Abstract: A vehicle includes a frame member and a tow hook assembly coupled to the frame member. The tow hook assembly includes a tow hook positionable between a first position and a second position, and a locking mechanism operable between a locked position and an unlocked position to permit the tow hook to move into the second position. The vehicle further includes a contact sensor and an electronic control unit communicatively coupled to the tow hook assembly and the sensor, the electronic control unit configured to operate the locking mechanism into the unlocked position to permit the tow hook to be positioned into the second position upon the sensor detecting that a predetermined condition is satisfied.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a protection plate that is releasably mounted to an underside of the vehicle. The protection plate has a slot having a first opening portion and a second opening portion. A bolt extends through the second opening portion and connects to a cross member that extends between longitudinally extending side members of a frame of the vehicle. The second opening portion is sized and configured to allow the bolt to slide out of the second opening portion and toward the first opening portion upon application of a longitudinal force of a preselected amount to release the protection plate from the bolt and at least partially from the underside of the vehicle.

Abstract: A tow hook assembly including a crush box and a tow hook. The crush box includes a support section having a first end and an opposite second end, the tubular support section extending in a vehicle longitudinal direction, and a connector section provided at the first end of the tubular support section, the connector section including a face plate extending in a vehicle vertical direction perpendicular to the vehicle longitudinal direction, and an upper plate extending from an upper end of the face plate in the vehicle longitudinal direction. The tow hook includes a body having a first portion provided on an upper surface of the upper plate and extending parallel to the upper plate, and an attachment member extending at an oblique angle from the first portion.

Abstract: A tow hook assembly including a housing, a receiving member, and a pin. The housing includes a side wall defining an asymmetric opening having a cam surface and an end wall. The pin is rotatably couples the receiving member to the housing between an extended position and a rotated position. The pin includes an extended portion received within the asymmetric opening of the housing. In the extended position, the extended portion abuts against the end wall to inhibit rotation of the receiving member with respect to the housing in a first direction. Upon an application of a force exceeding a predetermined threshold, the extended portion abuts and deforms against the cam surface to permit rotation of the receiving member in a second direction opposite the first direction to rotate the receiving member from the extended position towards the rotated position.

Abstract: A tow hook assembly including a crush box and a tow hook. The crush box includes a support section having a first end and an opposite second end, the tubular support section extending in a vehicle longitudinal direction, and a connector section provided at the first end of the tubular support section, the connector section including a face plate extending in a vehicle vertical direction perpendicular to the vehicle longitudinal direction, and an upper plate extending from an upper end of the face plate in the vehicle longitudinal direction. The tow hook includes a body having a first portion provided on an upper surface of the upper plate and extending parallel to the upper plate, and an attachment member extending at an oblique angle from the first portion.

Abstract: Disclosed is a vehicle having a breakaway tie rod. The tie rod has a longitudinal axis oriented substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, and includes a rod portion and a receiver portion. The rod portion includes a proximal ball joint disposed at the proximal end and a male coupling section disposed at the distal end. The receiver portion includes a female coupling section disposed at the proximal end, a distal ball joint disposed at the distal end, and a narrowing feature disposed between the proximal end and distal end. The male coupling section of the rod portion is received into the female coupling section of the receiver portion, forming a connection, and the distal end of the rod portion is disposed proximate to the narrowing feature. The narrowing feature is configured to fracture when subjected to a threshold force substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.

Abstract: Disclosed is a vehicular device comprising a tether. The tether is anchored at a first point to the frame of the vehicle, and at a second point to the knuckle of a front wheel of the vehicle, wherein the knuckle couples the front wheel to the frame. The locations of the first anchor point and second anchor point, along with the length of the tether and the routing of the tether within the vehicle, are selected such that in a collision event between the front wheel and a barrier, when the knuckle becomes separated from the frame, the motion of the front wheel is constrained to exert force on both the barrier and the frame of the vehicle.

Abstract: Disclosed is a device for distributing crash energy within a vehicle. The device includes a member insertable into an end of a bumper beam of a vehicle, where a first portion of the inserted member occupies an unsupported end of the bumper beam. A second portion of the inserted member is fixedly attached to the bumper beam and to a left frame rail or a right frame rail of the vehicle, and a third portion of the inserted member occupies a portion of the bumper beam between the left frame rail and the right frame rail.

Abstract: Disclosed is a vehicle having a breakaway tie rod. The tie rod has a longitudinal axis oriented substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, and includes a rod portion and a receiver portion. The rod portion includes a proximal ball joint disposed at the proximal end and a male coupling section disposed at the distal end. The receiver portion includes a female coupling section disposed at the proximal end, a distal ball joint disposed at the distal end, and a narrowing feature disposed between the proximal end and distal end. The male coupling section of the rod portion is received into the female coupling section of the receiver portion, forming a connection, and the distal end of the rod portion is disposed proximate to the narrowing feature. The narrowing feature is configured to fracture when subjected to a threshold force substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling wheel motion during a collision are provided. A retaining member may be connectable between a vehicle frame and a wheel assembly to control motion of the wheel assembly during a collision of a vehicle with an object. The retaining member may include one or more of a first attachment point connecting the retaining member to the vehicle frame, a second attachment point connecting the retaining member to the wheel assembly, a retaining member routing, and/or one or more break-away connections attaching the retaining member to the vehicle frame and/or to the wheel assembly. The first and second attachment points, retaining member routing, and/or break-away connections may be selected to control motion of the wheel assembly within a preferred path to control loading between the object and the vehicle.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for improving lateral crash pushing and distributing crash energy within a vehicle. The apparatus comprises a first frame cross member extending laterally between a left hand frame rail and a right hand frame rail of a vehicle, and a second frame cross member, aft of the first frame cross member, extending laterally between the left hand frame rail and the right hand frame rail. The apparatus further comprises an outrigger projecting outward laterally from the first frame cross member and an impact member selected from the left hand frame rail or right hand frame rail; and a connection arm projecting diagonally from a distal end of the outrigger to a connection point on the second frame cross member, beneath the impact member, such that when an impact force travels longitudinally into the outrigger, the impact force is distributed to both the first frame cross member through the outrigger and the second frame cross member through the connection arm.

Abstract: Disclosed is a vehicular device comprising a tether. The tether is anchored at a first point to the frame of the vehicle, and at a second point to the knuckle of a front wheel of the vehicle, wherein the knuckle couples the front wheel to the frame. The locations of the first anchor point and second anchor point, along with the length of the tether and the routing of the tether within the vehicle, are selected such that in a collision event between the front wheel and a barrier, when the knuckle becomes separated from the frame, the motion of the front wheel is constrained to exert force on both the barrier and the frame of the vehicle.

Abstract: Disclosed is a device for distributing crash energy within a vehicle. The device includes a member insertable into an end of a bumper beam of a vehicle, where a first portion of the inserted member occupies an unsupported end of the bumper beam. A second portion of the inserted member is fixedly attached to the bumper beam and to a left frame rail or a right frame rail of the vehicle, and a third portion of the inserted member occupies a portion of the bumper beam between the left frame rail and the right frame rail.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling wheel motion during a collision are provided. A retaining member may be connectable between a vehicle frame and a wheel assembly to control motion of the wheel assembly during a collision of a vehicle with an object. The retaining member may include one or more of a first attachment point connecting the retaining member to the vehicle frame, a second attachment point connecting the retaining member to the wheel assembly, a retaining member routing, and/or one or more break-away connections attaching the retaining member to the vehicle frame and/or to the wheel assembly. The first and second attachment points, retaining member routing, and/or break-away connections may be selected to control motion of the wheel assembly within a preferred path to control loading between the object and the vehicle.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for improving lateral crash pushing and distributing crash energy within a vehicle. The apparatus comprises a first frame cross member extending laterally between a left hand frame rail and a right hand frame rail of a vehicle, and a second frame cross member, aft of the first frame cross member, extending laterally between the left hand frame rail and the right hand frame rail. The apparatus further comprises an outrigger projecting outward laterally from the first frame cross member and an impact member selected from the left hand frame rail or right hand frame rail; and a connection arm projecting diagonally from a distal end of the outrigger to a connection point on the second frame cross member, beneath the impact member, such that when an impact force travels longitudinally into the outrigger, the impact force is distributed to both the first frame cross member through the outrigger and the second frame cross member through the connection arm.

Abstract: A system for noise and vibration sealing of a vehicle while providing reduced impact resistance includes a block of compressible material positionable between a vehicle hood and a support structure of the vehicle. The block of compressible material may include an attachment surface configured to be secured to a portion of the vehicle and an impact surface formed opposite the attachment surface. The impact surface may be positioned in the vehicle to be contacted by the hood or support structure during an impact event. An exterior surface may extend between the attachment surface and the impact surface. A cavity may be formed in the exterior surface. The cavity may have a first inner surface and a second inner surface opposing the first inner surface, and may be shaped to accommodate crushing of the block of compressible material during the impact event.

Abstract: A system for noise and vibration sealing of a vehicle while providing reduced impact resistance includes a block of compressible material positionable between a vehicle hood and a support structure of the vehicle. The block of compressible material may include an attachment surface configured to be secured to a portion of the vehicle and an impact surface formed opposite the attachment surface. The impact surface may be positioned in the vehicle to be contacted by the hood or support structure during an impact event. An exterior surface may extend between the attachment surface and the impact surface. A cavity may be formed in the exterior surface. The cavity may have a first inner surface and a second inner surface opposing the first inner surface, and may be shaped to accommodate crushing of the block of compressible material during the impact event.

Abstract: Systems and apparatus for a vehicle for improving pedestrian safety. The apparatus includes a hood of a vehicle including a hood outer panel having an exterior surface and an interior surface. The hood includes a hood inner panel connected to the hood outer panel. The hood includes a reinforcing patch connected to the interior surface of the hood outer panel between the hood outer panel and the hood inner panel, at a reinforcing location aligned with a structural component of the vehicle. The reinforcing patch is configured to increase the rigidity and mass of the hood outer panel at the reinforcing location to absorb energy from a pedestrian struck by the vehicle and to reduce impact from the structural component of the vehicle onto the pedestrian when the hood outer panel and the hood inner panel become compressed onto the structural component of the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a bumper assembly including a bumper reinforcement beam extending generally in a vehicle lateral direction. A bumper beam contact component is located above the bumper reinforcement beam in a vehicle vertical direction. An upper energy absorbing structure is located at a top surface of the bumper reinforcement beam and between the bumper beam contact component and the bumper reinforcement beam.

Abstract: Systems and apparatus for a vehicle for improving pedestrian safety. The apparatus includes a hood of a vehicle including a hood outer panel having an exterior surface and an interior surface. The hood includes a hood inner panel connected to the hood outer panel. The hood includes a reinforcing patch connected to the interior surface of the hood outer panel between the hood outer panel and the hood inner panel, at a reinforcing location aligned with a structural component of the vehicle. The reinforcing patch is configured to increase the rigidity and mass of the hood outer panel at the reinforcing location to absorb energy from a pedestrian struck by the vehicle and to reduce impact from the structural component of the vehicle onto the pedestrian when the hood outer panel and the hood inner panel become compressed onto the structural component of the vehicle.