Patent ID: 8628127

Claim:
A value engineered latch system for an automobile door or hood, the latch system having a primary latch and a secondary latch, the latch system being adapted to positively hold or latch the door or hood in a fully closed position and a partially open position when operated by a primary release, and the latch system being adapted to allow the door or hood to be fully open when operated by a secondary release, the latch system comprising: a base plate adapted to be attached to a member of the automobile proximate the door or hood the base plate being coupled to a spring having two helical windings, both helical windings having a longitudinal axis extending therethrough; wherein, of the two helical windings, a first helical winding is wound with a primary spiral and a second helical winding is wound with a secondary spiral, where ends of the first and second helical windings are located near each other and extend out from between the two helical windings of the spring at an angle of about ninety degrees to the longitudinal axis of the two helical windings to form a primary arm and a secondary arm, and the other ends of the two helical windings are coupled together to form a lift arm; a striker adapted to be attached to the door or hood, the striker having a primary slot on one edge of the striker, the primary slot adapted to engage the primary arm to hold the door or hood fully closed, and a secondary ramp on another edge of the striker opposing the one edge of the striker, the secondary ramp adapted to engage the secondary arm to hold the hood or door partially open; and a self presenting secondary release system attached to the base plate, the secondary release system having a secondary release arm to present itself for easy manual access and to operate the secondary arm.