Vehicle tow hook

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10933706-B2
Application number	US-201816208891-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 4, 2018
Priority date	Dec 4, 2018
Publication date	Mar 2, 2021
Grant date	Mar 2, 2021

Abstract

An assembly includes a bumper. The assembly further includes a base fixed relative to the bumper and a hook supported by the base. The hook is rotatable relative to the base between an extended position and a retracted position. The assembly further includes a spring between the base and the hook positioned to bias the hook from the retracted position to the extended position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An assembly comprising:
a vehicle frame;
a base fixed relative to the vehicle frame and a hook supported by the base and rotatable relative to the base between an extended position and a retracted position;
a spring between the base and the hook positioned to bias the hook toward the extended position; and
the hook being rotatable relative to the base about a vertical axis.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a hinge between the hook and the base.

3. The assembly of claim 2 , wherein the spring is coiled about the hinge.

4. The assembly of claim 2 , wherein the hinge includes a post between the hook and the base.

5. The assembly of claim 4 , wherein the spring is coiled about the post.

6. The assembly of claim 5 , further comprising a second spring coiled about the post, the second spring positioned below the spring.

7. The assembly of claim 6 , further comprising a collar fixed to the post between the spring and the second spring.

8. The assembly of claim 7 , wherein the hook is rotatable relative to the base to a second retracted position opposite the retracted position.

9. The assembly of claim 2 , wherein the base extends from the vehicle frame along an axis and the hinge is offset from the axis in a cross-vehicle direction.

10. The assembly of claim 9 , wherein the hinge is rotatable about the rotational axis.

11. The assembly of claim 2 , wherein the base curves from the vehicle frame to the hinge defining a recess between the vehicle frame and the hook and the hook rotates into the recess from the extended position to the retracted position.

12. The assembly of claim 2 , wherein the base curves from the vehicle frame to the hinge in a first cross-vehicle direction and the hook curves from the hinge to a free end in a second cross-vehicle direction opposite the first cross-vehicle direction.

13. The assembly of claim 12 , wherein the base defines a recess and the hook is rotatable into the recess.

14. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the base defines a recess and the hook is rotatable into the recess.

15. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the base curves from the vehicle frame to the hook in a first cross-vehicle direction and the hook curves from the base to a free end in a second cross-vehicle direction opposite the first cross-vehicle direction.

16. The assembly of claim 15 , wherein the base defines a recess and the hook is rotatable into the recess.

17. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the hook is unbiased by the spring when the hook is in the extended position.

18. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a bumper, the hook extending through the bumper in the extended position and recessed behind the bumper in the retracted position.

19. An assembly of claim 1 , wherein the spring is a torsion spring.

20. An assembly comprising:
a vehicle frame;
a base fixed relative to the vehicle frame and a hook supported by the base and rotatable relative to the base between an extended position and a retracted position;
a spring between the base and the hook positioned to bias the hook toward the extended position; and
the base defining a recess and the hook is rotatable into the recess.

21. An assembly comprising:
a vehicle frame;
a base fixed relative to the vehicle frame and a hook supported by the base and rotatable relative to the base between an extended position and a retracted position;

a spring between the base and the hook positioned to bias the hook toward the extended position; and
a bumper, the hook extending through the bumper in the extended position and recessed behind the bumper in the retracted position.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Shenaq Mohammed
• Lisowski Richard
• Ahmed Mustafa
• Bhattacharjee Sudip Sankar

Classifications

• B60D1/50

  resiliently mounted (B60D1/30 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60D1/04 Primary

  Hook or hook-and-hasp couplings · CPC title

• B60D1/565 Primary

  having an eyelet · CPC title

• B60D1/143

  characterised by the mounting of the draw-gear on the towed vehicle (B60D1/187 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60D1/488

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