대표
청구항
▼
1. Apparatus comprising: a latch assembly including:a housing,a latch in movable operative connection with the housing and rotatable about a first axis, wherein the latch includes a first latch portion,a drive lug in movable operative connection with the housing and rotatable about a second axis, wherein the second axis is spaced from the first axis, wherein the drive lug includes a first lug portion and a further lug portion, wherein the further lug portion is operatively engageable with the latch,a release paw, wherein the release paw is movably mounte...
1. Apparatus comprising: a latch assembly including:a housing,a latch in movable operative connection with the housing and rotatable about a first axis, wherein the latch includes a first latch portion,a drive lug in movable operative connection with the housing and rotatable about a second axis, wherein the second axis is spaced from the first axis, wherein the drive lug includes a first lug portion and a further lug portion, wherein the further lug portion is operatively engageable with the latch,a release paw, wherein the release paw is movably mounted in operative connection with the housing, wherein the release paw is configured to releasably hold the latch in a position,a movable release portion, wherein the movable release portion is in operative connection with the release paw,wherein contact of the first lug portion with a striker that is moved relative to the latch assembly and perpendicular to the first axis and the second axis along a striker movement direction toward the latch assembly, is operative to cause the drive lug to rotate in a first rotational direction and the latch to rotate in the first rotational direction responsive at least in part to movement of the further lug portion, such that the first latch portion is moved transverse relative to the striker movement direction to the position, wherein the striker is holdable directly between the first lug portion and the first latch portion,wherein movement of the movable release portion is operative to enable movement of the release paw such that the latch is movable from the position. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the latch is operative to rotate between the position which is a first rotational position and a second rotational position, wherein the drive lug is operative to rotate between a first rotational position and a second rotational position, wherein at least the first lug portion and the first latch portion are closer together when in the first rotational positions than when the latch and the drive lug are in the second rotational positions. 3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein with respect to a vector that: originates from the first axis; intersects with the second axis; and extends outwardly and perpendicular to the second axis, the first lug portion extends from the second axis and the first latch portion extends from the first axis, both in the outwardly direction of the vector on a side of the second axis opposite the first axis. 4. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the release paw is in rotatable operative connection with the housing about a third axis that is spaced apart on the housing from the first and second axes, wherein the release paw is operative to rotate between a first rotational position and a second rotational position; wherein when the release paw, latch, and drive lug are in the respective first rotational positions, the release paw is operative to prevent the latch from rotating from the first rotational position to the second rotational position; wherein when the release paw rotates from its respective first rotational position to its respective second rotational position, the release paw is operative to permit the latch to rotate from its respective first rotational position to its respective second rotational position. 5. The apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising at least one spring in operative connection with the housing, wherein the at least one spring is operative to urge the latch to move from the first rotational position to the second rotational position of the latch. 6. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the latch includes a second portion, wherein the first axis extends between the first portion and the second portion of the latch, wherein the further portion of the drive lug includes a curved portion; wherein in at least some of the positions of the drive lug between the first rotational position and the second rotational position, the curved portion of the drive lug is operative to extend in surrounding relation of at least a portion of the latch to enable the curved portion to operatively engage the second portion of the latch. 7. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the first latch portion includes a curved portion; wherein in at least some positions of the latch between the first rotational position and the second rotational position, the curved portion is operative to extend in surrounding relation around at least a portion of the drive lug. 8. The apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a trigger release in operative connection with the housing, wherein the trigger release includes a first the movable release portion, wherein the movable release portion operative to move between a first trigger position and a second trigger position; wherein when the movable release portion is moved from the first trigger position to the second trigger position, the movable release portion is operative to cause the second portion of the release paw to rotate from the first rotational position to the second rotational position of the release paw so as to permit the latch to rotate from the first rotational position to the second rotational position of the latch. 9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the trigger release is in rotatable operative connection with the housing about a fourth axis; wherein the trigger release is operative to rotate between a first rotational position and a second rotational position; wherein when the trigger release rotates from the first rotational position to the second rotational position of the trigger release, the movable release portion is operative to cause the release paw to rotate from the first rotational position to the second rotational position of the release paw so as to permit the latch to rotate from the first rotational position to the second rotational position of the latch. 10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the housing includes a handle, wherein the trigger release includes the first portion and a second portion on opposite respective sides of the fourth axis; wherein the second portion of the trigger release extends adjacent the handle; wherein when the trigger release is in the first rotational position, at least a portion of the second portion of the trigger release is movable relative to the handle so as to rotate the trigger release from the first position to the second position of the trigger release. 11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the housing includes at least two spaced-apart mounting brackets, wherein when the mounting brackets are configured to be mounted against a generally planar surface, the housing includes an opening between the at least two brackets and between the second portion of the trigger release and the generally planar surface. 12. The apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a spring that acts operatively between at least a portion of the handle and the second portion of the trigger release, which spring is operative to urge the trigger release to rotate from the second rotational position to the first rotational position. 13. The apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising the striker and a closure member; wherein the striker includes opposed first and second sides, wherein the closure member is movable between a closed position and an open position relative to the striker, wherein in the closed position the closure member extends adjacent the first side of the striker and blocks an opening adjacent the striker, wherein in the open position, the closure member is spaced away from the striker and the opening adjacent the striker is externally accessible, wherein the housing is mounted in operative engagement with the closure member such that when the closure member is moved from the open position to the closed position, the first latch portion passes from a first side of the striker to the second side of the striker and the drive lug is in contact with the striker and urged thereby to rotate from the second rotational position to the first rotational position of the drive lug; wherein as the drive lug rotates to the first rotational position, the drive lug urges the latch to rotate such that the first latch portion is moved in transverse relation relative to the second side of the striker such that the striker is held between the first lug portion and the first latch portion. 14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the closure member includes at least one of a door, a hatch, a hood, a trunk, and a lid. 15. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the latch assembly includes opposed first and second areas, wherein the first axis and the second axis are located between the first and second areas of the latch assembly, wherein the second axis is closer to the first area than the first axis, wherein the first axis is closer to the second area than the second axis, wherein the first latch portion extends in the first area of the latch assembly, wherein the first lug portion extends in the first area of the latch assembly, wherein when the latch is in the second rotational position, the first lug portion extends farther from the second area of the latch assembly than the first latch portion extends from the second area of the latch assembly, wherein when the latch is in the first rotational position, the first latch portion extends in the first area. 16. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein when the latch is in the first rotational position, the first latch portion extends farther from the second area of the latch assembly than the first lug portion extends from the second area of the latch assembly. 17. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the movable release portion is in operative connection with at least one of a trigger release, a handle, an actuator, a wire or a linkage. 18. Apparatus comprising: a latch assembly including: a housing,a latch in rotatable operative connection with the housing and rotatable about a first axis, wherein the latch includes a first latch portion,a drive lug in rotatable operative connection with the housing and rotatable about a second axis, wherein the second axis is spaced from the first axis on the housing, and wherein the drive lug includes a first lug portion and a further lug portion angularly disposed on the drive lug from the first lug portion,a release paw, wherein the release paw is movably mounted in operative connection with the housing, wherein the release paw is configured to releasably operatively engage the latch and cause the latch to be held in a latched position,a release actuator portion, wherein the release actuator portion is movably mounted in operative connection with the housing, wherein the release actuator portion is in operative connection with the release paw,wherein rotation of the drive lug in a first rotational direction responsive to a striker that is relatively moved along a striker movement direction toward the latch assembly and is operably engaged with the first lug portion, is operative to cause the further lug portion to be in operative connection with the latch and to cause the latch to rotate in the first rotational direction to the latched position such that the first latch portion is moved transversely of the striker direction, wherein in the latched position the striker is holdable directly between the first lug portion and the first latch portion,and wherein when the latch is held in the latched position responsive to the release paw, movement of the release actuator portion is operative to enable release paw movement wherein the latch is no longer held in the latched position. 19. Apparatus comprising: a latch assembly including:a housing,a latch in movable operative connection with the housing and rotatable about a first axis, wherein the latch includes a first latch portion, and wherein the first latch portion includes a channel,a drive lug in movable operative connection with the housing and rotatable about a second axis, wherein the second axis is spaced from the first axis on the housing, and wherein the drive lug includes a first lug portion,wherein the latch and the drive lug are each rotatable between respective first and second rotational positions,a release paw, wherein the release paw is movably mounted in operative connection with the housing, wherein the release paw is configured to releasably cause the latch to be held in its first rotational position,a movable release portion, wherein the movable release portion is in operative connection with the release paw,wherein rotation of the drive lug in a first rotational direction responsive to operative engagement of the first lug portion with a striker when the drive lug and the latch are each in the second rotational positions, is operative to cause the latch to rotate in the first rotational direction such that the latch and the drive lug each move to their respective first rotational positions, wherein such movement causes the first latch portion to move transversely relative to the striker, the first lug portion and the first latch portion to move closer together with the striker extending directly therebetween, and the channel to extend in surrounding relation of at least a portion of the striker, and wherein the release paw is operative to cause the latch to be held in the first rotational position,wherein movement of the movable release portion is operative to enable movement of the release paw, wherein movement of the release paw enables the latch to be movable from the first rotational position. 20. Apparatus comprising: a latch assembly, wherein the latch assembly is operative to selectively hold a striker in operatively engaged relation therewith in a latched condition, and to enable the striker to be operatively disengaged from the latch assembly in an unlatched condition,the latch assembly including:a housing,a latch, wherein the latch is movably mounted in operative connection with the housing such that the latch is rotatable about a first axis,wherein the latch includes a first latch portion, wherein the first latch portion extends outward relative to the first axis,a drive lug, wherein the drive lug is movably mounted in operative connection with the housing such that the drive lug is rotatable about a second axis, wherein the second axis is spaced from the first axis,wherein the drive lug includes a first lug portion, wherein the first lug portion extends outward relative to the second axis, anda further lug portion, wherein the further lug portion extends outward relative to the second axis and is angularly disposed on the drive lug from the first lug portion, wherein the further lug portion is configured to operatively engage the latch,a release paw, wherein the release paw is movably mounted in operative connection with the housing,wherein the release paw is configured to operatively engage and prevent rotation of the latch in a hold position of the latch,a movable release portion, wherein the movable release portion is in operative connection with the release paw,wherein with the latch assembly in the unlatched condition, when the striker is relatively moved toward the latch assembly in a closing direction, the striker is operative to engage the first lug portion and to cause rotation of the drive lug in a first rotational direction,wherein rotation of the first drive lug in the first rotational direction is operative to cause the further portion of the drive lug to cause the latch to rotate in the first rotational direction to the hold position, wherein in the hold position of the latch, the striker is held directly between the first lug portion and the first latch portion such that the latch assembly is in the latched condition, wherein movement of the movable release portion is operative to enable movement of the release paw, wherein the latch is enabled to move from the hold position.
