Douglas A Howe

US Patent:

20150054257, Feb 26, 2015

Filed:

Aug 26, 2013

Appl. No.:

14/010295

Inventors:

- Dearborn MI, US
Marwan Ahmad ELBKAILY - Canton MI, US
John Martin KNITTEL - Canton MI, US
Douglas Lee HOWE - Grosse Ile MI, US

Assignee:

FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

B60D 1/24

US Classification:

280480

Abstract:

A flexible tow hook assembly for a vehicle. That assembly generally includes a front rail enclosing an inner region, a through-bolt assembly, and a cable. The through-bolt passes through and secured to the front rail section, and a support structure provides structural support to the front rail at an area where the through bolt is secured to the same. The cable is substantially flexible and a tie area is attached to the cable to form a figure-eight. The cable has a smaller loop, extending around the through-bolt, and a larger loop extending from the end of the front rail. The through-bolt may extend through the front rail vertically or horizontally. The support structure may be provided by an overlap area where rail members overlap, or by mounting plates secured to the surface of the front rail at the position where the through bolt extends through the same.