# US 11,299,089 B2 · Rear fascia mounting bracket > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,299,089 B2 - Document ID: US11299089B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/023,951 - Filed: 2020-09-17 - Published: 2022-03-17 - Granted: 2022-04-12 - Earliest claimed: 2020-09-17 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Rebecca Scala; Santiago Muleiro; Luis Becerril; Victor Hugo Colin Colin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11299089B2 ## CPC - B62D 25/08: Front or rear portions {(sub-frames for mounting engine or suspensions B62D21/11)} - B60Q 1/2623: {Details of the fastening means} - B60Q 1/2619: {built in the vehicle body} - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) - B60Q: ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL ## Abstract A method and an apparatus, according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a single bracket that has a first portion that attaches a rear fascia to a vehicle body-side sheet metal and a second portion that attaches the rear fascia to a rear panel sheet metal that extends underneath a tail lamp to support the tail lamp. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus, comprising: a single bracket including a first portion configured to attach a rear fascia to a vehicle body-side sheet metal and a second portion configured to attach the rear fascia to a rear panel sheet metal that extends underneath a tail lamp to support the tail lamp, and wherein the single bracket includes a flexible portion that connects the first and second portions together, and wherein the second portion includes an upwardly extending arm that provides a tail lamp support surface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first portion comprises an elongated body portion that extends in a longitudinal direction along a side of a vehicle. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second portion comprises an enlarged body portion that extends in a lateral direction underneath the tail lamp along a rear of the vehicle. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first portion comprises an elongated body portion that extends in a longitudinal direction along a side of a vehicle and wherein the second portion comprises an enlarged body portion that extends in a lateral direction underneath the tail lamp along a rear of the vehicle, and wherein the flexible portion connects the first and second portions together to transition between the longitudinal and lateral directions. ### Claim 5 An apparatus, comprising: a single bracket including a first portion configured to attach a rear fascia to a vehicle body-side sheet metal and a second portion configured to attach the rear fascia to a rear panel sheet metal that extends underneath a tail lamp to support the tail lamp, and wherein the single bracket includes a flexible portion that connects the first and second portions together; wherein the first portion comprises an elongated body portion that extends in a longitudinal direction along a side of a vehicle and wherein the second portion comprises an enlarged body portion that extends in a lateral direction underneath the tail lamp along a rear of the vehicle, and wherein the flexible portion connects the first and second portions together to transition between the longitudinal and lateral directions; and wherein the flexible portion extends in the lateral direction underneath the tail lamp, and wherein the bracket includes a transition bracket portion that extends along the side of the vehicle from the first portion and transitions into the flexible portion. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the flexible portion comprises a first member and a second member that are connected to each other via a shoulder. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the first and second members are offset from each other. ### Claim 8 An apparatus, comprising: a rear fascia assembly; at least one tail lamp associated with the rear fascia assembly; and a single bracket that includes a first portion that attaches the rear fascia assembly to a vehicle body-side sheet metal, a second portion that attaches the rear fascia assembly to a rear panel sheet metal to support the at least one tail lamp, and a flexible portion that connects the first and second portions together; wherein the first portion comprises an elongated body portion that extends in a longitudinal length direction along a side of a vehicle and wherein the second portion comprises an enlarged body portion that extends in a lateral width direction underneath the tail lamp along a rear of the vehicle, and wherein the flexible portion connects the first and second portions together to transition between the longitudinal and lateral directions; and wherein the flexible portion comprises a first member and a second member that are connected to each other via a shoulder. ### Claim 9 An apparatus, comprising: a rear fascia assembly; at least one tail lamp associated with the rear fascia assembly; a single bracket that includes a first portion that attaches the rear fascia assembly to a vehicle body-side sheet metal, a second portion that attaches the rear fascia assembly to a rear panel sheet metal to support the at least one tail lamp, and a flexible portion that connects the first and second portions together; wherein the first portion comprises an elongated body portion that extends in a longitudinal length direction along a side of a vehicle and wherein the second portion comprises an enlarged body portion that extends in a lateral width direction underneath the tail lamp along a rear of the vehicle, and wherein the flexible portion connects the first and second portions together to transition between the longitudinal and lateral directions; and wherein the flexible portion extends in the lateral direction underneath the tail lamp, and wherein the bracket includes a transition bracket portion that extends along the side of the vehicle from the first portion and transitions into the flexible portion. ### Claim 10 An apparatus, comprising: a rear fascia assembly; at least one tail lamp associated with the rear fascia assembly; a single bracket that includes a first portion that attaches the rear fascia assembly to a vehicle body-side sheet metal, a second portion that attaches the rear fascia assembly to a rear panel sheet metal to support the at least one tail lamp, and a flexible portion that connects the first and second portions together; wherein the first portion comprises an elongated body portion that extends in a longitudinal length direction along a side of a vehicle and wherein the second portion comprises an enlarged body portion that extends in a lateral width direction underneath the tail lamp along a rear of the vehicle, and wherein the flexible portion connects the first and second portions together to transition between the longitudinal and lateral directions; and wherein the second portion includes an upwardly extending arm that provides a tail lamp support surface. ### Claim 11 A method comprising: attaching a rear fascia to a vehicle body-side sheet metal with a first portion of a single bracket; attaching the rear fascia to a rear panel sheet metal with a second portion of the single bracket, wherein the rear panel sheet metal extends underneath a tail lamp to support the tail lamp; connecting the first and second portions together with a flexible portion of the single bracket, wherein the first portion comprises an elongated body portion that extends in a longitudinal length direction along a side of a vehicle and wherein the second portion comprises an enlarged body portion that extends in a lateral width direction underneath the tail lamp along a rear of the vehicle; and forming the flexible portion to have a first member and a second member that is offset from the first member and is connected to the first member via a shoulder. ### Claim 12 A method comprising: attaching a rear fascia to a vehicle body-side sheet metal with a first portion of a single bracket; attaching the rear fascia to a rear panel sheet metal with a second portion of the single bracket, wherein the rear panel sheet metal extends underneath a tail lamp to support the tail lamp; connecting the first and second portions together with a flexible portion of the single bracket, wherein the first portion comprises an elongated body portion that extends in a longitudinal length direction along a side of a vehicle and wherein the second portion comprises an enlarged body portion that extends in a lateral width direction underneath the tail lamp along a rear of the vehicle; and forming the second portion to include an upwardly extending arm that provides a tail lamp support surface. ### Claim 13 An apparatus, comprising: a rear fascia assembly; at least one tail lamp associated with the rear fascia assembly; and a single bracket that includes a first portion that attaches the rear fascia assembly to a vehicle body-side sheet metal, a second portion that attaches the rear fascia assembly to a rear panel sheet metal to support the at least one tail lamp, and a flexible portion that connects the first and second portions together, and wherein there is a vertical offset between the first and second portions in a vertical direction along a height of a vehicle. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the first member is associated with the first portion of the single bracket and the second member is associated with the second portion of the single bracket, and wherein the first and second members are offset from each other. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein there is a vertical offset between the first and second portions in a vertical direction along a height of a vehicle. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flexible portion comprises a first member associated with the first portion of the single bracket and a second member associated with the second portion of the single bracket, and wherein the first and second members are offset from each other.