Patent ID: 6398259
Filing Date: 2002-06-04
Classification: B62D

Abstract:
A break-away bracket comprising:(a) a bracket shell having interior surfaces, exterior surfaces, and two sidewalls, each sidewall having a laterally outwardly extending flange, the interior surfaces of said bracket shell defining a central channel, each flange having a plurality of perforations and a rear edge having an open ended slot; (b) a U-shaped clip extending over at least a portion of each flange, each clip having an upper plate and a lower plate, each of said upper and lower plates having a plurality of perforations, at least a portion of each flange being interposed between the upper and lower plates of each clip, and at least some of the perforations of the upper and lower plates of each clip and the perforations of the interposed portion of each flange being aligned and together defining at least one shearing pin passage for each clip and flange, the upper and lower plates of each clip each having an aperture aligned with said open ended slot of each flange which together define a fastener hole for each clip and flange; (c) at least one shearable pin extending through at least one of said shearing pin passages of each clip and flange; and (d) a plurality of exterior reinforcing ribs of plastic material in abutting relationship with and breakawayably attached to fixedly attached to at least a portion of the exterior surfaces of said bracket shell and at least a portion of at least one of said clips.