Patent ID: 9434333
Filing Date: 2016-09-06
CPC Classification: B60K,B60R,B60Y

Claim Text:
1. A method of absorbing a horizontal impact force generated by a collision between a vehicle and an object, the method comprising installing on the vehicle a bracket and one or more straps configured to rigidly hold a fuel container during the collision, wherein the one or more straps secure the fuel container to the bracket, wherein a portion of the bracket is positioned at a front or rear of the fuel container, wherein the bracket is connected to a bumper bar disposed along a longitudinal axis of the fuel container, and the bumper bar is configured to transmit the horizontal impact force upon the collision, the horizontal impact force being in a lateral direction toward the vehicle and transverse to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle; and distributing the horizontal impact force from the collision with the bumper bar, wherein a first fraction of the horizontal impact force is distributed to the fuel container through the one or more straps, and a second fraction of the horizontal impact force is distributed to the bracket.