Chrysler Corporation

Daimlerchrysler Corporation

Craig A Confer

Norman B Robbins

A mechanical latch for securing a moveable structure to a fixed is provided. The mechanical latch includes a movable catch pin and a proximity pin disposed within a housing cavity. Both pins are spring loaded to urge the pins towards the moveable structure, and both pins also include stops projecting therefrom to limit this movement. An insert member is attached to the housing between the pins and has an end which is engaged by the stops. In an engaged position, the catch pin interacts with a slot in the moveable structure. In the engaged position, the proximity pin and the moveable structure generate a gap between its stop and the insert which allows the other catch pin to be selectively drawn rearward from its latched condition. A peg carried by the catch pin is urged into the gap and against the insert which secures the catch pin in a latched condition. As the proximity pin and the moveable structure move progressively apart, the stop contacts the peg and forces it out of the gap, thereby allowing the catch pin to be moved into its static position ready for a subsequent operation to stow the moveable structure. The latched position of the catch pin being substantially identical to the static position of latch pin.

Mechanical latch

A remote mirror adjustment mechanism for manually adjusting the position of a vehicle side rear-view mirror wherein the adjustment mechanism has a base member having an annular edge for engaging and mounting the adjustment mechanism to a substantially flat interior panel of the vehicle and forming a recessed space in the panel. The base member includes a concave socket for rotatably receiving a ball socket there against. An elongated arm member is mounted to the ball socket and biased from an actuation position with the arm member extending outwardly from the recessed space and beyond the annular edge to a rest position retracted in the recessed space and below the annular edge. A plurality of cables interconnect the ball socket and the side rear-view mirror to provide angular adjustment of the mirror when the arm member rotates the ball socket in the actuation position. A housing defining a cavity encloses the ball socket against the concave socket of the base member. The arm member is biased to the rest position to prevent accidental miss-adjustment of the side rear-view mirror by the vehicle operator.

Growing community of inventors

White Lake, MI, United States of America

Craig A Confer