Bull bar drop-down structure
AssigneesToyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorsPrashant K. Deore, Chris Sheehy
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The systems, devices, and methods described herein relate to a mounting system for attaching a bull bar to a vehicle. This mounting system may include bull bar drop-down mounting devices that are attached to a vehicle frame. The bull bar drop-down mounting devices are also attached to a bull bar. In the event of a frontal collision, the bull bar drop-down mounting devices are arranged such that they apply pressure to the bull bar in a downward direction, forcing the bull bar to drop down below the level of the vehicle frame, which may help to avoid damage to the vehicle.
Claims20
A mounting device for attaching a bull bar to a vehicle, comprising:
- a first bracket comprising:
- a first base structure configured to be rigidly mounted to a frame structure of the vehicle, wherein the first base structure comprises a proximal portion, a first extension in a middle portion of the first base structure, and a second extension at a distal end of the first base structure;
- and
- a first flange configured to be rigidly mounted to the bull bar, the first flange connected to the proximal portion of the first base structure, the first flange extending perpendicular to first base structure;
- and
- a second bracket comprising:
- a second base structure configured to be rigidly mounted to the frame structure of the vehicle, wherein the second base structure comprises a proximal portion, a third extension in a middle portion of the second base structure, and a fourth extension at a distal end of the second base structure;
- and
- a second flange configured to be rigidly mounted to the bull bar, the second flange connected to the proximal portion of the second base structure, the second flange extending perpendicular to second base structure.
A mounting system for attaching a bull bar to a vehicle, comprising:
- a vehicle frame structure with a first mounting structure;
- a first bracket comprising a first base structure with a first proximal portion, a first extension, a second extension, and a first flange extending perpendicular to the first proximal portion of the first bracket;
- a second bracket comprising a second base structure with a second proximal portion, a third extension, a fourth extension, and a second flange extending perpendicular to the second proximal portion of the second bracket;
- and
- a bull bar with a second mounting structure, wherein the first bracket and the second bracket are rigidly connected to the first mounting structure and the second mounting structure.
A method for attaching a bull bar to a vehicle, comprising:
- providing a vehicle frame with a first mounting structure;
- attaching a first bracket to the first mounting structure by passing one or more bolts through a first cutout and a second cutout in the first bracket and into one or more holes in the first mounting structure;
- attaching a second bracket to the first mounting structure by passing one or more bolts through a third cutout and a fourth cutout in the second bracket and into one or more holes in the first mounting structure;
- attaching the first bracket to a bull bar mounting structure;
- and
- attaching the second bracket to the bull bar mounting structure, wherein the first, second, third, and fourth cutouts are configured to force the bull bar to drop in an event of a frontal crash.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.