset 28 of the lever arm 21 to clear the offset 52 of the latch arm 50. Thereafter the member 30 positively engages the link 3| and imparts a counterclockwise rotation to it, which raises the latch structure 4I, and thereafter tilts it or gives it a clockwise rotation, terminating in the full line position of Fig. 6. At the same time the nose 5I engages the bottom of the ange 48, and the result is a release of the latch noses 45, followed by a positive lifting of the closure 2. There is then provided suicient space between the closure 2 and the upper edge of the hood I so that the operator can insert his fingers and manually complete the-raising of the closure or closures 2. Thereafter the operator releases the knobor knobs 25, and the springs 36, 31 hold the link 3| over center in the full line position in which it is shown in Fig. 6, and the mere releasel of the knob or knobs 25 does not return the latching mechanism to initial position, but, on the contrary, it is left in the full line position of Fig. 6. However, the eiIect of the springs 26 is to return the lever structures I3 to their original position in which they are shown in dotted line in Fig. 6. Thereafter, when the operator manually lowers the closure or closures 2, the bottom liange 46, or any other' suitable abutment, engages the nose 5I and begins the rotation of the latch structure 4|. This rotation rotates the link 3| and permits .the springs 36, 31, once the link has moved over center, to draw the latch structure as a whole down into locking position. Meanwhile the nose 45 has rotated into locking position above the abutment lip y46.

Referring to Figs. aand 6, the full locking position .is shown in Fig. 4; the full open position is shown in full line in Fig. 6; and the intermediate position of the member 4| is shown in dotted line in Fig. 6. As above mentioned, one result of the downward movement of the closure 2 is to'cause the member 52 to cam over the ofi'set 28 and to snap Normally the weight of the closures, when it is manually dropped, is sufilcient to result in tle,

locking action. If for any reason the parts are stiii, of course the operator can add a manual downward thrust until the link Il passes over center and the springs 3l, I1 become effective to lock the parts in position.

' It will be understood that a single latch assembly or more than two may be employed for each hood closure.

It will be realized that, whereas I have described and illustrated a practical and operative device, nevertheless many changes may be made in the size, shape, number and disposition 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 or diagrammatic, rather thanvas limiting me to my precise showing.

For example, under some circumstances it is preferable, as shown in Fig. l0, to provide an enlargement lia at the lower end of the lever or levers i5, and provide a plurality of apertures i6a whereby an adjustment in relation to the member I1 may be made, in order that the operation of the two levers may be properly adjusted to compensate for variations in the location or proportion of the parts. `This is particularly useful in connection with assembly line practice where there may be slight variations in the point of attachment of the latch elements to the hood.

I claim:

1. In a latch structure for automobile hoods and movable closures therefor, a lever element pivoted to said hood, a manually operable control element secured to and adapted to rotate the lever element,a` link pivoted concentrically with said lever element, a latch element pivoted Y to said link and also pivoted to said hood. said latch element being mounted for translation on said hood whereby the distance separating the pivotal connection between the latch element and the linkkand the latch element and the hood, may be shifted as the link rotates, said latch element including a latch portion and a closure lifting portion, andmeans for rotating said link in response to rotation of said lever element.

2. In a latch structure for automobile hoods and movable closures therefor, a lever element pivoted to said hood, a manually operable con-i trol element secured to and adapted to rotatev the lever element, a link pivoted concentrically with said lever element, a latch element pivoted to said link and also pivoted to said hood, said latch element being mounted for translation on said hood whereby the distance separating the pivotal connection between the latch element and the link,` and the latch element and the hood, may be shifted as the link rotates, said latch element including a latch portion and a closure lifting portion, and means for rotating said link in response to rotation of said lever element, and a tension element connecting the free end of said link with said hood and adapted to urge said link toward either end of its possible arc of movement when the outer end of said link passes over center in relation to a line passing through the center of rotation of the link and the point of attachment of the tension member to the hood.

3. In a latch structure for automobile hoods and movable closures therefor, a lever element pivoted to said hood, a manually operable control element secured to and adapted to rotate ually operable means for moving said actuating the lever element, a -link pivoted concentrically with said lever element, a latch element pivoted to said link and also pivotedA to said hood, said latch element being mounted for translation on said hood whereby the distance separating the pivotal connection between the latch element and the link, and the latch element and the hood, may be shifted as the link rotates, said latch element including a latch portion and a closure lifting portion, and means for rotating said link inI response to rotation of said lever element, and a tension element connecting the free end of said link with said hood and adapted to urge said link toward either end of its possible arc of movement when the outer end of said link passes over center in relation to a line passing through the center of rotation of the link and the point of attachment of the tension member to the hood, portions of the latch element and the lever element lying in the same plane and overlapping when the latch element is in latching position, whereby unintended release of the latch element from latching position is prevented.

. 4. In a latch structure for automobile hoods and movable closures therefor, a latch pivoted to the hood, the pivotal connection between latch and hood including a slot and pin adapted to permit translation of said latch in relation to said with the pivot of said actuating lever, manually operable means for moving said actuating lever, and an actuating connection between said actuating lever and link adapted, in response to actuating movement of said manual control member, .to rotate said link and through the pivotal connection between said link and latch to impart a generally upward movement to said latch,vthe v relationship lbetween the arcuate slot dening the movement of the outer end of the link and of the slot defining the translation of the latch in relation to the closure being adapted to impart to the latch member of the latchl a lateral closure releasing movement, while bringing the lifting member of the latch into closure lifting position as the latch member is moved out of latching position.

5. In a latch structure for automobile hoods and movable closures therefor, a latch pivoted to the hood, the pivotal connection between latch and hood including a slot and pin adapted to permit translation of said latch in relation to said hood, said latch including a latching member and a closure lifting member, and means for vactuating said latch, including a control lever pivoted to said closure for rotation about a: fixed pivot located below the pivot of said latch, a link pivoted to said actuating lever, the opposite end of said link being pivoted to said latch, manlever, and an actuating connection between said actuating lever and link adapted, in response to actuating movement of said manual control member, to rotate said link and through the pivotal connection between said link and latch to impart a generally upward movement to said'latch.

6. In a. latch structure for automobile hoods and movable closures therefor, including a latch member having a latch element and a closure lifting element, and a floating pivotal connection between the latch member and the hood permitting bodily generally vertical movement oi' the latch member in relation to the hood, means for moving the latch member from latching position to closure lifting position, including an actuating lever mounted on the hood for rotation about a pivot lower than the level of the floating pivotal connection between the latch member and the hood, a link` pivoted at one end concentricaliy with said actuating lever, and.pivoted at its opposite end to the latch member, means for manually moving said actuating lever, and means for rotating said link in response to movement of said actuating lever to releasing position only.

7. In a latch structure for automobile hoods and movable closures therefor, including a latch member having a latch element and a closure lifting element, and a floating pivotal connection between the latch vmember and the hood permitting bodily generally vertical movement of the latch member in relation to the hood, means for moving the latch member from latching position to closure lifting position, including an actuating lever mounted on the hood for rotation about a pivot lower than the level of the oating pivotal connection between the latch member and the hood, a link pivoted at one end concentrically with said actuatinglever, and pivoted at its opposite end to the latch member, means for manually moving said actuating lever, means for rotating said link in response to movement of said actuating lever to releasing position only, and means for holding said latch member in closure lifting position after it has been moved thereto.

8. In a latch structure for automobile hoods and movable closures therefor, including a latch member having a latch element and a closure lifting element, and a oating pivotal connection between the latch member and the hood permitting bodily generally vertical movement of the latch member in relation to the hood, means for moving the latch member from latching position to closure lifting position. including an actuating lever mounted on the hood for rotation about a pivot lower than the level of the oating pivotal connection between the latch member and the hood, a link pivoted at one end concentrically with said actuating lever, and pivoted at its opposite end to the latch member, means for manually moving said actuating lever, means for rotating said link in response to movement of said actuating lever to releasing position only, and means for holding said latch member in closure lifting position after it has been moved thereto, including a yielding connection between the hood and said latch member.

9. In a latch structure for automobile hoods and movable closures therefor, including a latch member having a latch element and a closure lifting element, and a floating pivotal connection between the latch member and the hood permitting bodily generally vertical movement of the latch member in relation to the hood, means for moving the latch member from latching position to closure lifting position, including an actuating lever mounted on the hood for rotation about a pivot lower than the level of the oating pivotal connection between the latch member and the hood, a link pivoted at one end concentrically with said actuating lever, and pivoted at its opposite end to the latch member, means for manually moving said actuating lever, means for rotating said link in response to movement of said actuating lever to releasing position only, means for holding said latch member in closure lifting position after it has been moved thereto, including a yielding connection between the hood and said latch member, adapted to hold the latch member over center and eilective when the hood descends and rotates the latch member to latching position to exert a. downward pull on the hood through the latch element, and stop means adapted to limit the movement of the parts in response to the operation of said yielding connection when the latch member is over center.

l0. In a latch structure for automobile hoods and movable closures therefor, including a latch member having a latch element and aclosure lifting element, and a floating pivotal connection between the latch member and the hood permitting bodily generally vertical movement ofl the latch member in relation to the hood, means for moving the latch member from latching position -to closure lifting position, including an actuating lever mounted on the hood for rotation about a pivot lower than the level of the floating pivotal 4connection between the latch member and the hood, a link pivoted at one end concentrically with said actuating lever, and pivoted at its opposite end to the latch member, means for manually movingsaid actuating lever, means for rotating said link in response to movement of said actuating lever to releasing position only, yielding means adapted to hold said latch member in latching position when it has been moved to latching position, and to hold itin closure lifting position when it has been moved to closure lifting position, and stop means adapted to limit the movement of the parts in response to the operation of said yielding connection when the latch member is over center.-

1l. In a latch structure for automobile hoods and movable closures therefor, including a latch member having a latch element and a closure lifting element, and a floating pivotal connection between the latch member and the hood permitting bodily generally vertical movement of the latch member in relation to the hood, means for moving the latch member from latching position to closure lifting position, including an actuating lever mounted on the hood for rotation about a pivot lower than the level of the floating pivotal connection between the latch member and the hood, a link pivoted at one end concentrically with said actuating lever, and pivoted at its opposite end to the latch member, means for manually moving said actuating lever, means for rotating said link in response to movement of said actuating lever to releasing position only, yielding means adapted to hold said latch member in` latching position and to exert through said latch member a downward pull on the hood, and slop means adapted to limit the movement of the parts in response to the operation loi said yielding connection when the latch member is over the latch member in relation to the hood, means for moving the latch member from latching position to closure lifting position, including an actuating lever mounted on the hood for rotation about a pivot lower than the level of the oatin pivotal connection between the latch member and the hood, a link pivoted at one end concentrically with said actuating lever, and pivoted at its opposite end to the latch member, means for manually moving said actuatinglever', means for rotating said link in response to movement of said actuating lever to releasing position only, and means for preventing undesired movement of the latch member from latching position to Y closure lifting position, including a member adapted to overlie the closure lifting element when the latch member is in latching position.

13. In a latch structure for automobile hoods and movable closures therefor, including a latch between the latch member and the hood permitting bodily generally vertical movement of the latch member in relation to the hood, means for moving the latch member from latching position to closure lifting position, including an actuating lever mounted on the hood itor rotation about a pivot lower than the level vof the floating 4pivotal connection between the latch member and the hood, a link pivotedat one end yconcentrically with said actuating lever, and pivoted at its opposite end to the latch member, means for -manually moving said actuating lever, means for rotating said link in response to movement of said I actuating lever to releasing position only, and

means for controlling said actuating lever, in-

cluding a tension member7 extending to the interior of the automobile', said actuating lever including a portion adapted to overlie said closure lifting element when the .latching lever is in member having a latch element and a closure 20 latching POSltiOnlifting element, and a floating pivotal connection y WALTER H. muiUsE.y

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