Lock for removable roof closure latch mechanism

摘要

A latch mechanism for securing a removable closure panel in a vehicle body roof opening includes first and second keepers mounted on the vehicle body at the opposite sides of the roof opening. First and second operating levers are pivotally mounted on the closure panel for movement about spaced axes and are respectively pivotally connected with first and second latch bolts having interengaging gear teeth which rotate the operating levers through 90 DEG of rotation oppositely of each other between latching positions wherein the operating levers are positioned generally colinear with each other and the latch bolts to extend the latch bolts into engagement with the keepers and unlatching positions wherein the operating levers are located generally parallel to one another and normal to the latched bolts. A lock lever is pivotally mounted on the closure panel and is spring biased to a locking position wherein a hook portion of the lock lever captures the latch bolt in the latched position colinear with the operating lever. An occupant accessible push button is connected with the lock lever to pivot the lock lever against the bias of the spring and release the latch bolt to permit latch bolt retraction. The lock lever has a cam surface engageable by the latch bolt to pivot the lock lever against the spring bias upon movement of the latch bolt from the retracted position to the extended position to permit entry and capture of the lock bolt by the lock lever.