Patent ID: 7635157

Claim:
A hood assembly for use with a motorized vehicle having vehicle structure with forward and rearward ends, the hood assembly being operatively secured to the vehicle structure proximate to the forward end, and comprising: an upper layer; and an inner layer operatively secured to said upper layer and having substantially opposing first and second surfaces defining a sinusoidal profile; wherein said sinusoidal profile is oriented to extend from the forward end of the vehicle structure towards the rearward end of the vehicle structure to thereby improve crashworthiness of the vehicle in a frontal scenario; wherein said sinusoidal profile includes a first amplitude and a first wavelength along a first region of the hood assembly, said first amplitude and wavelength each being configured to provide a first predetermined level of absorption and attenuation of kinetic energy imparted to the hood assembly by objects upon impact therebetween; wherein said sinusoidal profile further includes a second amplitude and a second wavelength along a second region of the hood assembly different from said first region, said second amplitude and wavelength each being configured to provide a second predetermined level of absorption and attenuation of kinetic energy imparted to the hood assembly by objects upon impact therebetween.