Patent ID: 7631901
Filing Date: 2009-12-15
Classification: B60K

Abstract:
1. A product comprising: a tank assembly comprising a tank housing with a bracket; a lever having a slot and being attached at a first point to the tank housing via the bracket being inserted in the slot, and being attached at a second point to a vehicle structure; a catch attached to the tank housing; and a release feature holding the tank housing to the vehicle structure where the tank housing is in a first position, and being constructed and arranged to release the tank housing to a second position spaced a predetermined distance from the first position upon an external impact force being exerted to the tank housing, wherein the release feature includes a keeper, a housing, and a spring positioned between the keeper and the housing and biasing the housing away from the keeper, the keeper having an opening, the housing having a depression, wherein, in the first position, the catch is received in the opening and in the depression and is kept therein by way of the spring biasing the housing away from the keeper, and wherein, upon the external impact force, the bracket slides in the slot and simultaneously the spring yields to the external impact force and the catch escapes out of the opening and out of the depression thereby releasing the tank housing to the second position.