Description:TECHNICAL FIELD
[001] The present disclosure relates to a vehicle hood, more particularly relates to an assembly for a hood latch, wherein the hood latch enables higher pop-up height for the hood.
BACKGROUND
[002] In current vehicles when opening a hood of the car, truck or bus, a person needs to find pull the primary lever usually located inside the vehicle. Further in certain cases the user needs to access a secondary lever usually positioned in the trunk or the engine bay, and is engaged with the hood. The secondary lever or the hood latch may require the user to unlock a secondary engagement mechanism. Further to access the secondary engagement mechanism a gap or height needs to maintain between the hood and the vehicle hood access point or the trunk or engine bay. The gap or the height is defined as pop-up height.
[003] During unlatching activity, the pawl pulls through cable and claw, claw spring lifts the striker (hood) to a certain height (claw in open condition). But due to hood weight, striker pushes down the claw and desire pop-up may not be achieved.
[004] The drawback of the existing to achieve higher pop-up height, requires high stiffness spring. Further the high stiffness spring increases the operating effort, operating sound. Further to accommodate need new design for high stiffness spring the child parts need to be re-designed, thus increasing development effort.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[005] The principal object of the present disclosure is to achieve a higher Pop-up height with common latch design.
[006] Another object of the present disclosure is to achieve a higher Pop-up height without the need to re-design the hood latch.
[007] Yet another object of the present disclosure is to enable increase the pop-up height of the hood.
[008] Yet another object of the present disclosure is to use less stiffness claw spring.
[009] Yet another object of the present disclosure is to reduce the operating force required to open hood latch.
[0010] Yet another object of the present disclosure is to reduce the unlatching sound during unlatching of the hood using latch hood.

SUMMARY
[0011] In an implementation of the present disclosure a latch assembly (100) is disclosed. The latch assembly (100) comprises frame plate (1). Further a secondary lever (2) is coupled with the frame plate (1). The secondary lever (2) is positioned in its place on the frame plate (1) using a secondary rivet (9). Further a pawl (3), is mounted on the frame plate (1) on a side opposite to the side having secondary lever (2). The latch assembly (100) further comprises a claw (4) coupled with the pawl (3), wherein the claw (4) is further mounted on the frame plate (1) using a claw rivet (11). Further a dual pawl (5) is configured to be coupled with the claw (4).
[0012] In another implementation of the present disclosure a method for unlatching a hood using a latch assembly (100) is disclosed. The method as disclosed comprises pulling a cable to rotate a pawl (3), wherein rotating the pawl (3) enables moving a claw (4) to unlocked position. Further pushing the claw (4) in downward direction by the weight of the hood, and a dual pawl (5) engaging with the claw (4). The method further comprises restricting movement of the dual pawl (5), and enabling the claw (4) to move downward. Further pushing a secondary lever (2) to unlock position, wherein the secondary lever (2) is moved by the dual pawl (5).
[0013] In another implementation of the present disclosure a method for latching a hood using a latch assembly (100) is disclosed. The method comprises moving a striker in a direction toward a claw (4), wherein the striker is mounted on the hood. Further rotating a secondary lever (2), by engaging the striker with the secondary lever (2), wherein the secondary lever (2) further rotates a dual pawl (5) and a dual spring (12). Further engaging the striker with the claw (4) enabling a rotational motion to a pawl (3), and while the striker is moving in a downward direction. The method further comprises pushing the dual pawl (5) towards the claw (4) to engage with the claw (4), wherein the pushing is enabled by the dual pawl spring (12).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0014] The detailed description is described with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The same numbers are used throughout the drawings to refer like features and components.
[0015] Figure 1a, illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a latch assembly (100) in accordance with the present disclosure.
[0016] Figure 1b illustrates an exploded view of a latch assembly (100) in accordance with the present disclosure.
[0017] Figure 2 illustrates a method (200) of operation of the latch assembly (100) in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0018] Some embodiments of the present disclosure, illustrating all its features, will now be discussed in detail. It must also be noted that as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Although any systems and methods similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of embodiments of the present disclosure, the exemplary, system discloses a hood latch configured to increase pop-up height of a hood is now described.
[0019] In accordance with an exemplary embodiment a hood latch assembly for a vehicle is disclosed. The hood latch assembly may comprise a base plate, a claw, a pawl, a dual pawl, and a secondary lever. The claw may be assembled with the base plate using a claw rivet and a claw spring. Further the pawl is assembled on the base plate using a pawl spring and a pawl rivet. The dual pawl is assembled with the base plate using a dual pawl spring and dual pawl rivet. The secondary lever is assembled on the base plate using a secondary lever spring and a secondary lever rivet. During latching activity, a striker hits the secondary lever and gives rotational movement to both the secondary lever and the dual pawl. This rotational action takes the dual pawl away from the claw. After that, the striker hits the claw and gives rotational movement to the pawl. The claw and pawl have a locking profile which locks the striker.
[0020] During unlatching activity, the dual pawl is used to lock the claw in open condition. The dual pawl, claw has locking profile which engage in open condition which stop the striker to push claw down and enables the use of low stiffness claw spring and reduced unlatching sound.
Part List
- Frame plate (1)
- Secondary lever (2)
- Pawl (3)
- Claw (4)
- Dual Pawl (5)
- Latch Spring (6)
- Secondary Latch Spring (7)
- Pawl Spring (8)
- Secondary Rivet (9)
- Pawl rivet (10)
- Claw rivet (11)
- Dual Pawl spring (12)
- Dual Pawl Rivet (13)
- Lever (14)
[0021] Referring to Figure 1a, illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a latch assembly (100) in accordance with the present disclosure.
[0022] Further Figure 1b illustrates an exploded view of a latch assembly (100) in accordance with the present disclosure. The latch assembly (100) as disclosed may comprise a frame plate (1). Further a secondary lever (2) may be coupled with the frame plate (1). The secondary lever (2) may be positioned in its place on the frame plate (1) using a secondary rivet (9). The frame plate (1) may further comprise a pawl (3), mounted on the frame plate (1) on a side opposite to the side having secondary lever (2). The pawl (3) may be coupled to the frame plate (1) using a pawl rivet (10). The pawl rivet (10) may be configured to hold the pawl (3) in its position on the frame plate (1), and further enable movement along the rivet axis w.r.t to the frame plate (1). The rivet axis may be defined as an imaginary axis passing through the rivet such that axis is perpendicular to the diameter of circular face of the rivet.
[0023] Further the pawl (3) may be configured to engage or couple with a claw (4). The claw (4) may be further mounted on the frame plate (1) using a claw rivet (11). The claw (4) may be configured to move along the rivet axis when mechanically engaging with the pawl (3) during operation of the latch assembly (100). The latch assembly (100) in accordance with the exemplary embodiment may comprise a latch spring (6). The latch spring (6) may comprise a first end and second end. The first end of the latch spring (6) may be mounted on the frame plate (1) and the second end may be mounted on the claw (4). The latch spring (6) may be configured to provide a defined spring tension to the claw (4) during the operation of the latch assembly (100).
[0024] The claw (4) may be configured further to engage with a dual pawl (5). The dual pawl (5) may be mounted on the frame plate (1) and further coupled with the claw (4) using a dual pawl rivet (13). The dual pawl (5) may further comprise a dual pawl spring (12). The dual pawl spring (12) may be configured to engage with a lever (14) at one end and dual pawl (5) at the other end.
[0025] In accordance with the latch assembly (100), a secondary latch spring (7) may be provided to enable the movement of the secondary lever (2) under spring tension. The latch spring (7) may be mounted on the secondary lever (2) and the frame plate (1). Further a pawl spring (8) may be provided to spring tension to the pawl (3).
[0026] Referring to Figure 2 illustrates a method 200 of operation of the latch assembly (100) in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The method discloses during unlatching of the latch assembly, a striker, usually mounted on a hood of the vehicle, moves towards a secondary lever (2). Upon being engaged with the striker or being in contact with the striker, the secondary lever (2) rotates abouts a rivet axis. The rotational movement of the secondary lever (2) generates a rotational motion for the dual pawl spring (12) and the dual pawl (5).
[0027] Further the striker may be in contact with claw (4). The claw (4) may be configured to rotate and further rotate the pawl (3) engaged with the claw (4). Once the striker is in contact with the claw (4) the latch assembly moves into lock position.
[0028] To unlatch or open the latch assembly the pawl (3) may be pulled using cable to unlock the latch. The rotation of the pawl (3) unlocks the claw (4) by rotating the claw (4). Further in unlatch condition, hood weight push the claw in downward direction, and decrease pop-up. Further the dual pawl (5) may be configured to restrict the movement of claw (4) in downward direction. Once the claw (4) moves in downward direction the dual pawl (5) attached coupled to the secondary lever (2), disengages the secondary lever (2). Further upon disengaging the secondary lever (2), the striker moves into unlock position.
, Claims:We claim:

1. A latch assembly (100) comprising:
a frame plate (1);
a secondary lever (2) is coupled with the frame plate (1), wherein the secondary lever (2) is positioned in its place on the frame plate (1) using a secondary rivet (9);
a pawl (3), mounted on the frame plate (1) on a side opposite to the side having secondary lever (2);
a claw (4) coupled with the pawl (3), wherein the claw (4) is further mounted on the frame plate (1) using a claw rivet (11); and
a dual pawl (5) configured to be coupled with the claw (4).

2. The latch assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pawl (3) is coupled to the frame plate (1) using a pawl rivet (10) and the pawl rivet (10) is further configured to hold the pawl (3) in its position on the frame plate (1).

3. The latch assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the claw (4) is configured to move along the rivet axis while mechanically engaging with the pawl (3) during operation of the latch assembly (100).

4. The latch assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, further comprises a latch spring (6), wherein the latch spring (6) may comprise a first end and second end

5. The latch assembly (100) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first end of the latch spring (6) is mounted on the frame plate (1) and the second end is mounted on the claw (4).

6. The latch assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dual pawl (5) is mounted on the frame plate (1) and further coupled with the claw (4) using a dual pawl rivet (13).

7. The latch assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, further comprises a dual pawl spring (12), wherein the dual pawl spring (12) is further configured to engage with a lever (14) at one end and dual pawl (5) at the other end.

8. The latch assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, further comprises a secondary latch spring (7), wherein the secondary latch spring (7) is mounted on the secondary lever (2) and the frame plate (1).

9. A method for unlatching a hood using a latch assembly (100), comprises:
pulling a cable to rotate a pawl (3), wherein rotating the pawl (3) enables moving a claw (4) to unlocked position;
pushing the claw (4) in downward direction by the weight of the hood, and a dual pawl (5) engaging with the claw (4);
restricting movement of the dual pawl (5), and enabling the claw (4) to move downward; and
pushing a secondary lever (2) to unlock position, wherein the secondary lever (2) is moved by the dual pawl (5).

10. A method for latching a hood using a latch assembly (100), comprises:
moving a striker in a direction toward a claw (4), wherein the striker is mounted on the hood;
rotating a secondary lever (2), by engaging the striker with the secondary lever (2), wherein the secondary lever (2) further rotates a dual pawl (5) and a dual spring (12);
engaging the striker with the claw (4) enabling a rotational motion to a pawl (3), and while the striker is moving in a downward direction; and
pushing the dual pawl (5) towards the claw (4) to engage with the claw (4), wherein the pushing is enabled by the dual pawl spring (12).