Latch mechanism
View Patent ↗A latch is provided including a fork bolt configured to rotate between an unlatch position and a latched position. A detent is configured to cooperate with the forkbolt. A bumper includes an upper contact portion and an elongated lower portion. The bumper is configured to receive a striker when the fork bolt is in the latched position. A guide member includes a generally curved flexible portion. The flexible portion is configured to deflect about a first end to guide the striker towards the upper contact portion of the bumper.
1. A latch comprising:
a forkbolt pivotally mounted to the latch and configured to rotate between an unlatched position and a latched position;
a detent pivotally mounted to the latch and configured to cooperate with the forkbolt in order to retain the forkbolt in the latch position;
a bumper secured to the latch, the bumper having an upper contact portion and an elongated lower portion extending from the upper contact portion, the upper contact portion being configured to configured to contact a striker when the striker is retained in the latch by the fork bolt when it is in the latched position; and
a guide member integrally formed with a housing of the latch, the guide member including a generally curved flexible portion, the flexible portion being configured to deflect about a first end to guide the striker towards the upper contact portion of the bumper as it is inserted into an opening of the housing, wherein the first end is located at the opening of the housing and wherein the elongated lower portion is located between the guide member and a rigid base of the guide member.
2. The latch according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible portion of the guide member is formed from a plastic material.
3. The latch according to claim 1 , wherein the bumper is formed from a flexible material.
4. The latch according to claim 1 , wherein the upper contact portion of the bumper includes an angled surface configured to wedge the striker between the upper contact portion and the lower portion when the striker is retained in the latch by the forkbolt.