Abstract: A bracket assembly for coupling a component to a vehicle including a bracket body including a C-ring retainer that is adapted to translatably engage and retain a T-shaped guide rail coupled to one of a crossmember and floor structure of the vehicle, wherein the bracket body defines a hole or includes an attachment structure adapted to receive and retain the component. The bracket body further includes one or more flanges adapted to secure the bracket body to the crossmember or floor structure of the vehicle via bolting and/or welding. Optionally, the bracket body includes: a front attachment arm; a rear attachment arm; one or more intervening structural reinforcement members; a bottom portion coupled to the attachment arms; and a cap structure coupled to the attachment arms opposite the bottom portion; wherein the bottom portion includes the C-ring retainer and the cap structure defines the hole or includes the attachment structure.

Abstract: A vehicle structure is provided that includes at least a die cast aluminum first vehicle component adhesively bonded to a second vehicle component made of a material other than die cast aluminum, in which the adhesive bond line between the bonding surface areas of the vehicle components is made uniform in thickness by the provision of aluminum protrusions of identical height to one another integrally die cast with and extending from the bonding surface area of the first vehicle component to contact the second vehicle component. Optionally, the adhesive bond is reinforced with one or more mechanical fasteners. Also provided is a method of making the vehicle structure.

Abstract: A bracket assembly for coupling a component to a vehicle including a bracket body including a C-ring retainer that is adapted to translatably engage and retain a T-shaped guide rail coupled to one of a crossmember and floor structure of the vehicle, wherein the bracket body defines a hole or includes an attachment structure adapted to receive and retain the component. The bracket body further includes one or more flanges adapted to secure the bracket body to the crossmember or floor structure of the vehicle via bolting and/or welding. Optionally, the bracket body includes: a front attachment arm; a rear attachment arm; one or more intervening structural reinforcement members; a bottom portion coupled to the attachment arms; and a cap structure coupled to the attachment arms opposite the bottom portion; wherein the bottom portion includes the C-ring retainer and the cap structure defines the hole or includes the attachment structure.

Abstract: A bracket assembly, such as a child safety seat bracket assembly, for use in a vehicle and an associated method of manufacture. The bracket assembly includes a wire loop structure that has end portions that are stamped to locally widen the wire loop structure a predetermined distance from ends thereof. These end portions are pressed through cylindrical bores of a bracket structure that is configured to be secured to a seat, interior structure, and/or body of the vehicle, for example. The ends of the wire loop structure are deformed to form retention caps that prevent the end portions of the wire loop structure from backing out of the cylindrical bores of the bracket structure. A child safety seat is selectively secured to one more such wire loop structures, bracket structures, and bracket assemblies to selectively secure the child safety seat to the seat, interior structure, and/or body of the vehicle.

Abstract: A bracket assembly, such as a child safety seat bracket assembly, for use in a vehicle and an associated method of manufacture. The bracket assembly includes a wire loop structure that has end portions that are stamped to locally widen the wire loop structure a predetermined distance from ends thereof. These end portions are pressed through cylindrical bores of a bracket structure that is configured to be secured to a seat, interior structure, and/or body of the vehicle, for example. The ends of the wire loop structure are deformed to form retention caps that prevent the end portions of the wire loop structure from backing out of the cylindrical bores of the bracket structure. A child safety seat is selectively secured to one more such wire loop structures, bracket structures, and bracket assemblies to selectively secure the child safety seat to the seat, interior structure, and/or body of the vehicle.