초록 ▼

A mechanism configured to fasten a hood panel to a vehicle body for covering a vehicle under-hood compartment includes a pivotable latch. The latch has a primary catch portion that facilitates closure of the under-hood compartment via the hood panel. The latch also has a secondary catch portion that

A mechanism configured to fasten a hood panel to a vehicle body for covering a vehicle under-hood compartment includes a pivotable latch. The latch has a primary catch portion that facilitates closure of the under-hood compartment via the hood panel. The latch also has a secondary catch portion that limits position of the hood panel within a predetermined distance from the vehicle body and generates an opening between the vehicle body and the hood panel. The latch additionally has a release handle that shifts into the opening to permit operator access to the release handle for releasing the secondary catch portion to uncover the under-hood compartment. The mechanism also includes a resilient element that selectively preloads the primary catch portion to facilitate closure of the under-hood compartment and preloads the secondary catch portion to limit the position of the hood panel within the predetermined distance from the vehicle body.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A vehicle comprising: a vehicle body defining a compartment;a hood panel configured to cover the compartment and thereby define an under-hood compartment; anda mechanism configured to fasten the hood panel to the vehicle body such that the hood panel maintains closure of the compartment and havin

1. A vehicle comprising: a vehicle body defining a compartment;a hood panel configured to cover the compartment and thereby define an under-hood compartment; anda mechanism configured to fasten the hood panel to the vehicle body such that the hood panel maintains closure of the compartment and having a pivotable latch and a first resilient element; wherein: the pivotable latch includes: a primary catch portion configured to facilitate closure of the under-hood compartment via the hood panel;a secondary catch portion configured to limit a position of the hood panel within a predetermined distance from the vehicle body and thereby generate an opening between the vehicle body and the hood panel; anda release handle portion configured to be shifted into the opening between the vehicle body and the hood panel to provide access to the release handle portion by an operator and facilitate a release of the secondary catch portion to uncover the under-hood compartment via the hood panel; andthe first resilient element is configured to selectively preload the primary catch portion to facilitate closure of the under-hood compartment and preload the secondary catch portion to limit the position of the hood panel within the predetermined distance from the vehicle body. 2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the primary catch portion and the secondary catch portion are formed together as a first component, the release handle portion is formed as a second component, and the first component is fixed to the second component and thereby combined into a unitary latch structure. 3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the primary catch, the secondary catch, and the release handle portions are formed together as a single, continuous latch structure. 4. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the mechanism additionally includes a limiter configured to define a range of motion of the latch. 5. The vehicle of claim 4, wherein: the mechanism additionally includes a striker configured to cooperate with the latch to selectively shift the release handle portion into the opening between the vehicle body and the hood panel;the latch includes a surface arranged between the primary and secondary catch portions and configured to guide the latch via contact with the striker to thereby position the release handle portion in the opening between the vehicle body and the hood panel; andthe release handle portion is configured such that actuating the release handle portion shifts the secondary catch portion away from the striker. 6. The vehicle of claim 5, wherein the mechanism additionally includes: a fork bolt configured to capture the striker and thereby fasten the hood panel to the vehicle body; anda device configured to release the fork bolt and thereby free the hood panel to separate from the vehicle body by the predetermined distance and generate the opening between the vehicle body and the hood panel. 7. The vehicle of claim 6, wherein the mechanism additionally includes a second resilient element configured to apply a preload force directed to maintain the fork bolt in position to fasten the hood panel to the vehicle body. 8. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein the release handle portion is shifted into the opening between the vehicle body and the hood panel automatically via release of the fork bolt. 9. A mechanism configured to fasten a hood panel to a vehicle body for covering an under-hood compartment defined by the vehicle body, the mechanism comprising: a pivotable latch; anda first resilient element;wherein: the pivotable latch includes: a primary catch portion configured to facilitate closure of the under-hood compartment via the hood panel;a secondary catch portion configured to limit a position of the hood panel within a predetermined distance from the vehicle body and thereby generate an opening between the vehicle body and the hood panel; anda release handle portion configured to be shifted into the opening between the vehicle body and the hood panel to provide access to the release handle portion by an operator and facilitate a release of the secondary catch portion to uncover the under-hood compartment via the hood panel; andthe first resilient element is configured to selectively preload the primary catch portion to facilitate closure of the under-hood compartment and preload the secondary catch portion to limit the position of the hood panel within the predetermined distance from the vehicle body. 10. The mechanism of claim 9, wherein the primary catch portion and the secondary catch portion are formed together as a first component, the release handle portion is formed as a second component, and the first component is fixed to the second component and thereby combined into a unitary latch structure. 11. The mechanism of claim 9, wherein the primary catch, the secondary catch, and the release handle portions are formed together as a single, continuous latch structure. 12. The mechanism of claim 9, further comprising a limiter configured to define a range of motion of the latch. 13. The mechanism of claim 9, wherein: the mechanism additionally includes a striker configured to cooperate with the latch to selectively shift the release handle portion into the opening between the vehicle body and the hood panel;the latch includes a surface arranged between the primary and secondary catch portions and configured to guide the latch via contact with the striker to thereby position the release handle portion in the opening between the vehicle body and the hood panel; andthe release handle portion is configured such that actuating the release handle portion shifts the secondary catch portion away from the striker. 14. The mechanism of claim 13, further comprising: a fork bolt configured to capture the striker and thereby fasten the hood panel to the vehicle body; anda device configured to release the fork bolt and thereby free the hood panel to separate from the vehicle body by the predetermined distance and generate the opening between the vehicle body and the hood panel. 15. The mechanism of claim 14, further comprising a second resilient element configured to apply a preload force directed to maintain the fork bolt in position to fasten the hood panel to the vehicle body. 16. The mechanism of claim 15, wherein the release handle portion is shifted into the opening between the vehicle body and the hood panel automatically via release of the fork bolt. 17. A vehicle comprising: a vehicle body defining a compartment;a hood panel configured to cover the compartment and thereby define an under-hood compartment; anda mechanism configured to fasten the hood panel to the vehicle body such that the hood panel maintains closure of the compartment and having a pivotable latch, a first resilient element, and a striker; wherein: the pivotable latch includes: a primary catch portion configured to facilitate closure of the under-hood compartment via the hood panel;a secondary catch portion configured to limit a position of the hood panel within a predetermined distance from the vehicle body and thereby generate an opening between the vehicle body and the hood panel; anda release handle portion configured to be shifted into the opening between the vehicle body and the hood panel to provide access to the release handle portion by an operator and facilitate a release of the secondary catch portion to uncover the under-hood compartment via the hood panel; andthe first resilient element is configured to selectively preload the primary catch portion to facilitate closure of the under-hood compartment and preload the secondary catch portion to limit the position of the hood panel within the predetermined distance from the vehicle body;the striker is configured to cooperate with the latch to selectively shift the release handle portion into the opening between the vehicle body and the hood panel;the latch includes a surface arranged between the primary and secondary catch portions and configured to guide the latch via contact with the striker to thereby position the release handle portion in the opening between the vehicle body and the hood panel; andthe release handle portion is configured such that actuating the release handle portion shifts the secondary catch portion away from the striker. 18. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein the primary catch and the secondary catch portions are formed together as a first component, the release handle portion is formed as a second component, and the first component is fixed to the second component and thereby combined into a unitary latch structure. 19. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein the primary catch, the secondary catch, and the release handle portions are formed together as a single, continuous latch structure. 20. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein the mechanism additionally includes: a fork bolt configured to capture the striker and thereby fasten the hood panel to the vehicle body;a device configured to release the fork bolt and thereby free the hood panel to separate from the vehicle body by the predetermined distance and generate the opening between the vehicle body and the hood panel; anda second resilient element configured to apply a preload force directed to maintain the fork bolt in position to fasten the hood panel to the vehicle body.