Toyota was granted a patent for a safer movable vehicle tow hook.

{
  "signal_id": "167f1fb8-5d6c-5435-ae7f-cf459325eaec",
  "signal_type": "patents-company",
  "signal_subtype": "patentGrant",
  "detected_at": "2026-09-30T16:52:22+00:00",
  "company": {
    "name": "Toyota",
    "domain": "toyota.com"
  },
  "data": {
    "cpc": [
      {
        "code": "B60D 1/243"
      },
      {
        "code": "B60D 1/04"
      },
      {
        "code": "B60R 16/03",
        "label": "Vehicles, vehicle fittings or parts not otherwise provided for"
      }
    ],
    "tags": [
      "Intellectual Property",
      "Research & Development",
      "Automotive",
      "Safety"
    ],
    "detail": "In September 2026 Toyota patented a solenoid-controlled tow-hook assembly for vehicles, designed to absorb impacts during towing or collisions.",
    "summary": "Toyota was granted a patent for a safer movable vehicle tow hook.",
    "event_at": "2026-09-29",
    "inventors": [
      {
        "name": "Joseph C. Taylor",
        "status": "unresolved",
        "is_primary": true
      },
      {
        "name": "Aaron R. Steinhilb",
        "status": "resolved",
        "is_primary": false,
        "linkedin_url": "https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-steinhilb-755612143"
      },
      {
        "name": "Phouvadol P. Khouphongsy",
        "status": "unresolved",
        "is_primary": false
      },
      {
        "name": "Troy N. Grantham",
        "status": "resolved",
        "is_primary": false,
        "linkedin_url": "https://www.linkedin.com/in/troy-grantham-45b5b2100"
      },
      {
        "name": "Haley L. Grantham",
        "status": "resolved",
        "is_primary": false,
        "linkedin_url": "https://www.linkedin.com/in/haley-antoine"
      }
    ],
    "event_kind": "grant_date",
    "grant_date": "2026-09-29",
    "source_url": "https://patents.google.com/patent/US12746789",
    "cpc_primary": {
      "code": "B60D 1/243"
    },
    "patent_title": "Movable tow hook assemblies and vehicles including same providing solenoid-controlled impact absorption",
    "patent_number": "US12746789",
    "uspto_assignee": "TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.",
    "patent_abstract": "A tow hook assembly includes a housing and a tow hook. The housing includes one or more side walls, a rear wall, a front wall, an aperture formed in the front wall, and a housing coil encircling the one or more side walls. The tow hook is slidably movable through the aperture of the housing between an extended position and a retracted position. The tow hook includes a tow hook coil encircling an outer surface of the tow hook. The housing coil and the tow hook coil are configured to receive current and cooperate to provide an energy absorption effect inhibiting the tow hook from contacting the rear wall of the housing during movement from the extended position to the retracted position.",
    "precision_class": "structural",
    "invention_explanation": "A tow hook slides in and out of a housing, while electrically controlled coils help cushion sudden loads and reduce impact forces.",
    "technologies_mentioned": [
      "vehicle towing systems",
      "solenoids",
      "impact absorption"
    ]
  }
}

curl https://signals.autobound.ai/v1/signals/167f1fb8-5d6c-5435-ae7f-cf459325eaec \
  -H "X-API-KEY: $AUTOBOUND_API_KEY"

curl -X POST https://signals.autobound.ai/v1/companies/enrich \
  -H "X-API-KEY: $AUTOBOUND_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"domain":"toyota.com","limit":20}'