Abstract:
Devices and methods of releasing engine compartment hoods, designed to be used in conjunction with vehicles equipped with passenger compartment hood releases allow a hood to be released from outside the vehicle. The disclosed devices are positioned between an existing lock assembly and the protective sheath of the existing release cable.

Description:
The present invention relates to apparatus and methods for opening the hood of a vehicle and, are particularly useful for auto body repair persons who must typically open and close a vehicle hood many times during the course of certain repairs. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Those skilled in the art of auto body repair will appreciate that a vehicle hood, i.e. the movable cover which provides access to an engine compartment must typically be opened and closed many times in order to effect proper fit and alignment of the hood and its adjacent panels. Each time the hood is opened and closed, it is necessary for the auto body repair technician to walk around to the interior of the car in order to release the hood. Alternatively, a second technician must be utilized to sit within the car and open the hood release each time the hood is opened and closed. In either case, repair of a hood and its adjacent panels is made more tedious and time-consuming by the need for tripping the hood release while effecting the vehicle repair. 
     It is therefore desirable to provide a hood release for a conventional vehicle which can be readily used with many vehicles, which is relatively inexpensive, and which allows a single auto body repair technician to open the hood of a vehicle from the front of the vehicle and without requiring a trip to the interior passenger compartment or an assistant. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a supplemental vehicle hood release of one embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 in a non-actuated position. 
     FIG. 3 is a side view of the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 in an actuated position. 
     FIGS. 4A-4D illustrate portions of a conventional vehicle hood lock mechanism and the insertion and use of the supplemental vehicle hood release shown in FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 5 illustrates a further embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 illustrates a still further embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The various embodiments of the present invention comprise methods and devices for releasing the lock assembly of a vehicle hood from a location proximate the front of the vehicle. Those skilled in the art of auto body repair will appreciate that a vehicle hood release typically comprises a hood lock assembly, a release cable having a proximal end connected to a handle located within the passenger compartment of the vehicle and a terminal end operatively connected to a hood lock assembly, a cable cover comprising a sheath and one or more terminal end attachments disposed over substantially the entire length of the cable leaving a terminal portion of the cable exposed. A terminal end of the sheath or protective attachment members of the cable cover are spaced from the terminal end of the actual cable. Typically, a support attached to the vehicle abuts the terminal end of the cable cover. In order to release the hood lock assembly, a person must typically pull the handle located within the passenger compartment of the vehicle causing the cable to move relative to the terminal end of the cable cover and thereby tripping the hood release mechanism. This typical hood release does not rely upon movement of the cable cover, however, sufficient movement of the cable cover can be used to release the hood lock since specifications allow only a minimum amount of play between the cable cover and the cable. Therefore, if the cable cover is moved in the same direction that the cable is usually drawn when releasing the hood, the movement of the protective cover will cause the cable to move thereby tripping the hood release mechanism. The various embodiments of the present invention operate on the principle that movement of the cable sheath or other portions of the cable cover will effect movement of the terminal end of the cable to release the vehicle hood. 
     One embodiment of the present invention is illustrated FIGS. 1 to  3  wherein a first member  10  and a second member  20  are selectively movable relative to each other by a remote, manually operated actuator  50 . The manually operated actuator comprises a base  51 , finger grips  52 , a cable  53  having a terminal end  54  and a cable cover  55 . The proximal end of the cable  53  is attached to the finger grips  52  while the proximal end of the cable cover or sheath  55  is connected to the base  51 . In this illustrated embodiment, the base  51  is integrally molded with the cable cover  55 , however, from the present description, one skilled in the art will appreciate that these pieces can be manufactured separately. The terminal end  54  of the cable  53  is connected to a portion of second member  20  while the terminal end of the cable cover  55  is connected to a flange  12  on the first member  10 . 
     FIG. 4A illustrates portions of a vehicle lock assembly wherein a conventional cable  110  and a sheath  112  are connected to a bracket  114 . When a person desires to open this hood in a conventional manner, the hood release in a vehicle (not shown) is pulled causing cable  110  to move to the right in this illustrated embodiment thereby moving hood release member  115  in a manner which trips the hood release. When the person releases the hood release lever in the passenger compartment, spring  116  draws the hood release mechanism back toward the left in the illustration. FIG. 4A therefore illustrates portions of a conventional vehicle hood release mechanism. 
     In order to install the supplemental hood release mechanism of the present invention, the sheath  112  and terminal connector  113  are disconnected from support bracket  114  as illustrated in FIG.  4 B and relatively movable elements  10  and  20  are inserted over the portion of the cable between support bracket  114  and the terminal connector  113  located on the end of sheath  112 . The supplemental hood release of this embodiment of the present invention is now in position for actuation. As illustrated in FIGS. 4C and 4D, movement of the finger grips  52  relative to base  51  on the supplemental hood release will cause sheath  112  to be moved to the right in this illustration. After the minimal amount of play existing between cable  110  and sheath  112  has been eliminated, movement of the sheath  112  to the right will cause cable  110  to also move to the right. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that sufficient movement of cable  110  to the right will cause sufficient movement of hood lock release member  115  thereby tripping the hood release. The amount of movement required to trip a hood release may vary between different vehicles and therefore the movement provided by a supplemental hood release of the present invention can also be used to provide different amounts of movement. However, a typical supplemental hood release may move a conventional hood release cable sheath about {fraction (1/16)} inch to about 3 inches, more preferably about ⅛ inch to about ¾ inch, or most preferably about ¼ inch to about ½ inch. 
     While the preferred illustrated embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to  3  relies upon a manual actuator for causing movement between the first member  10  and the second member  20 , alternative embodiments of the present invention rely upon other mechanisms for causing this relative movement. FIG. 5 illustrates an electronic actuator comprising a solenoid  150 , a battery pack  151 , and a radio frequency receiver  152 . When a signal is generated by remotely operated radio transmitter  158 , a signal is received by the actuator  150  causing the solenoid  150  to move second element  120  away from first element  110  with the same effect as discussed above with reference to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to  3 . 
     According to a still further embodiment of the present invention, illustrated in FIG. 6, a signal transmitter  258  is hard wired to an electronic actuator comprising a solenoid  250 . In this embodiment, the push of button  260  on remote control  258  causes the solenoid  250  to move second element  220  relative to first element  210 . 
     Other embodiments of the present invention comprise methods for releasing an engine compartment hood on a vehicle which comprises as standard equipment a hood lock assembly, a release cable comprising a proximal end located proximate a passenger compartment and a terminal end operatively connected to the hood lock assembly, a cable comprising a terminal end spaced from the cable terminal end, and a support abutting the terminal end of the cover. The method comprises the steps of positioning a first member and second member which is movably positioned relative to the first member between the terminal end of the cable cover and the support, and causing the second member to move relative to the first member sufficiently to release the vehicle hood.