Selectively detachable fender brace system
View Patent ↗A selectively detachable fender brace system includes a structural fender assembly comprising an outer fender panel comprising an outer upper attachment flange having a brace bore disposed therein and an inner fender panel comprising an inner upper attachment flange having a first blind slot extending inwardly toward an engine compartment and rearwardly to a first slot opening, the inner fender panel attached to the outer fender panel with the inner upper attachment flange disposed below the outer upper attachment flange and brace bore proximate the first blind slot; a brace comprising a fender end having a fender bore extending therethrough and an opposed wall end that is detachably attached to a cross-vehicle wall of the engine compartment; and a threaded fastener that is disposed through the brace bore, first blind slot and fender bore configured to apply a predetermined clamping force and forming a selectively detachable fender attachment joint.
1. A selectively detachable fender brace system, comprising:
a structural fender assembly comprising an inner fender panel and an outer fender panel comprising an outer surface that is a viewable surface of a vehicle, the outer fender panel having an outer upper attachment flange, the outer upper attachment flange having a brace bore disposed therein, the inner fender panel having an inner upper attachment flange, the inner upper attachment flange having a first blind slot, the first blind slot extending rearwardly to a first slot opening, the inner fender panel attached to the outer fender panel with the inner upper attachment flange disposed below the outer upper attachment flange and the brace bore disposed proximate the first blind slot;
a brace comprising a fender end having a fender bore extending therethrough and an opposed wall end that is detachably attached to a cross-vehicle wall of an engine compartment; and
a fastener that is disposed through the brace bore, first blind slot and fender bore and configured to apply a predetermined clamping force to them forming a selectively detachable fender attachment joint.
2. The selectively detachable fender brace system of claim 1 , wherein the selectively detachable fender attachment joint may be selectively detached by relative movement of at least one of the fastener and first blind slot to release the fastener from the first slot opening by application of a predetermined impact force on a front portion of the structural fender assembly.
3. The selectively detachable fender brace system of claim 1 , wherein release of the fastener from the first slot opening enables the fender assembly to deform outwardly away from the engine compartment.
4. The selectively detachable fender brace system of claim 1 , wherein the wall end of the brace has a wall bore extending therethrough and is detachably attached to the cross-vehicle wall by a wall fastener.
5. The selectively detachable fender brace system of claim 1 , wherein the brace comprises a hollow metal tube, the fender end and the wall end comprising respective flattened ends of the tube.
6. The selectively detachable fender brace system of claim 5 , wherein a first threaded nut is attached to a surface of the flattened wall end away from the inner fender panel and a second threaded nut is attached to a surface of the flattened fender end away from the cross-vehicle wall, and wherein the fastener and wall fastener comprise threaded fasteners.
7. The selectively detachable fender brace system of claim 1 , further comprising a brace bracket attached to the inner fender panel, the brace bracket comprising a fender flange that abuts the inner upper attachment flange of the inner fender panel, the fender flange having a second blind slot that extends rearwardly to a second slot opening, wherein the fastener is disposed through the brace bore, first blind slot, second blind slot and fender bore and configured to apply a predetermined clamping force to them forming the selectively detachable fender attachment joint.
8. The selectively detachable fender brace system of claim 7 , wherein the wall end of the brace has a wall bore extending therethrough and is detachably attached to the cross-vehicle wall by a wall fastener.
9. The selectively detachable fender brace system of claim 7 , wherein the brace comprises a hollow metal tube, the fender end and the wall end comprising respective flattened ends of the tube.
10. The selectively detachable fender brace system of claim 9 , wherein a first threaded nut is attached to a surface of the flattened wall end away from the inner fender panel and a second threaded nut is attached to a surface of the flattened fender end away from the cross-vehicle wall, and wherein the fastener and wall fastener comprise threaded fasteners.
11. A vehicle comprising a selectively detachable fender brace system, comprising:
a structural fender assembly comprising an inner fender panel and an outer fender panel comprising an outer surface that is a viewable surface of the vehicle, the outer fender panel having an outer upper attachment flange, the outer upper attachment flange having a brace bore disposed therein, the inner fender panel having an inner upper attachment flange, the inner upper attachment flange having a first blind slot, the first blind slot extending rearwardly to a first slot opening, the inner fender panel attached to the outer fender panel with the inner upper attachment flange disposed below the outer upper attachment flange and the brace disposed proximate the first blind slot;
a brace comprising a fender end having a fender bore extending therethrough and an opposed wall end that is detachably attached to a cross-vehicle wall of an engine compartment;
a fastener that is disposed through the brace bore, first blind brace slot and fender bore and configured to apply a predetermined clamping force to them forming a selectively detachable fender attachment joint;
a second structural fender assembly disposed opposite the engine compartment from the first fender assembly, the second structural fender assembly comprising a second inner fender panel and a second outer fender panel comprising a second outer surface that is a second viewable surface of the vehicle, the second outer fender panel having a second outer upper attachment flange, the second outer upper attachment flange having a second brace bore disposed therein, the second inner fender panel having a second inner upper attachment flange, the second inner upper attachment flange having a second blind slot, the second blind slot extending rearwardly to a second slot opening, the second inner fender panel attached to the second outer fender panel with the second inner upper attachment flange disposed below the second outer upper attachment flange and the second brace bore disposed proximate the second blind slot;
a second brace comprising a second fender end having a second fender bore extending therethrough and an opposed second wall end that is detachably attached to the cross-vehicle wall of the engine compartment; and
a second fastener that is disposed through the second brace bore, second blind slot and second fender bore and configured to apply a predetermined second clamping force to them forming a selectively detachable second fender attachment joint.
12. The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein at least one of the selectively detachable fender attachment joint or the second fender attachment joint may be selectively detached by relative movement of at least one of the fastener and first blind slot or second fastener and second blind slot to release the fastener from the first slot opening or the second fastener from the second slot opening, respectively, by application of a predetermined impact force on a front portion of the structural fender assembly or a second front portion of the second structural fender assembly, respectively.
13. The selectively detachable fender brace system of claim 12 , wherein release of the fastener from the first slot opening enables the fender assembly to deform outwardly away from an engine compartment and release of the second fastener from the second slot opening enables the second fender assembly to deform outwardly away from the engine compartment.
14. The selectively detachable fender brace system of claim 11 , wherein the wall end of the brace has a wall bore extending therethrough and is detachably attached to the cross-vehicle wall by a wall fastener and the second wall end of the second brace has a second wall bore extending therethrough and is detachably attached to the cross-vehicle wall by a second wall fastener.
15. The selectively detachable fender brace system of claim 14 , wherein the brace comprises a hollow metal tube, the fender end and the wall end comprising respective flattened ends of the tube and the second brace comprises a second hollow metal tube, the second fender end and the second wall end comprising respective second flattened ends of the second tube.
16. The selectively detachable fender brace system of claim 15 , wherein a first threaded nut is attached to a surface of the flattened wall end away from the inner fender panel and a second threaded nut is attached to a surface of the flattened fender end away from the cross-vehicle wall and a third threaded nut is attached to a second surface of the flattened second wall end away from the second inner fender panel and a fourth threaded nut is attached to a surface of the flattened second fender end away from the cross-vehicle wall, and wherein the fastener, second fastener, wall fastener and second wall fastener comprise threaded fasteners.
17. The selectively detachable fender brace system of claim 11 , further comprising: a brace bracket attached to the inner fender panel, the brace bracket comprising a fender flange that abuts the inner upper attachment flange of the inner fender panel, the fender flange having a third blind slot that extends rearwardly to a third slot opening, wherein the fastener is disposed through the brace bore, first blind slot, third blind slot and fender bore and is configured to apply a predetermined clamping force to them forming the selectively detachable fender attachment joint; and
a second brace bracket attached to the second inner fender panel, the second brace bracket comprising a second fender flange that abuts the second inner upper attachment flange of the second inner fender panel, the second fender flange having a fourth blind slot that extends rearwardly to a fourth slot opening, wherein the fastener is disposed through the brace bore, second blind slot, fourth blind slot and fender bore and is configured to apply a predetermined clamping force to them forming the selectively detachable fender attachment joint.
18. The selectively detachable fender brace system of claim 17 , wherein the wall end of the brace has a wall bore extending therethrough and is detachably attached to the cross-vehicle wall by a wall fastener and the second wall end of the second brace has a second wall bore extending therethrough and is detachably attached to the cross-vehicle wall by a second wall fastener.
19. The selectively detachable fender brace system of claim 18 , wherein the brace comprises a hollow metal tube, the fender end and the wall end comprising respective flattened ends of the tube and the second brace comprises a second hollow metal tube, the second fender end and the second wall end comprising respective second flattened ends of the second tube.
20. The selectively detachable fender brace system of claim 19 , wherein a first threaded nut is attached to a surface of the flattened wall end away from the inner fender panel and a second threaded nut is attached to a surface of the flattened fender end away from the cross-vehicle wall and a third threaded nut is attached to a surface of the flattened second wall end away from the second inner fender panel and a fourth threaded nut is attached to a surface of the flattened second fender end away from the cross-vehicle wall, and wherein the fastener, second fastener, wall fastener and second wall fastener comprise threaded fasteners.