Hood Patents (Class 296/193.11)
  • Publication number: 20140319881
    Abstract: An end piece for connecting a prop rod to a seat includes a body having a first end and a second end opposite the first end. A flange is formed on the second end of the body, and is configured to abut the seat. The end piece may have a hole defined in the first end of the body, such that the prop rod inserted into the hole, or the end piece may connect to the prop rod with other structure. The end piece has a top key formed on the flange. The top key extends away from the body and helps hold the end piece to the seat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2013
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: David Waskie
  • Patent number: 8870271
    Abstract: A cowl member for a vehicle includes a grill portion with grill openings formed therein for taking in external air, a hood sealing portion disposed forwardly of the grill portion, and a hood seal integrally formed with the hood sealing portion. The cowl member further includes a vertical wall portion integrally formed with the hood sealing portion and extending downwardly relative thereto, and a plenum sealing portion integrally formed with a terminal edge of the vertical wall portion and extending forwardly relative thereto for sealing with a flange of a dashboard that separates an engine compartment from a passenger compartment on the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Patrick J. Ellison, David M. Edwards
  • Publication number: 20140305725
    Abstract: A collapsible hood bumper for a vehicle having a hood generally includes a housing and a bumper head. The housing has a wall with an interior surface and an exterior surface, a base, and an opening defining an interior chamber. The bumper head has a main body, and is configured to receive a force from the hood of the vehicle. The bumper head is normally in an upright position in which the bumper head extends through the opening of the housing. However, the bumper head is collapsible from the upright position to a compressed position in which the bumper head is substantially disposed within the interior chamber of the housing. The bumper head is configured to be resettable from the compressed position to the upright position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2013
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Peter M. Snede, David M. Kileen, David Waskie
  • Publication number: 20140292030
    Abstract: A hood overslam bumper assembly includes an overslam bumper having a cylindrical shape and having a screw thread groove formed in an outer peripheral surface thereof, a ring-carrier having a hole formed at the center thereof to have the overslam bumper inserted into an inner side surface thereof and having a screw thread formed on an inner peripheral surface thereof, the screw thread being coupled to the screw thread groove, and a housing having one side fixed to an insertion hole of a hood inner panel, having a hole formed at the center thereof to have the ring-carrier inserted into an inner side surface thereof, and having an elastic part provided on an outer peripheral surface thereof to fix the ring-carrier inserted into the inner side surface thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2013
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicants: Kia Motors Corporation, Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Ho LIM
  • Patent number: 8845012
    Abstract: A hood frame is provided with a center bead, front radiating beads and rear radiating beads to ensure that the front hood bends in the shape of inverted letter-V under a frontal crash load. Further, the beads provide the hood frame with a stiffness (including an out-of-plane stiffness) which is required of the front hood while the downward deformation of the hood frame under a downward load can be controlled and the HIC level can be set at an appropriate level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mai Sekikawa, Masato Ishibashi
  • Patent number: 8845010
    Abstract: A hood assembly for a vehicle includes a hood having a top side and an underside. Also included is a hood latch-striker reinforcement plate operably coupled to the underside of the hood and having a retaining recess. Further included is at least a portion of a centering tool removably disposed within the retaining recess and extending downwardly away from the underside of the hood. Yet further included is a centering bracket operably coupled to a top support member of a positioning and reinforcement structure and having an aperture configured to receive the centering tool therein for locating the positioning and reinforcement structure to the hood.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: James M. Townson, Derek L. Patterson, Robert T. Gazda, Mark L. Felzien
  • Publication number: 20140265452
    Abstract: A hood connection assembly, sometimes referred to as an articulated hood pivot linkage, for a vehicle is disclosed. The hood connection assembly is an articulating interface between a vehicle chassis member and the vehicle hood. In use, the hood connection assembly provides up to three (3) points of isolation from chassis torsion as well as providing a “virtual axis” type pivoting connection. A “virtual axis” type pivoting connection provides an upwardly and outwardly motion of hood travel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: PACCAR Inc
    Inventor: Scott D. Hite
  • Publication number: 20140252806
    Abstract: A hood rear suspension system includes a mounting assembly that provides both vertical and lateral support to the hood while also providing easy adjustment of the hood.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: PACCAR Inc
    Inventors: Troy R. McCuller, Scott David Hite
  • Patent number: 8827358
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Compagnie Plastic Omnium
    Inventors: Laurent Rocheblave, Laurent Martin, Hugues Cheron
  • Patent number: 8807637
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Tesla Motors, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew R. Partsch, Benjamin Roger Zabik
  • Patent number: 8807634
    Abstract: A cowl-top cover 10 for covering a vehicle body between a front window shield and a front hood is provided with: a seal portion abutting against a rear end lower part of the front hood; and a longitudinal wall portion 1 that supports the seal portion and that is erected in a vertical direction of a vehicle, wherein the longitudinal wall 1 includes a stepped portion 3 that is extended along the vertical direction, the longitudinal wall being shaped to be wavy in a widthwise direction of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Nihon Plast Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasumasa Horimizu
  • Patent number: 8789637
    Abstract: A bulldozer includes a cab, a vehicle body frame supporting a cab and an engine cover. The engine cover has a side plate that has a rear edge with first and second rear edges. The second rear edge is positioned above the first rear edge. The side plate has a first planar portion which includes the first rear edge and a second planar portion which includes the second rear edge. The side plate has a bent shape between the first and second planar portions. A ridgeline is disposed between the first and second planar portions and spans from the upper edge to the rear edge of the side plate. The side plate includes an attachment section which is attached to a vehicle body frame. The attachment section is positioned in the first planar portion adjacent to an intersection of the ridgeline and the rear edge of the side plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Souichirou Kinoshita, Akira Uno
  • Patent number: 8777299
    Abstract: The invention provides an automated sunroof or hoodroof installed onto the hood of a vehicle. The 3 Stage Hood Roof is centrally positioned on a vehicle's hood and is connected to an internal motor that operates with a push button mechanism located within the car. Pressing the push button engages the motor to multiple positions. In the first position, the hoodroof rotates slightly from its front attachment to the hood of the vehicle and tilts upward toward the rear. The second position retracts the roof completely or partially. The third position lowers the roof so that the roof is recessed from the hood of the vehicle. The fourth stage is a closed position, covering the entire engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Inventor: Isaac Langford, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20140183907
    Abstract: A hinge including a first hinge half rotatably connected to a second hinge half is described. A support mechanism selectively supports the first hinge half at one or more rotated positions relative to the second hinge half. The support mechanism includes a support which is selectively biased toward a support position in which the support is capable of supporting the first hinge half at a rotated position relative to the second hinge half. The support can further be selectively biased into a disengaged position in which the support is not capable of supporting the first hinge half relative to the second hinge half. With the support in a disengaged position, the first hinge half is freely pivotable relative to the second hinge half. An automatic reset mechanism may be utilized in connection with the hinge to reposition the support from the disengaged position to the support position as the hinge approaches a predefined position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Inventors: Ryan Tanner, Dan Danoski, Bradley Gador
  • Publication number: 20140175837
    Abstract: A front end module of a vehicle includes an outer member having a front and a rear which define an internal space; an inner member having a bottom and a front which define the internal space between the outer member and the inner member; a hood latch mounted on the rear of the outer member; and a safety strike disposed in the internal space. Since the safety strike is disposed in the internal space inside the front end module, a shock-absorbing space is defined ahead of the front end module. A shock that is transferred through the hood absorbed by the shock-absorbing space in a collision with a pedestrian. As a result, the safety of a pedestrian can be enhanced in a collision with the pedestrian.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Huen Sick Min
  • Patent number: 8746783
    Abstract: A positioning and reinforcement structure for a vehicle includes a top support member and a bottom support member each extending relatively horizontally in a cross-car orientation and relatively parallel to each other. Also included is a first side member and a second side member each extending relatively vertically and relatively parallel to each other, the first side member and the second side member each coupled to the top support member and the bottom support member. Further included is a first wing structure detachably coupled to the first side member, the first wing structure comprising a first side flange configured to operably mount to a first fender assembly. Yet further included is a centering bracket disposed proximate a top side of the top support member, the centering bracket configured to locate a front region of a hood to the positioning and reinforcement structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: James M. Townson, Mark L. Felzien, Alexander C. Winter, Arthur M. Melander, David R. Galloway, Christopher C. Cook
  • Patent number: 8740291
    Abstract: A hood inner panel (5) includes an inner panel main body (5a) forming part of a hood (1) of a vehicle, a front bead (7) provided on the inner panel main body (5a) and extending along a vehicle width direction, and a rear bead (9) provided on the inner panel main body (5a), located on the rear side of the front bead (7) toward a back of the vehicle and extending along the vehicle width direction. The front bead (7) is curved toward the front of the vehicle such that a center portion (7a) in the vehicle width direction is located in front of each end portion (7b) in the vehicle width direction, and the rear bead (9) is curved toward the back of the vehicle such that a center portion (9a) in the vehicle width direction is located behind each end portion (9b) in the vehicle width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignees: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho
    Inventors: Shu Hashimoto, Masatoshi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 8726466
    Abstract: A hood hinge apparatus for a vehicle, in which a cowl-side body connected with an A-pillar has an inclined structure or an angular structure having a larger inclination than a right angle to reduce a step between the A-pillar and the cowl-side body, and engagement bolts are engaged with a horizontal inclined surface and a vertical inclined surface in different directions for coupling between the cowl-side body and the fixed hinge bracket to prevent injury of a passenger due to excessive dipping caused by generation of body bending during a front offset collision, thereby actively responding to safety regulations in case of a collision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Do Hoi Kim
  • Publication number: 20140132036
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a safety arrangement for a vehicle. The safety arrangement comprises a bonnet being displaceable between a closed position, an open position, permitting access to an engine compartment of the vehicle, and a deployed position, in which position there is a gap between the bonnet and the engine compartment. The bonnet is displaceable from the closed position to the deployed position, which is located upwards and rearwards as compared to the closed position. Further, the bonnet is directly openable to the open position both from the closed position and from the deployed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2013
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: VOLVO CAR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jan-Erik FRITZON
  • Patent number: 8714631
    Abstract: A raised and recessed sheet material having extremely high stiffness, and useful vehicle panel and laminated structure using the same. The surface of the sheet is formed by a plurality of squares arranged in two mutually perpendicular directions, and has a raised and recessed pattern. A basic configuration A, where first regions M and a Z-shaped second region N are formed in the square, and basic configurations B to D derived from the basic configuration A are butted together at their peripheral edges such that first regions M having those peripheral edges are butted together and the second regions N having those peripheral edges are butted together. The raised and recessed pattern is formed by upwardly raising the first regions M and downwardly recessing the second regions N, or upwardly raising or downwardly recessing either one or both of the first and second regions M and N.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Sumitomo Light Metal Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masaya Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20140117721
    Abstract: The present technology provides a modular hood assembly for a vehicle. The modular hood assembly comprises a hood base installed on the vehicle. The hood base can have an opening exposing at least a portion of the engine of the vehicle. The hood base can also include a base connector surface around at least a portion of the opening. The modular hood assembly also comprises an interchangeable hood insert removably attachable to the hood base. The interchangeable hood insert can include a base connector surface adapted to connect with the insert connector surface of the hood base. The interchangeable hood insert covers at least a portion of the opening when attached to the hood base. The modular hood assembly can also include at least one connector that attaches the interchangeable hood insert to the hood base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2013
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: Ring Brothers
    Inventors: Michael D. Ring, James A. Ring
  • Patent number: 8702157
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Hirose, Hideyuki Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 8701812
    Abstract: A towing tractor includes an operator's cockpit, a battery, a hood, a first inclined surface, a first inclined surface and a second inclined surface. The battery is disposed forward of the operator's cockpit. The hood covers the top of the battery. The first inclined surface is formed on the hood and inclined downwardly toward the front of the towing tractor. The second inclined surface is located forward of the first inclined surface and inclined downwardly toward the front of the towing tractor. The inclination angle of the second inclined surface is greater than the inclination angle of the first inclined surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki
    Inventor: Seiji Uno
  • Patent number: 8696229
    Abstract: A hood prop is adjustable by rotation and without tools. A base rod 33 fits into a hollow friction rod 34 and may be twisted in a first direction to lock in place and in a second opposite direction to loosen for adjustment. A base screw 32 secures a free floating friction piece 31 and a threaded base piece 30 to a threaded base rod 33. The treaded base rod 33 may be inserted into the hollow friction rod 34 and then twisted. The rotation causes the free floating friction piece to press upon the inside wall of the hollow friction rod. The slant surfaces of the free floating friction piece and threaded base piece help move an extended section 40 of the friction piece into the inner wall of the hollow friction rod. The use of two slant surfaces 61 on the threaded base piece 30 facilitates quick response to rotation in either direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Inventor: Kien Chi Tran
  • Publication number: 20140084632
    Abstract: A vehicle front body structure comprises: a hood for covering a top of an engine compartment provided in a front section of a vehicle; an engagement element provided at a front section of the hood; a radiator shroud provided at a front section of the engine compartment; an engagement counterpart element provided in front of the radiator shroud and engageable with the engagement element; a wire arranged to extend from a lateral side of the radiator shroud and pass through a position in front of the radiator shroud, and coupled to the engagement counterpart element; and a support supporting the engagement counterpart element with respect to the radiator shroud. The support has a protruding portion which protrudes toward a position capable of hindering at least a part of the wire from being visually seen from a front side of the vehicle body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Kageyama, Nobuyuki Nakayama, Kuniyoshi Tashiro
  • Patent number: 8678482
    Abstract: A motor vehicle hood having a non-functional air scoop that appears to be a functional air scoop is provided. The motor vehicle hood can have a module with an opening and a top wall, a bottom wall and a pair of spaced apart sidewalls extending in a first direction away from the opening and providing an enclosure thereof. A grid can be attached to the module across the opening and the grid, top wall and bottom wall can be operatively arranged such that an appearance of an open passageway through the motor vehicle hood is provided when an individual stands a distance away from the hood and looks at the module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith O'Brien, Paul Sherman, Arthur Whitney
  • Patent number: 8678483
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Inventor: Kevin Quirk
  • Publication number: 20140070569
    Abstract: An engine hood (10) for a tractor (1) or similar vehicle, the hood being of generally inverted U-shaped configuration with an upper top portion and downwardly extending side portions. The hood is hinged adjacent one end for upward pivoting between a closed position in which the associated engine is covered and an open position which provides access to the engine. The hood has an outer skin (100) and inner reinforcing members secured to the inside of the outer skin to form two beam- like structures (140, 141) which extend away from the hinge towards the other end of the hood to stiffen the hood against twisting. Inner reinforcing members extend between the beam-like structures to further stiffen the hood and the outer skin at the other end of the hood houses lighting units and has an inner reinforcing member extending between the beam-like structures which also supports the lighting units. The invention also provides a method of assembling such a hood.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: AGCO International GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Schmitz, Gerd Thilo
  • Publication number: 20140062142
    Abstract: A hood inner panel that is provided with plural wave-shaped portions that extend in a vehicle longitudinal direction is provided at a vehicle lower side of a hood outer panel. A lock reinforcement is disposed at a lower side of a vehicle front of the hood inner panel. Front end portions of the plural wave-shaped portions of the hood inner panel are positioned further toward a vehicle front side than a rear end portion of the lock reinforcement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2011
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koki Ikeda, Seiho Yonezawa, Tsuyoshi Izuhara
  • Publication number: 20140062140
    Abstract: A positioning and reinforcement structure for a vehicle includes a top support member and a bottom support member each extending relatively horizontally in a cross-car orientation and relatively parallel to each other. Also included is a first side member and a second side member each extending relatively vertically and relatively parallel to each other, the first side member and the second side member each coupled to the top support member and the bottom support member. Further included is a first wing structure detachably coupled to the first side member, the first wing structure comprising a first side flange configured to operably mount to a first fender assembly. Yet further included is a centering bracket disposed proximate a top side of the top support member, the centering bracket configured to locate a front region of a hood to the positioning and reinforcement structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: James M. Townson, Mark L. Felzien, Alexander C. Winter, Arthur M. Melander, David R. Galloway, Christopher C. Cook
  • Publication number: 20140062141
    Abstract: A hood assembly for a vehicle includes a hood having a top side and an underside. Also included is a hood latch-striker reinforcement plate operably coupled to the underside of the hood and having a retaining recess. Further included is at least a portion of a centering tool removably disposed within the retaining recess and extending downwardly away from the underside of the hood. Yet further included is a centering bracket operably coupled to a top support member of a positioning and reinforcement structure and having an aperture configured to receive the centering tool therein for locating the positioning and reinforcement structure to the hood.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: James M. Townson, Derek L. Patterson, Robert T. Gazda, Mark L. Felzien
  • Patent number: 8662571
    Abstract: A vehicle hood energy absorbing assembly includes outer and inner hood members and a support member. The outer hood member includes outer and inner surfaces facing an exterior and interior, respectively, of a vehicle. The support member is disposed within a space defined between the outer and inner hood members and includes an elongated base member and respective pluralities of front and rear leg members. The elongated base member is disposed adjacent the inner surface and extends laterally along a majority of the outer and inner hood members. The front and rear leg members extend from forward and rear portions, respectively, of the elongated base member to respective free ends that are coupled to the inner hood member. At least one leg member includes a deformation structure at which the leg member at least partially collapses upon application of a prescribed amount of force to the outer surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Patrick Grattan
  • Publication number: 20140035323
    Abstract: In a car body or component thereof with at least one first component of sheet metal of a first aluminum alloy and at least one second component of sheet metal of a second aluminum alloy, the first and second aluminum alloys are of type AlMgSi and in the sheet metal of the second aluminum alloy a substantial part of the elements Mg and Si, which are required to achieve artificial ageing in solid solution, is present in the form of separate Mg2Si and/or Si particles in order to avoid artificial ageing. By reduction of the hardening capacity of the second component during artificial ageing of the body as part of the paint baking cycle, the car body has an improved impact protection for pedestrians in comparison with solutions according to the prior art.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: Novelis Inc.
    Inventors: Corrado Bassi, Juergen Timm
  • Publication number: 20140015285
    Abstract: A vehicle hood panel is formed by bonding an outer panel and an inner panel to each other. Disposed along the outer peripheral edge of the inner panel is an outer peripheral portion to which a cushion member and hinges for attaching the hood panel to a vehicle are to be later fastened. Adhesive bonding surfaces which are to be bonded to the outer panel by mastic are disposed on the region surrounded by the outer peripheral portion, and a plurality of reinforcement beads are formed between the adhesive bonding surfaces. At least some of the adhesive bonding surfaces and/or reinforcement beads are bended so as to extend toward the hinges or the cushion member as seen in a plan view.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2012
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA KOBE SEIKO SHO (Kobe Steel, Ltd.)
    Inventors: Hideki Ishitobi, Masatoshi Yoshida
  • Publication number: 20140001793
    Abstract: The invention provides an automated sunroof or hoodroof installed onto the hood of a vehicle. The 3 Stage Hood Roof is centrally positioned on a vehicle's hood and is connected to an internal motor that operates with a push button mechanism located within the car. Pressing the push button engages the motor to multiple positions. In the first position, the hoodroof rotates slightly from its front attachment to the hood of the vehicle and tilts upward toward the rear. The second position retracts the roof completely or partially. The third position lowers the roof so that the roof is recessed from the hood of the vehicle. The fourth stage is a closed position, covering the entire engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2013
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Inventor: Isaac Langford, JR.
  • Patent number: 8616622
    Abstract: A hood bumper assembly for automotive vehicle hoods is provided that can manage impact energy from a collision with a pedestrian. The hood bumper assembly may have a bumper with a cushion that is threaded to a retainer attached to the vehicle frame. The threaded engagement between the bumper and the retainer may have a percentage of thread engagement that is less than industry standards so that the threads skip without substantially deforming when an impact load is applied to the vehicle hood.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: MacLean Fogg Company
    Inventors: David J. Davis, Larry J. Wilson
  • Patent number: 8602487
    Abstract: A vehicle front structure in which a hinge cover is disposed at a lateral end of a cowl top provided between an engine hood for covering an engine compartment of a vehicle and a windshield glass. The hinge cover is configured to cover a lower end corner of the windshield glass and to prevent a hood hinge from being seen through a space between the engine hood and the cowl top. The hinge cover includes a rear fixing portion which extends from the lateral end of the cowl top rearward with respect to the vehicle, and is supported by a sealing member which extends in fore-and-aft vehicle direction at a lateral lower surface and a lateral end surface of the windshield glass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirofumi Tanaka, Aki Isoda
  • Patent number: 8595901
    Abstract: A hinge assembly that includes a first hinge member and a second hinge member for mounting to an external vehicle closure member and a vehicle body, a pivot pin, a first clamp member with a first clamp surface, and a second clamp member having a second clamp surface is provided. The pivot pin is pivotally connected to the first hinge member to provide pivotal movement of an external vehicle closure member about a horizontal pivot axis between a closed position and an open position. The first and second clamp members are configured to clamp a mounting portion of the second hinge member between the first and the second clamp surfaces. The mounting portion of the second hinge member has an opening therethrough for receiving the pivot pin and is oversized relative to the pivot pin to accommodate relative radial adjusting movement during installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Ventra Group, Inc.
    Inventors: David W. Shaw, Joaquin Hung, Dan Gidden, Bradley F. Patzer
  • Patent number: 8579067
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Stabilus GmbH
    Inventors: Nadja Kaiser, Axel Knopp, Gerhard Stein, Jörg Wolf
  • Patent number: 8573682
    Abstract: A vehicle cowl component configured to extend between a hood's rear edge and a vehicle front windshield comprises a cowl and a seal, the seal including a U-shaped cross section attached to the under-hood edge and having upwardly extending front and rear curved walls, each of the curved walls having an unconnected free end. In one embodiment, the seal is two-shot molded onto the cowl, which eliminates secondary attachment operations. A method includes steps of first-shot molding a cowl, and then second-shot molding a U-shaped seal onto the cowl along an under-hood front edge. A modified cowl includes a seal with a downwardly extending wiper for sealing engagement with a body support structure under the cowl and seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Shape Corp.
    Inventor: Craig Martin Oomen
  • Publication number: 20130285415
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a hinge and support member arrangement for providing a hinged connection between a bonnet and a body structure of a vehicle. The hinge and support member arrangement comprises a hinge mechanism providing a hinged connection for opening and closing of the bonnet, and a support member adapted to be attached to the body structure of the vehicle and further adapted to carry a fender. In addition, the hinge mechanism is adapted to be connected to the body structure via the support member. The disclosure further relates to a support member for use in such a hinge and support member arrangement and a vehicle comprising such a hinge and support member arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2013
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Inventors: Robert Landholm, Peter Lindmark
  • Publication number: 20130270870
    Abstract: A motor vehicle hood having a non-functional air scoop that appears to be a functional air scoop is provided. The motor vehicle hood can have a module with an opening and a top wall, a bottom wall and a pair of spaced apart sidewalls extending in a first direction away from the opening and providing an enclosure thereof. A grid can be attached to the module across the opening and the grid, top wall and bottom wall can be operatively arranged such that an appearance of an open passageway through the motor vehicle hood is provided when an individual stands a distance away from the hood and looks at the module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Keith O'Brien
  • Publication number: 20130241241
    Abstract: A hood frame is provided with a center bead, front radiating beads and rear radiating beads to ensure that the front hood bends in the shape of inverted letter-V under a frontal crash load. Further, the beads provide the hood frame with a stiffness (including an out-of-plane stiffness) which is required of the front hood while the downward deformation of the hood frame under a downward load can be controlled and the HIC level can be set at an appropriate level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mai Sekikawa, Masato Ishibashi
  • Patent number: 8499871
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: CNH America, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Allan Renard, Eric G. Olson, Logan C. Miller
  • Patent number: 8490735
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to pedestrian head impact protection. In operation, during a pedestrian impact event with a vehicle, a pedestrian protection deployable hood apparatus configured in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention causes displacement of the hood at its hinge-carrying portion for enhancing clearance an underside of the hood and a topmost surface of under-hood components. Such embodiments of the present invention contribute to providing for pedestrian head impact protection in a manner that can be implemented with a variety of hood mounting arrangements, that is effective in its results, and that is simple to package in an under-hood environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies
    Inventors: Iskander Farooq, Srinivasan Sundararajan, Edgar Edward Donabedian, Greg B Zinn
  • Publication number: 20130181484
    Abstract: A vehicle hood energy absorbing assembly includes outer and inner hood members and a support member. The outer hood member includes outer and inner surfaces facing an exterior and interior, respectively, of a vehicle. The support member is disposed within a space defined between the outer and inner hood members and includes an elongated base member and respective pluralities of front and rear leg members. The elongated base member is disposed adjacent the inner surface and extends laterally along a majority of the outer and inner hood members. The front and rear leg members extend from forward and rear portions, respectively, of the elongated base member to respective free ends that are coupled to the inner hood member. At least one leg member includes a deformation structure at which the leg member at least partially collapses upon application of a prescribed amount of force to the outer surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2012
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicant: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Patrick Grattan
  • Patent number: 8485588
    Abstract: A vehicle hood or a panel covering an object includes an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface faces the object and is offset from the object by a basin depth. The outer surface is substantially opposite the inner surface. A local energy absorber is operatively attached to the inner surface or is disposed between the inner surface and the object. The local energy absorber has a singly-connected structure, which includes a first wall portion and a second wall portion. The first wall portion is operatively attached to the inner surface. The singly-connected structure also includes a curved connector portion joining the first wall portion and the second wall portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Mark A. Voss, Leonard J. Brohl, Jr., Paul E. Krajewski, Louis G. Hector, Jr., Keith S. Snavely, Matthew F. Pawlicki
  • Patent number: 8489289
    Abstract: Disclosed is a converter (200) for signals between a safety device (300) and a universal safety control device (100) for a vehicle. At the converter (200) the safety control device (100) can be connected at a control device interface (200.1) and at least one type of safety devices (300.2) can be connected at at least one safety device interface (200.2) and wherein the converter (200) converts a signal of the safety control device (100) into a signal, which is suitable for the respectively connected type of safety device (300.2), to the respective safety device interface (200.2). It is proposed to embody the converter (200) such that it detects a condition at the safety device interface (200.2), in particular a diagnostics condition signal and converts it into a condition accordingly predefined at the control device interface (200.1), preferably in a manner which does not require an adaptation of the control device or of its software.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Conti Temic Microelectronic GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Mueller
  • Publication number: 20130175827
    Abstract: A hood inner panel (5) includes an inner panel main body (5a) forming part of a hood (1) of a vehicle, a front bead (7) provided on the inner panel main body (5a) and extending along a vehicle width direction, and a rear bead (9) provided on the inner panel main body (5a), located on the rear side of the front bead (7) toward a back of the vehicle and extending along the vehicle width direction. The front bead (7) is curved toward the front of the vehicle such that a center portion (7a) in the vehicle width direction is located in front of each end portion (7b) in the vehicle width direction, and the rear bead (9) is curved toward the back of the vehicle such that a center portion (9a) in the vehicle width direction is located behind each end portion (9b) in the vehicle width direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Inventors: Shu Hashimoto, Masatoshi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 8434815
    Abstract: A plurality of beads (2) extending in the vehicle longitudinal direction are formed parallel to each other lined up in the vehicle width direction on an inner panel (1). Accordingly, an upper flange (5), a vertical wall (4), a lower flange (3), and a vertical wall (4) are formed connected in this order at a cross-section in the vehicle width direction. The vertical wall (4) includes a lower vertical wall (4a) and an upper vertical wall (4b), and there is a bend line (4c) at the boundary between the two which is bent. The inclination angle of the upper vertical wall (4b) is between 30° and 60° inclusive, which is greater than the inclination angle of the lower vertical wall (4a). The bend line (4c) is positioned more than ½ way up between the lower flange (3) and the upper flange (5) so as to be closer to the upper flange (5) than the lower flange (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masatoshi Yoshida, Koji Fukumoto, Koki Ikeda