Abstract: A vehicle structure includes a vehicle frame, a beam, an attachment bracket. The vehicle frame has a first side member, a second side member and a cross-member rigidly fixed to each of the first and second side members and extending between the first and second side members. The beam extends rearward from a mid-portion of the cross-member with a gap being defined between the beam and the cross-member. The attachment bracket is rigidly fixed to the mid-portion of the cross-member and retaining the beam. The attachment bracket is configured to maintain the gap with the vehicle frame in a non-impacted state. The attachment bracket is further configured such that in response an impact event impacting a forward area of the vehicle frame, with impacting forces causing relative movement between the cross-member and the attachment bracket, the gap is diminished or closed.

Abstract: An off-center impact reinforcement structure includes a push arm proximate rearward of a front portion of the vehicle frame. The push arm extends in a forward and laterally outboard direction from a front side member. A rear surface of the push arm is located below the first side member. During an initial stage of an off-center impact event in which a stationary barrier directly impacts a front surface of the push arm, impacting forces from the off-center impact event move the rear surface of the push arm into contact with brackets that extend downward from the front side member and transfer through the push arm to brackets and to the vehicle frame. In a second stage, a rear surface of the push arm contacts the vehicle frame as the push arm pivots with the front surface of the push arm moving in a laterally outboard direction.

Abstract: A marker light is a device that provides referential pivoting and precision boundary marking required for parking or docking articulate vehicles during poor visibility conditions. The marker consists of 12 primary features, an upper shell housing, a sealed circular window for white light passage, a sealed slotted window for laser light passage, internal reinforcement, a white up light, a laser beam transform lens, a laser beam source, a rechargeable battery pack, a recharging port, a wiring harness, a lower base plate, and an on/off switch. The up light pinpoints substantially the optimum pivot location during the parking or docking process. The developed laser plane—resulting from the laser beam passing through the transform lens—enables two marking orientations for the driver from one continuous laser impingement curve. From a top view perspective, orientation 1 marks parallel on the ground for aligning the trailer while orientation 2 marks perpendicular to the vertical dock wall.

Abstract: A vehicle structure includes a frame and a diagonal structure. The frame has a first side member, a second side member and a cross-member that extends in a vehicle lateral direction between the first and second side members. The cross-member is perpendicular to the first and second side members. The diagonal structure has a beam with a rear end that extends to an area of the second side member rearward of the cross-member. An angle of between 35 and 60 degrees is defined between the cross-member and the beam of the diagonal structure. The rear end of the beam is supported to the second side member by a rear attachment bracket such that the rear end of the beam is spaced apart from the second side member with a rear gap being defined between the rear end of the beam and the second side member.

Abstract: A push arm has a rear surface and a front surface. A rear surface of the push arm is located adjacent to and spaced apart from a first cross-member defining a gap therebetween. The push arm extends forward and laterally outward such that the front surface of the push arm is located laterally outboard of and spaced apart from a front end of a first side member of a vehicle frame. A support bracket has a front section releasably attached to the push arm and a rear section releasably attached to a first cross-member of the vehicle frame adjacent to an intersection of the first side member and the first cross-member. The support bracket is configured such that in response to an off-center impact event against the front surface of the push arm, the support bracket guiding movement of the push arm in a rearward direction.

Abstract: A vehicle structure includes a vehicle frame and a push arm. The vehicle frame includes surfaces that define an intersection of a first side member and a first cross-member. The surfaces extend from the first side member to the first cross-member with an upper surface of a mid-section of the first cross-member being vertically spaced apart from an upper surface of the first side member. The push arm is coupled to the vehicle frame proximate the intersection. A rear surface of the push arm faces and is adjacent to a front area of the intersection. A main body of the push arm extends forward and laterally outboard from the rear surface such that the front surface is located laterally outboard of the first side member.

Abstract: A vehicle structure includes a frame and a push arm. The push arm is coupled to a first side member of the frame proximate an intersection of the first side member and a first cross-member. The push arm has a main body, a rear surface, and a front surface. The rear surface faces and is adjacent to the intersection. The main body extends forward and laterally in an outboard direction from the rear surface such that the front surface of the push arm is located laterally outboard of and spaced apart from a front end of the first side member of the frame. The front surface has a first section and a second section both facing forward relative to the frame. The second section is angularly offset from the first section such that the second section and the first section define an obtuse angle therebetween.

Abstract: A first structure extends to a forward side of a cross-member of a vehicle frame with a first gap being defined between the first structure and the cross-member. A second structure extends rearward from the cross-member with a second gap defined between the second structure and the cross-member. An attachment bracket fixed to the cross-member retains one of the first and second structures. The attachment bracket is configured to maintain one of the first gap and the second gap in a non-impacted state. In response to an impact event where a stationary barrier impacts forward of the first structure, impacting forces cause movement of the one of the first structure and the second structure relative to the attachment bracket thereby bringing at least the one of the first structure and the second structure into contact with the cross-member closing the corresponding one of the first gap and the second gap.

Abstract: An off-center impact reinforcement structure includes a push arm proximate rearward of a front portion of the vehicle frame. The push arm extends in a forward and laterally outboard direction from a front side member. A rear surface of the push arm is located below the first side member. During an initial stage of an off-center impact event in which a stationary barrier directly impacts a front surface of the push arm, impacting forces from the off-center impact event move the rear surface of the push arm into contact with brackets that extend downward from the front side member and transfer through the push arm to brackets and to the vehicle frame. In a second stage, a rear surface of the push arm contacts the vehicle frame as the push arm pivots with the front surface of the push arm moving in a laterally outboard direction.

Abstract: A vehicle structure includes a vehicle frame, a beam, an attachment bracket. The vehicle frame has a first side member, a second side member and a cross-member rigidly fixed to each of the first and second side members and extending between the first and second side members. The beam extends rearward from a mid-portion of the cross-member with a gap being defined between the beam and the cross-member. The attachment bracket is rigidly fixed to the mid-portion of the cross-member and retaining the beam. The attachment bracket is configured to maintain the gap with the vehicle frame in a non-impacted state. The attachment bracket is further configured such that in response an impact event impacting a forward area of the vehicle frame, with impacting forces causing relative movement between the cross-member and the attachment bracket, the gap is diminished or closed.

Abstract: A vehicle frame has a first side member, a second side member and a cross-member. The first and second side members extend in a vehicle longitudinal direction. The cross-member extends in a vehicle lateral direction between the first and second side members. The cross-member is fixed to the first side member and the second side member. A mid-portion of the cross-member has a first upright wall and a second upright wall spaced apart from one another defining a hollow area therebetween. A bulkhead is installed within the cross-member between the first upright wall and the second upright wall. The bulkhead has a plurality of surface sections that extend between the first upright wall and the second upright wall and perpendicular to the first upright wall and the second upright wall. The bulkhead is configured to restrict movement of the first upright wall relative to the second upright wall.

Abstract: A vehicle structure includes a vehicle frame and a push arm. The vehicle frame includes surfaces that define an intersection of a first side member and a first cross-member. The surfaces extend from the first side member to the first cross-member with an upper surface of a mid-section of the first cross-member being vertically spaced apart from an upper surface of the first side member. The push arm is coupled to the vehicle frame proximate the intersection. A rear surface of the push arm faces and is adjacent to a front area of the intersection. A main body of the push arm extends forward and laterally outboard from the rear surface such that the front surface is located laterally outboard of the first side member.

Abstract: A vehicle frame has a first side member, a second side member and a cross-member. The first and second side members extend in a vehicle longitudinal direction. The cross-member extends in a vehicle lateral direction between the first and second side members. The cross-member is fixed to the first side member and the second side member. A mid-portion of the cross-member has a first upright wall and a second upright wall spaced apart from one another defining a hollow area therebetween. A bulkhead is installed within the cross-member between the first upright wall and the second upright wall. The bulkhead has a plurality of surface sections that extend between the first upright wall and the second upright wall and perpendicular to the first upright wall and the second upright wall. The bulkhead is configured to restrict movement of the first upright wall relative to the second upright wall.

Abstract: A push arm has a rear surface and a front surface. A rear surface of the push arm is located adjacent to and spaced apart from a first cross-member defining a gap therebetween. The push arm extends forward and laterally outward such that the front surface of the push arm is located laterally outboard of and spaced apart from a front end of a first side member of a vehicle frame. A support bracket has a front section releasably attached to the push arm and a rear section releasably attached to a first cross-member of the vehicle frame adjacent to an intersection of the first side member and the first cross-member. The support bracket is configured such that in response to an off-center impact event against the front surface of the push arm, the support bracket guiding movement of the push arm in a rearward direction.

Abstract: A first structure extends to a forward side of a cross-member of a vehicle frame with a first gap being defined between the first structure and the cross-member. A second structure extends rearward from the cross-member with a second gap defined between the second structure and the cross-member. An attachment bracket fixed to the cross-member retains one of the first and second structures. The attachment bracket is configured to maintain one of the first gap and the second gap in a non-impacted state. In response to an impact event where a stationary barrier impacts forward of the first structure, impacting forces cause movement of the one of the first structure and the second structure relative to the attachment bracket thereby bringing at least the one of the first structure and the second structure into contact with the cross-member closing the corresponding one of the first gap and the second gap.

Abstract: A vehicle structure includes a frame and a push arm. The push arm is coupled to a first side member of the frame proximate an intersection of the first side member and a first cross-member. The push arm has a main body, a rear surface, and a front surface. The rear surface faces and is adjacent to the intersection. The main body extends forward and laterally in an outboard direction from the rear surface such that the front surface of the push arm is located laterally outboard of and spaced apart from a front end of the first side member of the frame. The front surface has a first section and a second section both facing forward relative to the frame. The second section is angularly offset from the first section such that the second section and the first section define an obtuse angle therebetween.

Abstract: A vehicle structure includes a frame and a diagonal structure. The frame has a first side member, a second side member and a cross-member that extends in a vehicle lateral direction between the first and second side members. The cross-member is perpendicular to the first and second side members. The diagonal structure has a beam with a rear end that extends to an area of the second side member rearward of the cross-member. An angle of between 35 and 60 degrees is defined between the cross-member and the beam of the diagonal structure. The rear end of the beam is supported to the second side member by a rear attachment bracket such that the rear end of the beam is spaced apart from the second side member with a rear gap being defined between the rear end of the beam and the second side member.

Abstract: An off-center impact reinforcement structure includes a push arm and a first diagonals structure installed to elements of a frame of a vehicle structure. The push arm is coupled to the frame proximate an intersection of a first side member and a first cross-member and extends in a forward and laterally outboard direction from the intersection. The first diagonal structure extends rearward and laterally inboard from proximate the intersection toward a section of a second side member rearward of the first cross-member. The off-center impact reinforcement structure is configured such that during an off-center impact event in which a stationary barrier impacts against a front surface of the push arm during forward movement of the vehicle frame, impacting forces from the impact event are transferred through the push arm to the vehicle frame at the intersection and from the intersection to the first diagonal structure.

Abstract: An off-center impact reinforcement structure includes a push arm and a first diagonals structure installed to elements of a frame of a vehicle structure. The push arm is coupled to the frame proximate an intersection of a first side member and a first cross-member and extends in a forward and laterally outboard direction from the intersection. The first diagonal structure extends rearward and laterally inboard from proximate the intersection toward a section of a second side member rearward of the first cross-member. The off-center impact reinforcement structure is configured such that during an off-center impact event in which a stationary barrier impacts against a front surface of the push arm during forward movement of the vehicle frame, impacting forces from the impact event are transferred through the push arm to the vehicle frame at the intersection and from the intersection to the first diagonal structure.

Abstract: A push arm has a rear surface and a front surface. A rear surface of the push arm is located adjacent to and spaced apart from a front suspension structure defining a gap therebetween. The push arm extends forward and laterally outward such that the front surface of the push arm is located laterally outboard of and spaced apart from a front end of a first side member of a vehicle frame. A support bracket has a front section releasably attached to the push arm and a rear section releasably attached to a first cross-member of the vehicle frame adjacent to an intersection of the first side member and the first cross-member. The support bracket is configured such that in response to an off-center impact event against the front surface of the push arm, the support bracket guiding movement of the push arm in a rearward direction.