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TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    This disclosure relates to a hood panel support used in the vehicle assembly process to hold open the hood panel during electro-coating and painting operations. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Vehicle bodies are assembled together to form what is commonly referred to as a body-in-white that is treated by electro-coating (hereinafter “E-coat”) to prevent corrosion. The body-in-white is painted prior to assembling the body to the chassis and frame. The hood panel is held in its raised position to provide access to the areas below the hood and assure adequate coverage when the body-in-white is E-coated and painted. 
         [0003]    Parts of the body-in-white undergo thermal expansion in the paint system ovens and contraction as the parts cool. Thermal strain induced on the parts may potentially lead to distortion of the part. Thermal expansion of the hood panel may result in sagging or deflection caused by the force of gravity on the panel. 
         [0004]    Adhesives used to bond parts together have a low modulus at ambient temperature but are cured in ovens to have a high modulus. Heat transfer to the adhesive deposits on parts is important to assuring that the adhesives cure completely. 
         [0005]    Parts must be well supported in E-coat baths and in the paint ovens to minimize/eliminate movement during heating to avoid distortion. Distortion of the hood panel may require repair and may detract from the appearance of the vehicle. 
         [0006]    The above problems and other problems are addressed by this disclosure as summarized below. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    According to one aspect of this disclosure, an apparatus is disclosed for holding a hood of a vehicle open during e-coat application and painting. The apparatus includes two supports attached to spaced locations on right and left sides of an engine compartment. Each support has two legs and the two pairs of supports are connected at an upper portion of each leg. A hood support bar is connected to the upper portion of both the first and second pairs of supports and extends transversely across the engine compartment. A hood striker receiving bracket is provided on the hood support bar. 
         [0008]    According to other aspects of this disclosure, the hood support bar may be adapted to be adjusted in all directions, longitudinal “L” (fore/aft), transverse “T” (in/out), and vertical “V” (up/down). A leg connector may be attached to a top portion of each pair of legs that holds the upper portion of the legs in a spaced relationship to be adjusted in a vertical direction, and similarly, the horizontal flanges on the hood support bar are provided to adjust in longitudinal and lateral directions. The flange may define a slot that extends vertically, horizontally or laterally and a fastener may secure the hood support bar at a selected location within the slot. 
         [0009]    Alternatively, a pair of tubular sleeve connectors may be secured to an upper portion of one of the legs of each of the pairs of legs, wherein the tubular sleeve connectors are attached to outer lateral portions of the hood support bar, and wherein a fastener secures the hood support bar to the upper portion of one of the legs in a range of vertical locations. 
         [0010]    The hood support bar may be arch-shaped and may be raised in a central portion thereof relative to locations where the hood support bar is connected to the upper portions of the legs. 
         [0011]    The hood striker receiving bracket may be disposed in a V-shaped central recess formed in the hood support bar. 
         [0012]    The hood support bar may be a truss assembly including a planar bar and risers extending between the planar bar and a plurality of landing pads. The hood striker receiving bracket may be assembled between two landing pads above the center of the planar bar. 
         [0013]    According to another aspect of this disclosure, a hood prop assembly is provided for a vehicle that comprises right and left side inverted V-shaped risers and a transverse support bar. The transverse (lateral) support bar is assembled to an upper portion of each of the inverted V-shaped risers that are detachably secured to an edge of a hood opening defined by the vehicle and hold a hood panel spaced from the hood opening. 
         [0014]    The transverse support bar may be adapted to be connected to the upper portion of the right and left side inverted V-shaped risers in a range of heights. A leg connector may be attached to a top portion of each of the right and left side inverted V-shaped risers to hold the upper portion of the risers in a spaced relationship. The leg connector extends in a longitudinal direction away from the upper portion to a flange provided on the transverse support bar that extends in a vertical direction. A slot may be defined by the flange to extend vertically and wherein a fastener secures the transverse support bar at a selected location within the slot. 
         [0015]    A pair of tubular sleeve connectors may be secured to an upper portion of the right and left side inverted V-shaped risers, wherein the tubular sleeve connectors are attached to outer lateral portions of the transverse support bar, and wherein a fastener secures the transverse support bar to the upper portion of the right and left side inverted V-shaped risers in a range of vertical locations. 
         [0016]    The transverse support bar may be arch-shaped and may be elevated in a central portion thereof relative to locations where the transverse support bar is connected to the upper portions of the risers. 
         [0017]    The hood prop assembly may further comprise a hood latch connector disposed in a V-shaped central recess formed in the transverse support bar. 
         [0018]    The transverse support bar may be a truss assembly including a planar bar including risers extending between the planar bar and a plurality of landing pads. A hood striker receiving bracket may be assembled between two landing pads above the center of the planar bar. 
         [0019]    The above aspects and other aspects of this disclosure are described below with reference to the attached drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0020]      FIG. 1  is a fragmentary perspective view of a hood panel support holding a hood of a vehicle above side rails of the vehicle engine compartment. 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of a hood striker receiving bracket, hood, striker and pin. 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a hood panel support made according to one embodiment of this disclosure. 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  is a hood panel support made according to another embodiment of this disclosure. 
           [0024]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a hood panel support made according to another embodiment of this disclosure. 
           [0025]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a hood panel support made according to another embodiment of this disclosure. 
           [0026]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a hood panel support including tubular sleeve connectors and a rod-shaped cross member. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0027]    The illustrated embodiments are disclosed with reference to the drawings. However, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are intended to be merely examples that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale and some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. The specific structural and functional details disclosed are not to be interpreted as limiting, but as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art how to practice the disclosed concepts. 
         [0028]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , one embodiment of a hood panel support  10  is shown supporting a hood  12  above a pair of spaced front rails  14 . The front rails  14  are provided on right and left sides of an engine compartment  16 . The hood panel support  10 , shown in  FIG. 1 , includes a truss cross bar  20  that is support by a pair of support legs  22  that are, in turn, supported on the front rails  14 . The pair of support legs  22  on the right and left sides of the engine compartment  16  includes a front leg  24  and a rear leg  26  and extends vertically. The front leg  24 , as illustrated, extends in the vertical direction (indicated by the arrow “V”), while the rear leg  26  extends between the front rails  14  and the front leg  24  at an angle. It should be understood that the angle of the front leg  24  and rear leg  26  relative to the front rails  14  may be changed to another angular relationship. 
         [0029]    The front leg  24  and rear leg  26  are connected by a leg connector  28  that is a rigid member capable of holding the front leg  24  and rear leg  26  in a desired orientation and height. The front leg  24  includes a lower end  30  and the rear leg  26  includes a rear end  32 . The lower ends  30  and  32  are received in an opening  34  on the front rails  14 . It should be understood that instead of an opening  34 , a receptacle could be provided on the front rails  14  that is capable of supporting the front leg  24  and rear leg  26  at a desired location on the front rails  14 . 
         [0030]    The truss cross bar  20  includes a height adjustment leg  38  on both right and left ends that also provides for adjustments in the vertical direction “V” thereof. A vertical adjustment slot  40  is provided that receives a fastener  42  used to locate the height adjustment leg relative to the leg connector  28 . The fastener  42  extends through openings (not shown) in the leg connectors  28 . The truss cross bar  20  is adjustable to a desired height and the fasteners  42  may be used to hold the truss cross bar  20  at the desired height. 
         [0031]    The truss cross bar  20  includes a transversely extending base bar  44  that extends between the height adjustment legs  38  on opposite sides of the base bar  44 . Truss spacers  46  may be provided to reinforce the base bar  44 . The truss spacers  46  may include a landing pad bracket  48  that is attached to the truss spacers  46  and provide a landing pad  50 , or raised surface, that is spaced above the base bar  44  and truss spacers  46 . The landing pad is adapted to provide a resting location for the hood  12  on the truss cross bar  20 . 
         [0032]    A hood striker receiving bracket  52  is shown connected to two truss spacers  46  and between two landing pad brackets  48 . The location of the landing pads  50  may be adjusted in the transverse vehicle direction “T” by shifting the connection point of the landing pad brackets  48  relative to the truss spacers  46 . The fasteners are inserted at the connection point in the slot on top of the truss spacers  46 . 
         [0033]    The hood striker receiving bracket  52  receives the hood  12  that includes a striker  56 . The striker  56  is used to secure the hood  12  to the truss cross bar  20 . A retainer pin  58  may be attached to one or more openings  60  in the hood striker receiving bracket  52 . The retainer pin  58  is inserted through one or more openings and the striker  56  to hold the hood  12  as it is processed through electro-coating and painting. 
         [0034]    The hood striker receiving bracket  52  includes a V-shaped plate  62 . The V-shaped plate  62  is secured to the truss cross bar  20  and is part of the hood striker receiving bracket. The V-shaped plate  62  may be secured to the truss cross bar  20  in a range of fore-and-aft locations, or longitudinal location, and secured in the desired location by a fastener  66 . The longitudinal adjustment slot  64 , or the selection of openings  60  in the hood striker receiving bracket  52 , can be used alone or together to permit longitudinal adjustment in the direction shown by arrow “L” where the striker  56  may be secured by the retainer pin  58 . 
         [0035]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , an alternative hood panel support  70  is illustrated that is more compact, but does not include a longitudinal adjustment feature. The reference numerals for parts described with reference to the embodiments of  FIGS. 1-3  are carried over in the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 4-7 . 
         [0036]    The alternative hood panel support  70  includes the truss cross bar  20  that is supported on a pair of legs  22  that each includes a front leg  24  and a rear leg  26 . The height of the truss cross bar  20  is adjustable as the result of providing a height adjustment leg  38  including the vertical adjustment slot  40  and the fastener  42  on opposite sides of the truss cross bar  20 . The truss cross bar  20  includes the base bar  44 , truss spacers  46  and a landing pad bracket  48 , as previously described with reference to  FIGS. 1-3 . 
         [0037]    The landing pad bracket  48  includes a landing pad  50  upon which the hood  12  may rest during the electro-coating and painting processes. A V-shaped bracket  72  includes a pair of openings that receive the retainer pin  58 . The retainer pin  58  is inserted to retain the striker  56  on the V-shaped bracket  72 . While the embodiment of  FIG. 4  does not include a longitudinal adjustment feature, it offers the advantage of being more compact and providing better access to the lower side of the hood  12  during the electro-coating and painting process. 
         [0038]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , an arcuate hood panel support  74  is illustrated that includes a convex cross bar  76  including a V-shaped portion  78  in the center of the cross bar  76  that is adapted to receive the retainer pin  58 . The pin  58  attaches the hood  12  and striker  56  (shown in  FIGS. 1-3 ) to the V-shaped portion of the cross bar  76 . The arcuate hood panel support  74  is supported on right and left sides by a pair of legs  22  including a front leg  24  and a rear leg  26  that are held in a desired relationship by the leg connector  28 . The height of the cross bar  76  is adjustable by changing the height at which the height adjustment leg  38  is secured to the leg connector  28  by changing the attachment location of the fastener  42  in the vertical adjustment slot  40 . 
         [0039]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , another embodiment of an arcuate hood panel support  80  is illustrated that includes the arcuate convex cross bar  76  and V-shaped portion  78 , as described with reference to  FIG. 5 . The pin  58  is attached to the V-shaped portion and is used to secure the hood  12  and striker  56  (shown in  FIGS. 1-3 ) to the hood panel support  80 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 6 , a tubular connector  82  is provided that includes a thumb screw  84 , or other type fastener that would permit adjustment of the location of the tubular connector  82  relative to the front leg  24 . The tubular connector  82  is connected to the front leg  24  within a range of heights and may be secured by the thumb screw  84  at the desired height. A mounting flange  86  is provided on opposite ends of the cross bar  76 . The mounting flange  86  includes a hole (not shown) in which the front leg  24  is received. The height of the hood panel support  80  may be simply adjusted by loosening the thumb screw  84  and shifting the location of the tubular connector  82  on the front leg  24 . 
         [0040]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , another embodiment of a cylindrical hood panel support  88  is illustrated that includes a cylindrical arcuate cross bar  90 . The cross bar  90  may be a tubular cross bar, or may be formed from a solid rod. The cross bar  90  is connected to the front leg  24  and rear leg  26  by the tubular connector  82  and thumb screw  84 . The tubular connector  82  is secured by the screw  84  at a desired height on the first leg  24 . The mounting flange  86 , shown in  FIG. 6 , is also provided on both ends of the cylindrical arcuate cross bar  90  that receives the top end of the front leg  24 , as previously described. 
         [0041]    A V-shaped bend  92  is provided in a central portion of the cross bar  90 . The hood panel support  88  is adjustable in height by adjusting the location of the tubular connector on the front leg  24 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 7 , no provision is made for receiving the retainer pin  58 , as described with reference to the above embodiments. In this embodiment, it is anticipated that the hood  12  may be positioned at its maximum open position and the striker  56  would be received in a space defined by the V-shaped bend  92 . The arcuate cross bar  90  would then be positioned to hold the hood  12  in its maximum open position. 
         [0042]    The embodiments described above are specific examples that do not describe all possible forms of the disclosure. The features of the illustrated embodiments may be combined to form further embodiments of the disclosed concepts. The words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation. The scope of the following claims is broader than the specifically disclosed embodiments and also includes modifications of the illustrated embodiments.

Summary:
An apparatus for holding a hood of a vehicle open during e-coat application and painting. The apparatus includes a support incorporating first and second pairs of legs attached to spaced locations on right and left sides of an engine compartment. The two pairs of legs are connected at an upper portion of the legs. A hood support bar is connected to the upper portion of both the first and second pairs of legs and extends transversely across the engine compartment. A hood striker receiving bracket may be provided on the hood support bar. The apparatus is adjustable to position the hood striker receiving bracket in a range of vertical, transverse and longitudinal locations. The adjustability of the apparatus provides a flexible hood support that reduces thermal distortion or sag due to thermal load.