# US 9,517,741 B2 · Wheel deflector bracket and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,517,741 B2 - Document ID: US9517741B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/323,075 - Filed: 2014-07-03 - Published: 2016-01-07 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2014-07-03 - Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Applicants: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Inventors: Eric A. Watterworth; Dominic S. Pupillo - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9517741B2 ## CPC - B60R 19/54: Obstruction removers or deflectors (B60R19/16, B60R21/34 take precedence) - B62D 21/15: having impact absorbing means, e.g. a frame designed to permanently or temporarily change shape or dimension upon impact with another body (bumpers B60R19/02; shock absorbers in general F16F) - B62D 21/152: {Front or rear frames} - B62D 25/04: Door pillars {; windshield pillars} - B60R 2019/007: {Means for adjusting or regulating the crash absorption capacity of the vehicle, e.g. when detecting an impending collision} - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - 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) ## Abstract A vehicle wheel deflector bracket and method is provided. The bracket is attachable to a vehicle having a wheel, a door, and a body structure supporting a door hinge. The bracket is configured to deflect a force from the wheel to the body structure and away from the door hinge when the bracket is attached to the body structure. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vehicle wheel deflector for a vehicle having a wheel, a door, and a body structure supporting a door hinge, comprising: a bracket attachable to the body structure and configured to deflect a force from the wheel to the body structure and away from the door hinge when the bracket is attached to the body structure; wherein the bracket is not connected to the door hinge so that none of the force from the wheel is applied to the door hinge. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vehicle wheel deflector of claim 1, wherein the bracket includes a wheel contact surface portion; and a body structure attachment portion. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The vehicle wheel deflector of claim 2, wherein the wheel has an outer surface portion; and wherein the wheel contact surface portion of the bracket is configured to cooperate with the outer surface portion of the wheel. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The vehicle wheel deflector of claim 2, wherein the body structure attachment portion is configured to facilitate welding of the bracket to the body structure. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The vehicle wheel deflector of claim 2, wherein the body structure attachment portion is configured to facilitate fastening of the bracket to the body structure. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The vehicle wheel deflector of claim 2, further comprising a hinge cover portion, wherein the hinge cover portion is configured to extend outboard of the body structure forward of the door hinge. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The vehicle wheel deflector of claim 6, wherein the hinge cover portion has a U-shaped cross-section. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The vehicle wheel deflector of claim 2, further comprising a structural feature. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The vehicle wheel deflector of claim 8, wherein the structural feature is a flange. ### Claim 10 A vehicle subject to a vehicle external force event and having a wheel, a door, and a body structure including a door hinge for hingedly supporting the door on the body structure, the vehicle comprising: a bracket disposed between the wheel and the door hinge, attached to the body structure, and configured to deflect a force from the wheel to the body structure and away from the door hinge during such vehicle external force event; wherein the bracket is not connected to the door hinge so that none of the force from the wheel is applied to the door hinge. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the bracket has a wheel contact surface portion and a body structure attachment portion. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the wheel has an outer surface portion; and wherein the wheel contact surface portion of the bracket is configured to cooperate with the outer surface portion of the wheel. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the body structure attachment portion is configured to facilitate welding of the bracket to the body structure. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the body structure attachment portion is configured to facilitate fastening of the bracket to the body structure. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the bracket has a hinge cover portion; and wherein the hinge cover portion is configured to extend outboard of the body structure forward of the door hinge. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the hinge cover portion has a U-shaped cross-section. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the bracket has a structural feature. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The vehicle of claim 17, wherein the structural feature is a flange. ### Claim 19 A method to deflect a force from a wheel of a vehicle having a body structure, a door, and a door hinge, toward the body structure and away from the door hinge, comprising: sufficiently configuring a force deflecting bracket to at least extend outboard of the body structure forward of the door hinge; and attaching the force deflecting bracket to the body structure such that the force deflecting bracket is not connected to the door hinge so that the force from the wheel is deflected to the body structure and away from the door hinge by the force deflecting bracket and none of the force from the wheel is applied to the door hinge.