Deployable tow hook assembly and method

A tow hook assembly includes a bracket and a tow loop carried on the bracket. The bracket includes a guide track. The tow loop is displaceable along the guide track between a retracted position and a deployed position. A method of deploying a tow loop is also disclosed.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This document relates generally to the motor vehicle equipment field and, more particularly, to a tow hook assembly as well as to a related method of deploying a tow hook.

BACKGROUND

Tow hooks on the front of a motor vehicle, such as a pickup truck or sport utility vehicle (SUV), are used for towing or recovering items with a strap, chain or other hardware. State of the art rigid tow hooks on motor vehicles are exposed and project from the front fascia/bumper for ease of reach/function. Recent government standards for pedestrian protection require that all rigid items on the front end of a motor vehicle be recessed behind the front fascia/bumper in order to prevent injury to a pedestrian from the rigid item in the event of a pedestrian frontal impact.

This document relates to a deployable tow hook assembly that meets the seemingly conflicting requirements for ease of use provided by a traditional tow hook while simultaneously protecting pedestrians from a tow hook impact injury.

SUMMARY

In accordance with the purposes and benefits described herein, a tow hook assembly is provided. That tow hook assembly comprises a bracket including a guide track and a tow hook carried on the bracket. The tow hook is displaceable along the guide track between a retracted position and a deployed position.

The bracket may include a first wall segment and a second wall segment opposite the first wall segment. The bracket may have a U-shaped cross section. In other embodiments, the bracket could have a fully closed cross section.

The guide track may include two matching guides provided in the bracket. More specifically, the guide track may include a first guide in the first wall segment and a second guide in the second wall segment.

The first guide may include a first end, a first intermediate section and a second end. A first neck may be provided between the first end and the first intermediate section. Similarly, a second neck may be provided between the second end and the first intermediate section.

The second guide may include a third end, a second intermediate section and a fourth end. A third neck may be provided between the third end and the second intermediate section. A fourth neck may be provided between the fourth end and the second intermediate section.

The tow hook may include a main body and a sleeve on the main body. The sleeve may be made from a low friction material and slides in the first guide and the second guide. The main body of the tow hook may form a closed loop. Further, the main body may be made from steel and the sleeve may be made from nylon.

In accordance with an additional aspect, a method is provided of deploying a tow hook. That method broadly comprises the step of sliding the tow hook from a retracted position to a deployed position. Further, the method may include translating the tow hook along a substantially straight line.

Still further, the method of deploying a tow hook may comprise sliding the tow hook along a guide track in a bracket in order to displace the tow hook from a retracted position into a deployed position. Further, the method may include the step of providing the tow hook with a sleeve of low-friction material to promote smooth sliding action. The method may also include the step of providing at least one neck in the guide track to hold the tow hook in the retracted position and the deployed position.

In the following description, there are shown and described several preferred embodiments of the tow hook assembly as well as the related method of deploying a tow hook. As it should be realized, the tow hook assembly and related method are capable of other, different embodiments and their several details are capable of modification in various, obvious aspects all without departing from the tow loop assembly and method as set forth and described in the following claims. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions should be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.

Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the tow hook assembly, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawing figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference is now made toFIG. 1illustrating two tow hook assemblies10. Each tow hook assembly10is carried in a cavity11at the front of a motor vehicle12between the front bumper14and the front fascia16.

As illustrated inFIGS. 1-4, each tow hook assembly10includes a bracket18having a substantially U-shaped cross section. Each bracket18includes a first wall segment20and a second wall segment22opposite of the first wall segment. A third wall segment24connects the first wall segment20and the second wall segment22. The third wall segment24includes a mounting aperture26and a keyhole slot28for mounting the tow hook assembly10to a support surface29such as the frame or other structure of a motor vehicle by means of fasteners31.

As best illustrated inFIGS. 2a, 2b, 3aand 3b, the bracket18includes a guide track30. In the illustrated embodiment, the guide track30comprises a first guide32in the first wall segment20and a second guide34in the second wall segment22. The first guide32and the second guide34are aligned and of an identical shape.

As illustrated inFIGS. 2a, 2band 3a, the first guide32includes a first end36, a second end38and a first intermediate section40between the first end36and the second end38. A first neck42separates the first end36from the first intermediate section40. A second neck44separates the second end38from the first intermediate section40.

As illustrated inFIGS. 2a, 2band 3b, the second guide34includes a third end46, a fourth end48and a second intermediate section50between the third end and the fourth end. A third neck52separates the third end46from the second intermediate section50. A fourth neck54separates the fourth end48from the second intermediate section50.

Each tow hook assembly10also includes a tow loop56. In the illustrated embodiment, the tow loop56comprises a main body58that may be made of steel or other appropriate high strength material, and a sleeve60received over at least a part of the main body58. That sleeve60may be made from a low friction material such as nylon.

As illustrated in the drawing figures, the main body58forms a continuous loop extending through the two matching guides: the first guide32and the second guide34in the bracket18. As illustrated, the low friction sleeve60on the main body58of the tow loop56engages the two guides32,34to allow free sliding displacement of the tow loop with respect to the bracket18between the retracted position illustrated inFIG. 2a, wherein the tow loop is behind the approach angle AA for the motor vehicle12and the deployed position as illustrated inFIG. 2bwherein the front of the tow loop projects forward of the approach angle AA.

As should be appreciated from reviewingFIGS. 2a, 2b, 3aand 3b, when the tow loop56is in the retracted position, the low friction sleeve60of the tow loop rests in the first end36of the first guide32and the third end46of the second guide34with the first neck42and the third neck52tending to maintain the tow loop in the retracted position.

When one wishes to displace the tow loop56from the retracted position to the deployed position, one engages the tow loop with a finger or hook pulling forward in the direction of action arrow A inFIG. 2b. This serves to draw the low friction sleeve60of the tow loop past the first neck42and the third neck52, translating the tow loop along a substantially straight line through the first intermediate section40and the second intermediate section50past the second neck44and the fourth neck54until the low friction sleeve is received and seated in the second end38of the first guide32and the fourth end48of the second guide34. The second neck44and the fourth neck54tend to hold the tow loop56in the deployed position where one can connect a strap, chain or other towing hardware to the tow loop in a relatively simple and efficient manner.

When one wishes to return the tow loop56back to the retracted position one simply slides the tow loop through the first guide32and second guide34of the guide track30until the low friction sleeve60of the tow loop again seats in the first end36and third end46beyond the first neck42and the third neck52. Note action arrow B inFIG. 2a.

Consistent with the above description, a method is provided of deploying a tow loop56. That method may be broadly described as comprising the step of sliding the tow loop56from a retracted position as illustrated inFIG. 2ato a deployed position as illustrated inFIG. 2b. Thus, as noted above and shown in the drawing figures the method also includes the step of translating the tow loop56along a substantially straight line defined by the first guide32and second guide34of the guide track30.

Stated another way, the method of deploying the tow loop56may comprise sliding the tow loop along the guide track30in the bracket18in order to displace the tow loop from the retracted position into the deployed position and back again. The method may also include the steps of providing the tow loop56with a sleeve60of low-friction material to promote smooth sliding action and providing at least one neck42,44,52,54in the guide track30to hold the tow loop in the respective retracted and deployed positions.

As should be appreciated, the tow hook assembly10is relatively inexpensive to produce and easy to use. One may simply displace the tow loop56with respect to the bracket18between the retracted position illustrated inFIG. 2aand the deployed position illustrated in2bwith a simple sliding motion and action. The low friction sleeve60around the tow loop56ensures free sliding movement under substantially any foreseeable operating conditions. The necks42,44,52,54provided in the guides32,34of the guide track30function in the manner of passive detents to help retain the tow loop in either the retracted or deployed positions while still allowing for simple and easy displacement when desired.