US Patent Issued to TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, TOYOTA JIDOSHA on June 23 for "Adjustable tow hook assemblies and vehicles including same" (Michigan Inventors)

ALEXANDRIA, Va., July 15 -- United States Patent no. 12,661,942, issued on June 23, was assigned to TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA INC. (Plano, Texas) and TOYOTA JIDOSHA K.K. (Toyota, Japan).

"Adjustable tow hook assemblies and vehicles including same" was invented by Ryan C. Harris (Saline, Mich.) and Scott L Frederick (Brighton, Mich.).

According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A vehicle including a cross member and a tow hook assembly. The tow hook assembly is coupled to the cross member and includes a housing, a tow hook, and a shear pin. The housing includes an arcuate interior. The tow hook is moveable between an extended position and a retracted position. The tow hook includ...