Abstract: A tailgate apparatus for a dump body is described herein. The dump body includes a floor, a front wall coupled to and extending upwardly from the floor and two opposing side walls coupled to and extending upwardly from the floor. Each side wall is coupled to the front wall. The two side walls define an opening at a rear end of the floor. The tailgate apparatus includes a tailgate sized to cover the opening and two opposed side arms extending from the tailgate towards the front wall. Each side arm is pivotally coupled to a respective one of the side walls. The tailgate apparatus also includes a pair of linkages for linking the side arms to the side walls. The linkages enable the tailgate to pivot between a closed position where the tailgate covers the opening and an open position where the tailgate is positioned closer to the front wall than the opening.

Abstract: A bumper reinforcement includes an aluminum alloy extrusion body having a pair of flanges to be positioned on a vehicle body side and on a collision side and a pair of webs to be positioned in a vehicle vertical direction. The pair of webs connect the pair of flanges at joint portions such that the pair of webs and the pair of flanges form a closed cross section, and the pair of webs do not have a welded portion.

Abstract: A roof system for a vehicle includes a fixed roof element, forming a fixed roof segment of a vehicle roof bounding a passenger compartment and situated in a rear area of the vehicle roof, a roof opening and closing mechanism, which allows a relative movement of a movable roof element in relation to the fixed roof element and/or a relative movement of a movable roller blind in relation to the vehicle roof. The fixed roof element is designed as a single-piece roof element having at least one impact energy absorption section and at least one receiving section locally distinct from the impact energy absorption section for receiving electrical and/or mechanical function elements, by which or in the interplay of which with other function elements a movement of the movable roof element for opening and closing of the roof opening and/or driving the roller blind can be effectuated.

Abstract: A seating arrangement for a vehicle having a cabin space is provided. The seating arrangement includes a vehicle, at least one front seat within the vehicle, and at least one rear seat arranged behind the at least one front seat of the vehicle. The at least one front seat is rigidly fixed to and suspended from a portion of the vehicle, thereby providing a free space underneath the at least one front seat, such that an occupant of the vehicle seated in the at least one rear seat is able to position at least a lower portion of one or both legs thereof in the free space underneath the at least one front seat. A flexible covering, such as bristles may be attached to the periphery of the vehicle floor opening, so that a driver's foot can pass from inside the vehicle cabin, to the ground outside the vehicle.

Abstract: A cargo securing system which incorporates synthetic chains in a manner which addresses the increased pitch of the synthetic link and the increased elongation of the synthetic chain, while still allowing the usage of conventional prior art load binders in a timely and safe manner. The system includes a length-adjusting coupling device for connecting a load binder to a section of chain.

Abstract: A windshield assembly for an off-road vehicle includes a pair of windshield members that may be configured without tools to adopt multiple configurations, including: a) a first configuration that is a full windshield configuration in which the windshield extends substantially from the hood of the vehicle to the roof of the vehicle, thus providing full coverage for the cockpit; b) a second configuration that is a flip-down windshield configuration in which the upper portion of the windshield is flipped downward and/or forward, thus providing airflow into the cockpit; and c) a third configuration that is a half windshield configuration in which the upper portion of the windshield has been detached and removed from the lower portion, thus leaving only a half windshield to protect the cockpit.

Abstract: A selectively rigidizable membrane for cargo management comprises a vacuum bladder, and a first architectural layer and a second architectural layer, each of the first and second architectural layers including a plurality of tiles interconnected by flexural elements, each of the tiles of the first and second architectural layers including at least one constraining element extending therefrom, wherein, when atmospheric pressure is present within the vacuum bladder, the first and second architectural layers are slidably moveable relative to one another and the membrane is flexible, and further wherein, when negative pressure is applied to the vacuum bladder, the first and second architectural layers are forced into engagement with one another, the constraining elements of the first and second architectural layers providing mechanical interference and preventing sliding movement of the first and second architectural layers relative to one another, causing the membrane to become substantially rigid.

Abstract: An energy absorbing device includes a deformable elongate member that is arranged in a manner such that the device, in use, deforms in a controlled manner upon the absorption of impact energy. The invention also provides a method for manufacturing the energy absorbing device.

Abstract: Exemplary vehicle truck bed assemblies may include a unibody construction. A cargo box of an exemplary truck bed assembly may include at least two different floor-to-side wall mating configurations, and each of the at least two different mating configurations is non-visible from within a cargo space established by the cargo box. In addition, each of the at least two different mating configurations may include a fastener, such as a weld, an adhesive, and/or a bolt, for adjoining adjacent mating surfaces of the cargo box floor and side wall.

Abstract: A side part structure of a vehicle includes a side door and a second seal member. The side door includes a lower end edge which substantially overlaps a wheel arch. The second seal member is configured to seal a gap between a wheel house and the side door. The side door includes a door garnish which faces an outer edge of the wheel house. The second seal member includes an installation base member and a lip integrally formed with the installation base member. The installation base member is configured to operably couple to the outer edge of the wheel house. The lip has a substantially tongue-shaped cross section in a width direction of the vehicle, and makes contact with the door garnish. The lip extends toward an outside in the width direction of the vehicle from a part on an outer side in a radial direction of the installation base member.

Abstract: The present invention is a securement apparatus and method of use. The securement apparatus comprises a spring E-fitting device connected to a strap device. The securement apparatus is preferably releasably attached to a section of E-track that is preferably fastened to a head wall of a pickup truck bed or a trailer and is useful in quickly and easily securing objects thereto.

Abstract: A mobile performance stage is configurable between a compact transport condition to a performance condition with expanding deck wings and expanding canopy wings. The deck wings are carried directly on top of the main trailer deck and roll on tracks to deploy to the performance condition. The roof canopy includes a main roof element and two foldable roof wings. The roof wings pivot from fully open to a fully closed stowed condition below the main roof element to reduce the height of the stage when transported. Lift columns are hinged to reduce height. The roof wings may also be stored in a vertical position to provide side walls for a cargo trailer configuration. The roof may also be completely removed to form a deck only stage.

Abstract: An aircraft cargo restraint system includes a fuselage framework defining a cargo cabin, a webbing configured to restrain cargo positionable within the cargo cabin, one or more spring tension reels configured to bias the webbing towards a bottom of the cargo cabin, and one or more actuators configured to move the webbing toward a top of the cargo cabin against the bias of the one or more spring tension reels.

Abstract: A retractor restraint system is provided for securing wheelchairs and/or people in vehicles. The system includes a housing, a retractor reel mounted to the housing rotatably in a positive and a negative direction of rotation for receiving a belt which can be coupled to a wheelchair, an arresting unit for arresting the reel to prevent rotation in the negative direction of rotation in an operating state of the retractor restraint system, a clamping unit arranged at the housing for releasably clamping fast the belt unwound from the reel, and a triggering mechanism for actuation of the clamping unit. The triggering mechanism is coupled to the arresting unit and the reel in such a way that the clamping unit is actuated when a torque acts on the reel in the negative direction of rotation and the reel is arrested by the arresting unit.

Abstract: A litter lift system includes a motor-driven winch and a lifting strap. The motor-driven winch includes a rotatable spool. The lifting strap has one end coupled to the rotatable spool and is movable in response to rotation of the rotatable spool. The lifting strap has a first lifting segment and a second lifting segment positioned away from the end of the lifting strap coupled to the rotatable spool. The first lifting segment and the second lifting segment are each forked to define two separate lifting loops. Rotation of the rotatable spool in a first direction raises the first lifting segment and the second lifting segment. Rotation of the rotatable spool in a second direction different from the first direction lowers the first lifting segment and the second lifting segment.

Abstract: Vehicle tie down assemblies may be provided for securing cargo and/or accessories at vehicle front ends. The tie down assemblies may be mounted to a vehicle fender without obstructing the opening and closing of the vehicle hood. Exemplary vehicle tie down assemblies may embody a multi-piece design that establishes a pass-through for receiving various tie downs. The tie down assemblies may additionally include one or more bolt assemblies for mounting accessories.

Abstract: The seat base may include a frame with a polygonal geometry, a first leg assembly hingedly coupled to the frame, and a second leg assembly hingedly coupled to the frame. The seat base may also include a first leg hingedly coupled to the frame, a second leg hingedly coupled to the frame, and a cross member coupled to the first leg and the second leg. A guide may protrude from the frame. The guide may define a recess. A retention pin may engage the recess and retain the first leg assembly in a deployed position. The frame may also have quadrilateral perimeter. The seat base may further include an interior cross member fixedly coupled to the frame, and a pin protruding from the cross member. The pin may engage a seat. A loop may extend from the frame and engage the seat.

Abstract: A storage device for a vehicle cab, said storage device comprising: a vertically moveable storage unit onto or into which items are intended to be stored, a support structure configured to support the storage unit and to allow vertical movement of the storage unit between a first/upper position and a second/lower position when the storage device is mounted to a wall or similar, wherein the support structure comprises a first spring member arranged to dampen downwards movement and assist upwards movement of the storage unit.

Abstract: A crash-arresting unit for a vehicle seat may have a locking element and an actuating unit. The locking element can be brought into form-fitting engagement with a mating element via the actuating unit. The actuating unit may be an electromechanical actuating unit having a fusible wire, where destruction of the fusible wire frees a movement of the locking element in the direction of the mating element.

Abstract: Provided are a vehicle interior structure in which a burden for passengers caused by reflected light generated due to a mirror phenomenon and the like can be reduced while at the same time the design can be enhanced, an interior member used therefor, a method for producing the same, and a method for producing a polarizing member. An instrument panel as an interior member includes a glossy portion and a polarizing layer formed on the surface of the glossy portion, the glossy portion being adapted to reflect light coming through a windshield and the polarizing layer being adapted to absorb optical oscillation components in the vehicle width direction.