Patent ID: 7597384

Claim:
A hood latch structure ( 1 ) for a motor vehicle body having a soft-nose outer skin panel ( 2 ) and a hood ( 3 ) providing an overlying structure for a grille opening reinforcing front cross member ( 4 ), comprises at least one hood latch ( 5 ) carried by a mounting member ( 6 ) attached said front cross member and protruding towards the front of said vehicle, said mounting member ( 6 ) being designed to collapse downwards (Z) causing hood latch ( 5 ) to move downwards (Z) when subjected to longitudinal (X) loads above a predetermined threshold distributed thereupon by said overlying structure such that said hood latch ( 5 ) moves away to provide a forgiving upper leg impact zone for the protection of pedestrians in the event of a collision with the motor vehicle, with said hood latch structure further comprising a supporting member ( 7 ) extending between a forward end of mounting member ( 6 ) and an underlying vehicle structure ( 8 ), and with a reinforcing energy beam ( 9 ) extending between said soft-nose outer skin panel ( 2 ) and said mounting member ( 6 ), which energy beam ( 9 ) carries a trigger ( 10 ) which is configured such that it will be brought into contact with supporting member ( 7 ) and trigger collapse thereof in the event of a pedestrian collision with the motor vehicle.