Integrated tow hitch and bumper assembly

Abstract

A tow hitch rear bumper assembly for a motor vehicle includes a rear bumper for attachment to a frame of the motor vehicle and a tow hitch extending through and integral with the rear bumper.

1 . A trailer hitch and bumper assembly for attachment to a vehicle frame, the assembly absorbing collision energy and distributing the collision energy to the frame comprising: 
 a transversely extending bumper  120  having a hollow cross-sectional bumper beam  121 , said bumper beam  121  defining a centrally disposed primary aperture  160  extending longitudinally through said bumper beam  121 ;    a pair of bumper brackets  122 ,  124  secured to transverse ends of said bumper beam, said bumper brackets designed to secure said bumper assembly to said vehicle frame and to distribute collision energy to said frame;    a pair of bumperette portions  122   a,    124   a  extending longitudinally beyond the rear bumper beam  121 ; and    a tow hitch  128  secured to said bumper beam  121  and overlying said primary aperture  160  designed to receive a tow hitch receiver  130 .    
   
   
       2 . The trailer hitch and bumper assembly of  claim 1 , said vehicle achieving a high ramp angle ground clearance, wherein said vehicle includes two parallel side rails  16 ,  18  and said bumper brackets  122 ,  124  are positioned over the ends of said side rails.  
   
   
       3 . The trailer hitch and bumper assembly of  claim 1 , said vehicle achieving a high ramp angle ground clearance, wherein a bottom face  136  of said hitch receiver  130  is positioned above a bottom wall  308  of a rear bumper fascia when said assembly is installed in said vehicle.  
   
   
       4 . The trailer hitch and bumper assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said bumperette portions  122   a,    124   a  are secured to said bumper brackets  122 ,  124 .  
   
   
       5 . The trailer hitch and bumper assembly of  claim 4 , wherein said bumperette portions  122   a,    124   a  are portions of said bumper brackets  122 ,  124 .  
   
   
       6 . The trailer hitch and bumper assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said bumper beam  121  further defines a secondary aperture  162  extending longitudinally through said bumper beam  121 , and further comprising: a wiring receiver  168  extending longitudinally through said secondary aperture  162 .  
   
   
       7 . The trailer hitch and bumper assembly of  claim 1 , whereby said hitch receiver  130  and said bumperette portions  122   a,    124   a  define three contact points in a vehicle collision.  
   
   
       8 . A trailer hitch and bumper assembly for attachment to a vehicle frame, the assembly absorbing collision energy and distributing the collision energy to the frame comprising: 
 a transversely extending bumper  120  having a bumper beam  121 , said bumper beam  121  defining a centrally disposed primary aperture  160  extending longitudinally through said bumper beam  121 , and a secondary aperture  162  extending longitudinally through said bumper beam  121 ;    a pair of bumper brackets  122 ,  124  defining apertures  164  extending therethrough to receive said rear bumper beam  121  and allow said bumper beam  121  to extend therethrough, said bumper brackets  122 ,  124  having bumperette portions  122   a,    124   a  extending longitudinally beyond said rear bumper beam  121 , said bumper brackets  122 ,  124  spaced transversely along the rear bumper beam  121  and connected thereto, said bumper brackets  122 ,  124  being designed to secure said trailer hitch and bumper assembly to said vehicle frame;    a wiring receiver  168  extending longitudinally through said secondary aperture  162 ; and    a tow hitch  128  secured to said bumper beam  121  overlying said primary aperture  160 .    
   
   
       9 . A trailer hitch and bumper assembly for attachment to a vehicle frame, the assembly absorbing collision energy and distributing the collision energy to the frame comprising: 
 a transversely extending bumper  120  having a bumper beam  121 , said bumper beam  121  defining a centrally disposed primary aperture  160  extending longitudinally through said bumper beam  121 , and a secondary aperture  162  extending longitudinally through said bumper beam  121 ;    a pair of bumper brackets  122 ,  124  defining an aperture  164  extending therethrough to receive said rear bumper beam  121  and allow said bumper beam  121  to extend therethrough, said bumper brackets  122 ,  124  having bumperette portions  122   a,    124   a  extending longitudinally beyond said rear bumper beam  121 , said bumper brackets  122 ,  124  spaced transversely along said rear bumper beam  121  and connected thereto, said bumper brackets  122 ,  124  being designed to secure said trailer hitch and bumper assembly to said vehicle frame;    a wiring receiver  168  extending longitudinally through said secondary aperture  162 ; and    a tow hitch  128  secured to said bumper beam  121  and a hitch receiver  130  overlying said primary aperture  160 , whereby said hitch receiver  130  and said bumperette portions  122   a,    124   a  define three contact points with an object in a rear collision.    
   
   
       10 . An integral, unitary, and one-piece rear bumper fascia for attachment to a vehicle and designed to conceal a trailer hitch and bumper assembly comprising: 
 a rear wall  304  extending transversely;    two opposed side walls  306  extending longitudinally from the rear wall  304  and spaced transversely from each other;    a bottom wall  308  extending generally perpendicularly from the rear wall  304  and side walls  306 ;    a recess  310  extending longitudinally and transversely in the rear wall  304 , the recess  310  is generally rectangular in shape;    a forward flange  316  extending transversely from the end of each of the side walls  306  defining a plurality of apertures  318  extending therethrough and spaced vertically therealong to attach the fascia to the vehicle; and    the rear wall  304  and bottom wall  308  defining an opening  320  to provide access to a tow hitch and a wiring receiver extending through said assembly.    
   
   
       11 . The fascia of  claim 10 , further comprising a door to close the opening  320 .  
   
   
       12 . The fascia of  claim 11 , further comprising a plurality of tabs  330  on the door and a plurality of apertures  332  in the fascia corresponding to and receiving said tabs  330  to removably secure the door to the fascia.  
   
   
       13 . The fascia of  claim 10 , said vehicle achieving a high ramp angle ground clearance, wherein a bottom face  136  of a hitch receiver  130  is positioned above said bottom wall  308  when said fascia is installed in said vehicle.  
   
   
       14 . The fascia of  claim 11 , said bottom wall  308  defining apertures to receive fasteners that secure said door to said fascia.