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US 10,625,783 B1Granted
C-notch systems and methods
OwnerSteve McGaughyinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
C-notch systems and methods for providing additional clearance or travel between the frame rail and the axle of a vehicle. Exemplary C-notch systems include a bottom brace, an outer brace, an inner brace, an outer fastener, an inner fastener, a front bottom fastener, and a rear bottom fastener. The outer brace and the inner brace can each have a notch that receives at least a portion of a vehicle bed rail.
Claims21
A C-notch system for attaching to a frame rail of a vehicle, the system comprising:
- a bottom brace having:
- an outer panel that includes a front portion, a central C-portion, and a rear portion,
- an inner panel that includes a front portion, a central C-portion, and a rear portion,
- a front lower panel disposed between the front portion of the outer panel and the front portion of the inner panel,
- a C-panel disposed between the central C-portion of the outer panel and the central C-portion of the inner panel, and
- a rear lower panel disposed between the rear portion of the outer panel and the rear portion of the inner panel;
- an outer brace having a front portion that includes an upper ledge and a lower ledge, a central C-portion, and a rear portion that includes an upper ledge and a lower ledge;
- an inner brace having a front portion that includes an upper ledge and a lower ledge, a central C-portion, and a rear lower portion that includes an upper ledge and a lower ledge;
- an outer fastener having an upper ledge;
- an inner fastener having an upper ledge;
- a front bottom fastener;
- and
- a rear bottom fastener.
10 more elements
A method of installing a C-notch system on a frame rail of a vehicle, the method comprising:
- removing a portion of the frame rail to create a notch;
- positioning an inner fastener within the interior of the frame rail;
- positioning an outer fastener within the interior of the frame rail;
- positioning a front bottom fastener within the interior of the frame rail, in front of the notch;
- positioning a rear bottom fastener within the interior of the frame rail, behind the notch;
- positioning an inner brace exterior to the frame rail;
- positioning an outer brace exterior to the frame rail;
- positioning a bottom brace exterior to the frame rail;
- fixing the outer brace and the outer fastener relative to an outer wall of the frame rail;
- fixing the inner brace and the inner fastener relative to an inner wall of the frame rail;
- fixing the front bottom fastener and a front lower panel of the bottom brace relative to a bottom wall of the frame rail, in front of the notch;
- and
- fixing the rear bottom fastener and a rear lower panel of the bottom brace relative to the bottom wall of the frame rail, behind the notch.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.