An automobile (10) comprising wheels (12) and a body (14) has front lights (16), a front trunk lid (18) above a front trunk (20) for storing luggage, a front windscreen (22), a front occupant steering position (24), a roof (26), a rear windscreen (28), a rear hood (30) above an internal combustion, hybrid or electrical or other drive system (32) and rear lights (34), a latching system (36) being provided in or near the front trunk (20) and has a striker (38) mounted to the front trunk lid (18) and a catch system (40) mounted to the body (14) on mounting brackets (42), the latching system having a striker (50) movable relative to first and second catches (54, 56) which are adapted to cooperate with the striker to limit relative movement therebetween, a single motor (70) being provided to transmit drive through the latching system to drive both of the catches to positions in which movement of the striker is restricted by the catches.

An automobile (10) comprising wheels (12) and a body (14) has front lights (16), a front trunk lid (18) above a front trunk (20) for storing luggage, a front windscreen (22), a front occupant steering position (24), a roof (26), a rear windscreen (28), a rear hood (30) above an internal combustion, hybrid or electrical or other drive system (32) and rear lights (34), a latching system (36) being provided in or near the front trunk (20) and has a striker (38) mounted to the front trunk lid (18) and a catch system (40) mounted to the body (14) on mounting brackets (42), the latching system having a striker (50) movable relative to first and second catches (54, 56) which are adapted to cooperate with the striker to limit relative movement therebetween, a single motor (70) being provided to transmit drive through the latching system to drive both of the catches to positions in which movement of the striker is restricted by the catches.

Disclosed embodiments include apparatuses, vehicles, and methods for managing operation of a latch securing a vehicle compartment hatch. In an illustrative embodiment, an apparatus includes a primary latch that defines a slot configured to receive a striker extending from the hatch and is rotatable between a locked position where the slot is oriented to hold the striker to retain the hatch in a closed position and an unlocked position in which the slot is oriented to enable the striker to be withdrawn from the slot to permit opening of the hatch; and a secondary latch mechanism configured to be moved between: a first configuration configured to maintain the primary latch in the closed position; a second configuration configured to enable the striker to move within the slot to permit partial opening of the hatch; and a third configuration configured to enable the primary latch to rotate to the unlocked position.

Disclosed embodiments include apparatuses, vehicles, and methods for managing operation of a latch securing a vehicle compartment hatch. In an illustrative embodiment, an apparatus includes a primary latch that defines a slot configured to receive a striker extending from the hatch and is rotatable between a locked position where the slot is oriented to hold the striker to retain the hatch in a closed position and an unlocked position in which the slot is oriented to enable the striker to be withdrawn from the slot to permit opening of the hatch; and a secondary latch mechanism configured to be moved between: a first configuration configured to maintain the primary latch in the closed position; a second configuration configured to enable the striker to move within the slot to permit partial opening of the hatch; and a third configuration configured to enable the primary latch to rotate to the unlocked position.

An emergency opening structure for a frunk latch includes a base, a pawl disposed on the base, the pawl being configured to be rotatable, a first cable to which tension is applied by operation of an in-vehicle handle, a release lever configured to apply tension of the first cable to the pawl, a blade lever located at the release lever, the blade lever being configured to cause the pawl and the release lever to be operated together when the release lever is rotated by the first cable, a second cable to which tension is applied by operation of an in-frunk handle, an emergency lever having one end connected to the second cable and an opposite end configured to be rotatable and to interlock with the pawl, and a catch configured to be operated together with the pawl to unlock a striker.

An emergency opening structure for a frunk latch includes a base, a pawl disposed on the base, the pawl being configured to be rotatable, a first cable to which tension is applied by operation of an in-vehicle handle, a release lever configured to apply tension of the first cable to the pawl, a blade lever located at the release lever, the blade lever being configured to cause the pawl and the release lever to be operated together when the release lever is rotated by the first cable, a second cable to which tension is applied by operation of an in-frunk handle, an emergency lever having one end connected to the second cable and an opposite end configured to be rotatable and to interlock with the pawl, and a catch configured to be operated together with the pawl to unlock a striker.

An automobile comprising wheels and a body has front lights, a front trunk lid above a front trunk for storing luggage, a front windscreen, a front occupant steering position, a roof, a rear windscreen, a rear hood above an internal combustion, hybrid or electrical or other drive system and rear lights, a latching system being provided in or near the front trunk and has a striker mounted to the front trunk lid and a catch system mounted to the body on mounting brackets, the latching system having a striker movable relative to first and second catches which are adapted to cooperate with the striker to limit relative movement therebetween, a single motor being provided to transmit drive through the latching system to drive both of the catches to positions in which movement of the striker is restricted by the catches.

An automobile comprising wheels and a body has front lights, a front trunk lid above a front trunk for storing luggage, a front windscreen, a front occupant steering position, a roof, a rear windscreen, a rear hood above an internal combustion, hybrid or electrical or other drive system and rear lights, a latching system being provided in or near the front trunk and has a striker mounted to the front trunk lid and a catch system mounted to the body on mounting brackets, the latching system having a striker movable relative to first and second catches which are adapted to cooperate with the striker to limit relative movement therebetween, a single motor being provided to transmit drive through the latching system to drive both of the catches to positions in which movement of the striker is restricted by the catches.

A frunk latch emergency opening structure includes: a base configured to be fixed to a vehicle body; a pawl provided on the base so as to be rotatable; a first cable connected to one end of the pawl and configured such that tension is applied to the first cable by operating a vehicle inside handle; an emergency lever configured to be rotatable in an interlocking manner with the pawl at one end of the emergency lever; a second cable connected to another end of the emergency lever and configured such that tension is applied to the second cable by operating a frunk inside handle; and a safety hook configured to be coupled to the base so as to be rotatable and to move due to operation of a front outside lever.

A frunk latch emergency opening structure includes: a base configured to be fixed to a vehicle body; a pawl provided on the base so as to be rotatable; a first cable connected to one end of the pawl and configured such that tension is applied to the first cable by operating a vehicle inside handle; an emergency lever configured to be rotatable in an interlocking manner with the pawl at one end of the emergency lever; a second cable connected to another end of the emergency lever and configured such that tension is applied to the second cable by operating a frunk inside handle; and a safety hook configured to be coupled to the base so as to be rotatable and to move due to operation of a front outside lever.