Abstract: A vehicle door includes a belt structure and a rigid handle having a rigid base and a rigid outer grip portion. The rigid outer grip portion includes a portion that is spaced apart from the base to form a gap. The base of the handle is rigidly connected to the belt structure whereby the outer grip portion of the handle does not move relative to the belt structure. The vehicle door may include a powered door opening mechanism that moves a portion of the door away from a vehicle body when actuated.

Abstract: A hood latch release system includes, among other things, a release handle within a compartment covered by a hood, a hood latch assembly, and a release assembly having an electrically powered actuator and a mechanical actuator. The electrically powered actuator and the mechanical actuator are each configured to move one or more latches of the hood latch assembly from the latched position to the unlatched position. The system further includes a selector assembly. When a coupling member of the selector assembly is in a decoupling position, actuating the release handle causes the electrically powered actuator to unlatch the primary latch, the secondary latch, or both. When the coupling member of the selector assembly is in a coupling position, actuating the release handle causes the mechanical actuator to unlatch the primary latch, the secondary latch, or both.

Abstract: A hood latch release system includes, among other things, a release member within a compartment covered by a hood, a hood latch assembly, and a release assembly having an electrically powered actuator and a mechanical actuator. The electrically powered actuator and the mechanical actuator are each configured to move one or more latches of the hood latch assembly from the latched position to the unlatched position. The system further includes a selector assembly. When a coupling member of the selector assembly is in a decoupling position, actuating the release member causes the electrically powered actuator to unlatch the primary latch, the secondary latch, or both. When the coupling member of the selector assembly is in a coupling position, actuating the release member causes the mechanical actuator to unlatch the primary latch, the secondary latch, or both.

Abstract: A vehicle door includes a belt structure and a rigid handle having a rigid base and a rigid outer grip portion. The rigid outer grip portion includes a portion that is spaced apart from the base to form a gap. The base of the handle is rigidly connected to the belt structure whereby the outer grip portion of the handle does not move relative to the belt structure. The vehicle door may include a powered door opening mechanism that moves a portion of the door away from a vehicle body when actuated.

Abstract: A vehicle door includes a belt structure and a rigid handle having a rigid base and a rigid outer grip portion. The rigid outer grip portion includes a portion that is spaced apart from the base to form a gap. The base of the handle is rigidly connected to the belt structure whereby the outer grip portion of the handle does not move relative to the belt structure. The vehicle door may include a powered door opening mechanism that moves a portion of the door away from a vehicle body when actuated.

Abstract: An air flow control system includes a plenum having an air inlet, a first air outlet, a second air outlet and a third air outlet, a vent door, an air guide, carried on the vent door, and an actuator. The actuator displaces the vent door between a first position closing the first air outlet and a second position opening the first air outlet. A climate control method for an autonomous vehicle is also provided.

Abstract: An air flow control system includes a plenum having an air inlet, a first air outlet, a second air outlet and a third air outlet, a vent door, an air guide, carried on the vent door, and an actuator. The actuator displaces the vent door between a first position closing the first air outlet and a second position opening the first air outlet. A climate control method for an autonomous vehicle is also provided.

Abstract: A hood latch release system includes, among other things, a release handle within a compartment covered by a hood, a hood latch assembly, and a release assembly having an electrically powered actuator and a mechanical actuator. The electrically powered actuator and the mechanical actuator are each configured to move one or more latches of the hood latch assembly from the latched position to the unlatched position. The system further includes a selector assembly. When a coupling member of the selector assembly is in a decoupling position, actuating the release handle causes the electrically powered actuator to unlatch the primary latch, the secondary latch, or both. When the coupling member of the selector assembly is in a coupling position, actuating the release handle causes the mechanical actuator to unlatch the primary latch, the secondary latch, or both.

Abstract: A latch mechanism for a vehicle storage box may include a pair of pawls fixed on opposite sides of a coupler and configured to cause inward translation of one pawl in response to actuation at the other pawl, and a sliding element arranged between each of the pawls and the coupler, the sliding element including at least one retention mechanism to fix the pawl to the sliding element and further including a biasing element to compress the pawl to further engage the pawl with the retention mechanism.

Abstract: A vehicle door includes a belt structure and a rigid handle having a rigid base and a rigid outer grip portion. The rigid outer grip portion includes a portion that is spaced apart from the base to form a gap. The base of the handle is rigidly connected to the belt structure whereby the outer grip portion of the handle does not move relative to the belt structure. The vehicle door may include a powered door opening mechanism that moves a portion of the door away from a vehicle body when actuated.

Abstract: A vehicle glovebox includes a bin rotationally operable within a housing. A downstop is defined within the housing. The downstop is in a blocking position and engages the bin to define a fully open position of the bin. The downstop is operable to a release position that defines rotation of the bin beyond the fully open position.

Abstract: A vehicle glovebox includes a bin rotationally operable within a housing. A downstop is defined within the housing. The downstop is in a blocking position and engages the bin to define a fully open position of the bin. The downstop is operable to a release position that defines rotation of the bin beyond the fully open position.

Abstract: A glovebox assembly includes a support substrate, a glovebox rotationally displaceable with respect to the support substrate, a downstop carried on the support substrate and an interlock feature carried on the support substrate. The downstop includes a stalk and a head. The interlock feature overlaps the stalk adjacent the head.

Abstract: A glovebox assembly includes a support substrate, a glovebox rotationally displaceable with respect to the support substrate, a downstop carried on the support substrate and an interlock feature carried on the support substrate. The downstop includes a stalk and a head. The interlock feature overlaps the stalk adjacent the head.

Abstract: An air flow control system includes a plenum having an air inlet, a first air outlet, a second air outlet and a third air outlet, a vent door, an air guide, carried on the vent door, and an actuator. The actuator displaces the vent door between a first position closing the first air outlet and a second position opening the first air outlet. A climate control method for an autonomous vehicle is also provided.

Abstract: A vehicle glovebox includes a frame rotationally operable within a housing. A downstop is defined within the frame, wherein the downstop in a blocking position engages the housing to define a fully-open position of the frame. The downstop is operable to a release position that defines rotation of the frame beyond the fully-open position.

Abstract: A storage console includes a housing having a storage chamber, an access opening and a guide track. The storage console also includes a tambour door including an articulated substrate and a plurality of slats carried on the articulated substrate. The articulated substrate includes integral overmolded guides and integral overmolded splines.

Abstract: A latch assembly for a vehicle armrest may include a pair of pawls fixed on opposite sides of a coupler, each pawl including a projection on each end thereof, and a pair of paddles each engaging one of each pawls and configured to cause inward translation of at least one of the pawls in response to an actuation at one of the paddles, wherein an inward translation of one pawl causes, via the coupler, an inward translation of the other pawl to disengage the projections from a console.

Abstract: A storage console includes a housing having a storage chamber, an access opening and a guide track. The storage console also includes a tambour door including an articulated substrate and a plurality of slats carried on the articulated substrate. The articulated substrate includes integral overmolded guides and integral overmolded splines.

Abstract: A vehicle glovebox includes a frame rotationally operable within a housing. A downstop is defined within the frame, wherein the downstop in a blocking position engages the housing to define a fully-open position of the frame. The downstop is operable to a release position that defines rotation of the frame beyond the fully-open position.