The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.
Referring to
The extension 12 extends substantially vertical from the surface 14, and has a top 17 that is wider than a base 18. By having the top 17 of the extension 12 wider than the base 18 of the extension 12, a hood rod 20 is placed adjacent to the extension 12 and is retained by the extension 12. Thus, the hood rod 20 is placed on the surface 14 at a contact area 22. The contact area 22 is any portion of the surface 14 in which the hood rod 20 contacts. Typically, extensions 12 are placed on both sides of the contact area 22 so that the extensions 12 retain the hood rod 20. Therefore the wider tops 17 of the
The extensions 12 create retention points 24 between the extensions 12 for containing the hood rod 20. The distance between the extensions 12 on opposite sides of the contact area 22 is smaller than the diameter of the hood rod 20 at retention points 24. When enough force is applied to the hood rod 20, the hood rod 20 will pass between the extensions 12 at retention points 24.
A second extension 25 extending from the surface 14 can have a semi-circle shape. The second extension 25 can have a top 28 wider than a base 30 for the same reasons as described above. Therefore, when the hood rod 20 is adjacent to the extension 25 the top 28 of the extension 12 extends at least partially over the hood rod 20. The shape of the second extension 25 creates an area between the tops 28 of adjacent extensions 12, 25 that is smaller than the diameter of the hood rod 20. Thus, the tops 17, 28 of the adjacent extensions 12, 25 create the retention point 24. When the hood rod 20 is placed along the contact area 22, the extension 12, 25 retain the hood rod 20 and prevent the hood rod 20 from moving at undesirable times.
The hood rod retention mechanism 10 can have multiple extensions 12, 25 that are placed on both sides of the contact area 22. When extensions 12, 25 are placed on both sides of the contact area 22, the extensions 12, 25 are separated at a distance that is approximately the same as the diameter of the hood rod 20. The contact area 22 is also a width that is about the size of the diameter of the hood rod 20. Thus, when the hood rod 20 is placed along the contact area 22, the extensions 12, 25 contact the hood rod 20 and retain the hood rod 20 from moving at undesirable times. The extension 12, 25 can be placed either directly across the contact area 22 from each other or slightly off set from each other. In either of the positions, the tops 17, 28 of the extensions 12, 25 create the retention point 24 which retains the hood rod 20.
Further, the extensions 12 can have additional structural strength when at least one support 26 extends from a back side 28 of the extension 12 along the surface 14. The support 26 can have an angled surface 30 so that the support 26 contacts the extension 12 towards the top 17. Thus, the extension 12 has more surface area contact with the support 26 so that the support 26 will provide a maximum amount of strength to the extensions 12. In addition, any number of supports 26 can be used along the extensions 12 in order to create the necessary strength characteristics of the extension 12.
It should be appreciated that any combination of the embodiments described above can be combined. For example, any number of extensions 12, 25 extend from the surface 14 on either side of the contact area 22 in order to create any number of retention points 24 which secure the hood rod 20. The number of extensions 12, 25 used for a particular application depends on factors such as, but not limited to, the weight, length, or shape of the rod 20. Also, the size or shape of the component 16 can affect the number of extensions 12, 25 needed to retain the hood rod 20.
Typically, the component 16 has at least one other function in the vehicle. By way of explanation and not limitation, the component 16 can be a container that is used to hold the window washer fluid or coolant fluid, the front end module which is used to support multiple vehicle components such as a grill or headlights, or a radiator, or a shield, such as but not limited to, an upper close out or protection for an engine or cooling system. The component 16 can be any number of items that are located underneath the hood (not shown) of the vehicle, so long as the component 16 is made of a material that can be properly formed to include the extensions 12. Also, the component 16 must be located in an area underneath the hood that makes the hood rod 20 accessible and in a position where it properly supports the hood.
The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.