AUTOMOTIVE HOOD-HINGE SYSTEM
A hood-hinge assembly may include at least one structural member, a hinge linkage moveable between a closed position and an open position, and a hinge bracket disposed on the at least one structural member and supporting the hinge linkage. The hinge bracket being deformable in response to a force applied to the hinge linkage.
1 . A hood-hinge assembly for a hood, the hood-hinge assembly comprising:
a hinge linkage permitting movement of the hood between an open position and a closed position; and
a hinge bracket disposed on a structural member of a vehicle and supporting said hinge linkage, said hinge bracket being deformable to allow deflection of a portion of the hood above said hinge bracket in response to an impact event.
2 . The hood-hinge assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said impact event applies a force to a surface of the hood that is substantially normal to said surface.
3 . The hood-hinge assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said hinge linkage is adapted to retain the hood in an open position.
4 . The hood-hinge assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said hinge bracket includes a deformation cavity.
5 . The hood-hinge assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said hinge bracket includes a deformable linkage stop.
6 . A hood-hinge assembly comprising:
at least one structural member;
a hinge linkage moveable between a closed position and an open position; and
a hinge bracket disposed on said at least one structural member and supporting said hinge linkage, said hinge bracket being deformable in response to a force applied to said hinge linkage.
7 . The hood-hinge assembly according to claim 6 , further comprising:
a cam, a cam follower, and a biasing member that cooperate to maintain said hinge linkage is said open position.
8 . The hood-hinge assembly according to claim 7 , wherein said cam include plurality of lobes that receive said cam follower therebetween to retain said hinge linkage in said open position.
9 . The hood-hinge assembly according to claim 8 , wherein said biasing member urges said cam follower into engagement with said cam.
10 . The hood-hinge assembly according to claim 6 , further comprising a peg, a lever, and a biasing member, said biasing member urging said lever against said peg to bias said hinge linkage into said open position.
11 . The hood-hinge assembly according to claim 6 , wherein said hinge bracket includes a cross member and at least one leg connecting said cross member and said at least one structural member to form a deformation cavity therebetween.
12 . The hood-hinge assembly according to claim 11 , wherein said deformation cavity allows said hinge bracket to deformably displace in response to said force.
13 . The hood-hinge assembly according to claim 11 , wherein said at least one leg is deformable within said deformation cavity in response to said force.
14 . The hood-hinge assembly according to claim 6 , wherein said hinge linkage is a four-bar linkage.
15 . A vehicle comprising:
at least one structural member;
a hinge linkage moveable between a closed position and an open position; and
a hinge bracket disposed on said at least one structural member and supporting said hinge linkage, said hinge bracket being deformable in response to a force applied to said hinge linkage.
16 . The vehicle according to claim 15 , further comprising:
a cam, a cam follower, and a biasing member that cooperate to maintain said hinge linkage is said open position.
17 . The vehicle according to claim 16 , wherein said cam include plurality of lobes that receive said cam follower therebetween to retain said hinge linkage in said open position.
18 . The vehicle according to claim 17 , wherein said biasing member urges said cam follower into engagement with said cam.
19 . The vehicle according to claim 15 , further comprising a peg, a lever, and a biasing member, said biasing member urging said lever against said peg to bias said hinge linkage into said open position.
20 . The vehicle according to claim 15 , wherein said hinge bracket includes a cross member and at least one leg connecting said cross member and said at least one structural member to form a deformation cavity therebetween.
21 . The vehicle according to claim 20 , wherein said deformation cavity allows said hinge bracket to deformably displace in response to said force.
22 . The vehicle according to claim 20 , wherein said at least one leg is deformable within said deformation cavity in response to said force.
23 . The vehicle according to claim 15 , wherein said hinge linkage is a four-bar linkage.