Abstract:
A vehicle trim component that has a concealed storage compartment includes a mounting portion and a pair of generally parallel tracks that at least partially define an access opening of the trim component. A flexible lid slidably is disposed between the tracks for movement between a closed position and an open position relative to the access opening. The lid includes a flexible portion and a reinforcement portion coupled to the flexible portion. The flexible portion is configured and arranged to span the access opening when the lid is in the closed position. The reinforcement portion has an array of sliding members and an array of hard, rigid reinforcement inserts. Free ends of each of the reinforcement inserts are located in the tracks. The sliding members are disposed on each of the reinforcement inserts to isolate the reinforcement inserts from contacting the tracks.
Abstract:
A vehicle roof structure is disclosed that includes a front roof rail, a pair of front roof rail braces and a pair of A-pillars. First ends of the front roof rail braces are fixedly coupled to opposite ends of the front roof rail. The pair of A-pillars each has an inner A-pillar panel. Second ends of the front roof rail braces are bonded to a connection area of a respective one of the inner A-pillar panels such that the opposite ends of the front roof rail are spaced inwardly from the inner A-pillar panels by the front roof rail braces. The front roof rail extends perpendicularly from the A-pillars via the front roof rail braces. Further, each of the inner A-pillar panels has a generally constant overall transverse cross sectional shape across the connection areas of the inner A-pillar panels.
Abstract:
A fuel cap for closing a filler neck of a fuel tank for a vehicle includes a cover pivotally supporting a handle for movement between an extended position and a retracted position. The cover encloses an outwardly extending flange portion of a threaded closure body. Ratchet teeth are formed on a wall of the cover opposite from the wall pivotally supporting the handle. The handle operably engages a surface of the flange portion for moving the ratchet teeth toward the opposite surface of the flange portion. The opposite surface of the flange portion includes corresponding ratchet teeth engageable with the ratchet teeth of the cover when the handle is in an extended position. A biasing member urges the intermeshing ratchet teeth toward a disengaged position when the handle is in the retracted position.
Abstract:
A vehicle rear seating arrangement is described that includes a vehicle passenger compartment structure and a seat assembly. The seat assembly includes a seat attachment part, a seat bottom portion with an upper seating surface and a seat extension portion with an extension seating surface. The seat attachment part is fixedly attached to the vehicle passenger compartment structure. The seat extension portion is supported by the seat assembly for movement between a stowed position underneath the seat bottom portion and a seat extending position in which the upper seating surface and the extension seating surface are generally aligned.
Abstract:
A vehicle structure is provided with a vehicle seatbelt restraining apparatus. The vehicle structure includes a lower vehicle portion and an upper vehicle portion. The vehicle seatbelt restraining apparatus includes a lower seatbelt anchor, an upper seatbelt anchor, a seatbelt webbing and a biasing element. The lower seatbelt anchor is pivotally coupled to the lower vehicle portion to move between a passenger securing orientation and a retracted non-use orientation. The upper seatbelt anchor is configured and arranged to be mounted to the upper vehicle portion. The seatbelt webbing has a first end coupled to the lower seatbelt anchor and a second end coupled to the upper seatbelt anchor. The biasing element is operatively coupled to the lower seatbelt anchor to urge the lower seatbelt anchor into the retracted non-use orientation.
Abstract:
An automatic climate control system for a vehicle determines actual sun load and a virtual sun load based on prescribed virtual heat load data and the external air temperature. A controller is configured to compare the actual sun load to the virtual sun load to obtain an optimized sun load value, and to control the system based on this optimized sun load value. A method for automatically controlling the climate includes determining measured sun load, determining external air temperature, comparing the measured sun load to the virtual sun load based on prescribed virtual heat load data and the external air temperature to obtain an optimized sun load value, and controlling the system based on the optimized sun load value. The virtual sun load and/or the measured sun load are used to determine the optimized sun load value depending on lighting conditions.
Abstract:
A vehicle air conditioning system is disclosed that includes a compressor, a condenser, a front evaporator and a rear evaporator. The condenser is operably coupled to the compressor. The front evaporator is operably coupled to the condenser and the rear evaporator is operably coupled to the condenser. A high pressure tube operably couples the condenser to the rear evaporator and a low pressure tube operably couples the rear evaporator to the compressor. At least a portion of the high pressure tube and at least a portion of the low pressure tube are formed as a dual conduit section having side-by-side relationship for heat exchange therebetween.
Abstract:
An aerosol dispensing container or pressurized vessel such as a metallic spray can at least contains a non-flammable aerosol propellant and a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) lubricant mixture (propellant/lubricant mixture). The propellant/lubricant mixture has been formulated such that is non-migrating, i.e., stays where it is applied rather than spreading into surrounding areas. The propellant/lubricant mixture has a wide range of applications and is especially well formulated for automotive applications for which smooth, repeated movement is essential. The low coefficient of friction characteristic of the propellant/lubricant mixture translates to superior effectiveness. By providing this propellant/lubricant mixture in the pressurized vessel, the PTFE lubricant of the present invention can be applied in places that conventional liquid lubricants could not reach. For example in small spaces between plastic, rubber, or metal parts that cause unwanted squeaking, rattling or other noise.
Abstract:
A sliding bed extender arrangement is provided that basically has a vehicle cargo area, a pair of roller tracks, a pair of mounting arrangements and a bed extender. Each of the mounting arrangements has a pair of rolling members and a locking mechanism that are disposed in one of the roller tracks. Each of the mounting locking mechanism has a locking member slideably disposed in one of the roller tracks and a first hand operating portion operatively coupled to the locking member to selectively lock the mounting arrangement. The sliding bed extender has a generally U-shape as viewed from above with first and second side ends rigidly attached to the mounting arrangements to extend across the vehicle cargo area.
Abstract:
A device for automatically controlling vehicle speed, including a processor. In one embodiment, the processor includes logic to automatically determine whether a first local required speed is greater than a second local required speed, and only if the first local required speed is greater than the second local required speed, automatically initiate output of a signal to a vehicle speed controller to change vehicle speed to a new set vehicle speed. In another embodiment, the processor includes logic to automatically determine a new set vehicle speed based at least on a change in local required speed and a current set vehicle speed, and only if the current set vehicle speed is greater than the determined new set vehicle speed, automatically initiate output of a signal to a vehicle speed controller to change vehicle speed to the determined new set vehicle speed.