Abstract: A vehicle assembly includes a bumper of a vehicle and a deployable step assembly that is pivotable back-and-forth between a stowed position and a deployed position relative to the bumper. When in the stowed position, a step pad of the deployable step assembly is received within a bumper pocket of the bumper. When in the deployed position, the step pad is rearward and vertically lower than the bumper.

Abstract: A tailgate assembly includes a frame subassembly having a cargo bed access opening disposed between a driver side section and a passenger side section, and a door subassembly that is pivotably coupled to the frame subassembly. The door subassembly is pivotable relative to the frame subassembly back-and-forth between a door open position and a door closed position. The door subassembly closes the cargo bed access opening when the door subassembly is in the door closed position. The tailgate assembly further includes an actuator system that can pivot the door subassembly and the frame subassembly together back-and-forth between a tailgate closed position and a tailgate open position.

Abstract: A vehicle cargo bed extender system is comprised of a plurality of panels that are coupled together such that the panels are configurable between a plurality of use positions including at least a stowed position and an extended position. When in the stowed position, the plurality of panels are stored within a cargo bed floor. When in the extended position, the plurality of panels provide an extended work surface that extends outwardly beyond the cargo bed floor.

Abstract: A vehicle utility bed system comprises a floor, first and second side walls extending up from opposing sides of the floor, and a rear wall mounted for pivoting movement relative to the floor. The rear wall is moveable between an upright position where the rear wall cooperates with the first and second side walls to enclose an end of a cargo bed area and an open position to allow access to the cargo bed area. The vehicle utility bed system further comprises an extender structure mounted for pivoting movement relative to the floor. The extender structure is movable between a stowed position where the extender structure is located within the floor and a deployed position where the extender structure increases a size of the cargo bed area when the rear wall is in the open position.

Abstract: This relates to a vehicle including a rear closure assembly having a liftgate and a tailgate. The liftgate and the tailgate are moveable by a common actuator. In one embodiment, a vehicle includes a liftgate moveable between a liftgate closed position and a liftgate open position to selectively cover and uncover a first portion of a rear opening in a body of the vehicle, a tailgate moveable between a tailgate closed position and a tailgate open position to selectively cover and uncover a second portion of the rear opening, and an actuator mechanically coupled to both the liftgate and the tailgate. The actuator is configured to move the liftgate between the liftgate closed position and the liftgate open position, and the actuator is configured to move the tailgate between the tailgate closed position and the tailgate open position.

Abstract: A propulsion engine and its use in a vehicle and method for space propulsion of a vehicle in a gravitational field for orbital altitude control or travel in deep space. The propulsion engine of the vehicle employs non-ejectable propellant masses that are accelerated cyclically in a selected average vectorial direction between two random and distinctive points following any random path with a mean central point, thereby generating and amplifying local gravity assist. The acceleration of the non-ejectable propellant masses causes the propulsion engine to accelerate the vehicle away from the source of the gravitational field to a tangential velocity that matches or exceeds the stable tangential velocity to maintain or raise the vehicle to a second stable orbital altitude, or continuously and locally generates gravity assist boost moving through the cosmic gravitational field lines in deep space.

Abstract: An assembly for a vehicle according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a step assembly that is movable back-and-forth between a first configuration and a second configuration. In the first configuration, the step assembly is adjustable between a tailgate deployed position and a tailgate stowed position while the step assembly is removably coupled to a tailgate of a vehicle. In the second configuration, the step assembly is adjustable between a vehicle deployed position and a vehicle stowed position while the step assembly is removably coupled to an area of the vehicle other than the tailgate.

Abstract: A tailgate assembly includes, among other things, a frame sub-assembly that includes a driver side section, a passenger side section, and a sill coupling the driver side section to the passenger side section. A door sub-assembly is disposed between the driver side section and the passenger side section. The door sub-assembly and the frame sub-assembly are pivotable together about a first axis between a tailgate closed position and a tailgate open position. The door sub-assembly is pivotable relative to the frame sub-assembly about a first door axis between a door closed position and a door open position. The door sub-assembly is pivotable relative to the frame sub-assembly about a second door axis that is different than the first door axis.

Abstract: A tailgate assembly for a vehicle includes, among other things, a frame sub-assembly that includes a driver side section, a passenger side section, and a connection member coupling the driver side section to the passenger side section. The assembly further includes a door sub-assembly disposed between the driver side section and the passenger side section. The door sub-assembly and the frame sub-assembly are pivotable together about a first axis between a tailgate closed position and a tailgate open position. The door sub-assembly is pivotable relative to the frame sub-assembly about a second axis between a door closed position and a door open position. The door sub-assembly in the door open position provides a cargo bed access opening that extends vertically downward at least as far as a floor of the cargo bed.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a vehicle including a rear closure assembly having a liftgate and a tailgate. The liftgate and the tailgate are moveable by a common actuator. In one embodiment of this disclosure, a vehicle includes a liftgate moveable between a liftgate closed position and a liftgate open position to selectively cover and uncover a first portion of a rear opening in a body of the vehicle, a tailgate moveable between a tailgate closed position and a tailgate open position to selectively cover and uncover a second portion of the rear opening, and an actuator mechanically coupled to both the liftgate and the tailgate. The actuator is configured to move the liftgate between the liftgate closed position and the liftgate open position, and the actuator is configured to move the tailgate between the tailgate closed position and the tailgate open position.

Abstract: An assembly for a vehicle according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a step assembly that is movable back-and-forth between a first configuration and a second configuration. In the first configuration, the step assembly is adjustable between a tailgate deployed position and a tailgate stowed position while the step assembly is removably coupled to a tailgate of a vehicle. In the second configuration, the step assembly is adjustable between a vehicle deployed position and a vehicle stowed position while the step assembly is removably coupled to an area of the vehicle other than the tailgate.

Abstract: A vehicle closure assembly actuating method includes, among other things, detecting a user approaching the vehicle, and assessing an approach speed of the user. The approach speed is a speed at which the user is approaching the vehicle. The method further includes opening a closure assembly of the vehicle based, at least in part, on the approach speed from the assessing.

Abstract: A tailgate assembly for a vehicle includes, among other things, a frame sub-assembly that includes a driver side section, a passenger side section, and a connection member coupling the driver side section to the passenger side section. The assembly further includes a door sub-assembly disposed between the driver side section and the passenger side section. The door sub-assembly and the frame sub-assembly are pivotable together about a first axis between a tailgate closed position and a tailgate open position. The door sub-assembly is pivotable relative to the frame sub-assembly about a second axis between a door closed position and a door open position. The door sub-assembly in the door open position provides a cargo bed access opening that extends vertically downward at least as far as a floor of the cargo bed.

Abstract: A tailgate assembly includes, among other things, a frame sub-assembly that includes a driver side section, a passenger side section, and a sill coupling the driver side section to the passenger side section. A door sub-assembly is disposed between the driver side section and the passenger side section. The door sub-assembly and the frame sub-assembly are pivotable together about a first axis between a tailgate closed position and a tailgate open position. The door sub-assembly is pivotable relative to the frame sub-assembly about a first door axis between a door closed position and a door open position. The door sub-assembly is pivotable relative to the frame sub-assembly about a second door axis that is different than the first door axis.

Abstract: A tailgate assembly for a vehicle includes, among other things, a frame sub-assembly that includes a driver side section, a passenger side section, and a connection member coupling the driver side section to the passenger side section. The assembly further includes a door sub-assembly disposed between the driver side section and the passenger side section. The door sub-assembly and the frame sub-assembly are pivotable together about a first axis between a tailgate closed position and a tailgate open position. The door sub-assembly is pivotable relative to the frame sub-assembly about a second axis between a door closed position and a door open position. The door sub-assembly in the door open position provides a cargo bed access opening that extends vertically downward at least as far as a floor of the cargo bed.

Abstract: A tailgate assembly for a vehicle includes, among other things, a frame sub-assembly that includes a driver side section, a passenger side section, and a connection member coupling the driver side section to the passenger side section. The assembly further includes a door sub-assembly disposed between the driver side section and the passenger side section. The door sub-assembly and the frame sub-assembly are pivotable together about a first axis between a tailgate closed position and a tailgate open position. The door sub-assembly is pivotable relative to the frame sub-assembly about a second axis between a door closed position and a door open position. The door sub-assembly in the door open position provides a cargo bed access opening that extends vertically downward at least as far as a floor of the cargo bed.

Abstract: A tailgate assembly according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a primary tailgate having a cargo bed access opening. The primary tailgate moveable between a closed position and a fully open position relative to a cargo bed of a vehicle. The tailgate assembly further including a secondary tailgate that can move between a blocking position where the secondary tailgate extends into the cargo bed access opening and an accessing position where the secondary tailgate is retracted away from the cargo bed access opening. The secondary tailgate in the accessing position at least partially retracted into a portion of the primary tailgate that is vertically beneath the cargo bed access opening when the primary tailgate is in the closed position.

Abstract: A tailgate assembly according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a primary tailgate having a cargo bed access opening. The primary tailgate moveable between a closed position and a fully open position relative to a cargo bed of a vehicle. The tailgate assembly further including a secondary tailgate that can move between a blocking position where the secondary tailgate extends into the cargo bed access opening and an accessing position where the secondary tailgate is retracted away from the cargo bed access opening.

Abstract: A vehicle tailgate with a power up-down system may employ a method of operating a vehicle tailgate that may include detecting a step is deployed from the tailgate, detecting the tailgate is less than fully open, and automatically actuating a power up-down system to drive the tailgate to fully open.

Abstract: A lighting system for a vehicle passenger includes, among other things, a light emitting conduit disposed about at least a portion of an opening through a vehicle roof. The light emitting conduit includes a push-through retainer that is insertable through an aperture in a vehicle structure to hold the light emitting conduit relative to the vehicle structure.