Overslam bumper for vehicle door latch

Abstract

A closure panel latch assembly can include an overslam bumper mechanism comprising a biasing element as a spring formed from a metallic material positioned relative to a slot of the latch assembly. The biasing element resists entry of a striker into the slot beyond a selected position in order to inhibit contact of the striker with a bottom end of the slot. Also provided is a closure panel latch assembly configured with the biasing element as a resilient element positioned relative to the slot of the latch assembly; The biasing element is coupled to the striker engagement member, such that the striker engagement member is positioned to engage the striker and resist travel of the striker towards the bottom end, wherein the biasing element controls the resistance to movement of the striker engagement member by the striker.

1 . A closure panel latch assembly including an overslam bumper mechanism, comprising:
 a biasing element as a spring formed from a metallic material positioned relative to a slot of the latch assembly such that the biasing element resists entry of a striker into the slot beyond a selected position in order to inhibit contact of the striker with a bottom end of the slot.   
     
     
         2 . The closure panel latch assembly as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising a striker engagement member coupled to the biasing element, the striker engagement member positioned to engage the striker and resist travel of the striker towards the bottom end, wherein the biasing element controls the resistance to movement of the striker engagement member by the striker. 
     
     
         3 . The closure panel latch assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the biasing element is positioned adjacent to the bottom end of the slot. 
     
     
         4 . The closure panel latch assembly of  claim 2  further comprising latch components of a ratchet and a pawl, such that the striker engagement member is biased towards the striker in a first direction and the ratchet is biased by the pawl towards the striker in a second direction opposite to the first direction. 
     
     
         5 . The closure panel latch assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the striker engagement member and the ratchet are mounted on the same pivot. 
     
     
         6 . The closure panel latch assembly of  claim 4 , wherein one end of the biasing element is coupled to a mounting plate of the latch assembly and another end of the biasing element is coupled to the striker engagement member. 
     
     
         7 . The closure panel latch assembly of  claim 4 , wherein one end of the biasing element is coupled to the pawl of the latch assembly and another end of the biasing element is coupled to the striker engagement member, such that the biasing element provides both bias for the striker engagement member towards the striker and bias for the pawl towards the ratchet thereby forcing the ratchet against the striker. 
     
     
         8 . The closure panel latch assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the one end is supported and slidably received in a tab of the pawl and the other end is supported and slidably received in a tab of the striker engagement member. 
     
     
         9 . The closure panel latch assembly of  claim 2  further comprising a mounting plate with a detent for cooperating with a shoulder stop of the striker engagement member, wherein engagement of the detent with the shoulder stop inhibits travel of the striker engagement member away from the bottom end of the slot. 
     
     
         10 . The closure panel latch assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the latch assembly and striker are associated with a closure panel of a vehicle. 
     
     
         11 . The closure panel latch assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the closure panel is a hood. 
     
     
         12 . The closure panel latch assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the closure panel is a door. 
     
     
         13 . The closure panel latch assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the closure panel is a seatback. 
     
     
         14 . The closure panel latch assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a hook portion of the striker engagement member configured for cradling the striker when received by a ratchet of the latch assembly. 
     
     
         15 . A closure panel latch assembly comprising:
 a biasing element as a resilient element positioned relative to a slot of the latch assembly;   a striker engagement member coupled to the biasing element, the striker engagement member positioned to engage the striker and resist travel of the striker towards the bottom end, wherein the biasing element controls the resistance to movement of the striker engagement member by the striker.   
     
     
         16 . The closure panel latch assembly of  claim 15  further comprising a ratchet biased in an opposing direction to that of the striker engagement member, such that both the ratchet and the striker engagement member are biased towards the striker in the opposing directions when the latch assembly is in a closed position. 
     
     
         17 . The closure panel latch assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the biasing element is a spring formed of metallic material. 
     
     
         18 . The closure panel latch assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the biasing element is formed as a resistive element provided by polymeric material. 
     
     
         19 . The closure panel latch assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the biasing element provides an overslam mechanism for resisting entry of the striker into the slot beyond a selected position in order to inhibit contact of the striker with a bottom end of the slot. 
     
     
         20 . The closure panel latch assembly of  claim 15  further comprising latch components of a ratchet and a pawl, such that the striker engagement member is biased towards the striker in a first direction and the ratchet is biased by the pawl towards the striker in a second direction opposite to the first direction. 
     
     
         21 . The closure panel latch assembly of  claim 20 , wherein one end of the biasing element is coupled to the pawl and another end of the biasing element is coupled to the striker engagement member, such that the biasing element provides both bias for the striker engagement member towards the striker and bias for the pawl towards the ratchet thereby forcing the ratchet against the striker.