Latch mechanism for removable roof closure

Claim 2

A latch mechanism for securing a removable roof closure panel in a vehicle body roof opening comprising: first and second keepers mounted on the vehicle body at opposite sides of the roof opening; first and second latch bolts movably mounted on the closure panel and having first end portions adapted for respective latching engagement with the keepers upon extension away from one another and unlatching disengagement from the keepers upon retraction toward one another; first and second locating members mounted on the closure panel and respectively engageable with the first and second keepers to locate the closure panel longitudinally and transversely of the roof opening and transversely align the latch bolts with the keepers, said locating members being longitudinally adjustable on the closure panel to adjust the longitudinal position of the closure panel; first and second operating levers having first ends pivotally mounted on the closure panel for movement about spaced axes and having second ends respectively pivotally connected with second end portions of the first and second latch bolts to extend and retract the latch bolts upon rotation of the operating levers; means for rotating one of the levers; and intermeshing gear teeth provided on the first and second operating levers to simultaneously rotate the second lever with the first lever, the levers rotating oppositely of each other between a latching position wherein the levers are located generally colinear with each other and with the latch bolts to effect extension of the latch bolts and latching engagement thereof with the respective keepers, and an unlatching position wherein the levers are located generally parallel to one another and normal to their respective latch bolts to effect retraction of the latch bolts and unlatching disengagement thereof from the respective keepers.

Claim 3

A latch mechanism for securing a removable roof closure panel in a vehicle body roof opening comprising: first and second keepers mounted on the vehicle body at opposite sides of the roof opening; first and second latch bolts movably mounted on the closure panel and having first end portions adapted for respective latching engagement with the keepers upon extension away from one another and unlatching disengagement from the keepers upon retraction toward one another; first and second locating members mounted on the closure panel and respectively engageable with the first and second keepers to locate the closure panel longitudinally and transversely of the roof opening and transversely align the latch bolts with the keepers, said locating members being longitudinally adjustable on the closure panel to adjust the longitudinal position of the closure panel; first and second adjusting members mounted on the closure panel and respectively guiding the extension and retraction movement of the first and second latch bolts, said adjusting members being vertically adjustable to vertically align the latch bolts with the keepers; first and second operating levers having first ends pivotally mounted on the closure panel for movement about spaced axes and having second ends respectively pivotally connected with second end portions of the first and second latch bolts to extend and retract the latch bolts upon rotation of the operating levers; means for rotating one of the levers; intermeshing gear teeth provided on the first and second operating levers to simultaneously rotate the second lever with the first lever, the levers rotating oppositely of each other between a latching position wherein the levers are located generally colinear with each other and with the latch bolts to effect extension of the latch bolts and latching engagement thereof with the respective keepers, and an unlatching position wherein the levers are located generally parallel to one another and normal to their respective latch bolts to effect retraction of the latch bolts and unlatching disengagement thereof from the respective keepers; and detent spring means engaging at least one of the operating levers in the latching position to maintain said latched position of the operating levers and being yieldable to permit movement of the operating levers to the unlatcing positions.

Claim 4

A latch mechanism for securing a removable roof closure panel in a vehicle body roof opening comprising: first and second keepers mounted on the vehicle body at opposite sides of the roof opening; first and second latch bolts movably mounted on the closure panel and having first end portions adapted for respective latching engagement with the keepers upon extension away from one another and unlatching disengagement from the keepers upon retraction toward one another; first and second locating members mounted on the closure panel and respectively engageable with the first and second keepers to locate the closure panel longitudinally and transversely of the roof opening and transversely align the latch bolts with the keepers, said locating members being longitudinally adjustable on the closure panel to adjust the longitudinal position of the closure panel; first and second adjusting members mounted on the closure panel and respectively guiding the extension and retraction movement of the first and second latch bolts, said adjusting members being vertically adjustable to vertically align the latch bolts with the keepers; first and second operating levers having first ends pivotally mounted on the closure panel for movement about spaced axes and having second ends respectively pivotally connected with second end portions of the first and second latch bolts to extend and retract the latch bolts upon rotation of the operating levers; means for rotating one of the levers; intermeshing gear teeth provided on the first and second operating levers to simultaneously rotate the second lever with the first lever, the levers rotating oppositely of each other between a latching position wherein the levers are located generally colinear with each other and with the latch bolts to effect extension of the latch bolts and latching engagement thereof with the respective keepers, and an unlatching position wherein the levers are located generally parallel to one another and normal to their respective latch bolts to effect retraction of the latch bolts and unlatching disengagement thereof from the respective keepers; and detent spring means engaging at least one of the operating levers in the latching position to maintain said latched position of the operating levers and being yieldable to permit movement of the operating levers to the unlatcing positions.

Claim 5

A latch mechanism for securing a removable roof closure panel in a vehicle body roof opening comprising: first and second keepers mounted on the vehicle body at opposite sides of the roof opening; first and second latch bolts movably mounted on the closure panel and having first end portions adapted for respective latching engagement with the keepers upon extension away from one another and unlatching disengagement from the keepers upon retraction toward one another; first and second locating members mounted on the closure panel and respectively engageable with the first and second keepers to locate the closure panel longitudinally and transversely of the roof opening and transversely align the latch bolts with the keepers, said locating members being longitudinally adjustable on the closure panel to adjust the longitudinal position of the closure panel; first and second operating levers having first ends pivotally mounted on the closure panel for movement about spaced axes and having second ends respectively pivotally connected with second end portions of the first and second latch bolts to extend and retract the latch bolts upon rotation of the operating levers; means for rotating the first operating lever; intermeshing gear teeth provided on the first and second operating levers to rotate the second operating lever in the opposite direction of the first operating lever; first and second mating pairs of abutment faces on said first and second operating levers disposed at 90° relative one another to limit opposite rotation between latching positions wherein the levers are located generally colinear with each other and with the latch bolts to effect extension of the latch bolts and latching engagement thereof with the respective keepers, and unlatching positions wherein the levers are located generally parallel to one another and normal to their respective latch bolts to effect retraction of the latch bolts and unlatching disengagement thereof from the respective keepers.

Claim 6

A latch mechanism for securing a removable roof closure panel in a vehicle body roof opening comprising: first and second keepers mounted on the vehicle body at opposite sides of the roof opening; first and second latch bolts movably mounted on the closure panel and having first end portions adapted for respective latching engagement with the keepers upon extension away from one another and unlatching disengagement from the keepers upon retraction toward one another; first and second locating members mounted on the closure panel and respectively engageable with the first and second keepers to locate the closure panel longitudinally and transversely of the roof opening and transversely align the latch bolts with the keepers, said locating members being longitudinally adjustable on the closure panel to adjust the longitudinal position of the closure panel; first and second operating levers having first ends pivotally mounted on the closure panel for movement about spaced axes and having second ends respectively pivotally connected with second end portions of the first and second latch bolts to extend and retract the latch bolts upon rotation of the operating levers; means for rotating the first operating lever; intermeshing gear teeth provided on the first and second operating levers to rotate the second operating lever in the opposite direction of the first operating lever; first and second mating pairs of abutment faces on said first and second operating levers disposed at 90° relative one another to limit opposite rotation between latching positions wherein the levers are located generally colinear with each other and with the latch bolts to effect extension of the latch bolts and latching engagement thereof with the respective keepers, and unlatching positions wherein the levers are located generally parallel to one another and normal to their respective latch bolts to effect retraction of the latch bolts and unlatching disengagement thereof from the respective keepers.

Claim 7

A latch mechanism for adjustably securing a removable roof closure panel against vertical, transverse and longitudinal movement in a vehicle body roof opening comprising: first and second keepers adjustably mounted on the vehicle body at opposite sides of the roof opening for transverse adjusting movement; first and second latch bolts mounted for longitudinal movement on the closure panel and having first end portions adapted for respective latching engagement with the keepers upon extension away from one another and unlatching disengagement from the keepers upon retraction toward one another; first and second locating members mounted on the closure panel and respectively engageable with the first and second keepers to locate the closure panel longitudinally and transversely of the roof opening and transversely align the latch bolts with the transversely adjusted keepers, said locating members being longitudinally adjustable on the closure panel to adjust the longitudinal position of the closure panel; first and second adjusting members mounted on the closure panel and respectively guiding the extension and retraction movement of the first and second latch bolts, said adjusting members being vertically adjustable to vertically align the latch bolts with the keepers; first and second operating levers having first ends pivotally mounted on the closure panel for movement about spaced axes and having second ends respectively pivotally connected with second end portions of the first and second latch bolts to extend and retract the latch bolts upon rotation of the operating levers; means for rotating one of the levers; and intermeshing gear teeth provided on the first and second operating levers to simultaneously rotate the second lever with the first lever, the levers rotating oppositely of each other between a latching position wherein the levers are located generally colinear with each other and with the latch bolts to effect extension of the latch bolts and latching engagement thereof with the respective keepers, and an unlatching position wherein the levers are located generally parallel to one another and normal to a respective latch bolt to effect retraction of the latch bolts and unlatching disengagement thereof from the respective keepers.

Claim 8

A latch mechanism for adjustably securing a removable roof closure panel against vertical, transverse and longitudinal movement in a vehicle body roof opening comprising: first and second keepers adjustably mounted on the vehicle body at opposite sides of the roof opening for transverse adjusting movement; first and second latch bolts mounted for longitudinal movement on the closure panel and having first end portions adapted for respective latching engagement with the keepers upon extension away from one another and unlatching disengagement from the keepers upon retraction toward one another; first and second locating members mounted on the closure panel and respectively engageable with the first and second keepers to locate the closure panel longitudinally and transversely of the roof opening and transversely align the latch bolts with the transversely adjusted keepers, said locating members being longitudinally adjustable on the closure panel to adjust the longitudinal position of the closure panel; first and second adjusting members mounted on the closure panel and respectively guiding the extension and retraction movement of the first and second latch bolts, said adjusting members being vertically adjustable to vertically align the latch bolts with the keepers; first and second operating levers having first ends pivotally mounted on the closure panel for movement about spaced axes and having second ends respectively pivotally connected with second end portions of the first and second latch bolts to extend and retract the latch bolts upon rotation of the operating levers; means for rotating one of the levers; and intermeshing gear teeth provided on the first and second operating levers to simultaneously rotate the second lever with the first lever, the levers rotating oppositely of each other between a latching position wherein the levers are located generally colinear with each other and with the latch bolts to effect extension of the latch bolts and latching engagement thereof with the respective keepers, and an unlatching position wherein the levers are located generally parallel to one another and normal to a respective latch bolt to effect retraction of the latch bolts and unlatching disengagement thereof from the respective keepers.