Patent ID: 7287614

Claim:
A vehicle comprising: a vehicle body at least partially defining an engine compartment; a vehicle frame having a plurality of frame members, including at least one cross member and at least two rails mounted with respect to said at least one cross member; an engine compartment cover extending over and above at least a portion of the engine compartment and defining a panel rigidly mounted to at least two frame members of said plurality of frame members by a plurality of fasteners respectively along opposed sides of said panel to fasten said engine compartment cover to said at least two frame members so that the engine compartment cover is configured to transfer loads between said at least two frame members irrespective of load vector and thereby forms a portion of the vehicle frame by structurally interconnecting said at least two frame members; and a hood pivotably connected to the vehicle body for selective movement between an open position and a closed position in which the hood extends over the engine compartment and the engine compartment cover.