Patent ID: 7775546
Filing Date: 2010-08-17
Classification: B60D,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A collapsible tow hook for a motor vehicle comprising: a housing attached to a vehicle structure; a bracket of U-shape and having spaced apart legs straddling the housing and being pivotally mounted on the housing; a tow loop of U-shape having spaced apart legs attached to the bracket, said tow loop adapted to receive a tow cable that pulls on the tow loop in a towing direction; and an interlocking structure acting between the bracket and the housing to normally support the bracket against pivotal movement but being yieldable to permit pivotal movement of the bracket relative the housing upon the imposition of a load on the tow loop in a direction opposite to the towing direction so that the tow loop is pivoted to a collapsed position relative to the vehicle structure, said interlocking structure including a tab formed integrally on one of the bracket and housing that projects into a slot in the other of the bracket and housing to normally support the bracket against pivotal movement and at a normal position angled downwardly from the axis of the pivotal mounting of the bracket to the housing so that upon the imposition of force in the direction opposite to the towing direction the tow loop is induced to pivot downwardly, and said tab bending upon the imposition of load and thereby disengaging from the slot to absorb energy and allow the pivoting movement of the tow loop to the collapsed position.