Description:FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT 1970
39 OF 1970
&
THE PATENT RULES 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(SEE SECTIONS 10 & RULE 13)
1. TITLE OF THE INVENTION

INNER PANEL OF A VEHICLE HOOD FACILITATING ABSORPTION OF ENERGY DURING AN IMPACT
2. APPLICANTS (S)
NAME NATIONALITY ADDRESS

MARUTI SUZUKI INDIA LIMITED

Indian
Maruti Suzuki India Limited
1, Nelson Mandela Road, Vasant Kunj,
New Delhi - 110070
India
3. PREAMBLE TO THE DESCRIPTION

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.

INNER PANEL OF A VEHICLE HOOD FACILITATING ABSORPTION OF ENERGY DURING AN IMPACT

TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure relates to an inner panel of a hood of a vehicle. In particular, the present disclosure relates to structural attributes near a hinge mounting area of the inner panel of the hood that is able to absorb energy during an impact to achieve a Head Injury Criteria (HIC) and comply reasonably well with pedestrian regulation.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Typically, a head injury criterion (HIC) is a significant parameter in determining survival of a human being as result of an impact by a vehicle. This is due to the fact that pedestrians are very much vulnerable to severe injuries, particularly in brain, that may result due to the impact by the vehicle. Therefore, besides enhancing an aesthetic view of the vehicle, it is imperative to concentrate on design features of the vehicle, that may add a safety value and help to achieve the HIC criterion in accordance with pedestrian regulation norms.
[0003] In view of this, there is a need to design structural features of a hood of the vehicle in order to achieve a better rating in the pedestrian regulation compliance. The hood, also known as a bonnet of the vehicle, houses an engine and allows access to an engine compartment, a trunk or a boot of the vehicle. The front hood area is capable of providing optimum strength and therefore undergoes no deformation of an outer panel with respect to an inner panel of the hood. Additionally, it is well known that the hood is one of the impact area that is likely to cause an injury to the pedestrian or any unprotected person during a collision or an accident. Thus, an inner panel of the hood should undergo design changes in order to optimize the HIC value and mitigate the risks concerned and provide required strength to the hood as well.
[0004] In an existing arrangement, the above challenges have been addressed to a considerable extent. Herein, as shown in Figure 1, an inclined face (104) is used to control value of the HIC. But by such arrangement of using only one customized face at a concerned area, the HIC value is just able to meet required criteria by a marginal value and also the existing arrangement fails to meet the required standard if weight of the hood is made to increase. In such cases, there is no provision to satisfy the load generated across a hinge mounting area (202), (also depicted in Figure 2) as whole load of the hood comes across this hinge mounting area (202) thus generating internal stresses and in turn weakening the region.
[0005] Towards this direction, there is a need to incorporate design changes in the inner panel of the hood near the hinge mounting area (202) for ensuring an enhanced protection of pedestrian by satisfying pedestrian regulation compliance and maintaining optimum strength in the hinge mounting area.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfy, are listed herein below.
[0007] It is an object of the present subject matter to overcome the aforementioned and other drawbacks existing in the prior art systems and methods.
[0008] It is a significant object of the present disclosure to design an inner panel of a hood of a vehicle such as to facilitate absorption of energy as a result of an impact.
[0009] It is another principal object of the present disclosure to design the inner panel of the hood of the vehicle such that the structure is able to meet load criteria near a hinge mounting region due to weight of the hood.
[0010] It is another object of the present disclosure to design the inner panel of the hood of the vehicle such that the design is able to provide adequate stiffness to the overall hood structure.
[0011] It is yet another object of the present disclosure to design the inner panel of the hood of the vehicle such that the design is rigid enough to bear weight of the hood.
[0012] 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 taking into consideration with accompanied drawings in which preferred embodiments of the present subject matter are illustrated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] This summary is provided to introduce concepts related to an inner panel of a hood present in a vehicle. 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.
[0014] According to an embodiment of a present disclosure, there is provided the inner panel of a hood structure of a vehicle for absorbing energy during impact. The inner panel comprises of a first surface, a second surface integrally extending from a longitudinal edge of the first surface in a first direction vertically and an assembly of structures.
[0015] In an aspect, the assembly of structure comprises a plurality of slots positioned adjacent to each other, where the plurality of slots is extending from a corner inbound region of the first surface to a crumpled region located in middle of the first surface, a plurality of beads, where a first bead and a second bead are positioned parallel to each other in the first surface of the inner panel, with a third bead being situated in a corner outbound region of the second surface of the inner panel.
[0016] In an aspect, the assembly of structures are situated in vicinity of a hinge mounting region, with a combination of the assembly of structures being adapted to absorb energy during impact.
[0017] In an aspect, in the inner panel of the hood structure, the first bead and the second bead are strengthening beads and the third bead is configured to absorb load generated across the inner panel.
[0018] In an aspect, in the inner panel of the hood structure, the first bead and the second bead are connecting the crumpled region to a load bearing face of the first surface.
[0019] In an aspect, in the inner panel of the hood structure, the third bead is connecting the second surface with the load bearing face of the first surface.
[0020] In an aspect, in the inner panel of the hood structure, the first bead and the second bead are inverted beads.
[0021] In an aspect, in the inner panel of the hood structure, lengths of the first bead and the second bead are variable with respect to each other.
[0022] In an aspect, in the inner panel of the hood structure, the second surface is inclined with respect to the first surface.
[0023] To further understand the characteristics and technical contents of the present subject matter, a description relating thereto will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the drawings are illustrative only but not used to limit the scope of the present subject matter.
[0024] 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 numerals represent like components.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWING(S)
[0025] 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 invention 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
[0026] Figure 1 represents an existing solution proposed for the problems addressed in the present disclosure;
[0027] Figure 2 represents a hinge mounting area of the hood in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and
[0028] Figure 3 depicts structural attributes of an inner panel of the hood near the hinge mounting area in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0029] The figures depict embodiments of the present subject matter for the purposes of 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
[0030] 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 cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
[0031] While the embodiments of the disclosure are subject to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiment thereof have been shown by way of example in the figures and will be described below. It should be understood, however, that it is not intended to limit the disclosure to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the disclosure is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternative falling within the scope of the disclosure.
[0032] The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, or any other variations thereof used in the disclosure, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a device, system, assembly that comprises a list of components does not include only those components but may include other components not expressly listed or inherent to such system, or assembly, or device. In other words, one or more elements in a system or device proceeded by “comprises… a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other elements or additional elements in the system or device.
Non-limiting Definitions
[0033] In the disclosure hereinafter, one or more terms are used to describe various aspects of the present disclosure. For a better understanding of the present disclosure, a few definitions are provided herein.
[0034] ‘Crumpled region’ also known as ‘crash zones’ are designed to increase the time over which a change in velocity (and therefore momentum) occurs from an impact during an accident or collision by a measured value of deformation.
Typically, crumpled regions are located in the front part of the vehicle such as, for example, a sedan, a wagon, a truck, or a sport utility vehicle (SUV), to absorb the impact of a head-on collision, but they may be found on other parts of the vehicle as well.
Exemplary implementations/embodiments
[0035] The present disclosure proposes structural attributes of an inner panel of a hood of a vehicle that is designed in order to comply with pedestrian regulation and also to optimize the strength, as the load of hood is maximum near hinge region. The present disclosure intends to minimize severity of a collision by designing the inner panel of the hood in a manner such that it is capable of absorption of enough energy thus reducing overall injury to the pedestrian or unprotected traveller colliding with the vehicle. Herein, certain designing features of the inner panel of the hood is proposed that is capable to achieve a required HIC criterion. These features are elucidated in subsequent sections.
[0036] Figure 3 depicts structural attributes of an inner panel (300) of the hood near a hinge mounting area (202) in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. Herein, the inner panel (300) is designed in a manner such that the inner panel (300) is capable of absorption of energy during the impact faced by the vehicle and also optimizes the strength of hood near the hinge mounting region (202).
[0037] In an aspect, to define the structural attributes in a concise manner, the inner panel (300) may be said to comprise of two surfaces, namely, a first surface (102) and a second surface (104). The second surface (104) is inclined with respect to the first surface (102) and is integrally extending from a first longitudinal edge of the first surface (102) in a first direction, in vertical fashion.
[0038] In an aspect, the first surface (102) and the second surface (104) of the inner panel (300) of the hood comprises of an assembly of structures (306-1, 306-2, 306-3, 308-1, 308-2, 310), where combination of the assembly of structures (306-1, 306-2, 306-3, 308-1, 308-2, 310) are helping to achieve the desired objective as discussed in the previous sections.
[0039] In an aspect, the assembly of structures comprises of a plurality of slots (306-1, 306-2, 306-3) and a plurality of beads (308-1, 308-2, 310) positioned at different regions of the first surface (102) and the second surface (104) of the inner panel (300).
[0040] In an aspect, the plurality of slots (306-1, 306-2, 306-3), preferably three in number, are positioned adjacent to each other and also may be placed parallel to each other. In precise, the plurality of slots (306-1, 306-2, 306-3) may be said to be extending from a corner inbound region of the first surface (102) to the crumpled region located in middle of the first surface (102).
[0041] In an aspect, the assembly of structures further includes a plurality of beads (308-1, 308-2, 310) located at different regions of the first surface (102) and the second surface (104).
[0042] In an aspect, a first bead (308-1) and a second bead (308-2) are placed in parallel with respect to each other on the first surface (102) of the inner panel (300). Additionally, there is a third bead (310), situated in a corner outbound region of the second surface (104) of the inner panel (300). Herein, the first bead (308-1) and the second bead (308-2) are strengthening beads and the third bead (310) is helping in absorption of load and initiating deformation of the inner panel (300).
[0043] In an aspect, the first bead (308-1) and the second bead (308-2) are connecting the crumpled region to a load bearing face (312) of the first surface (102).
[0044] In an aspect, the first bead (308-1) and the second bead (308-2) are inverted in nature having variable lengths. The inverted nature of the first bead (308-1) and the second bead (308-2) provides an enhanced strength to the inner panel (300) which in turn facilitates absorption of energy during the impact. Consequently, absorption of energy by the inner panel (300) saves the pedestrian or any unprotected traveller from severe injuries during collision with the vehicle.
[0045] In an aspect, the third bead (310) is positioned in a manner such that it is connecting the crumpled region to a load bearing face (312) of the first surface (102).
[0046] In this context, it is to be mentioned that these assembly of structures (306-1, 306-2, 306-3, 308-1, 308-2, 310) are situated in vicinity of the hinge mounting region (202) and their combination have been utilized to absorb energy during the impact and optimization of strength of hood near the hinge mounting region (202).
[0047] In an aspect, the combination of assembly of structures (306-1, 306-2, 306-3, 308-1, 308-2, 310) not only helps to crumple the concerned region and absorb energy during a head impact of the pedestrian but also is able to meet load criteria or maintaining the optimum strength at the hinge mounting region (202), that is resulted due to weight of the hood structure.
[0048] Consequently, due to presence of the combination of assembly of structures (306-1, 306-2, 306-3, 308-1, 308-2, 310), the overall weight of the hood structure is also reduced. Moreover, the newly designed features of the inner panel (300) of the hood, as discussed in the present disclosure, also resulted in meeting a target value of HIC to a reasonable extent.
Technical Advantages
[0049] All in all, the invention described in the present disclosure is having the following advantages:
a) Enhanced absorption of impact energy
b) The proposed design of the inner panel (300) facilitates optimization of rigidity
c) The proposed design of the inner panel (300) is able to meet load criteria near the hinge mounting region (202) of the hood
d) The proposed combination of the assembly of structures (306-1, 306-2, 306-3, 308-1, 308-2, 310) reduces the overall weight of the hood
e) The proposed combination of the assembly of structures (306-1, 306-2, 306-3, 308-1, 308-2, 310) is capable of optimization of the value of HIC
f) The proposed combination of the assembly of structures (306-1, 306-2, 306-3, 308-1, 308-2, 310) is capable to provide a better rating in pedestrian regulation than existing arrangement

Equivalents
[0050] It should be noted that the description and figures merely illustrate the principles of the present subject matter. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that conception and specific embodiments disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present subject matter. It should also be appreciated by those skilled in the art that by devising various systems that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the present subject matter and are included within its spirit and scope. Furthermore, all examples recited herein are principally intended expressly to be for pedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the principles of the present subject matter 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. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the present subject matter, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures.
[0051] Although embodiments for the present subject matter have been described in language specific to package features, it is to be understood that the present subject matter is not necessarily limited to the specific features described. Rather, the specific features and methods are disclosed as embodiments for the present subject matter. Numerous modifications and adaptations of the system/device of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and thus it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such modifications and adaptations which fall within the scope of the present subject matter.
[0052] It will be understood by those skilled in 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 inventions 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. In addition, 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 a 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 a 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.”
[0053] 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 invention 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 invention, and other dimensions or geometries are possible. In addition, while a feature of the present invention 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 invention. The present invention 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.

, Claims:We Claim:
1. An inner panel (300) of a hood structure of a vehicle for absorbing energy during impact, comprising:
- a first surface (102);
- a second surface (104) integrally extending from a first longitudinal edge of the first surface (102) in a first direction vertically; and
- an assembly of structures (306-1, 306-2, 306-3, 308-1, 308-2, 310), comprising:
a plurality of slots (306-1, 306-2, 306-3) positioned adjacent to each other, wherein the plurality of slots (306-1, 306-2, 306-3) are extending from a corner inbound region of the first surface (102) to a crumpled region located in middle of the first surface (102),
a plurality of beads (308-1, 308-2, 310), wherein a first bead (308-1) and a second bead (308-2) are positioned parallel to each other on the first surface (102) of the inner panel (300), with a third bead (310) being situated in a corner outbound region of the second surface (104) of the inner panel (300),
- wherein the assembly of structures (306-1, 306-2, 306-3, 308-1, 308-2, 310) are situated in vicinity of a hinge mounting region (202), with a combination of the assembly of structures (306-1, 306-2, 306-3, 308-1, 308-2, 310) being adapted to absorb energy during impact.
2. The inner panel (300) of the hood structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first bead (308-1) and the second bead (308-2) are strengthening beads and wherein the third bead (310) is configured to absorb load generated across the inner panel (300).
3. The inner panel (300) of the hood structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first bead (308-1) and the second bead (308-2) are connecting the crumpled region to a load bearing face (312) of the first surface (102).
4. The inner panel (300) of the hood structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the third bead (310) is connecting the second surface (104) with the load bearing face (312) of the first surface (102).
5. The inner panel (300) of the hood structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first bead (308-1) and the second bead (308-2) are inverted beads.
6. The inner panel (300) of the hood structure as claimed in claim 5, wherein lengths of the first bead (308-1) and the second bead (308-2) are variable with respect to each other.
7. The inner panel (300) of the hood structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second surface (104) is inclined with respect to the first surface (102).
Dated this 27th day of May, 2022

DEEPAK SINGH
IN/PA-2750
OF L S DAVAR & CO.,
APPLICANT’S AGENT