US3709316A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cam action safety hood
Assignee: Ford Motor Co
•
Filing: 1971-10-26
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Granted: 1973-01-09
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Expires: 1991-10-26
Abstract
Abstract Vehicle hood construction in which the hood in hinged at its front end to the front wall of the vehicle engine compartment and is latched at its rear end to the vehicle cowl structure forming the rear wall of the engine compartment. The side walls of the engine compartment and the longitudinal edges of the hood are provided with cam means comprising complementary coacting ramp or cam surfaces. If the hood is shoved rearwardly under vehicle collision conditions, an upward buckling of the hood is induced by the cam means which has the effect of foreshortening the hood. This acts as an energy absorption device and prevents unlatching of the hood rear edge and subsequent movement of the rear edge toward the vehicle passenger compartment.
Inventors
- 👤 P Glance
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 12:25
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D25/00; B62D25/08; B62D25/10; B62D25/105
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
99 words
A vehicle engine compartment structure comprising a front wall, side fender aprons, a rear cowl structure and an elongated top closure, hinge means hinging one end of the closure to the front wall, latch means releasably latching the other end of the closure to the cowl structure, and cam means interposed between side portions of the closure and upper portions of the fender aprons effective to induce upward buckling in the closure intermediate its ends upon an impact force being applied to the front end of the closure tending to drive the latter longitudinally rearwardly toward the cowl structure.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
99 words
A vehicle engine compartment structure comprising a front wall, side fender aprons, a rear cowl structure and an elongated top closure, hinge means hinging one end of the closure to the front wall, latch means releasably latching the other end of the closure to the cowl structure, and cam means interposed between side portions of the closure and upper portions of the fender aprons effective to induce upward buckling in the closure intermediate its ends upon an impact force being applied to the front end of the closure tending to drive the latter longitudinally rearwardly toward the cowl structure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
A vehicle engine compartment structure according to claim 1, in which: the cam means comprises a first ramp formed in the upper edge of each side fender apron, and a second ramp formed in each side of the closure complementary to and in vertical alignment with a first ramp in a respective side apron.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
A vehicle engine compartment structure according to claim 2, in which: the weakest section of the closure is at or forward of the longitudinal center of the closure.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A vehicle engine compartment structure according to claim 1, in which: the weakest section of the closure is at or forward of the longitudinal center of the closure.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
133 words
Hood construction for the engine compartment oF a vehicle body comprising: an elongated hood panel, hinge means hinging the hood panel to vehicle body structure at the forward end of the engine compartment, latch means releasably latching the hood to vehicle body structure at the rear end of the engine compartment, and cam means interposed between vehicle body structure forming the side of the engine compartment and the adjacent edge portions of the hood panel, cam means being effective to induce upward buckling in the hood panel intermediate its end upon an impact force being applied to the front end of the hood panel, the buckling of the hood panel foreshortening the latter and preventing substantial movement of the rear end of the hood panel over the rear end of the engine compartment.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
133 words
Hood construction for the engine compartment oF a vehicle body comprising: an elongated hood panel, hinge means hinging the hood panel to vehicle body structure at the forward end of the engine compartment, latch means releasably latching the hood to vehicle body structure at the rear end of the engine compartment, and cam means interposed between vehicle body structure forming the side of the engine compartment and the adjacent edge portions of the hood panel, cam means being effective to induce upward buckling in the hood panel intermediate its end upon an impact force being applied to the front end of the hood panel, the buckling of the hood panel foreshortening the latter and preventing substantial movement of the rear end of the hood panel over the rear end of the engine compartment.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
Hood construction according to claim 5, in which: a cam means comprises a first ramp formed in the upper edge of each side wall of the engine compartment, and a second ramp formed in each adjacent edge portion of the elongated hood panel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
Hood construction according to claim 6, in which: the first and second ramps are complementary to and vertically aligned with each other.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
Hood construction according to claim 7, in which: the weakest section of the hood is at or forward of the longitudinal center of the hood.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
Hood construction according to claim 5, in which: the weakest section of the hood is intermediate the front end and center thereof.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
134 words
A vehicle engine compartment structure comprising a front wall, side fender aprons, a rear cowl structure and an elongated hood panel, hinge means hinging one end of the hood panel to the front wall, latch means releasably latching the other end of the closure to the cowl structure, and cam means interposed between side portions of the hood panel and upper portions of the fender aprons, the cam means being effective upon an impact force being applied to the front end of the hood panel to create a vertical force component which initiates an upward buckling of the hood panel, whereby the hood panel functions as an energy absorbing device and resists unlatching of the hood and movement of the latter up and over the cowl structure into the passenger compartment through the windshield.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
134 words
A vehicle engine compartment structure comprising a front wall, side fender aprons, a rear cowl structure and an elongated hood panel, hinge means hinging one end of the hood panel to the front wall, latch means releasably latching the other end of the closure to the cowl structure, and cam means interposed between side portions of the hood panel and upper portions of the fender aprons, the cam means being effective upon an impact force being applied to the front end of the hood panel to create a vertical force component which initiates an upward buckling of the hood panel, whereby the hood panel functions as an energy absorbing device and resists unlatching of the hood and movement of the latter up and over the cowl structure into the passenger compartment through the windshield.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3599743A
Cited
US3643755A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-01-09 | 1976-07-10 | 1977-01-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-01-09 | 1980-07-10 | 1981-01-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-01-09 | 1984-07-10 | 1985-01-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |