The present subject matter described herein relates to a hood inner panel. In particular, the present subject matter relates to an inner hood strengthening structure in the hood inner panel for providing effective load distribution to meet the strength requirements of a hood slam.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The vehicle hood has an outer hood member and an inner hood member that is attached to the underside of the outer hood member. The inner hood member defines a number of structural reinforcements. These structural reinforcements are provided to give rigidity to the hood.
[0003] A hinge mounting area is provided at the corner ends of the hood inner panel through which the hood is connected with the vehicle body. A striker mounting area is provided on the front of the hood inner panel. All the loads that comes during the closing of hood or the time when the vehicle is in running condition are transferred to the hinge mounting area and the striker mounting area as they are connected and fixed to the vehicle body when the hood is closed.
[0004] When the hood is closed, the striker mounting area and the hinge mounting area are subjected to a significant stress, and while the vehicle travels, the striker mounting area and the hinge mounting area are continuously vibrated in vertical, horizontal, diagonal, and rotational directions, as well as at the striker's base end (root). The joint-fixing portion of the striker mounting area and the hinge mounting area are subjected to a variety of loads thereby affecting the rigidity of the hood.

[0005] The existing structure for hood inner panel doesn't provide sufficient reinforced structure. The hinge reinforcement bracket is independently designed without any relation to the side structure of the hood inner panel. With this kind of structure, the load is transferred from the two bolt mountings that are provided on the hinge reinforcement bracket to the vehicle body. So, in this case, as hinge arm is a fixed part, and the front mounting is the first bolt, so the hood inner panel forms a bend line on the first bolt.
[0006] In order to counter the loads and stresses in the hood inner panel, either the thickness of the hood inner panel or the size of the hinge reinforcement bracket must be increased but that would lead to increase in cost as all the other parts will also have to accustom to the sizes of the hood inner panel and the hinge reinforcement bracket.
[0007] Similarly, in the existing structure of the striker mounting area, it has a latch that is fitted onto the vehicle body. The latch gets engaged to the striker and locks the hood while transferring the loads while closing the hood. As the striker rod cannot be welded directly to the hood inner panel, as the thickness of the hood inner panel is less, it generates a crack leading to deformation.
[0008] Therefore, in order to counter the loads and stresses in the striker mounting area, a rectangular reinforcement is added on top of the striker mounting area. The reinforcement is provided in between the hood inner panel and hood outer panel. The problem with this structure is that it takes a lot of space to install leading to increase in cost. Additionally, the current structure does not have sufficient load bearing capacity and it further leads to excessive bending in hood structure and the current structure of the hinge mounting area and striker mounting area doesn't fulfill the performance requirements of hood assembly.
[0009] Therefore, it is required to provide a strengthening reinforcement at the different areas of the hood inner panel to reduce the vibrations and improve stress/force flow and avoid bending line formation.

OBJECTS OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0010] It forms an object of the present disclosure to overcome the aforementioned and other drawbacks/limitations in the existing solutions available in the form of related prior arts.
[0011] It is a primary object of the present disclosure to provide an inner hood strengthening structure at the hinge area and striker mounting area of the hood inner panel.
[0012] It is another object of the present disclosure to provide a cost effective way of strengthening the hood inner panel.
[0013] It is yet another object of the present disclosure to improve stress/force flow and avoids bending line formation across the hinge area and striker mounting area of the hood inner panel.
[0014] It is yet another object of the present disclosure to improve stress handling capacity of the hood inner panel.
[0015] These and other objects and advantages of the present subject matter will be apparent to a person skilled in the art after consideration of the following detailed description taken into consideration with accompanying drawings in which preferred embodiments of the present subject matter are illustrated.
SUMMARY
[0016] A solution to one or more drawbacks of existing technology and additional advantages are provided through the present disclosure. Additional features and advantages are realized through the technicalities of the present disclosure. Other embodiments and aspects of the disclosure are described in detail herein and are considered to be a part of the claimed disclosure.
[0017] The present disclosure provides a solution in the form of a reinforcing structure assembly provided on a hood inner panel for improving strength of the hood inner panel of a vehicle. It includes a first curved embossed structure with a

first depression region provided at the front middle which is located at the front part of the hood inner panel, wherein the curved embossed structure surrounds a striker mounting area, curved beads positioned on a left side peripheral edge and a right side peripheral edge of the first curved embossed structure, a second reinforcement assembled on top of the first curved embossed structure having a top portion and a bottom portion, wherein the top portion has a second curved embossed structure with a second depression region that is located directly on top of the first curved embossed structure, wherein the second curved embossed structure has a step area in middle of the depression on the second reinforcement.
[0018] In an aspect, first reinforcements are located on the hinge mounting areas at rear ends of the hood inner panel, wherein the first reinforcements have a plurality of D shaped profiles.
[0019] In an aspect, a first bead out of the D shaped profiles opens up and joins a side face of the hood inner panel and a multiple spot welding locations are given on the first reinforcements.
[0020] In an aspect, raised edged beads are provided on the sides of the bottom portion of the second reinforcement.
[0021] In an aspect, a trapezoidal bead is provided at the center of the second reinforcement between the top portion and the bottom portion.
[0022] In an aspect, an inverted U-shaped bead is provided on a cutout located on the bottom portion of the second reinforcement.
[0023] In an aspect, the bottom portion has a plane surface.
[0024] In an aspect, the step area has two elevated surfaces and a depressed surface.
[0025] In an aspect, the two elevated surfaces have rectangular beads to weld the striker.
[0026] In an aspect, spot welding are provided to connect the second reinforcement with the hood inner panel.

[0027] The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
[0028] It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of the present subject matter and are therefore not to be considered for limiting of its scope, for the present disclosure may admit to other equally effective embodiments. The detailed description is described with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures, a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The same numbers are used throughout the figures to reference like features and components. Some embodiments of system or methods or structure in accordance with embodiments of the present subject matter are now described, by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:
[0029] Fig. 1 illustrates a reinforcing structure assembly that includes the hood mounting area and striker mounting area according to the present disclosure;
[0030] Fig. 2 illustrates a first reinforcement on a hinge mounting area in the reinforcing structure assembly according to the present disclosure;
[0031] Fig. 3 illustrates a first curved embossed structure in the reinforcing structure assembly according to the present disclosure;
[0032] Fig. 4 illustrates a second reinforcement assembled on top of the first curved embossed structure in the reinforcing structure assembly according to the present disclosure.
[0033] 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 OF INVENTION
[0034] 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 communicate the disclosure. However, the amount of details provided 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.
[0035] It is also to be understood that various arrangements may be devised 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.
[0036] 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 be executed concurrently or may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts involved.
[0037] 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 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.
[0038] In the following detailed description of the embodiments of the disclosure, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in

which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the disclosure may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the disclosure, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The following description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.
[0039] Hereinafter, a description of an embodiment with several components in communication with each other does not imply that all such components are required. On the contrary, a variety of optional components are described to illustrate the wide variety of possible embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0040] The present invention discloses about a reinforcing structure assembly provided on a front middle and rear ends of the hood inner panel. The reinforcing structure assembly improves the load bearing capacity around the hood hinge mounting area and the striker mounting area, leading improving the performance requirements of the hood inner panel.
[0041] Referring to FIG. 1 it shows the top view of the reinforcing structure assembly (100). The reinforcing structure assembly (100) is provided on the hinge mounting areas (104a, 104b) on either side of the hood inner panel (101) and on top of the striker mounting area (201).
[0042] The reinforcing structure assembly (100) has a first reinforcements (103a, 103b) that are located on the hinge mounting areas (104a, 104b) at rear ends of the hood inner panel (101). The first reinforcements (103a, 103b) have multiple D shaped profiles (201a, 201b) that are given on either sides of the hinge mounting areas (104a, 104b).
[0043] The reinforcing structure assembly (100) has a first curved embossed structure (102) with a first depression region that is given at the front middle of the hood inner panel (101) where the first curved embossed structure (102) surrounds the striker mounting area (301). The first curved embossed structure (102) has curved beads (302a, 302b) located adjacent to it (as explained in Fig. 3).

[0044] The reinforcing structure assembly (100) also has a second reinforcing structure (400) (not shown in Fig.l, as it is shown in the explanation of Fig. 4) that has a top portion (401) and a bottom portion (402). The top portion (401) has a second curved embossed structure (403) with a depression. The second curved embossed structure (403) is positioned on top of the first curved embossed structure (102).
[0045] Referring to FIG. 2 it shows the first reinforcement (103a) located on the hinge mounting area (104a) at rear end of the hood inner panel (101). The first reinforcement (103a) have embossed structures.
[0046] These embossed structures are D shaped profiles (201a, 201b) that are provided on the location where holes (204) are given mounted to pivotally mount the hood to the vehicle body using bolts. Both of the D shaped profiles (201a, 201b) are positioned differently from each other. The first D shaped profile (201a) is straight and the second D shaped profile (201b) has an inverted face.
[0047] The plane side of the first D shaped profile (201a) faces the side face (202) of the hood inner panel (101). The plane side of the second D shaped profile (201b) faces the first D shaped profile (201a). Since the formation of stress is on the first bolt located on the first D shaped profile (201a), connecting the first D shaped profile (201a) to the side face (202) of the hood inner panel (101) improves the stress flow around the hinge mounting area (104a).
[0048] There are multiple spot welding locations (203) given on the first reinforcement (103 a) to connect the first reinforcement (103 a) with the hinge mounting bracket. The first reinforcement (103 a) also has multiple drain holes (205) to drain paint if the paint gets collected around that area during paint job.
[0049] The first D shaped profile (201a) gets the support from the side face (202) of the hood inner panel (101) leading to the forming of bending point far from the hinge mounting area (104a).
[0050] Therefore, as the bending line moves away from the hinge mounting area (104a), the stress in the hood inner panel (101) near the hinge mounting area

(104a) is reduced. Further, the concentration of the stresses in the holes (204) is reduced by taking the support of the side face (202) of the hood inner panel (101) such that the stress flow is regulated around the hinge mounting area (104a) and deformation is avoided.
[0051] The similar structure is provided on the other side of the inner hood panel (101) having the hinge mounting area (104a). Therefore, the stresses from both the hinge mounting areas (104a, 104b) at rear ends of the hood inner panel (101) are reduced.
[0052] Referring to FIG. 3, it shows the first curved embossed structure (102). The first curved embossed structure (102) is provided at the front middle of the front part of the hood inner panel (101). Basically, the first curved embossed structure (102) surrounds the striker mounting area (301) from all sides.
[0053] The first curved embossed structure (102) has a depression region which is depressed downward from an upper face of the hood inner panel (101). The striker mounting area (301) lays in the depression region of the first curved embossed structure (102). The depression region has walls at the outer periphery that extends in the upward longitudinal direction. Moreover, the depression region extends in the vehicle width direction. The lengths of the walls of the depression region curves vary in heights in vertical direction. The middle wall is the longest as it houses the striker mounting area (301).
[0054] Therefore, by implementing the depression region, the stress is distributed around the striker area (301) uniformly and the stress gets absorbed in the depression region, leading to reduction of stress to other areas of hood inner panel (101).
[0055] The first curved embossed structure (102) has curved beads (302a, 302b) that are formed at the left side peripheral edge and the right side peripheral edge of the first curved embossed structure (102). The curved beads (302a, 302b) specifically merge into the side walls of the first curved embossed structure (102).

[0056] The curved beads (302a, 302b) are configured such that the shape of its longitudinal-cross section taken along the horizontal longitudinal direction is a roughly cloud shape. Further, each of the curved beads (302a, 302b) have holes for draining purposes. Specifically, the drain relates to draining of paint at the time of paint job.
[0057] The curved beads (302a, 302b) further reduce the stresses that are transferred from the second reinforcement (400) as the second reinforcement (400) is spot welded on the curved beads (302a, 302b). With the cloud shape of the curved beads (302a, 302b), the stresses gets absorbed within the curved beads (302a, 302b) and less stress is absorbed by the second reinforcement (400) (as described in explanation of Fig. 4), which further leads to less stress absorbed by the first curved embossed structure (102). Ultimately leading to reduced stress on the hood inner panel (101).
[0058] Referring to FIG. 4, it shows second reinforcement (400) that is assembled on top of the first curved embossed structure (102). The second reinforcement (400) is divided into a top portion (401) and a bottom portion (402). The top portion (401) also has a second curved embossed structure (403).
[0059] The second curved embossed structure (403) has a depression region which is also depressed in downward direction facing the first curved embossed structure (102). The depression region has an hourglass shape and has walls at the outer periphery that extends in the upward longitudinal direction and away from the center of the depression region. Moreover, the depression region extends in the width direction of the second reinforcement (400). The walls converge in the middle towards the center of the depression region.
[0060] Therefore, the stress is absorbed inside the depression region that reinforces the striker mounting area (301) and less stress is transferred to the other parts of the hood inner panel (101).
[0061] Further, to reduce the vibration impact on the front portion of the hood inner panel (101), the second reinforcement (400) has a bottom portion (402) to

reduce the stresses. The bottom portion (402) has raised edged beads (405a, 405b) that are given on the sides. The raised edged beads (405a, 405b) are slightly lifted from the bottom portion (402) of the second reinforcement (400) leading to reducing the transfer of stress to the front portion of the hood inner panel (101).
[0062] Moreover, a cutout (411) is given on the second reinforcement (400) to accommodate an emboss. To maintain the rigidity and stress flow evenly, an inverted U-shaped bead (407) is provided on the ends of the cutout (411) located on the bottom portion (402) of the second reinforcement (400) to ensure the rigidity.
[0063] The second curved embossed structure (400) has a step area (404) that is provided in the depression region. The step area (404) has two elevated surfaces (408a, 408b) and a depressed surface (409) that is given in the middle between the two elevated surfaces (408a, 408b). The elevated surfaces (408a, 408b) have rectangular beads (410) onto which the striker is welded.
[0064] A trapezoidal bead (406) is provided at the center between the top portion (401) and the bottom portion (402) of the second reinforcement (400). The trapezoidal bead (406) is given adjacent to one of the rectangular beads (410) to strengthen the striker mounting area (301) to reduce the stress coming from the striker region onto the vehicle hood and strengthen the hood.
[0065] Therefore, the combination of the trapezoidal bead (406), raised edged beads (405a, 405b) and the U-shaped bead (407) reduces and absorbs the stresses that are generated around the striker mounting area (301), thereby reducing the deformation.
TECHNICAL ADVANTAGES
[0066] With the help of the solution as proposed herein in the context of the present disclosure, the stress levels are getting decreased.
[0067] The design of the present disclosure is able to transfer the loads uniformly from the striker mounting area and the hinge mounting area.

[0068] With the help of the present disclosure, there is no deformation around the front hood and the hinge mounting area.
[0069] It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as "open" terms (e.g., the term "including" should be interpreted as "including but not limited to," the term "having" should be interpreted as "having at least," the term "includes" should be interpreted as "includes but is not limited to," etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation, no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases "at least one" and "one or more" to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles "a" or "an" limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to disclosures containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases "one or more" or "at least one" and indefinite articles such as "a" or "an" (e.g., "a" and/or "an" should typically be interpreted to mean "at least one" or "one or more"); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. Also, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of "two recitations," without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to "at least one of A, B, and C, etc." is used, in general, such construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., "a system having at least one of A, B, and C" would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances, where a convention analogous to "at least one of A, B, or C, etc." is used, in general, such

construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., "a system having at least one of A, B, or C" would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms or both terms. For example, the phrase "A or B" will be understood to include the possibilities of "A" or "B" or "A and B."
[0070] It will be further appreciated that functions or structures of a plurality of components or steps may be combined into a single component or step, or the functions or structures of one-step or component may be split among plural steps or components. The present disclosure contemplates all of these combinations. Unless stated otherwise, dimensions and geometries of the various structures depicted herein are not intended to be restrictive of the disclosure, and other dimensions or geometries are possible. Also, while a feature of the present disclosure may have been described in the context of only one of the illustrated embodiments, such feature may be combined with one or more other features of other embodiments, for any given application. It will also be appreciated from the above that the fabrication of the unique structures herein and the operation thereof also constitute methods in accordance with the present disclosure. The present disclosure also encompasses intermediate and end products resulting from the practice of the methods herein. The use of "comprising" or "including" also contemplates embodiments that "consist essentially of or "consist of the recited feature.

claim:

1. A reinforcing structure assembly (100) provided on a hood inner panel
(101) for improving strength of the hood inner panel (101) of a vehicle, the
reinforcing structure assembly (100) comprising:
a first curved embossed structure (102) with a first depression region provided at the front middle which is located at the front part of the hood inner panel (101), wherein the curved embossed structure (102) surrounds a striker mounting area (301) that houses a striker;
a plurality of curved beads (302a, 302b) positioned on a left side peripheral edge and a right side peripheral edge of the first curved embossed structure (102); and
a second reinforcement (400) assembled on top of the first curved embossed structure (102) having a top portion (401) and a bottom portion (402), wherein the top portion (401) has a second curved embossed structure (403) with a second depression region that is located directly on top of the first curved embossed structure (102),
wherein the second curved embossed structure (403) has a step area (404) in middle of the depression on the second reinforcement (400).
2. A reinforcing structure assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of first reinforcements (103a, 103b) are located on the hinge mounting areas (104a, 104b) at rear ends of the hood inner panel (101), wherein the first reinforcements (103a, 103b) have a plurality of D shaped profiles (201a, 201b).
3. The reinforcing structure assembly (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein a first D shaped profile (201a) out of the plurality of D shaped profiles (201a, 201b) opens up and joins a side face (202) of the hood inner panel

(101) and a multiple spot welding locations (203) are given on the first reinforcements (103a, 103b).
4. The reinforcing structure (100) assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of raised edged beads (405a, 405b) are provided on the sides of the bottom portion (402) of the second reinforcement (400).
5. The reinforcing structure assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a trapezoidal bead (406) is provided at the center of the second reinforcement (400) between the top portion (401) and the bottom portion (402).
6. The reinforcing structure assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein an inverted U-shaped bead (407) is provided on a cutout located on the bottom portion (402) of the second reinforcement (400).
7. The reinforcing structure assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bottom portion (402) has a plane surface.
8. The reinforcing structure assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step area (404) has two elevated surfaces (408a, 408b) and a depressed surface (409).
9. The reinforcing structure assembly (100) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the two elevated surfaces (408a, 408b) have rectangular beads (410) to weld the striker.
10. The reinforcing structure assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of spot welds is provided to connect the second reinforcement (400) with the hood inner panel (101).