HOOD LATCH

A latch assembly includes a striker plate and a latch plate. The striker plate is pivotal to a locked position securing the latch assembly to a striker bar and to an unlocked position wherein the striker bar can be inserted and removed therefrom. The latch plate is pivotal on a pivot pin to a latched position holding the striker plate in its locked position and to an unlatched position wherein the striker plate can be pivoted into and out of its locked position. A latch pin projects from the latch plate. A lever is pivotally mounted on the pivot pin. The lever is engagable with the latch pin to move the latch member from the latched position to the unlatched position. The lever is longer than a length of the latch plate. A spring is coupled to the lever and biased to urge the lever away from the latch pin. A link coupled to the lever is operable to move the lever towards the latch pin. The latch plate is pivotal independently of the lever when the striker plate is pivoting to its locked position.