The present disclosure, in general, relates to a reinforcement bracket for reinforcing an inner side of a front end structure of a vehicle. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a reinforcement bracket connected to a hood lock member and a lamp support brace member, wherein said reinforcement bracket is being fixed on inner side corner(s) of a front end structure of a vehicle.
BACKGROUND
[0002] A front end structure of a vehicle is generally a rectangular shaped frame formed from a pair of horizontal members and a pair of vertical members. One of the horizontal members forming a top portion of the frame may also be termed as a hood lock member, because hood of the vehicle is locked with this horizontal member.
[0003] When the hood is to be locked, the hood is slammed and rested on a pair of hood cushion brackets fixed on top face of the hood lock member, and is locked with a latch positioned on a front side, facing away from an engine, of the hood lock member.
[0004] However, due to the advanced styling, there is a requirement of raising the height of the hood for resembling a front end profile of a sports utility vehicle (SUV) which improves the appearance of the vehicle. In order to meet the styling there are certain design changes carried out like the hood cushion brackets are required to be placed at a greater height when compared to

conventional vehicles. This increase in height causes twisting moments in the hood lock member region due to slam loads while locking the hood. To counter such slam loads on the cushion brackets, the latch is positioned on a front side of the hood lock member. However, there may be a case where the latch is required to be positioned on a rear side of the hood lock member. This repositioning of the latch causes the loads on the latch and the cushion brackets to create twisting moments for the hood lock member in the same direction, which makes the resultant moment higher in magnitude. Due to this, high forces are generated in the region connecting the hood lock member and a connecting lamp support brace member, which is formed by the vertical member of the front end structure.
[0005] As the exterior design is styling driven, no changes can be made in hood, therefore, there is a requirement of improving the design in the hood lock member region such that it can withstand the loads that is generated on it.
OBJECTS OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0006] Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfy, are listed herein below.
[0007] It is a general or primary object of the present disclosure to provide a reinforcement bracket which is connected between hood lock member and a lamp support brace member, wherein the reinforcement bracket is fixed on an inner side corner(s) of a front end structure of a vehicle.
[0008] It is another object of the present disclosure to provide a reinforcement bracket connected to the hood lock member through two mountings in a vertical direction at two different planes such that there is a load distribution between the two mounts, which allows greater area of the hood lock

member to be supported which facilitates the reinforcement bracket to bear higher loads.
[0009] It is yet another object of the present disclosure to provide a reinforcement bracket which is configured to improve the rigidity of the front end structure of the vehicle.
[0010] It is still another object of the present disclosure to provide a reinforcement bracket which is structurally designed to reduce the stress concentration at free ends of the bracket.
[0011] These and other objects and advantages of the present disclosure will be 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 disclosure is illustrated.
SUMMARY
[0012] This summary is provided to introduce concepts related to a reinforcement bracket connected to a hood lock member and a lamp support brace member. 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.
[0013] The present disclosure relates to a reinforcement bracket connected to a hood lock member and a lamp support brace member. The reinforcement bracket incorporates a first portion, a second portion and a third portion. In accordance with a structural configuration, a first portion is forming a base plane for spot welding with a rear top portion of the lamp support brace member. In addition to this, the second portion is extending perpendicularly

from one side of the first portion, where the second portion forms a side plane for spot welding with an exterior side top portion of the lamp support brace member. Further, the third portion extends perpendicularly from a top side of the first portion, where the third portion forms a top plane having stepped profile for bolt mounting with a top end portion of the hood lock member.
[0014] In an aspect, a bend line, which is formed in between the first portion and the third portion, is having a diverging fillet which reduces the local region stress concentration at the free end of the reinforcement bracket.
[0015] In an aspect, an emboss is formed on mutually perpendicular first portion and second portion of the reinforcement bracket.
[0016] In an aspect, the reinforcement is connected to the hood lock member through two mounting bolts in vertical direction, where the mounting bolts facilitate to support additional load.
[0017] To further understand the characteristics and technical contents of the present subject matter, a description relating thereto will be made regarding the accompanying drawings. However, the drawings are illustrative only but not used to limit the scope of the present subject matter.
[0018] 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 THE DRAWINGS
[0019] The illustrated embodiments of the subject matter 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 methods that are consistent with the subject matter as claimed herein, wherein:
[0020] FIGS. 1A illustrates a perspective front view of a front end structure of a vehicle in accordance with the state of the art;
[0021] FIG. 1B illustrates an exploded rear view of a region connecting a hood lock member and a lamp support brace member in accordance with the state of the art;
[0022] FIG. 2A illustrates a perspective front view of a front end structure of a vehicle including new structural design of a reinforcement bracket connected to the hood lock member and the lamp support brace member, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0023] FIG. 2B illustrates an exploded view, as seen from vehicle inside, of a proposed reinforcement bracket connected to the hood lock member and the lamp support brace member in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0024] FIG. 2C illustrates an exploded view, as seen from vehicle inside, of a cushion bracket and hood lock member with the proposed reinforcement bracket having connection with the hood lock member through two mounting bolts, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0025] FIG. 2D illustrates an exploded side view, as seen from vehicle inside, of the hood lock member with the proposed reinforcement bracket having connection through the two mounting bolts, including a plurality of spot welds and an emboss, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0026] FIG. 3A illustrates a perspective front view of the proposed reinforcement bracket incorporating the first portion, the second portion, a third portion, and an emboss region in according with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and
[0027] FIG. 3B illustrates another perspective front view of the proposed reinforcement bracket incorporating the first portion, the second portion, the third portion, and a stepped profile region on the third portion in according with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0028] The figures depict embodiments of the present subject matter for 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
[0029] The following is a detailed description of embodiments of the disclosure depicted in the accompanying drawings. The embodiments are in such detail as to clearly communicate the disclosure. However, the amount of detail offered is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments; on the contrary, the intention is to con all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
[0030] As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of "a," "an," and "the" includes plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein, the meaning of "in" includes "in" and "on" unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0031] In the description herein after, "front side" refers to a side in front of a vehicle and a side that is facing away from an engine of the vehicle, while "rear side" or "inner side" refers to a side facing the engine of the vehicle.
[0032] FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate a-front end structure 100 of a vehicle including a hood lock member 102 and a lamp support brace member 104. As mentioned above, due to the extended height of a cushion bracket on each side of the hood lock member 102 and repositioning of a latch on a rear side, facing the engine, of the hood lock member, there is a twisting moments of higher magnitude. Further, due to this, there is higher loads that are generated in a region (corner) connecting the hood lock member and the lamp support brace member.
[0033] To withstand the loads at the joinery region between the hood lock member and the lamp support brace member, the present disclosure proposes a reinforcement bracket for mounting the rear side on the connecting region of the hood lock member and the lamp support brace member.
[0034] FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate the front end structure 100 with a reinforcement bracket 200, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in detail in FIG. 2B,the reinforcement bracket 200 isfixed to the rear side of the connecting region of the hood lock member 102 and the lamp support brace member 104.
[0035] FIG. 2B illustrates an exploded view, as seen from vehicle inside, of the proposed reinforcement bracket 200. The reinforcement bracket 200 incorporates a first portion 202, a second portion 204, and a third portion 206. In accordance with a structural configuration proposed herein, the first portion 202 is forming a base plane for spot welding 218 (shown in FIG. 2D) with a rear top portion of the lamp support brace member 104. In addition to this, the second portion 204 is extending perpendicularly from one side of the first

portion 202, where the second portion 204 forms a side plane for spot welding with an exterior side top portion of the lamp support brace member 104. Further, the third portion 206 is extending perpendicularly from top side of the first portion 202, and is forming a top plane having stepped profile 302 (shown in FIG. 3B)for bolt mountings with a top end portion of the hood lock member 102. The reinforcement bracket 200, with the first portion 202, the second portion 204, and the third portion 206, helps in withstanding hood slam loads generated on the hood lock member during closing of hood.
[0036] In an implementation, a bend line 208, which is formed between the first portion 202 and the third portion 206, is having a diverging fillet 210. Such diverging fillet 210 reduces the stress concentration at the free end of the reinforcement bracket 200.
[0037] Further, in an implementation, an emboss 212 is formed on the mutually perpendicular first portion 202 and second portion 204 of the reinforcement bracket 200, to provide extra stiffness to the reinforcement bracket 200.
[0038] As per the embodiment of the present disclosure, the first portion 202, the second portion 204, and the third portion 206 are all configured and illustrated in the proposed reinforcement bracket 200.
[0039] Further, as can be seen from FIGS. 2C and 2D, the reinforcement bracket 200 is connected to the hood lock member 102 through two mounting bolts 216 in vertical direction. The two mounting bolts 216 help to bear higher loads during hood slam.
[0040] Further, as can be seen from FIG. 3B, a stepped profile 302 is formed on the third portion 206, which facilitates in the increase in stiffness of the reinforcement bracket 200. Moreover, the diverging fillets 210reduces the stress concentration at the free end of the bracket. Further, spot welds 218 and

the emboss 212 are configured in such a manner that the spot welds 218 and the emboss 212 provide extra stiffness to the reinforcement bracket 200. The proposed reinforcement bracket 200 is connected to both the side corners, i.e., connecting region, of the hood lock member 102 and the lamp support brace member 104.
[0041] The different views of the proposed reinforcement bracket 200 is shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B.
[0042] FIG. 3A illustrates a perspective front view of the proposed reinforcement bracket 200 incorporating the first portion 202, the second portion 204, and the third portion 206. The first portion 202 is forming a base plane for spot welding with the rear top portion of the lamp support brace member 104. Further, the second portion 204 extending perpendicularly from one side of the first portion 202, where the second portion 204 forms a side plane for spot welding with an exterior side top portion of the lamp support brace member 104. Further, the emboss 212 is formed on the first portion 202 and the second portion 204 to further increase stiffness of the reinforcement bracket 200.
[0043] FIG. 3B illustrates another perspective front view of the proposed reinforcement bracket 200 incorporating the first portion 202, the second portion 204, the third portion 206, and stepped profile 302 on the third portion 206.
TECHNICAL ADVANTAGES
[0044] There is a plurality of features which are listed as technical advantages below:

[0045] The present disclosure provides the reinforcement bracket connected to the hood lock member and the lamp support brace member, that facilitates to support higher loads and prevents twisting moments in the front end structure of the vehicle.
[0046] The proposed disclosure provides the reinforcement bracket connected to hood lock member and the lamp support brace member which improves rigidity of the whole front end structure of the vehicle and with improved load bearing in the connecting region of the hood lock member and the lamp support brace member.
[0047] The proposed disclosure provides the reinforcement bracket which facilitates stiffness against hood slam loads.
[0048] The proposed disclosure provides the reinforcement bracket which acts as a cantilever and supports additional load through its second mounting bolts.
[0049] The present disclosure provides the reinforcement bracket such that it is not required to redesign the front end structure of the vehicle to cater the hood slam loads, and thereby saving the manufacturing cost.
[0050] The present disclosure provides the reinforcement bracket which is simple in design and easy to assemble.
[0051] The proposed disclosure facilitates to withstand greater loads and resists the twisting moments generated due to hood slam loads.
Equivalents
[0052] Further, it will be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to devise various arrangements that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the invention and are included within its scope.

[0053] Furthermore, all examples recited herein are principally intended expressly to be only for pedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the principles of the invention and the concepts contributed by the inventor(s) to furthering the art and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions. Also, the various embodiments described herein are not necessarily mutually exclusive, as some embodiments can be combined with one or more other embodiments to form new embodiments.
[0054] While the foregoing describes various embodiments of the invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof. The scope of the invention is determined by the claims that follow. The invention 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 with information and knowledge available to the person having ordinary skill in the art.

CLAIM

1. A reinforcement bracket (200) connected to a hood lock member (102)
and a lamp support brace member (104) of a vehicle, the reinforcement
bracket (200) comprising:
a first portion (202) forming a base plane for spot welding with a rear top portion of the lamp support brace member (104);
a second portion (204) extending perpendicularly from one side of the first portion (202), wherein the second portion (204) forms a side plane for spot welding with an exterior side top portion of the lamp support brace member (104); and
a third portion (206) extending perpendicularly from top side of the first portion (202), wherein the third portion (206) forms a top plane for bolt mounting with a top end portion of the hood lock member (102).
2. The reinforcement bracket (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a bend line (208) formed in between the first portion (202) and the third portion (206) is having a diverging fillet (210).
3. The reinforcement bracket (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein an emboss (212) is formed on the mutually perpendicular first portion (202) and second portion (204) of the reinforcement bracket (200).
4. The reinforcement bracket (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the third portion (206) of the reinforcement bracket (200) is connected with the hood lock member (102) through two mounting bolts (216).

5. The reinforcement bracket (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the third portion (206) of the reinforcement bracket (200) has a stepped profile (302).