Vehicle closure latch

• Main Authors: JOHNSON, JOSEPH MICHAEL, CARTER, ELUID DAVID, CIAVAGLIA, MICHAEL ANTONIO, PAULIK, JIRI, PAULIK, RITA MARGARETE
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French; German
• Published: 26.11.1997
• Edition: 6
• Subjects: ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; HANDCUFFS; KEYS; LOCKS; SAFES; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ARTCOLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS

The ratchet comprises a metal substrate and a plastics covering. The metal substrate has a primary latching tooth for engaging a pawl to retain the ratchet in a latched position and a striker tooth for engaging the striker when the ratchet is in an unlatched position. The plastics covering has a bumper with a series of spaced apart cantilevered fingers to reduce noise generated by contact of the ratchet with another portion of the closure latch. The fingers are joined to an integral base and are inclined with respect to it. The ends of the cantilevered fingers are profiled in a curvilinear shape. The cantilevered fingers are approximately 0.5 mm in thickness. The base is approximately 1 mm in thickness. The spacing between the cantilevered fingers is approximately 0.5 mm.