Abstract: A vehicle includes a body, a handle, and at least one connection site for the handle at which the handle is selectively connectable to the vehicle. The body defines a passenger compartment and a door opening, and includes a door over the door opening. The at least one connection site includes a home connection site on the door. When connected to vehicle at the home connection site, the handle, from its corresponding location on the door, is subject to being operated by a user to allow the door to open.

Abstract: A truck box or rear compartment includes a deck. The deck includes a floor that defines a cargo area having a length and width. The deck also includes a pair of opposed inner sidewalls that extend along the length of the cargo area comprising a first inner sidewall portion that extends upwardly away from the floor to a top portion and a second inner sidewall portion that extends downwardly from the top portion to a lower end, the lower end comprising a pocket channel. A pickup truck box deck rail assembly includes a deck rail configured for disposition on a top portion of an outer sidewall of a pickup truck box, the deck rail comprising a plurality of deck rail openings. The assembly also includes a corresponding plurality of opening covers configured to selectively and releasably cover and uncover the deck rail openings.

Abstract: A truck deck includes a floor that defines a cargo area on a top surface. The deck also includes a pocket disposed in the floor. The pocket defines a space disposed below the floor and a pocket opening. The deck further includes a selectively openable and closable pocket cover movable between an open position and a closed position. The pocket cover is disposed to cover the pocket in the closed position. The deck also includes a tie-down device disposed in the pocket. The tie-down device includes an attachment device, an adjustment device, and an elongated strap having an attachment end that is attached to the attachment device configured for attachment to a cargo, and an adjustment end that is attached to the adjustment device. The tie-down device is configured to adjust the length of the strap and apply a downward tensioning force to the cargo.

Abstract: A modular system is provided for a multi-purpose accessory configured to selectively operate as a brush guard, a cabin protector, and a tailgate extender for a vehicle. The system includes a first mounting structure connected to a front frame of the vehicle. A second mounting structure is connected to a cabin portion of the vehicle, and a third mounting structure is connected to a tailgate of the vehicle. A multi-purpose accessory is provided including a main body portion and at least one attachment member extending from the main body portion. The attachment member is configured to alternately be received by the first mounting structure, wherein the multi-purpose accessory serves as a brush guard; the second mounting structure, wherein the multi-purpose accessory serves as a cabin protector; and the third mounting structure, wherein the multi-purpose accessory serves as a tailgate extender.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein generally relate to a vehicle door glass damping system that functions like a clamp along a perimeter of a door glass when the door glass is in a closed position. The system includes an actuator assembly having a motor housing and a plunger. The assembly is configured to apply a force in the vehicle lateral direction force to a perimeter edge of the door glass. A plurality of actuator assemblies may be provided about the perimeter of the door glass at multiple locations. The actuator assembly may be a single touch location or may touch off on the whole perimeter of the door glass. When the door glass is displaced, a sealing member body within a glass run channel pivotally compresses which creates a compression seal between the sealing member body and the exterior surface of the door glass.

Abstract: A method and a system for theft prevention from an autonomous vehicle are provided. The method includes acquiring data from one or more sensors associated with the autonomous vehicle and analyzing, using processing circuitry, the data to determine whether one or more exterior systems of the autonomous vehicle are tampered with. An alert is output to an electronic device associated with a user of the vehicle when a whether one or more exterior systems of the autonomous vehicle are tampered with. Further, an alert is output the user that the autonomous vehicle is no longer safe to be operated when at least one of the one or more exterior systems tampered with belongs to a predefined category. Further, a signal is output to the vehicle to control one or more systems of the vehicle when whether one or more exterior systems of the autonomous vehicle are tampered with.

Abstract: A retractable roof apparatus for an autonomous hardtop vehicle is described. The apparatus includes a vehicle roof having an opening to a compartment that extends below the surface of the vehicle roof and a retractable cover assembly that encloses sensor devices. The retractable cover assembly includes a top panel having a peripheral size and shape that matches the roof opening to the compartment. The sensors include an array of cameras having a field of view of the full width of the vehicle in at least the front of the vehicle when the retractable roof cover is in the raised position. The height of the top panel in the raised position above the vehicle roof is a minimal height to accommodate the height of the cameras. When the retractable cover assembly is retracted into the compartment, the top panel is flush with the surrounding roof panel of the vehicle.

Abstract: A rear deck post assembly is provided for reinforcing a cargo bed of a utility vehicle. The assembly includes a first deck mount coupled to a vehicle frame, and a first rear deck post coupled to the first deck mount. A second deck mount is provided coupled to the vehicle frame and spaced apart from the first deck mount. A second rear deck post is coupled to the second deck mount. A deck sill component is provided longitudinally extending between the first deck post and the second deck post. Deck bolts may be used to couple the deck sill component, deck mounts, and deck posts to the vehicle frame. The first and second deck mounts and deck posts may be a cast aluminum alloy, a cast magnesium alloy, or a fiber reinforced composite material.

Abstract: A roof apparatus for an autonomous hardtop vehicle is described. The apparatus includes a vehicle roof having an opening for a sunroof and a roof cover that encloses sensor devices. The roof apparatus is mounted from the underside of the vehicle roof at the position for mounting a sunroof. The sensors include an array of cameras having a field of view of the full width of the vehicle in at least the front of the vehicle. The height of the roof cover above the vehicle roof is a minimal height to accommodate the height of the cameras.

Abstract: A load securement apparatus for a vehicle incorporating a cargo bed and a tailgate movable between a raised configuration and a lowered configuration to open and close the cargo bed. The load securement apparatus includes at least one tie-down engagement structure connected to another portion of the vehicle in a position located such that a tie-down member is engaged with the tie-down engagement structure by extending a portion of the tie-down member into a gap formed between an end of the cargo bed and the tailgate when the tailgate is in the lowered configuration.

Abstract: A vehicular cowl louver assembly, a vehicular windshield assembly and a vehicle. A cowl louver that makes up a portion of the vehicular cowl louver assembly has one or more recesses formed in an upper-facing surface with which to provide storage of an ice scraper. A resiliently-biased clip allows the ice scraper to be selectively removable from the cowl louver to enable a person to scrape ice, snow or other debris from a vehicular windshield. The ice scraper may be returned to the recess after use, where the clip keeps the two secured to one another, even during vehicular movement. In one form, the surface of the ice scraper may be made to form a substantially flush, continuous fit with the portion of the surface of the cowl louver that is adjacent the recess to improve aerodynamic and aesthetic features of the cowl louver assembly.

Abstract: A selective battery control system includes a battery exchange station and an at least partially electric vehicle communicably coupled to the battery exchange station. The at least partially electric vehicle includes processing circuitry configured to determine a number of batteries needed for a trip, determine if the at least partially electric vehicle has a correct number of batteries, and in response to the at least partially electric vehicle having an incorrect number of batteries, add or remove batteries until the at least partially electric vehicle has the correct number of batteries for the trip.

Abstract: A system for adjusting lighting of a towing hitch region of a vehicle includes processor, user input device communicatively coupled to the processor, and light source comprising actuator communicatively coupled to the processor. The light source are configured to selectively illuminate the towing hitch region of the vehicle. The system further includes memory module communicatively coupled to the processor that stores logic that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to receive user instructions from the user input device; and adjust an angle of illumination of the light source with the actuator to illuminate the towing hitch region based on the user instructions.

Abstract: A load securement apparatus for a vehicle incorporating a cargo bed and a tailgate movable between a raised configuration and a lowered configuration to open and close the cargo bed. The load securement apparatus includes at least one tie-down engagement structure connected to another portion of the vehicle in a position located such that a tie-down member is engaged with the tie-down engagement structure by extending a portion of the tie-down member into a gap formed between an end of the cargo bed and the tailgate when the tailgate is in the lowered configuration.

Abstract: A foldable table structure is structured to be mountable on a vehicle. The table structure includes a first panel structured to form a first portion of a table top when the table structure is in a deployed condition, a second panel structured to form a second portion of a table top when the table structure is in a deployed condition, and at least one first support. Each of the at least one first support, the first panel, and the second panel are rotatably connected to at least one other of the at least one first support, the first panel, and the second panel, such that the first panel is rotatable to reside along a first side of the at least one first support, and such that the second panel is rotatable to reside along a second side of the at least one first support opposite the first side.

Abstract: Arrangements described herein include washing systems for vehicle truck beds. The system can include one or more nozzles and one or more conduits operatively connected to the truck bed. In some arrangements, the conduits can be formed integrally with the truck bed, such as being molded with an inner panel of the truck bed. The system further includes a fluid inlet operatively connected to the vehicle that is in fluid communication with the one or more conduits. When a fluid is supplied in the fluid inlet it can be routed to the one or more nozzles for spraying into the truck bed.

Abstract: Arrangements described herein include adaptable storage systems for vehicle truck beds, and methods for controlling such systems. The system can include a panel having one or more wheel well cutouts. One or more wheel well covers can be operatively connected to the panel. A lift can be included that can selectively move the panel in an elevational direction between a top position and a bottom position. The wheel well cover(s) can be adaptive relative to the wheel wells to allow substantially unimpeded movement of the panel between the top position and the bottom position. Further, the wheel well cover(s) can substantially cover a wheel well cutout when the panel is in the top position.

Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly includes a seat base, a seat back rotatably connected to the seat base, a seat bottom mounted on the seat base, and at least one of the following mounted to one of the seat base, seat back, and seat bottom: a resistance mechanism structured to exert a biasing force on at least one exercise arm operatively connected to the resistance mechanism; a bicycle seat receptacle structured for detachably mounting a bicycle seat to the seat base; and a docking mechanism structured for detachably mounting a pedal mechanism to the seat base.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a vehicle body having a front and a rear. A vehicle rear bumper assembly is located at the rear of the vehicle body. The vehicle rear bumper assembly includes a bumper beam reinforcement member having an upper part, a lower part and a rearward most part extending between the upper part and the lower part. A bumper cover extends over the upper part. A mechanical extending component is located in the bumper reinforcement member. The mechanical extending component has a retracted configuration located below the bumper cover and an extended configuration where the mechanical extending component penetrates through the bumper cover in response to a low-energy impact to the rearward most part of the bumper beam reinforcement member.

Abstract: Arrangements described herein include washing systems for vehicle truck beds. The system can include one or more nozzles and one or more conduits operatively connected to the truck bed. In some arrangements, the conduits can be formed integrally with the truck bed, such as being molded with an inner panel of the truck bed. The system further includes a fluid inlet operatively connected to the vehicle that is in fluid communication with the one or more conduits. When a fluid is supplied in the fluid inlet it can be routed to the one or more nozzles for spraying into the truck bed.