Patent ID: 9091102
Filing Date: 2015-07-28
Classification: E05B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A dual hood latch system adapted for releasing a hood of a motor vehicle from a closed latched position relative one or more chassis members of the motor vehicle to a released position, said dual hood latch system comprising: a pair of strikers separately disposed proximate an edge of the hood: a master latch assembly and an auxiliary latch assembly, each attached to one of the chassis members of the motor vehicle and each adapted to engage one of the pair of strikers to restrain the hood in the closed latched position, each of the latch assemblies including a latch having a primary latching ratchet and a pawl movable between a latched position where the primary latching ratchet engages the one of the pair of strikers to restrain the hood in the closed latched position, and an unlatched position where the primary latching ratchet is disengaged from the one of the pair of strikers to allow the hood to move to the released position, and a latch resilient member having an energized position and a released position and disposed to urge the primary latching ratchet to the unlatched position when in the released position; a master release cable operatively coupled at a distal end of the master release cable to the pawl of the master latch assembly and adapted to move the pawl of the master latch assembly to release the primary latching ratchet to the unlatched position when the master release cable is actuated; an intermediate release cable having a first end and a second end, the intermediate release cable being coupled at the second end to the pawl of the auxiliary latch assembly and adapted to move the pawl of the auxiliary latch assembly to release the primary latching ratchet of the auxiliary latch assembly to the unlatched position when the intermediate release cable is actuated; and an auxiliary release lever rotatably mounted on the master latch assembly and movable between a latched position and an unlatched position, the auxiliary release lever having a first toggle end disposed adjacent to and adapted for selective displacement by a portion of the primary latching ratchet of the master latch assembly, a second end of the auxiliary release lever attached to the first end of the intermediate release cable, and a release lever resilient member urging the auxiliary release lever to the latched position, wherein movement of the latching ratchet of the master latch assembly to the unlatched position rotates the auxiliary release lever to the unlatched position to actuate the intermediate release cable.