US-12617247-B2 - Tow hook assemblies and vehicles including same

US12617247B2US 12617247 B2US12617247 B2US 12617247B2US-12617247-B2

Abstract

A tow hook assembly includes a tow hook body, a support bracket, and a disengagement bracket. The tow hook body includes a leading end, an opposite rear end, and an angled portion sloping downwardly in a direction opposite the leading end. A rear open-ended hole is formed in the rear end. A front open-ended hole is formed in the support bracket. A front fastener extends through the front open-ended hole formed in the support bracket to removably couple the tow hook body to the support bracket, and engagement member received within the rear open-ended hole formed in the tow hook body to removably couple the disengagement bracket to the tow hook body.

Inventors

Skylar Watson
Jeremiah Hammer
George DeWitt
William Castleman
Todd Muck
Richard T. Starks

Assignees

TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20230223

Claims (17)

1 . A tow hook assembly comprising: a tow hook body including a leading end, an opposite rear end, and an angled portion sloping downwardly in a direction opposite the leading end, a rear open-ended hole formed in the rear end; a support bracket, a front open-ended hole formed in the support bracket; a disengagement bracket; a front fastener extending through the front open-ended hole formed in the support bracket to removably couple the tow hook body to the support bracket; and an engagement member extending through the rear open-ended hole formed in the tow hook body to removably couple the disengagement bracket to the tow hook body, wherein upon a force exceeding a predetermined threshold being applied against the leading end of the tow hook body, the front fastener disengages the front open-ended hole formed in the support bracket and the engagement member disengages the rear open-ended hole formed in the tow hook body, wherein the disengagement bracket includes a rib extending from a bottom surface of the disengagement bracket, the rib directing the rear end of the tow hook body in a downward vehicle vertical direction upon movement of the tow hook body in a rearward vehicle longitudinal direction and contacting the rib.
2 . The tow hook assembly of claim 1 , wherein a front fastener hole is formed in the tow hook body coaxial with the front open-ended hole formed in the support bracket, the front fastener extending through the front fastener hole and the front open-ended hole.
3 . The tow hook assembly of claim 1 , wherein a rear fastener hole is formed in the disengagement bracket coaxial with the rear open-ended hole formed in the tow hook body, the engagement member includes a rear fastener extending through the rear fastener hole and the rear open-ended hole.
4 . The tow hook assembly of claim 1 , wherein the angled portion is a front angled portion formed in the tow hook body at a side of the support bracket opposite the disengagement bracket.
5 . The tow hook assembly of claim 1 , wherein the angled portion is a rear angled portion formed in the tow hook body between the support bracket and the disengagement bracket.
6 . The tow hook assembly of claim 1 , wherein the angled portion is a front angled portion formed in the tow hook body at a side of the support bracket opposite the disengagement bracket, and the tow hook body further comprises a rear angled portion formed in the tow hook body between the support bracket and the disengagement bracket.
7 . The tow hook assembly of claim 1 , wherein the rear open-ended hole formed in the tow hook body has an open end facing the leading end of the tow hook body.
8 . The tow hook assembly of claim 1 , wherein the support bracket includes a bottom wall and a side wall extending upwardly from the bottom wall, the front open-ended hole formed in the bottom wall of the support bracket and having an open end facing opposite the side wall of the support bracket.
9 . A tow hook assembly comprising: a tow hook body including a front fastener, a rear open-ended hole formed proximate an opposite rear end of the tow hook body, a front angled portion formed between the front fastener and a leading end of the tow hook body, and a rear angled portion formed between the front fastener and the rear open-ended hole, the front angled portion slopes downwardly in a direction opposite the leading end, and the rear angled portion slopes downwardly in a direction opposite the leading end; a support bracket having a front open-ended hole for removably receiving the front fastener of the tow hook body; and a disengagement bracket having an engagement member removably received within the rear open-ended hole formed in the tow hook body.
10 . The tow hook assembly of claim 9 , wherein upon a force exceeding a predetermined threshold being applied against the leading end of the tow hook body, the front fastener disengages the front open-ended hole formed in the support bracket and the engagement member disengages the rear open-ended hole formed in the tow hook body.
11 . The tow hook assembly of claim 10 , wherein a front fastener hole is formed in the tow hook body coaxial with the front open-ended hole formed in the support bracket, the front fastener extending through the front fastener hole and the front open-ended hole.
12 . The tow hook assembly of claim 10 , wherein a rear fastener hole is formed in the disengagement bracket coaxial with the rear open-ended hole formed in the tow hook body, and wherein the engagement member includes a rear fastener extending through the rear fastener hole and the rear open-ended hole.
13 . The tow hook assembly of claim 10 , wherein the rear open-ended hole formed in the tow hook body has an open end facing the leading end of the tow hook body.
14 . The tow hook assembly of claim 10 , wherein the support bracket includes a bottom wall and a side wall extending upwardly from the bottom wall, the front open-ended hole formed in the bottom wall of the support bracket and having an open end facing opposite the side wall of the support bracket.
15 . A vehicle comprising: a vehicle frame including: a front bumper beam; a stabilizer bar; a first side rail extending from the front bumper beam; and a crossmember extending in a vehicle lateral direction between the front bumper beam rearward of the front bumper beam; and a first tow hook assembly including: a tow hook body including a leading end, an opposite rear end, and an angled portion sloping downwardly in a direction opposite the leading end, a rear open-ended hole formed in the rear end; a stabilizer bar shield extending between the disengagement bracket and the crossmember, the stabilizer bar shield cooperating with the disengagement bracket to define a cavity, wherein the stabilizer bar extends through the cavity; a support bracket mounted to the front bumper beam, a front open-ended hole formed in the support bracket, the tow hook body removably coupled to the support bracket at the front open-ended hole; and a disengagement bracket mounted to the first side rail, the tow hook body removably coupled to the disengagement bracket at the rear open-ended hole.
16 . The vehicle of claim 15 , further comprising: a second side rail extending from the front bumper beam, the crossmember extending between the first side rail and the second side rail; and a second tow hook assembly, the first tow hook assembly mounted to a first end of the crossmember and the second tow hook assembly mounted to a second end of the crossmember opposite the first end.
17 . The vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the leading end of the tow hook body extends further forward than the front bumper beam, and wherein upon a force exceeding a predetermined threshold being applied against the leading end of the tow hook body, the front fastener disengages the front open-ended hole formed in the support bracket and the engagement member disengages the rear open-ended hole formed in the tow hook body.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present specification generally relates to tow hooks for vehicles and, more specifically, a detachable tow hook that reduces impact with an object or person during a vehicle front end collision. BACKGROUND To tow a vehicle in the event of an accident, malfunction, loss of gas, or being stuck in mud or snow, tow hooks are provided at specific locations of a frame of the vehicle to tow the vehicle without damage. Tow hooks are typically mounted on a front rail of the vehicle and may extend through apertures formed in a front bumper of the vehicle to project outwardly therefrom. Alternatively, tow hooks may project from beneath the front bumper. The tow hooks may be positioned and painted to maintain an aesthetically pleasing appearance of the vehicle. Tow hooks are typically formed from a rigid material to withstand large forces when being towed and to remain secured to the vehicle itself. As such, the tow hooks may result in an impact with a barrier during a front end collision. Accordingly, a need exists for an improved vehicle with a tow hook assembly that reduces impact with a barrier during a front end collision by bending, moving, or entirely detaching from the vehicle. SUMMARY In one embodiment, a tow hook assembly includes: a tow hook body including a leading end, an opposite rear end, and an angled portion sloping downwardly in a direction opposite the leading end, a rear open-ended hole formed in the rear end; a support bracket, a front open-ended hole formed in the support bracket; a disengagement bracket; a front fastener extending through the front open-ended hole formed in the support bracket to removably couple the tow hook body to the support bracket; and an engagement member received within the rear open-ended hole formed in the tow hook body to removably couple the disengagement bracket to the tow hook body. In another embodiment, a tow hook assembly includes: a tow hook body including a front fastener, a rear open-ended hole formed proximate an opposite rear end of the tow hook body, a front angled portion formed between the front fastener and a leading end of the tow hook body, and a rear angled portion formed between the front fastener and the rear open-ended hole; a support bracket having a front open-ended hole for removably receiving the front fastener of the tow hook body; and a disengagement bracket having an engagement member removably received within the rear open-ended hole formed in the tow hook body. In yet another embodiment, a vehicle includes: a vehicle frame including: a front bumper beam; a first side rail extending from the front bumper beam; and a crossmember extending in a vehicle lateral direction between the front bumper beam rearward of the front bumper beam; and a first tow hook assembly including: a tow hook body including a leading end, an opposite rear end, and an angled portion sloping downwardly in a direction opposite the leading end, a rear open-ended hole formed in the rear end; a support bracket mounted to the front bumper beam, a front open-ended hole formed in the support bracket, the tow hook body removably coupled to the support bracket at the front open-ended hole; and a disengagement bracket mounted to the first side rail, the tow hook body removably coupled to the disengagement bracket at the rear open-ended hole. These and additional features provided by the embodiments described herein will be more fully understood in view of the following detailed description, in conjunction with the drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The embodiments set forth in the drawings are illustrative and exemplary in nature and not intended to limit the subject matter defined by the claims. The following detailed description of the illustrative embodiments can be understood when read in conjunction with the following drawings, where like structure is indicated with like reference numerals and in which: FIG. 1 schematically depicts a perspective view of a vehicle including a pair of tow hook assemblies, according to one or more embodiments shown and described herein; FIG. 2 schematically depicts a partial bottom perspective view of a vehicle frame of the vehicle including the pair of tow hook assemblies, according to one or more embodiments shown and described herein; FIG. 3 schematically depicts a side view of one of the tow hook assemblies in an assembled state mounted to the vehicle frame, according to one or more embodiments shown and described herein; FIG. 4 schematically depicts an exploded perspective view of the tow hook assembly, according to one or more embodiments shown and described herein; FIG. 5 schematically depicts an assembled perspective view of the tow hook assembly, according to one or more embodiments shown and described herein; FIG. 6A schematically depicts a bottom view of the tow hook assembly mounted to the vehicle frame, according to one or more embodiments shown and described herein; FIG. 6B schematically depicts an en