The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 25, 2025
Filed:
Oct. 12, 2022
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Plano, TX (US);
Aaron R. Steinhilb, Milan, MI (US);
Haley L. Antoine, Saline, MI (US);
TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC., Plano, TX (US);
TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Toyota, JP;
Abstract
A tow hook assembly is detachably mounted to a frame member of a vehicle. The tow hook assembly includes a housing and a tow hook. The housing has a front wall with a front surface and an aperture formed in the front wall. The tow hook at least partially extends through the aperture and is movable between an extended position and a retracted position, in the extend position the tow hook extends farther outward from the housing than in the retracted position. The tow hook is configured to move from the extended position to the retracted position upon application of a force exceeding a first threshold. The housing is configured to disengage from the frame member upon an application of a force exceeding a second threshold greater than the first threshold.