Patent ID: 7025395
Filing Date: 2006-04-11
Classification: E05B,E05C,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A latch assembly comprising: a latch including a recessed mouth to receive a striker bar and a latch bolt moveable in a first plane to cooperate with the recessed mouth and releaseably retain the striker bar, wherein the recessed mouth includes a first wedge arrangement having an inwardly facing first abutment surface and an inwardly facing second abutment surface, the first wedge arrangement being provided laterally of, and on both sides of, the latch bolt, the inwardly facing first abutment surface and the inwardly facing second abutment surface being substantially perpendicular to the first plane, and the latch is mountable to a first vehicle structure; and a striker including, the striker bar, the striker bar having a striker bar axis, a first striker bar end region, a second striker bar end region and a second wedge arrangement having a third abutment surface and a fourth abutment surface, wherein the second wedge arrangement is provided longitudinally with respect to the striker bar axis at the first striker bar end region and the second striker bar end region and the striker is mountable to a second vehicle structure, wherein engagement of the latch bolt and the striker releasably secures the first vehicle structure to the second vehicle structure by relative displacement of the latch towards the striker such that the striker bar axis extends perpendicular to the first plane when the striker bar is releasably retained by the latch bolt, and wherein the first wedge arrangement and the second wedge arrangement prevent movement between the latch and the striker in a direction substantially parallel to the first plane when the latch assembly is in a latched condition and the inwardly facing first abutment surface and the inwardly facing second abutment surface engage the third abutment surface and the fourth abutment surface, respectively.