Abstract: A cargo box for a vehicle includes a base member having a first edge portion, a second edge portion, a first side edge portion and an opposing second side edge portion. A first cross sill extends across the base member. A second cross sill extends across the base member. A side panel member is coupled to the base member along one of the first and second side edge portions. The side panel member includes an opening. A step assembly includes a first step support coupled to the first cross sill, a second step support coupled to the second cross sill and at least one step member coupled to and extending between the first step support and second step support. The step member is arranged at the opening in the side panel member. The step member is decoupled from the side panel member.

Abstract: A cargo box for a vehicle includes a base member having a first edge portion, a second edge portion, a first side edge portion and an opposing second side edge portion. A first cross sill extends across the base member. A second cross sill extends across the base member. A side panel member is coupled to the base member along one of the first and second side edge portions. The side panel member includes an opening. A step assembly includes a first step support coupled to the first cross sill, a second step support coupled to the second cross sill and at least one step member coupled to and extending between the first step support and second step support. The step member is arranged at the opening in the side panel member. The step member is decoupled from the side panel member.

Abstract: A tie-down assembly for attachment to and detachment from a structure, such as a vehicle pick-up bed, includes a female fastener configured to collapse during insertion of the tie-down assembly into the structure. The female fastener is also configured to expand following the insertion for retention of the tie-down assembly on the structure. The tie-down assembly also includes a male fastener configured to threadably engage the female fastener. Additionally, the tie-down assembly includes a holder configured to retain and rotatably restrain the female fastener when the male fastener is being threaded into the female fastener and when the male fastener is being threaded out of the female fastener. The holder includes an aperture and the male fastener is configured to be inserted into the aperture. The holder is also configured to guide the female fastener to a fixed position for removal of the tie-down assembly from the structure.

Abstract: A tie-down assembly for attachment to and detachment from a structure, such as a vehicle pick-up bed, includes a female fastener configured to collapse during insertion of the tie-down assembly into the structure. The female fastener is also configured to expand following the insertion for retention of the tie-down assembly on the structure. The tie-down assembly also includes a male fastener configured to threadably engage the female fastener. Additionally, the tie-down assembly includes a holder configured to retain and rotatably restrain the female fastener when the male fastener is being threaded into the female fastener and when the male fastener is being threaded out of the female fastener. The holder includes an aperture and the male fastener is configured to be inserted into the aperture. The holder is also configured to guide the female fastener to a fixed position for removal of the tie-down assembly from the structure.

Abstract: A releasable locking latch assembly for an endgate of a pickup truck, which includes a handle for rotating the mechanisms of the locking latch assembly resulting in the retraction of one or more cables further resulting in the release of an endgate. The locking latch assembly includes a locking finger for impeding the movement of the locking latch assembly in a locked position and a lock for rotatably engaging the locking finger into and out of the locked position.

Abstract: An external automotive side stowage system including primary and secondary latching devices.

Abstract: A quarter side storage compartment accessible from outside the vehicle includes a simplified operating arrangement. The vehicle's endgate is used as an impediment to operation of the compartment latch's release handle. The release handle is positioned so that actuation thereof is not possible without opening the endgate. Preferably, but not necessarily, the endgate is lockable in the closed position, meaning that advantageously, the release handle does not require an individual lock.

Abstract: Composite ceramic armor (10) and a method for making the armor are disclosed as incorporating a plurality of plate-shaped ceramic tiles (12) and cloth (18) wrapped around each tile over each surface (14) and side (16) thereof with a synthetic resin matrix (20) permeating the cloth to encapsulate the tiles such that the resin matrix defines oppositely facing surfaces (22) and a plurality of sides (24) from which the ceramic tiles are spaced by the cloth. The tiles (12) are preferably rectangular and the cloth (18) preferably includes a pair of strips (26,28) wrapped around each tile in perpendicular directions to each other. Woven cloth is preferably utilized and is most preferably made from glass fibers or polyamide plastic fibers such as Kevlar.