Abstract: A vehicle seat belt system is provided. The vehicle seat belt system includes a seat belt comprising a tubular seat belt webbing defining a passageway and a plurality of pressure control valves and a seat belt buckle for connecting to the seat belt. The seat belt buckle has an air delivery port for delivering air to the passenger, and an air delivery device supplies air to the seat belt, wherein the valves allow the supplied air to exit the seat belt at a first air pressure and block air from exiting at a second pressure.

Abstract: A seat assembly includes a seat member having a support surface, wherein the support surface is disposed at an inclined angle from a rear portion to a front portion thereof. A seat cover covers the support surface. An airbag assembly is disposed below the seat cover at the front portion of the support surface at a thigh support region. The airbag is operable between inflated and deflated conditions, wherein the airbag assembly increases the inclined angle of the support surface when the airbag assembly is in the inflated condition.

Abstract: An apparatus for a vehicle including a vehicle tailgate having a recess formed therein. A sawhorse is adapted for positioning in the recess in a stowed position and for being removed for use apart from the vehicle. The sawhorse may include a projecting handle for use in lifting the sawhorse from the recess. The tailgate may also include a retractable ladder or step, which may be arranged for forming an extended bed. Related methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for extending a vehicle bed includes a tailgate having first and second retractable members adapted for being recessed within the tailgate and for projecting therefrom in an extended position when the tailgate is lowered. A removable support is provided for connecting with the first and second retractable members in the extended position for extending the vehicle bed. The removable support may comprise a ladder supported by the tailgate. The ladder may assume a lowered position for use in stepping onto the tailgate using the retractable members as handles and a raised position substantially aligned with the retractable members for extending the vehicle bed. The removable support may also comprise a cross bar that connects with the retractable members to form the bed extension.

Abstract: An airbag includes a panel and a plurality of fingers. The panel includes an impact surface and defines an inflation chamber inflatable to an inflated state. The plurality of fingers are in communication with the inflation chamber. Each of the fingers are spaced from each other and extend from the impact surface away from the inflation chamber in the inflated state. During a vehicle impact, the momentum of the occupant may move the occupant towards the plurality of fingers. The fingers may absorb energy from the occupant and reduce or prevent the head of the occupant from sliding across the impact surface and/or rotating.

Abstract: An apparatus for extending a vehicle bed includes a tailgate having first and second retractable members adapted for being recessed within the tailgate and for projecting therefrom in an extended position when the tailgate is lowered. A removable support is provided for connecting with the first and second retractable members in the extended position for extending the vehicle bed. The removable support may comprise a ladder supported by the tailgate. The ladder may assume a lowered position for use in stepping onto the tailgate using the retractable members as handles and a raised position substantially aligned with the retractable members for extending the vehicle bed. The removable support may also comprise a cross bar that connects with the retractable members to form the bed extension.

Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a seatback extending from a first side to a second side. An airbag assembly having a housing is supported by the seatback at one of the first and second sides. An airbag is inflatable from the housing to an inflated position. In the inflated position, the airbag has a first leg extending away from the seatback and a second leg spaced from the seatback, and extending from the first leg in a cross-seatback direction to a distal end of the second leg. A panel extends from the distal end of the second leg to the housing.

Abstract: A guide mechanism may be provided in a buckle assembly including an inner sleeve and an outer sleeve. The guide mechanism in one example includes notches in the outer sleeve mateable to notches in a tongue piece. In another example, the guide mechanism includes ribs formed on an interior of the outer sleeve, that together with a wall of an outer button included in the outer sleeve, form a slot for receiving a tongue piece. In yet another example, the guide mechanism includes a pair of leaf springs having openings therein forming a slot for receiving a tongue piece.

Abstract: A work surface apparatus for a vehicle includes a tailgate having at least two panel-supporting posts adapted for translating between a stowed position and a substantially horizontal deployed position. A panel is included, configured to be supported in a substantially horizontal orientation by the deployed at least two panel-supporting posts. The panel may be a cargo area divider defined by hingedly connected sections.

Abstract: A work surface apparatus for a vehicle cargo area includes a tailgate including at least two panel-supporting posts adapted for translating between a stowed position and a substantially horizontal deployed position to hold a work surface and a cargo area extender configurable for supporting in a substantially planar configuration by the deployed at least two panel-supporting posts. The cargo area extender may be defined by a folding panel. The folding panel may be defined by hingedly connected sections and may be stowed within a portion of the tailgate.

Abstract: An apparatus for a vehicle including a vehicle bed having a wall with a recess formed therein. The apparatus comprises a sawhorse adapted for positioning in the recess of the vehicle bed in a stowed position and removed for use apart from the vehicle. A vehicle with an integrated sawhorse may thus be provided. Related methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for a vehicle including a vehicle tailgate having a recess formed therein. A sawhorse is adapted for positioning in the recess in a stowed position and for being removed for use apart from the vehicle. The sawhorse may include a projecting handle for use in lifting the sawhorse from the recess. The tailgate may also include a retractable ladder or step, which may be arranged for forming an extended bed. Related methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: An airbag includes a panel and a plurality of fingers. The panel includes an impact surface and defines an inflation chamber inflatable to an inflated state. The plurality of fingers are in communication with the inflation chamber. Each of the fingers are spaced from each other and extend from the impact surface away from the inflation chamber in the inflated state. During a vehicle impact, the momentum of the occupant may move the occupant towards the plurality of fingers. The fingers may absorb energy from the occupant and reduce or prevent the head of the occupant from sliding across the impact surface and/or rotating.

Abstract: A work surface apparatus for a vehicle includes a tailgate having at least two panel-supporting posts adapted for translating between a stowed position and a substantially horizontal deployed position. A panel is included, configured to be supported in a substantially horizontal orientation by the deployed at least two panel-supporting posts. The panel may be a cargo area divider defined by hingedly connected sections.

Abstract: A work surface apparatus for a vehicle cargo area includes a tailgate including at least two panel-supporting posts adapted for translating between a stowed position and a substantially horizontal deployed position to hold a work surface and a cargo area extender configurable for supporting in a substantially planar configuration by the deployed at least two panel-supporting posts. The cargo area extender may be defined by a folding panel. The folding panel may be defined by hingedly connected sections and may be stowed within a portion of the tailgate.

Abstract: An apparatus for extending a vehicle bed includes a tailgate for raising and lowering relative to the vehicle bed. The tailgate includes a retractable member adapted for extending vertically from the tailgate when lowered, and also for extending horizontally from the tailgate to form a handle. A ladder supported by the tailgate is adapted for moving from a lowered position for use in stepping into the vehicle bed using the handle to a raised position for connecting with the retractable member when oriented vertically from the tailgate, thus extending the effective length of the vehicle bed.

Abstract: A deployable storage system is provided for a truck. That deployable storage system includes a truck bed wall and a storage cabinet that is integrated into the truck bed wall. The storage cabinet is configured to be displaceable between a stowed position held within the truck bed wall and a deployed position extending above the truck bed wall.

Abstract: An apparatus for extending a vehicle bed includes a tailgate having first and second retractable members adapted for being recessed within the tailgate and for projecting therefrom in an extended position when the tailgate is lowered. A removable support is provided for connecting with the first and second retractable members in the extended position for extending the vehicle bed. The removable support may comprise a ladder supported by the tailgate. The ladder may assume a lowered position for use in stepping onto the tailgate using the retractable members as handles and a raised position substantially aligned with the retractable members for extending the vehicle bed. The removable support may also comprise a cross bar that connects with the retractable members to form the bed extension.

Abstract: A vehicle has a restraint system with at least two restraint devices. A sensor detects a potential collision object and outputs a signal representing a relative position of the potential collision object to the vehicle. A processing device suppresses deployment of at least one of the restraint devices based at least in part on the signal output by the at least one sensor.

Abstract: A bumper assembly includes a bumper beam, an actuator, and a lower stiffener. The actuator includes a base mounted to the bumper beam, and a rod moveably engaged with the base along a vertical axis. The lower stiffener is fixed to the rod. Depending on pre-determined vehicle speeds, the lower stiffener moves from a deployed position to a retracted position based on pedestrian leg impact considerations and to reduce the likelihood of lower stiffener damage.