Patent ID: 7934293

Claim:
A hinge mechanism for providing a hinged connection between a bonnet and a body structure of a motor vehicle, the hinge mechanism allowing a rear edge of the bonnet to be lifted from a normal position to a deployed position under an upward force, the hinge mechanism comprising: first and second hinge members which in the normal position are fast with each other but which move relative to each other when the bonnet is moved from the normal position to the deployed position, the first hinge member having a slot of substantially constant width with a first end and a second end, and the second hinge member having a stud which is slidable in the slot from the first end to the second end during movement of the bonnet from the normal position into the deployed position; and an energy dissipating means is provided at the second end of the slot to dissipate impact energy of the stud against the second end of the slot as the bonnet approaches the deployed position, wherein the energy dissipating means includes a resiliently deformable element connected to the first hinge member at the second end of the slot and the deformable element has at least one elongate cavity having a longitudinal axis which is substantially perpendicular to a travel direction of the stud.