Patent ID: 7228929

Claim:
A motor vehicle, comprising: a vehicle body, including an engine compartment; a hood extending between a first end pivotally attached to the vehicle body by a pair of pivotal connections and an opposing second end, the hood moveable between an open position to provide access to the engine compartment and a closed position wherein the vehicle can be operated; at least a pair of first structural connectors located at the first end of the hood adjacent the pair of pivotal connections, the pair of first structural connectors operatively engaging complementary first receptacles on the vehicle body when the hood is in the closed position; and at least a pair of second structural connectors located at the second end of the hood, the pair of second structural connectors operatively engaging complementary second receptacles on the vehicle body to maintain the hood in the closed position until the second receptacles are released; wherein the pairs of first and second structural connectors transfer compressive and/or tension forces from the vehicle body to the hood to stiffen the vehicle body by employing the hood as a stressed member when the hood is in the closed position.