Cinching Cam Striker Latch Assembly for Rattle-Free Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing striker locking latch assemblies fail to effectively compensate for variations in striker diameter, orientation, or position, leading to issues such as buzz, squeak, or rattle during use.
Innovation Solution
A striker locking latch assembly incorporating a pivotally supported hook and a cinching cam with a radially offset cam locking surface, along with biasing components like torsional and coil springs, which ensures secure engagement and release of the striker by adjusting to different striker configurations through a cam angle geometry with tangential arcs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional latch assembly is used without a cinching cam, then the structure is simpler, but the latch fails to compensate for variations in striker diameter, orientation, or position, leading to striker movement and noise
Solution Approach 1:
The cinching cam is configured to be movable relative to the hook, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position and orientation to accommodate variations in striker dimensions. The cam's ability to rotate and shift enables the latch to adapt to different striker configurations while maintaining secure engagement
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the engagement interface by introducing a cam mechanism with varying radial distances from its rotation center. This allows the effective engagement parameters (distance, angle, position) to be adjusted automatically based on striker variations, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and complexity
2Ease of operation
If the latch assembly allows any striker movement, then the mechanism is easier to operate, but it creates buzz, squeak, or rattle conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The cinching cam applies localized compressive force at the specific engagement point between the hook and striker. By concentrating the cinching action at the critical interface, the mechanism prevents local movement and noise generation while maintaining overall operational simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The biasing component pre-loads the cinching cam against the hook, creating preliminary compressive force before the latch is fully engaged. This preliminary action ensures that the engagement interface is already under compression, preventing striker movement and noise from the outset
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The latch assembly effectively prevents striker movement, eliminating buzz, squeak, or rattle by maintaining a consistent lock angle across varying striker diameters and orientations, ensuring secure and quiet operation.
Implementation Method 1
A cinching cam is pivotally supported at a second location of the mounting bracket and has a cam locking surface profile which extends along an arc radially offset from a center point of rotation of the cinching cam
Implementation Method 2
A first biasing component (such as without limitation a torsional spring) influences the cinching against the hook
Data Source
AI summary
A striker locking latch assembly having a mounting bracket and a cover plate secured together by first and second bushings to define a package interior. The first bushing rotatably supports a structural cam and a cinching cam, with the second bushing rotatably supporting a hook adapted to engage the striker when seated within an underside cavity defined between the bracket and plate. A torsional spring biases the cinching cam in a first direction for maintaining a first biasing contact with the hook engaging with the striker. A coil spring extends between the structural cam and a rotationally offset location of the hook such that, and upon the structural cam being pivoted into engagement with the cinching cam and against the first biasing component, continued pivotal actuation of the structural cam and cinching cam causes the second biasing component to pivot the hook out of contact with the striker in a second release position, at which the cinching cam establishes a second biasing contact with the hook.