DESC:Mechanism for Opening Hood of Vehicle

Field of the invention:

The present invention relates generally to a mechanism for opening a hood of vehicles/automobiles and more particularly, to the mechanism for opening the hood and adjusting a height of the vehicles/automobiles.

Background of the invention:

Automobiles play a major role in today’s world. The core part of the automobile is an engine. In a typical car, the engine is mounted at a front side. The engine and other important accessories of the car are protected by covering with a hood or bonnet.

The hood of the automobile is made open so that when any repair or service required for any of the accessories, it is possible for an operator to open the hood and do the repairing work.

There are lot of hood opening mechanisms available in the prior art for example, the hood can be opened automatically by means of hydraulic and pneumatic means. However, these methods of opening and closing the hood involve complex parts. Hence, the cost of the mechanism goes high. Also, the hood opening stay rod mechanisms are disclosed in the prior art but those mechanisms have several disadvantages like the hood can’t be kept open at different angles. The design is made with compromising the angle for a common height person with a single locking position in the hood. The prior art hood opening mechanisms failed to meet the ergonomic regulations for import and export market with a single rod and single locking position.

The prior art patent references US6244650B1, US7987939B2 and US8201306B2 describe different hood opening mechanisms for the vehicles. But these mechanisms do not solve the need of keeping the hood open at different positions for persons of different heights.

Accordingly, there is a need of a mechanism for opening a hood and adjusting a height of the hood in a simple manner thereby completely eliminating the need of complex parts and also, keeps the hood open at different angles.

Objects of the invention:

An object of the present invention is to keep a hood of a vehicle open at different angles for persons of different heights by using a single stay rod.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a simple mechanism for opening the hood that completely eliminates the need of complex parts.

Summary of the invention:

Accordingly, the present invention provides a mechanism for opening a hood of a vehicle. The mechanism comprises a hood, a stay rod, a first panel, a second panel, a hinge and a third panel. The hood is adjusted at different heights as per user’s requirement. The hood includes a plurality of grooves underneath a hood body. The plurality of grooves is configured anywhere on the hood for locking the stay rod. Specifically, the hood includes the plurality of grooves placed on a right side of the hood. The stay rod is operably connected to the hood. The stay rod includes a handle mounted thereon, a lower end and an upper end. The first panel is spot welded to the hood. The first panel includes a first groove and a second groove configured thereon for locking the stay rod. The lower end of the stay rod is mounted on the second panel using a rubber grommet. The hinge is directly mounted over the second panel. The hinge rotates the hood about a hinge axis. The hinge is spot welded to the third panel.

After opening the hood, the stay rod is lifted by using the handle manually. The stay rod gets locked in the first groove and the second groove of the first panel thereby defining a first locking position and a second locking position of the stay rod based on an angle required for locking the stay rod with the hood as per height and requirement of the user. In the first locking position, the stay rod is locked in the first groove of the first panel at a first angle of 45° of the hood. In the second locking position, the stay rod is locked in the second groove of the first panel at a second angle of 54° of the hood. The user of height between 5 feet and 6 feet selects the first locking position and the user of height above 6 feet selects the second locking position for getting easy access to the hood for servicing without any hindrance.

Brief description of the drawings:

Figure 1 shows an exploded view of a mechanism for opening a hood of a vehicle of the present invention;

Figure 2 illustrates a side view of a hood with a stay rod at two different locking positions, in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 3 illustrates a perspective view of the hood showing a first locking position of the stay rod, in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 4 illustrates a perspective view of the hood showing a second locking position of the stay rod, in accordance with the present invention; and

Figure 5 shows a schematic drawing of the hood with opening at two different locking angles, in accordance with the present invention.

Detailed description of the embodiments:

The foregoing objects of the present invention are accomplished and the problems and shortcomings associated with the prior art, techniques and approaches are overcome by the present invention as described below in the preferred embodiments.

The present invention provides a mechanism for opening a hood of a vehicle that gives a locking position at different angles for persons of different heights. The present invention also provides a simple mechanism for opening the hood that completely eliminates the need of complex parts. The present invention describes the locking position of the stay rod with the hood of the vehicle.

The present invention is illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings, throughout which reference numbers indicate corresponding parts in the various figures. These reference numbers are shown in bracket in the following description.

Referring to figures 1-5, a mechanism (150) for opening the hood of the vehicle in accordance with the present invention is shown. The mechanism (150) comprises a hood (20), a stay rod (40), a first panel (60), a second panel (80), a hinge (100) and a third panel (120).

Height of the hood (20) is adjusted at any position as per the requirement of a user. Specifically, figures 2 and 5 show two locking positions of the stay rod (40) with the hood (20). The hood (20) is open at different angles with a plurality of grooves (not shown) configured underneath body of the hood. Specifically, the plurality of grooves are configured anywhere on the hood (20) based on an angle required for locking the stay rod (40). In an embodiment, the plurality of grooves are set on a right hand side of the hood (20) and set at two different angles about a hinge axis (not numbered). Specifically, a first angle (10) is set at 45° and a second angle (15) is set at 54°. However, it is understood that the plurality grooves can be of any numbers and placed at any position over the entire length of the hood in other alternative embodiments of the mechanism (150).

The stay rod (40) comprises a handle (30) mounted thereon, a lower end (not numbered) and an upper end (not numbered). In an embodiment, the handle (30) is made of a rubber and includes a gripper (not numbered). The handle (30) is used to access the stay rod (40) manually. The hood (20) uses a single locking stay rod (40) of same height for locking the plurality of grooves at two different angles. However, it is understood that more than one stay rods may be used in other alternative embodiments of the mechanism (150) for the vehicles. The lower end and the upper end of the stay rod (40) include a hook like design (not numbered) that provides proper locking of the stay rod (40). In an embodiment, the upper end of the stay rod (40) includes N shaped bent portion.

The first panel (60) is a common hood locking reinforcement panel. The upper end of the stay rod (40) is locked on the first panel (60). The first panel (60) carries load of the stay rod (40). The first panel (60) is secured to the hood (20) by spot welding. The first panel (60) includes a first groove (not numbered) and a second groove (not numbered) configured thereon for locking the stay rod (40).

The first groove and the second groove are designed in such a way that the stay rod (40) is easily locked and unlocked. Each of the first and second grooves includes two notches (not numbered). In an embodiment, one notch has a circular profile and the other notch has a rectangular profile. The N shaped bent portion of the upper end sits in the circular profile and the rectangular profile thereby providing firm locking.

The second panel (80) is an engine inner compartment panel. The lower end of the stay rod (40) is mounted on the second panel (80) using a rubber grommet (70). The hinge (100) is directly mounted over the second panel (80). The hinge (100) is spot welded to the third panel (120). The hood (20) rotates at the hinge (100) about the hinge axis. The third panel (120) is a fender outer panel.

Now, referring to figure 3, a first locking position of the stay rod (40), in accordance with the present invention is shown. The stay rod (40) is locked at the first angle (10) with the hood (20). The first groove is set at the angle such that any person of height between 5 feet and 6 feet gets easy access to the hood (20) for servicing without any hindrance.

Referring now to figure 4, a second locking position of the stay rod (40), in accordance with the present invention is shown. The stay rod (40) is locked at the second angle (15) with the hood (20). The second locking groove is set at the angle such that any person of height above 6 feet is able to easily open/close the hood (20) and also do the servicing without any hindrance.

Referring to figures 1-5, in an operation, the user opens and adjusts height of the hood (20) as per the requirement. The stay rod (40) is lifted by using the handle (30). In the first locking position, the stay rod (40) is locked in the first groove of the first panel (60) at the first angle (10) of 45° of the hood (20). In the second locking position, the stay rod (40) is locked in the second groove of the first panel (60) at the second angle (15) of 54° of the hood (20). The user of height between 5 feet and 6 feet selects the first locking position and the user of height above 6 feet selects the second locking position for getting easy access to the hood (20) for servicing without any hindrance.

Advantages of the invention:

1. The hood (20) with 45° angle (10) provides easy access to the person of height between 5.00 feet and 6.00 feet thereby meeting domestic ergonomics regulation.
2. The hood (20) with 54° angle (15) provides easy access to the person of height more than 6.00 feet thereby meeting export (Europe) ergonomics regulation.
3. The hood (20) is easily accessible for any person of any height between 5.00 feet and 6.00 feet and/or more than 6.00 feet as per his own requirement without any head impact/striking with striker.
4. The design of the mechanism (150) meets both domestic and export ergonomics regulation requirements with the single common stay rod (40).
5. The first panel (60) is useful for both the locking positions of the hood (20).

The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but such omissions and substitutions are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention.
,CLAIMS:We Claim:

1. A mechanism (150) for opening a hood of a vehicle, the mechanism (150) comprising:
a hood (20) being capable of adjusting at different heights as per requirement of a user, the hood having a plurality of grooves configured underneath body thereof;
a stay rod (40) operably connected to the hood (20), the stay rod (40) having a handle (30) mounted thereon, a lower end and an upper end, the lower end and the upper end having a hook provided for locking of the stay rod (40);
a first panel (60) secured to the hood (20), the first panel (60) having a first groove and a second groove configured thereon for locking the stay rod (40);
a second panel (80) being capable of mounting the lower end of the stay rod (40);
a hinge (100) mounted on the second panel (80), the hinge (100) being capable of rotating the hood (20) about a hinge axis; and
a third panel being capable of securing the hinge (100) thereon,
wherein, when the user opens the hood (20) manually using the handle (30), the stay rod (40) gets locked in the first groove and the second groove of the first panel (60) thereby defining a first locking position by making a first angle (10) and a second locking position by making a second angle (15), for adjusting the hood (20) based on height and requirement of the user.

2. The mechanism (150) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of grooves are set on a right hand side of the hood (20) and set at two different angles about the hinge axis.

3. The mechanism (150) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first angle (10) is set at 45° and the second angle (15) is set at 54° for locking the stay rod (40) at the first locking position and the second locking position.

4. The mechanism (150) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the handle (30) of the stay rod (40) is made of a rubber and includes a gripper.

5. The mechanism (150) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first groove and the second groove of the first panel (60) includes two notches wherein one notch includes a circular profile and the other notch includes a rectangular profile.

6. The mechanism (150) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the upper end of the stay rod (40) includes N shaped bent portion that sits in the circular and the rectangular notches thereby providing firm locking.

7. The mechanism (150) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lower end of the stay rod (40) is mounted on the second panel (80) using a rubber grommet (70).