Abstract: A vehicle hitch assembly is provided. The receiver tube is connectable with a bumper structure and defines a longitudinally-extending opening. The hitch assembly includes a drawbar assembly with an elongated body and a rod. The elongated body is dimensioned to be received within the opening in the receiver tube and defines a longitudinally-extending passageway. The rod is rotatably received within the longitudinally-extending passageway between a first position and a second position. The rod includes a detent feature that couples together the elongated body and the receiver tube when the rod is rotated to the second position and detaches the elongated body and the receiver tube when the rod is rotated to the first position.

Abstract: A hitch assembly having a ball stud assembly and a sleeve with an open end dimensioned to receive the ball stud assembly. The ball stud assembly including a ball portion and a locking assembly. The ball stud assembly is movable between an extended position in which the ball portion extends out of the sleeve and a retracted position in which the ball portion is fully received within the sleeve. The locking assembly is configured to selectively lock the ball stud assembly with respect to the sleeve in either the extended position or the retracted position.

Abstract: A hinge assembly including a vehicle body hinge member configured to be connected with a vehicle body and a hood hinge member configured to be connected with a vehicle hood. The vehicle body hinge member and the hood hinge member are pivotally connected so the hood can be opened for servicing and closed for driving. In one embodiment, a pedestrian protection device includes a bracket movable between an extended position in which a rear portion of the vehicle hood is in an elevated position and a retracted position in which the rear portion of the vehicle hood is in a drivable position. A shear pin extends through the bracket for maintaining the bracket in the retracted position until a threshold force is applied to the bracket. The device includes an actuator configured to apply at least the threshold force to shear the shear pin, thereby moving the bracket to the extended position. A reset latch relocks the bracket in the retracted position after the shear pin has been sheared.

Abstract: A hitch assembly for attachment to a bumper beam that is concealed with a bumper fascia. In one embodiment, the hitch assembly includes a body extending through the bumper fascia and has a receiver dimensioned to receive a drawbar. To secure the drawbar to the hitch assembly, at least one pin may be provided that can move between an engaged position that secures the drawbar to the hitch assembly and a disengaged position that allows the drawbar to be released from the hitch assembly. The hitch assembly may also include a handle extending from the bumper fascia and adapted to move the pin between the engaged position and the disengaged position.

Abstract: A hinge assembly including a vehicle body hinge member configured to be connected with a vehicle body and a hood hinge member configured to be connected with a vehicle hood. The vehicle body hinge member and the hood hinge member are pivotally connected so the hood can be opened for servicing and closed for driving. In one embodiment, a pedestrian protection device includes a bracket movable between an extended position in which a rear portion of the vehicle hood is in an elevated position and a retracted position in which the rear portion of the vehicle hood is in a drivable position. A shear pin extends through the bracket for maintaining the bracket in the retracted position until a threshold force is applied to the bracket. The device includes an actuator configured to apply at least the threshold force to shear the shear pin, thereby moving the bracket to the extended position. A reset latch relocks the bracket in the retracted position after the shear pin has been sheared.

Abstract: A vehicle component formed using a reinforcing mixture that includes a plurality of basalt fibers. According to one embodiment, the reinforced vehicle component could be formed by a method in which a vehicle component is provided for reinforcement, such as a vehicle panel that may be stamped from steel. Basalt fibers are mixed with a carrier that includes one or more of an epoxy or a glue. The mixture of basalt fibers and the carrier are applied to the vehicle panel. In one embodiment, for example, the mixture could be sprayed onto the vehicle panel for purposes of reinforcement.

Abstract: A hinge assembly that allows a door to swing open up to approximately 170 degrees, which allows for greater access to the interior compartment. In one embodiment, the hinge assembly includes two mounting brackets, a load link and a driver link. The load link is configured to carry the weight of the door while the driver link drives the load link through the pivoting motion. As the door begins to swing open, the driver link is fixed in association with the load link. This association allows the hinge assembly to rotate and keep a constant between each link, thereby allowing for a smooth and single opening motion.

Abstract: A hitch assembly for attachment to a bumper beam that is concealed with a bumper fascia. In one embodiment, the hitch assembly includes a body extending through the bumper fascia and has a receiver dimensioned to receive a drawbar. To secure the drawbar to the hitch assembly, at least one pin may be provided that can move between an engaged position that secures the drawbar to the hitch assembly and a disengaged position that allows the drawbar to be released from the hitch assembly. The hitch assembly may also include a handle extending from the bumper fascia and adapted to move the pin between the engaged position and the disengaged position.

Abstract: A vehicle tailgate side mounted step assist mechanism attachable to a vehicle including a vehicle bed coupled to a pillar and a tailgate pivotally attached to the vehicle bed for providing access to the vehicle bed in a tailgate open position and securing contents of the vehicle bed in a tailgate closed position. The mechanism may include generally parallel supports rotatably mountable to a side of the tailgate, the supports capable of being deployed when the tailgate is in the tailgate open position and stowed when the tailgate is in the tailgate closed position. A tailgate step is disposable between the supports at a predetermined distance from the side of the tailgate, and a lockout device prevents the tailgate from returning to the tailgate closed position when the tailgate step is deployed.

Abstract: A hitch assembly that allows a hitch portion to be rotated between extended and retracted positions. The hitch portion may be selectively fixed in either the extended or retracted position using a lock. A release may be provided to actuate the lock. Typically, the release includes a cam that acts on a surface of a shaft to actuate the lock.

Abstract: A reinforcement ring (14) for a vehicle hitch (10) has a square shape with elongated portions (38) each having a J-shaped cross section that extends around the rear end of a hitch receiver tube (12) to provide reinforcement and a smooth transition upon insertion of a hitch tongue (16).

Abstract: A reinforcement ring (14) for a vehicle hitch (10) has a square shape with elongated portions (38) each having a J-shaped cross section that extends around the rear end of a hitch receiver tube (12) to provide reinforcement and a smooth transition upon insertion of a hitch tongue (16).

Abstract: A vehicle hitch assembly (10) includes a stamped sheet metal cross tube (16) of an elongated shape with a central hitch support section (18) and lateral ends (20) mounted on the vehicle. A pair of stamped sheet metal members (22) of the sheet metal cross tube (16) each have intermediate portions (24) that project away from each other as well as having spaced peripheral flanges (26, 28) that are engaged with and secured to the peripheral flanges of the other stamped sheet metal member. The central hitch support section (18) of the stamped sheet metal cross tube (16) has a hitch ball support (32) for mounting a ball hitch on the hitch assembly.

Abstract: A vehicle hitch assembly (10) includes a stamped sheet metal cross tube (16) of an elongated shape with a central hitch support section (18) and lateral ends (20) mounted on the vehicle. A pair of stamped sheet metal members (22) of the sheet metal cross tube (16) each have intermediate portions (24) that projects away from each other as well as having spaced peripheral flanges (26, 28) that are engaged with and secured to the peripheral flanges of the other stamped sheet metal member. The central hitch support section (18) of the stamped sheet metal cross tube (16) has a hitch ball support (32) for mounting a ball hitch on the hitch assembly.

Abstract: A vehicle hinge and counterbalance assembly (34) for pivotally mounting a lateral end of a vehicle tailgate (26) at a lower extremity thereof for movement of the tailgate on an associated vehicle between an upper closed position and a lower opened position and for also providing counterbalancing of the tailgate.

Abstract: A vehicle integrated hitch and bumper support assembly (10) and a method for making the support assembly from tube stock includes an elongated tube (12) having an intermediate portion (14) and end portions (16) that are cut so that the elongated tubes can be cut from tube stock whose length is less than the combined length of the elongated tubes.

Abstract: A vehicle body hood hinge (24) includes a pivotal connector (32) that extends between a vehicle body hinge member (28) and a hood hinge member (30) to permit adjustment so that the hood is flush with the vehicle body in a closed position. The pivotal connector (32) includes a connection member 34 having an adjustment pivotal connection (36) on the vehicle body hinge member and an adjustable positioning connection (38) that secures the connection member in an adjusted position, while a main pivotal connection (40) of the pivotal connector includes a bushing (42) and a pintle (44) that cooperate to permit pivotal movement of the hinge between hood open and closed positions and to also permit adjustable positioning of the mounted hood with respect to the vehicle body.

Abstract: A four bar hinge (24) for mounting a vehicle rear deck lid (26) for movement between open and closed positions includes first and second vehicle body and deck lid mounted hinge members (28, 32) one of which has an adjuster (38), and the hinge also includes first and second connection members (42, 52) that extend between the hinge members with pivotal connections to provide a four bar linkage (62) that supports the deck lid for movement between open and closed positions. An adjuster member (40) of the adjuster (38) is adjustable upon assembly to move the deck lid vertically so as to be flush with the rear deck outer skin (16) of the vehicle. This adjustment is provided by a threaded connection (70).

Abstract: A secondary latch (38) for a vehicle hood (34) includes a secondary latch member (90) that is mounted on the vehicle body (22) by a pin and slot mounting connection (98) for pivotal movement between latched and unlatched positions with respect to an associated striker (40) on the hood and for translational movement between a lower retracted position and an upper extended position.

Abstract: A four bar hinge (24) for mounting a vehicle rear deck lid (26) for movement between open and closed positions includes first and second vehicle body and deck lid mounted hinge members (28, 32) one of which has an adjuster (38), and the hinge also includes first and second connection members (42, 52) that extend between the hinge members with pivotal connections to provide a four bar linkage (62) that supports the deck lid for movement between open and closed positions. An adjuster member (40) of the adjuster (38) is adjustable upon assembly to move the deck lid vertically so as to be flush with the rear deck outer skin (16) of the vehicle. This adjustment is provided by a threaded connection (70).