Abstract: A fender support system, including at least one molded fender support arrangement configured to couple to at least one fender arrangement, in which the fender support arrangement is configured to provide at least one of primary and secondary attachments for under-the-hood vehicle components.

Abstract: A cargo tray and table assembly for a motor vehicle having an enclosed rear cargo area including a floor portion and an opening. The assembly includes a main body coupled to a pivot system. The pivot system is further coupled to the rear cargo area of the vehicle. The pivot system is operable to move the main body between a stowed position within the rear cargo area and a use position.

Abstract: An active vehicle front structure for energy management including a bumper movable from a retracted position during low speed maneuvering and parking to an extended position during operation of the vehicle over a pre-defined threshold speed. The bumper in the extended position serves to extend the crumple zone, reducing overall vehicle damage, and to increase the time over which vehicle decelerates during a collision, reducing the likelihood and severity of injuries to occupants of the vehicle.

Abstract: A vapor recovery canister is provided and includes an inlet port, an outlet port, and a first and second valve. The first and second valves are operable to restrict fluid flow into the canister, whereby the first valve is operable to selectively close the inlet port and the second valve is operable to selectively close the outlet port. In addition, the second valve includes at least one orifice formed therethrough for continuous fluid communication with an ambient air stream. In this manner, if both the first and second valves are in a closed position, an ambient air stream will be in fluid communication with an interior volume of the canister during a purging process through interaction of the orifice. The interaction of the orifice causes a high vacuum pressure within the canister, thereby increasing working capacity and reducing diurnal breathing loss.

Abstract: A headrest assembly comprises a headrest pivotable from a first position to a second position. In the first position, the headrest is generally proximate a seatback of the motor vehicle. In the second position, the headrest is generally proximate a headliner of the motor vehicle.

Abstract: A stowable vehicle seat assembly and a method of manufacturing a stowable vehicle seat. More specially, the stowable seat includes a bottom assembly forming the lower portion of a vehicle seat, and a rear assembly forming the back portion of the vehicle seat. In the stowed configuration, the bottom assembly and rear assembly are uncoupled, each folding to form a substantially flat subassembly easily stowed and fixed against a vehicle floor adjacent one another.

Abstract: A barrier system provides protection against rear cargo load intrusion into a passenger compartment of a vehicle. The barrier system is located in the rear cargo compartment of the vehicle. The barrier system includes a load bearing barrier net, a first set of attachments that connect the load bearing barrier net to a shelf panel in the rear cargo compartment and a second set of attachments that connect the load bearing barrier net to a wheel house in the rear cargo compartment. The first set of attachments is removable and the second set of attachments is not removable.

Abstract: A door panel for a motor vehicle comprises a front portion and a rear portion connected to the front portion. The front portion comprises carbon fiber sheet molding compound, and the rear portion comprises sheet molding compound containing glass fibers.

Abstract: A motor vehicle seat frame assembly has a headrest movable between an extended position and a retracted position. The frame assembly comprises a seatback frame operatively engaged with the headrest, the seatback frame being pivotable from a use position to a lowered position. A sun gear is fixed against rotation relative to the motor vehicle, and a planet gear is attached to the seatback frame and rotatably engaged with the sun gear. The planet gear is operatively engaged with the headrest to extend and to retract the headrest as the planet gear rotates about the sun ge.

Abstract: A locking mechanism for a tiltable steering column includes a rod disposed within and selectively actuable along a longitudinal axis of a sleeve. A biasing member biased the rod into a locked position with the sleeve, the biasing member having a first end coupled to a mounting portion extending from the sleeve. A collar is arranged around a portion of the sleeve, the collar includes a dog tangentially extending from an outer wall of the collar and a groove portion formed between the outer wall and the dog for receiving the second end of the biasing member.

Abstract: A fixture and method for aligning a vehicle fender and door, particularly a fixture for an assembly line point that attaches to a vehicle door and moves a front edge of the door to a spacing element, attaches to a vehicle fender, moves the fender to the spacing element and to a pre-defined 3-dimensional relationship with the door, and holds the fender in the pre-defined relationship while the fender is secured in place on the vehicle.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a body, preferrably an automotive vehicle body, to have a plurality of coating layers, starts with assembling the body out of parts made from pre-coated metal. A pretreatment step provides for paint adhesion and/or corrosion protection for cut edges, weld spots or metal finished areas. A powder paint base coat is then applied onto the pre-coated metal of the vehicle body. The pre-coat layer is one of the plurality of coating layers and the powder paint base coat is another one of the plurality of coating layers. In another embodiment, the powder paint base coat is applied in two steps, a first powder paint base coat and a color powder paint base coat. The first powder paint base coat is applied to a first portion of the vehicle body and the color powder paint base coat is applied to a second portion of the vehicle body.

Abstract: An apparatus for allowing translation of a steering wheel of a vehicle steering system along a predetermined path and retaining the steering wheel in a fixed orientation during translation along the predetermined path. The apparatus is comprised of a column mount adapted to be coupled to a steering column, a tilt head adapted to be coupled to the steering wheel in a desired orientation and at least one orientation link coupled to the column mount and tilt head. The apparatus is operable to allow relative translation of the tilt head with respect to said column mount while retaining the steering wheel in a desired orientation.

Abstract: A hinge mechanism for mounting a vehicle door structure to a vehicle body having first, second, third and fourth hinge members and a plurality of pin members. The first and fourth hinge members are coupled to the vehicle body and the vehicle door, respectively. The pin members pivotably couple the second and third hinge members to the first and fourth hinge members, permitting the vehicle door structure to pivot relative to the vehicle body between a closed position and an open position. The second and third hinge members are configured to resist a seal force that is exerted to the vehicle door by a weatherstrip seal to inhibit an outer surface of the vehicle door from skewing relative to an outer surface of the vehicle body in response to the seal force.

Abstract: A diffusing corner for fluid flow within a wind tunnel comprising an arrangement of diffusing vanes for diverting the flow of air through the corner in a plurality of air passages having increasing cross-sectional area, thereby increasing the overall cross-sectional area of the wind tunnel and slowing the air flow. The vanes are configured to minimize turbulence and the loss of energy through the corner, and to attenuate transmission of sound generated within the wind tunnel.

Abstract: A tilt steering wheel in a vehicle is provided which can be locked in selected positions by a mechanism that includes a rod having pivot connections with stationary and movable components of the steering column. A rotatable locking sleeve encircles the rod to form a rigid connection between the rod and one of the pivot connections. Mesh teeth on the rod and sleeve prevent the sleeve from moving in the elongated direction. By rotating the sleeve on the rod it is possible to shift the teeth out of mesh such that the rod can move longitudinally to set the steering column in a selected position. The sleeve has a slot with major and minor portions and in the locking position the minor portion captures a pivot shaft of the steering column and prevents relative movement of the rod with respect to the pivot shaft.

Abstract: A steering column assembly is provided and includes a lower steering column member, an upper steering column member pivotally attached to the lower steering column member, and a locking mechanism operably interconnecting the upper and lower steering column members and selectively actuable for locking the upper steering column member in one of a plurality of pivot positions relative to the lower steering column member and a lever mechanism operably interconnected with the locking member for selectively actuation the locking member. The lever mechanism includes a release lever, a multiplying lever in operable communication with the locking mechanism, and a link interconnecting the release lever and the multiplying lever. The link transfers an input force applied to the release lever for multiplication through the multiplying lever for actuating the locking mechanism.

Abstract: A pointer to teach a robot to repetitively manipulate a brazing nozzle is provided. In a preferred embodiment, the pointer allows the robot to manipulate the brazing nozzle at a preselected work distance away from a surface along a multi-dimensional path on a complex work piece. The pointer includes a base portion for connection with an end of a robot arm. The pointer additionally has a main body having a length inclusive of the base portion approximating the length of the brazing nozzle and the preselected work distance of the brazing nozzle away from the work piece. A contact portion of the pointer is continuous with the main body and is provided for contacting the work piece. The contact portion has two small parallel spaced surface flats. The surface flats of the contact portion are generally aligned in a common plane at the preselected work angle with respect to the robot arm.

Abstract: A seat assembly for a motor vehicle including at least one J-shaped bracket movable toward and away from a front of the vehicle, a pivot rod engaging the at least one J-shaped bracket, and a seat cushion frame connected to the at least one J-shaped bracket. At least one link is attached to the seat frame and attached to the floor of the vehicle, and at least one guide bracket is mounted to the vehicle floor. The guide bracket has an arcuate slot engagable with the pivot rod as the J-shaped bracket moves toward the front of the vehicle to pivot the J-shaped bracket.

Abstract: A clutch pedal assembly is provided including a support bracket for pivotally mounting a clutch arm and an actuator arm. The clutch arm includes a clutch pedal for enabling actuation by a vehicle operator and the actuator arm is attached to a linkage for manipulating a master cylinder of a hydraulically actuated clutch release system. The clutch arm and actuator arm are interconnected via a pair of drag links, whereby operator actuation of the clutch arm results in corresponding actuation of the actuator arm.