Abstract: A truck that includes a bed section located rear of a cab section where the bed section is bounded on each side by opposing first and second upward-extending side walls, respectively. The truck includes a tonneau cover which has a first panel section pivotable with respect to the opposing first and second upward-extending side walls. A latching assembly is attached to the first panel section that selectively secures and releases the first panel section with respect to the first and second upward-extending side walls of the truck. The latching assembly includes at least one adjustable pinch latch assembly. The pinch latch assembly includes a latch handle portion and a latch base located on the first panel section adjacent the latch handle portion.

Abstract: Examples provide an attachment frame for combination attachment of environmental control devices. A plurality of non-articulating, rigid segments within a main body bend at various fixed angles. A perpendicular support arm forms an “L-shaped” attachment at the top of the main body. The support arm mounts one or more lights which attach to a top surface of the support arm. A bottom surface of the support arm mounts a fan or heater above a conveyor or other work area. The attachment frame includes a container holder to hold a water bottle or other container. A mounting plate connected to segment at the bottom of the main body mounts to the trailer conveyor device or other equipment. The attachment frame provides light, ventilation and/or temperature control for users working within an interior of a trailer or other confined spaces.

Abstract: A vehicle including an embossed surface for improving aerodynamic characteristics includes a front bumper member provided at a lower portion of a front surface of a vehicle body of the vehicle. On a surface of a side surface portion of the front bumper member, the embossed surface having a directional pattern for assisting an airflow to direct in one direction along the surface is formed. The one direction is raised rearward relative to a front-rear direction of the vehicle body.

Abstract: Rear fences and a system for deploying the rear fences on a vehicle are described. The rear fences are disposed inboard of and spaced apart from the rear pillars. The rear fences may be folded against the rear panel of the vehicle when retracted and are rotated to a central position in a deployed position. The system includes a deployment control system including controller logic having at least one processor and a memory storing instructions for implementing deployment and retraction of rear fences on a vehicle.

Abstract: A drag reduction device for improving drag efficiency on a land vehicle includes one or more drag reduction devices that are coupled to an exterior portion or contained internally within the vehicle. The drag reduction devices include one or more fan assemblies each contained within a respective housing. The fan assemblies all include, in general, cross-flow fans and air foils that are configured to adjust the movement of air over and around the trailer unit as the land vehicle is being driven along a surface during normal use, and thus provide reduced resistance from air friction and pressure friction and contribute significantly to reduced fuel or other energy consumption as the land vehicle is being driven along a surface during normal use. The fan blades and air foils can be plasma-controlled.

Abstract: A position-variable motorized vehicle aerodynamics module, having: A flow component which is configured to be subjected to an incident flow or surrounding flow of an airstream, A bracket, which is configured for fixed attachment to a structure fixed to a vehicle, A power unit, which is configured to displace the flow component between at least two different operating positions relative to the bracket under normal operating conditions, A connecting structure, which the flow component connects with the power unit in a force- and movement-transmitting manner, and A guiding arrangement, which guides the displacement movement of the flow component between the at least two operating positions, Where the connecting structure is configured, in the event of a force being transmitted to the flow component through collision with a solid body, to allow through deformation an evasive movement of the flow component relative to the bracket; where the connecting structure is part of the guiding arrangement, and where the

Abstract: Vehicle subframes and methods of producing the same are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a subframe of a vehicle including longitudinal members, and lateral extensions extending from the longitudinal members, the lateral extensions extending outward from a longitudinal centerline of the vehicle, outer edges of the lateral extensions including contours to avoid turn radii of steerable tires of the vehicle.

Abstract: An active spoiler for a vehicle including a fixed portion configured for attachment to the vehicle, an extendable portion configured for movement relative to the fixed portion, and a flexible portion secured between the fixed portion and the extendable portion. The spoiler has a retracted configuration and an extended configuration, whereby the flexible portion is stowed within the spoiler in the retracted configuration and the flexible portion is deployed in the extended configuration.

Abstract: A rear vehicle body structure includes a wheel housing including a wheel housing inner panel, a shock absorber mounting bracket mounted on the outside of the wheel housing inner panel, and a wheel housing reinforcement mounted inside the wheel housing inner panel and connected to the shock absorber mounting bracket.

Abstract: A seat blocking system can comprise a seat. The seat can include a seat understructure and an overlying seating surface. The seat understructure can form a seat base and a seatback arranged in a seating configuration. The seating surface can be configured to morph between a sittable shape, in which the seating surface is coextensive with the seat understructure, and an unsittable shape, in which the seating surface is expanded over at least a portion of the seat understructure. The seat blocking system can include a seat blocker. The seat blocker can be integrated with the seat. The seat blocker can be operable to morph between a deactivated state, whereby the seat blocker leaves the seat understructure to impart the sittable shape to the seating surface, and an activated state, in which the seat blocker acts on the seating surface to impart the unsittable shape to the seating surface.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for providing a deployable fairing system to a tractor trailer. The deployable fairing system includes an actuator used to extend the deployable fairing from an unextended configuration to an extended configuration to occupy a portion of a gap area that exists between a tractor and an attached trailer. The deployable fairing includes deployable upper and/or lower horizontal assemblies that are pivotally coupled to a frame attached to the tractor/cab, and two side panels that are pivotally coupled to one or both of the upper and lower horizontal assemblies. The deployable upper and lower horizontal assemblies and the two side panels fold in on one another along multiple hinged axes in the unextended configuration, and extend rearward from the top and sides of the tractor in the extended configuration to cover a portion of the gap. The fairing may advantageously flair from front to the rear.

Abstract: A movable carrier device for vehicles including a rail section positioned in a vehicle floor, a storage section movable along the rail section, a magnetic section located in the storage section so as to be movable along the rail section, a locking unit fastened to the floor and the storage section to restrict the movement of the storage section, and a controller configured to control the locking unit such that the storage section and the locking unit are fastened to each other.

Abstract: A diffusor system for a motor vehicle, including a diffuser duct, which extends along a virtual duct path and is traversable by flow in a flow direction, having at least one duct bounding surface which is curved about a diffuser curvature axis, the diffuser curvature axis forming an angle with the duct path, and including a downforce-generating body, which can pivot between two operating positions about a pivot axis, which is orthogonal to the duct path; in a cross-sectional plane, which is orthogonal to the pivot axis, the downforce-generating body having a profile that generates downforce in response to approach flow; in an activation operating position, a leading edge of the downforce-generating body, which is more proximate to the upstream longitudinal end of the diffuser duct, being at a greater distance from the curved duct bounding surface than in an inactivation operating position, which differs from the activation operating position; the pivot axis extends outside of the downforce-generating body.

Abstract: There is disclosed a valve assembly for washing cameras or sensors of an autonomous vehicle. The valve assembly includes a single fluid injector having a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and a fluid passage in fluid communication with the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet. A cup is disposed over an upstream portion of the fluid injector, relative to a direction of fluid flow through the fluid injector. A lower housing is disposed over and surrounds a downstream portion of the fluid injector, relative to the direction of fluid flow therethrough. A bracket member extends from the lower housing. The bracket member is configured for connecting to an anchor member for attachment within the autonomous vehicle. In this way, the valve assembly may be easily secured within a vehicle for providing a desired amount of fluid to the lens of the vehicle camera or sensor.

Abstract: A motor vehicle has a front-end vehicle structure which has a wheelhouse support structure on each side of the front-end vehicle structure, in each of which wheelhouse support structure a bearer extends from an A-column to an engine support via a suspension strut receptacle. An engine support is formed beneath each wheelhouse support structure. The front supporting bearer extends in a vertical plane in an arc from the suspension strut receptacle downwards to the engine support. The front supporting bearer extends in a horizontal plane in an arc from the suspension strut receptacle from the outside inwards in the direction of a longitudinal axis of symmetry through an angle to the engine support, and the front supporting bearer is fastened with the front end thereof to the engine support.

Abstract: A vehicle includes an exterior body panel and a sensor assembly supported by the exterior body panel. The sensor assembly includes an image sensor and a cover being moveable to an assembled position at least partially enclosing the image sensor. A pressure sensor is activated by the cover in the assembled position. A lock releasably connects the cover to the exterior body panel and is actuatable framed on the pressure sensor.

Abstract: An embodiment vehicle body includes a plurality of shock absorber housings configured to cover and support upper ends of respective shock absorbers connected to the wheels of a vehicle, a plurality of upper truss members, each of which is connected at one end thereof to a front shock absorber housing and extends upwards while being bent and is connected at a remaining end thereof to a rear shock absorber housing so as to constitute a corresponding one of two lateral pillars of the vehicle; and a roof member, which extends in a width direction of the vehicle and is connected at two ends thereof to upper portions of the plurality of upper truss members.

Abstract: An active spoiler system for a vehicle is disclosed that changes from a stowed position to a deployed position. In the stowed position, one or more flexible sheets are stored on rollers inside the body of the vehicle. The flexible sheets are pulled outward out of the body of the vehicle by a rigid bar that rotates around a pivot, in response to a controller. The deployed active spoiler may decrease drag thereby increasing fuel efficiency, while also allowing for the active spoiler to be stowed when not needed due to road or weather conditions.

Abstract: A superstructure arrangement of a motor vehicle shell construction of a motor vehicle includes a superstructure with first and second longitudinal girders running in a longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle. An auxiliary frame is fixed on the motor vehicle shell construction and is disposed below the first and second longitudinal girders and includes first and second longitudinal elements which diverge from each other from a back to a front in the longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle. A first front end region of the first longitudinal element juts out beyond the first longitudinal girder on a first outside in a transverse direction of the motor vehicle and a second front end region of the second longitudinal element juts out beyond the second longitudinal girder on a second outside in the transverse direction of the motor vehicle.

Abstract: The invention is for a system that supports and stabilizes a suspended vehicle, allowing it to be accessed and/or repaired as desired by a user. The system includes a first pair of braces that are installed parallel to the longitudinal axis of a corresponding vehicle body with the floorboard-frame unit removed. The system includes a second pair of braces positioned on a vehicle floorboard-frame unit, including brackets that can be used to align the alignments with the frame. At least one first brace includes an alignment element that extends in a downward direction towards the second pair of braces. The braces therefore each include a pair of longitudinally extending members in opposed relationship with each other, supporting the vehicle body and floorboard-frame unit, respectively.