Patent EA-004012-B1 (EA)
Title: Hood assembly
Inventor: KEEN ERIC ALBERT
IPC: B62D25/10
Filed: 2001-08-30
Abstract: 1. A vehicle hood assembly, comprising: an inner hood support member (18) pivotally mounted on the vehicle; and an outer panel (30) assembly mounted on the inner hood support member (18), the outer panel assembly comprising left and right side panels (42, 44) fixed to a top panel (32), the outer panel (30) assembly forming a unit which is movable with respect to the inner support member in response to expansion and contraction of the panels (42, 44). 2. The hood assembly of claim 1, wherein: each side panel (42, 44) has a plurality of mounting pegs (56, 58) projecting inwardly therefrom; and the inner hood support member (18) comprises a top section (20) integrally joined to left and right side sections (22, 24), each section having a plurality of mounting slots (52, 54) formed therein for releasably receiving the mounting pegs (56, 58) of a corresponding side panel (42, 44), the mounting slots (52, 54) varying in size to accommodate expansion and contraction of the side panels (42, 44) relative to its corresponding section (22, 24). 3. The hood assembly of claim 1 or 2, wherein: the inner hood support member (18) comprises a top section (20) integrally joined to left and right side sections (42, 44); and each panel (32, 42, 44) and its corresponding section (20, 22, 24) forming an air space therebetween. 4. The hood assembly of claims 1-3, wherein: the inner hood support member (1) comprises a heat shield interposed between the panels (32, 42, 44) and an engine (12) of the vehicle. 5. A vehicle hood assembly of any one of claims 1-4, comprising: an inner hood support member (18) pivotally mounted on the vehicle and comprising a top section (20) integrally joined to left and right side sections (22, 24); and an outer panel (30) assembly comprising left and right side panels (42, 44) fixed to a top panel (32), the outer panel (30) assembly being mounted to the inner support member (18), and the top panel (32) and the top section (20) forming an intake duct for conducting air to an air intake of an engine (12) of the vehicle. 6. The hood assembly of claim 5, wherein: the top panel (32) has a primary engine air intake port (45, 48) formed therein, and the top section (20) having at least an auxiliary engine air intake port (50) through which engine intake air can flow when the primary engine air intake is blocked. 7. The hood assembly of claim 5 or 6, wherein: the top panel (32) has an engine air intake ports (46, 48) formed therein which communicates air to the intake duct; and the top section (20) having an intake opening (19) formed therein for communicating air from the intake duct to the engine. 8. The hood assembly of any claims 5-7, wherein: the top panel (32) and the top section (20) forming an air space therebetween, engine intake air flowing from the intake port (46, 48) to the intake opening (19) via said air space. 9. A vehicle hood assembly of any one of claims 1-8, comprising: a wear strip (62) mounted on the vehicle; an inner hood support member (18) pivotally mounted on the vehicle; and an outer panel (30) assembly mounted to the inner support member (18) and comprising left and right side panels $@, 44), and each side panel having a lower part which slidably engages the wear strip (62), engagement of the lower part with the wear strip causing the lower part to flex outwardly as the inner hood support member (18) and the outer panel (30) assembly are pivoted upwardly, said lower parts flexing inwardly and towards each other as the inner hood support member (18) and the outer panel (30) assembly are pivoted downwardly. 10. A vehicle hood assembly of claim 9, wherein: the wear strip (62) comprises a generally inverted U-shaped member having a pair of legs (64, 66). 11. A vehicle hood assembly of claim 10, wherein: the legs (64, 66) are attached to a housing of a transmission of the vehicle.