DESC:FORM 2
The Patent Act 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
The Patent Rules, 2005

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(SEE SECTION 10 AND RULE 13)

TITLE OF THE INVENTION

“A HOOD HINGE ASSEMBLY”

APPLICANTS:
Name Nationality Address
Mahindra & Mahindra Limited Indian Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd.,
MRV, Mahindra World City (MWC),
Plot No. 41/1, Anjur Post, Chengalpattu,
Kanchipuram District – 603204 (TN) INDIA

The following specification particularly describes and ascertains the nature of this invention and the manner in which it is to be performed:-

TECHINCAL FIELD
[001] The embodiments herein generally relate to automobile hoods, and more particularly to a hood hinge assembly for pedestrian protection.

BACKGROUND
[002] Pedestrian safety is one of the important aspects in which research and development is being done, in addition to passenger safety, in the automobile design and manufacturing field. During a collision, kinetic energy due to impact is absorbed by the automotive structure. The kinetic energy from the impact has to be used so as to prevent the automotive structure from intruding the passenger compartment.
[003] Further, if automobile collides with a pedestrian, then the automobile structure should also ensure the pedestrian safety. For such reasons, automobile manufacturers are supposed to follow the required pedestrian norms, during design and manufacturing, so that in case of accident the pedestrian survives with little injury.
[004] In general, during an automobile-pedestrian collision, a Head Injury Criterion (HIC) value is higher in a vicinity of hood hinge assembly due to the increased stiffness collectively provided by hood hinge, hinge reinforcement and hood panel. A hood is the forward most closure panel of a vehicle and is arranged in a substantially horizontal orientation to enclose, and also to allow hinged access to, the engine compartment. It has been established that in the case of a vehicle to pedestrian collision, the highest risk of serious upper body and head injury occurs due to the pedestrian being thrown onto the relatively unyielding hood and windshield of the vehicle.
[005] There are several assemblies, which use materials like aluminum and expensive techniques such as pop up hood and air bags to provide minimal impact upon automobile-pedestrian collision and ensure pedestrian safety. However, such assemblies pose complexity in design and manufacturing and are generally expensive.
[006] Therefore, there is a need for a hood hinge assembly in vehicles that obviate the aforementioned drawbacks of the existing structures and that meet the occupant safety and pedestrian norms.

OBJECT
[007] The principal object of the embodiments as disclosed herein is to provide a hood hinge assembly that meets occupant safety and pedestrian norms.
[008] Another object of the embodiments as disclosed herein is to provide a hood hinge assembly that is easy to manufacture and cost effective.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES
[009] The embodiments are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, through out which like reference letters indicate corresponding parts in the various figures. The embodiments herein will be better understood from the following description with reference to the drawings, in which:
[0010] Fig. 1 depicts a hood hinge assembly according to an embodiment as disclosed herein;
[0011] Fig. 2 depicts a hinge according to an embodiment as disclosed herein;
[0012] Fig. 3 depicts hood hinge assemblies according to an embodiment as disclosed herein; and
[0013] Fig. 4 depicts a location of the hood hinge assembly in a hood of an automobile according to the embodiments as disclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION
[0014] The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
[0015] The embodiments herein achieve automobile occupant safety and pedestrian norms by providing a hood hinge assembly for frontal impact. Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 through 4, where similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the figures, there are shown embodiments.
[0016] Figs. 1 depicts a hood hinge assembly 100 according to an embodiment as disclosed herein. The hood hinge assembly 100 includes a hinge 10, a main link 20, and a hood opening lock 30. The hinge 10 is provided with a crash lock 10a, a first connecting portion 10b, a hinge point 10c, a front portion 10d, an extended portion 10e and a rear portion 10f. The main link 20 includes a body 20a, a second connecting portion 20b and a bead 20c.
[0017] The hinge 10 of the hood hinge assembly 100 is configured to be moved relative to the main link 20. The hinge 10 and the main link 20 are configured to connect with each other at the first connecting portion 10b and the second connecting portion 20b. The hood opening lock 30 is configured to be provided in a vicinity of the first connecting portion 10b and the second connecting portion 20b.
[0018] The body 20a is adapted to receive and secure the crash lock 10a of the hinge 10. In an embodiment, a length of the crash lock 10a is 8mm. However, it is also within the scope of the invention to provide the crash lock 10a of any length without otherwise deterring the intended function of the hinge 10 as can be deduced from this description and corresponding drawings.
[0019] In another embodiment, the bead 20c is defined on a vertical axis of the main link 20 between the first connecting portion 10b and a bottom of the main link 20.
[0020] In an embodiment, the hinge point 10c is configured to be offset from the vertical axis of the bead 20c and is configured to be positioned away from the extended portion 10e of the hinge 10.
[0021] In an embodiment, the hinge point 10c is configured to be moved rearward as much as possible to keep hard point away from pedestrian head impact zone.
[0022] In an embodiment, the hinge 10 and the main link 20 are configured to be overhung to a maximum extent in order to reduce the stiffness.
[0023] In an embodiment, the crash lock 10a is configured to be provided at the extended portion 10e of the hinge 10 so that the crash lock 10a does not form a hard point for pedestrian head impact.
[0024] In an embodiment, the hood opening lock 30 is configured to be provided at the rear portion 10f of the hinge 10 in order to keep the hood opening lock 30 away from head impact zone.
[0025] In an embodiment, the crash lock 10c and the hood opening lock 30 are positioned in such a way that, the crash lock 10c and the hood opening lock 30 are configured to carry-out the intended function without affecting the HIC performance under pedestrian adult head impact.

[0026] Fig. 2 depicts a hinge according to an embodiment as disclosed herein. The hinge 10 is provided with a crash lock 10a, a first connecting portion 10b, a hinge point 10c, a front portion 10d, a rear portion 10f and an extended portion 10e. The extended portion 10e is configured to connect said front portion 10d and said rear portion 10f.
[0027] In an embodiment, the hinge 10 is configured to be arranged in an L shape to avoid the hard stop for the impactor during impact travel.
[0028] In an embodiment, the vertical over-hang of the hinge 10 is increased with reduced bead length in order to get the required collapse during the pedestrian adult head impact without affecting the durability requirements.

[0029] Fig. 3 depicts hood hinge assemblies according to an embodiment as disclosed herein. Fig 3(a) depicts the hood hinge assembly 100 with the crash lock cut down is 8mm. Fig 3(b) depicts the hood hinge assembly 100 configured to provide maximum overhang. Fig 3(c) depicts the hood hinge assembly 100 configured to provide reduced bead length.

[0030] Fig. 4 depicts a location of the hood hinge assembly according to the embodiments as disclosed herein. The hood hinge assembly 100 is configured to be placed in a hood of an automobile.

[0031] The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.

CLAIMS
We claim:
1. A hood hinge assembly comprising:
a hinge, said hinge having a crash lock, a first connecting portion, a hinge point, a front portion, a rear portion and an extended portion connecting said front portion and said rear portion;
a main link, said main link having a body, a second connecting portion and a bead; and
a hood opening lock,
wherein
said hinge and said main link are configured to connect with each other at said first connecting portion and said second connecting portion; and
said hood opening lock is configured to be provided in a vicinity of said first connecting portion and said second connecting portion.
2. The hood hinge assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said body is adapted to receive and secure said crash lock of said hinge.
3. The hood hinge assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said bead is defined on a vertical axis of said main link between said first connecting portion and a bottom of said main link.
4. The hood hinge assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein said hinge point is configured to be offset from said vertical axis of said bead and is configured to be positioned away from said front portion of said hinge.
5. The hood hinge assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said hinge of said hood hinge assembly is configured to be moved relative to said main link.
6. The hood hinge assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said hinge and said main link are configured to be overhung to a maximum extent.
7. The hood hinge assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said crash lock is configured to be provided on said extended portion of said hinge.
8. The hood hinge assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said hood opening lock is configured to be provided near said rear portion of said hinge.
9. The hood hinge assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said hinge defines an L shape.
10. The hood hinge assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein a vertical over-hang of said hinge is increased with a reduced bead length.

ABSTRACT
A hood hinge assembly 100 includes a hinge 10, a main link 20, and a hood opening lock 30. The hinge 10 is provided with a crash lock 10a, a first connecting portion 10b, a hinge point 10c, a front portion 10d, an extended portion 10e and a rear portion 10f. The main link 20 includes a body 20a, a second connecting portion 20b and a bead 20c. The hinge 10 of the hood hinge assembly 100 is configured to be moved relative to the main link 20. The hinge 10 and the main link 20 are configured to connect with each other at the first connecting portion 10b and the second connecting portion 20b.
FIG. 1

Dated this 16th December 2015

Signatures:
Name of the Signatory: Dr. Kalyan Chakravarthy
,CLAIMS: CLAIMS
We claim:
1. A hood hinge assembly comprising:
a hinge, said hinge having a crash lock, a first connecting portion, a hinge point, a front portion, a rear portion and an extended portion connecting said front portion and said rear portion;
a main link, said main link having a body, a second connecting portion and a bead; and
a hood opening lock,
wherein
said hinge and said main link are configured to connect with each other at said first connecting portion and said second connecting portion; and
said hood opening lock is configured to be provided in a vicinity of said first connecting portion and said second connecting portion.
2. The hood hinge assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said body is adapted to receive and secure said crash lock of said hinge.
3. The hood hinge assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said bead is defined on a vertical axis of said main link between said first connecting portion and a bottom of said main link.
4. The hood hinge assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein said hinge point is configured to be offset from said vertical axis of said bead and is configured to be positioned away from said front portion of said hinge.
5. The hood hinge assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said hinge of said hood hinge assembly is configured to be moved relative to said main link.
6. The hood hinge assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said hinge and said main link are configured to be overhung to a maximum extent.
7. The hood hinge assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said crash lock is configured to be provided on said extended portion of said hinge.
8. The hood hinge assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said hood opening lock is configured to be provided near said rear portion of said hinge.
9. The hood hinge assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said hinge defines an L shape.
10. The hood hinge assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein a vertical over-hang of said hinge is increased with a reduced bead length.