# US 10,480,239 B1 · Vehicle front end structure > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,480,239 B1 - Document ID: US10480239B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 16/173,215 - Filed: 2018-10-29 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2018-10-29 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Mark A. Wisneski; Christopher M. Caron; David Brian Glickman; Stuart C. Salter; Paul Kenneth Dellock - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10480239B1 ## CPC - E05F 15/662: Motor units therefor, e.g. geared motors - B62D 25/105: {for motor cars} - B62D 25/12: 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) - E05Y 2900/536: Hoods - E05F: DEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTO OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION; CHECKS FOR WINGS; WING FITTINGS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, CONCERNED WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF THE WING - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) - E05Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES E05D AND E05F, RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS, ELECTRIC CONTROL, POWER SUPPLY, POWER SIGNAL OR TRANSMISSION, USER INTERFACES, MOUNTING OR COUPLING, DETAILS, ACCESSORIES, AUXILIARY OPERATIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, APPLICATION THEREOF ## Abstract A vehicle having a hood-grille assembly and a method of operating the hood-grille assembly may include actuating geared motors to release the hood-grille assembly, releasing a bolster from vehicle structure, if a transmission is in Park when an open-close request is received and the hood-grille assembly is closed. This may also include, after the geared motors release the hood-grille assembly, actuating power struts to pivot the hood-grille assembly to an open position. The automatic closing of the hood-grille assembly employs the geared motors and power struts to secure the bolster to the vehicle body. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of operating a hood-grille assembly of a vehicle comprising: actuating geared motors to release the hood-grille assembly, releasing a bolster from vehicle structure, if a transmission is in Park when an open-close request is received and the hood-grille assembly is closed; and actuating power struts to pivot the hood-grille assembly to a secondary position if the transmission is in Park when an open-close request is received and the hood-grille assembly is opened. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further including: actuating the power struts to pivot the hood-grille assembly to an open position after the geared motors release the hood-grille assembly. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2 wherein, upon releasing the hood-grille assembly, activating indicators signaling that the hood-grille assembly is not closed. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further including: actuating the geared motors to release the hood-grille assembly, releasing the bolster from the vehicle structure, if the transmission is not in Park when the open-close request is received, the hood grille assembly is closed and a warning override is received. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further including: after pivoting the hood-grille assembly to the secondary position, actuating geared motors to secure the hood-grille assembly in a closed position, securing the bolster to the vehicle structure. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5 further including: displaying a failure mode if, after securing the hood-grille assembly in the closed position, the geared motors do not indicate the closed position and a switch contacting the hood-grille assembly does not indicate the closed position. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further including: actuating the power struts to pivot the hood-grille assembly to the secondary position if the transmission is not in Park when the open-close request is received, the hood-grille assembly is opened and a warning override is received. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7 further including: displaying a failure mode if, after securing the hood-grille assembly in a closed position, the geared motors do not indicate the closed position and a switch contacting the hood-grille assembly does not indicate the closed position. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further including: preventing the transmission from shifting out of Park when the hood-grille assembly is released. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9 further including: allowing the transmission to shifting out of Park when the hood-grille assembly is closed. ### Claim 11 A vehicle comprising: a body structure including front fenders; a hood-grille assembly including a hood pivotally mounted to the body structure, a grille fixed to the hood, and a bolster, laterally extending between the front fenders, fixed to the hood and pivotable with the hood; geared motors configured to releasably secure the bolster to the body structure, wherein the geared motors detect when the hood-grille assembly is closed; and a switch configured to be actuated by the bolster when the hood-grille assembly is closed. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The vehicle of claim 11 further including power struts mounted between the hood and body structure, actuatable to raise lower the hood-grille assembly. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The vehicle of claim 11 further including a keypad mounted adjacent to a headlight configured to request opening-closing of the hood-grille assembly. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The vehicle of claim 11 including a controller configured to actuate the geared motors to release the hood-grille assembly, releasing the bolster from the body structure, if a transmission is in Park when an open-close request is received and the hood-grille assembly is closed. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The vehicle of claim 14 wherein the controller is also configured to actuate power struts to pivot the hood-grille assembly to an open position after the geared motors release the hood-grille assembly. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The vehicle of claim 14 wherein the controller is also configured to activate indicators signaling that the hood-grille assembly is not closed when the bolster is released from the body structure. ### Claim 17 A vehicle comprising: a body structure including front fenders; a hood-grille assembly including a hood pivotally mounted to the body structure, a grille fixed to the hood, and a bolster, laterally extending between the front fenders, fixed to the hood and pivotable with the hood; geared motors configured to releasably secure the bolster to the body structure; and a keypad mounted adjacent to a headlight configured to request opening-closing of the hood-grille assembly.