초록 ▼

Latch assembly for securing vehicle doors and other closures such as boot lids or tail gates co-acts with a conventional striker releasably retained by a pivoted claw or other catch mechanism to hold the striker in a mouth of the assembly. A displaceable jaw or, preferably, pair of opposing jaws con

Latch assembly for securing vehicle doors and other closures such as boot lids or tail gates co-acts with a conventional striker releasably retained by a pivoted claw or other catch mechanism to hold the striker in a mouth of the assembly. A displaceable jaw or, preferably, pair of opposing jaws conveniently form part of a unitary sub-assembly including a yoke connecting inner ends of the jaws which is displaceable inwardly of the mouth. The jaws have wedging surfaces that co-act with corresponding wedging surfaces of a latch body to provide laterally inward wedging action as the jaws are carried inwardly by the striker for positive non-rattle location of the latter. A resilient buffer may be provided which is compressed by the striker at the closed position.

대표청구항 ▼

[ I claim:] [1.] A latch assembly comprising:a latch body mountable on one of two structures that are movable relative to one another between open and closed positions, said body having a longitudinal mouth open to receive therein a striker element mounted on the other of the two structures;a releas

[ I claim:] [1.] A latch assembly comprising:a latch body mountable on one of two structures that are movable relative to one another between open and closed positions, said body having a longitudinal mouth open to receive therein a striker element mounted on the other of the two structures;a releasable catch mechanism mounted on said body operative to engage and retain the striker element upon movement of the latter to an inward position within said mouth; anda pair of jaws supported in laterally spaced relation along opposite sides of said mouth to accommodate the striker element therebetween, at least one of said jaws being longitudinally displaceable along said mouth from a longitudinally outward position to a longitudinally inward position in response to moving the striker element to its inward position within said mouth, and said at least one jaw being further resiliently displaceable laterally toward the other of said jaws in response to said movement of said at least one said jaw from said longitudinally outward position to said longitudinally inward position to engage and releasably grip the striker element between said jaws.