Detachable tow hook assembly and vehicle with one or more detachable tow hooks

A housing for mounting to a vehicle and for detachably receiving a tow hook locking end portion of a tow hook having a towing end portion projecting outwardly from the housing when the tow hook is detachably received by the housing, the housing comprising:

• a housing body;
• the housing body defining a passageway configured to detachably receive and detachably retain the tow hook locking end portion inserted therein;
• the housing body defining a tow hook receiving passageway with a tow hook receiving opening communicating with the tow hook receiving passageway, the passageway comprising a first section adjacent to the tow hook receiving opening, the first section having a cross-sectional configuration shaped such that the locking end portion is insertable in a first direction through the tow hook receiving opening and through the first section when the tow hook is in a first rotational orientation and such that the locking end portion is not insertable through the first section when the tow hook is in a second rotational orientation, the passageway comprising a second section positioned in the first direction from the first section, the second section having a cross-sectional configuration shaped such that the locking end portion is insertable in the first direction through the second section when the tow hook is in the first rotational orientation, the passageway comprising a third section positioned in the first direction from the second section, the third section having a cross-sectional configuration that permits rotation of the locking end portion from the first rotational orientation to the second rotational orientation when the locking end portion is inserted in the first direction through the second section and into the third section, the second section of the passageway having a locking end portion receiver portion that is shaped to receive the locking end portion upon rotation of the locking end portion to the second rotational orientation and shifting of the locking end portion in a second direction opposite to the first direction and toward the second section of the passageway from the third section of the passageway, rotation of the locking end portion to the first orientation being prevented when the locking end portion is received by the receiver portion;
• and
• wherein shifting of the locking end portion in the first direction from the receiver portion and into the third section allows rotation of the locking end portion to the first rotational orientation for removal of the locking end portion in the second direction through the second section, through the first section and from the housing.

A tow hook for detachable connection to a tow hook receptacle, the tow hook comprising:

• an elongated tow hook body comprising a first end portion and a second locking end portion;
• and
• wherein the locking end portion is generally rectangular in cross-section;
• wherein the tow hook body tapers from a central portion toward the locking end portion.

A vehicle with a towing apparatus comprising:

• first and second frame rails each having a respective forward end portion;
• a first mounting bracket coupled to the forward end portion of the first frame rail, the first mounting bracket comprising a forwardly projecting first tow hook receptacle supporting portion;
• a second mounting bracket coupled to the forward end portion of the second frame rail, the second mounting bracket comprising a forwardly projecting second tow hook receptacle supporting portion;
• a cross member coupled to the first and second tow hook receptacle supporting portions;
• a first tow hook receptacle coupled to the first tow hook receptacle supporting portion, the first tow hook receptacle comprising a first tow hook receiving passageway having a forwardly facing first tow hook opening communicating with the first tow hook receiving passageway, the first tow hook receiving passageway being configured to detachably receive and retain a tow hook inserted through the first tow hook opening and into the first tow hook receiving passageway;
• a second tow hook receptacle coupled to the second tow hook receptacle supporting portion, the second tow hook receptacle comprising a second tow hook receiving passageway having a forwardly facing second tow hook opening communicating with the second tow hook receiving passageway, the second tow hook receiving passageway being configured to detachably receive and retain a tow hook inserted through the second tow hook opening and into the second tow hook receiving passageway;
• and
• a bumper positioned forwardly of the forward end portions of the first and second frame rails, the bumper having a first opening through which one end portion of a tow hook can be inserted through the bumper and into the first tow hook receiving opening of the first tow hook receptacle, and the bumper having a second opening through which one end portion of a tow hook can be inserted through the bumper and into the second tow hook receiving opening of the second tow hook receptacle;
• and
• wherein each of the first and second tow hook receptacles is generally wedge shaped with a first upper bracket engaging surface and a second lower bracket engaging surface, at least one of the first and second bracket engaging surfaces converging toward the other of the first and second bracket engaging surfaces, wherein each of the first and second mounting brackets comprises respective upper and lower flanges at least one of which converges toward the other, the first and second bracket engaging surfaces of the first tow hook receptacle being mounted to the upper and lower flanges of the first mounting bracket to mount the first tow hook receptacle to the first mounting bracket, and the first and second bracket engaging surfaces of the second tow hook receptacle being mounted to the upper and lower flanges of the second mounting bracket to mount the second tow hook receptacle to the second mounting bracket.