Abstract:
A striker having a bumper for mounting to a support structure and for engagement with a latch mechanism is described. The striker includes improved noise and vibration control characteristics to reduce or eliminate chucking, squeak and rattle concerns. The striker may include a base, a bumper post, a post, a bridge, and a bumper. The base may include at least one aperture for connecting the base to the support structure. The bumper post may extend outwardly from the base. The post may extend outwardly from the base and be engageable with the latch mechanism. The bridge may extend between the bumper post and post at a distance away from the base, wherein the bridge may be engageable with a fishmouth of the latch mechanism. The bumper may be rotatably connected to the bumper post, wherein the bumper may be capable of wedged engagement with an entrance of the latch mechanism.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims benefit from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/215,429, entitled “Striker With Round Antichuck Bumper,” filed on May 5, 2009, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention is generally related to strikers and, more particularly, to strikers with improved noise and vibration characteristics. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Many vehicles with doors, liftgates, or the like, suffer from distortion of the rear end of the vehicle as the vehicle runs over a rough surface. This distortion causes significant deflection of the door relative to the door opening. This deflection may often be large enough for contact to be made between the door and the opening or at a high enough frequency that noise is emitted from the system. 
         [0004]    A variety of latching mechanisms have been used within the automotive industry for releasably coupling various movable components to the vehicle body. For example, latches are used for releasably coupling doors (e.g. passenger doors, liftgate, hood, trunk, etc.) to vehicles. In general, the latching mechanisms are operable in a latched mode to secure the door to the vehicle body and in an unlatched mode where the door is freely movable relative to the vehicle body. These latching mechanisms may typically include a latch for engaging a striker when the door is in a closed position. The latch may typically be secured near an edge of the door, and a striker may typically be secured to the vehicle body. 
         [0005]    Generally, only one edge of a door is releasably coupled to the vehicle body by way of one or more hinge mechanisms or the like. A latch is typically mounted to the edge opposite that of the hinge mechanism. The side edges of the door are generally not hinged or physically connected to the vehicle body. Therefore, motion of the vehicle can result in “match-boxing”, non-parallel deflection of the vehicle body relative to the side edges of the door, or relative motion been the door and the vehicle body. This relative motion is undesirable, in part, because it imparts additional vehicle noise, known as “chucking”, as the vehicle travels along rough or uneven surfaces. 
         [0006]    Manufacturers often employ a variety of anti-chucking hardware to reduce the chucking resulting from match-box deflection. One attempt at reducing chucking involves providing a fishmouth of the latch with features to reduce the clearance between the striker bridge and fishmouth. Reducing the clearance between the two may control and minimize the relative motion between the striker and the latch. 
         [0007]    Typically, the interior walls of the fishmouth are provided with hard plastic flaps that are backed by an elastomeric material, which provides stiffness with compliance. These flaps may allow the housing to be more compliant while being more durable than just an elastomer. This allows the fishmouth to conform to the striker bridge to enhance the engagement between the striker and the latch. This system, however, may have limited effectiveness in the absence of corresponding protruding features included in the striker bridge. 
         [0008]    Another attempt at reducing chucking involves providing anti-chucking hardware, such as wedges and spring-loaded bumpers that may be positioned between the door edges and the vehicle body. Utilizing wedges and bumpers may deflect some of the load from the match-boxing to the door. Some latches may also have a moveable wedge driven by a spring, whereby the wedge is designed to continually tighten against the striker to maintain zero clearance within the given gap. 
         [0009]    In some instances, the door dynamics and loading may be so severe that the wedges and bumpers can be bounced out of position, thereby becoming completely ineffective. In addition, dirt and ice frequently compound this problem by further urging the wedges and/or bumpers out of position. Often, bumpers may be worn down, whereby the bumper may no longer be effective at reducing noise and vibration. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0010]    A striker having a bumper for mounting to a support structure and for engagement with a latch mechanism is described. The striker includes improved noise and vibration control characteristics to reduce or eliminate chucking, squeak and rattle concerns. The striker may include a base, a bumper post, a post, a bridge, and a bumper. The base may include at least one aperture for connecting the base to the support structure. The bumper post may extend outwardly from the base. The post may extend outwardly from the base and be engageable with the latch mechanism. The bridge may extend between the bumper post and post at a distance away from the base, wherein the bridge may be engageable with a fishmouth of the latch mechanism. The bumper may be rotatably connected to the bumper post, wherein the bumper may be capable of wedged engagement with an entrance of the latch mechanism. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    Objects and advantages together with the operation of the invention may be better understood by reference to the following detailed description taken in connection with the following illustrations, wherein: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a striker having a bumper. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  illustrates a side view of the striker of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  illustrates a front view of the striker of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  illustrates a top view of the striker of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  illustrates a top cut away of an environmental view of a striker having a bumper. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0017]    Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural and functional changes may be made without departing from the respective scope of the invention. As such, the following description is presented by way of illustration only and should not limit in any way the various alternatives and modifications that may be made to the illustrated embodiments and still be within the spirit and scope of the invention. 
         [0018]    A striker  10  with dampening features is illustrated in  FIGS. 1-5 . The striker  10  may include improved noise and vibration control characteristics and be designed to reduce or eliminate chucking, squeak and rattle concerns in a door closure. The striker  10  may be of any appropriate shape, size or configuration. The striker  10  may include a base  12 , a bumper post  14 , a post  16  and a bridge  18  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ). 
         [0019]    The base  12  may serve as a mounting structure for the striker  10 . The base  12  may be of any appropriate shape, size or configuration, such as being of a generally planar configuration ( FIG. 1 ). For example, the base  12  may be of a generally polygonal shape ( FIG. 4 ). The base  12  may include a first or upper side  20 , a second or lower side  22  and at least one aperture  24  ( FIGS. 1-4 ). The base  12  may include any appropriate number of apertures  24 , such as one, three, four, etc. For example, the base  12  may include two apertures  24 . 
         [0020]    The apertures  24  may permit the striker  10  to be mounted to or secured to a surrounding structure, such as a doorframe of an automobile body or the like. The striker  10  may be secured to this surrounding structure by way of fasteners (not shown). The fasteners may be of any appropriate shape, size or type. The fasteners may be passed through the apertures  24  in the base  12  and be used to mount the striker  10  to the surrounding structure. 
         [0021]    The apertures  24  may be of any appropriate shape, size or configuration, such as a generally circular, rectangular or ovular shape. The apertures  24  may be located at any appropriate position on the base  12 , whereby an aperture  24  may be located on each side of the base  12  when viewed from above ( FIG. 4 ). Each aperture  24  may include a rim  30  ( FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  4 ). 
         [0022]    The rims  30  may be of any appropriate shape, size or configuration, such as a generally triangular or coned shape, whereby the rims  30  narrow towards a point extending away from the apertures  24 . The rims  30  may be located at any appropriate position on the striker  10 , such as on the first side  20  of the base and extending approximately perpendicularly away from the first side  20 . 
         [0023]    The base  12  may further include a first boss  26  and a second boss  28  ( FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  4 ). The bosses  26 ,  28  may be of any appropriate shape, size or configuration, such as oblong, circular, triangular, rectangular or a combination of the same. The bosses  26 ,  28  may be of similar shapes and sizes or may be of differing shapes and sizes. The bosses  26 ,  28  may be located at any appropriate position on the striker  10 , such as on the first side  20  of the base  12  and extending approximately perpendicularly outward away from the first side  20  of the base  12 . The bosses  26 ,  28  may generally provide additional structural characteristics to the striker  10 . 
         [0024]    The bumper post  14  may be of any appropriate shape, size or configuration. For example, the bumper post  14  may be of a generally cylindrical shape ( FIG. 2 ). The base  12  and the bumper post  14  may be fabricated out of any appropriate type of material. The base  12  and bumper post  14  may be fabricated as a single integral piece of material. Alternatively, the base  12  and bumper post  14  may be fabricated as separate pieces that may be secured to one another by any appropriate means, such as by welding, riveting, adhesives, fasteners, and the like. 
         [0025]    The bumper post  14  may be located at any appropriate position on the striker  10 . For example, the bumper post  14  may be located on the first side  20  of the base  12  and may extend approximately perpendicularly out and away from the first side  20  of the base  12  ( FIG. 2 ). The bumper post  14  may also be located within or adjacent to the first boss  26  and secured thereto by any appropriate means, such as by stamping, welding, fasteners, adhesives, and the like. 
         [0026]    The bumper post  14  may also include a bumper post base  34  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ). The bumper post base  34  may be of any appropriate shape, size or configuration, such as a generally enlarged area as compared to the bumper post  14 . The bumper post base  34  may be located at any appropriate position on the bumper post  14 , such as adjacent to or abutted with the first boss  26  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ). 
         [0027]    As an alternative, the striker  10  may include a back wall (not shown) in place of or in addition to the bumper post  14 . The back wall or bumper post  14  may be utilized as an additional mounting structure or surface through which the fasteners may be passed or extended to mount and secure the striker  10  to a body. 
         [0028]    The post  16  may be of any appropriate shape, size or configuration. For example, the exterior configuration of the post  16  may be of a generally cylindrical shape whereby the post  16  may easily engage with the catch  50  of a latch  44  ( FIGS. 1-3  and  5 ). It is to be understood, however, that any other configuration or shape of the post  16  is possible, including but not limited to oblate, elliptical, spherical, square, rectangular, triangular, and the like. 
         [0029]    The base  12  and the post  16  may be fabricated out of any appropriate type of material. The base  12  and post  16  may be fabricated as a single integral piece of material. Alternatively, the base  12  and post  16  may be fabricated as separate pieces that may be secured to one another by any appropriate means, such as by welding, riveting, adhesives, fasteners, and the like. As a further alternative, the base  12 , bumper post  14 , bridge  18 , and post  16  may be formed from a single integral piece of material. 
         [0030]    The post  16  may be located at any appropriate position on the striker  10 . For example, the post  16  may be located on the first side  20  of the base  12  and may extend approximately perpendicularly out and away from the first side  20  of the base  12  ( FIG. 2 ). The post  16  may be located substantially parallel to the bumper post  14  ( FIG. 2 ). The post  16  may also be located within or adjacent to the second boss  28  and secured thereto by any appropriate means, such as by stamping, welding, riveting, fasteners, adhesives, and the like. 
         [0031]    The post  16  may also include a post base  36  ( FIGS. 1-3 ). The post base  36  may be of any appropriate shape, size or configuration, such as a generally enlarged area as compared to the post  16 . The post base  36  may be located at any appropriate position on the post  16 , such as adjacent to or abutted with the second boss  28  ( FIGS. 1-3 ). 
         [0032]    The bridge  18  may be of any appropriate shape, size or configuration. For example, the bridge  18  may be of a generally cylindrical, rectangular, triangular shape or the like ( FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  4 ). The bridge  18  may be located at any appropriate position on the striker  10 . For example, the bridge  18  may be located and extend between the bumper post  14  and post  16 , whereby the bridge  18  may be located substantially parallel to the base  12  ( FIG. 2 ). The bridge  18  may be connected to the bumper post  14  and post  16  by any appropriate means, such as by welding, adhesives, fasteners, and the like. However, it will be appreciated that the bridge  18 , bumper post  14  and post  16  may be a single integral piece of material. 
         [0033]    The striker  10  may include a corner portion  38  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ). The corner portion  38  may be of any appropriate shape, size or configuration. For example, the corner portion  38  may be of a generally cylindrical, rectangular, oblong or curved shape ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ). The corner portion  38  may be located at any appropriate position on the striker  10 . For example, the corner portion  38  may be located between the bridge  18  and post  16 , whereby the corner portion  38  may connect the bridge  18  to the post  16  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ). 
         [0034]    The corner portion  38  may be connected to the bridge  18  and post  16  by any appropriate means, such as by welding, adhesives, fasteners, and the like. However, it will be appreciated that the corner portion  38 , bridge  18  and post  16  may be a single integral piece of material, whereby the corner portion  38  may connect the bridge  18  to the post  16  in a seamless transition. 
         [0035]    As an alternative, the striker  10  may include a bumper post tenon  40  and a post tenon  42  ( FIG. 2 ), such that may be part of a rivet. The bumper post tenon  40  and post tenon  42  may be of any appropriate shape, size or configuration, such as generally cylindrical, triangular, square or the like. The bumper post tenon  40  and post tenon  42  may be located at any appropriate position on the striker  10 , such as on the second side  22  of the body  12  ( FIG. 2 ). For example, the bumper post tenon  40  may be located opposite that of the bumper post  14  and the post tenon  42  may be located opposite that of the post  16 , whereby the bumper post tenon  40  may be approximately parallel to the post tenon  42 . 
         [0036]    The bumper post tenon  40  and post tenon  42  may be fabricated out of any appropriate type of material. The bumper post tenon  40  and post tenon  42  may be fabricated as a single integral piece of material with the bumper post  14  and post  16 , respectively, whereby the bumper post  14  and post  16  may extend through the body  12  to comprise the bumper post tenon  40  and post tenon  42 , respectively. Alternatively, the bumper post tenon  40  and post tenon  42  may be fabricated as separate pieces that may be secured to the bumper post  14  and post  16 , respectively, or to the body  12  by any appropriate means, such as by welding, riveting, adhesives, fasteners, and the like. 
         [0037]    The tenons  40 ,  42  may be utilized as additional features to maintain and secure the bumper post  14  and post  16  to the base  12  of the striker  10 . While the tenons  40 ,  42  are illustrated as being unspun, it is to be understood that the tenons  40 ,  42  may be spun, whereby they would provide a larger diameter than the posts  14 ,  16  within the body  12  to maintain the posts  14 ,  16  location therein. 
         [0038]    The striker  10  may be configured to engage a latch  44  ( FIG. 5 ). Specifically, the bridge  18  and post  16  may be shaped and sized to engage a fishmouth  46  of the latch  44 . The latch structure  44  may engage the striker  10 , whereby an entrance or inner walls  48  of the latch  44  may approach the bumper post  14  and bumper  32 . The engagement between the bumper  32  and the inner walls  48  of the latch  44  may allow for noise and vibration such as rattling or chucking. 
         [0039]    To reduce noise and vibration, the bridge  18  may also include a contoured profile or projection  52  on one or both sides that may projects outward relative to the centerline of the bridge  18  ( FIG. 4 ). When the striker  10  is fully engaged with the latch  44 , such as a fishmouth latch, the projection(s)  52  may exert pressure on a corresponding interior wall of the fishmouth  46 . This engagement between the projection  52  and fishmouth  46  may reduce noise, vibration and chucking U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/732,351, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety, describes in further detail such bridge protrusions, various design options for such bridge protrusions and their mode(s) of operation. 
         [0040]    The striker  10  may further include a bumper  32  ( FIGS. 1-4 ). The bumper  32  may be of any appropriate shape, size or configuration. For example, the bumper  32  may be of a generally cylindrical shape that may be of a larger diameter than that of the bumper post  14  ( FIG. 2 ). The bumper  32  may be fabricated out of any appropriate type of material. For example, the bumper  32  may be fabricated out of an elastic material, such as an elastomer or rubber. However, the bumper  32  may be fabricated out of any material useful in damping noise and vibration. The bumper  32  may be located at any appropriate position on the striker  10 , such as surrounding a portion of the bumper post  14  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ). 
         [0041]    The bumper  32  may assist in reducing noise, vibration and chucking between the latch  44 , such as the inner walls  48  of the latch  44 , and the striker  10 . The bumper  32  may be adapted to dampen the interface between the striker  10  and the latch  44 . To that end, the bumper  32  may engage the bumper post  14  to dampen the engagement between the bumper post  14  and the inner walls  48  of the latch  44 . For example, the bumper  32  may cover the surface of the bumper post  14 , extending from near the base  12  up to or past the intersection of the bridge  18  and the bumper post  14 . 
         [0042]    Typically, bumpers have been designed to dampen the engagement between the striker  10  and the latch  44 . Often these bumpers may be attached to a back wall and include a wedged configuration. The wedged configuration may then engage the latch opening to dampen noise and vibration. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/316,225, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety, describes in further detail an embodiment of a wedge type bumper. 
         [0043]    All bumpers, including wedge type bumpers, may be subject to wear from prolonged use. Specifically, for strikers  10  and latches  44  in use with car doors, the prolonged closed state of the door may cause deformation of the bumper, thereby decreasing the bumper&#39;s ability to reduce noise and vibration. Further, wedge type bumpers may often be prone to catching on the latch housing during opening and closing of the door, which may lead to deformation of the bumper. 
         [0044]    To decrease wear on the bumper  32  and increase its lifespan, the engagement between the bumper  32  and the bumper post  14  may be designed to allow the bumper  32  to rotate about the bumper post  14 . For example, the bumper post  14  may be cylindrical in shape ( FIG. 1 ). The bumper  32  may be engaged with, but not be fixedly connected to the bumper post  14 , thereby allowing the bumper  32  to rotate about the bumper post  14 . While  FIG. 1  may depict a portion of the bumper  32  as extending above the connection between the bumper post  14  and the bridge  18 , it will be appreciated that the bumper  32  may alternatively stop below the bridge  18 , whereby the bumper  32  may be permitted to rotate about the bumper post  14 . 
         [0045]    The bumper  32  may be rotatably connected to the bumper post  14  by any appropriate means. The bumper  32  may also be configured to turn or rotate on its own during normal use of the striker  10  and latch  44 . For example, the bumper  32  may be loosely engaged with the bumper post  14  to allow free rotation of the bumper  32  about the bumper post  14 . Alternatively, the bumper  32  may be elastically tight around the bumper post  14 , yet loose enough to be manually rotated if desired. 
         [0046]    Further, while the bumper post  14  may be illustrated as being cylindrical, it will be appreciated that the bumper post  14  may be any shape, such as oblate, elliptical, spherical, square, rectangular, triangular, or any shape to allow the bumper  32  to rotate. By allowing the bumper  32  to rotate about the bumper post  14 , wear may be distributed about the entire surface of the bumper  32  and not be limited to specific areas where the bumper  32  may be engaged with the latch  44 . The bumper  32  may be sized and shaped such that the engagement between the bumper  32  and the entrance or inner walls  48  of the latch  44  may dampen noise and vibration between the striker  10  and the latch  44 . Although the embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the foregoing detailed description, it is to be understood that the present invention is not to be limited to the embodiments disclosed, but that the invention described herein is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications and substitutions without departing from the scope of claims hereafter.