Abstract: A dash box is provided in a recreation vehicle including an occupant area, a cowl extending forward of the occupant area, and first and second spaced-apart front support posts extending upwardly from the cowl. The dash box includes a housing adapted for mounting between the first and second support posts of the vehicle. The housing includes joined walls which define a plurality of divided compartments for holding and storing items. The compartments are readily accessed by an occupant seated in the occupant area of the vehicle. A cowl-engaging stabilizing base carries the housing, and has a generally wedge-shaped portion adapted to fit within a space between the first and second support posts and a rear edge of the cowl.

Abstract: A device for thrusting a car door open by a driver which device mounts either directly to a vehicle door panel, or if the vehicle door has an inwardly projecting storage pocket, the device mounts on the pocket. The device includes a main body which receives a pad adapted to be impacted by a driver's foot. The main body is attached to the vehicle door by at least two spaced upper hooks on the rear face which hooks engage a respective aperture in the door panel or pocket, and by at least two rotatable tab pegs. The main body includes a forward facing perimeter edge to define a frame for the impact pad which is removably attached therein. The impact pad is disposed within the frame perimeter after the main body is attached to the pocket or the door panel by adhesive or by hook and loop closure members.

Abstract: A multi-functional cargo area assembly for a cargo bed of a vehicle includes a first and a second side wall disposed in a transversely spaced relationship, and an integrally formed guide track in the first and second side walls. The cargo area assembly also includes extendible side wall portions. The cargo area assembly further includes a movable divider panel supported with the guide track by a support rod, and extending transversely between the first and second side walls, wherein the divider panel includes a positioning mechanism for fixedly locating the divider panel.

Abstract: In the automobile sun visor of the present invention, a body of the sun visor is placed on a shaft connected to a bracket fitted to a ceiling surface of a cabin of the automobile body in a rotatable manner. A bearing member into which the shaft is inserted is provided on an end portion of the body. On the bearing member, a communicating member coming into contact with a stopper provided on the shaft is provided. A key shaped groove which can pass through the stopper is engaged with the stopper at a place deviating from the rotation range of the body to insert the shaft into the bearing member.

Abstract: A clip (10) mounts a corner cladding panel (14) to a body structure (16). The clip has a body (18) having a tab (20) extending in a longitudinal direction. An attachment fixture (22) extends from the body in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction. The clip (10) is attachable to the body structure in the orthogonal direction and positions the clip (10) to receive the corner cladding panel (14) in the longitudinal direction. The body has a pin (24) extending in the orthogonal direction that maintains an orientation of the clip (10) to receive the cladding in the direction of application. The clip (10) has a ridge (28) positioned to snappingly engage the cladding panel (14) to maintain engagement therebetween.

Abstract: A vehicle storage compartment includes a door with an interior face and exterior face. The exterior face of the door faces the interior of a vehicle. The vehicle storage compartment also includes a panel connected to the door, wherein the panel and the interior face of the door define a bin for the storage of goods. The panel is integrally formed with the door in a molding operation to form a single component. The vehicle storage compartment door and bin wherein are integrally formed by a counter-pressure molding process such that cell structures are formed in an interior of walls forming the door and the panel.

Abstract: A motor vehicle bumper system comprising an outer shell (10) of an automotive bumper having an inner surface (18) generally oriented toward the vehicle. The outer shell comprises a plurality of energy absorbing protuberances (14) extending inwardly from the inner surface of the outer shell. The energy absorbing protuberances may be formed from an energy absorbing material, such as a polymeric foam, and/or may additionally comprise indentations extending into the body of the protuberance to enhance the energy absorbing characteristics of the protuberance.

Abstract: A hard-top convertible roof apparatus is provided. Another aspect of the present invention employs rigid hard-top front and/or rear roof sections. A further aspect of the present invention provides that the outside surfaces of retractable roof sections have a generally vertical orientation when in their open and retracted positions. In yet another aspect of the present invention, a roof structure has diverging peripheral flanges. A first roof flange retains a roof-to-roof weatherstrip and an adjacent second roof flange retains an interior trim panel, in still another aspect of the present invention.

Abstract: In a hard top vehicle roof comprising front and rear roof parts movable by an operating mechanism between a closed position, in which the roof parts cover an interior vehicle space, and an open position, in which they are deposited in a rear vehicle storage compartment, the rear roof part includes a window supported on the rear roof part by a four link mechanism having two window links pivotally connected with one of their ends to the rear roof part and with their opposite ends to the rear window, and a control lever connected to the front roof part for controlling the movement of the rear window relative to the rear roof part during movement of the roof parts between the closed and the open positions.

Abstract: A recreational vehicle suite has a combination bed and sofa, a floor, a side wall and an end wall. A TV viewing screen is located in the proximity of the of the end wall for viewing from the bed and sofa. A bench is supported on the floor and has a head portion and a foot portion. An elongated normally horizontal cushion/mattress is mounted on a top of the bench and normally covers the bench including the head and the foot portions. The cushion/mattress has a head portion normally covering the head portion of the bench and is connected to a foot portion of the cushion/mattress. The bench is able to tilt the head portion of the cushion/mattress upwardly at an angle with respect to the bench.

Abstract: In a hardtop vehicle roof comprising front, intermediate, and rear roof parts, which are movable between a closed position, in which they cover an interior vehicle space, and an open position, in which they are stacked in a storage compartment of the vehicle, and wherein the front and rear roof parts are supported on the intermediate roof part by a roof part operating mechanism, which is operatively connected to a support and operating mechanism by which the intermediate roof part is mounted on the body of the vehicle, the roof parts operating mechanisms for the front and rear roof parts are operatively connected to the support and operating mechanism of the intermediate part such that, when the roof is opened, the front and rear roof parts are moved on top of the intermediate roof part to form a packet in which the top sides of all roof parts face upwardly and which requires relatively little space on top of the vehicle and does not intrude in the vehicle interior during the transfer between the closed and t

Abstract: In the present invention, a floor console arranged between right and left seats of a vehicle is formed by a front-side console 2 and a garnish 15 installed to the front-side console 2; a cigarette lighter attachment portion 32 having a substantially horizontal surface shape is provided on the garnish 15; a cigarette lighter device 1 is disposed in the cigarette lighter attachment portion 32 so as to be directed in a substantially vertical direction; and a substantially horizontal ash receiving surface 37 which is formed separately from an ashtray is provided on the front-side console 2 located under the cigarette lighter attachment portion 32.

Abstract: A protective structure for vehicles that uses at least one front cross member (17A), flat or shaped, made of metal or plastic, featuring at least one first absorber element or buffer (16), connected externally after the cross member (17A), and/or at least one second absorber element (25), positioned internally, in order to increase energy absorption during impact with respect to traditional structures. The structure can incorporate one or more buffers (16) designed, in particular, to absorb impact between vehicles and pedestrians (so-called pedestrian impact).

Abstract: A two-way opening modular decklid assembly is disclosed. The modular decklid assembly includes a frame and a decklid that are installed in a vehicle as a modular unit. The decklid assembly uses a simple at least four-bar non-scissor linkage assembly to attach a frame to the vehicle. The linkage assembly is operable to move the frame between open and closed positions.

Abstract: An apparatus for assisting in the one-handed safe raising and lowering off a tailgate pivotally attached to a bed of a truck. The apparatus having a module which is positioned to be hidden when the tailgate is in an up position. The module having a spring attached to the tailgate and a side of the bed of the truck for providing a counterbalancing force operating against the weight of the tailgate. The tailgate counterbalance employs lost motion and pretension of a torsion bar to achieve both a safety stop position that arrests the tailgate at about 15 degrees as well as reducing the effort required to lift and lower the tailgate beyond that point.

Abstract: An upper tray mounted on an instrument panel of a vehicle includes a receiving member mounted on an upper portion of the instrument panel. A hinge member is movably attached to the receiving member. A cover member is joined to the hinge member to rotate about a fixed pivot and configured to close the receiving member. A coil spring connects the hinge member with the receiving member. The coil spring is configured to provide a force in a direction that the cover member opens.

Abstract: The invention concerns an equipment module (22) for a motor vehicle opening panel (12) comprising in particular an interior door trim element (42) and an outer cladding (14) comprising a structural element (20) whereon are directly mounted accessories internal to the opening panel (12), characterized in that the structural element (20) consists of the inner door trim (42).

Abstract: A cross car duct for use in an instrument panel assembly of an automotive vehicle includes an upper beam of one piece molded plastic extending longitudinally between opposing A-pillars of the vehicle. The cross car duct also includes a lower beam of one piece molded plastic attached to the upper beam and extending longitudinally between the A-pillars. A magnesium steering column support for supporting conventional steering components on the cross car duct is fixedly secured to the upper beam. The upper beam includes a plurality of air ducts and the lower beam includes a plurality of air openings aligned with the air ducts for passing air through the beams. The lower beam also includes a housing for supporting an HVAC module. The cross car duct further includes a plurality of integrated mode doors and actuators operatively connected to the housing of the lower beam for actuation between an open position spaced from the air openings and a closed position covering the air openings in the lower beam.

Abstract: A beam (2, 22) is provided for use as an A-pillar (21) and roof rail (1) of a vehicle. The beam is a closed profile elongated element defining a longitudinally extending recess (3, 23) for housing a weather strip (4, 24). The recess (3, 23) includes a base (14, 34), an inner wall (15, 35) and an outer wall (16, 36) and the weather strip (4, 24) is attached to the recess (3, 23). The weather strip (4, 24) is attached to the base (14, 34) of the recess by a double-sided adhesive tape (17, 37) pre-applied to the weather strip (4, 24) which adheres to the base of the recess on contact or by application of pressure.

Abstract: A storage bin has an upper storage recess defined by a horizontal upper storage-recess floor and upper storage-recess sidewalls. The horizontal upper-storage recess floor defines a cup-holder opening and a cup-holder recess is defined between cup-holder sidewalls of the storage bin that are supported below the cup-holder opening defined by the horizontal upper storage-recess floor.