The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Date of Patent:
Feb. 04, 2003

Filed:

Jul. 24, 2001
Applicant:
Inventors:

Sakae Sasaki, Wako, JP;

Ken Hanayama, Wako, JP;

Kaoru Nagatomi, Wako, JP;

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B60R 2/134 ; B62D 2/510 ; B62D 2/512 ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
B60R 2/134 ; B62D 2/510 ; B62D 2/512 ;
Abstract

A vehicle hood apparatus is provided with a hood retaining mechanism including a linkage which is bendable and stretchable for retaining a hood in a lifted position when a vehicle collides with an object to be protected and the rear end of the hood is lifted. The linkage has an upper link and a lower link which are bendably and stretchably connected via a hinge. A stopper is included for preventing the lower link from falling rearward relative to the vehicle when the lower link and the upper link stretch. The hood apparatus further includes a ratchet mechanism for preventing the lower link and the upper link from shifting from the stretching state to a bending state to securely retain the lifted hood.


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