FRONT BUMPER ARRANGEMENT FOR A TRUCK FOR SINGLE OR DUAL TOW POINTS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION tOOl] The invention relates to apparatus for truck bumpers with integrated towing couplings, and more specifically, to an arrangement for a front bumper to a truck that is readily adaptable to accommodate a single tow point or dual tow point couplings.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY

[002] Truck front bumpers are typically equipped with one or more tow points, a hook or pin that can be coupled with a hook, chain, or other coupling device of a towing vehicle in case the truck is disabled or otherwise needs to be towed. The tow points can be arranged laterally of the bumper center, usually one on each side near the frame rails, or as a single centrally located point.

[003] A center located tow point and dual side located tow points require different structure to provide the tow coupling and accommodate the load of towing the truck. This has resulted in truck manufacturers having to design, make, and stock different parts for each of the assemblies. This adds cost and complexity to the manufacturer's systems.

[004] The invention proposes an arrangement that accommodates single and dual tow points with a base structure of common components and a minimal number of components dedicated to single or dual tow. The arrangement in accordance with the invention provides simplicity that advantageously facilitates manufacturing and reduces the number of parts.

[005] An arrangement in accordance with the invention includes a bracket mountable on the front end of the frame rails of a truck. One bracket is intended to be mounted on each frame rail. A single bracket is described here, and it will be understood that brackets according to the invention will be made as left and right hand versions for the left side and right side of the truck. The bracket is formed as a single piece, as a casting, for example, and includes a mounting flange for mounting to a frame rail. A hood mount support extends perpendicularly from the

mounting flange to support a hood support rail. When the bracket is mounted on a frame rail, the hood mount support will extend toward a center of the truck.

[006] . An upper flange and a lower flange extend mutually parallel in a frontward direction of the bracket. According to a preferred embodiment, the upper flange and lower flange are substantially perpendicular to the mounting flange, and are formed contiguous with stiffening ribs formed on the mounting flange on a side opposite the side that engages a frame rail. The upper flange and lower flange define a pocket. For a dual tow point arrangement, the upper flange and lower flange each have a tow pin mounting hole, which holes are mutually aligned. With a tow pin installed in the holes in the upper flange and lower flange, the pocket provides space for a towing hook or chain to engage the tow pin and accommodate movement encountered during towing.

[007] The upper flange and lower flange also include mounting holes for a center section that supports a bumper.

[008] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a center section is mountable to both right and left side brackets and spans a space therebetween. The center section is formed as a sheet bent to have a front face, a top face or flange that preferably extends a length of the center section and a bottom face or flange that may be formed as a single flange or two flanges. The top flange and bottom flange include mounting holes that align with and permit mounting the center section to the brackets. In an embodiment in which the bottom flange is formed as two flanges, each bottom flange aligns with a lower flange of the respective bracket.

[009] The center section includes apertures for tow points. For the embodiment of dual tow points, the center section includes apertures located to align with the pockets defined by the upper flange and lower flange of the bracket.

[010] For the embodiment of a single, center tow point, the center section includes an aperture at a center location. The top flange is formed with a hole for a tow pin. The embodiment further includes reinforcing plates for the towing pin. A bottom reinforcing plate is formed as an elongated plate with a centrally located hole for a tow pin. The bottom reinforcing plate is attached to the bottom face or flange of the center section. For a center section formed with two bottom flanges, the bottom reinforcing plate is attached to both and extends therebetween. The bottom reinforcing plate may be attached by welding, riveting or other suitable means.

[Oi l] A top reinforcing plate is preferably formed a plate bent in a U shape to have a top portion, a bottom portion and a web connecting the top and bottom. The top portion is overlapped by the top flange of the center section and is connected to it by welding, riveting or other suitable means. The web aligns with the center aperture and includes a hole co-extensive therewith. The bottom portion overlaps the bottom reinforcing plate and is preferably connected to it by welding, riveting or other suitable means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[012] The invention will be better understood by reference to the following detailed description in conjunction with the appended drawings, in which:

[013] Figure l is a view of a front end of a truck illustrating a single tow point arrangement; [014] Figure 2 is a view of a front end of atruck illustrating a dual tow point arrangement;

[015] Figure 3 is a top perspective view of a right side bracket for mounting a bumper arrangement to a frame rail in accordance with the invention;

[016] Figure 4 is a top perspective view of a left side bracket for mounting a bumper arrangement to a frame rail in accordance with the invention;

[017] Figure 5 is a side view of the bracket of Figure 4;

[018] Figure 6 is a front view of the bracket of Figure 4 configured for a single tow point arrangement;

[019] Figure 7 is a front view of the bracket of Figure 4 configured for a dual tow point arrangement;

[020] Figure 8 is a front perspective view of an assembly in accordance with the invention for a single tow point arrangement;

[021] Figure 9 is a front perspective view of an assembly in accordance with the invention for a dual tow point arrangement;

[022] Figure 10 is an enlarged view of an end of the arrangement of Figure 9 showing a mounting detail;

[023] Figure 11 is a rear view of a center section of the assembly of Figure 8; and,

[024] Figure 12 is an enlarged view of an end of the assembly of Figure 8 showing mounting details.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[025] Figure 1 and Figure 2 show, respectively, a front bumper 10 of a truck with a single tow point 12 and a front bumper 20 with dual tow points 22, 24. The single tow point 12 of Figure 1 is located at the center 14 of the bumper. The dual tow points 22, 24 are spaced on either side of the center 14 and located at approximately the location of the ends of the frame rails (not illustrated). As will be understood by those skilled in the art, tow points must provide a coupling for a towing vehicle (typically by a hook or chain) and transmit the towing force to the frame of the truck. The invention provides an arrangement adaptable to either a single tow point or dual tow points with a minimum of components.

[026] An arrangement in accordance with the invention includes, illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, a bracket 30 mountable on a frame rail of a truck. Figure 3 illustrates a right hand (passenger side) bracket 31 and Figure 4 illustrates a left hand (driver side) bracket 30, referring to the side of the truck on which each bracket is intended to be installed. In the description that follows, a left hand bracket is described and illustrated, and it will be understood to apply to a right hand bracket, with handedness or image being accordingly opposite that described as appropriate.

[027] The bracket 30 is formed as a single piece, as a casting, for example, and includes at a rearward portion a mounting flange 32 with a plurality of mounting holes 34 provided for mounting to a frame rail. A hood mount support 36 extends perpendicularly from a forward end of the mounting flange 32 to support a hood support rail 18 (illustrated in Figure 8 and Figure 9). When the bracket 30 is mounted on a frame rail, the hood mount support 36 will extend toward a center of the truck.

[028] At a forward end of the bracket 30, an upper flange 40 and a lower flange 42 extend mutually parallel in a frontward direction. According to a preferred embodiment, the upper flange 40 and lower flange 42 are perpendicular to the mounting flange 32. Stiffening ribs 44, 46 are formed on the mounting flange 32 on a side opposite a side 38 that engages a frame rail.

Referring now also to Figure 5, which illustrates the bracket in side view, the upper flange 40 and lower flange 42 are substantially continuous with the stiffening ribs 44, 46 as forward projections of the stiffening ribs, which helps transmit towing forces from the upper flange and lower flange to the mounting flange 32.

[029] The upper flange 40 and lower flange 42 define a pocket 48 in the space therebetween. For a dual tow point arrangement, the upper flange 40 and lower flange 42 each have a tow pin mounting hole 50, 52, respectively, which holes are mutually aligned. With a tow pin installed in the holes 50, 52 in the upper flange 40 and lower flange 42, the pocket 48 provides space for a towing hook or chain to couple with the tow pin.

[030] The upper flange 40 and lower flange 42 also include mounting holes for a center section (described below) that supports a bumper. Figure 6 shows a mounting hole arrangement 54 for a center section for a single tow point arrangement, including three holes in each of the upper flange 40 and lower flange 42. Figure 7 shows a mounting hole arrangement 56 for center section for a dual tow point arrangement, including two holes in each of the upper flange 40 and lower flange 42.

[031] For convenience, the bracket 30 may be formed with the tow pin mounting holes as part of the casting or forming process, although the single tow point arrangement will not use these holes. However, it is possible to omit the two point mounting holes in the forming process and machine them only into brackets to be used for the dual tow point arrangements.

[032] Turning now to Figure 8 and Figure 9, in accordance with another aspect of the invention, a center section 60 is mountable to the right side 31 and left side 30 brackets and spans a space therebetween. Figures 8 and 9 also illustrate a hood support bar 18 mounted to the hood mount supports 36 on the brackets 30, 31 by two threaded fasteners on each side.

[033] The center section 60 is formed as a sheet, preferably metal, bent or formed to have a front face 62, a top face 64 that preferably extends a length of the center section and a bottom face 66 that may be formed as a single flange or two flanges. As illustrated, the bottom face 66 in the figures comprises two faces or flanges. The top face and bottom face include mounting holes that align with and permit mounting the center section to the brackets 30, 31. hi an embodiment in which the bottom flange is formed as two flanges, each bottom flange aligns with a lower flange of the respective bracket, as may be seen in Figures 8 and 9.

[034] The center section 60 mounts to the brackets 30, 31 with the top face 64 and bottom face 66 engaging on opposite sides and enclosing the upper flange 40 and lower flange 42 of the respective brackets 30, 31. For the dual tow point arrangement, shown in partial view in Figure 10, the center section 60 is attached by four fasteners 86 in the mounting holes 56 formed in the upper flange 40 and lower flange 42 to provide clearance for towing hook up components. Figure 10 also shows a tow pin 90 installed in the bracket 30 and extending through holes in the upper face 64 and lower face 66 of the center section 60 and the upper flange 40 and lower flange 42 of the bracket 30.

[035] The center section 60 includes apertures for tow points. For the embodiment of dual tow points, shown in Figure 9, the center section 60 includes apertures 68 located to align with the pockets 48 defined by the upper flange 40 and lower flange 42 of the respective bracket 30, 31.

[036] For the embodiment of a single, center tow point illustrated in Figure 8 and in rear view in Figure 11, the center section 60 includes an aperture 70 at a center location. The top face 64 of the center section 60 is formed with a hole 72 for a tow pin. The single tow point embodiment of the center section 60 further includes reinforcing plates. A bottom reinforcing plate 72 is formed as an elongated plate with a centrally located hole 74 for a tow pin. The bottom reinforcing plate 72 is attached to the bottom face 66 or flange of the center section. For a center section 50 formed with two bottom flanges 66 as shown in the drawings, the bottom reinforcing plate 72 is attached to both bottom flanges 66 and extends therebetween. The bottom reinforcing plate 72 and bottom flanges 66 may be attached by welding, riveting or other suitable means.

[037] A top reinforcing plate 76 is preferably formed as an elongated plate bent in a U shaped profile to have a top plate 78, a bottom plate 80 and a web 82 connecting the top and bottom plates. The top plate 78 has a relative wide center and is tapered at its lateral end portions and ramped away from the top face 64 to avoid interfering with the side brackets 30, 31. The top plate 78 is in contact with and overlapped by the top face 64 of the center section 60 and is connected to it by welding, riveting or other suitable means. The tapered end portions 79 of the top plate 78 are welded to the front face 62 of the center section 60. The web 82 aligns with front face 62 of the center section and includes a hole 83 aligned with the center aperture 70 and co-extensive therewith. The bottom plate 80 is in contact with and overlaps the bottom reinforcing plate 72 and is preferably connected to it by welding, riveting or other suitable

means. The bottom plate 80 includes tapered end portions 84 ramped away from the bottom face 66 which are welded to the front face 64 of the center section 60. As may be seen in Figure 11, a tow pin 90 extends through the top face 64 of the center section, the top plate 78 and bottom plate 80 of the top reinforcement plate 76, and the bottom reinforcing plate 72. This arrangement transmits towing force to the center section 60 and accordingly to the brackets 30, 31.

[038] Figure 12 shows a partial view of the single tow point arrangement to illustrate how the center section 60 is attached to the side bracket 30. As noted in connection with Figure 6, there are three mounting holes 54 in each of the upper flange 40 and lower flange 42 of the bracket for the single tow point arrangement. Returning to Figure 12, the top face 64 and the bottom face 66 of the center section 60 enclose the upper flange 40 and lower flange 42 of the bracket 30, and an end of the bottom reinforcing plate 72 is positioned between the lower flange 42 and the bottom face 66. Fasteners, in this case threaded bolts, extend through holes aligned in the top face 64, upper flange 40, lower flange 42, bottom reinforcing plate 78, and bottom face 66, with one fastener 92 visible in the view of Figure 12.

[039] The center section 60 may be formed with holes for both the single tow point and dual tow points for convenience, or may be formed as a dedicated part for one arrangement.

[040] A bumper, as illustrated in Figure 1 and Figure 2, will be mounted on the center section. The bumper will include a tow point access hole for the arrangement installed on a particular truck.

[041] The invention has been described in terms of preferred principles and embodiments, however, those skilled in the art will appreciate that substitutions of equivalents may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.