FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
[See section 10, rule 13]
TITLE: “A MECHANISM FOR OPERATING A BONNET OF A VEHICLE”
NAME AND ADDRESS OF THE APPLICANT:
TATA MOTORS PASSENGER VEHICLES LIMITED of Floor 3, 4, Plot-18, Nanavati Mahalaya, Mudhana Shetty Marg, BSE, Fort, Mumbai, Mumbai City, Maharashtra, 400001 India
Nationality: Indian
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.

TECHNICAL FIELD
Present disclosure generally relates to a field of automobiles. Particularly, but not exclusively the present disclosure relates to a bonnet of a vehicle. Further, embodiments of the present disclosure discloses a mechanism for operating the bonnet of the vehicle.
BACKGROUND
Generally, vehicles such as passenger vehicles and commercial vehicles are provided with a closure panel such as a hood or a bonnet for closing a vehicle engine compartment. The bonnet is typically hinged to the vehicle body for movement between an open position and a closed position where the bonnet closes the engine compartment to protect it from weather, dirt and debris. In the open position, the bonnet provides access to the engine compartment for maintenance and inspection of the engine compartment and it is therefore required to provide means for supporting the bonnet in such open position. Generally, a stay rod is fixed at one end to the vehicle body adjacent to the engine compartment and has a free end which is selectively engaged with a portion of the vehicle bonnet, such as a receiving aperture. However, during operation of the bonnet from the closed position to the open position and to retain the bonnet at the open position, an operator must have one hand free to raise and support the bonnet in the open position until the stay rod is engaged in the receiving aperture by another hand, which is cumbersome. Additionally, if the stay rod is not positively located in the bonnet and if it becomes disengaged by a sudden movement of the vehicle, vibration or wind, the bonnet will suddenly be released and lead to abrupt movement of the bonnet from the open position to the closed position, which causes injuries to the operator, which is undesired.
Present disclosure is directed to overcome one or more limitations stated above or any other limitations associated with the known arts.
The drawbacks/difficulties/disadvantages/limitations of the conventional techniques explained in the background section are just for exemplary purpose and the disclosure would never limit its scope only such limitations. A person skilled in the art would understand that this disclosure and below mentioned description may also solve other problems or overcome the other drawbacks/disadvantages of the conventional arts which are not explicitly captured above.
SUMMARY

The one or more shortcomings of the prior art are overcome by a mechanism as claimed and additional advantages are provided through the features as claimed in the present disclosure. Additional features and advantages are realized through the techniques of the present disclosure. Other embodiments and aspects of the disclosure are described in detail herein and are considered a part of the claimed disclosure.
In a non-limiting embodiment of the disclosure, a mechanism for operating a bonnet of a vehicle is disclosed. The mechanism includes a bracket which is connected to a body of the vehicle. Further, a support member is defined with one end which is pivotally connected to the bracket. Furthermore, another end of the support member is fixed to the bonnet of the vehicle, where the support member pivotally displaces between a first position and a second position relative to displacement of the bonnet between a closed condition and an open condition. Additionally, the mechanism includes a link rod which has a first section which is defined with a projection. The projection is movably disposed through the bracket and is positioned in contact with the support member. Further, the link rod includes a second section which is receivable in the body. The projection is adapted to displace relative to the bracket and frictionally slide on the support member, to lock the support member at the first position and the second position relative to displacement of the bonnet between the closed condition and the open condition. The mechanism enables the bonnet to be easily operated and mitigates use of a stay rod for retaining the bonnet at the open condition.
In an embodiment, the bracket is defined with a cutout having a first end and a second end to slidably receive a portion of the link rod.
In an embodiment, the projection is slidably received within the cutout and adapted to slide between the first end and the second end of the cutout relative to displacement of the support member between the first position and the second position.
In an embodiment, the mechanism includes a resilient member which is disposed on the first section of the link rod between the projection and a flange is defined on the bracket. The resilient member is adapted to bias the projection towards the second end of the cutout.
In an embodiment, the support member is defined with a cam profile on which the projection frictionally contacts to displace between the first end and the second end of the cutout relative to displacement of the support member between the first position and the second position.

In an embodiment, the second section of the link rod is defined with a hook. The hook is positioned within the body of the vehicle and is configured to engage with a provision defined in the body to lock the link rod.
In a non-limiting embodiment of the disclosure, a vehicle is disclosed. The vehicle includes a body and a bonnet connected to the body. Further, the vehicle includes a mechanism for operating the bonnet. The mechanism includes a bracket which is connected to a body of the vehicle. Further, the mechanism includes a support member is defined with one end which is pivotally connected to the bracket. Furthermore, another end of the support member is fixed to the bonnet of the vehicle, where the support member pivotally displaces between a first position and a second position relative to displacement of the bonnet between a closed condition and an open condition. Additionally, the mechanism includes a link rod which has a first section which is defined with a projection. The projection is movably disposed through the bracket and is positioned in contact with the support member. Further, the link rod includes a second section which is receivable in the body. The projection is adapted to displace relative to the bracket and frictionally slide on the support member, to lock the support member at the first position and the second position relative to displacement of the bonnet between the closed condition and the open condition.
It is to be understood that the aspects and embodiments of the disclosure described above may be used in any combination with each other. Several of the aspects and embodiments may be combined together to form a further embodiment of the disclosure.
The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING FIGURES
The novel features and characteristic of the disclosure are set forth in the appended claims. The disclosure itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying figures. One or more

embodiments are now described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying figures wherein like reference numerals represent like elements and in which:
Fig. 1 illustrates a side view of a bonnet at a closed condition, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
Fig. 2, illustrate a side view of the bonnet at an open condition, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
Fig. 3 illustrates a perspective view of a mechanism for operating the bonnet, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
Fig. 4 illustrates a perspective view of a bracket of the mechanism, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
Fig. 5 illustrates a side view of a support member of the mechanism, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
Fig. 6 illustrates a perspective view of a link rod of the mechanism, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
Fig. 7 illustrates a side cross-sectional view of the body of the vehicle accommodating a hook of the link rod, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
The figures depict embodiments of the disclosure for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The foregoing has broadly outlined the features and technical advantages of the present disclosure in order that the detailed description of the disclosure that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the disclosure will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the disclosure. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other method for carrying out the same purposes of the present

disclosure. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the scope of the disclosure as set forth in the appended claims. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the disclosure, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration and description only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the present disclosure.
The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, or any other variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that an mechanism, assembly, device or method that comprises a list of components or steps does not include only those components or steps but may include other components or steps not expressly listed or inherent to such setup or mechanism or device or method. In other words, one or more elements in a device or apparatus or method proceeded by “comprises… a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other elements or additional elements in the device or apparatus or method.
Reference will now be made to the exemplary embodiments of the disclosure, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, same numerals have been used to refer to the same or like parts. The following paragraphs describe the present disclosure with reference to Figs. 1-7.
Figs. 1 and 2, are exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure illustrating a bonnet (1) of a vehicle [not shown in Figs] operated between a closed condition [as seen in Fig. 1] and an open condition [as seen in Fig. 2], respectively. As an example, the vehicle may be any passenger or a commercial vehicle having a bonnet (1) which may be adapted to cover an engine compartment of the vehicle. The vehicle may include a frame [not shown in Figs] which may be configured to support components of the vehicle and provide stability to the vehicle. Further, the vehicle may include a body (2). The body (2) may be supported on the frame of the vehicle. The body (2) may be made of suitably metal and metal alloys as per requirement of the vehicle. Furthermore, the vehicle may be include the bonnet (1) which may be operably connected to the body (2). The bonnet (1) may be adapted to cover an opening in the engine compartment defined in the body (2) of the vehicle. In an embodiment, the bonnet (1) may be pivotally fixed to the body (2) through a mechanism (100). The mechanism (100) may be

adapted to operate the bonnet (1) between the closed condition and the open condition, and also provide support to the bonnet (1) to retain the bonnet (1) at the open condition.
Referring now to Figs. 2 and 3, the mechanism (100) may include a bracket (3) [best seen in Fig. 4]. In an embodiment, the bracket (3) may be manufactured with at least one of a metal, a metal alloy and a non-metal. Further, the bracket (3) may be connected to the body (2) of the vehicle. For example, the bracket (3) may be connected to a portion of the body (2) which may be at least one of proximal to the engine compartment, to a portion extending from a periphery of the engine compartment, a structural member extending from the body (2) and the like, which aid in pivotally connecting the bonnet (1) to cover the engine compartment of the vehicle. The bracket (3) may be connected to the body (2) through at least one of a fastening means, thermal bonding means, adhesive bonding means and the like. Additionally, the bracket (3) may be defined with a cutout (7). The cutout (7) may include a first end (7a) and a second end (7b). In an embodiment, the cutout (7) may be defined with a shape which may be including but not limited to a rectangle, an ovel, a rectangle having semicircular ends and any other geometric shape as per requirement. Further, the mechanism (100) mat include a support member (4) [as best seen in Fig. 5]. The support member (4) may be defined with one end (4a) which may be pivotally connected to the bracket (3) and another end (4b) which may be fixed to the bonnet (1) of the vehicle. In an embodiment, the support member (4) may be pivotally connected to bracket (3) and rigidly connected to the bonnet (1) through suitable fasteners. The support member (4) may be adapted to pivotally displaces between a first position (FP) and a second position (SP) relative to displacement of the bonnet (1) between a closed condition and an open condition. That is, the support member (4) in the first position (FP) corresponds to the closed condition of the bonnet (1) and the second position (SP) of the support member (4) corresponds to the open condition of the bonnet (1). Furthermore, in an embodiment, the support member (4) may be defined with a cam profile. The cam profile may aid in retaining the bonnet (1) at the closed condition and the open condition during operation of the bonnet (1).
Further, referring to Figs. 2 and 3, the mechanism (100) may include a link rod (5) [best seen in Fig. 6]. The link rod (5) may be defined with a first section (5a) and a second section (5b). In an embodiment, the first section (5a) may be defined with a projection (8). The projection (8) may be movably disposed through the bracket (3) and may be positioned such that the projection (8) may be in contact with the support member (4). Referring back to Figs. 3 and 4,

the portion of the link rod (5) may be slidably received within the cutout (7) which may be defined in the bracket (3). That is, the portion of the link rod (5) may be slidably received between the first end (7a) and the second end (7b) of the cutout (7). In an embodiment, the projection (8) which may be defined in the first section (5a) of the link rod (5) may be slidably received within the cutout (7). The projection (8) which may be received within the cutout (7) may be adapted to slide and displace between the first end (7a) and the second end (7b) of the cutout (7). The projection (8) may be adapted to slide between the first end (7a) and the second end (7b) relative to displacement of the support member (4) between the first position (FP) and the second position (SP), respectively. In an embodiment, the projection (8) may be adapted to displace relative to the bracket (3) and frictionally slide on the support member (4), to lock the support member (4) at the first position (FP) and the second position (SP) relative to displacement of the bonnet (1) between the closed condition and the open condition.
Further, the second section (5b) of the link rod (5) may be receivable within the body (2) of the vehicle. As seen in Fig. 6, the second section (5b) of the link rod (5) may be defined with a hook (9). The hook (9) may be positioned within the body (2) of the vehicle and may be configured to engage with a provision (10) defined in the body (2) to lock the link rod (5) [as seen in Fig. 3 and 6]. The link rod (5) may be adapted to lock with the provision (10) in the second position (SP) of the support member (4) and relative to open condition of the bonnet
(1) to retain the bonnet (1) at the open condition. In an embodiment, as seen in Fig. 7, the body
(2) may be defined with a passage (12) which may be adapted to receive and support the hook (9) portion of the link rod (5). The passage (12) may be defined with a profile which may aid in displacement of the hook (9) portion in the second section (5b) of the link rod (5). The passage (12) may aid in positioning the hook (9) such that the hook (9) may engage with the provision (10) to lock the link rod (5) relative to second position (SP) of the support member (4) and relative to open condition of the bonnet (1). Further, in the first position (FP) of the support member (4) and relative to the closed condition of the bonnet (1), the hook (9) may disengage with the provision (10) and may get positioned in the passage (12) such that the link rod (5) may be unlocked and allows displacement of the support member (4) and the bonnet (1). In an embodiment, the engagement of the hook (9) with the provision (10) may restrict displacement of the link rod (5) and may aid in retaining the bonnet (1) at the open condition and prevent the bonnet (1) from displacing from the open condition to the closed condition. The operator in order to unlock the hook (9) may have to press the hook (9) of the link rod (5)

such that the hook (9) may displace within the passage (12) so that the support member (4) and the bonnet (1) may be free to displace.
Further, as seen in Fig. 3, the mechanism (100) may include a resilient member (6) which may be disposed on the first section (5a) of the link rod (5). The resilient member (6) may be disposed between the projection (8) and a flange (11) which may be defined on the bracket (3), when the projection (8) may be disposed within the cutout (7) of the bracket (3). The resilient member (6) may be adapted to bias the projection (8) towards the second end (7b) of the cutout (7). That is, the resilient member (6) may be configured to displace the projection (8) from the first end (7a) to the second end (7b) of the cutout (7) when no loads may be acting on the projection (8). The resilient member (6) may be adapted to retain the projection (8) at the second end (7b) of the cutout (7), thereby retaining the support member (4) in the second position (SP) when the bonnet (1) may be operated to the open condition. The biasing force provided by the resilient member (6) aids in lifting the bonnet (1) from the closed condition to the open condition and holding the bonnet (1) at the open condition without requiring external support. Furthermore, the projection (8) may be adapted to frictionally contact the cam profile of the support member (4).
In an operational embodiment, the projection (8) may be adapted to frictionally contact the support member (4) and displace from the first end (7a) to the second end (7b) of the cutout (7) relative to the displacement of the support member (4) between the first position (FP) and the second position (SP). That is, upon operating the bonnet (1) from the closed condition to the open condition, the support member (4) may pivotally displace from the first position (FP) to the second position (SP). During such pivotal displacement of the support member (4), the projection (8) may fictionally slide along the cam profile of the support member (4) and displace from the first end (7a) to the second end (7b) of the cutout (7). Upon reaching the open condition, the support member (4) may be positioned in the second position (SP) and in-turn the projection (8) may be positioned at the second end (7b) of the cutout (7) supporting the support member (4) such that the bonnet (1) may stay at the open condition. Correspondingly, at the open condition of the bonnet (1), the hook (9) of the link rod (5) may engage with the provision (10) defined within the body (2) to lock displacement of the link rod (5) thereby locking displacement of the support member (4) at the second position (SP). This configuration of the mechanism (100) enables support of the bonnet (1) on the body (2) of the vehicle and also enables the bonnet (1) to be pivotally hinged to the body (2) for operating between the

closed condition and the open condition. Additionally, the resilient member (6), the projection (8) and the support member (4) prevents the bonnet (1) from retracting back to the closed condition once the bonnet (1) is positioned at the open condition, which is additionally ensured by the locking of the link rod (5) which may be achieved by the locking of the hook (9) of the link rod (5) with the body (2) of the vehicle.
Further, in order to displace the bonnet (1) from the open condition to the closed condition, the operator may have to displace the bonnet (1) further in the open condition, so that the hook (9) engaged with the provision (10) at the in the body (2) may be loosened and the operator may have to press the hook (9) and displace the hook (9) into the passage (12) within the body (2) of the vehicle. Upon unlocking the hook (9) with the body (2), the operator may have to operate the bonnet (1) from the open condition to the closed condition so that the support member (4) displaces from the second position (SP) to the first position (FP) and in-turn the projection (8) rides on the cam profile and may be displaced back to towards the first end (7a) of the cutout (7) from the second end (7b) of the cutout (7).
In an embodiment, the mechanism (100) is simple in construction and easy to manufacture. Further, the mechanism (100) enables the bonnet (1) to be easily operated and maintain. Additionally, the mechanism (100) mitigates use of a stay rod which was conventionally required for retaining the bonnet (1) at the open condition. Also, the resilient member (6), the projection (8), the support member (4), and the link rod (5) facilitate locking of the bonnet (1) at the open condition such that bonnet (1) does not suddenly displace from the open condition to the closed condition.
Additionally, the mechanism (100) enables operation of the bonnet (1) from the closed condition to the open condition and retains the bonnet (1) at the open condition without additional operations to be executed by the operator other than merely operating the bonnet (1) from the closed condition to the open condition.
It should be imperative that the mechanism and any other elements described in the above detailed description should not be considered as a limitation with respect to the figures. Rather, variation to such mechanism should be considered within the scope of the detailed description.
Equivalents:

With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singular terms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from the plural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as is appropriate to the context and/or application. The various singular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth herein for sake of clarity.
It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,” etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to inventions containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should typically be interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, and C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by those within

the art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms. For example, the phrase “A or B” will be understood to include the possibilities of “A” or “B” or “A and B.”
In addition, where features or aspects of the disclosure are described in terms of Markush groups, those skilled in the art will recognize that the disclosure is also thereby described in terms of any individual member or subgroup of members of the Markush group.
While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope.

Referral Numerals:

Reference Number Description
100 Mechanism
1 Bonnet
2 Body
3 Bracket
4 Support member
4a One end
4b Another end
5 Link rod
5a First section
5b Second section
6 Resilient member
7 Cutout
7a First end
7b Second end
8 Projection
9 Hook
10 Provision
11 Flange
12 Passage
FP First position
SP Second position

We Claim:
1. A mechanism (100) for operating a bonnet (1) of a vehicle, the mechanism (100)
comprising:
a bracket (3) connected to a body (2) of the vehicle;
a support member (4), defined with one end (4a) pivotally connected to the bracket (3) and another end (4b) fixed to the bonnet (1) of the vehicle, wherein the support member (4) pivotally displaces between a first position (FP) and a second position (SP) relative to displacement of the bonnet (1) between a closed condition and an open condition; and
a link rod (5), comprising:
a first section (5a) defined with a projection (8), the projection (8) is movably disposed through the bracket (3) and positioned in contact with the support member (4); and
a second section (5b) receivable in the body (2),
wherein the projection (8) is adapted to displace relative to the bracket (3) and frictionally slide on the support member (4), to lock the support member (4) at the first position (FP) and the second position (SP) relative to displacement of the bonnet (1) between the closed condition and the open condition.
2. The mechanism (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bracket (3) is defined with a cutout (7) having a first end (7a) and a second end (7b) to slidably receive a portion of the link rod (5).
3. The mechanism (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the projection (8) is slidably received within the cutout (7) and adapted to slide between the first end (7a) and the second end (7b) of the cutout (7) relative to displacement of the support member (4) between the first position (FP) and the second position (SP).
4. The mechanism (100) as claimed in claim 1 comprises a resilient member (6) disposed on the first section (5a) of the link rod (5) between the projection (8) and a flange (11)

defined on the bracket (3), wherein the resilient member (6) is adapted to bias the projection (8) towards the second end (7b) of the cutout (7).
5. The mechanism (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support member (4) is defined
with a cam profile on which the projection (8) frictionally contacts to displace between
the first end (7a) and the second end (7b) of the cutout (7) relative to displacement of
the support member (4) between the first position (FP) and the second position (SP).
6. The mechanism (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second section (5b) of the
link rod (5) is defined with a hook (9), the hook (9) is positioned within the body (2) of
the vehicle and configured to engage with a provision (10) defined in the body (2) to
lock the link rod (5).
7. A vehicle, comprising:
a body (2);
a bonnet (1) connected to the body (2); and
a mechanism (100) for operating the bonnet (1), the mechanism (100) comprising:
a bracket (3) connected to a body (2) of the vehicle;
a support member (4), defined with one end (4a) pivotally connected to the bracket (3) and another end (4b) fixed to the bonnet (1) of the vehicle, wherein the support member (4) pivotally displaces between a first position (FP) and a second position (SP) relative to displacement of the bonnet (1) between a closed condition and an open condition; and
a link rod (5), comprising:
a first section (5a) defined with a projection (8), the projection (8) is movably disposed through the bracket (3) and positioned in contact with the support member (4); and
a second section (5b) receivable in the body (2),

wherein the projection (8) is adapted to displace relative to the bracket (3) and frictionally slide on the support member (4), to lock the support member (4) at the first position (FP) and the second position (SP) relative to displacement of the bonnet (1) between the closed condition and the open condition.
8. The vehicle as claimed in claim 7, wherein the bracket (3) is defined with a cutout (7) having a first end (7a) and a second end (7b) to slidably receive a portion of the link rod (5).
9. The vehicle as claimed in claim 7, wherein the projection (8) is slidably received within the cutout (7) and adapted to slide between the first end (7a) and the second end (7b) of the cutout (7) relative to displacement of the support member (4) between the first position (FP) and the second position (SP).