Hood Prop Support Adapter for Secure Hood Stop Engagement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hood prop devices for motor vehicles often fail to maintain accurate positioning and secure engagement within the engine compartment, leading to potential slippage and inadequate support of the hood in an elevated position.
Innovation Solution
A hood prop support adapter is designed to securely engage the lower end of the hood prop with the engine compartment's hood stop, utilizing a cylindrical molded plastic or elastomeric element with counterbores and axial passages, allowing for air escape and featuring external ribs for gripping, compatible with both existing hood props and vehicle hood stops.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a telescopic hood prop with rubber end caps is used, then the hood prop can frictionally engage the engine compartment and hood underside, but accurate positioning and secure engagement cannot be ensured, leading to potential slippage
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter serves as an intermediary component between the hood prop and the hood stop. It features a first counterbore that receives the hood stop and a second counterbore that receives the hood prop end cap, creating a positive mechanical engagement that eliminates slippage. The adapter transforms the friction-based engagement into a geometry-based secure fit.
Solution Approach 2:
The adapter changes the engagement parameters by introducing fixed geometric dimensions through its counterbores. Instead of relying on friction coefficients and surface conditions, the system uses precise bore diameters and depths to ensure accurate positioning and secure engagement of the hood prop.
2Reliability
If the hood prop is directly engaged with the hood stop, then the structure remains simple, but the hood prop cannot be securely positioned and may slip
Solution Approach 1:
The engagement system is segmented into three distinct components: the hood stop (first counterbore), the adapter (intermediate element), and the hood prop end cap (second counterbore). This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while collectively achieving secure engagement without significant structural complexity.
3Manufacturing precision
If air is trapped under the hood prop cap, then the cap cannot be completely engaged into the adapter, but adding an opening increases manufacturing complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter incorporates an air escape opening that allows trapped air to escape during the molding and engagement process. This ensures complete engagement of the hood prop cap into the adapter without requiring complex multi-step manufacturing procedures, maintaining ease of manufacture while achieving precise engagement.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The adapter ensures the hood prop is securely positioned and engaged, maintaining the hood in a stable, elevated state without slippage, compatible with pre-existing devices and cost-effective.
Implementation Method 1
An opening in the transaxial wall between the counterbores insures that air trapped in and underneath the cap of the hood prop may exit and thereby insures that the end cap of the hood prop will be completely engaged into the adapter of the invention.
Implementation Method 2
The top of the stop or support typically includes a rubber grommet or rubber pad. Then when the hood is lowered to the closed position, the stop will engage the hood and maintain the hood in a fixed position which will not vibrate
Implementation Method 3
insure that the hood remains in the locked or closed position by placing a biasing force against the hood locking mechanism
Data Source
AI summary
An adapter for a hood prop includes oppositely extending counterbores in a cylindrical housing separated by a transaxial wall. The adapter is designed to be fitted over a hood stop and to receive the end of a telescoping hood prop.