Patent ID: 8579061

Claim:
A vehicle compartment cover coupling that moveably couples a vehicle compartment cover to a main body of a vehicle for movement of the vehicle compartment cover between an open position and a closed position, the vehicle compartment cover coupling comprising: a first member that is coupled to the main body of the vehicle; and a second member that is coupled to the vehicle compartment cover, the second member being moveably coupled to the first member; and a retaining coupling that is operable to engage the first and second members together during a vehicle impact condition, the retaining coupling engaging the first and second members to limit movement of the compartment cover in a first predetermined direction, the retaining coupling also including a deformable portion configured and positioned to deform in a second predetermined direction during the vehicle impact condition to limit movement of the vehicle compartment cover in the first direction, wherein the retaining coupling includes a striker member that is coupled to one of the first member and the second member, and wherein the retaining coupling also includes a retaining member that is coupled to the other of the first member and the second member, wherein the retaining member defines a slot that receives the striker member when the vehicle compartment cover moves from the open position to the closed position, the width of the slot reducing when the deformable portion deforms to retain the retaining member on the striker member; and the vehicle defines a downward direction and a rearward direction, and wherein the retaining member includes a hook that extends generally in the downward direction and generally in the rearward direction, the hook extending about a first portion of the striker member when the deformable portion plastically deforms.