Latch having torsion spring leg and leaf spring leg

摘要

A latch assembly for latching and unlatching a pivotally movable closure panel of an automotive vehicle. A locking lever is pivotally supported by the vehicle for movement between a latched position in which an engaging portion thereof is latched to the striker on the closure panel to hold the latter in its closed position and an unlatched position in which the engaging portion releases the striker to allow the closure panel to be moved toward an open position. A detent lever is pivotally supported by the vehicle for movement between an engaged position in which a stepped portion thereof engages the locking lever to retain the latter in its latched position and a released position in which the first portion thereof releases the locking lever to allow the latter to be moved to its unlatched position. A spring carried by the vehicle has a first leg acting in torsion engaging the detent lever for biasing the detent lever towards the engaged position and a second leg acting as a leaf spring engaging the locking lever for biasing the locking lever towards the unlatched position. In operation, the locking lever is held in the latched position by the detent lever biased in the engaged position by the first leg of spring acting in torsion and when the detent lever is manually manipulable to the released position the second leg of the spring rotates the locking lever to the unlatched position releasing the striker.