Vehicle front-end assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11167608-B2
Application number	US-201816118711-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 31, 2018
Priority date	Aug 31, 2018
Publication date	Nov 9, 2021
Grant date	Nov 9, 2021

Abstract

A vehicle front-end assembly includes a vehicle frame, a first tow hook and a skid plate. The vehicle frame has a first front side member with a front-end portion. The first tow hook is attached to a downward facing surface of the first front side member. The skid plate has a main section, a first attachment flange extending from a first lateral side of the main section. The first attachment flange overlays a portion of the first tow hook and is attached to the downward facing surface of the first front side member such that the main section covers a central forward area of an underside of the vehicle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle front-end assembly, comprising
a vehicle frame having a first front side member with a front-end portion;
a first tow hook attached to a downward facing surface of the first front side member; and
a skid plate having a main section, a first attachment flange extending from a first lateral side of the main section, the first attachment flange overlaying a portion of the first tow hook and attached to the downward facing surface of the first front side member such that the main section covers a central forward area of an underside of the vehicle, with the first tow hook being sandwiched between the downward facing surface of the front side member and the first attachment flange of the skid plate.

2. A vehicle front-end assembly, comprising
a vehicle frame having a first front side member with a front-end portion;
a first tow hook attached to a downward facing surface of the first front side member; and
a skid plate having a main section, a first attachment flange extending from a first lateral side of the main section, the first attachment flange overlaying a portion of the first tow hook and attached to the downward facing surface of the first front side member such that the main section covers a central forward area of an underside of the vehicle, the first tow hook having a forward portion and a rearward portion, the forward portion having a tow hook receiving opening defined therein, and the rearward portion having a forward opening and a rearward opening, the forward opening and the rearward opening being spaced apart from one another by a first distance, and
the first attachment flange of the skid plate including a slot defined along a rearward edge thereof and a forward opening, the slot and the forward opening of the first attachment flange being spaced apart from one another by the first distance.

3. The vehicle front-end assembly according to claim 2 , wherein
the slot of the first attachment flange and the rearward opening of the rearward portion of the first tow hook align and receive a first mechanical fastener extending therethrough, the first mechanical fastener further extending through a rear opening defined in the downward facing surface of the front-end portion of the first front side member, and
the forward opening of the first attachment flange and the forward opening of the rearward portion of the first tow hook align and receive a second mechanical fastener extending therethrough, the second mechanical fastener further extending through a forward opening defined in the downward facing surface of the front-end portion of the first front side member such that the first and second mechanical fasteners sandwich the rearward portion of the first tow hook between the first attachment flange of the skid plate and the downward facing surface of the front-end portion of the first front side member.

4. The vehicle front-end assembly according to claim 3 , wherein
the first mechanical fastener has a head portion and a threaded portion, the head portion having an overall diameter larger than the diameter of the threaded portion, and
the rearward opening of the rearward portion of the first tow hook includes a narrow portion and a wide portion, the wide portion being dimensioned such that the head portion of the first mechanical fastener can pass therethrough and the narrow portion being dimensioned such that the threaded portion of the first mechanical fastener can pass therethrough with the head portion being prevented from passing therethrough.

5. A vehicle front-end assembly, comprising
a vehicle frame having a first front side member and a second front side member laterally spaced apart from one another, each of the first and second front side members having a corresponding front-end portion;
a first tow hook and a second tow hook, the first tow hook being attached a downward facing surface of the first front side member and the second tow hook being attached a downward facing surface of the second front side member; and
a skid plate having a main section, a first attachment flange extending from a first lateral side of the main section and a second attachment flange extending from a second lateral side of the main section, the first attachment flange overlaying a portion of the first tow hook and attached to the downward facing surface of the first front side member, and the second attachment flange overlaying a portion of the second tow hook and attached to the downward facing surface of the second front side member such that the main section covers a forward area of an underside of the vehicle, and
with the skid plate installed to the vehicle frame, the first tow hook is sandwiched between the downward facing surface of the first front side member and the first attachment flange of the skid plate, and the second tow hook is sandwiched between the downward facing surface of the second front side member and the second attachment flange of the skid plate.

6. The vehicle front-end assembly according to claim 5 , wherein
each of the first tow hook and the second tow hook has a forward portion and a rearward portion, each of the forward portions having a tow hook receiving opening defined therein, and each of the rearward portions having a forward opening and a rearward opening, the forward opening and the rearward opening being spaced apart from one another by a first distance.

7. The vehicle front-end assembly according to claim 6 , wherein
each of the first attachment flange and the second attachment flange of the skid plate includes a slot defined along a rearward edge thereof and a forward opening, the slot and the forward opening of the first attachment flange being spaced apart from one another by the first distance.

8. The vehicle front-end assembly according to claim 7 , wherein
the slot of the first attachment flange and the rearward opening of the rearward portion of the first tow hook align and receive a first mechanical fastener extending therethrough, the first mechanical fastener further extending through a rear opening defined in the downward facing surface of the front-end portion of the first front side member, and
the forward opening of the first attachment flange and the forward opening of the rearward portion of the first tow hook align and receive a second mechanical fastener extending therethrough, the second mechanical fastener further extending through a forward opening defined in the downward facing surface of the front-end portion of the first front side member such that the first and second mechanical fasteners sandwich the rearward portion of the first tow hook between the first attachment flange of the skid plate and the downward facing surface of the front-end portion of the first front side member.

9. The vehicle front-end assembly according to claim 8 , wherein
the first mechanical fastener has a head portion and a threaded portion, the head portion having an overall diameter larger than the diameter of the threaded portion, and
the rearward opening of the rearward portion of the first tow hook includes a narrow portion and a wide portion, the wide portion being dimensioned such that the head portion of the first mechanical fastener can pass therethrough and the narrow portion being dimensioned such that the threaded portion of the first mechanical fastener can pass therethrough with the head portion being prevented from passing therethrough.

10. The vehicle front-end assembly according to claim 5 , wherein
the main section of the skid plate extends from the first attachment flange to the second attachment flange.

11. The vehicle front-end assembly according to claim 5 , wherein
the first front side me

Assignees

• Nissan North America Inc

Inventors

• Greggs Alan

Classifications

• Y02T10/88

  Optimized components or subsystems, e.g. lighting, actively controlled glasses · CPC title

• B62D21/02

  comprising longitudinally or transversely arranged frame members · CPC title

• B62D35/02

  Streamlining the undersurfaces {(B62D35/005, B62D35/007, B62D35/008 take precedence)} · CPC title

• B60D1/173

  consisting of at least two bars which are not connected or articulated to each other · CPC title

• B60D1/488

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