Patent ID: 11964719
Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Field: Transport (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B | IPC B

Claim 0:
1. A component for a vehicle, comprising:
a longitudinal axis disposed substantially orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle;
a rod portion aligned with the longitudinal axis of the component, wherein the rod portion comprises:
a proximal end;
a proximal ball joint disposed at the proximal end;
a distal end;
a male coupling section disposed at the distal end; and

a receiver portion aligned with the longitudinal axis of the component, wherein the receiver portion comprises:
a proximal end;
a female coupling section disposed at the proximal end;
a distal end;
a distal ball joint disposed at the distal end;
a wrench flat;
a narrowing feature different from the wrench flat and disposed between the proximal end and distal end of the receiver portion, wherein the narrowing feature of the receiver portion is configured to fracture when subjected to a threshold force substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle; and
a protuberance disposed on the receiver portion adjacent to the narrowing feature and projecting in a substantially forward direction along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, such that during a crash event involving a barrier, the protuberance allows the barrier to contact the component earlier in the crash event than would occur if the protuberance were not present,

wherein the male coupling section of the rod portion is received into the female coupling section of the receiver portion, forming a connection,
wherein the distal end of the rod portion is disposed proximate to the narrowing feature.