Jack bracket and vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11267409-B2
Application number	US-201916580177-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 24, 2019
Priority date	Nov 14, 2018
Publication date	Mar 8, 2022
Grant date	Mar 8, 2022

Abstract

A jack bracket is provided. The jack bracket comprises a bracket base including a first side and a second side opposite the first side, a flexible strap having a first end portion coupled to the first side and a second end portion opposite the first end portion, and a lock assembly configured to couple the second end portion of the flexible strap to the second side of the bracket base. The flexible strap further includes a connection member disposed between the first end portion and the second end portion. The connection member is selectively attached to a vehicle part and selectively released from the vehicle part. The jack bracket of the present disclosure allows for removal and installation of a jack in a simple and fast manner in a limited space.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A jack bracket, comprising:
a bracket base including a first side and a second side opposite the first side;
a flexible strap for securing a jack, wherein the flexible strap includes a first end portion coupled to the first side and a second end portion opposite the first end portion, and a connection member disposed between the first end portion and the second end portion, and wherein the connection member is selectively attached to a vehicle part and selectively released from the vehicle part; and
a lock assembly configured to couple the second end portion of the flexible strap to the second side of the bracket base.

2. The jack bracket of claim 1 , wherein the flexible strap includes a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, and the connection member is positioned on the second surface, the flexible strap being connectable to the vehicle part via the connection member responsive to the jack being installed on the bracket base, and the connection member is released from the vehicle part to free the flexible strap to secure the jack responsive to the jack being placed on the bracket base.

3. The jack bracket of claim 2 , wherein the connection member is a hook part of a hook-and-loop fastener and configured to connect with a loop part of the hook-and-loop fastener on the vehicle part.

4. The jack bracket of claim 2 , wherein the connection member is a protrusion part or a recessed part of a clip connector.

5. The jack bracket of claim 1 , wherein the bracket base further includes a first arm extending from the first side substantially in a height direction and a second arm extending from the second side substantially in the height direction and opposite the first arm, the first arm and the second arm define a width of an opening to receive the jack.

6. The jack bracket of claim 5 , wherein the lock assembly includes a thread bolt connected to the second end portion of the flexible strap and a thread hole on the second arm for securing the jack.

7. The jack bracket of claim 6 , wherein the lock assembly further includes a connection plate disposed on the second end portion of the flexible strap that connects the second end portion of the flexible strap to the thread bolt.

8. The jack bracket of claim 7 , wherein the lock assembly further includes an elastic member disposed between the connection plate and a head of the thread bolt to provide pretension for the flexible strap.

9. The jack bracket of claim 8 , wherein the connection plate includes a first plate portion having an aperture and a second plate portion having a through hole and defined at an angle with the first plate portion, the second end portion of the flexible strap being connected to the aperture such that the thread bolt passes the through hole of the second plate portion to enable relative movement between the connection plate and the thread bolt.

10. The jack bracket of claim 9 , wherein the thread bolt includes the head and a rod extending from the head, the rod includes a thread portion, and a first stop and a second stop between the head and the thread portion, the elastic member being disposed between the first stop and the second plate portion, the second plate portion being disposed between the elastic member and the second stop.

11. The jack bracket of claim 10 , wherein the first stop is an enlarged portion and the second stop is a clip pin or a clip ring, and the first plate portion is substantially perpendicular to the second plate portion.

12. The jack bracket of claim 5 , wherein the first arm and the second arm are made from metal material and the flexible strap is made from nylon.

13. The jack bracket of claim 8 , wherein the head of the thread bolt further includes a pair of wings and a torque slot between the pair of wings.

14. A jack bracket for a vehicle, comprising:
a bracket base including a first side and second side opposite the first side;
a first arm extending from the first side of the bracket base in a height direction;
a second arm extending from the second side in the height direction and opposite the first arm;
a flexible strap, wherein the flexible strap includes a first end portion connected to the first arm, a second end portion opposite the first end portion, a first surface that is an inner surface if a jack is secured, a second surface opposite the first surface, and a connection member disposed on the second surface; and
a lock assembly for coupling the second end portion of the flexible strap to the second arm of the bracket base;
wherein the flexible strap is attached to a vehicle part opposite the first arm via the connection member when the jack is removed or installed to facilitate installation and removal of the jack.

15. The jack bracket of claim 14 , wherein the connection member is a hook part of a hook-and-loop fastener, or a protrusion or a recessed part of a clip connector, and configured to connect with a corresponding loop part of the hook-and-loop fastener or a corresponding recessed part or a protrusion of the clip connector on the vehicle part.

16. The jack bracket of claim 14 , further comprising a support disposed on the bracket base, wherein the support is made from foam and defines a profile of an outer surface of the support that has a contour corresponding to sides of the jack.

17. The jack bracket of claim 14 , wherein the lock assembly includes a thread bolt connected to the second end portion of a flexible strap, a thread hole on the second arm, a connection plate to couple the thread bolt to the second end portion of the flexible strap, and an elastic member between the connection plate and the thread bolt to provide pretension for the flexible strap.

18. A vehicle, comprising:
a vehicle part having a surface extending in a height direction;
a jack bracket adjacent to the surface of the vehicle part, including:
a bracket base including a first side adjacent to the vehicle part and second side opposite the first side;
a first arm extending from the first side of the bracket base in a direction substantially along the height direction and adjacent to the surface of the vehicle part; and
a second arm extending from the second side of the bracket base in the direction substantially along the height direction and opposite the first arm;

a flexible strap that includes a first end portion connected to the first arm, a second end portion opposite the first end portion, a first surface facing a jack in a use position and a second surface opposite the first surface, and a connection member disposed on the second surface, wherein the connection member is selectively attached to and released from the vehicle part; and
a lock assembly to couple the second end portion of the flexible strap to the second arm of the bracket base;
wherein the flexible strap is connectable to the vehicle part via the connection member in the use position or if the jack is taken from the jack bracket, the flexible strap being releasable from the surface of the vehicle part that secures the jack.

19. The vehicle of claim 18 , wherein the vehicle part is a rear trim panel, the connection member is a hook part of a hook-and-loop fastener, and the surface of the rear trim panel includes a loop part of the hook-and-loop fastener such that the hook part is released from the loop part under an external force.

20. The vehicle of claim 18 , wherein the lock assembly includes a thread bolt connected to the second end portion of the flexible strap and a thread hole disposed on t

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Zhou Han
• Ming Liu
• Xu Zhuang
• Zhenhong Ge

Classifications

• B60R2011/0003

  inside the vehicle · CPC title

• B60R11/06 Primary

  for tools or spare parts (for vehicle roof parts B60J7/20; for spare wheels B62D) · CPC title

• B60R2011/0063

  using adhesive means, e.g. hook and loop fasteners · CPC title

• B60R2011/0071

  using latches, clips, clamps, straps or the like · CPC title

• B60R2011/0029

  Floor, e.g. side sills, fire wall · CPC title