Hood Patents (Class 296/193.11)
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Publication number: 20130106142Abstract: A vehicle hood structure capable of improving impact absorption ability prior to a secondary impact when an impacting body impacts the hood. Front end portions of beads of a wave shaped section are arranged in a line in hood plan view. A front wall section is provided further to the hood front side than the wave shaped section and is formed inclined towards the hood bottom side on progression towards the hood front and running substantially along the vehicle width direction. The wave shaped section and the front wall section are connected together by a ledge section formed running substantially along the hood width direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 8, 2010Publication date: May 2, 2013Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Seiho Yonezawa, Koki Ikeda, Shinya Atsumi, Nao Nakagawa
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Patent number: 8430195Abstract: A tractor comprising a hood having a radiator grille, at least one front light assembly and a support designed to keep the front light assembly detached from the grille.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2009Date of Patent: April 30, 2013Inventors: Peter Theo Ernest Jansen, Guido Bianco
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Patent number: 8418790Abstract: An air flow system is disclosed. The system is for use with a vehicle including an internal combustion engine, a heat exchanger, a cover, and a compartment baffle separating an engine compartment from a cooling compartment. The system includes a side air intake including a side air intake baffle. The side air intake baffle configured to inhibit air heated by the engine from mixing with ambient air used with the heat exchanger. In another embodiment, the system includes a side air duct. The side air duct includes a side air duct, wherein the side air duct tubing is at least partially located within the engine compartment. The side air duct tubing is configured to inhibit air heated by the engine from mixing with ambient air used with the heat exchanger.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2011Date of Patent: April 16, 2013Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: Bradley Dauderman, Erich Vierkant
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Patent number: 8419114Abstract: In accordance with exemplary embodiments, a hood latch assembly is provided for a vehicle. The hood latch assembly is configured to be positioned within a forward compartment of a vehicle and to releasably retain a hood of the vehicle in a closed position with a first hood latch and in a partly open position with a second hood latch. A hood latch release mechanism is configured to be positioned within a passenger compartment of the vehicle and be coupled to the hood latch assembly for releasing the first hood latch upon a first operation of the hood latch release mechanism and releasing the second hood latch upon a second operation of the hood latch release mechanism. This provides a dual-action release mechanism that can be operated entirely from within the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2011Date of Patent: April 16, 2013Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Joseph P. Fannon, Edward J. Zentera, Jr.
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Publication number: 20130088046Abstract: In the case of a motor vehicle, in particular a passenger motorcar, with a body in which at least one opening, such as a door opening, a trunk opening or the like is provided, which can be closed off by a pivotably articulated covering element, such as a door, a tail gate, a trunk lid or the like, which has an outer skin and a support structure and at least one function element arranged in between, which is connected to the outer skin, the function element is provided to stiffening structures and directly connected to the support structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 11, 2012Publication date: April 11, 2013Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventor: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
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Publication number: 20130076076Abstract: A seal assembly for use with the front trunk, motor or engine compartment of an automobile is provided, the seal assembly including a sealing flange, a sealing member attached to an end portion of the sealing flange, and a hood assembly that includes an upper panel and an inner surface comprised of a sealing surface. The sealing surface of the hood assembly is configured to form a seal with the sealing member when the hood assembly is in a closed position. The sealing surface of the hood assembly is spaced apart from the end portion of the sealing flange, thereby allowing the sealing surface to pass by the end portion of the sealing flange when a downward force, such as that experienced during a head-on collision with a pedestrian, is applied to the hood causing the hood assembly to be downwardly displaced past the closed position.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 18, 2012Publication date: March 28, 2013Applicant: TESLA MOTORS, INC.Inventors: Matthew R. Partsch, Benjamin Roger Zabik
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Publication number: 20130076074Abstract: A vehicle front structure includes a front grille, and a hood edge, disposed above the front grille, configured to receive a front end edge of an engine hood of a vehicle, having a front end edge extending part extending downward from a front end edge thereof. The front grille includes, at an upper end, a grille supporting part, extending between an extending line (plane) of the hood edge and the front end edge extending part. The front end edge extending part is pinched between the grille supporting part and a supporting member provided behind the front grille.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2012Publication date: March 28, 2013Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventor: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
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Patent number: 8403405Abstract: A hood lock reinforcement is configured as a result of a thick sheet and a thin sheet whose sheet thicknesses are mutually different being joined, and in this hood lock reinforcement, a bottom portion including a site to which a striker is fixed is configured by the thick sheet and is disposed on a bottom wall portion of a hood inner panel. Further, an extension portion disposed extending from a hood front-rear direction rear end of the bottom portion of the hood lock reinforcement toward a hood outer panel side has a site on the hood outer panel side whose sheet thickness is set thin as compared to the sheet thickness of the bottom portion of the hood lock reinforcement as a result of that site being configured by the thin sheet.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2009Date of Patent: March 26, 2013Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Koki Ikeda, Yasuhiko Katsumata, Koshi Okada
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Publication number: 20130049403Abstract: In accordance with exemplary embodiments, a hood latch assembly is provided for a vehicle. The hood latch assembly is configured to be positioned within a forward compartment of a vehicle and to releasably retain a hood of the vehicle in a closed position with a first hood latch and in a partly open position with a second hood latch. A hood latch release mechanism is configured to be positioned within a passenger compartment of the vehicle and be coupled to the hood latch assembly for releasing the first hood latch upon a first operation of the hood latch release mechanism and releasing the second hood latch upon a second operation of the hood latch release mechanism. This provides a dual-action release mechanism that can be operated entirely from within the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2011Publication date: February 28, 2013Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: JOSEPH P. FANNON, EDWARD J. ZENTERA, JR.
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Patent number: 8356857Abstract: An energy absorbing system includes a hood with inner and outer panels defining a rear edge cavity, and a pair of polymeric energy absorbers in the cavity. The hood and energy absorber are tuned to minimize an HIC value when a pedestrian's head contacts the hood during an impact to absorb energy prior to the hood bottoming out on the plenum of the vehicle. The energy absorber is preferably made of a polymeric material capable of withstanding high temperatures associated with going through a paint over or e-coat process, such as high temperature nylon. The illustrated energy absorber has a hat-shaped cross section and includes criss-crossing flanges tuned to provide an optimal force-deflection curve during impact.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2011Date of Patent: January 22, 2013Assignee: Shape Corp.Inventors: Daniel Ralston, Vidya Revankar
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Patent number: 8336666Abstract: A hinge for a hood of a motor vehicle is disclosed. The hinge is configured to bend towards a frame of the motor vehicle during a collision. The hinge includes upwards turned flanges to help prevent upwards buckling.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2008Date of Patent: December 25, 2012Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventor: Dylan Neil Thomas
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Publication number: 20120306237Abstract: A system for releasing and lifting an automobile hood includes a sensor located proximate a front location of an automobile that detects impact with an object. Also included is a hood having a striker pin operably connected to the hood for engaging a rotatable latch, wherein such engagement places the hood in the secured position. Further included is a releasing mechanism operably connected to one of the striker and the latch for lifting a front region of the hood in response to a signal from the sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 2, 2011Publication date: December 6, 2012Inventors: Iskander Farooq, Mohammed Omar Faruque, Srinivasan Sundararajan
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Publication number: 20120292122Abstract: A system for controlling a flow rate of an airstream through a compartment includes a panel configured to cover the compartment. The system also includes a first opening defined by the compartment and configured to permit the airstream to enter the covered compartment from the ambient when the compartment is covered by the panel. The system also includes a second opening defined by the panel and configured to permit at least a portion of the airstream to exit the covered compartment to the ambient. The system additionally includes a selectable position shutter assembly configured to control the size of the second opening and adjust a flow rate of the airstream through the covered compartment. A vehicle employing the shutter assembly to vary a flow rate of at least a portion of an airstream through the vehicle's under-hood area is also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 17, 2011Publication date: November 22, 2012Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventor: David J. Verbrugge
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Publication number: 20120280537Abstract: A window for an automobile hood, made of a transparent material, such as a polycarbonate sheet, sized and shaped to be a loose fit to an automobile hood cut-out. The window element may be held in place on the automobile by ring shaped, metallic trim elements. The trim elements may have outer edges that are an enlarged copy of the periphery the cut-out in the hood of the automobile and inner edges that are a reduced copy of the periphery the window element. In this way, the window element may be held in the cutout in the automobile hood, sandwiched between the upper and lower trim elements. By applying a suitable adhesive between the trim elements and the automobile hood, the trim and window elements may be fixed in place.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 7, 2012Publication date: November 8, 2012Inventor: Kevin Quirk
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Patent number: 8303029Abstract: A utility vehicle includes a vehicle body frame, a cabin frame coupled to an upper portion of the vehicle body frame, a cover coupled to the vehicle body frame so as to cover an instrument panel in front of a driver seat, and a hood. The hood is configured to cover a space between a pair of right and left front wheels from above in front of the cover and is pivotable around a front end portion thereof so as to open and close. A rear end portion of the hood is fitted to a front end portion of the cover and a rear end of the hood is located in front of a front end of the cabin frame, in a state where the hood is in a closed position.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2009Date of Patent: November 6, 2012Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Fumio Mizuta
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Patent number: 8276975Abstract: An FRP panel for an automobile, comprising a panel element to which a difference in rigidity and/or a difference in strength is provided between a first FRP layer on a first surface side and a second FRP layer on a second surface side on the opposite side of the first surface. The FRP panel for the automobile having a crushable structure suitable for absorbing impact can be realized, and the impact on a pedestrian in collision can be suppressed by properly absorbing the impact to protect the pedestrian.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2005Date of Patent: October 2, 2012Assignee: Toray Industries, Inc.Inventors: Yukitane Kimoto, Hiroshi Kiyama, Shigeru Kawashima, Yuugo Enomoto
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Publication number: 20120235446Abstract: A position control system including an actuator having a first end, an axis and including a driving device for moving the first end of the actuator in opposed directions, the first end of the actuator configured to move a hood between an open position and a closed position. A surface is associated with the hood that is configured to interact with the first end of the actuator in response to the first end of the actuator contacting and moving the hood between the open position and the closed position. The first end of the actuator moves along the axis and remains substantially coincident with the first axis while the first end moves the hood between the open position and the closed position.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2011Publication date: September 20, 2012Inventors: Mark Allan RENARD, Eric G. Olson, Logan C. Miller
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Publication number: 20120217761Abstract: A front body structure for a vehicle includes a striker bracket provided in a hood frame, and a frame reinforcing unit provided in front of the striker bracket to reinforce the hood frame. In addition to, or alternatively, a reinforcement is arranged between the frame and a at least a portion of the hood skin.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 23, 2012Publication date: August 30, 2012Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Jun Nakamura, Naoki Shishida
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Publication number: 20120200118Abstract: Disclosed is a vehicle body structure provided with an attachment structure of a front fender and a side cowl top. The front fender (15) is provided with a first attachment bearing surface (123) that is formed at the end of a terminal flange (122) formed on the side of the side cowl top, and that is formed along the direction that the terminal flange (122) extends; and a second attachment bearing surface (124) formed so as to be perpendicular to the direction that the terminal flange (122) extends. The side cowl top (28) is provided with a plurality of hooking sections (143-145) that engage the terminal flange (122); a first interlocking section (147) that engages the first attachment bearing surface (123); and a second interlocking section (148) that engages the second attachment bearing surface (124).Type: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2010Publication date: August 9, 2012Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Hideaki Yamagishi, Yosuke Akizuki
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Patent number: 8230960Abstract: A hood structure of a work vehicle comprise, a hood supported to open and close relative to a vehicle body, the hood having a rear end portion bent toward an interior space of the hood to form a bent edge portion, an open-position retainer bracket attached to the rear end portion of the hood, and an open-position retainer member attached to the open-position retainer bracket to maintain the hood in an open position. The open-position retainer bracket extends cantileverwise forwardly of the hood from an attaching portion of the open-position retainer bracket that is attached to the rear end portion of the hood with a gap being defined between the open-position retainer bracket and a top surface of the hood. The open-position retainer member is attached to an extending end of the open-position retainer bracket.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2009Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Assignee: Kubota CorporationInventor: Shigeo Shoen
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Patent number: 8225894Abstract: A utility vehicle includes a cover provided to cover an instrument panel in front of a driver seat, a hood which is configured to cover a space between a pair of right and left front wheels from above in front of the cover and is pivotable around a front end portion thereof so as to open and close, a stopper mechanism configured to retain the hood in a closed position, and a positioning mechanism configured to position the hood in the closed position with respect to the cover such that a rear end portion of the hood is fitted to a front end portion of the cover.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2009Date of Patent: July 24, 2012Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Fumio Mizuta
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Patent number: 8220863Abstract: A body for a motor vehicle includes, but is not limited to a supporting structure, a hood, which is hinged to the supporting structure and includes, but is not limited to a framework and an outer skin, and at least one compressible support disposed between the framework of the hood and the supporting structure. A contact surface opposite the support on the hood side is connected to the outer skin by a stiffening element extending through a cavity of the framework.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2010Date of Patent: July 17, 2012Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Joachim Schaefer, Uwe Schmitz, Bernd Dreyer
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Publication number: 20120139296Abstract: The present disclosure provides a hood hold down device for securing a vehicle hood to a cab. The hood hold down device includes a cab mount assembly securable to a portion of the cab and a hood mount assembly securable to a portion of the hood. The hood hold down device further includes a linkage assembly extending from the cab mount assembly and a handle moveably coupled to the linkage assembly, wherein the handle is releasably securable to the hood mount assembly to secure the hood to the cab.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2010Publication date: June 7, 2012Applicant: PACCAR IncInventors: Jonathan F. Wilkens, Michael J. Fanning, Charles Baer
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Patent number: 8191960Abstract: A vehicle body part (60) has a perforated grid portion (61) secured in an aperture in a non-perforated portion (601,602), an edge portion of the grid portion defining part of the edge of the body part. A support member (8) extends along the edge portion of the grid portion (60) and supported from the non-perforated portion (601,602), and a seal (9) for contact with an adjacent body part extends around at least said part of the edge of the body part. The seal has a cross-section which includes a first lobe (9c) which covers the edge portion of the grid (61) to protect a vehicle operator from injury by this edge portion and improving styling. The seal cross-section also has a second lobe (9d) which extends between the grid (61) and the support member (8) to prevent vibration of the grid and damage of the paint finish of these components. The seal cross-section also includes a U-shaped channel portion (9a) which encloses the edge of the support member (8).Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2010Date of Patent: June 5, 2012Assignee: AGCO GmbHInventor: Andreas Schmitz
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Publication number: 20120126581Abstract: A vehicle hood lining presenting at least one depression that is preferably elongate along an edge of the lining, the depression presenting, at a distance from its ends, at least one singularity that is not reproduced both identically and continuously all along the length of the depression.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 26, 2009Publication date: May 24, 2012Applicant: COMPAGNIE PLASTIC OMNIUMInventors: Laurent Rocheblave, Laurent Martin, Hugues Cheron
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Patent number: 8167071Abstract: An engine hood for a motor vehicle has an outer planking and an inner part. Between the outer planking and the inner part, a supporting part is arranged, which reinforces the outer planking. In order to reduce the manufacturing costs for an engine hood while maintaining a favorable delay pattern in the event of a head impact, the supporting part has supporting elements which, in the event of an essentially vertical admission of force, permit a displacement of the outer planking relative to the inner part until the supporting part rests with its predominant surface against the inner part.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2008Date of Patent: May 1, 2012Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche AktiengesellschaftInventors: Peter Thomas, Klaus-Dieter Wolf
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Patent number: 8162387Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of a body structure of a vehicle incorporating a body panel support bracket. In one embodiment, a body structure for a vehicle comprises a first body panel having a cantilevered portion and a second body panel adjacent the first body panel. A panel hinge has a hinge arm attached to the second body panel and a base portion. The cantilevered portion of the first body panel extends over a portion of the panel hinge. A body panel support bracket is attached to the base portion of the panel hinge and comprises a body panel support portion configured to support the cantilevered portion of the first body panel.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2010Date of Patent: April 24, 2012Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.Inventors: Scott Nydam, Tom Domlovil, Chris Martin, Mike Speer
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Patent number: 8162093Abstract: A body for a motor vehicle comprises a frame, a bonnet connected on a first side to the frame by a hinge and on a second side by a bonnet lock, and at least one actuating element which can be extended in the event of an accident in order to raise the bonnet. The actuating element comprises a movable part acting on the first side of the bonnet. A catch of the bonnet lock is coupled to the movable part in order to release the bonnet lock (when said actuating element is extended.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2006Date of Patent: April 24, 2012Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Volker Scheuch, Werner Schmidt, Joachim Schäfer, Martin Zilg
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Patent number: 8146701Abstract: A component, especially a part of an intake system or an air filter, for installation under the hood of a motor vehicle has a housing with a first housing part and a second housing part that are connected to one another. The first housing part is of a two-part configuration and has a support frame and a receiving part. The support frame is supported on the second housing part. The receiving part and the support frame are secured relative to one another by a releasable connection. The releasable connection is designed such that, when an external force acts on the receiving part, the releasable connection is released and the receiving part and the support frame slide telescopingly into one another.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2008Date of Patent: April 3, 2012Assignee: Mann + Hummel GmbHInventor: Helmut Spannbauer
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Patent number: 8128159Abstract: The present disclosure provides a truck hood including a metal hood skin including at least an upper portion and a sidewall portion; and a frame supporting at least a portion of the metal hood skin including polymer and aluminum reinforcements. The polymer reinforcements include a front hood stiffener member positioned at a front end portion of the metal hood skin, a rear hood stiffener member positioned at a rear end portion of the metal hood skin and hood corner longitudinal members connecting the front hood stiffener member to the rear hood stiffener member. The aluminum reinforcements include front and rear frame extruded members positioned along the sidewalls of the metal hood skin and an arch extruded reinforcement positioned at the wheel arch. In one aspect of the disclosure, the truck hood further includes a pair of fenders formed of a metal skin that may be reinforced by a polymer fender mat.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2010Date of Patent: March 6, 2012Assignee: Alcoa Inc.Inventors: Dinesh C. Seksaria, Russell Long
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Patent number: 8118352Abstract: A motor vehicle hood lining for stiffening the hood in the vicinity of its periphery and co-operating therewith to form a hollow body over at least a fraction of its periphery, the lining being generally of channel section with a bottom and side walls. Said bottom or at least one of said side walls presents, at least locally, a zone of weakness that is dimensioned in such a manner that in the event of the hood impacting the head of a pedestrian, once the bottom of the hollow body has come to bear against a high hard point placed in the engine compartment, the zone of weakness breaks. The invention also relates to a combination of such a lining with various hard points in an engine compartment.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 2007Date of Patent: February 21, 2012Assignee: Compagnie Plastic OmniumInventors: Laurent Rocheblave, Axel Candeau, Laurent Martin
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Patent number: 8096611Abstract: A vehicle front-part structure comprises a radiator support upper (5) which extends in a vehicle width direction in a vehicle front, a cowl (9) which is coupled to an apron upper member (2) provided on a side in the vehicle width direction and extending in a vehicle lengthwise direction, and which is located to rearward of the vehicle (1) further than the radiator support upper, and a hood framework (21) which constitutes a part of the hood inner panel (17). The hood framework extends in the vehicle lengthwise direction, the hood framework is disposed between the radiator support upper and the cowl such that at least a part of a front end-face (21a) faces the radiator support upper and at least a part of a rear end-face (21b) faces the cowl.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2006Date of Patent: January 17, 2012Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiroto Maruyama, Kazuhiro Seki
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Patent number: 8096379Abstract: The disclosure includes a force assist arrangement for a slidable coupling, a slidable coupling including the force assist arrangement, and a machine including respectively slidable portions, such as, the slidable coupling, and the force assist arrangement. The force assist arrangement includes at least first and second links pivotably coupled together at one end and to the respectively slidable portions at the other ends, and a force assist device pivotably coupled to the links along their respective lengths.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2008Date of Patent: January 17, 2012Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.Inventors: John L. Marsolek, Ryan J. Nelson, Mike P. Siers
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Patent number: 8087720Abstract: A closure panel assembly includes an inner and an outer panel, the inner panel having a crimped edge surface feature and a textured surface feature such as a set of radial projections or asperities. Adhesive material is applied between the panels, and the outer panel is hemmed and adhesively bonded to the inner panel. The surface features affix the panels together without induction or intermediate heat curing of the adhesive material. The outer panel has a hemmed edge enclosing the crimped surface feature, with the adhesive material positioned therebetween to form a seal of a relatively low shrinkage rate. A method of forming the closure panel assembly includes forming a first and second surface feature on the inner panel, such as by using swaging and coining, respectively, applying adhesive material therebetween, and hemming the panels to form a hem seam.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2008Date of Patent: January 3, 2012Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventor: Pei-Chung Wang
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Patent number: 8075048Abstract: A bonnet for an automobile, the bonnet having an outer member made from fiber reinforced plastic (FRP) and an inner member made from FRP, joined to the back-surface side of the outer, wherein the inner is separated into two parts in the forward and backward direction of a vehicle body. The bonnet can satisfy impact absorbing performance and predetermined required performance for deformation in a collision accident etc., and can improve easiness of production.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2005Date of Patent: December 13, 2011Assignee: Toray Industries, Inc.Inventors: Yukitane Kimoto, Hiroshi Kiyama
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Publication number: 20110290575Abstract: A gas spring with a center longitudinal axis including a cylinder includes a piston in the cylinder that divides the cylinder into a first cylinder chamber and a second cylinder chamber. A piston rod is arranged at the piston guided out of the cylinder at a second end opposite the first end. A connection element with a socket housing is arranged at each of the first end and the free end of the piston rod for receiving a ball head. At least one of the two socket housings comprises a ball socket with a longitudinal extension and a transverse dimension, the longitudinal extension is greater than the transverse dimension. A catch element having a spring tongue is arranged at the first end for insertion together with the catch element into a cover tube that locks into a recess associated with it in the cover tube.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 26, 2011Publication date: December 1, 2011Applicant: Stabilus GmbHInventors: Nadja Kaiser, Axel Knopp, Gerhard Stein, Jörg Wolf
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Patent number: 8052198Abstract: The present invention provides a thin vehicle closure panel design that substantially reduces a thickness (panel gauge plus the perpendicular distance or depth between the panels) of a vehicle hood (5) and the impact effect on the head of a pedestrian struck by a motor vehicle. In one embodiment, the vehicle hood (5) includes a hood shell (15) including an outer panel (25) and an inner panel (20); a unitary foam core (100) positioned between and bonded to the outer (25) and/or the inner panel (20) of the hood shell (15); and at least one recess (10) that corresponds to an underhood component (42). In another aspect of the invention, a vehicle hood (5) is provided in which a latch attachment member (60) and/or hinge members (70) are attached to inner surface (50) of the inner panel (20) of the hood shell (15).Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2008Date of Patent: November 8, 2011Assignee: Alcoa Inc.Inventors: Dinesh C. Seksaria, John W. Cobes, Jr., Sherri F. McCleary, Stephen Paul Sunday
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Patent number: 8028782Abstract: A hood for a vehicle includes: a hood outer constituting a vehicle outer surface of the hood covering an engine room; a hood inner disposed on a rear face of the hood outer; an insulator for suppressing transmission of sound generated in the engine room to the outside; and an intercooler duct for guiding outer air flowing in the engine room to an intercooler. The insulator includes a through hole at least in a part of an overlap part overlapping the intercooler duct.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2007Date of Patent: October 4, 2011Assignee: Toyota Shatai Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Naoki Goda, Keiichi Uchino
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Publication number: 20110226359Abstract: A hollow container may have a light source entirely positioned in a cavity defined by a bottom exterior surface of the container. A rigid base of the light source may be flush with the bottom exterior surface around the cavity. The cavity may be concave inward toward a center of the hollow container. A fluid level sensor switch may protrude through a bottom wall of the hollow container to sense a fluid level in the hollow container. A circuit connected to the fluid level sensor switch and the light source may be wired to cause the light source to blink when the fluid level sensor switch detects a predetermined fluid level within the hollow container and a hood switch detects an open vehicle hood. A hole in a top exterior surface may have a cap and facilitate addition or removal of a liquid to the hollow container.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 18, 2010Publication date: September 22, 2011Applicant: DENSO INTERNATIONAL AMERICA, INC.Inventor: Dwayne Taylor
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Patent number: 8016347Abstract: In a front structure of a vehicle hood, a dent preventive reinforcement is connected to an outer panel and an inner panel. The dent preventive reinforcement is formed as a plate-shaped member that is disposed in the vehicle widthwise direction between the panels while vertically extending with respect to both of the panels. Respectively formed in vertical wall portions of the dent preventive reinforcement are stress-focusing portions to which stress can be concentrated. When an impact load is applied to an outer surface of the outer panel from outside of a vehicle body, the vertical wall portions of the dent preventive reinforcement is bent at the stress-focusing portions, so that the impact load can be absorbed.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2007Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Assignee: Toyota Shatai Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Keiichi Uchino
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Patent number: 8007036Abstract: According to an inner panel for vehicles of the present invention, a bead forming surface is so provided as to extend continuously with an upper edge part of a wall rising from a bottom surface of the inner panel. Upper beads and lower beads are formed on the bead forming surface. The upper and lower beads extend in a longitudinal direction of a vehicle and are arranged alternately in a width direction of the vehicle. The bead forming surface is positioned above a middle position between an upper surface of the upper bead and a lower surface of the lower bead. Further, the bead forming surface is positioned lower than the upper surface of the upper bead by 3 mm or more. With this structure, a sufficient first acceleration wave can be secured by expanding a stress propagation range in a direction perpendicular to the length of the beads with respect to the first acceleration wave and, also, by reducing a local deformation to be caused by a deformation load from the above of the vehicle during a head impact.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2008Date of Patent: August 30, 2011Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.Inventors: Koji Fukumoto, Masatoshi Yoshida
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Patent number: 7997642Abstract: The invention relates to a motor vehicle hood comprising a visible outside skin and a lining, in which the lining is shaped in such a manner that: the hood has reinforcements comprising a plurality of hollow bodies defined by the skin and by the lining; and that the hood includes at least one zone having no reinforcement and designed to be placed in register with a localized rigid part under the hood. The reinforcements further comprise at least one rib extending between two of the hollow bodies of the plurality, so as to interconnect the hollow bodies.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2007Date of Patent: August 16, 2011Assignee: Compagnie Plastic OmniumInventors: Laurent Rocheblave, Alexis Rajon
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Patent number: 7998232Abstract: A housing can be secured to a motor vehicle and has a first housing portion (4) and a second housing portion (2) which can be connected thereto. To integrate a pedestrian protection function and to provide a defined relative movement of the housing portions in relation to each other, it is proposed to provide on the first housing portion an elongate support element (10), which is connected with a proximal end to the first housing portion and has a distally disposed effective end having an effective cross-section (6), and the second housing portion (2) includes an elastic fixing element with a through opening, the inside diameter of which is smaller than the effective cross-section.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2007Date of Patent: August 16, 2011Assignees: Montaplast GmbH, Bayerische Motorenwerke AGInventors: Joern-Uwe Krueger, Werner Gerhard, Daniel Rolf Merz, Bernhard Beer, Rudolf Wimmer
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Patent number: 7988222Abstract: A vehicle body panel structure, wherein an inner panel is disposed on the inner surface of an outer panel and a reinforcing inner panel is disposed on the inner surface of the inner panel. A plurality of recesses and projections forming a wave shape in cross section are formed on the inner panel and the reinforcing inner panel in the longitudinal direction of a vehicle body. These panels are joined to each other so that a closed cross section is formed of the inner panel and the reinforcing inner panel at the lower part of a joined part between the outer panel and the inner panel and a closed cross section is formed of the outer panel and the inner panel at the upper part of a joined part between the inner panel and the reinforcing inner panel. Accordingly, even if a head part moving distance is small, an HIC value can be lowered and uniformized at those portions other than an impact portion.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2005Date of Patent: August 2, 2011Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.Inventor: Toshio Fujimoto
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Patent number: 7984943Abstract: A vehicular hood structure, which can generate more properly a load reaction to be inputted to a collision member, even if the collision member collides against the vicinity of an intermediate position between a hood general portion and a portion close to a hood front end edge so that a load acts to deform a hood inner panel of the hood general portion and a hood lock reinforce of a hood front end portion. A rear end portion of the hood lock reinforce is joined, at a leg extending to the hood back side at a portion spaced at a predetermined distance in the hood width direction, to a flat portion of the hood inner panel. In this hood inner panel, a crush bead is formed along the hood width direction at the substantially central portion of a skeleton portion in the hood length direction, and a small bead is formed at the substantially central portion of the flat portion in the hood width direction.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2009Date of Patent: July 26, 2011Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yoshihiro Iwano, Katsuyoshi Ito
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Publication number: 20110169303Abstract: A hood lock reinforcement is configured as a result of a thick sheet and a thin sheet whose sheet thicknesses are mutually different being joined, and in this hood lock reinforcement, a bottom portion including a site to which a striker is fixed is configured by the thick sheet and is disposed on a bottom wall portion of a hood inner panel. Further, an extension portion disposed extending from a hood front-rear direction rear end of the bottom portion of the hood lock reinforcement toward a hood outer panel side has a site on the hood outer panel side whose sheet thickness is set thin as compared to the sheet thickness of the bottom portion of the hood lock reinforcement as a result of that site being configured by the thin sheet.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 21, 2009Publication date: July 14, 2011Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Koki Ikeda, Yasuhiko Katsumata, Koshi Okada
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Patent number: 7950488Abstract: An active material hood impact mitigation mechanism is activated in response to a signal generated from an impact sensor or pre-impact sensor or manually. The mitigation mechanism is capable of changing either reversibly or irreversibly the stiffness, shape, location, orientation, or displacement force of the hood either globally or locally, before an impact against the hood. The active material mitigation mechanism is held in a device designed to be installed in operative communication with the hood surface. The active material is characterized by a first shape or stiffness and is operative to change to a second shape or stiffness in response to the activation signal. Such active materials include shape memory alloys, electroactive polymers, shape memory polymers, magnetic shape memory alloys, magnetorheological fluids, magnetorheological elastomers, electrorheological fluids, and piezoelectric materials.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2008Date of Patent: May 31, 2011Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Alan L. Browne, Nancy L. Johnson
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Publication number: 20110115260Abstract: A utility vehicle includes a vehicle body frame, a cabin frame coupled to an upper portion of the vehicle body frame, a cover coupled to the vehicle body frame so as to cover an instrument panel in front of a driver seat, and a hood. The hood is configured to cover a space between a pair of right and left front wheels from above in front of the cover and is pivotable around a front end portion thereof so as to open and close. A rear end portion of the hood is fitted to a front end portion of the cover and a rear end of the hood is located in front of a front end of the cabin frame, in a state where the hood is in a closed position.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 16, 2009Publication date: May 19, 2011Applicant: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Fumio Mizuta
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Publication number: 20110115259Abstract: A utility vehicle includes a cover provided to cover an instrument panel in front of a driver seat, a hood which is configured to cover a space between a pair of right and left front wheels from above in front of the cover and is pivotable around a front end portion thereof so as to open and close, a stopper mechanism configured to retain the hood in a closed position, and a positioning mechanism configured to position the hood in the closed position with respect to the cover such that a rear end portion of the hood is fitted to a front end portion of the cover.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 16, 2009Publication date: May 19, 2011Applicant: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Fumio Mizuta
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Patent number: 7931111Abstract: A lift device of an active hood system is adapted to lift up the rear of a hood for a vehicle. The lift device of the active hood system includes a striker placed on the hood, a latch unit placed in an engine compartment for locking and unlocking the striker, and an elastic member placed between the striker and the latch unit for raising up the hood. The lift device lifts up the hood by a mechanism which employs the elastic force of the elastic member. Accordingly, the lift device greatly reduces the impact applied to a pedestrian during a collision of the vehicle with the pedestrian, and improves the device's security. Moreover, the lift device is locked or unlocked by the striker and the latch unit, thereby making it reusable, easy to handle, and reducing its manufacturing and repair costs.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2008Date of Patent: April 26, 2011Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors CorporationInventors: Koo Hyun Kim, Sung Wook Hong, Ji Young Song, Dae Yub Lee