Hood hinge assembly for vehicle

Abstract

A hood hinge assembly for operatively attaching a hood to a vehicle includes a base adapted to be operatively fixed to the vehicle. The hood hinge assembly also includes a mount bar adapted for pivotal attachment to the hood at a first pivot point. The hood hinge assembly includes a lever bar pivotally attached to the mount bar at a second pivot point and pivotally attached to the base at a third pivot point. The hood hinge assembly further includes an actuator operable to pivot the lever bar about the third pivot point to thereby move the first pivot point away from the vehicle.

1 . A hood hinge assembly for operatively attaching a hood to a vehicle comprising: 
 a base adapted to be operatively fixed to the vehicle;    a mount bar adapted for pivotal attachment to the hood at a first pivot point;    a lever bar pivotally attached to said mount bar at a second pivot point and pivotally attached to said base at a third pivot point;    an actuator operable to pivot said lever bar about said third pivot point to thereby move said first pivot point away from the vehicle; and    a support bar pivotally attached to said mount bar at a fourth pivot point, said support bar operable to support said mount bar at said fourth pivot point as said mount bar pivots about said second pivot point.    
     
     
         2 . A hood hinge assembly as set forth in  claim 1  further comprising at least one abutment member operable to abut against said mount bar to limit pivotal movement of said mount bar about said second pivot point.  
     
     
         3 . A hood hinge assembly as set forth in  claim 2  wherein said at least one abutment member is supported by said lever bar.  
     
     
         4 . A hood hinge assembly as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said lever bar is restricted against substantially all linear movement relative to said base at said third pivot point.  
     
     
         5 . A hood hinge assembly as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said actuator is operatively attached to said lever bar.  
     
     
         6 . A hood hinge assembly as set forth in  claim 1  further comprising an abutment surface included on said lever bar and operable to abut against said support bar to thereby limit pivotal movement of said mount bar about said second pivot point.  
     
     
         7 . A hood hinge assembly as set forth in  claim 1  further comprising a retainer bar fixed to said base and operable to be secured to said lever bar to thereby retain said lever bar against pivotal movement about said third pivot point.  
     
     
         8 . A hood hinge assembly as set forth in  claim 7  further comprising a pin operable to secure said lever bar to said retainer bar and also operable to release said lever bar for pivoting about said third pivot point.  
     
     
         9 . A hood hinge assembly as set forth in  claim 1  wherein at least one of said base and said lever bar defines a curved slot and the other of said base and said lever bar includes a pin disposed within said curved slot as said lever bar pivots about said third pivot point.  
     
     
         10 . A hood hinge assembly for operatively attaching a hood to a vehicle comprising: 
 a base adapted to be operatively fixed to the vehicle;    a mount bar adapted for pivotal attachment to the hood at a first pivot point;    a lever bar pivotally attached to said mount bar at a second pivot point and pivotally attached to said base at a third pivot point, wherein said lever bar is restricted against substantially all linear movement relative to said base at said third pivot point;    an actuator operatively attached to said lever bar and operable to pivot said lever bar about said third pivot point to thereby move said first pivot point in an arcuate path away from the vehicle; and    at least one stop member operable to limit pivotal movement of said mount bar about said second pivot point.    
     
     
         11 . A hood hinge assembly as set forth in  claim 10  wherein said at least one stop member is an abutment member operable to abut against said mount bar to thereby limit pivotal movement of said mount bar about said second pivot point.  
     
     
         12 . A hood hinge assembly as set forth in  claim 10  further comprising a support bar that is pivotally attached to said mount bar at a fourth pivot point, said support bar operable to support said mount bar at said fourth pivot point as said mount bar pivots about said second pivot point.  
     
     
         13 . A hood hinge assembly as set forth in  claim 12  wherein said at least one stop member is an abutment surface included on said lever bar and operable to abut against said support bar to thereby limit pivotal movement of said mount bar about said second pivot point.  
     
     
         14 . A hood hinge assembly as set forth in  claim 10  further comprising a retainer bar fixed to said base and operable to be secured to said lever bar to thereby retain said lever bar against pivoting about said third pivot point.  
     
     
         15 . A hood hinge assembly as set forth in  claim 14  further comprising a pin operable to secure said lever bar to said retainer bar and also operable to release said lever bar for pivoting about said third pivot point.  
     
     
         16 . A hood hinge assembly as set forth in  claim 10  wherein at least one of said base and said lever bar defines a curved slot and the other of said base and said lever bar includes a pin disposed within said curved slot as said lever bar pivots about said third pivot point.  
     
     
         17 . A vehicle comprising: 
 a body;    a hood;    at least one base operatively fixed to said body;    at least one mount bar adapted for pivotal attachment to said hood at a first pivot point;    at least one lever bar pivotally attached to said at least one mount bar at a second pivot point and pivotally attached to said at least one base at a third pivot point;    at least one actuator operable to pivot said at least one lever bar about said third pivot point to thereby move said first pivot point in an arcuate path away from said body;    at least one support bar pivotally attached to said at least one mount bar at a fourth pivot point and pivotally attached to said at least one base at a fifth pivot point, said at least one support bar operable to support said at least one mount bar at said fourth pivot point as said at least one mount bar pivots about said second pivot point; and    at least one abutment member supported by said at least one lever bar and operable to abut against said at least one mount bar to thereby limit pivotal movement of said at least one mount bar about said second pivot point.    
     
     
         18 . A vehicle as set forth in  claim 17  further comprising at least one abutment surface included on said at least one lever bar and operable to abut against said at least one support bar to thereby limit pivotal movement of said at least one mount bar about said second pivot point.  
     
     
         19 . A vehicle as set forth in  claim 17  further comprising at least one retainer bar fixed to said at least one base and operable to be secured to said at least one lever bar to thereby retain said lever bar against pivoting about said third pivot point.  
     
     
         20 . A vehicle as set forth in  claim 19  further comprising at least one pin operable to secure said at least one lever bar to said at least one retainer bar and also operable to release said at least one lever bar for pivoting about said third pivot point.