Energy absorbing seal for a vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10800458-B2
Application number	US-201916276136-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 14, 2019
Priority date	Feb 14, 2019
Publication date	Oct 13, 2020
Grant date	Oct 13, 2020

Abstract

A vehicle includes a storage compartment. The vehicle includes a hood above the storage compartment. The hood is movable relative to the storage compartment between an open position and a closed position. The vehicle includes a flange connected to one of the hood and the storage compartment and a ring-shaped energy absorber connected to the other of the hood and the storage compartment. The flange and the ring-shaped energy absorber both circumferentially enclose the storage compartment in the closed position. The vehicle includes a seal mounted to the ring-shaped energy absorber and positioned between the ring-shaped energy absorber and the flange in the closed position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle, comprising:
a storage compartment;
a hood above the storage compartment and movable relative to the storage compartment between an open position and a closed position;
a flange connected to one of the hood and the storage compartment and a ring-shaped energy absorber connected to the other of the hood and the storage compartment, the flange and the ring-shaped energy absorber both circumferentially enclose the storage compartment in the closed position; and
a seal mounted to the ring-shaped energy absorber and positioned between the ring-shaped energy absorber and the flange in the closed position.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the hood includes a hood outer and a hood inner positioned between the hood outer and the ring-shaped energy absorber.

3. The vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the ring-shaped energy absorber is connected to the hood inner.

4. The vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the ring-shaped energy absorber is compressible relative to the hood inner.

5. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the ring-shaped energy absorber is compressible relative to the flange.

6. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the ring-shaped energy absorber is hollow.

7. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the ring-shaped energy absorber in a radial cross-section has two feet spaced from each other and a cavity disposed therebetween, the two feet abutting the hood.

8. The vehicle as set forth in claim 7 , wherein the ring-shaped energy absorber includes a base spaced from the hood and a leg extending from the base to each foot.

9. The vehicle as set forth in claim 8 , wherein the seal is mounted to the base.

10. The vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the feet are fixed to the hood.

11. The vehicle of claim 7 , further comprising an insert in the cavity.

12. The vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising an insert between the ring-shaped energy absorber and the one of the hood and the storage compartment.

13. The vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the ring-shaped energy absorber defines a cavity and the foam insert is in the cavity.

14. The vehicle as set forth in claim 13 , wherein the cavity faces the hood.

15. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the ring-shaped energy absorber in a radial cross-section has a sinuous shape.

16. The vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the sinuous shape has a peak spaced from the hood, the seal being mounted to the peak.

17. The vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the sinuous shape has two other peaks on opposites sides of the seal.

18. The vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the ring-shaped energy absorber has feet extending from the sinuous shape in opposite directions, the feet abutting the hood.

19. The vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising a fastener connecting the ring-shaped energy absorber to the one of the hood and the storage compartment.

20. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the seal is tubular and elongated around the flange.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Makowski Matthew B
• Madasamy Chelliah
• Hyde Joseph David
• Patel Deepak
• Jun Garam

Classifications

• B60R13/06

  Sealing strips (sealing arrangements for vehicle windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors, or similar devices B60J10/00) · CPC title

• B60R5/02 Primary

  arranged at front of vehicle {(B60R5/003 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B62D25/10

  Bonnets or lids {, e.g. for trucks, tractors, busses, work vehicles (for truck beds B60J7/1607; for boats B63B19/12; doors arranged at the vehicle rear B60J5/10; inlet covers for vehicle fuel tanks B60K15/05; for protecting non-occupants of a vehicle B60R21/38)} · CPC title

• B62D25/12

  Parts or details thereof (locks E05B, {E05B83/16; devices for holding open E05C17/00, e.g. while carrying oversize objects E05C17/042}; hinges E05D; counterbalancing means E05F; {checks, stops, buffers E05F5/00; } springs, {e.g. pneumatic springs} F16F) · CPC title

• B60J10/86 Primary

  arranged on the opening panel · CPC title