US 2003/0116690 A1Published application

Vehicle accessory-mounting assembly

AssigneeInternational Truck Intellectual Property Company, LLC

InventorsWillam Frazier, Jason R. Thompson, Matthew R. LaFontaine

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Abstract

An accessory-mounting assembly for mounting accessories at a distance from exterior surfaces of a vehicle. The accessory-mounting assembly is constructed such that it has a “break away” feature whereby an accessory-mounting component may pivot about a pivot axis when it is subjected to a substantial impact. Thus, the risk of damage to the vehicle, the accessory-mounting assembly, and the accessories mounted to the accessory-mounting assembly when the accessory-mounting assembly is subjected to a substantial impact is reduced. The accessory-mounting assembly includes four brackets that are fixedly engaged to exterior surfaces of the vehicle and from which the other components of the accessory mounting assembly are suspended. Three of the four brackets that are fixedly engaged to the vehicle are integrally engaged to one another.

Claims17

Dependent claims

An accessory-mounting assembly for mounting one or more accessories at a distance from exterior surfaces of a vehicle that has a door with a window in the door, a window frame surrounding the window in the door, a window frame upper portion that is disposed above the window in the door and a window frame lower portion that is disposed below the window in the door, comprising:

(a) a first pivot bracket designed to be fixedly engaged to the exterior surface(s) of the vehicle;
(b) a second pivot bracket designed to be fixedly engaged to the exterior surface(s) of the vehicle;
(c) an accessory-mounting component pivotally engaged to said first pivot bracket and said second pivot bracket;
(d) one or more accessories mounted to said accessory-mounting component;
(e) wherein said accessory-mounting component is pivotal about a pivot axis that extends through a first point of engagement between said accessory-mounting component and said first pivot bracket and through a second point of engagement between said accessory-mounting component and said second pivot bracket;
(f) an anti-rotation member that is engaged at a first end to said accessory-mounting component and at a second end to an anti-rotation bracket;
(g) wherein said anti-rotation member is engaged to said accessory-mounting component at a point distant from said pivot axis;
(h) wherein said anti-rotation member is engaged to said anti-rotation bracket at a point distant from said pivot axis;
(i) wherein rotation of said accessory-mounting component about said pivot axis is only possible when said anti-rotation member moves with respect to said accessory-mounting component and/or said anti-rotation bracket;
(j) wherein said anti-rotation bracket is integrally engaged to said first pivot bracket;
(k) wherein said engagement between said first end of said anti-rotation member and said accessory-mounting component and said engagement between said second end of said anti-rotation member and said anti-rotation bracket are “break away” style engagements;
(l) wherein said accessory-mounting assembly is constructed such that when relatively large force(s), in directions perpendicular to said pivot axis, are applied to said accessory-mounting component and/or said one or more accessories mounted to said accessory mounting component said “break away” engagements of said anti-rotation member to other components of said accessory-mounting assembly cause said anti-rotation member to undergo “break away” motions as said accessory-mounting component pivots about said pivot axis in a direction opposite said relatively large force(s);
and
(m) wherein said “break away” engagements are such that said accessory-mounting component is prevented from rotating about said pivot axis unless said accessory-mounting assembly is subjected to forces greater than those imparted to said accessory-mounting assembly during normal operation of the vehicle.

11 more elements

A method of assembling an accessory-mounting assembly that has an accessory-mounting component, one or more accessories, an anti-rotation member with a first end and a second end, a first pivot bracket, a second pivot bracket, a component-mounting bracket, and an anti-rotation bracket and which accessory-mounting assembly has a pivot axis about which the accessory-mounting component is pivotal after the accessory-mounting assembly is correctly assembled, and, after the accessory-mounting assembly is assembled, installing the assembled accessory-mounting assembly to a vehicle that has exterior surfaces, and a door with a window frame that has a window frame upper portion and a window frame lower portion that are disposed respectively above and below a window which is defined inside of the window frame, comprising the steps of:

(a) engaging the one or more accessories to the accessory-mounting component;
(b) engaging the accessory-mounting component to the first pivot bracket in a pivotal manner;
(c) engaging the accessory-mounting component to the second pivot bracket in a pivotal manner;
(d) engaging the first end of the anti-rotation member to the accessory-mounting component;
(e) engaging the second end of the anti-rotation member to the anti-rotation bracket;
(f) engaging an accessory directly to said component-mounting bracket;
and
(g) after all of the components of the accessory-mounting assembly are engaged to one another, taking the assembled accessory-mounting assembly to the vehicle and fixedly engaging the first pivot bracket to one of the exterior surfaces of the vehicle, fixedly engaging the second pivot bracket to one of the exterior surfaces of the vehicle, and fixedly engaging the component-mounting bracket to one of the exterior surfaces of the vehicle.

5 more elements

A vehicle, comprising:

(a) a frame;
(b) an occupant cabin engaged to said frame;
(c) a suspension system, for supporting said vehicle, engaged to said frame;
(d) wherein said frame, said occupant cabin, and said suspension system define a plurality of exterior surfaces of said vehicle;
(e) an accessory-mounting assembly engaged to one or more of said plurality of exterior surfaces of said vehicle;
(f) wherein said accessory-mounting assembly is comprised of a first pivot bracket fixedly engaged to one or more of said exterior surfaces of said vehicle;
(g) wherein said accessory-mounting assembly is comprised of a second pivot bracket fixedly engaged to one or more of said exterior surfaces of said vehicle;
(h) wherein said accessory-mounting assembly is comprised of an accessory-mounting component pivotally engaged to said first pivot bracket and said second pivot bracket;
(i) wherein said accessory-mounting assembly is comprised of one or more accessories mounted to said accessory-mounting component;
(j) wherein said accessory-mounting component is pivotal about a pivot axis that extends through a first point of engagement between said accessory-mounting component and said first pivot bracket and through a second point of engagement between said accessory-mounting component and said second pivot bracket;
(k) wherein said accessory-mounting assembly is comprised of an anti-rotation member that is engaged at a first end to said accessory-mounting component and at a second end to an anti-rotation bracket;
(l) wherein said anti-rotation member is engaged to said accessory-mounting component at a point distant from said pivot axis;
(m) wherein said anti-rotation member is engaged to said anti-rotation bracket at a point distant from said pivot axis;
(n) wherein rotation of said accessory-mounting component about said pivot axis is only possible when said anti-rotation member moves with respect to said accessory-mounting component and/or said anti-rotation bracket;
(o) wherein said anti-rotation bracket is integrally engaged to said first pivot bracket;
(p) wherein said engagement between said first end of said anti-rotation member and said accessory-mounting component and said engagement between said second end of said anti-rotation member and said anti-rotation bracket are “break away” style engagements;
(q) wherein said accessory-mounting assembly is constructed such that when relatively large force(s), in directions perpendicular to said pivot axis, are applied to said accessory-mounting component and/or said one or more accessories mounted to said accessory mounting component said “break away” engagements of said anti-rotation member to other components of said accessory-mounting assembly cause said anti-rotation member to undergo “break away” motions as said accessory-mounting component pivots about said pivot axis in a direction opposite said relatively large force(s);
and
(r) wherein said “break away” engagements are such that said accessory-mounting component is prevented from rotating about said pivot axis unless said accessory-mounting assembly is subjected to forces greater than those imparted to said accessory-mounting assembly during normal operation of said vehicle

16 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.