Abstract: The hood comprises an outer skin and an inner lining made of SMC, the lining extending essentially at a distance from the skin. This structure enables the hood to present satisfactory mechanical behavior in terms of protecting the head of a pedestrian striking the hood: because of the SMC, the hood then deforms essentially elastically without breakage, with predetermined uniform behavior.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a coupling structure of a hood stay rod and a cap in a vehicle in which a hitch piece slantingly formed the cap is suspended on a hitch jaw of the hood stay rod, whereby the cap is coupled with the hood stay rod so as to reduce manufacturing cost by coupling the hood stay rod with the cap in a method of joining a plastic cap to the front end portion of a steel hood stay rod through a hitch jaw and a hitch piece and to improve productivity by lowering the defect rate of a product.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: There is provided a pedestrian protection air bag system M1 in which air bags accommodated on a cowl each have a recessed portion which avoids a hinge mechanism and project from lateral side edges of a lower surface of a hood panel at a rear end thereof so as to cover front sides of front pillars. The hood panel is configured to be raised on a rear end side thereof so as to form a projection space for the air bags between the cowl and the rear end of the hood panel, while when in normal use, the hood panel is made to be opened upwards at a front end side thereof by means of the hinge mechanisms provided near the left and right edges at the rear end thereof. The hinge mechanisms, cases which cover the folded air bags and actuators for raising the hood panel are provided sequentially in that order towards the front on the lateral side edge of the hood panel at the rear end thereof.

Abstract: To provide a vehicle body front part structure in which a hood including a hood outer panel and a hood inner panel arranged at a distance from the hood outer panel is provided on an upper portion of a vehicle body constituent member such that the hood can open and close, and an impact absorber is interposed between the hood and the vehicle body constituent member such that the impact absorber abuts against the vehicle body constituent member when the hood is closed, wherein the impact absorber is mounted on the hood inner panel such that an end of the impact absorber projects toward the hood outer panel, and an impact which is input to the hood outer panel is absorbed by the impact absorber, and an impact generated when the hood is closed is absorbed by the impact absorber.

Abstract: In the case of vehicle variants of one “vehicle family”, different fenders and different front opening hoods adjoining the fenders are attached to forward vehicle structures by means of identical supporting members. For this purpose, the supporting members have connection planes for the upper end sections of the fenders, which are situated horizontally above one another. Thus, a different course of the joints, such as between a fender and an opening hood, and differently shaped body panels can be achieved in the case of vehicle variants at comparatively low cost by use of this common supporting member.

Abstract: A cover is provided between a front hood and a vehicle component. The cover includes a cover main portion, a lid, a supporting portion, a supported portion, and a contacting portion. An opening is formed on the cover main portion. The supporting portion is integrally provided on the cover main portion and around the opening. The supported portion is integrally provided on a circumferential edge of the lid and engaged with the supporting portion. The contacting portion is provided on the lid and receives a downward load from the front hood. One or both of the supporting portion and the supported portion deforms elastically in case where a load has been applied to the contacting portion and thereby the lid drops off within the opening. According to the cover, a deformable amount of the cover can be increased and maintenance costs can be reduced.

Abstract: An automotive hood hinge assembly is adapted to act as a safety device in the event of a collision with a pedestrian. The hood hinge assembly is constructed from a series of linkages and an energy storage actuator that is configured to raise the rear of a vehicle hood in response to a pedestrian collision. The deployed system forms a rigid structure that restrains rearward movement of the hood while providing a vertical motion path and resistive force capable of efficiently dissipating the energy imparted by the pedestrian and therefore significantly lowering injury levels. The linkages are configured to provide conventional rotary opening and closing motion of the hood when the system is in the retracted position and also provide a reset function so that a simple opening and closing motion of the hood when the system is in the deployed position resets it to the retracted position.

Abstract: A hood pop-up system for a vehicle that pops up a hood of the vehicle when a collision of the vehicle takes place, which includes: a hood pop-up unit which pops up the hood positioned at a closed position and supports the popped-up hood at a hood support position that is higher than the closed position; and a hood pop-up restricting unit which restricts upward movement of the popped-up hood at an uppermost pop-up position that is higher than the hood support position.

Abstract: The present invention relates to parts and a process for repairing and reinforcing fiberglass automotive and truck hoods. The repair panel is a single part formed to precisely fit the underside of an automotive hood and hood structure. The repair panel may be made of fiberglass, composite, plastic or carbon fiber. The repair panel materials should be able to be formed to closely match the shaped of the hood to be repaired. Repair panel is adhered to the underside of the hood with any adhesive compatible with the material the repair panel and hood are made of. This repair panel and process will work of hoods made of fiberglass, composite, plastic, or carbon fiber.

Abstract: A vehicle front structure that includes: a fender panel having an outer wall, and an inside end part being bent at a boundary part with a hood panel; an apron upper member that extends in substantially the vehicle longitudinal direction, parallel to the outer wall; a shock-absorbing part that links an inside end of the fender panel and the apron upper member; a cover member, the base end of which is mounted on the inside and that hangs downward as a free end in the substantially downward direction of the vehicle, covers the distal end of the inside and the shock-absorbing part, and extends in substantially the direction transverse direction of the vehicle; and a vehicle side-structure that includes an insertion part formed in substantially the vehicle longitudinal direction near the distal end of the cover member, and into which the cover member may be inserted from above.

Abstract: A bonnet for an automotive vehicle has a leading end, a trailing end, and a lock striker for locking the free end of the bonnet to the vehicle body during normal operation when the bonnet is closed. The lock striker is spaced from the bonnet portion by a mounting mechanism that includes at least one elongated arm extending between the inside of the bonnet portion and the lock striker. At least one portion of the elongated arm is weakened to permit relative pivoting of the bonnet portion and the lock striker around a geometrical axis when the elongated arm is loaded in excess of a predetermined value. The bonnet is thus allowed to move downwardly in the event of an impact between a pedestrian and the bonnet portion.

Abstract: A bonnet for an automobile, having an outer member made from FRP and an inner member made from FRP and joined to the back-surface side of the outer member, wherein the outer member has a high-rigidity section having a rigidity higher than a rigidity of the central section of the outer member along an outer edge of the outer member, and the inner member is joined to the outer member at the high-rigidity section. While being achieved an advantage of weight lightening of the bonnet by making it from FRP, the rigidity at a required portion is efficiently increased without damaging moldability, a design feature of the bonnet surface can be maintained at a good level, and in addition, performance of the bonnet relating to the protection of a pedestrian at a collision accident etc. can also be sufficiently enhanced.

Abstract: An automotive engine hood is built by joining together respective edge parts of an outer panel and an inner panel such that spaces are formed between the outer and the inner panel. The inner panel has a plurality of ridge-like beads and ridge-like connecting beads connecting at least end parts of the beads on one of the opposite sides of the beads with respect to length of the beads. Each of the connecting beads has a top wall having a connecting surface continuous with the joint surfaces of the top walls of the beads, and a first inclined surface extending from the connecting surface to a bottom surface surrounded by the adjacent ones of the beads and the connecting beads. The automotive engine hood meets in equalities: 1.

Abstract: An energy-absorbing hood assembly for a vehicle includes an upper layer having a plurality of polyhedral protuberances extending outward therefrom, and preferably a lower layer. The protuberances are disposed between the upper and lower layers, and preferably arranged in longitudinal and transverse rows. The polyhedral protuberances are adapted to absorb and attenuate crush loads imparted to the hood assembly and resultant forces imparted to an object resulting from an impact between the object and the hood assembly. The polyhedral protuberances define various structural and material characteristics along different regions of the hood assembly that are selectively configured to provide different levels of absorption and attenuation of the crush loads and resultant forces. The lower layer is preferably configured to controllably fail at a first predetermined threshold crush load and the polyhedral protuberances are each configured to controllably deform at a second predetermined threshold crush load.

Abstract: A vehicle hood structure of the present invention has: a hood outer panel structuring a vehicle body outer side surface of a hood; a hood inner panel disposed along an entire region of a reverse surface of the hood outer panel, a cross-sectional configuration of the hood inner panel as seen from a vehicle longitudinal direction being a wavy configuration; and shelf portions formed along the vehicle longitudinal direction at side wall portions of the wavy cross-sectional configuration, wherein the cross-sectional configuration of a wavy configuration, of the hood inner panel, is formed along the vehicle longitudinal direction.

Abstract: Disclosed is a rotatably-mountable bumper configured for rotatably and ergonomically mounting to a mounting member for cushioning the contact between the mounting member and a potentially interfering member. The bumper transmits reactive forces between two members, such as a vehicle hood and grille, if portions of one member over travels. A fastening member on the bumper rotatably engages an aperture on the mounting member to secure the bumper to the mounting member. A registration member on the bumper retentively holds the bumper in rotatably-mounted engagement with the mounting member.

Abstract: A bumper mounting system (10) for locating and installing a bumper (14) on a vehicle having a chassis and a hood (18) includes a chassis support member (42) pivotally mountable to a portion of the vehicle hood (18) and adjustably mountable to a portion of the vehicle chassis. The system also includes a bumper mounting member (46) mountable to both an interior portion of the bumper (14) and a portion of the chassis support member (42). The system further includes a first bumper support feature (114) formed on the chassis support member (42) and a second bumper support feature (118) formed on the bumper mounting member (46). The second bumper support feature (118) is engageable with the first bumper support feature (114) to at least temporarily position the bumper (14) relative to the hood (18).

Abstract: A grille and bonnet assembly is mounted at the forward end of an automotive vehicle. The bonnet is formed with a leading edge and a trailing edge with the leading edge positioned above or at an upper edge of the grille during normal operation of the automotive vehicle when the bonnet is closed. The grille and bonnet are designed with corresponding inclined surfaces that are located relative to each other such that a force greater than a predetermined value transmitted from the bonnet to the grille forces at least the upper part of the grille to move forwardly so as to allow the bonnet to move downwardly. Such yielding movement of the grille and bonnet can reduce injuries in the event of an impact between a pedestrian and the bonnet of the automotive vehicle.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: An openably constructed bonnet structure for a working vehicle 1 in which an engagement mechanism 31 for a bonnet 30 are provided at a front section of a vehicle frame 9, on which front section the bonnet 40 is placed, and at a front lower end section of the bonnet 30; a cutout section 61b through which the engagement mechanism 31 of the bonnet 30 is viewable is provided in the front face of the vehicle frame 9; and a cover 36 doubling as a seal member for the bonnet 30 is provided at the cutout section 61b. Furthermore, the cover 36 for covering the cutout section 61b is extended to the front face of the frame, and a key lock is provided on the cover 36. The construction can provide the bonnet with high assembly accuracy.

Abstract: An energy-absorbing vehicle hood includes outer and inner layers defining a cavity filled with foam material. The outer layer fractures when subjected to a crush load to thereby transmit the load to the foam material where it is absorbed, and both layers are continuously and directly bonded to the foam material. A vehicle includes a vehicle hood assembly having outer and inner layers defining a cavity, with foam material filling the cavity. The outer layer fractures when subjected to a crush load to transmit the load to the foam material for uniformly absorption of the crush load. A hood panel is also provided for use with a vehicle, including an energy-absorbing polymer foam material entrapped between an outer and inner polymer membrane. The membranes have a crush strength, and the foam material is characterized by an absence of a reinforcing structure.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: An engine hood structure including a hood panel, and a porous metal layer disposed on an inside of the hood panel. The porous metal layer has a density increased in a direction extending from an outer periphery of the engine hood structure toward a central portion of the engine hood structure. The porous metal layer is constructed such that a plateau stress generated in the porous metal layer upon a compression test is increased in a direction extending from an outer periphery of the engine hood structure toward a central portion of the engine hood structure.

Abstract: A vehicle hood closure control and release system including a hood release mounted to a vehicle frame. The hood release may include a pivotally mounted hood release handle pivotable for unlatching a vehicle hood having a grille mounted thereon. A bumper may be integrally mounted to the hood release for resiliently contacting the grille and preventing slamming of the grille when the vehicle hood is moved from an open to a closed position.

Abstract: A vehicle hood includes a hood inner panel; a hood outer panel attached to the hood inner panel; a subframe attached to the hood inner panel; and at least one auxiliary frame disposed at the subframe and attached to the hood inner panel. The subframe is disposed in a substantially straight line across a lateral direction of the hood inner panel. Each of the auxiliary frames is substantially perpendicular to the subframe. Each of the auxiliary frames includes a pair of lateral plates disposed at a slant with respect to a width of the auxiliary frame, the pair of lateral plates defining a groove; and combining portions for attaching the auxiliary frame to the subframe, the combining portions extending from the pair of lateral plates. The hood outer panel, the subframe, and the vertical frames are attached to the hood inner panel by hemming.

Abstract: A hood structure comprises an outer and an inner which form a closed cross section through spaces. The inner's cross-sectional shape is an interconnected stair step curve based on a series of concentric geometric shapes. This multi-tiered hood structure can provide a uniform, excellent head impact resistance independent of material selection for the outer and inner panels. The multi-tiered hood structure also excels in rigidity, strength, weight, cost and manufacturability. Accordingly, the car body hood panel structure efficiently satisfies requirements of head impact resistance for pedestrian protection.

Abstract: A structure for mounting a horizontal hood latch to an automobile includes an upper panel of a front-end module and a bracket over-molded onto the upper panel of the front-end module. A pair of through-openings are provided on opposite side portions of the bracket that allow both surfaces of the bracket to be coated by plastic material and the bracket to be mounted onto the upper panel, as the plastic material is poured thereon.

Abstract: In a locking and unlocking apparatus of an engine hood door, a stay is formed of a first arm and a second arm, with the stay being provided so as to fix a door of an engine hood in a fixed state. The first arm and the second arm are foldably connected to each other and pivotally connected to a frame and a door respectively. The lock of the first arm is automatically locked by a locking piece of the second arm at a portion in which the first arm and the second arm are arranged on a straight line for thereby maintaining an opened state of the door. The lock is unlocked from the locking piece with the locking piece being pulled by operation of a lever which is connected with the locking piece through a wire from a remote site, so that the door is closed.

Abstract: A vehicle hood closure control and release system including a hood release mounted to a vehicle frame. The hood release may include a pivotally mounted hood release handle pivotable for unlatching a vehicle hood having a grille mounted thereon. A bumper may be integrally mounted to the hood release for resiliently contacting the grille and preventing slamming of the grille when the vehicle hood is moved from an open to a closed position.

Abstract: A vehicle hood for achieving generally predetermined deformation in an event of a front impact. The hood may include an outer panel including at least one raised section along rear and side edges of the hood for thereby defining a reverse power dome. An inner panel may be attached to the outer panel and include at least two laterally extending beams each of which extend substantially across a width of the hood respectively adjacent front and the rear edges. At least one crush initiator may be disposed adjacent each of the laterally extending beams for enabling generally predetermined deformation of the hood in the event of a front impact.

Abstract: The present invention describes a reinforcing member that permits fiberglass pieces to be attached securely yet removably. The pieces can be simply and easily assembled and disassembled with common tools and with no specialized knowledge or ability. Unlike prior art, repairs do not necessarily involve sandblasting, gluing or laminating. The invention permits easy customization or replacement of pieces. The invention includes a reinforcing member having a box truss coupled with at least one gusset. One embodiment includes a truck hood having a center section and fenders. The hood has proven as durable and rigid as traditional unitary construction techniques.

Abstract: The present invention 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 invention, the truck hood further includes a pair of fenders formed of a metal skin that may be reinforced by a polymer fender mat.

Abstract: A hood elevation system for a vehicle includes an actuator configured to selectively move at least a portion of a vehicle hood between an elevated and a retracted position. The hood elevation system also includes a self-locking mechanism configured to allow movement of the hood between the elevated and retracted positions initiated by the actuator, but to resist retraction of the hood as a result of certain loads applied to the hood. The self-locking mechanism thus enables repeated elevation and retraction of the hood. In a preferred embodiment, the self-locking mechanism is configured to deform, thereby absorbing energy from an impact to the hood.

Abstract: An automotive engine hood is built by joining together respective edge parts of an outer panel and an inner panel such that spaces are formed between the outer and the inner panel. The inner panel has a plurality of ridge-like beads and ridge-like connecting beads connecting at least end parts of the beads on one of the opposite sides of the beads with respect to length of the beads. Each of the connecting beads has a top wall having a connecting surface continuous with the joint surfaces of the top walls of the beads, and a first inclined surface extending from the connecting surface to a bottom surface surrounded by the adjacent ones of the beads and the connecting beads. The automotive engine hood meets in equalities: 1.

Abstract: A protection system for at least one electrical component of a light-weight utility vehicle is provided. The system comprises a hood having a top panel and a side panel. The top panel can be connected to an interior side of at least one wall of a vehicle body structure. The side panel extends substantially perpendicularly from an edge of the top panel and can be connected to a top side of a vehicle floor structure.

Abstract: A reinforcement for a closure panel including an outer panel and an inner panel includes a palm area reinforcement for attachment to the outer panel and a latch area reinforcement for attachment to the inner panel, the latch area reinforcement being disposed on a depression in the reinforcement which is integral with the palm area reinforcement.

Abstract: The invention relates to a front bonnet system of a motor vehicle with a front bonnet (1) and with encircling body parts (2, 3). The body parts (2, 3) have supporting points (4) which are flexible in the vertical direction and on which the front bonnet (1) is supported when closed. The flexible supporting points (4) are designed as a linearly encircling supporting strip (5) with a sealing strip (6) situated between the supporting strip (5) and the front bonnet (1). The front bonnet (1) has, on its side (7) facing the supporting strip (5), an absorption strip (8) which encircles it in a manner corresponding to the supporting strip (5) and can be brought to bear against the sealing strip (6).

Abstract: A hinge mechanism 10 to lift the rear edge of a bonnet 11 of a motor vehicle comprises an upper leaf 13 connected to the bonnet 11, a lower leaf 12 connected to the body structure of the vehicle and a middle leaf 14 connected to the upper leaf 13 and the lower leaf 12. The middle leaf 14 is connected to the upper leaf 13 by means of a stud 16 and a slot 17 connection so as to limit movement of the bonnet from a normal position to a deployed position under an upward force exerted by a lift actuator. The stud 16 and slot 17 connection is provided with a resiliently deformable element 30 arranged at the end of the slot for dissipating impact energy of the stud 16 against the slot 17 during the upward force.

Abstract: This invention relates to a vehicle hood assembly that is operative to raise the rearward and frontward portions of a vehicle hood. The system includes an actuator selectively extendable to raise the rearward portion of a vehicle hood from a first position to a higher second position. A striker of novel design enables the frontward portion of the hood to rise as the rearward portion rises when the striker is engaged with a latch member. The latch member may be disengaged from the striker without extending the actuator, enabling the hood to reach a third position ideal for vehicle service and thus allowing a nonreversible-type actuator to be employed. A method of elevating the vehicle hood with respect to the vehicle body is also provided.

Abstract: A vehicle body stiffener comprises an assembly of an outer member and an inner stiffener member which are joined to form a closure for the body. The inner stiffener member is formed to carry tension, compressive and torsional loads from the vehicle body and two locating pins at the corners of one side of the assembly and two latch pins at the corners of the opposite side of the assembly engage complementary receptacles on the vehicle body to make the assembly act as a structural member of the body to transfer forces from the body to the assembly. The assembly is preferably pivotally connected to the vehicle body by a pair of hinges which allow the assembly to be opened to gain access to the vehicle body interior. The assembly can be an engine compartment hood, a trunk lid or other closure.

Abstract: A fender for absorbing forces generated from an impact includes a depending attachment flange which comprises a vertically aligned section depending from an exterior portion of the fender and a horizontally aligned section depending from the vertically aligned section adapted for mounting to a vehicle wherein the vertically aligned section includes a plurality of contoured portions for enhancing the stiffness of the vertically aligned section.

Abstract: A hinge is provided suitable for attaching a hood to a car or truck. The hinge includes generally tubular members sharing a common axis of rotation. Elastomeric elements interposed between the tubular members provide isolation between the parts of the hinge. Relative rotation between the tubular members compresses the elastomeric elements creating a spring-force opposing the relative rotation. The hood, hinge, and vehicle may be configured so that the spring-force of the elastomeric elements assists in opening and/or closing of the hood.

Abstract: A fender for absorbing forces generated from an impact includes a depending attachment flange which comprises a vertically aligned section depending from an exterior portion of the fender and a horizontally aligned section depending from the vertically aligned section adapted for mounting to a vehicle wherein the vertically aligned section includes a plurality of contoured portions for enhancing the stiffness of the vertically aligned section.

Abstract: An external airbag device is provided which can smoothly deploy its airbag with being caught by neither a rear edge of a hood nor a windshield wiper. A lid 8 is allowed to be displaced relative to a retainer 2 in the vertical direction because hooks 10 are movable in the vertical direction within apertures 16. When an airbag 4 is inflated, the lid 8 is lifted and is torn to open outwardly by the inflation pressure of the airbag 4 to create flaps 28, 30. The flap 28 which pivoted outwardly toward the front of the motor vehicle is laid on an outer surface of a rear edge portion of a hood 18. The flap 30 which pivoted outwardly toward the rear of the motor vehicle is laid on a cowl top 22 below the windshield 20 to cover windshield wipers 26.

Abstract: A motor vehicle has a lock with a movable locking element, particularly a rotary latch, which lock, in addition to being equipped with an electric unlocking device for the locking element, is equipped with a mechanical emergency unlocking device for the locking element. The emergency unlocking device includes a first pulling element which triggers the locking element independently of the electric unlocking device into a release position, in which release position a closing element is released which is fastened to a vehicle body part to be opened.

Abstract: A hood structure comprises an outer and an inner which form a closed cross section through spaces. The inner's cross-sectional shape is a sine curve, an nth-power-raised sine curve, or a spline curve having a corrugation length approximate to an outside head diameter. This corrugated hood structure can provide a uniform, excellent head impact resistance independently of impact positions on the hood. The corrugated hood structure also excels in tension rigidity, bending rigidity, and torsional rigidity. Accordingly, the car body hood panel structure satisfies requirements of head impact resistances for pedestrian protection and rigidity improvement such as the tension rigidity.

Abstract: A vehicle hood structure in which a space is formed by a hood outer panel, which structures a vehicle body outer side portion of a hood, and an hood inner panel, which structures a vehicle body inner side portion of the hood, the vehicle hood structure having: step portions formed along a vehicle front-end direction in the hood outer panel; a plurality of convex portions which swell toward a vehicle body top side and which are formed along the vehicle front-end direction at predetermined intervals in a vehicle transverse direction, at a central region of the hood inner panel which is other than outer peripheral edge portions of the hood inner panel; joining portions formed at peak portions of the convex portions, and joined with the hood outer panel; and optionally, extending portions formed along configurations of the step portions from the convex portions nearest to the step portions.

Abstract: Front structure for a vehicle includes a unitary panel formed to define a vehicle cowl and a vehicle bulkhead. The vehicle cowl may form an air intake plenum. The unitary panel is configured to at least partially define a front compartment of the vehicle. An alternative unitary panel is formed to define a hood having inner and outer panel portions and, optionally, fenders. Another alternative unitary panel is formed to define a cowl, a bulkhead and a hood. The preferable method for forming the panels is quick plastic forming, superplastic forming or sheet hydroforming.

Abstract: A level difference portion is formed on a food outer panel of a hood along a longitudinal direction of a vehicle body. A flange that connects a bone portion and a bone portion of a food inner panel is formed at a portion below the level difference portion of the hood outer panel. The flange of the hood inner panel extends so as to be curved along the level difference portion of the hood outer panel. The flange of the hood inner panel is connected to the level difference portion of the hood outer panel using an adhesive agent.