Description:A REINFORCEMENT STRUCTURE FOR A HOOD STRIKER ASSEMBLY
[0001] The present subject matter, in general, relates to a hood striker assembly in a vehicle, in particular, the present subject matter relates to a reinforcement structure for the hood striker assembly.
BACKGROUND
[0002] In current SUV styled vehicles, a front hood of the SUV vehicle is heavy. The front hood being heavy causes generation of larger impact loads at the striker region of the hood. This makes it necessary to have a sufficiently stiff striker reinforcement.
[0003] However, an overall design of the hood inner panel at the striker region is flat in shape and the flat surface of the striker region gets deformed that in turn induces larger strain values.
[0004] Fig. 1 illustrates a diagram depicting a bottom perspective view of a vehicle front hood assembly 100, in accordance with an existing prior art.
[0005] Fig. 2 illustrates a diagram depicting a bottom perspective view of a hood striker assembly 200, in accordance with an existing prior art. Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the vehicle front hood assembly 100 includes a hood inner panel 102, a hood outer panel 104, a hood front reinforcement 106, a striker reinforcement 108, and a striker rod 110. The hood front reinforcement 106 and the striker reinforcement 108 are placed between the hood inner panel 102 and the hood outer panel 104 to form a closed structure for providing rigidity against hood slam loads. The striker rod 110 is welded with the striker reinforcement.
[0006] Fig. 3 illustrates a diagram depicting a cross section view 300 of a hood striker region as viewed from a vehicle side, in accordance with an existing prior art. In Fig. 3, the striker reinforcement 108 is welded with the hood inner panel 102 from an inside and provides strength to the striker rod 110. However, the existing striker reinforcement 108 is not able to provide sufficient stiffness in case of heavier hood and fails to provide enough stiffness and support to endure the impact caused by slamming of the heavier hood.
[0007] Thus, there is a need for a solution to overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks and provide solution to endure the impact caused by slamming of the heavier hood.
OBJECTS OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0008] Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfy, are listed below.
[0009] It is a general or primary object of the present subject matter to provide a reinforcement structure having sufficient stiffness and rigidity.
[0010] It is another object of the present subject matter to provide the reinforcement structure that endures an impact generated by a hood slamming on a striker rod attached to the reinforcement structure.
[0011] These and other objects and advantages will become more apparent when reference is made to the following description and accompanying drawings.
SUMMARY
[0012] This summary is provided to introduce concepts related to a reinforcement structure for a hood striker assembly. The reinforcement structure includes a front portion, a rear portion with an uplifted surface. The reinforcement structure includes a plurality of double-hump structures provided on the front portion and the uplifted surface of the rear portion, configured to receive a striker rod. The reinforcement structure further includes a step structure at each side of the reinforcement structure extending from the front portion to the rear portion.
[0013] In an aspect of the present subject matter, the plurality of double-hump structures comprises a front double-hump structure provided in the front portion and a rear double-hump structure provided in the uplifted surface of the rear portion.
[0014] In an aspect of the present subject matter, the front double-hump is provided on a first side of the reinforcement structure and the rear double-hump structure is provided on a second side opposite to the first side of the reinforcement structure.
[0015] In an aspect of the present subject matter, the striker rod comprises a first leg arcwelded in a front double-hump structure amongst the plurality of double-hump structures, a second leg arcwelded in a rear double-hump structure amongst the plurality of double-hump structures, and an inverted U-shaped structure between the first leg and the second leg receiving the hood. The first leg and the second leg extend in an opposite direction to one another.
[0016] In an aspect of the present subject matter, the step structure comprises a first step in the front portion extending in an upwards direction. The first step comprises a depression. The step structure comprises a surface extending from the first step in the upwards direction. The surface ends at a rear section of the rear portion.
[0017] In an aspect of the present subject matter, the rear portion further comprises a slant surface behind the uplifted surface extending in a downwards direction from the uplifted surface away from the front portion, having plurality of box shaped sections facing away from the front portion, and a rear section behind the slant surface, having a plurality of protrusions protruding out in an upwards direction from the rear section. The rear section extends from a first side of the reinforcement structure towards a second side of the reinforcement structure.
[0018] In an aspect of the present subject matter, the rear section comprises a first end at the first side having a first protrusion amongst the plurality of protrusions, a second end at the second side opposite to the first end having a second protrusion amongst the plurality of protrusions, and a rear surface extending from the first end towards the second end, having a third protrusion amongst the plurality of protrusions at a center of the rear surface.
[0019] In an aspect of the present subject matter, the uplifted surface is uplifted in an inclined orientation away from the front portion.
[0020] Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the inventive subject matter will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, along with the accompanying drawing figures in which like numerals represent like components.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] The illustrated embodiments of the subject matter will be best understood by reference to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals throughout. The following description is intended only by way of example, and simply illustrates certain selected embodiments of devices, systems, and methods that are consistent with the subject matter as claimed herein, wherein:
[0022] Fig. 1 illustrates a diagram depicting a bottom perspective view of a vehicle front hood assembly, in accordance with an existing prior art;
[0023] Fig. 2 illustrates a diagram depicting a bottom perspective view of a hood striker assembly, in accordance with an existing prior art; Fig. 3 illustrates a diagram depicting a cross section view of a hood striker region as viewed from a vehicle side, in accordance with an existing prior art;
[0024] Fig. 4 illustrates a diagram depicting reinforcement structure, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter;
[0025] Fig. 5 illustrates a diagram depicting a bottom view of the reinforcement structure, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter;
[0026] Fig. 6 illustrates a diagram depicting a cross-section view of the plurality of double-hump structures on the reinforcement structure at the front portion and the rear portion, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter;
[0027] Fig. 7 illustrates a diagram depicting a cross-sectional view of the step structure, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter; and
[0028] Fig. 8 illustrates a diagram depicting across-sectional view of the plurality of protrusions, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0029] The following is a detailed description of embodiments of the disclosure depicted in the accompanying drawings. The embodiments are in such detail as to clearly communicate the disclosure. However, the amount of detail offered is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments; on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
[0030] As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” includes plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
[0031] Fig. 4 illustrates a diagram 400 depicting a reinforcement structure 402, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. The reinforcement structure 402 is configured to be attached to a hood striker assembly of a vehicle. The reinforcement structure 402 may have sufficient stiffness and rigidity. The reinforcement structure 402 is configured to endure an impact generated by a hood slamming on the hood striker assembly incorporating the reinforcement structure 402. The reinforcement structure 402 is a single piece structure permanently attached to the striker assembly having an uplifted portion. The reinforcement structure 402 is configured to receive a striker rod that is arc welded with the reinforcement structure 402. The reinforcement structure 402 is configured to provide sufficient stiffness and rigidity when the hood is slammed on the striker rod attached to the reinforcement structure 402 of the hood striker assembly.
[0032] Continuing with the above embodiment, the reinforcement structure 402 may include a front portion 404, a rear portion 406, a plurality of double-hump structures 408 spread across the front portion 404 and the rear portion 406, and a step structure 410 extending from the front portion 404 to the rear portion 406 of the reinforcement structure 402. The reinforcement structure 402 is attached in the hood striker assembly in a way such that the front portion 404 is in line with a forward direction of the vehicle and the rear portion 406 is facing away from the forward moving direction.
[0033] Moving forward, the rear portion 406 may include an uplifted surface 406a, a slant surface 406b, and a rear section 406c. The uplifted surface 406a is uplifted in an inclined orientation away from the front portion 404. The slant surface 406b is located between the uplifted surface 406a and the rear section 406c. The rear section 406c is at an end of the rear portion 406 while the uplifted surface 406a is near to the front portion 404 of the reinforcement structure 402. The slant surface 406b is extending in a downwards direction from the uplifted surface 406a away from the front portion 404. The slant surface 406b may include a plurality of box shaped sections 412 facing away from the front portion 404. The plurality of box shaped sections 412 may be configured to enhance a stiffness at the rear portion 406. The rear section 406c may include a plurality of protrusions 414 protruding out in an upwards direction from the rear section 406c. The rear section 406c may be configured to provide a longitudinal stiffness to the reinforcement structure 402. The rear section 406c may extend from a first side 402a of the reinforcement structure 402 towards a second side 402b of the reinforcement structure 402. The rear section 406c may include a first end 416, a second end 418, and a rear surface 420. The first end 416 may be located at the first side 402a having a first protrusion amongst the plurality of protrusions 414. The second end 418 may be located at the second side 402b opposite to the first end 416 having a second protrusion amongst the plurality of protrusions 414. The rear surface 420 may be extending from the first end 416 towards the second end 418. The rear surface 420 may have a third protrusion amongst the plurality of protrusions 414 at a center of the rear surface 420.
[0034] To that understanding, each of the front portion 404 and the rear portion 406 may be configured to have one double-hump structure from the plurality of double-hump structures 408. The plurality of double-hump structures 408 is provided on the reinforcement structure 402 in order to receive the striker rod. The plurality of double-hump structures 408 may include a front double-hump structure 408a and a rear double-hump structure 408b. The front double-hump structure 408a may be provided on the front portion 404 and the rear double-hump structure 408b is provided on the uplifted surface 406a of the rear portion 406. The plurality of double-hump structures 408 may collectively be configured to provide stiffness to the hood striker assembly when the hood is slammed on the vehicle body. In a preferred embodiment, the striker rod may include a first leg and a second leg. The first leg may be arc welded with the front double-hump structure 408a and the second leg is arc welded with the rear double-hump structure 408b. The striker rod may further include an inverted U-shaped structure between the first leg and the second leg receiving the hood. The first leg and the second leg may be configured to extend in an opposite direction to one another. The front double-hump structure 408a may be provided adjacent to the first side 402a of the reinforcement structure 402 and the rear double-hump structure 408b may be provided adjacent to the second side 402b of the reinforcement structure 402. The second side 402b is opposite to the first side 402a. The front double-hump structure 408a and the rear double-hump structure 408b may be located in opposite directions for receiving the first leg and the second leg extending in the opposite direction with respect to one another.
[0035] Moving forward, the step structure 410 may be configured to provide a lateral stiffness and a sectional rigidity to the reinforcement structure 402. The step structure 410 may be located at the first side 402a and the second side 402b of the reinforcement structure 402 extending from the front portion 404 towards the rear portion 406. The step structure 410 may include a first step 410a in the front portion 404 extending in an upwards direction. The first step 410a may be created by adding a depression configured to provide the sectional rigidity. The step structure 410 may also include a surface 410b extending from the first step 410a in the upwards direction configured to provide the lateral stiffness to the reinforcement structure 402 such that height of the surface 410b increases while extending from the first portion 404 to the rear portion 406. The surface 410b may be configured to end at the rear section 406c of the rear portion 406.
[0036] Fig. 5 illustrates a diagram 500 depicting a bottom view of the reinforcement structure 402, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. The reinforcement structure 402 is attached to a hood striker assembly in an orientation that keep the front portion 404 in a forward moving direction.
[0037] Fig. 6 illustrates a diagram 600 depicting aa cross-section view of the plurality of double-hump structures 408 on the reinforcement structure 402 at the front portion 404 and the rear portion 406, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. The plurality of double-hump structures is configured to increase stiffness of the reinforcement structure 402.
[0038] Fig. 7 illustrates a diagram 700 depicting a cross-sectional view of the step structure 410, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. The step structure 410 on each side of the reinforcement structure 402 creates two side faces for increasing a lateral stiffness of the reinforcement structure 402.
[0039] Fig. 8 illustrates a diagram 800 depicting a cross-sectional view of the plurality of protrusions 414, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. The plurality of protrusions 414 is configured to enhance a longitudinal stiffness of the reinforcement structure 402.
[0040] While the detailed description describes various embodiments of the invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof. The scope of the invention is determined by the claims that follow. The invention is not limited to the described embodiments, versions, or examples, which are included to enable a person having ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention when combined with information and knowledge available to the person having ordinary skill in the art.
, Claims:We claim:
1. A reinforcement structure (402) for a hood striker assembly, comprising:
a front portion (404);
a rear portion (406) with an uplifted surface (406a);
a plurality of double-hump structures (408) provided on the front portion (404) and the uplifted surface (406a) of the rear portion (406), configured to receive a striker rod; and
a step structure (410) at each side of the reinforcement structure (402) extending from the front portion (404) to the rear portion (406).

2. The reinforcement structure (402) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of double-hump structures (408) comprises a front double-hump structure (408a) provided in the front portion (404) and a rear double-hump structure (408b) provided in the uplifted surface (406a) of the rear portion (406).

3. The reinforcement structure (402) as claimed in claim 2, the front double-hump structure (408a) is provided on a first side (402a) of the reinforcement structure (402) and the rear double-hump structure (408b) is provided on a second side (402b) opposite to the first side (402a) of the reinforcement structure (402).

4. The reinforcement structure (402) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the striker rod comprises a first leg arcwelded in a front double-hump structure (408a) amongst the plurality of double-hump structures (408), a second leg arcwelded in a rear double-hump structure (408b) amongst the plurality of double-hump structures (408), and an inverted U-shaped structure between the first leg and the second leg receiving the hood, further wherein the first leg and the second leg extend in an opposite direction to one another.

5. The reinforcement structure (402) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step structure (410) comprises:
a first step (410a) in the front portion (404) extending in an upwards direction, wherein the first step (410a) comprises a depression; and
a surface (410b) extending from the first step (410a) in the upwards direction, wherein the surface (410b) ends at a rear section (406c) of the rear portion (406).

6. The reinforcement structure (402) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rear portion (406) further comprises:
a slant surface (406b) behind the uplifted surface (406a) extending in a downwards direction from the uplifted surface (406a) away from the front portion (404), having plurality of box shaped sections (412) facing away from the front portion (404); and
a rear section (406c) behind the slant surface (406b), having a plurality of protrusions (414) protruding out in an upwards direction from the rear section (406c), wherein the rear section (406c) extends from a first side (402a) of the reinforcement structure (402) towards a second side (402b) of the reinforcement structure (402).
7. The reinforcement structure (402) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the rear section (406c) comprises:
a first end (416) at the first side (402a) having a first protrusion amongst the plurality of protrusions (414);
a second end (418) at the second side (402b) opposite to the first end (416) having a second protrusion amongst the plurality of protrusions (414); and
a rear surface (420) extending from the first end (416) towards the second end (418), having a third protrusion amongst the plurality of protrusions (414) at a center of the rear surface (420).

8. The reinforcement structure (402) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the uplifted surface (406a) is uplifted in an inclined orientation away from the front portion (404).