Abstract: A brush guard is attachable to a vehicle frame rail or a vehicle bumper mounting bracket by means of mounting members, each having a mounting surface mountable between the bumper mounting bracket and the bumper frame rail mounting bracket. Each mounting member includes a crush surface positioned in the same spatial relationship from a vehicle mounted sensor crush surface as the original crush surface of a bumper mounting bracket. The brush guard is mounted on the vehicle independent and free of the bumper and is disposed in a position so that the brush guard does not extend forwardly of the frontmost surface of the bumper. In one aspect, the mounting members are pivotally connected to the vehicle to allow pivotal movement of the brush guard during a front-end vehicle collision. A pair of optional outriggers are releasably secure to the outer lateral ends of the brush guard and the vehicle bumper.

Abstract: A fuel rail for the distribution of fuel is disclosed. The fuel rail includes an extending primary conduit having a first open end for receiving fuel and a second open end for returning fuel. The primary conduit has a plurality of ports for injector cups disposed in spaced intervals between the two ends. The fuel rail further includes a secondary conduit extending over a portion of the primary conduit. The secondary conduit is closed at its ends to form a cavity between the portion of primary conduit and the secondary conduit. Fluid communicates between the primary conduit and the cavity through small apertures disposed in the portion of the primary conduit. A vapor fuel return conduit is selectively opened to the cavity when the fuel reaches a predetermined temperature. When the fuel return conduit is opened to the cavity, the increase in volume of the fuel rail causes some of the liquid fuel in the primary conduit to change to vapor as it goes through the small apertures.

Abstract: A trailer hitch includes a cylindrical receiver perpendicularly mounted on a horizontal laterally extending tube attached to a vehicle. The receiver carries a slider movable between a first, retracted position substantially entirely disposed beneath the vehicle bumper and a second, extended position wherein the slider projects rearwardly of the vehicle bumper and carries a hitch ball for attachment to a towed object. A cam slot and cam follower are cooperatingly formed on the slider and the receiver, with the cam slot having angularly disposed ends for rotation of the slider between first and second angularly disposed position simultaneous with translation of the slider between first and second retracted and extended positions. A decorative cover overlays the exposed portions of the horizontal tube and the slider when the slider is in the retracted position.