Sliding radiator grill
AssigneeFord Motor Company
InventorsDhafer Y. Mansoor, Arnold O. Pohto
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A movable grill assembly for an automotive vehicle is provided in which a slidable connection is operatively positioned between portions of the grill assembly to permit movement of the grill upon imposition of a load from the vehicle's bumper during impact situations. A stable mounting is provided through pin and slot connections which provide for mounting and grill assembly in stable fashion in its assembled position and for resisting twisting or tilting moments under influence of bumper movement.
Claims16
In a motor vehicle having a bumper assembly movable longitudinally of the body of the vehicle between a frontwardly located assembled position and a rearwardly located impact position in response to the imposition of an impact load on the bumper, and a movable grill assembly mounted on the vehicle body rearwardly adjacent and in the path of movement of the bumper assembly, an improved mounting arrangement for the movable grill assembly comprising:
- a bracket adapted to be fixedly secured to the vehicle body;
- means defining a longitudinally extending pin and slot connection between the grill and the bracket to permit controlled movement of the grill between the assembled and impact positions;
- and
- spring means operatively engaged between the grill and the bracket to urge the grill toward the assembled position.
In a motor vehicle having a bumper assembly movable longitudinally of the body of the vehicle between a frontwardly located assembled position and a rearwardly located impact position in response to the imposition of an impact load on the bumper, and a movable grill assembly mounted on the vehicle body rearwardly adjacent and in the path of movement of the bumper assembly, an improved mounting arrangement for the movable grill assembly comprising:
- a bracket adapted to be fixedly secured to the vehicle body;
- means defining a mutually longitudinally slidable connection between the grill and the bracket to permit controlled movement of the grill between the assembled and impact positions;
- and
- spring means operatively engaged between the grill and the bracket to urge the grill toward the assembled position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.