MXPA99005228A - Integrated assembly of defense with engan - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a bumper or bumper assembly for attaching it to a vehicle, characterized in that it comprises: a defense, a hook receptacle that distributes the weight, a first arm attached to the hook receptacle and oriented transversely to the receptacle of the vehicle. hook, the first arm extends from the hook receptacle to a first end adjacent to a first corner of the defense assembly, a second arm attached to the hook receptacle and oriented transversely to the hook receptacle, the second arm extends from the receptacle hook to a second end adjacent to a second corner of the fender assembly, a first outer beam attached to the first arm at the first end of the first arm, the first exterior beam is adapted to join and support the fender, a second outer beam attached to the second arm at the second end of the second arm, the second outer beam is adapted for a go and support the defense, and a pair of support brackets, each of the support brackets is attached to the arm between the hook receptacle and the ends of the arm, the support brackets are adapted to fix the defense assembly to the vehicle.

Description

INTEGRATED MOUNTING OF DEFENSE WITH HITCH BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to fenders or bumpers of automotive type, and in particular to a combination of tow hook and fender assembly. Automotive type tow hooks come in a variety of different classifications and styles and can be used in a wide variety of different vehicles, including but not limited to cars, trucks, vans or covered vans, off-road vehicles and others . In general, the different classifications refer to the load carrying capacity of the hook. For purposes herein, the styles of tow hooks can be divided into two broad categories: (1) hooks that distribute the weight, and (2) hooks that carry weight. These two types of hooks are discussed further in the Society of Automotive Engineers ("SAE") or J684, revised March 21, 1994. The weight-distributing hooks are designed to distribute the weight of the trailer on the vehicle that tow by means of leverage applied between both, the trailer and the towing vehicle. The hooks that distribute the weight can pull a greater trailer weight and support a weight REF .: 30220 vertical greater compared to the hooks that carry weight. In the past, hooks that distribute weight have always required a square tubular receptacle to attach the hook to the vehicle. An example of one of these square tubular receptacles is described in Figure 2 of U.S. Patent No. 5,628,536, issued to Fulkenson. The tubular receptacle 20 in Figure 2 is part of a separate weight distribution hook assembly 12. The hook assembly 12 is a separate component of the bumper or fender 14 and is mounted below the fender 14. The receptacle 20 is capable of receiving a hook that is either weight-distributing or weight-carrying. In the past, hook assemblies to support a weight distribution hook have typically been separated from the fender. The additional load carrying capacity of the weight distribution hook has always required structural support beyond that traditionally incorporated in a fender, and therefore a separate hook mounting of the fender is required. The hooks that carry weight, on the other hand, which carry smaller loads compared to the hooks of weight distribution, have been made in the past integrated in the defense. A person who wishes to pull a relatively heavy trailer, or a person who wishes to pull a trailer which otherwise requires a mounting for a weight-distributing hook, has always been obliged in the past to pay an additional financial expense and punishment in as to weight of a separate hook assembly. It is readily apparent how desirable it is to avoid this additional expense and punishment in terms of weight. Automakers typically require that the fenders used in their vehicles meet certain minimum structural requirements. Among these requirements are a specific degree of impact resistance at the corners of the defense and elsewhere. The corners of the fenders are also typically required to meet vertical deflection criteria. In other words, for a given weight placed in the corner of the defense, the defense is required to flex vertically no more than an established amount. The defense itself is typically not strong enough to provide the required resistance to impacts on its own. Instead, structural members such as arms below the fender (ie, between the fender and the vehicle) are often provided which provide additional structural resistance to impacts. However, in the past these structural members have not always extended throughout the defense, and therefore leave portions of the defense without structural reinforcement to withstand impacts.

In addition to structural requirements, automobile manufacturers typically also require certain aesthetic standards for the defenses they use on their vehicles. A defense that does not have a visually pleasing exterior, for example one where nuts and bolts are visible, is less desirable. Due to manufacturing imperfections in both vehicles and fenders, accurate alignment of the defense with the vehicle is often not possible. The construction of the fender may not allow it to be placed vertically on the vehicle in the correct position, aligned with the sides of the vehicle or to fit tightly against the vehicle the entire length. An example of an integrated attachment mount is described in U.S. Patent No. 4,738,464 issued to Putnam. The combined mount of trailer towing hitch defense described in Putnam suffers from several of the disadvantages discussed above. Combined mounting with trailer receiver hitch does not include any internal structure at the corners of the mount to provide impact resistance at the corners or a vertical corner support. The bolts that fix the defense to the assembly are visible and aesthetically undesirable (see Figure 4). Additionally, the receiver 11 is not concealed and presents a visual appearance of being completely separated from the defense. In addition, Putnam does not describe any method or structure for adjusting the alignment of the defense with respect to the vehicle when it joins the vehicle. Therefore it can be seen that there is a desire for an integrated hook and defense assembly that solves these problems and that satisfies the above criteria.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION • A bumper or fender mount of the present invention solves the problems identified above and satisfies the requirements identified in the foregoing. A latching defense assembly in accordance with the present invention includes a fender and a weight-distributing hook. The first and second arms extend from the hook receptacle outward from the corners of the hook and fender assembly. Attached to each arm at each corner of the defense mount with hitch is an outer cross member that attaches to and supports the defense. A pair of fastening brackets are attached to the arms between the hook receptacle and the ends of the arms. According to another aspect of the present invention, a latching defense assembly is provided which includes a fender that extends in a longitudinal direction. A hook receptacle is provided for receiving a weight distribution hook. The hook-and-fender assembly further includes three adjustment mechanisms to adjustably attach the fender to the vehicle. The adjustments allow the attachment mount to be adjusted in three directions, vertically, parallel to the direction of movement of the vehicle (forward and backward) and transversely to the direction of movement of the vehicle. According to a further aspect of the present invention, is a defense assembly provided with a coupling? 10 including a fender, a longitudinal member extending between the corners of the assembly and a tubular hook receptacle adapted to support and receive a weight-distributing hook. Upper and lower center plates are attached to the longitudinal arm and the hook receptacle. HE secure at least two mounting plates to the member? longitudinal and are used to join at least two support brackets to the assembly. The support brackets are adapted to ensure the defense assembly with attachment to the vehicle.

An inner and outer crossbar is joined to the longitudinal member and the defense. The hooked-up fender assembly of the present invention solves the need for a separate hook assembly when heavy loads are pulled, or when a hook of weight distribution is required in some other manner, integrate the defense and the hook receptacle into a single entity. The integration of the hook receptacle and the defense in a single assembly in accordance with the present invention solves the need, which includes the associated costs, of adding a separate hook receptacle to the vehicle. The integration of the mounted hook and the fender in a single assembly also results in a reduction in the weight and structure of the assembly when compared to the detached fender assemblies of the prior art. The hook-and-fender assembly includes a longitudinal arm that extends substantially the entire length of the fender to provide an internal structural reinforcement along substantially the entire length of the fender, including the corners. The hook and fender assembly of the present invention provides as much resistance to vehicular impacts as defense of the past, including resistance against straight collisions and corner collisions at 30 °. The hook and shield assembly is also visually pleasing to the extent that the fasteners and the internal structure of the hook are hidden from view. The hook and fender assembly of the present invention also solves the problem of precise alignment with the vehicle due to manufacturing imperfections. The hook and fender assembly of the present invention can alternatively, if desired, withstand a weight carrying hook. These and other advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent to a person familiar with the art, in light of the following specification when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a perspective, partial rear view of an integrated hook-up mounting assembly, in accordance with an aspect of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective, partial and exploded rear view of the latching defense assembly of Fig. 1; Figure 3 is an exploded, partial and rear perspective view of the hook assembly of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a partial, rear perspective view of the hook assembly of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a plan view of the underside of an extension of the latching fender assembly of Figure 1; Figure 6 is a sectional view of the extension taken along the line VI-VI in Figure 5; Fig. 7 is an elevation view of the extension of the latching fender assembly of Fig. 1; Figure 8 is a plan view of an outer cross member of the latching defense assembly of Figure 1; Figure 9 is an elevation view of the outer cross member of Figure 8; Fig. 10 is an elevation view of a lower central plate of the latching defense assembly of Fig. 1; Figure 11 is a plan view of the lower central plate of Figure 10; Figure 12 is an elevational view of a support bracket of the latching defense assembly of Figure i; and Figure 13 is a plan view of the support bracket of Figure 12.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITIES The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which similar reference numerals correspond to similar elements in the various drawings. A built-in hook-and-fender bumper assembly 20 is shown in the partial views in Figures 1 and 2 according to one embodiment of the present invention. For convenience of illustration, only about half of the hook and fender assembly is illustrated under the understanding that the hooked-up fender assembly is symmetrical about a central hook receptacle 42. The integrated hook-and-fender assembly 20 is adapted to function both as a fender and at the same time provide a hook-weight distribution assembly. The hook or mount receptacle 42 of the latch mount 20 can also support a weight carrying hook, if so desired. The latching mount 20 includes a front side 24 facing the vehicle (not shown) to which a latching mount is mounted. A rear side 26 is oriented away from the vehicle and is visible to the motor vehicles moving behind the vehicle. The latching mount 20 further includes an upper portion 28 and a lower portion 30. The latching defense assembly 20 includes a fender assembly 32 and a hook assembly 34 (Fig. 2). The hook assembly 34 is mounted to the vehicle by means of a pair of fastening supports 36 (only one shown) extending below the vehicle. The clamping supports are attached to a longitudinal member of the arm 38 that extends transversely to the clamping supports 36 from a first corner 40 to a second corner (not shown) of the latching mount 20. A tubular hook receptacle 42 is mounted on the arm 38 generally in its central middle part between the corners of the latching mount 20. The hook receptacle 42 defines a rectangular opening that extends in a direction parallel to the direction of movement of the vehicle (and transverse to the arm 38). The hook receptacle 42 is designed to receive a standard hook bar for a weight distribution hook. Alternatively, a hook carrying weight may be inserted into the receptacle 42, if desired. The hook receptacle 42 includes a transverse opening 4.4 through which a bolt (not shown) is inserted to secure the hook bar to the hook receptacle 42. The defense assembly 32 (see Figure 2) includes a fender 46, a top cover 48 and a hook cover 50. The upper cover 48 is designed to be placed by pressure on the upper portion 28 of the fender 46. The pressure adjustment is obtained by a series of projections extending downwardly from the upper cover 48 (not shown) that adjust by pressure in a series of corresponding openings in the upper part of the defense 46 (not shown). The pressure adjustment of the upper cover 48 allows the upper cover 48 to be secured to the fender 46 without any externally visible fasteners. The fender 46 is a single piece extending from corner to corner of the vehicle. At its center, the defense 46 defines a plate area 52 or license to join a plate. The hook cover 50 is preferably made of a durable plastic material strong enough to withstand frictional wear and standing. The hook cover 50 includes an upper wall 54, a vertical rear wall 56 and a lower wall 58. The vertical back wall 56 defines a square opening 60 corresponding in size to the hook receptacle 42. The hook receptacle 42 is positioned within the square opening 60 of the hook cover 50 when assembled (FIG. 1) . The upper wall 54 extends from the vertical wall 56 to the fender 46 and is shaped to make firm contact against the fender 46 along its entire length. The lower wall 58 extends only a small fraction of the entire vertical wall 56 towards the fender 46. The extension of the lower wall 58 towards the fender 46 is sufficient to provide a visually acceptable concealment of a central region 62 of the assembly 34. hooked and still small enough to allow a user to reach the lower hook cover 50 and have access to the transverse opening 44 in the hook receptacle 42 to secure a hook bar in the hook receptacle 42. The hook cover 50 is secured to the fender 46 by four projections or contact pins (not shown) which press fit into the receiving holes 64 (only 2 are shown) in the fender 46 (see figure 2) . In this way, the hook cover 50 is secured without any externally visible fasteners. The hook cover 50 hides from the normal view the entire hook receptacle 42 except for its interior into which a hook bar can be inserted. The hook cover 50 also conceals from the normal view the central region 62 of the hook assembly 34. In this way, the hook cover 50 provides an aesthetically pleasing appearance to the latching mount 20. The central region 62 of the hook assembly 34 (figures 3 and 4) includes a top central plate 66 placed above and on top of the hook receptacle 42, • and a longitudinal member or arm 38. The upper central plate 66 serves both to secure the hook receptacle 42 to the arm 38, which comprises a pair of bars 68 positioned on both sides of the receptacle 42, as well as to provide structural support Sufficient to the hook cover 50 to allow a person to remain standing on the hook cover 50. The upper central plate 66 further defines a pair of holes 70 (see Figures 2 to 4, only one is shown) through which a bolt can be inserted into a corresponding hole in the underside of the fender 46. From this In this manner, the defense 46 is secured to the upper central plate 66 in a manner not visible to an observer. The upper central plate 66 further includes a pair of raised protuberances 72 (only one is shown) that are placed above each of the joints of the bars 68 inside the hook receptacle 42. The protuberances 72 provide space for any irregular welding between the hook receptacle 42 and the rods 68. The central region 62 of the hook assembly 34 further includes a lower center plate 74 (Figures 3, 4, 10 and 11) 5 and is positioned below the hook receptacle 42. The lower central plate 74 extends from a bar 68 to the opposite bar 68 through the lower part of the hook receptacle 42. The lower central plate 74 includes a lower central portion 76 that accommodates the height disparity r10 between the hook receptacle 42 and the rods 68. The lowered or lowered central portion 76 makes contact and is welded to the underside of the receptacle 42 of hook. A pair of raised ends 78 of the lower central plate 74 contact and are welded to the bars 68. The lower central plate 74 defines furthermore a pair of holes 80 (see Figures 2 to 4 and 11)? for joining one or more safety chains between the vehicle and anything that is towed by the vehicle. The longitudinal member or the arm 38 comprises bars 68 and a fixed extension 82 at the outer ends of the bars 68 (see figures 1 to 7). The bars 68 are square hollow bars that include a straight portion 84 and a portion 86 inclined upwards. The portion 84 is mounted on its end to the hook receptacle 42. The inclined portions 86 are mounted at their ends to the extensions 82.

The extensions 82 include a pair of side walls 88a and b that are joined by an upper wall 90 (see Figures 5 and 6). The side walls 88a and b extend along substantially the entire length of the extension 82, except for the rear corner portion 92. The rear corner portion 92 is shaped to conform to the corner of the vehicle. The extension 82 also includes a sloping section 94 and a straight section 96. The inclined section 94 is attached to the inclined portion 86 of the bars 68. The upper wall 90 and the side walls 88a and b are dimensioned to fit over the bar 68. The extensions 82 extend towards the corners of the vehicle and provide sufficient strength to impact in the corner to meet the standards of most car manufacturers. Attached to each extension 82 in its rear corner portion is an exterior vertical cross member 98 (see Figures 2 to 4, 8 and 9). The outer cross members 98 include lower ends 100 which are welded to extensions 82. The outer cross members 98 provide support for the defense 46 at their corners. The outer cross members 98 further include planar upper sections 102 defining an opening 104 through which a bolt is inserted to secure the bumper 46 to the outer cross members 98. The securing bolt of the cross members 98 outside the defense 46 are hidden from view by the placement of a top cover 48 on the fender 46, as described above. The outer crosspieces 98 in the current mode provide sufficient vertical support to the fender 46 to limit the vertical deflection of the fender 46 at its corners to 15 millimeters when a weight of 91 kg (200 pounds) is applied at the corners. A mounting plate 106 is attached to the bars 68 adjacent the junction of the extensions 82 and the bars 68 (see FIGS. 2 to 4). Each of the mounting plates 106 includes a square opening 107 sized to receive bars 68 (see Figure 3). The mounting plates 106 define three elongated vertical slots 108 through which pins are inserted for attachment to the holding supports 36. The elongated slots 108 extend horizontally in a direction parallel to the direction of movement of the vehicle (i.e., a forward and backward direction). The elongated slots 108 allow the hook-and-fender assembly 20 to be attached to the vehicle with a plurality of different spacings between the vehicle and the hook-and-fender assembly. After the bolt is inserted into the elongated slot, the hook-and-fender assembly is moved to make airtight contact against the vehicle the entire length. When the bolt is tightened, so the hook and fender assembly is fixed in the desired vicinity with precision to the vehicle. The holding brackets 36 include a flat upper wall 110 and a side wall 112 extending perpendicularly downward from one side of the upper wall 110 (figures 1, 2, 12 and 13). The upper wall 110 defines a plurality of elongated slots 114 side by side through which bolts are inserted to join the support brackets to the vehicle. The elongation of the slots 114 allows the side-to-side position of the defense assembly 20 to be adjusted with respect to the vehicle. In other words, if a corner of the latching mount 20 extends slightly past the corner of the vehicle due to a manufacturing imperfection, this can be compensated by moving the latch assembly 20 in a side-to-side direction. Subsequently, the bolts in the elongate slots 114 can be tightened to secure the fender assembly 20 with engagement with the proper alignment of the sides of the vehicle. The side walls 112 of the clamping supports 36 define a plurality of vertically elongated slots 116. through which the bolts are inserted to attach the holding brackets 36 to the mounting plates 106 (see Figure 12). Vertically elongated slots 116 allow the latching defense assembly 20 to be attached to the vehicle at a plurality of different heights. The height of the defense assembly 20 with engagement in this manner can be adjusted to be placed on the vehicle as precisely as desired. The vertically elongated slots allow for height adjustment in the same manner as the elongated slots 114 side by side and the horizontal elongated slots 108 (front and rear). The bolts are inserted through the slots 116 and the height of the latching mount 20 in this manner is adjusted as desired. Subsequently the bolts are tightened to fix the defense assembly with hook on the vehicle at the appropriate height. An inner cross member 118 attached to each mounting plate 106 (see Figures 2 to 4). The inner cross member 118 includes a flat upper section 120 defining an opening 122 through which a bolt is inserted to attach a bumper 46 to the inside cross member 118. The bolt inserted through the opening 122 is hidden by the upper cover 48. An L-shaped anchor plate 124 is attached to the holding brackets 36 on a side facing the corners of the hook-up defense assembly (see Figure 2). The anchor plates 124 are fixed to the holding brackets 36 by the same bolts that pass through vertically elongated grooves 116 in the holding brackets 36. These bolts pass through three non-elongated openings 126 in the anchor plate 124 which corresponds in position to the elongated slots 116. The anchor plate 124 serves to better fix the holding brackets 36 to the mounting plate 106. All the materials of the defense mount 20 with hook are made of steel, or other suitable resistant material, except the upper cover 48 and the hook cover 50 in the current mode. The upper cover 48 and the hook cover 50 can be made of a plastic or a rubber-like material or any other suitable material. All parts of the latching guard assembly 20 are welded together unless otherwise indicated. Various modifications can be made to the described embodiment without departing from the invention. As an example, the arm 38 may alternatively be a one-piece structure that is placed behind, above or below the hook receptacle 42. Although the present invention has been described in terms of the preferred embodiments shown in the drawings and discussed in the above specification, it will be understood by those familiar with the art that the present invention is not limited to these particular preferred embodiments, but includes any and all such modifications that are within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims. It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known to the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is the conventional one for the manufacture of the objects or products to which it refers.

Claims (29)

CLAIMS Having described the invention as above, the content of the following claims is claimed as property

1. A bumper or fender assembly with attachment for attaching it to a vehicle, characterized in that it comprises: a defense; a hook receptacle that distributes the weight; a first arm attached to the hook receptacle and oriented transversely to the hook receptacle, the first arm extends from the hook receptacle to a first end adjacent to a first corner of the shield assembly; a second arm attached to the hook receptacle and oriented transversely to the hook receptacle, the second arm extends from the hook receptacle to a second end adjacent a second corner of the shield assembly; a first outer cross member attached to the first arm at the first end of the first arm, the first outer cross member is adapted to join and support the defense; a second outer cross member attached to the second arm at the second end of the second arm, the second outer cross member is adapted to join and support the defense; and a pair of fastening brackets, each of the fastening brackets is attached to the arm between the hook receptacle and the arm ends, the fastening brackets are adapted to fix the fender assembly to the vehicle.

2. The defense assembly with hook, according to claim 1, characterized in that each of the clamping supports defines at least one elongated slot side by side through which a fastener is inserted to fix the supports to the vehicle, each of the elongated slots side by side is elongated in a direction parallel to the extension of the first and second arms.

3. The defense assembly with coupling, according to claim 1, characterized in that each of the clamping supports defines at least one vertically elongated slot * through which a fastener is inserted to fix the supports to the first and second arms.

4. The defense assembly with coupling, according to claim 1, characterized in that it also includes a first mounting plate joined the first arm and one of the support brackets, the first mounting plate defines at least one elongated slot towards Forward and backward, through which a fastener is inserted to fix the first mounting plate to the support bracket, the elongated slot forwards and backwards is elongated in a direction parallel to the direction of movement of the vehicle.

5. The hook mounting assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that it includes a hook cover adapted to hide from view the entire hook receptacle except for an inner portion of the hook receptacle which receives a bar hook.

6. The coupling defense assembly, according to claim 5, characterized in that it also includes a central upper plate attached to the hook receptacle and each of the arms, and a lower central plate attached to the hook receptacle and each of the arms .

7. Attachment assembly with hook, in accordance with claim 6, characterized in that the hook cover is attached to the upper central plate and the lower central plate.

8. The hook-up defense assembly according to claim 7, characterized in that the hook cover is joined to the upper central plate and the lower central plate by fasteners that are hidden from view by the hook cover.

9. The assembly of defense with coupling, according to claim 1, characterized in that the defense is joined to the first and second outer cross members by a fastener hidden from the view by the defense.

The defense assembly with hook, according to claim 1, characterized in that the first and second arms each comprise a bar and an extension attached to the bar, the bar is attached to the hook receptacle and the extension is attached to the bar at an opposite end of the hook receptacle.

11. A defense assembly with hook, for attachment to the rear end of a vehicle, characterized in that it comprises: - a defense that extends in a longitudinal direction transverse to the direction of movement of the vehicle; a hook receptacle adapted to receive a hook bar that distributes the weight; a height adjustment mechanism adapted to allow the hook receptacle to be attached to the rear end of the vehicle at a plurality of different heights; a forward and backward adjustment mechanism, adapted to allow the hook receptacle to be attached to the vehicle in a plurality of different positions extending toward and away from the rear end of the vehicle; and a side-by-side adjustment mechanism adapted to allow the hook receptacle to be attached to the vehicle in a plurality of different positions extending in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the fender.

12. The hook-up defense assembly according to claim 11, characterized in that the hook receptacle is interposed between a pair of longitudinally extending arms.

The latching defense assembly, according to claim 12, characterized in that the pair of longitudinally extending arms extend from a first corner of the fender to a second corner of the fender.

14. The defense assembly with hook, according to claim 12, characterized in that it further includes a central upper plate attached to, and extending through the hook receptacle, and a pair of longitudinally extending arms.

The fastening defense assembly, according to claim 14, characterized in that it further includes a hook cover attached to the upper central plate, the hook cover is adapted to conceal the upper central plate and the entire hook receptacle of sight, except for an inner portion which receives a hook bar.

16. The coupling defense assembly, according to claim 14, characterized in that the hook cover is made of plastic.

17. The hooked-up defense assembly according to claim 16, characterized in that it includes a lower central plate attached to and extending below the hook receptacle and a pair of longitudinally extending arms.

18. The hook-up defense assembly according to claim 11, characterized in that the height adjustment mechanism comprises vertically defined elongated slots in at least one support bracket adapted to mount the defense assembly with attachment to the vehicle.

19. The hook-up defense assembly according to claim 18, characterized in that the forward and backward adjustment mechanism comprises elongated slots defined in a mounting plate adapted to be attached to the holding support, the elongated slot is elongated in a direction parallel to the direction of movement of the vehicle.

20. The coupling defense assembly, according to claim 19, characterized in that the side-to-side adjustment mechanism comprises grooves defined in at least one holding bracket, the elongated grooves elongate in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the bracket. vehicle.

21. A latching defense assembly, for a vehicle extending through the rear end of the vehicle from a rear corner of the vehicle to another rear corner of the vehicle, characterized in that it comprises: a fender; a longitudinal member extending from one of the corners to the other of the corners; a tubular hook receptacle adapted to receive a weight distribution hook, the tubular hook receptacle is oriented perpendicularly to the longitudinal member and positioned midway between the corners; an upper central plate mounted on the upper part of the tubular hook receptacle and joined to the longitudinal member; a lower central plate mounted below the tubular joining receptacle and joined to the longitudinal member; at least two separate mounting plates attached to the longitudinal member; a fastening bracket attached to each mounting plate, the fastening bracket is adapted to be attached to the vehicle; an inner crosspiece attached to the mounting plate and to the defense; and an outer cross member attached to the longitudinal member and to the defense at each of the corners of the vehicle.

22. The hook-up defense assembly according to claim 21, characterized in that it also includes a concealed hook cover for the sight of the upper central plate as the lower central plate.

The fastening fender assembly, according to claim 21, characterized in that the fender assembly is adapted to be adjustably attached to the vehicle in a vertical direction, a horizontal direction parallel to the longitudinal member, and a horizontal direction transverse to the longitudinal member .

24. A latching defense assembly for a vehicle, characterized in that it comprises: a longitudinally extending fender having a first and second corners; a hook receptacle that distributes weight placed between the first and second corner of the defense; a longitudinally extending arm positioned between the fender and the vehicle, the longitudinally extending arm is oriented parallel to the fender, the longitudinally extending arm is sized to extend the entire length of the first corner of the fender and the second corner of the fender so that the longitudinally extending arm provides impact resistance along substantially the entire length of the fender.

25. The coupling defense assembly, according to claim 24, characterized in that it also includes a first and second outer cross-members, the first outer cross-member is connected to a longitudinally extending arm and the defense at the first corner, the second The outer crossbar joins the arms extending longitudinally and the defense at the second corner.

26. The attachment assembly with hook, according to claim 25, characterized in that the defense has an upper and a lower side, and the first and second outer cross members are joined to the upper side of the defense.

27. The hook-up fender assembly according to claim 26, characterized in that it further includes a top and bottom center plate, the top center plate is attached to the upper part of the longitudinally extending arm and the hook receptacle that distributes weight.

28. The latching defense assembly, according to claim 27, characterized in that the lower central plate defines a pair of openings for attaching a chain to the lower central plate.

29. The hook-up defense assembly according to claim 28, characterized in that the longitudinally extending arm comprises a pair of bars and a pair of extensions.