Patent ID: 6422619
Filing Date: 2002-07-23
Classification: E05B,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
An automotive latch assembly (46) having a striker entry hole (52) formed through a housing (48) of relatively rigid plastic material, characterized in that a flexible seal (54) surrounding said striker entry hole (52) is integrally molded to and with said housing (48), said seal comprising a general C shape, including a first wall (56) and two second walls (58), each of which slopes outwardly from said housing (48) and each of which is joined to an adjacent wall (56,58) at a less than straight angle, and further characterized in that each juncture of adjacent walls (56,58) comprises a flex joint (60) that includes a concave fold that flattens out as said adjacent walls (56,58) tend to diverge from one another as they are bent downwardly, thereby allowing the seal (54) as a whole to effectively flex.