Netshape International LLC

Shape Corporation

Robert J Dornbos

Darin Evans

Thomas J Johnson

William A Wakefield

Mark P White

Mark S White

A towing apparatus mounted to a frame of a vehicle includes a receiver and an energy management device. The receiver is operably connected to the energy management device and the energy management device is operably connected to the vehicle frame. When the receiver is moved in a first tow direction, the energy management device is isolated and the tow force is coupled directly to the frame. However, when the energy management device is moved in a second, generally opposite direction, the energy management device reduces some or all of the force applied to the receiver from being transferred to the vehicle frame.

Towing apparatus with energy absorber

A bumper system includes a high-strength metal B-shaped beam with miter-cut end sections, a front center energy absorber, and a pair of energy-absorbing end pieces that nestingly engage front outer ends of the beam. By this arrangement, the bumper system with energy absorbers forms an impact system capable of providing good corner impact resistance. The energy-absorbing end pieces act as a low-cost and lightweight extension to the beam, and absorb energy so as to lessen intrusion and decrease the energy that is transmitted into the frame rails of the vehicle.

Bumper with nesting energy-absorbing end piece

A bumper system includes a 'W' or 'C' shaped beam having a back wall and mounts along the back wall adapted for attaching the beam to rails of a vehicle frame. An energy absorber engages a face of the beam and has rearwardly-extending energy-absorbing sections that extend through the face into contact with the back wall at each of the mounts for improved energy absorption. The horizontal walls of the beam have front and rear sections that align, but also have a U-shaped intermediate section that weakens the walls for promoting a more uniform and predictable collapse. A one-piece brace includes diagonal straps that hold free ends of top and bottom walls together to prevent premature spreading apart upon impact. The energy absorber includes energy-absorbing sections that extend past the straps to detentingly engage the intermediate sections of the beam.

Growing community of inventors

Hudsonville, MI, United States of America

Robert J Dornbos