Abstract: A module in the form of a carrier with an optional decorative body is mountable on an exterior surface of a vehicle lift gate and provides a mounting platform for a plurality of components. The components include at least two of light sources in the form of LEDs or incandescent bulbs, an actuatable switch, a camera, a key lock cylinder and a movable handle. The carrier is affixed to the body and is alignable with apertures in the body for transmission of light from the light sources exteriorly of the body as well as to provide a field of view for the camera. The electric switch is actuatable through a resilient membrane.

Abstract: A pillar trim component is provided that has a pillar trim member with at least one surface and an attachment member projecting from the surface of the pillar trim member. The pillar trim component includes an attachment member adapted to connect to a portion of the vehicle. The pillar trim component further has a region defined by at least a portion of the surface of the pillar trim member and at least a portion of a surface of the attachment member. A raised portion is positioned in the region that extends between the portion of the surface of the pillar trim member and the portion of the surface of the attachment member. The raised portion is adapted to facilitate a deployment of a tether of an airbag.

Abstract: A cargo bed step is described including a frame having an upper portion and a lower portion. The frame is disposed proximate a rear portion of a cargo bed. A pivoting mechanism is disposed between an inner surface and the upper portion for selectively pivoting the cargo bed step assembly between a stowed position and an extended position. At least one step is disposed proximate the lower portion. The frame is selectively pivotable to be generally flush with the inner surface of either an inner cargo bed surface or an inner tailgate surface in the stowed position.

Abstract: A fluid coupling includes a carrier carrying a retention ring with inward and outward radially and angularly extending fingers for respectively engaging an outer surface of an endform inserted through a bore in the carrier and the inner surface of a bore in a housing in which the carrier is mounted to fix the endform to the carrier and to fix the carrier to the housing. Inner and outer seal elements are also carried on the carrier to seal the carrier to the endform and the housing to the carrier. Both of the seal elements are disposed axially closer to one end of the carrier than the inward and outward extending fingers.

Abstract: An adapter for holding a workpiece to be machined in an accurately located axial position can include a main sleeve having an interior wall defining a passage extending therethrough with at least one inner surface angled inwardly toward a centerline of the passage, a workpiece locator engageable within the passage and supporting a positive axial location stop, an axially and radially moveable collet interposed between the main sleeve and a workpiece to be processed, and a rotatable sleeve engageable with the collet for accurately locating the workpiece to be processed by radially grasping the workpiece to be processed and axially moving the workpiece into engagement with the positive axial location stop.

Abstract: A vehicle door and hinging is described that allow for the door of a vehicle to be translated forward and rotated upward upon being opened in order to improve occupant ingress and egress. In addition, the doors and hinges of embodiments of the present invention allow for the door to be translated slightly outward for increased body panel clearance. In one embodiment of the present invention, a door has a four bar link hinge where the first and second pivots of a first bar of the four bar link hinge each allow for a single degree of motion. The pivot points are not co-axial and allow the door to translate vertically and horizontally. A second bar has first and second pivot points that each allow for three degrees of rotation to allow for the vertical and horizontal translation of the door member when actuated.

Abstract: With a variable valve timing system, engine operability may be lost when performing open control of lift characteristic amounts to the minimum or the maximum of a variable range when a sensor error occurs. The present invention provides a lift operation angle changing mechanism that can continuously change intake valve lift amount and operation angle within a prescribed variable range. A target operation angle is calculated based on the number of engine revolutions and the accelerator pedal opening APO. An error is determined for the operation angle sensor that detects the actual operation angle. A normal control amount is calculated based on the target operation angle and the actual operation angle, and a failure control amount is calculated based on the number of engine revolutions. Therefore, an intermediate value within the variable range can be obtained as the failure control amount.

Abstract: A lag time is set in a period from the time when a leak down is finished to the time when measurement of the amount of fuel vapor is started for the purpose of returning a deformed fuel tank to its original shape. A fuel vapor amount estimating means is provided that estimates the amount of fuel vapor produced in the fuel tank during the time of the leak down. This means is so set as to make the lag time shorter as the amount of fuel vapor increases. With this, undesired precision in measuring the amount of fuel vapor produced under a condition wherein the amount of fuel vapor is large can be avoided.

Abstract: A tailgate for a pickup truck or other vehicle. The tailgate is convertible to a loading ramp to facilitate access to the cargo-holding area of the vehicle. The tailgate includes at least one extensible hook member on one side edge of the tailgate and a panel extensible from the other side edge of the tailgate. In use, the tailgate is removed from the truck, the hook member is extended, the panel is extended, and the hook member is engaged with a rear edge of the cargo-holding area with the tailgate and extended panel extending rearwardly to define the ramp.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to vehicles and door sills for vehicles. In one aspect, the disclosure relates to door sills having an interior channel configured to receive a retractable panel installed within a vehicle door. In another aspect, the disclosure relates to impact-absorbing door sills for motor vehicles, for example, an automobile. The disclosure also provides methods for forming a shaped composite article from a metal foam and attaching the shaped composite article to a side frame of a vehicle chassis.

Abstract: An application of rate gyros and accelerometers allows electronic measurement of the motion of a rigid or semi-rigid body, such as a body associated with sporting equipment including a fly rod during casting, a baseball bat, a tennis racquet or a golf club during swinging. For instance, data can be collected by one gyro according to the present invention is extremely useful in analyzing the motion of a fly rod during fly casting instruction, and can also be used during the research, development and design phases of fly casting equipment including fly rods and fly lines. Similarly, data collected by three gyros and three accelerometers is extremely useful in analyzing the three dimensional motion of other sporting equipment such as baseball bats, tennis racquets and golf clubs. This data can be used to support instruction as well as design of the sporting equipment.

Abstract: A watthour meter socket adapter carries rigid conductors extending from a connection to jaw contacts in a housing, the conductors mounting the socket adapter between the lower load mounting connections and the upper line mounting connections in a meter fitting to define an in-service metering position where the socket adapter and the watthour meter are disposed in the normal out-of-service, non-metering position in the meter fitting. The socket adapter housing is spaced from a ground terminal insulating block mounted over a ground terminal in the meter fitting. In another aspect, a plurality of current transformers are carried on a plate which mounts in an existing K-series meter fitting line and load terminal connections footprint.

Abstract: A window cleaning apparatus includes a handle, a paddle and a cleaning element. The paddle is removably attachable to the handle. The handle includes oppositely extending end pins which are pivotally received in receivers carried on the paddle. At least one of the receivers has a bore which receives on of the handle end pins. At least one of the receivers is formed with separable members for forming a snap-connection with one of the handle end pins. The cleaning element has side edges with elastic to draw the ends of the side edges of the body inward to form an opening smaller than the outer diameter of the paddle to releasably attach the cleaning element about the paddle.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a detachable windshield for a vehicle. In certain embodiments, the disclosure relates to a detachable windshield for a motor vehicle such as an automobile, in particular an automobile having an engine compartment positioned forward of a passenger compartment. In one embodiment, a vehicle includes a detachable windshield, at least one structural member, and a plurality of releasable fasteners that attach the detachable windshield to the structural member. The windshield may be detached upon release of the fasteners. In another embodiment, a method includes placing a detachable windshield onto at least one structural member of a vehicle, and securing the detachable windshield to the structural member with a plurality of releasable fasteners. In a further embodiment, a vehicle includes means for viewing an outside area from within a vehicle, means for supporting the viewing means, and means for securing the viewing means to the supporting means.

Abstract: A door of a motor vehicle has a substantially rigid sheet that extends downwardly from a lower edge of the door. The sheet may be opaque, translucent, or transparent. The sheet may be fixed in the extended position or may be selectively retractable and extendable.

Abstract: An analysis method for an electrical power system whereby the plurality of buses are grouped into agents, family lines of agents and families of agents based on the reactive reserves depleted when the buses are loaded. Contingencies are then applied to the electrical power system. The reactive reserves are monitored, and an exhaustion factor is determined for one or more family lines in one or more families. A boundary case solution is used to assess where, why, and how the contingency causes voltage instability, voltage collapse and/or local blackout. Based on this information, the design of voltage rescheduling, active rescheduling, unit commitment, load shedding, etc., is determined that can be used as preventive, corrective or emergency controls in applications such as system design and planning, operation planning, reactive and voltage management, real time control and Special Protection System Control. Based on this information, solutions can then be applied to the power system.