Unidirectional sliding tow eye system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10399398-B2
Application number	US-201715660297-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 26, 2017
Priority date	Jul 26, 2017
Publication date	Sep 3, 2019
Grant date	Sep 3, 2019

Abstract

A motor vehicle frame includes a tow eye receiver bracket receiving recess. A mechanical fastener extends into the tow eye receiver bracket receiving recess. A tow eye receiver bracket is arranged in the tow eye receiver bracket receiving recess. The tow eye receiver bracket includes a base member, a first side member extending outwardly from the base member and a second side member extending outwardly from the base member forming a substantially C-shaped cross-section. At least one of the first and second side members and the base member includes a decoupling feature engageable with the mechanical fastener. The decoupling feature prevents movement of the tow eye receiver bracket outwardly of the frame member and enables movement of the tow eye receiver bracket into the frame member.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A motor vehicle frame comprising:
a frame member including a forward end having a tow eye receiver bracket receiving recess, the forward end including a base surface, a first side surface and a second side surface, at least one of the base surface, and the first and second side surfaces including at least one opening;
a mechanical fastener extending through the at least one opening into the tow eye receiver bracket receiving recess; and
a tow eye receiver bracket arranged in the tow eye receiver bracket receiving recess, the tow eye receiver bracket including a base member, a first side member extending outwardly from the base member and a second side member extending outwardly from the base member forming a substantially C-shaped cross-section, at least one of the first and second side members and the base member including a decoupling feature engageable with the mechanical fastener, the decoupling feature preventing movement of the tow eye receiver bracket outwardly of the frame member and enabling movement of the tow eye receiver bracket into the frame member.

2. The motor vehicle frame according to claim 1 , wherein the decoupling feature comprises a slotted opening formed in one of the first side surface and the second side surface.

3. The motor vehicle frame according to claim 2 , wherein the slotted opening is defined by an edge having a discontinuity.

4. The motor vehicle frame according to claim 3 , wherein the slotted opening includes a forwardly facing end portion and a rearwardly facing end portion, the discontinuity being arranged at the forwardly facing end portion.

5. The motor vehicle frame according to claim 2 , wherein the mechanical fastener includes a clinch nut having a first surface portion and a stepped surface portion, the stepped surface portion extending into the slotted opening.

6. The motor vehicle frame according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one opening includes a substantially circular shape.

7. The motor vehicle frame according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one opening includes a first opening and a second opening, the first opening including a substantially circular shape and the second opening includes a keyhole shape.

8. The motor vehicle frame according to claim 7 , wherein the tow eye receiver bracket includes an opening that registers with the second opening, another mechanical fastener extends through the second opening into the opening in the tow eye receiver bracket.

9. The motor vehicle frame according to claim 8 , further comprising: a tow eye receiver block arranged in the tow eye receiver bracket, the tow eye receiver block including a tow eye receiving portion.

10. The motor vehicle frame according to claim 9 , wherein the another mechanical fastener passes through the tow eye receiver block.

11. The motor vehicle frame according to claim 9 , further comprising: a tow eye detachably connected with the tow eye receiver block.

12. A method of distributing forces in a vehicle frame having a frame member including a frame member axis, the method comprising:
exposing a tow eye receiver bracket mounted to the vehicle frame to a force along the frame member axis; and
shifting a tow eye receiver bracket along the frame member axis by sliding a slotted opening of the tow eye receiver bracket relative to a mechanical fastener extending through the vehicle frame.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein shifting the tow eye receiver bracket includes sliding the tow eye receiver bracket into the vehicle frame.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein shifting the tow eye receiver bracket includes sliding the tow eye receiver bracket without imparting a force to the vehicle frame that is substantially angled relative to the frame member axis.

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Setru Prabhushankar J
• Syed Sajid H
• Ghag Ranbirpinder S
• Bunger Iv Russel C

Classifications

• B60D1/565 Primary

  having an eyelet · CPC title

• B60D1/52

  removably mounted · CPC title

• B60D1/488 Primary

  mounted directly to the chassis of the towing vehicle · CPC title