Patent ID: 7559399
Filing Date: 2009-07-14
Classification: B60R,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A vehicle having a vehicle body and a vehicle bonnet assembly including a bonnet hinged at its front to the vehicle body and latched at its rear to the vehicle body by at least one latch device, the at least one latch device comprising a latch assembly mounted to one of the bonnet and the vehicle body and a striker mounted to the other of the bonnet and the vehicle body, impact sensors configured to detect a front collision with a pedestrian and at least one lift actuator arranged to raise the rear edge of the bonnet in response to a pedestrian impact, the latch assembly including a latch claw and a release member, the latch claw being moveable between a latch position in which the striker is held by the latch claw and a release position in which the striker is releasable from the latch claw and the release member being operable by a driver of the vehicle to allow the latch claw to be moved towards its release position and allow the bonnet to be lifted, wherein a release actuator is arranged to move the release member to allow the latch claw to be moved towards its release position and retain it in said position when the bonnet is lifted by the at least one lift actuator upon a pedestrian impact.