The present invention relates to mechanisms that pivotally mount a hood to a vehicle such as a lawn and garden tractor.
It is known to provide lawn and garden tractors with hoods which serve to generally enclose the vehicle engine compartment. The hoods are mounted to the vehicle frame for pivoting between open and closed positions. In the closed position the hood generally encloses the engine and other vehicle components during vehicle operation. In the open position such a hood exposes the engine and other vehicle components to allow easy access for maintenance operations. The hoods are also typically adapted for being removed entirely from the vehicle to allow even greater access to the engine and vehicle components.
One type of conventional hood mounting mechanism includes a pivot pin mounted with the hood. The pivot pin is received within an opening defined by the vehicle frame or other structural element. The pin pivots within the opening as the hood pivots between its various positions. The pin is held in place within the opening by parts such as quick pull pins, or other attaching mechanisms such as nuts and washers. To remove the hood from the vehicle an operator must partially disassemble the mechanism and remove the attaching mechanisms from the pins. This typically requires the use of tools. This type of hood hinge mechanism tends to include a relatively large number of parts, and the steps of assembly and disassembly that are required by the operator to attach or remove the hood from the vehicle tend to be undesirably complicated and time consuming.
It is known to provide hood hinge mechanisms that do not require the use of tools. Such mechanisms include those shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,048,154 and 5,645,133, both of which are also assigned to Deere & Company. Those devices are relatively simple to use and are relatively simple in construction which allows them to be manufactured and assembled relatively cost effectively. However, it would be desirable to improve upon the simplicity of these structures such that the manufacturing and assembly costs are further reduced while also maintaining or improving upon the ease of operation.
It would therefore be desirable to provide a hood hinge mechanism adapted for use with a lawn and garden tractor that allows the hood to pivot smoothly between various open and closed positions, and that can be removed from the vehicle completely without requiring the use of tools, and without requiring partial disassembly of the mechanism. It would be desirable for such a mechanism to allow the removal of the hood to be a relatively simple operation. It would be desirable for such a mechanism to allow the hood to easily and smoothly pivot to its various positions without causing the hood to be detached from the vehicle accidentally. It would also be desirable for such a hood hinge to allow the hood to assume a fully open position whereat the hood remains open under its own weight, and that does not allow the hood to become easily detached from the vehicle unless acted upon by an operator. It would also be desirable for such a mechanism to be comprised of relatively few parts that can be manufactured and assembled quickly at relatively low cost.