LATCH HOUSING

Abstract: A latch housing (10) including first (12) and second (14) portions connected together, the first portion being formed with a channel cross-section having a first channel base (16) and opposing first channel sides (18, 20) with each first channel side being connected to respective outwardly turned first tabs (22, 24) via respective first transition portions (26, 28), the second portion being formed with a channel cross-section having a second channel base (36) and opposing second channel sides (38, 40) with each second channel side being connected to respective outwardly turned second tabs (42, 44) via respective second transition portions (46, 48), with adjacent first and second tabs lying in a face to face relationship and with adjacent first and second channel sides lying in a face to face relationship with at least one of adjacent first and second transition portions being proximate but separate from each other to strengthen the latch housing in this region.

Description: LATCH HOUSING The present invention relates to latch housings and in particular latch housings for latch mechanisms of rear boot door lids of automobiles. The strength requirement of latch housings when used in the rear boot lids of automobiles must be sufficient to withstand fatigue loads associated with repeatedly slamming the boot lid shut. Furthermore the latch housing must be able to withstand proof type loads such as resisting forced entry. It is an object of the present invention to provide a stronger form of latch which is more able to resist fatigue and other types of loads. Thus according to the present invention there is provided a latch housing including first and second portions connected together, the first portion being formed with a channel cross-section having a first channel base and opposing first channel sides with each first channel side being connected to respective outwardly turned first tabs via respective first transition portions, the second portion being formed with a channel cross-section having a second channel base and opposing second channel sides with each second channel side being connected to respective outwardly turned second tabs via respective second transition portions, with adjacent first and second tabs lying in a face to face relationship and with adjacent first and second channel sides lying in a face to face relationship with at least one of adjacent first and second transition portions being proximate but separate from each other to strengthen the latch housing in this region. The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 is a sectioned view of a latch housing according to the present invention; and Figure 2 is a part section view taken in the direction of arrows AA of figure 1. With reference to figures 1 and 2 there is shown a latch housing 10 including first portion 12 and second portion 14. First portion 12 is formed generally with a channel cross-section having a tapered first channel base 16 and opposing first channel sides 18 and 20. Each first channel side has an associated outwardly turned first tab 22 and 24. Tab 22 is connected to first channel side 18 via a curved first transition portion 26 and tab 24 is connected to first channel side 20 via a curved transition portion 28. Tabs 22 and 24 include holes (not shown) through which can pass fixings such as bolts (not shown) having centre lines 30 and 32 in order to secure the housing to the boot lid 54. First channel base 16 includes a mouth portion 34 the purpose of which is described below. The second portion 14 is also formed with a channel cross-section and has corresponding second channel base 36, second channel sides 38 and 40, outwardly turned second tabs 42 and 44, and second transition portions 46 and 48. Tabs 42 and 44 include holes (not shown) and second channel base 36 includes a mouth portion 50. The first and second portions are each formed as pressings. The first and second portions are assembled such that tabs 22 and 42 lie in a face to face relationship, as do tabs 24 and 44. Similarly first channel side 18 lies in a face to face relationship with second channel side 38 and first channel side 20 lies in a face to face relationship with second channel side 40. The second channel sides 38 and 40 lie outside of the first channel sides 18 and 20. It can be seen from figure 1 that first transition portion 26 is adjacent to but separated from second transition portion 46, there being a void 52 between these two transition portions. Transition portions 28 and 48 are similarly separated by a void 54. The void arises because transition portions 26 and 28 are curved and transition portions 46 and 48 are substantially straight. This arrangement strengthens the connection between the channel sides and associated tabs thus improving the fatigue strength of the housing in this region. Situated in recess 56 is a latch mechanism (not shown) known to those skilled in the art. The latch mechanism typically would include a rotating claw which would secure a striker pin secured to fixed structure on the vehicle as the boot lid is closed and the striker pin enters the mouth 34 and 50. Rivets or other fixings may secure the first and second second portions together via the first and second channel bases 16 and 36. Preferably the fixings act as pivots for components of the latch mechanism. Thus when the boot lid 54 is slammed shut a force in the direction of arrow B is applied to the latch housing via the latch mechanism as the mechanism contacts the striker pin. Furthermore in the conditions where the boot lid is forced open without the latch being unlatched, such as by a thief attempting to gain entry into the boot or by a following vehicle crashing into the boot, the latch housing is forced in the direction of arrow C relative to the boot lid 54. The particular arrangement of transition portions is better able to resist such fatigue loads and proof loads than heretofore known latch housings.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A latch housing including first and second portions connected together, the first portion being formed with a channel cross-section having a first channel base and opposing first channel sides with each first channel side being connected to respective outwardly turned first tabs via respective first transition portions, the second portion being formed with a channel cross-section having a second channel base and opposing second channel sides with each second channel side being connected to respective outwardly turned second tabs via respective second transition portions, with adjacent first and second tabs lying in a face to face relationship and with adjacent first and second channel sides lying in a face to face relationship with at least one of adjacent first and second transition portions being proximate but separate from each other to strengthen the latch housing in this region. 2. A latch housing as defined in claim 1 in which at least one of the first transition portions is curved. 3. A latch housing as defined in claim 1 or 2 in which at least one of the second transition portions is substantially straight. 4. A latch housing as defined in any preceding claim in which the second channel sides are position outside of the first channel sides. 5. A latch housing as defined in any preceding claim in which a latch mechanism is situated between the first channel base and second channel base. 6. A latch housing as defined in any preceding claim in which the distance between the channel sides proximate the associated tabs is greater than the distance between the channel sides remote from the tabs. 7. A latch housing as defined in claim 6 in which the channel base is tapered. 8. A latch housing as defined in any preceding claim in which the first and second tabs have corresponding holes to allow fixing of the latch housing to adjacent structure. 9. A latch housing as defined in any preceding claim in which the length of the first channel sides is longer than the length of the second channel sides. 10. A latch housing as defined in any preceding claim in which the first or second portion is formed as a pressing. 11. A vehicle including a latch housing as defined in any preceding claim, the latch housing incorporating a latch mechanism which in use releasably secures a vehicle boot door closed. 12. A latch housing or a vehicle as herein before described with reference to or as shown in figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawing.

Inventors: WILLIAMS DAVID, WILLIAMS, DAVID
Applicants: MERITOR LIGHT VEHICLE SYS LTD, WILLIAMS DAVID, MERITOR LIGHT VEHICLE SYSTEMS (UK) LTD., WILLIAMS, DAVID
Application year: 2000
Main classification: E05B65
IPC codes: E05B65