001] The subject matter in general relates to a front end structure of the
vehicle where vehicle hood is provided to cover an engine room. More particularly,
the subject matter relates to mounting of hinge bracket that connects the vehicle
5 hood and fender with vehicle side body to mitigate head injuries to pedestrians in
an event of a frontal accident.
BACKGROUND
[002] Background description includes information that may be useful in
understanding the present subject matter.
10 [003] It is common practice to provide a closure panel, such as a hood for
closing an automobile engine compartment and provides access to the engine
compartment. Referring to FIG. 1, shown is a conventional mounting assembly 100
for opening and closing of a hood 102 of an automobile. The mounting assembly
100 comprises a bracket 106, wherein the bracket 106 is affixed on a panel dash
15 side front 110 of the automobile. The bracket 106 is pivotably attached to a hinge
arm 108 using a pivot pin, wherein other end of the hinge arm 108 is attached to the
hood 102. The pivoting motion of the hinge arm 108 about the bracket 106 provides
for the opening and closing of the hood 102.
[004] The disposition of the bracket 106 in the mounting assembly 100 is such
20 that the bracket 106 falls under the pedestrian head impact zone. The presence of
hard points, relating to the bracket 106, under the pedestrian head impact zone is a
threat for pedestrian safety. During the pedestrian head impact, the bracket 106 act
as hard point and increases head injuries (HIC) value which is not acceptable as per
regulations as well.
25 [005] FIG. 2 discloses a new assembly 200 to overcome the disadvantages of
the assembly 100. The bracket 106 is provided with a collapsible bracket 206 and a
top bracket 208, wherein the collapsible bracket 206 is provided on the panel dash
3
side front 110 of the automobile and the top bracket 208 is attached to the bracket
106 of the automobile. The bracket 106 is disposed between the top bracket 208
and the collapsible bracket 206. The top bracket 208 is provided to receive or mount
a fender of the vehicle. The presence of the collapsible bracket 206 mitigates the
5 head impact of the pedestrian in the event of a collision by collapsing and allowing
the bracket 106 to absorb energy. However, the presence of the bracket 106 under
the pedestrian head impact zone still puts the pedestrian safety at risk as the hard
points, relating to the bracket 106, are a threat.
[006] Furthermore, the new mounting assembly 200 increases the overhang
10 between the point of attachments on the panel dash side front 110 and the pivot pin
of the hinge arm 108. Also, the attachment of the bracket assembly (bracket 106,
collapsible bracket 206 and top bracket 208) on panel dash side front 110 affects
the automobile appearance (in terms of gap and level difference), since fender
mounting is mounted on the bracket assembly, i.e., on an extended flange 204 of
15 the top bracket 208 and another end of fender is mounted on the hinge pillar 104
lower end, i.e., part of side body of the automobile where door is mounted, thereby
degrading the aesthetics of the automobile.
[007] Therefore, a mounting assembly is required that can reduce head
injuries to pedestrian head during frontal collision and reducing non-uniform gap
20 between the fender and the vehicle hood to improve aesthetics of the vehicle.
OBJECTS OF THE DISCLOSURE
[008] In view of the foregoing limitations inherent in the state of the art, some
of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein
satisfy, are listed herein below.
25 [009] It is an object of the present disclosure to propose a mounting assembly
for a hood at front end of an automobile.
[0010] It is another object of the present disclosure to propose a mounting
4
bracket that can be singlehandedly affixed to the hinge pillar of the automobile.
[0011] It is another object of the present disclosure to propose a mounting
bracket that can used for mounting of fender of the automobile.
[0012] It is yet another object of the present disclosure to propose a mounting
5 bracket that reduces the overhang.
[0013] It is still yet another object of the present disclosure to propose a bracket
that can be moved out of the pedestrian head impact zone during impact testing of
the automobile.
[0014] It is still yet another object of the present disclosure to propose a
10 mounting bracket where both the vehicle hood and the fender are mounted on same
hinge pillar to make use of single body tolerances and to avoid non-uniform gap
between the vehicle hood and the fender, hence provides better fit and finish of the
vehicle.
[0015] These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be
15 apparent to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the following detailed
description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which a
preferred form of the present invention is illustrated.
SUMMARY
[0016] This summary is provided to introduce concepts related to a mounting
20 assembly for vehicle hood and hinge pillar with hinge pillar for opening and closing.
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.
[0017] The present disclosure relates to a mounting assembly for opening and
25 closing of a hood of an automobile. The mounting assembly comprising a hinge
arm and a bracket. The bracket comprises a first portion that is configured to be
5
affixed to a hinge pillar of the automobile; a second portion defining a pivot hole;
and a third portion which is configured to be affixed to a fender of the automobile.
[0018] In an aspect, the first portion and the third portion extend
perpendicularly from two opposing sides of the second portion.
5 [0019] In an aspect, the first portion and the third portion extend in a direction
opposite to each other.
[0020] In an aspect, the second portion converges or diverges between two
opposing sides.
[0021] In an aspect, the mounting assembly comprising a hinge arm wherein,
10 a first end of the hinge arm is connected to the pivot hole of the bracket; and second
end of the hinge arm is in contact with the hood of the automobile.
[0022] In an aspect, the mounting assembly comprising a pivot pin configured
to affix the first end of the hinge arm to the bracket such that the hinge arm is
pivotable about the pivot hole of the bracket.
15 [0023] In an aspect, the bracket is located outside the pedestrian head impact
zone.
[0024] Other objects, features and advantages of the present disclosure will
become apparent from the following detailed description. It should be understood,
however, that the detailed description and the specific examples, while indicating
20 specific embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since
various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will
become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0025] While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out
25 and distinctly claiming the subject matter that is regarded as forming the present
subject matter, it is believed that the present disclosure will be better understood
6
from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, where like reference numerals designate like structural and other
elements, in which:
[0026] FIGs. 1 and 2 disclose the conventional bracket that is used for the
5 operational movement of hood;
[0027] FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a mounting bracket, in accordance with
an embodiment; and
[0028] FIG. 4 is an isometric view of a mounting assembly for opening and
closing of the hood 102 of an automobile, in accordance with an embodiment.
10 DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0029] The detailed description of various exemplary embodiments of the
disclosure is described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. It
should be noted that the embodiments are described herein in such details as to
clearly communicate the disclosure. However, the amount of details provided
15 herein 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 spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the
appended claims.
[0030] It is also to be understood that various arrangements may be devised
20 that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of
the present disclosure. Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects,
and embodiments of the present disclosure, as well as specific examples, are
intended to encompass equivalents thereof.
[0031] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular
25 embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As
used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” are intended to include the
plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further
7
understood that the terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “includes”, “consisting”
and/or “including” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features,
integers, steps, operations, elements and/or components, but do not preclude the
presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations,
5 elements, components and/or groups thereof.
[0032] It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the
functions/acts noted may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example,
two figures shown in succession may, in fact, be executed concurrently or may
sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts
10 involved.
[0033] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific
terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of
ordinary skill in the art to which example embodiments belong. It will be further
understood that terms, e.g., those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be
15 interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context
of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense
unless expressly so defined herein.
[0034] Referring to FIGs. 3 and 4, disclosed is a mounting assembly 400 for
opening and closing of a hood 102 (as shown in FIG. 1) of an automobile. The
20 mounting assembly 400 may comprise a bracket 300 and a hinge arm 108. The
bracket 300 may comprise a first portion 302, a second portion 304, and a third
portion 306.
[0035] The first portion 302 and the third portion 306 may extend
perpendicularly from two opposing sides 310, 312 of the second portion 304. The
25 first portion 302 and the third portion 306 may extend in a direction opposite to
each other. The second portion 304 may define an irregular triangular shape such
that the surface area of the second portion 304 may reduce or converges from the
side 310 to the side 312. Also, the second portion 304 may define as a shape such
that the surface area of the second portion 304 may increase or diverge from the
8
side 312 to the side 310. Thus, the first portion 302 may be larger in size compared
to the third portion 306.
[0036] In an embodiment, the first portion 302 of the bracket 300 is affixed to
a hinge pillar 104 of the automobile and the third portion 306 of the bracket 300
5 may be used for mounting of a fender (not shown) and also may be used to limit the
maximum opening of hood through restricting the upper limit of rotation of the
hinge arm 108 of the automobile. Thus, the first portion 302 of the bracket 300 may
be affixed to the hinge pillar 104 of the automobile.
[0037] In an embodiment, the first portion 302 may define a plurality of holes
10 302a, 302b as attachment points 404 so that the first portion 302 of the bracket 300
may be bolted or riveted to the hinge pillar 104 of the automobile. Similarly, the
third portion 306 of the bracket 300 may define at least one hole with weld nut (314)
under it as attachment point 406 so that the mounting of fender (not shown) may be
bolted or riveted to the attachment point 406 of the automobile.
15 [0038] In an embodiment, the second portion 304 of the bracket 300 may
define a pivot hole 308 configured to affix the hinge arm 108 to the bracket 300.
[0039] In an embodiment, a pivot pin 402 may be configured to affix first end
of the hinge arm 108 to the bracket 300. Second end 408 of the hinge arm 108 may
be affixed to the hood 102. Thus, the hood 102 may be configured to open and close
20 with the help of the hinge arm 108 pivoting about the pivot hole 308 of the bracket
300.
[0040] The attachment of the bracket 300 to the hinge pillar 104 of the
automobile moves the bracket 300 outside the pedestrian head impact zone during
impact testing of the automobile.
25 [0041] The attachment of the bracket 300 to the hinge pillar 104 of the
automobile reduces the overhang between the attachment points 404, 406 of the
first portion 302 and the third portion 306 of the bracket 300.
9
[0042] The fender (not shown) may be connected to the attachment point 406
of the bracket 300. The attachment of the bracket 300 to the hinge pillar 104 of the
automobile provides a single assembly tolerance to take care of, thereby improving
the fit and finish of the automobile.
5 TECHNICAL ADVANTAGE
[0043] The present disclosure proposes an assembly for opening and closing
of a hood.
[0044] The present disclosure proposes a bracket that can be singlehandedly
affixed to the hinge pillar of the automobile.
10 [0045] The present disclosure proposes a bracket that can be used for mounting
of fender of the automobile.
[0046] The present disclosure proposes a bracket that reduces the overhang.
[0047] The present disclosure proposes a bracket that can be moved out of the
pedestrian head impact zone to reduce injuries to the pedestrian head.
15 [0048] The present disclosure proposes a bracket that allows mounting of
fender on the hinge pillar to make use of single body tolerances to reduce a nonuniform gap between the fender and the hood which is difficult to handle when the
bracket is mounted on the panel dash side front as the fender is mounted on two
separated welded parts having different tolerances.
20 [0049] Furthermore, each of the appended claims defines a separate invention,
which for infringement purposes is recognized as including equivalents to the
various elements or limitations specified in the claims. Depending on the context,
all references below to the “invention” may in some cases refer to certain specific
embodiments only. In other cases, it will be recognized that references to the
25 “invention” will refer to subject matter recited in one or more, but not necessarily
all, of the claims.
10
[0050] Furthermore, those skilled in the art can appreciate that the terminology
used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not
intended to be limiting of the present disclosure. It will be appreciated that several
of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may
5 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.
[0051] The claims, as originally presented and as they may be amended,
10 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.
[0052] While the foregoing describes various embodiments of the present
15 disclosure, other and further embodiments of the present disclosure may be devised
without departing from the basic scope thereof. The scope of the present disclosure
is determined by the claims that follow. The present disclosure 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
20 with information and knowledge available to the person having ordinary skill in the
art.

We claim:

1. A mounting assembly (400) for opening and closing of a hood (102) of an
automobile, the mounting assembly (400) comprising:
a bracket (300),
5 characterized in that
the bracket (300) comprises:
a first portion (302) configured to be affixed to a hinge pillar (104)
of the automobile;
a second portion (304) defining a pivot hole (308); and
10 a third portion (306) configured to be affixed to a fender of the
automobile.
2. The mounting assembly (400) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first portion
(302) and the third portion (306) extend perpendicularly from two opposing
sides (310, 312) of the second portion (304).
15 3. The mounting assembly (400) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first portion
(302) and the third portion (306) extend in a direction opposite to each other.
4. The mounting assembly (400) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second
portion (304) converges or diverges between two opposing sides (310 312).
20 5. The mounting assembly (400) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mounting
assembly comprising a hinge arm (108), wherein,
first end of the hinge arm (108) is connected to the pivot hole (308)
of the bracket (300); and
second end (408) of the hinge arm (108) is in contact with the hood
25 (102) of the automobile.
6. The mounting assembly (400) as claimed in claim 5, wherein the mounting
assembly (400) comprising a pivot pin (402) configured to affix the first end
of the hinge arm (108) to the bracket (300) such that the hinge arm (108) is
30 pivotable about the pivot hole (308) of the bracket (300).
12
7. The mounting assembly (400) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bracket
(300) is located outside the pedestrian head impact zone.