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:
Feb. 10, 1998
Filed:
Jun. 10, 1996
Shu-Ying Chou, Troy, MI (US);
Alethea Keesia Morris, Royal Oak, MI (US);
Giles David Bryer, Dearborn, MI (US);
Saturn Corporation, Troy, MI (US);
Abstract
A tow assembly is provided for use in a vehicle having a generally laterally extending front bumper rail and generally longitudinally extending, opposing first and second side rails. The tow assembly includes first and second bumper mounting brackets each securely attached to the front bumper rail and first and second side mounting brackets each securely attached to the first and second side rails, respectively. The tow assembly further includes first and second detachable coupling members engaging and extending between the bumper and mounting brackets on respective sides of the vehicle. Advantageously, the tow assembly has a coupled condition in which the coupling members couple together the respective bumper and side mounting brackets for flat towing of the vehicle and the tow assembly has a decoupled condition in which the coupling members are removable from the tow assembly such that each of the bumper brackets and side mounting brackets are separate and independent from each other when the vehicle is being driven for minimal effects on vehicle vibration and noise.