Abstract: A foamless seating assembly includes a frame having an inner support member and an outer support member. A first plurality of flexible straps extend about the inner support member of the frame. A second plurality of flexible straps extend about the outer support member of the frame. At least one flexible strap of the second plurality of flexible straps of the outer support member are adjacent to at least one flexible strap of the plurality of flexible straps of the inner support member. A tension assembly is operably coupled with the flexible straps and configured to apply tension to the straps simultaneously.

Abstract: A seat mounting system includes a seat frame having a support surface and first and second side surfaces downwardly extending from opposed sides of the support surface. Mounting members are supported on the first and second side surfaces. The mounting members each include an inner layer, an outer layer, and a deformable core portion disposed therebetween. The mounting members each include a mounting aperture extending through the deformable core portion, such that the deformable core portion surrounds the mounting aperture. A base frame includes a receiving aperture disposed through a body portion of the base frame. The base frame is operably coupled to the seat frame by a fastener received through the receiving aperture of the base frame and further received through the mounting aperture of the mounting member.

Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly includes a seat base. A floor track assembly includes a floor track having a roller track and a rack. At least one pinion gear is configured to rotate along the rack. At least one floor track motor is disposed adjacent to the floor track assembly. The at least one floor track motor rotates the at least one pinion gear along the rack to laterally translate the seat base fore and aft. An elevated track assembly is operably coupled to the floor track assembly. The seat base is coupled to the elevated track assembly. The elevated track assembly is laterally translatable relative to the floor track assembly.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a floor including a top panel and a bottom panel defining a cavity therebetween. At least one of the top panel and the bottom panel includes a polymeric material. A passenger-climate-control duct is disposed in the cavity and is integral with the at least one of the top panel and the bottom panel.

Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly includes a seat base. A floor track assembly includes a floor track having a roller track and a rack. At least one pinion gear is configured to rotate along the rack. At least one floor track motor is disposed adjacent to the floor track assembly. The at least one floor track motor rotates the at least one pinion gear along the rack to laterally translate the seat base fore and aft. An elevated track assembly is operably coupled to the floor track assembly. The seat base is coupled to the elevated track assembly. The elevated track assembly is laterally translatable relative to the floor track assembly.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to audio actuator assemblies that include bridging brackets for mounting audio actuators inside vehicle body components. In some embodiments, the vehicle body component is a door that includes a reinforcement beam. The bridging bracket is mountable to the reinforcement beam in order to secure the audio actuator in place inside the vehicle body component in a manner that allows the audio actuator to vibrate adjacent surfaces of the vehicle body component for radiating sound signals.

Abstract: A seating assembly includes a shell assembly having a seat base coupled with a seatback. A base assembly is operably coupled with the shell assembly. The base assembly includes an outer portion defining an opening and an engagement slot. An inner portion is positioned through the opening of the outer portion. The inner portion includes a sidewall defining a receiving well. A barrel is positioned around the inner portion. The barrel defines a track extending helically from a lower end of the barrel to an upper end of the barrel. A bearing is received by the engagement slot, the receiving well, and the track. The bearing is movable along the engagement slot and the track simultaneously. An actuator is operably coupled with the barrel and is configured to rotate the barrel. Rotation of the barrel is configured to vertically translate the inner portion relative to the outer portion.

Abstract: A power assist device includes a motor that is operatively coupled to a door of a vehicle, a display for displaying a swing path of the door, a controller for controlling the motor, and a touchscreen device for supplying the controller with one or more user-inputted selections for controlling a door swing of the door, wherein the user-inputted selections are received by the touchscreen device via one or more touch events.

Abstract: A hinge assembly for mounting a door to a frame of a motor vehicle includes (a) a hinge bracket, having a first receiver and a second receiver, (b) a hinge pin pivotally connecting the door to the hinge bracket at the first receiver, (c) an actuator, having an output shaft, (d) a retention feature, connecting the output shaft to the hinge bracket at the second receiver, and (e) an actuator mounting feature securing the actuator to the door. A method of assembling an actuator in a hinge assembly that mounts a door to a frame of a motor vehicle is also provided.

Abstract: A door assist system for a vehicle is disclosed. The system comprises an actuator configured to control a position of the door about a hinge assembly. An interference sensor forms a portion of a door opening seal and is configured to detect an obstruction in a plurality of detection regions. The system further comprises a controller configured to control the actuator in response to a detection signal from the interference sensor.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a floor including a top panel and a bottom panel defining a cavity therebetween. At least one of the top panel and the bottom panel includes a polymeric material.

Abstract: A seating assembly comprising a shell assembly, a base assembly operably coupled to the shell assembly, and a control assembly including a handle. The control assembly comprises a spindle gear positioned within the base assembly, a gear plate disposed in the shell assembly proximate the spindle gear, a locking key configured to simultaneously engage the spindle gear and the gear plate, a locking leaf spring configured to bias the locking key into engagement with the spindle gear and the gear plate, and an actuator configured to withdraw the locking key from engagement with one of the gear plate and spindle gear and subsequently withdraw the locking key from engagement with the other of the gear plate and spindle gear.

Abstract: A foamless seating assembly includes a frame having an inner support member and an outer support member. A first plurality of flexible straps extend about the inner support member of the frame. A second plurality of flexible straps extend about the outer support member of the frame. At least one flexible strap of the second plurality of flexible straps of the outer support member are adjacent to at least one flexible strap of the plurality of flexible straps of the inner support member. A tension assembly is operably coupled with the flexible straps and configured to apply tension to the straps simultaneously.

Abstract: An automated door system includes a door pivotally coupled to a vehicle body at a hinge axis defined by at least one hinge assembly. A power assist device is coupled to the hinge assembly and further coupled to the door. The power assist device is configured to slow movement of the door along a door swing path from an initial velocity to a slow close velocity when the initial velocity exceeds a predetermined threshold velocity, thereby providing a slow and controlled close when a user attempts to slam the door. The power assist device is further configured to power opening and closing movement of the door as initiated by a user.

Abstract: An example battery assembly includes, among other things, at least one thermal exchange device. Each thermal exchange device has a plurality of liquid coolant channels, a first side that supports at least one battery array, and a second side. A plurality of fins extend from the second side. A skid plate is adjacent the plurality of fins to establish a plurality of air coolant channels between the second side and the skid plate. An example thermal management method includes moving air through a plurality of air coolant channels established between a skid plate and at least one thermal exchange device. The thermal exchange device supports at least one battery array. The thermal exchange device includes a plurality of liquid coolant channels that communicate a liquid coolant to exchange thermal energy with the at least one battery array.

Abstract: A hinge assembly for mounting a door to a frame of a motor vehicle includes (a) a hinge bracket, having a first receiver and a second receiver, (b) a hinge pin pivotally connecting the door to the hinge bracket at the first receiver, (c) an actuator, having an output shaft, (d) a retention feature, connecting the output shaft to the hinge bracket at the second receiver, and (e) an actuator mounting feature securing the actuator to the door. A method of assembling an actuator in a hinge assembly that mounts a door to a frame of a motor vehicle is also provided.

Abstract: A method for adjusting an adjustable component in a seat assembly includes the steps of: (1) providing a seat assembly having an adjustable support plate and a sensor; (2) supporting a seat occupant on the seat assembly; (3) moving the support plate into contact with the seat occupant; (4) sensing a pressure value applied to the support plate using the sensor as the support plate contacts the seat occupant; and (5) retaining the support plate in a deployed position. The movement of the support plate is configured to cease when the pressure value is initially detected or when the pressure value exceeds a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A method for actively adjusting an adjustable component in a vehicle seat includes the steps of: (1) providing a seat assembly having a seat portion with first and second side bolsters disposed on opposite sides of the seat portion, first and second adjustable components and first and second sensors disposed in the first and second side bolsters, and a controller operably coupled to both the first and second adjustable components and the first and second sensors; (2) detecting a pressure value using one of the first and second sensors; (3) determining if the pressure value exceeds a threshold value; and moving an articulating support plate of the adjustable component associated with the sensor detecting the pressure value towards an extended position from a retracted position to a degree commensurate with pressure value detected.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a door frame coupled to a vehicle frame at a hinge. A door operating mechanism is coupled to the door and vehicle frames for applying rotational force to the door frame about the hinge. The door operating mechanism including external cogs of an inner gear that mesh with inner cogs of an outer gear and a single oblong bearing that biases the inner gear in partial engagement with the outer gear.

Abstract: A lower seating structure comprises an upper support layer, an intermediate resilient layer, a molded bottom seat panel, a seat frame assembly, and a tension member. The molded bottom seat panel extends across a width of the lower seating structure and the tension member is fixedly attached to each of a pair of opposed sides of the molded bottom seat panel and extends across the width of the lower seating structure.