Patent ID: 7334656
Filing Date: 2008-02-26
Classification: B60R,E05B

Abstract:
1. A vehicle comprising: a hood configured to extend above and over a front compartment; a support member operatively connected to the hood; an actuator configured to selectively raise and lower the hood by extending and retracting the support member, respectively; a locking mechanism operatively interconnecting the actuator and the support member and sufficiently configured to resist downward movement of the hood caused by a force exerted on the hood during a vehicle impact while allowing downward movement of the hood initiated by the actuator; an outer tube characterized by an inner surface; an inner member operatively connected to the support member and located within the outer tube for translation in an extension direction in which the support member is extended and in a retraction direction in which the support member is retracted; a ramp on the inner member facing the inside surface of the outer tube, the distance between the ramp and the inside surface of the outer tube being greater at a first end of the ramp than at a second end of the ramp; a rolling element between the ramp and the inside surface of the outer tube; and a retainer member configured to restrict relative movement of the roller element toward the second end of the ramp during movement of the support member caused by the actuator, and thereby prevent the roller element from wedgingly engaging the inside surface of the outer tube.