Integrated Sway Bar Bracket for Rear Tow Hook Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Certain vehicles, such as pickup trucks, often lack manufacturer-installed mounting points for tow hooks, making it difficult to safely tow or recover them from hazards like mud or water.
Innovation Solution
A reinforced sway bar bushing bracket with an integrated tow hook is designed to provide a strong connection point and additional stability, which can be securely coupled to the chassis, allowing for safer towing and recovery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a sway bar bushing bracket is used for its original purpose, then vehicle stability is maintained, but no tow hook mounting point is provided
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the sway bar bracket and tow hook mounting point into a single integrated component. The bracket includes a first portion that attaches to the vehicle frame and a second portion that extends outward with a tow hook mounting point, merging two separate functions (stability and towing) into one device.
Solution Approach 2:
The sway bar bracket is designed to perform multiple functions: it maintains vehicle stability as a sway bar mount while simultaneously providing a tow hook mounting point for recovery operations. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate mounting structures.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a separate tow hook mounting structure is added, then towing capability is provided, but vehicle complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of adding a separate tow hook mounting structure, the patent integrates the mounting point directly into the sway bar bracket. The bracket's second portion extends to provide the mounting point, combining the stability function and towing function into one structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The sway bar bracket serves dual purposes: maintaining lateral stability during vehicle operation and providing a secure mounting point for tow hooks during recovery operations, eliminating the need for additional dedicated towing structures.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the bracket is designed to extend outward, then tow hook mounting is enabled, but bracket length increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket is designed with different portions serving different functions: a first portion for secure attachment to the vehicle frame and a second portion that extends outward to provide accessible mounting points. Each portion is optimized for its specific function while minimizing overall dimensions.
Data Source
AI summary
Currently, some work vehicles and/or off-road vehicles come from the manufacturer lacking tow hooks—or even a strong point on the rear bumper assembly and/or the chassis to install a tow hook. A non-limiting example of this sort of vehicle is the Toyota Tundra. It is highly desirable for such a vehicle to be able to be towed by another vehicle and/or have connection points for recovery from stuck in a natural hazard like mud or water. A novel and improved sway bar bushing bracket with a tow hook design is disclosed. In particular, the manufacturer-installed sway bar bushing bracket may be replaced with a reinforced sway bar bushing bracket with an integrated tow hook that may serve as a more robust sway bar bushing bracket, as well as providing a strong connection point with a tow hook.