Patent ID: 8490735

Claim:
A hinge assembly configured for pivotably attaching a hood of a vehicle to a body structure of the vehicle, wherein the hood and the body structure define mounting interfaces through which the hinge assembly is connected between the hood and the body structure, the hinge assembly comprising: a first hinge member having a first end portion thereof configured for being attached to the vehicle at a first one of said mounting interfaces; a second hinge member having a first end portion thereof configured for being attached to the vehicle at a second one of said mounting interfaces, the second hinge member has an aperture therein for allowing the second hinge member to be secured to the second one of said mounting interfaces by a fastener extending through the aperture, a configuration of said second hinge member aperture allows a shank of the fastener to pass therethrough and inhibits a head of the fastener from passing therethrough; and a third hinge member having a first end portion thereof pivotably attached to a second end portion of the first hinge member for allowing pivoting therebetween about a first pivot axis and having a second end portion thereof pivotably attached to a second end portion of the second hinge member for allowing pivoting therebetween about a second pivot axis, the third hinge member has an aperture therein aligned with said second hinge member aperture when said second and third hinge members are coupled to each other by the separable joint, a configuration of said third hinge member aperture allows both the shank and the head of the fastener to pass therethrough, wherein a separable joint is provided between said second and third hinge members for coupling the second hinge member to the third hinge member to inhibit pivotal movement therebetween about the second pivot axis until sufficient force is exerted on at least one of said hinge members for causing the second hinge member to become decoupled from the third hinge member at the separable joint thereby allowing pivoting between the second and third hinge members about the second pivot axis.