IP Library Granted Patent US 7,578,548
Granted Patent B2
US 7,578,548 · App. 10/540,194 · Granted Aug 25, 2009

Engine hood comprising a protective device for pedestrians

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,578,548
App. No.
10/540,194
Granted
Aug 25, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

An engine hood for motor vehicles has a deformable head impact zone to protect pedestrians in the event of a collision with the motor vehicle. The engine hood comprises an outer shell, which is formed by the body paneling, and an inner shell which is arranged below the outer shell and is connected to the outer shell. The inner shell is provided with a vault-structured stiffening region in the region of the head impact zone.

Claims (18)

1. An engine hood for a motor vehicle having a deformable head impact zone to protect pedestrians in the event of a collision with the motor vehicle, the engine hood comprising:

an outer shell formed by a paneling of a body of the vehicle;

at least one inner shell disposed below the outer shell and connected to the outer shell, the inner shell having a stiffening region, wherein the stiffening region includes a vaulted structure including a grid of bulges formed by local folding of a material of the inner shell so as to insignificantly increase the surface area of the material.

2. The engine hood as recited in claim 1 , wherein the inner shell includes a base part defining a cutout and an insert part disposed in the cutout and fixedly connected to the base part, and wherein the stiffening region is formed by the insert part.

3. The engine hood as recited in claim 2 , wherein the insert part includes a semi-finished product having a smooth edge region and a vault-structured portion.

4. The engine hood as recited in claim 2 , wherein the insert part includes an edge region and is adhesively bonded to the base part at the edge region.

5. The engine hood as recited in claim 1 , wherein the vaulted structure defines a plurality of bulge domes vaulted out in a direction toward the outer shell.

6. The engine hood as recited in claim 5 , wherein the plurality of bulge domes of the vaulted structure are adhesively bonded to the outer shell.

7. The engine hood as recited in claim 1 wherein the inner shell is between 0.7 mm and 1.2 mm thick.

8. The engine hood as recited in claim 1 wherein the bulges protrude more than 2 mm.

9. The engine hood as recited in claim 1 the vaulted structure includes a honeycomb structure with honeycomb sizes of 25 to 50 mm.

10. The engine hood as recited in claim 1 wherein the vaulted structure includes hexagonal structures.

11. The engine hood as recited in claim 1 wherein the vaulted structure includes triangular or rectangular structures.

12. The engine hood as recited in claim 1 wherein the vaulted structure includes bulges protruding less than 4 mm.

13. An engine hood for a motor vehicle having a deformable head impact zone to protect pedestrians in the event of a collision with the motor vehicle, the engine hood comprising:

an outer shell formed by a paneling of a body of the vehicle;

at least one inner shell disposed below the outer shell and connected to the outer shell, the inner shell having a stiffening region, wherein the stiffening region includes a vaulted structure including local folding of a material of the inner shell so as to insignificantly increase the surface area of the material, the vaulted structure having a grid or lattice constant and vault height matched to a material thickness and desired rigidity of the inner shell.

14. A method for manufacturing the engine hood as recited in claim 1 comprising: creating the vaulted structure in a continuous web process.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 31, 2008
From: DAIMLERCHRYSLER AG
To: DAIMLER AG
Reel/Frame 020442/0893 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 7, 2006
From: BEHR, ROBERT; GRUENBAUM, MARTIN; LANGE, DIETER
To: DAIMLERCHRYSLER AG
Reel/Frame 017756/0865 →