US1822165A - Hood catch - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 8, 1931. R 5 MOORE 1,822,165

HOOD CATCH Filed Feb. 21. 1928 5 AL 1 Z 4 M I "J INVENTOR.

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Patented Sept. 8, 1931 UNITED STATES] RAYMOND G. MOORE, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT HOOD CATCH Application filed February 21, 1928. Serial No. 255,958.

The present invention relates to automobile hood catches, and has for an object to provide an improved latch of the type adapted, in addition to holding down the hood, to

also force the same inwardly, and thereby effectively secure it against looseness and rattling. A further object is to provide such a catch which will compensate for variations in the position of the hood, so that wear and inaccurate placing of the catch will not effect its proper functioning. Another object is to provide a catch in which there will be metal to metal contact between the compensating parts but so arranged and cooperating as to always maintain a nonrattling relation free of squeaks and scraping noises, as has been the case heretofore with metal to metal contact catches.

With the above and other objects in view,

an embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, and this embodiment will be hereinafter more fully described with reference thereto, and the invention will be finally pointed out in the claim.

In the drawings:

F igi 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a hood catch, according to the present embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation, showing in dotted lines the initial engaging position with the keeper, and in full lines the final or operative engaging position;

5 Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a modified form of the invention. 7

Referring to the drawings, the hood catch, according to the present embodiment of the invention, consists of a cylindrical barrel 10, flanged at its lower end, as at 11, to provide a reduced passage in which a rod 12 is slidably engaged, the end of the rod within the barrel being provided with a fixed washer 13, between which and the flange 11 a spring 14 is coiled about the rod.

The lower end of the rod 12 has a head or upset 15 engaged in a dome-shape slotted base member 16 secured to the sill-piece of the automobile frame.

The barre1 is provided at its upper end with upstandingears 17 and 18, between which a. handle 10 having a keeper engaging. hook end 20, is pivotally mounted on a cross pin 21. In its disengaged position the handle is substantially horizontally disposed with its flat base portion 22 abuttin the forward upper edge 23 of the barrel, being yieldably held in such relation by the pressure of the rod 12 engaged with said. flat base portion 22.. The rearward upper edge 24: of the barrel is spaced from the handle to provide a slot in which the haindie may be rotated to a limited extent.

As shown in Fig. 1, and in dotted lines in Fig. 3, the fulcrum point of the hook end 20, in the horizontal relation of the handle, is in a radial line intersecting the pivotal axis, so that upon rotation of the handle the distance between vertical lines intersecting said fulcrum point and the pivotal axis decreases proportionately to the degree of rotation The automobile hood 25, which in its closed position is engaged against a stop flange 26, secured to the frame, is provided .with a keeper 27 for engagement by the hook 20.

An inclined cam member 28 is also providedin the hood, below the keeper and .prefer ably integrally formed with its base 29, and upon the barrel there is provided a projecting cam lug 30, havin'gan inclined engaging face 31 adapted in the engaged relation of the catch to engage andbear upon the cam member 28.

The operation is as follows fAs shown in Fig. 1 the catch is contracted,

force of the spring is distributed into components exerting both a downward and an inward force or pressure upon the hood to securely clamp it in closed position. The pivoted keeper engaging handle and hood member in addition to drawing the barrel cut is inwardly automatically compensates for any wear and irregularities.

In Fig. 4:, I have illustrated a modified form of the invention in which an upwardly extending inclined cam lug 32 is provided on the hood, and which is engaged by a cam portion 33 on the barrel having a relatively long inclined under surface. The function and operation is the same as in the first embodiment.

I have illustrated and described preferred and satisfactory embodiments of the invention, but it will be obvious that changes may be made therein, within the spirit and scope thereof, defined in the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Pat- In a hood catch a hold-down clamp comprising an extensible and contractible pulldown member pivotally secured at its lower end, co-operating cam means at one side of said holddown member respectively mounted on said hold-down member and said hood and having a cam surface inclined downwardly and outwardly with respect to said hood, a keeper engaging member pivotally mounted upon the upper end of said hold-down member relatively movable with respect to said cam means and including a hook portion at one side of the pivot and a handle portion at the other side, stop means on said holddown member adapted to limit pivotal movement of said pivoted member against lifting pressure on said handle portion to a position in which said hook portion is in substantially horizontal alignment with the pivotal axis and permitting pivotal movement in the other direction, spring means acting on said hold down member adapted to yieldingly engage said keeper engaging member with saidkeeper and exerting a downward pressure thereon, said keeper acting as a fulcrum about which said member is adapted to swing downward- 1y from said horizontally aligned position and whereby said pivotal axis and said holddown clamp swings inwardly toward the hood, said cam means adapted upon the inward swinging of said hold-down member to exert a downward and inward pressure upon the hood under the action of said spring means.

Signed at Bridgeport, county of Fairfield, and State of Connecticut, this 23rd day of January, 1928.

RAYMOND G. MOORE.

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