Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a securing or latching assembly, and more particularly, to a securing assembly configured to assist with opening and closing a lid, such as a vehicle trunk or hood.
Many vehicles include lids, such as trunks and hoods, that may be opened by an operator to gain access to areas protected by the lids. For example, an operator may open a hood to gain access to an engine for servicing. Further, the operator may open a trunk lid to gain access to the trunk.
Typically, a latch is used to latchably engage a lid striker. The latch and lid striker are used in conjunction to ensure that a lid, such as a trunk lid or hood, remains securely closed during vehicle operation, while also allowing a user to open the lid when desired. Further, the latch and lid striker are generally configured to be robust enough to keep the lid(s) securely closed in the event of a vehicle accident.
As shown in
The lid strikers 10, 20 and 30 include the metal coil springs 16, 26 and 36, respectively, that may be difficult to tune for any given door. Further, the springs 16, 26 and 36 may pose difficulties for manufacturers to optimally size for any given door. That is, because a particular door may differ in size, weight and the like when compared with another door, the springs 16, 26 and 36 may not operate optimally with each door. While a particular spring may function adequately with one style of door, that same spring may not function as well with another style of door. Generally, different springs may be required for varying force requirements.
Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a lid striker assembly configured to mate with a latching assembly having a pawl. The lid striker assembly may include a plate, and at least one spring beam extending from the plate. The spring beam(s) is integrally formed with the plate as a single unit. That is, the spring beam(s) and the plate may be molded and/or stamped from a single piece of material, such as plastic or metal. The spring beam(s) is configured to exert a resistive force into the latching assembly when the lid striker assembly is secured to the latching assembly.
The lid striker assembly may include a striker bar secured to the plate. Optionally, the lid striker assembly may include a post integrally formed with an extending from the plate. The post member, such as the striker bar or the post, is configured to be securely engaged by a pawl within the latching assembly. The post member may include a ledge radially extending from a free end.
The at least one spring beam may include two spring beams symmetrical about a central axis of the plate. The spring beam(s) may include a distal hook and engagement tip.
The plate may include front edges that meet at an apex, such that the front edges recede toward lateral edges.
The spring beam(s) may include opposed flanges that, along with the spring beam(s), define a latch channel. The latch channel is configured to align the latch assembly with respect to the spring beam(s).
The spring beam(s) may also include a tapered leg connected to an enlarged latch-engaging tip. The latch-engaging tip may include an outwardly bowed section connected to a inwardly curling portion. Further, a force-reducing window may be formed through any portion of the spring beam(s).
Before the embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including” and “comprising” and variations thereof is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items and equivalents thereof.
Front edges 60 of the plate 52 are angled and meet at an apex 62. The front edges 60 recede toward lateral edges 64, which, in turn, connect to a generally straight rear edge 66. As shown, the plate 52 roughly resembles a home plate of a baseball field. The angled nature of the front edges 60 allows for easier mating with a latching assembly. Alternatively, however, the base plate 52 may be a different shape, such as a square or rectangle.
A striker bar 68 extends from an upper surface of the base 54 along a central axis X of the plate 52. A gap 70 is formed between the upturned edges 56 proximate the apex 62. The gap 70 allows the striker bar 68 to enter an engagement chamber of a latch assembly (not shown in
The striker bar 62 includes a leading post 72 integrally connected to a beam 74, which, in turn, is integrally connected to a trailing post 76. The posts 72 and 76 are generally perpendicular to the base 54, while the beam 74 is generally parallel with the base 54.
The striker bar 68 may be a separate and distinct piece that is formed separately from the plate 52. Optionally, the striker bar 68 may be integrally formed with the plate 52.
An integral spring beam 78 extends upwardly from a lateral edge 64 of the plate 52. The spring beam 78 is integrally formed with the plate 52 and includes a root 80 that extends upwardly from the plate 52 proximate a union of one of the lateral edges 64 and the rear edge 66. The root 80 extends above the upturned edges 56 and generally follows the contours of the lateral edge 64 and front edge 60 when in an at-rest state.
A flexible spring leaf 82 extends from the root 80 and is separated from the upturned edge 56 of the front edge 60 by a gap 84. A hook 86 extends from a distal end of the spring leaf 82 and wraps around an rear surface (with respect to the leading direction of the assembly 50) of the leading post 72. An engagement tip 88 extends from the hook 86 on the opposite side of the leading post 72 than the main portion of the spring leaf 82. As shown in
The spring beam 78 flexes inwardly when first engaged by a latch assembly. During this movement, the hook 86 disengages the leading post 72. As the striker beam 68 fully engages a pawl within the latch assembly, the spring beam 78 exerts a resistive, engaging force into the latch assembly, thereby ensuring the assembly 50 remains secured to the latch assembly. When a user acts to disengage the assembly 50 from a latch assembly, the resistive force of the spring beam 78 assists in ejecting the assembly 50 from the latch assembly.
The spring leaf 82 is cantilevered on the plate 52 about the root 80. The width of the spring leaf 82 may be modified to provide varying force loads. Because the plate 52 includes an integral spring beam 78, the assembly 50 is easier and quicker to manufacture than the known devices 10, 20 and 30 shown in
The inclusion of an additional spring beam 92 provides an additional engagement surface with a latch assembly. Further, the additional spring beam 92 provides increased spring force to the assembly 90. The symmetrical spring beams 92 balance loading on a latch, as opposed to a single spring beam.
The assembly 110 includes spring beams 116, such as shown and described with respect to
Spring beams 138 extend from either side of the plate 132 proximate the union of lateral edges 140 and the front edge 136. The spring beams 138 are symmetrical about the central axis X and are generally mirror images of one another.
Each spring beam 138 includes a root 142 upwardly extending from the plate 132 proximate the front edge 136 on the sides of the plate 132. The root 142 integrally connects to the plate through a curved strap 144. The root 142 is generally perpendicular to the plate 132.
The root 142 connects to a spring beam 146 through a curved strap 148 that angles the spring beam 146 inwardly and toward the front edge 136. The curved strap 148 is separated from the plate 132 by a space 149. The spring beam 146 includes a tapered leg 150 that tapers from the strap 148 toward an expanded distal latch-engaging tip 152. The latch-engaging tip 152 is wider than the leg 150 and generally outwardly bows and curls back in toward post 134. The latch-engaging tip 152 is configured to abut into the latch assembly. The outward bowing 154 and inward curling 156 of the latch-engaging tip 152 provides additional spring force into the latch assembly, while at the same time ensuring that the latch-engaging tip does not snag any portion of the latch assembly.
The legs 150 are tapered in order to reduce stresses during flexing and bending. The tapered legs 150, consequently, resist cracking over time.
While the assembly 130 is shown with an integrally formed post 134, the assembly 130 may, alternatively, include a striker bar.
In order to secure the lid striker assembly 130 to the latch assembly, the lid striker assembly 130 is urged toward the latch assembly 160 in the direction of arrow A.
As shown in
Thus, embodiments of the present invention provide a lid striker assembly that is easier to manufacture and assemble than known lid strikers. The lid striker assemblies shown and described in
While various spatial and directional terms, such as top, bottom, lower, mid, lateral, horizontal, vertical, front and the like may used to describe embodiments of the present invention, it is understood that such terms are merely used with respect to the orientations shown in the drawings. The orientations may be inverted, rotated, or otherwise changed, such that an upper portion is a lower portion, and vice versa, horizontal becomes vertical, and the like.
Variations and modifications of the foregoing are within the scope of the present invention. It is understood that the invention disclosed and defined herein extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text and/or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the present invention. The embodiments described herein explain the best modes known for practicing the invention and will enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention. The claims are to be construed to include alternative embodiments to the extent permitted by the prior art.
Various features of the invention are set forth in the following claims.
This application relates to and claims priority benefits from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/040,058 entitled “Spring Assist Device For Vehicle Lid,” filed Mar. 27, 2008, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61040058 | Mar 2008 | US |