Patent ID: 8814236

Claim:
An apparatus for attaching a rear bumper assembly to a vehicle, the rear bumper assembly including a bumper reinforcement bracket, the vehicle having a rear side member and a lower back panel, the apparatus including: a first attachment portion, the first attachment portion being configured to attach to the bumper reinforcement bracket and the lower back panel; an angled portion, the angled portion extending from below the first attachment portion at an angle to the first attachment portion, the angled portion presenting an angled surface to the rear of the vehicle; a second attachment portion, configured to attach to the rear side member of the vehicle, a pair of side portions, the second attachment portion extending between and interconnecting the pair of side portions, each side portion extending downwardly from the second attachment portion and having an angled edge adjacent the angled portion, the apparatus being a metal gusset attaching the bumper reinforcement bracket to the lower back panel and to the rear side member.