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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8109535 | Sport utility vehicle (SUV) frame architecture for improved vehicle-to-vehicle compatibility According to one embodiment, the invention provides for a light truck including a frame with opposing longitudinal frame rails running along each side of the vehicle. The frame rails include at least a leading portion with vertical placement lowered and selected to ... | 02/07/2012 |
| 8056944 | Latch assembly for a vehicle door An improved latch assembly (14) is provided for securing a vehicle door (12) in a closed position. Specifically, in one embodiment, the improved latch assembly (14) is intended to secure a first door fastener (16) to an opposing second do... | 11/15/2011 |
| 8002327 | Motor vehicle A motor vehicle (5) has a roof structure including a front roof member (6) and a rear member (4) which together form a cover for a passenger compartment (I) of the motor vehicle (5) when both of the roof members (4, 6) are in respe... | 08/23/2011 |
| 7827735 | Liftgate assembly for automotive vehicle A liftgate assembly for an automotive vehicle includes an outer panel having an external periphery and a skeletonized, trussform inner panel joined to the outer panel at their mutual external peripheries. A latch assembly is mounted within a latch cavity defined by ... | 11/09/2010 |
| 7744106 | Vehicle step with hinged pedestal mount A vehicle step assembly uses hinged pedestals, attitude links and an energy storage device to position step stringers and an attached step beam in a generally horizontal and elevated deployed position, while permitting a space-saving tucked-in stowed position. ... | 06/29/2010 |
| 7740260 | Vehicle step with hinged pedestal mount A vehicle step assembly uses hinged pedestals and attitude links to position step stringers and an attached step beam in a generally horizontal and elevated deployed position, while permitting a space-saving tucked-in stowed position. ... | 06/22/2010 |
| 7731257 | Collision management system for compartment-mounted automotive spare tire A collision management system for an automotive spare tire includes a pneumatic spare tire mounted upon a wheel, and a body structure for axially displacing the spare tire in the direction of a combination tire deflator and wheel retainer which engages the spare tir... | 06/08/2010 |
| 7712815 | Articulating seat cushion and load floor for pick up or similar type vehicle The articulated seat assembly to efficiently utilize vehicle compartment space is comprised of a seat back slidably mounted to a floor for horizontal movement relative thereto. A seat pan is equipped with at least first and second seat flange indents on opposite end... | 05/11/2010 |
| 7699285 | Automotive mirror mounting system An external mirror mounting system for an automotive vehicle includes an outer panel having a mounting reinforcement attached to an inner surface, and an extended outer belt reinforcement which is mounted with stand off structures to the mounting reinforcement, so t... | 04/20/2010 |
| 7695047 | Multi-mode load bed cover for automotive vehicle A multi-mode load bed cover for an automotive vehicle includes first and second cover sectors which are deployable laterally from within a housing associated with a bodyside of a load bed. ... | 04/13/2010 |
| 7695038 | Vehicle accessory attachment clip A ditch cover assembly, an accessory attachment clip, and an interchangeable roof accessory system for a vehicle are disclosed. An accessory attachment clip may generally include an elongated body having a first end, a second end, and a mid-portion disposed between ... | 04/13/2010 |
| 7690737 | Method of controlling an automotive vehicle having a trailer A system and method of controlling an automotive vehicle and trailer includes determining the presence of a trailer and applying brake-steer to the vehicle in response to the trailer to reduce the turning radius of the vehicle and the trailer. ... | 04/06/2010 |
| 7648192 | Door latch system for automotive vehicle A door latch system for an automotive vehicle includes a latch having a housing mounted to a door inner panel and a release lever operated by a release rod connected to a handle. An impact-responsive release lever immobilizer mounted within the door is responsive to... | 01/19/2010 |
| 7644973 | Anti-chucking tailgate An anti-chucking device (14) for a tailgate assembly (12) for a vehicle (10), includes a bracket member (36) and a striker member (38). The striker member (38) engages the bracket member (36) and prevents the tailgate... | 01/12/2010 |
| 7635210 | Illuminated door handle An illuminated door handle (16) for a vehicle door (12,14) includes a mounting frame (22), a handle arm (24), an LED (26), an LED light guide (28), and a back plate (30). The handle arm (24) is pivotally attach... | 12/22/2009 |
| 7597384 | Engine compartment hood latch structure for a motor vehicle A hood latch structure (1) for a motor vehicle body having a soft-nose outer skin panel (2) and a hood (3) providing an overlying structure for a grille opening reinforcing front cross member (4). The grille opening reinforcing front cros... | 10/06/2009 |
| 7563007 | Bumper cover and lamp housing assembly with integral fasteners for independent removal of parts from a vehicle A bumper cover and lamp housing assembly (14) (“assembly”) includes a bumper cover (22) and a lamp housing (24) that is releasably attached to bumper cover (22). Bumper cover (22) has a one-piece construction (30) with o... | 07/21/2009 |
| 7562917 | Door latch system for automotive vehicle A door latch system for an automotive vehicle uses a push-pull cable linked to a lock cylinder and to a latch to move the latch assembly into the locked position while simultaneously blocking the latch's lock/unlock lever from moving into the unlocked position. ... | 07/21/2009 |
| 7547058 | System and method for operating an automotive liftgate A system for operating an automotive liftgate includes a motor drive adapted for positioning the liftgate, and at least one telescopic strut positioned between the liftgate and an adjacent body structure. A controller operates the motor drive so as to place the lift... | 06/16/2009 |
| 7540523 | Anti-jackknifing hitch assembly An anti-jackknifing hitch assembly (12) (“assembly”) includes a hitch (18), a tongue (20), two resilient members (22a, 22b), and a routing member (24). The hitch (18) is attached to a tow vehicle ( | 06/02/2009 |
| 7538506 | Power lift gate for automotive vehicle A powered lift gate for an automotive vehicle includes a lift gate door hinged to a vehicle body. A motor system which opens and closes the door is operated by a controller coupled to a primary obstacle detection system which senses operation of the motor itself, an... | 05/26/2009 |
| 7530375 | Fuel filler nozzle for automotive vehicle A fuel filler nozzle for an automotive vehicle includes an axially insertable guide spud for opening a capless filler pipe closure device. A vacuum shroud is mounted to the guide spud, and a fuel supply tube is telescopically mounted within the guide spud and the sh... | 05/12/2009 |
| 7513553 | Automotive storage system with manually repositionable bin A storage system for an automotive vehicle includes a storage module having opposing sidewalls and a primary storage compartment situated between the opposing sidewalls. A repositionable bin has a first position in which it is mounted at least partially within the p... | 04/07/2009 |
| 7513518 | Rocker molding-step for a vehicle body side assembly A rocker molding-step (14) for a vehicle body side assembly (12) includes one or more support brackets (30), an elongated molding-step (28), a series of fasteners (74), and an appliqué (76). The fasteners (74) attach... | 04/07/2009 |
| 7494175 | Motor vehicle A motor vehicle 1, 101 is disclosed having front and rear roof members 5 and 6 which can be moved from raised to stowed positions to change the style of the motor vehicle from a two box style to a convertible or pick-up style. The rear roof memb... | 02/24/2009 |
| 7478827 | Laminated backing for containing fragments of a fractured trim cover during deployment of a passenger restraint A trim cover (14) fabricated of synthetic material that has a temperature-sensitive fragmentation characteristic fractures as a passenger restraint is deployed through a wall of the trim cover. A laminated backing (16) disposed on a back face of the tr... | 01/20/2009 |
| 7469763 | Integral engine utility assembly for an automotive vehicle having a battery tray, coolant reservoir and vacuum reservoir An integral assembly for an automotive vehicle includes a battery tray, a coolant reservoir and a vacuum reservoir. The battery tray and portions of the coolant reservoir and vacuum reservoir are formed as a single molded part having shared partition walls, so as to... | 12/30/2008 |
| 7458635 | Vehicle seat arrangement A vehicle seat arrangement includes a child seat which is mounted in a rearward facing configuration to a backrest of an adult seat such that the backrest of another adult seat at least partially supports the backrest of the child seat. ... | 12/02/2008 |
| 7455342 | Stowable ottoman for a vehicle passenger cabin A passenger cabin for a vehicle. The passenger cabin is comprised of a floor panel, a first row seat, a second row seat, and a stowable ottoman. The first row seat and the second row seat are attached to the floor panel. The stowable ottoman is pivotally attached to... | 11/25/2008 |
| 7457422 | Method and implementation for detecting and characterizing audible transients in noise A method and implementation for detecting and characterizing audible transients in noise includes placing a microphone in a desired location, producing a microphone signal wherein the microphone signal is indicative of the acoustic environment, processing the microp... | 11/25/2008 |
| 7448669 | Mechanism for opening a closure An actuator assembly (10) for pivoting a closure (29), such as a tailgate, includes an actuator (11), a first bar (20), a second bar (22), and an operating strut (21) operably connected to the closure (29). The actuat... | 11/11/2008 |
| 7445244 | Seat belt anchor A seat belt anchor (“anchor”) for a vehicle. The anchor is comprised of a bracket and a pair of nested plates. The bracket has a first plate portion and a second plate portion extending from the first plate portion. The second plate portion is attached to the ne... | 11/04/2008 |
| 7441832 | Pneumatically reinforced vehicle body structure A pneumatic reinforcement system (14) (“system”) for a body structure (12) of a vehicle (10) includes an air bladder (28), an inflator device (30), a sensor (32), and one or more mounting members (34a, 3... | 10/28/2008 |
| 7441790 | Deployable step and body-side assembly for a vehicle A deployable step and body-side assembly including a step body-side structure, one or more link assemblies, and an actuator. The step body-side structure is attached to the vehicle by the link assemblies. Each link assembly includes a carrier, an extending arm, a fi... | 10/28/2008 |
| 7434825 | Deployable step for motor vehicles A motor vehicle in accordance with the present invention includes a body having a front end, a rear end, a roof, and a rear structural member located at the rear end of the body. A motor vehicle further includes a plurality of wheels coupled to the body. A pair of b... | 10/14/2008 |
| 7422666 | Photovoltaically powered cathodic protection system for automotive vehicle A photovoltaically powered cathodic protection system for an automotive vehicle uses electrical energy arising from a photovoltaic array positioned upon an exterior surface of the vehicle, with the cathodic protection current being controlled by a controller which i... | 09/09/2008 |
| RE40496 | Attitude sensing system for an automotive vehicle relative to the road A stability control system (18) for an automotive vehicle includes a plurality of sensors (28-39) sensing the dynamic conditions of the vehicle. The sensors may include a speed sensor (20), a lateral acceleration sensor (32), a roll rate ... | 09/09/2008 |
| 7401870 | Method and apparatus to enhance brake-steer of a vehicle using a controllable suspension component A system and method of controlling an automotive vehicle having a controllable suspension component includes applying brake-steer to at least one wheel, generating a suspension control signal in response to the brake-steer signal, and allowing at least one wheel cou... | 07/22/2008 |
| 7401871 | Method of controlling an automotive vehicle having a trailer using rear axle slip angle A system and method of controlling a vehicle with a trailer comprises determining the presence of a trailer, determining a vehicle velocity, determining a steering wheel angle, and determining a rear axle side slip angle. When the rear axle side slip angle is above ... | 07/22/2008 |
| 7347471 | Storage console for automotive vehicle A storage console for an automotive vehicle includes a manually moveable closure panel suspended upon the console's side walls at an installed location extending rearwardly from the front part of the console, so as to allow access to otherwise unusable space at the ... | 03/25/2008 |
