Claims:We claim:
1. A hood hinge assembly (100) for a vehicle, said hood hinge assembly (100) comprising:
a first hinge (102) adapted to be connected to a body (B) of the vehicle;
a stud (106) adapted to be connected to said first hinge (102), where one end of said stud (106) is adapted to facilitate mounting of one end (GSX) of a gas strut (GS); and
a second hinge (104) adapted to be movably connected to said first hinge (102), said second hinge (104) is connected to a hood (H) of the vehicle, said second hinge (104) includes a hood catcher (104H) adapted to engage another end of said stud (106) to restrict a movement of the hood (H) in an event of collision.
2. The hood hinge assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said stud (106) is adapted to be transversely inserted into said first hinge (102), said stud (106) includes,
a head (106H) adapted to facilitate mounting of said one end (GSX) of the gas strut (GS), where another end (GSY) of the gas strut (GS) is mounted onto the hood (H) of the vehicle;
a body (106B) extending from said head (106H), one end of said body (106B) is connected to said head (106H) and another end of said body (106B) is adapted to be engaged by said hood catcher (104H) to restrict the movement of the hood (H) in the event of collision; and
a collar (106C) positioned on said body (106B) and is spaced away from said head (106H), where said collar (106C) is adapted to facilitate positioning of said stud (106) with respect to said first hinge (102).
3. The hood hinge assembly (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein said second hinge (104) includes,
a base portion (104B) adapted to be mounted onto the hood (H); and
a side portion (104S) extending from said base portion (104B) in a downward direction,
wherein
said hood catcher (104H) adjoins said side portion (104S), where said hood catcher (104H) is adapted to engage another end of said body (106B) of said stud (106) to restrict the movement of the hood (H) in the event of collision;
said first hinge (102) is a stationary lower hinge;
said second hinge (104) is a movable upper hinge;
said stud (106) is a ball stud; and
said hood catcher (104H) of said second hinge (104) defines one of a L-shape or a J-shape or a V-shape or a W-shape or U-shape.
4. The hood hinge assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said stud (106) is one of a solid stud or a hollow stud.
5. The hood hinge assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said hood hinge assembly (100) comprises a plurality of movable links (105) adapted to facilitate a movement of said second hinge (104) with respect to said first hinge (102), where one end of each of said movable link (105) is connected to said first hinge (102) and another end of each of said movable link (105) is connected to said second hinge (104).
6. A method (200) of providing a hood hinge assembly (100) for a vehicle, said method (200) comprising:
transversely fixing a stud (106) to a first hinge (102);
movably connecting a second hinge (104) to the first hinge (102);
mounting a first hinge (102) to a body (B) of the vehicle and mounting, the second hinge (104) to a hood (H) of the vehicle;
defining a hood catcher (104H) on the second hinge (104); and
mounting one end of a gas strut (GS) on one end of the stud (106) and mounting another end of the gas strut (GS) to the hood (H),
wherein
the hood catcher (104H) is adapted to engage another end of the stud (106) for restricting a movement of the hood (H) inn an event of collision.
7. The method (200) as claimed in claim 8, wherein said movably connecting the second hinge (104) to the first hinge (102) comprises,
connecting one end of each movable link (105) to the first hinge (102) and connecting another end of each movable link (105) to the second hinge (104).
8. The method (200) as claimed in claim 6, wherein said method (200) comprises,
defining a head (106H) and a body (106B) extending from the head (106H) of the stud; and
defining a collar (106C) on the body (106B) in a spaced distance from the head (106H),
wherein
the head (106H) is adapted to facilitate mounting of said one end (GSX) of the gas strut (GS);
one end of said body (106B) is connected to said head (106H) and another end of said body (106B) is adapted to be engaged by said hood catcher (104H) to restrict the movement of the hood (H) in the event of collision; and
the collar (106C) is adapted to facilitate positioning of the stud (106) with respect to the first hinge (102).
9. The method (200) as claimed in claim 8, wherein said method (200) comprises,
mounting a base portion (104B) of the second hinge (104) to the hood (H); and
defining a side portion (104S) extending from the base portion (104B) in a downward direction,
wherein
said hood catcher (104H) adjoins said side portion (104S), where said hood catcher (104H) is adapted to engage another end of said body (106B) of said stud (106) to restrict the movement of the hood (H) in the event of collision.
10. The method (200) as claimed in claim 6, wherein said first hinge (102) is a stationary lower hinge;
said second hinge (104) is a movable upper hinge;
said stud (106) is a ball stud; and
said hood catcher (104H) of said second hinge (104) defines one of a L-shape or a J-shape or a V-shape or a W-shape or U-shape.
, Description:TECHNICAL FIELD
[001] The embodiments herein generally relate to a hood hinge of a vehicle and more particularly, to the hood hinge assembly with a common stud for mounting gas strut and for catching the hood thereby restricting a movement of the hood in an event of collision.

BACKGROUND
[002] Generally, a hood hinge is a movable joint which is used for movably connecting a hood with body of the vehicle. The hood hinge allows the hood to be moved from a closed position to an open position to provide access to an engine compartment of the vehicle. Typically, a gas strut is connected between the hood hinge and the hood for assisting easier opening and/or closing of the hood when the hood is being moved by user of the vehicle. This gas strut is connected to the hood and the hood hinge by using mounting bracket, bolts and nuts. The usage of mounting brackets, bolts and nuts may act as a hard point region thereby increasing the possibility of injury to a pedestrian in an event of collision.
[003] In some vehicles, one end of the gas strut is connected to a hinge fixed frame (lower hinge) and another end of the gas strut is connected to an articulate hinge frame (upper hinge).
[004] Therefore, there exists a need for a hood hinge assembly for the vehicle, which obviates the aforementioned drawbacks.

OBJECTS
[005] The principal object of embodiments herein is to provide a hood hinge assembly for a vehicle.
[006] Another object of embodiments herein is to provide a method of providing the hood hinge assembly for the vehicle.
[007] Another object of embodiments herein is to provide the hood hinge assembly which has a common stud for mounting gas strut and for catching a hood thereby restricting a movement of the hood during collision.
[008] Another object of embodiments herein is to provide the hood hinge assembly which is lightweight and has better stiffness and is inexpensive.
[009] Another object of embodiments herein is to provide the hood hinge assembly which eliminates the usage of mounting brackets for mounting gas strut and for catching the upper hinge.
[0010] Another object of embodiments herein is to provide the hood hinge assembly which is simple in design and easy to install.
[0011] These and other objects of embodiments herein will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with following description and accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following descriptions, while indicating embodiments and numerous specific details thereof, are given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the embodiments herein without departing from the spirit thereof, and the embodiments herein include all such modifications.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0012] The embodiments are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, throughout which like reference letters indicate corresponding parts in various figures. The embodiments herein will be better understood from the following description with reference to the drawings, in which:
[0013] Fig. 1 depicts a perspective view of a hood hinge assembly for a vehicle, according to embodiments as disclosed herein;
[0014] Fig. 2 depicts a side view of the hood hinge assembly, where a first hinge is mounted onto the body of the vehicle and the second hinge is mounted to a hood of the vehicle, and one end of a gas strut is mounted onto a stud and another end of the gas strut is mounted to the hood, according to embodiments as disclosed herein; and
[0015] Fig. 3 depicts a flowchart indicating a method of providing the hood hinge assembly for the vehicle, according to embodiments as disclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] 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.
[0017] The embodiments herein achieve a hood hinge assembly for a vehicle which has a common stud for mounting gas strut and for catching a hood thereby restricting a movement of the hood during collision. Referring now to the drawings Figs 1 through 3, where similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the figures, there are shown embodiments.
[0018] Fig. 1 depicts a perspective view of the hood hinge assembly (100) for the vehicle, according to embodiments as disclosed herein. In an embodiment, the hood hinge assembly (100) includes a first hinge (102), a second hinge (104), plurality of movable links (105) and a stud (106). For the purpose of this description and ease of understanding, the hood hinge assembly (100) is explained herein with below reference to be provided in passenger vehicles such as cars. However, it is also within the scope of the invention to use/practice the hood hinge assembly (100) for use in any other type of passenger vehicles, sports vehicles or off road vehicles, without otherwise deterring the intended function of the hood hinge assembly (100) as can be deduced from the description and corresponding drawings.
[0019] The first hinge (102) adapted to be connected to a body (B) of the vehicle. The first hinge (102) is a stationary lower hinge.
[0020] The second hinge (104) is adapted to be movably connected to the first hinge (102). The second hinge (104) is connected to a hood (H) of the vehicle. The second hinge (104) includes a base portion (104B), a side portion (104S) and a hood catcher (104H). The hood catcher (104H) of the second hinge (104) is adapted to engage another end of the stud (106) to restrict a movement of the hood (H) in an event of collision. The base portion (104B) of the second hinge (104) is adapted to be mounted onto the hood (H). The side portion (104S) extends from the base portion (104B) in a downward direction. The hood catcher (104H) adjoins the side portion (104S), where the hood catcher (104H) is adapted to engage another end of the stud (106) to restrict the movement of the hood (H) in the event of collision. The second hinge (104) is a movable upper hinge.
[0021] The movable links (105) is adapted to facilitate a movement of the second hinge (104) with respect to the first hinge (102), where one end of each of the movable link (105) is connected to the first hinge (102) and another end of each movable link (105) is connected to the second hinge (104).
[0022] The stud (106) is adapted to be connected to the first hinge (102). One end of the stud (106) is adapted to facilitate mounting of one end (GSX) of a gas strut (GS). The stud (106) is adapted to be transversely inserted into the first hinge (102). The stud (106) includes a head (106H), a body (106B) and a collar (106C). The head (106H) of the stud (106) is adapted to facilitate mounting of the one end (GSX) of the gas strut (GS), where another end (GSY) of the gas strut (GS) is mounted onto the hood (H) of the vehicle. The body (106B) extends from the head (106H) of the stud (106), where one end of the body (106B) is connected to the head (106H) and another end of the body (106B) is adapted to be engaged by the hood catcher (104H) to restrict the movement of the hood (H) in the event of collision. The collar (106C) is positioned on the body (106B) and is spaced away from the head (106H), where the collar (106C) is adapted to facilitate positioning of the stud (106) with respect to the first hinge (102). The stud (106) is a ball stud. The stud (106) is one of a solid stud or a hollow stud.
[0023] Fig. 3 depicts a flowchart indicating a method (200) of providing the hood hinge assembly (100) for the vehicle, according to embodiments as disclosed herein. For the purpose of this description and ease of understanding, the method (200) is explained herein below with reference to providing the hood hinge assembly (100) in passenger vehicles such as cars. However, it is also within the scope of this invention to practice/implement the entire steps of the method (200) in a same manner or in a different manner or with omission of at least one step to the method (200) or with any addition of at least one step to the method (200) to providing the hood hinge assembly (100) in any other type of passenger vehicles or sports vehicles or off road vehicles without otherwise deterring the intended function of the method (200) as can be deduced from the description and corresponding drawings. The method (200) includes, transversely fixing a stud (106) to a first hinge (102; movably connecting a second hinge (104) to the first hinge (102; mounting a first hinge (102) to a body (B) of the vehicle and mounting, the second hinge (104) to a hood (H) of the vehicle; defining a hood catcher (104H) on the second hinge (104); and mounting one end of a gas strut (GS) on one end of the stud (106) and mounting another end of the gas strut (GS) to the hood (H).
[0024] The method step of movably connecting the second hinge (104) to the first hinge (102) comprises, connecting one end of each movable link (105) to the first hinge (102) and connecting another end of each movable link (105) to the second hinge (104).
[0025] Further, the method (200) includes, defining a head (106H) and a body (106B) extending from the head (106H) of the stud; and defining a collar (106C) on the body (106B) in a spaced distance from the head (106H).
[0026] Further, the method (200) comprises, mounting a base portion (104B) of the second hinge (104) to the hood (H); and defining a side portion (104S) extending from the base portion (104B) in a downward direction.
[0027] The technical advantages of the hood hinge assembly (100) are as follows. The hoof hinge assembly includes a common stud for mounting gas strut and for catching the hood thereby restricting a movement of the hood during collision. The hood hinge assembly eliminates the usage of mounting brackets for mounting gas strut and for catching the hood of the vehicle. The hood hinge assembly is lightweight and has better stiffness and is inexpensive. The hood hinge assembly is simple in design and easy to install.
[0028] 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 embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modifications within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.