Description:A HOOD CUSHION MOUNTING BRACKET STRUCTURE

TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure in general relates to a front body structure of a vehicle body. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a structure of a hood cushion mounting bracket that is used for mounting a hood on an upper hood lock member of a vehicle.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Automotive industry in India is one of the main pillars of the economy. With strong backward and forward linkages, it is a key driver of growth. In addition, automotive industry has always been known to be very competitive as far as its design and material usage are concerned. Therefore, the automotive industry is always facing greater market pressure to develop high quality products more quickly with different variants of a particular vehicle model in order to cater different segments of end users.
[0003] Nowadays, frequently occurring vehicle collision accidents have become a serious threat to safety of both passengers and drivers. The crashworthiness performance of automobile is of great importance in vehicle safety design. Conventionally, crashworthiness always depends upon the strength of body structure which has the direct relation with the structure design, material thickness, material strength grade, and so on. The present disclosure focuses on improving the structural design of the components.
[0004] Here, the present disclosure mainly focusses on improving the structure of a hood cushion mounting bracket 102 used for mounting a hood (not shown) on an upper hood lock member 104 of a vehicle. Here, the brackets 102 are placed at the extreme ends of the upper hood lock member 104 in transverse direction. A lower hood lock member 106 placed beneath the upper hood lock member104.
[0005] As, during a hood slam, the impact loads of hood are transmitted to hood lock members 104,106 via the spot welds between the hood cushion mounting bracket 102 and the hood lock members 104,106, as shown in FIG.1A or 1B. These impact loads create higher twisting moment due to the vehicle’s SUV style, as the brackets are placed at a greater height as compared to traditional vehicles.
[0006] FIG.1A depicts an assembly 100 of the hood cushion mounting bracket 102 and the hood lock members 104,106, placed at the front of the vehicle in accordance with a prior art.
[0007] Further to meet the vehicle styling requirements, hood latch 112 is positioned on hood lock members 104, 106 facing the engine in between the hood cushion mounting brackets 102 as shown in FIG.1B, as opposed to the general position of the hood latch, which is usually in the front direction of hood lock member. This causes the loads on the hood latch 112 as well as on the hood cushion mounting brackets 102 to create twisting moments around hood lock member 104, 106 in the same direction, which makes the resultant twisting moment higher in magnitude.
[0008] In addition, gusset 110 and brace 108 lamp support structures are not present beneath the transverse fillet of hood lock member 104 due to which bending is generated as shown in Fig. 2. This creates a local low stiffness area just around the bolt due to which high deformation is seen around the region as shown in Fig.2. Therefore, the existing design is not having adequate stiffness and stress distribution in connected region which made it necessary to improve the structure of the brackets 102 for increasing the stiffness and proper distribution of load around the region.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The primary objective of the present subject matter is to provide the hood cushion mounting bracket that increases the maximum load bearing capacity of front end of the vehicle.
[0010] The another objective of the present subject matter is to provide the hood cushion mounting bracket that helps in proper distribution of stresses generated due to hood impact loads
[0011] It is yet another objective of the present subject matter to provide the hood cushion mounting bracket having enough strength and robustness.
[0012] It is further objective of the present subject matter to provide the hood cushion mounting bracket having better load bearing capacity.
[0013] It is yet further objective of the present subject matter, to provide the hood cushion mounting bracket that resists the bending and the twisting moments arising due to the hood impact loads.
[0014] It is yet another objective of the present subject matter is to provide the hood cushion mounting bracket that increases the maximum load bearing capacity of front end of the vehicle.
SUMMARY
[0015] This summary is provided to introduce concepts relates to a hood cushion mounting bracket structure mounted on an upper hood lock member of a vehicle at right hand side and left hand side to receive a hood. The concepts are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.

[0016] In accordance with an embodiment, the present disclosure provides a hood cushion mounting bracket structure mounted on an upper hood lock member of a vehicle at right hand side and left hand side to receive a hood, the hood cushion mounting bracket structure comprising a rectangular top surface having a mounting hole to receive a cushion, wherein the rectangular top surface includes two surface planes defined by a fillet portion, wherein the two surface planes have different heights with respect to the upper hood lock member, a front leg and a rear leg extending outward at right angles from opposite transverse parallel sides of the rectangular top surface, wherein the fillet portion extend in the front leg and the rear leg from the rectangular top surface; and a right side leg extending outward at right angle from right side of the rectangular top surface ;characterized in that a flange extends outwardly away in longitudinal direction from a lower end of the rear leg ; and a step provided on the rear leg along transverse direction, wherein the step is provided in between the transverse side of the rectangular top surface and the lower end of the rear leg .
[0017] In an aspect, a mounting flange extends outwardly from a lower end of the right side leg and allows mounting of the flange on the upper hood lock member.
[0018] In an aspect, the right side leg extends in same direction as of the front leg and the rear leg.
[0019] In an aspect, the bracket is bolted with the upper hood lock member at two locations through the flange of the rear leg in vehicle transverse direction.
[0020] In an aspect, the flange of the rear leg extends toward the engine of the vehicle.
[0021] In an aspect, a wave–shaped profile is provided on a left and a right side of the flange provided on the rear leg.
[0022] In an aspect, the step provided on the rear leg is closer to the transverse side of the rectangular top surface.
[0023] In an aspect, a hood latch is positioned in between the hood cushion mounting bracket structure placed on the right and the left of the upper hood lock member facing the engine.
[0024] In an aspect, the hood cushion mounting bracket structure defines a hat shaped profile when viewed from vehicle outside along vehicle width direction.
[0025] In an aspect, the cushion receiving mounting hole is provided on the surface having height more than other surface.
[0026] To further understand the characteristics and technical contents of the present subject matter, a description relating thereto will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the drawings are illustrative only but not used to limit the scope of the present subject matter.
[0027] 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 FIGURES
[0028] The illustrated embodiments of the present disclosure 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 processes that are consistent with the subject matter as claimed herein, wherein:
[0029] FIG.1A illustrates an assembly that helps in building up the connection of a hood cushion mounting bracket and an upper hood lock member as per the prior art;
[0030] FIG.1B illustrates the placement of the hood cushion mounting bracket on the left and the right side of the upper hood lock member and a hood latch in between as per the prior art;
[0031] FIG.2 illustrates the sectional view of the assembly between the hood cushion mounting bracket placed on the left and the right side of the upper hood lock member, and a hood latch in between in accordance with the prior art;
[0032] FIG.3A illustrates the assembly of the hood cushion mounting bracket placed on the upper hood lock member in accordance with the present subject matter.
[0033] FIG.3B illustrates the assembly of the hood cushion mounting bracket placed on the upper hood lock member and an enlarged view of the hood cushion mounting bracket in accordance with the present subject matter.
[0034] FIG.4 illustrates the various views of the hood cushion mounting bracket in accordance with the present subject matter.
[0035] FIG.4A illustrates the front side view of the hood cushion mounting bracket in accordance with the present subject matter.
[0036] FIG.4B illustrates the back side view of the hood cushion mounting bracket in accordance with the present subject matter.
[0037] FIG.4C illustrates the left side view of the hood cushion mounting bracket in accordance with the present subject matter.
[0038] FIG.4D illustrates the right side view of the hood cushion mounting bracket in accordance with the present subject matter.
[0039] The figures depict embodiments of the present subject matter for the purposes of illustration only. A person skilled in the art will easily 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
[0040] A few aspects of the present disclosure are explained in detail below with reference to the various figures. Example implementations are described to illustrate the disclosed subject matter, not to limit its scope, which is defined by the claims. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize a number of equivalent variations of the various features provided in the description that follows.
EXEMPLARY IMPLEMENTATIONS
[0041] While the present disclosure may be embodied in various forms, there are shown in the drawings, and will hereinafter be described, some exemplary and non-limiting embodiments, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated. Not all of the depicted components described in this disclosure may be required, however, and some implementations may include additional, different, or fewer components from those expressly described in this disclosure. Variations in the arrangement and type of the components may be made without departing from the scope of the claims as set forth herein.
[0042] To solve the problem, the present disclosure proposes an assembly 300 of a proposed hood cushion mounting bracket structure 200 mounted on an upper hood lock member 104 of a vehicle at right hand side 104-R and left hand side 104-L to receive a hood as depicted in FIG.3A.
[0043] As mentioned above, in between the cushion mounting bracket structures 200, a hood latch 112 is provided facing an engine room.
[0044] FIG.3B illustrates the assembly of the hood cushion mounting bracket 200 placed on the upper hood lock member 104 and an enlarged view of the hood cushion mounting bracket 200 in accordance with the present subject matter.
[0045] Here, the hood cushion mounting bracket structure 200 comprises a rectangular top surface 202 having a mounting hole 202-C to receive a cushion. The mounting hole 202-C is a circular shaped hole with an extension. Moreover, the mounting hole 202-C is provided on the surface 202-F having height more than the other surface 202-L in the rectangular top surface 202.
[0046] It further comprises an arc–shaped emboss 202-A at a right rear end with a hole in middle. This is clearly depicted in FIG.4D that is right side view of the cushion mounting bracket structure 200.
[0047] In addition, the rectangular top surface 202 includes two surface planes 202-F,202-L as depicted in FIG.3B, wherein the two surface planes 202-F,202-L have different heights with respect to the upper hood lock member 104. Moreover, the two surface planes are defined by a fillet portion 202-S1,202-S2 provided on both the opposite transverse parallel sides 202-P1,202-P2 of the rectangular top surface 202.
[0048] It further comprises a front leg 204 and a rear leg 206 extending outward at right angles from opposite transverse parallel sides 202-P1,202-P2 of the rectangular top surface 202. In addition, the fillet portion 202-S1, 202-S2 extend in the front leg 204 and the rear leg 206 from the rectangular top surface 202. The front leg 204 of the hood cushion mounting bracket structure 200 and various sections of the same is illustrated in FIG.4A as the FIG.4A is the front side view of the hood cushion mounting bracket structure 200.
[0049] In addition, the rear leg 206 of the hood cushion mounting bracket structure 200 and various sections of the same is illustrated in FIG.4B as the FIG.4B is the rear side view of the hood cushion mounting bracket structure 200.
[0050] FIG.4C depicts the left side view of the cushion mounting bracket structure 200.
[0051] FIG.4D depicts the right side view of the cushion mounting bracket structure 200.
[0052] In FIG.4D, a flange 206-F extends outwardly away in longitudinal direction from a lower end 206-L of the rear leg 206; and a step 206-S provided on the rear leg 206 along transverse direction, wherein the step 206-S is provided in between the transverse side 202-P2 of the rectangular top surface 202 and the lower end 206-L of the rear leg 206.
[0053] The step 206-S provided on the rear leg 206 is quite closer to the transverse side 202-P2 of the rectangular top surface 202. In addition, a wave–shaped profile 206-W1,206-W2 is provided on a left side 206-T and a right side 206-R of the flange 206-F provided on the rear leg 206. This flange 206-F of the rear leg 204 extends toward the engine of the vehicle. A fillet portion 206-E is also provided that defines the joining of the flange 206-F and the lower end 206-L of the rear leg 206.
[0054] The flange 206-F of the rear leg 206 of the hood cushion mounting bracket 200 helps in bolting the hood cushion mounting bracket 200 over the upper hood lock member 104 at two locations in vehicle transverse direction.
[0055] Moreover, a right side leg 208 also extends outward at right angle from right side 202-R of the rectangular top surface 202. It further comprises a mounting flange 208-F that extends outwardly from a lower end 208-L of the right side leg 208 and allows mounting of the hood cushion mounting bracket 200 on the upper hood lock member 104 through the flange 208-F. This right side leg 208 extends in same direction as that of the front leg 204 and the rear leg 206. FIG.4D depicts the right side view of the hood cushion mounting bracket 200. Furthermore, the left side of the hood cushion mounting bracket 200 does not include any leg.
[0056] However, the flange 206-F, and flange 208-F provided on the front side leg 206 and the right side leg 208 of the hood cushion mounting bracket 200 helps in positive mounting of the hood cushion mounting bracket 200 over the left side 104-L and the right side 104-R of the upper hood lock member 104.
[0057] Hence, through the above –proposed structure of the hood cushion mounting bracket 200, various problems got solved up to a great extent.

ADVANTAGES
[0001] Due to the proposed structure of the hood cushion mounting bracket, the stiffness of the bracket is increased to a great extent.
[0002] The proposed structure of the hood cushion mounting bracket helps in distributing the stresses generated due to the hood impact loads in a proper manner.
[0003] The proposed structure of the hood cushion mounting bracket helps in providing enough strength and robustness to the bracket.
[0004] Due to the wave-type profile provided on the left and the right side of the hood cushion mounting bracket at the lower end helps in resisting the bending moment arising due to hood impact loads.
[0005] Due to the addition of step at the upper section of the flange attached at the lower end of the front side of the hood cushion mounting bracket increases its strength and reduces the deformation.
[0006] In all, the current proposed design of the hood cushion mounting bracket increases the maximum load bearing capacity of front end of the vehicle.
[0007] The above description does not provide specific details of the manufacture or design of the various components. Those of skill in the art are familiar with such details, and unless departures from those techniques are set out, techniques, known, related art or later developed designs and materials should be employed. Those in the art are capable of choosing suitable manufacturing and design details.
[0008] Further, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the disclosure. It will be appreciated that several of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be combined into other systems or applications. Various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations, or improvements therein may subsequently be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as encompassed by the following claims.
[0009] The claims, as originally presented and as they may be amended, encompass variations, alternatives, modifications, improvements, equivalents, and substantial equivalents of the embodiments and teachings disclosed herein, including those that are presently unforeseen or unappreciated, and that, for example, may arise from applicants/patentees and others.
[0010] It will be appreciated that variants of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be combined into many other different systems or applications. Various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations, or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims.
, Claims:We Claim:
1. A hood cushion mounting bracket structure (200) mounted on an upper hood lock member (104) of a vehicle at right hand side (104-R) and left hand side (104-L) to receive a hood, the hood cushion mounting bracket structure (200) comprising:
a rectangular top surface (202) having a mounting hole (202-C) to receive a cushion, wherein the rectangular top surface (202) includes two surface planes (202-F,202-L) defined by a fillet portion (202-S1,202-S2), wherein the two surface planes (202-F,202-L) have different heights with respect to the upper hood lock member (104),
a front leg (204) and a rear leg (206) extending outward at right angles from opposite transverse parallel sides (202-P1,202-P2) of the rectangular top surface (202), wherein the fillet portion (202-S1, 202-S2) extend in the front leg (204) and the rear leg (206) from the rectangular top surface (202); and
a right side leg (208) extending outward at right angle from right side (202-R) of the rectangular top surface (202);
characterized in that
a flange (206-F) extends outwardly away in longitudinal direction from a lower end (206-L) of the rear leg (206); and
a step (206-S) provided on the rear leg (206) along transverse direction, wherein the step (206-S) is provided in between the transverse side (202-P2) of the rectangular top surface (202) and the lower end (206-L) of the rear leg (206).
2. The hood cushion mounting bracket structure (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a mounting flange (208-F) extends outwardly from a lower end (208-L) of the right side leg (208) and allows mounting of the flange (208-F) on the upper hood lock member (104).
3. The hood cushion mounting bracket structure (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the right side leg (208) extends in same direction as of the front leg (204) and the rear leg (206).
4. The hood cushion mounting bracket structure (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bracket (200) is bolted with the upper hood lock member (104) at two locations through the flange (206-F) of the rear leg (206) in vehicle transverse direction.
5. The hood cushion mounting bracket structure (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flange (206-F) of the rear leg (206) extends toward the engine of the vehicle.
6. The hood cushion mounting bracket structure (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a wave–shaped profile (206-W1,206-W2) is provided on a left (206-T) and a right side (206-R) of the flange (206-F) provided on the rear leg (206).
7. The hood cushion mounting bracket structure (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step (206-S) provided on the rear leg (206) is closer to the transverse side (202-P2) of the rectangular top surface (202).
8. The hood cushion mounting bracket structure (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a hood latch (112) is positioned in between the hood cushion mounting bracket structure (200) placed on the right (104-R) and the left (104-L) of the upper hood lock member (104) facing the engine.
9. The hood cushion mounting bracket structure (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hood cushion mounting bracket structure (200) defines a hat shaped profile when viewed from vehicle outside along vehicle width direction.
10. The hood cushion mounting bracket structure (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cushion receiving mounting hole (202-C) is provided on the surface having height more than other surface.