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.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 14, 2017
Filed:
Dec. 31, 2014
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Erlanger, KY (US);
Jonathan R. Young, Saline, MI (US);
Corinne D. Uskali, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Colin M. Ravenscroft, Ypsilanti, MI (US);
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Erlanger, KY (US);
Abstract
Vehicles incorporating load-transferring hood hinge members are disclosed. In one embodiment, a vehicle includes an A-pillar portion, an upper side member coupled to the A-pillar portion and extending forward from the A-pillar portion in a vehicle longitudinal direction, and a dash panel coupled to the A-pillar portion and extending in a vehicle lateral direction that is transverse to the vehicle longitudinal direction. The vehicle also includes a hood hinge member that is coupled to the upper side member and positioned forward of the A-pillar portion. The hood hinge member includes an attachment portion that is coupled to the upper side member, a flange member that extends upward from the attachment portion, a hood attachment opening passing through the flange member, and a rearward-projecting protrusion having a distal surface that is positioned transverse to the flange member.