Hood hinge and body structure

Details Hood hinge and body structure Hood hinge and body structure

2001-11-07

2004-11-16

Johnson, Brian L. (Department: 3618)

Motor vehicles

With means for promoting safety of vehicle, its occupant or...

Responsive to engagement of portion of perimeter of vehicle...

C180S069210, C296S182100

Reexamination Certificate

active

06817435

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a hood hinge structure of a vehicle for connecting together a hinge lower which fixed to a vehicle body and a hinge upper which fixed to a hood, and a body structure of a vehicle.
Conventionally, in a vehicle such as a car, as a hood hinge structure comprising hinges connecting a hinge lower fixed to a vehicle body with a hinge upper fixed to a hood, there are employed various kinds of structures. For example, a first conventional structure shown in
FIGS. 8A-8C
is an ordinary hood hinge structure. As shown in
FIG. 8A
, FIG.
8
B and
FIG. 8C
, a hinge lower
24
is fixed to a vehicle body (frame upper)
22
extending longitudinally in the right and left side of an engine room, whereas a hinge upper
23
is fixed to a hood inner
21
A of a hood (bonnet)
21
. These hinge lower
24
and hinge upper
23
are connected together at a hinge axial center H, while the hood
21
can be opened and closed about the hinge axial center H. By the way, reference character
32
designates a front pillar. Reference character
33
designates a front bulkhead. Reference character
34
designates a suspension upper bracket. Reference character
36
designates a frame side upper. Reference character
38
designates a wheel apron lower. Reference character
26
designates a fender panel.
Also, as a second conventional structure, there is shown a structure in
FIG. 9
, which is disclosed in Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. Hei 10-258773. In this structure, an L-shaped support bracket
117
, which is held by a fixing bracket
121
, is fixed on the upper surface of an upper frame
112
in such a manner that it can drop down. A second hanging portion
128
of a hinge bracket
124
fixed to a hood panel
127
is rotatably connected to a first hanging portion
119
of the support bracket
117
. Thus, according to this structure, in the case that a shock is applied to the hood panel
127
, the support bracket
117
which is held and fixed between the fixing bracket
121
and the upper frame
112
is deformed and pulled out downwardly by the hinge bracket
124
. Therefore, the shock is absorbed effectively due to the deformation of the support bracket
117
, thereby being able to minimize damage to a pedestrian.
Further, although not shown or described in detail, as a third conventional structure, there is known a structure disclosed in Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. Hei 9-315266. In this structure, when a control unit detects a collision with a pedestrian, the control unit actuates hood-lift-hold means so that a hood is lifted a predetermined amount by an inflator and a rod. Then, the hood is held at the thus lifted position, thereby securing a sufficient deformation stroke with respect to a shock given from the pedestrian.
However, of the above hood hinge structures, in the first conventional structure, as can be clearly shown in
FIG. 8C
, a clearance between the hinge lower
24
fixed to the upper surface of the frame upper
22
and the hinge upper
23
fixed to the hood inner
21
A is narrow, which makes it difficult to mount the hinge lower
24
and hinge upper
23
. Also, in the case that such a shock as shown by an arrow P is given to the hood hinge portion due to a collision with a pedestrian, there is a fear that the hinge lower
24
and hinge upper
23
can be butted against each other in a comparatively early stage. Therefore the shock cannot be absorbed sufficiently, thereby increasing damage to the pedestrian.
In view of the above, as in the above-mentioned second conventional structure, there is proposed a structure in which the shock can be absorbed effectively by the deformation of the support bracket
117
so as to be moved and deformed downwardly. However, in this case, there is necessary a predetermined stroke S between the fixing portion of the hinge bracket
124
and the upper surface of the upper frame
112
. This increases the height of the hood and thereby causes reducing the freedom of design, low aerodynamic characteristic of the structure and worsening the vehicle handling efficiency by increasing the load of the front portion thereof, and narrows the front field of vision. In addition, after the shock is absorbed, the hinge means including the hinge bracket
124
and support bracket
117
is butted against the upper surface of the upper frame
112
, which makes it impossible to absorb the shock any further. Also, in the case of the above-mentioned third conventional structure, in the normal running of the vehicle, since the hood surface is formed low, there is no fear that the aerodynamic characteristic can be lowered and the front field of vision can be narrowed. However, it is necessary to provide detect means for detecting a collision with a pedestrian and a hood lift means, which increases the manufacturing cost of the hinge structure greatly, increases the weight thereof and complicates the structure. That is, the third conventional structure is found not practical.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention aims at solving the problems found in the above-mentioned conventional hood hinge structure and body structure for a vehicle. Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a hood hinge and body structure for a vehicle, which not only can secure a sufficient shock-absorbing stroke in a hinge portion with a hood surface maintained low but also can enhance the efficiency of the hinge components mounting operation.
In attaining the above object, according to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a hood hinge and body structure comprising a body having a stepped portion that is located at a position lower than an upper surface of a frame upper of said body and at an engine room side, a hinge lower fixed to a hinge lower fixing portion that is located adjacent to the stepped portion and a hinge upper fixed to a hinge upper fixing portion of a hood and pivotably connected to the hinge lower to form a hinge at a connecting position, wherein the hinge upper fixing portion is opposed to the stepped portion in a vertical direction of the body.
According to a second aspect of the invention, in a vehicle hood hinge structure as set forth in the first aspect of the invention, the invention further comprises a wave portion disposed on a side edge portion of the hood and at least in a vicinity of the hinge upper and being stretchable when an impact acts on the hood.
According to a third aspect of the invention, in a vehicle hood hinge structure as set forth in the first or second aspect of the invention, the invention further comprises a shock-absorbing member interposed between the hinge upper fixing portion and the stepped portion.
According to a fourth aspect of the invention, in a vehicle hood hinge structure as set forth in the third aspect of the invention, the shock-absorbing member is integrally formed with the hinge lower.
According to a fifth aspect of the invention, in a vehicle hood hinge structure as set forth in anyone of the first to fourth aspects of the invention, the invention further comprising a fragile portion formed on the hinge lower between the hinge lower fixing portion and the connecting position.
According to a sixth aspect of the invention, in a vehicle hood hinge structure as set forth in the first aspect of the invention, the stepped portion is located at a range between a strut tower of the body and a bulkhead of the body in a back-and-forth direction of the body and the stepped portion is situated lower than the top surface of a frame upper of the body.
According to a seventh aspect of the invention, in a vehicle body structure as set forth in the sixth aspect of the invention, an upper surface portion of the strut tower is formed lower than the top surface.
According to an eighth aspect of the invention, in a vehicle body structure as set forth in the sixth or seventh aspect of the invention, the invention further comprising an overlapping flange overlapped with both of a front pillar of the body and the strut tower, and mounted on the bod

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