Abstract: A clip includes a base that is elongated in a longitudinal direction, a post connected to the base at a proximal end of the post. The post extends away from the base and terminates at a distal end of the post. The clip further includes a first finger and a second finger both connected on opposite sides of the post and extending away from the post toward the base in the longitudinal direction. The clip also includes an elongated foot connected to the base on a side of the base opposite the post. The clip also includes an umbrella seal connected to the base that has a sealing lip around a periphery of the base that extends away from the base. The base, the elongated foot and the first finger and the second finger of the clip extend along the same longitudinal direction of the clip.

Abstract: A cargo management system for use with a motor vehicle cargo area having a floor. The system uses front, center are rear divider panels each configured to lay flat adjacent the floor when in a stowed position, and each is pivotally moveably into an upright, operative position. A first latching mechanism is used to releasably latch the front divider in the upright, operative position. The center divider panel is pivotally moveable from a stowed position to an operative position. The rear divider panel is pivotally moveable from a stowed position resting generally flat on the floor of the cargo area to an upright, operative position. A second latching mechanism is used to releasably hold the rear divider panel in the upright, operative position.

Abstract: A cargo supporting and restraining system is disclosed for use within a cargo area of a vehicle. The system may have a pair of support rails fixedly secured to opposing interior wall surfaces of a pair of sidewalls of a vehicle cargo area. A load bar assembly may be used which has a generally U-shaped frame, and which is supported for sliding movement and adjustable positioning along the support rails. A locking system may be associated with the load bar assembly for locking the load bar assembly at a desired longitudinal position along the support rails. A cargo box assembly may also be provided which is removably secured to the load bar assembly. A locking assembly is operably associated with the cargo box assembly for locking the cargo box to the load bar assembly to prevent removal of the cargo box assembly.

Abstract: A clip includes a base that is elongated in a longitudinal direction, a post connected to the base at a proximal end of the post. The post extends away from the base and terminates at a distal end of the post. The clip further includes a first finger and a second finger both connected on opposite sides of the post and extending away from the post toward the base in the longitudinal direction. The clip also includes an elongated foot connected to the base on a side of the base opposite the post. The clip also includes an umbrella seal connected to the base that has a sealing lip around a periphery of the base that extends away from the base. The base, the elongated foot and the first finger and the second finger of the clip extend along the same longitudinal direction of the clip.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an article carrier system particularly adapted for use with a pickup truck. The system employs a first pair of support tracks secured to a roof surface of a pickup truck, and a rear spoiler portion coupled to each of the first support tracks and extending therebetween adjacent a rear area of the roof surface. A second pair of support tracks is secured to a pair of truck bed sidewalls. A combination spoiler/support subsystem is supported from the second pair of support tracks and is adjustably positionable to provide a variable spacing between the rear spoiler portion and the spoiler/support subsystem, to thus tailor the system to support articles of various lengths thereon. The rear spoiler portion and the spoiler/support subsystem provide an appearance of a single, integrated spoiler when positioned closely adjacent one another.

Abstract: A vehicle article carrier system is disclosed for use on an outer body roof surface of a vehicle to removably support articles above the outer body roof surface. The system makes use of a cross bar assembly having a central tubular portion and telescopically coupled outer cross bar portions. A locking lever may be used to lock at least one of the outer cross bar portions to prevent telescopic movement. A pair of end supports is used to latch to door jam areas of the vehicle. The end supports each have a construction such that both can be configured in a generally planar configuration to enable easy stowage of the cross bar assemblies, and each pivoted into an angled configuration which places the tubular cross bar portion above the vehicle outer body surface when the cross bar assembly is secured to the door jam areas.

Abstract: A grommet assembly to support a wiring harness passing through an opening in a panel, the assembly including two rotationally symmetrical components coupled together along a primary coupling face to form a harness-receiving passage therethrough. Each rotationally symmetrical component including a first, thermoplastic structural portion integrated with a second, resilient sealing portion. The structural portions including a plurality of interlocking elements cooperating to couple the components together, and a plurality of retention arms engageable against the panel to retain the assembly and panel together. The sealing portion forming an outer sealing lip having a lip distal edge engageable against a surface of the panel adjacent the opening. The outer sealing lip including lap joints adjacent opposite sides of the primary coupling face. The structural portions including reinforcement tabs extending over each lap joint and designed to resist separation of the lap joints.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system readily configurable for use as either a step rail along a side of a motor vehicle, or also as a loading ramp for use in loading and unloading cargo to and from a cargo bed of the motor vehicle. The system makes use of a ramp assembly and a plurality of hangers. The hangers each have a first end which is affixed to a portion of the vehicle, and a second end on which the ramp assembly may releasably be supported from and secured to, and thus used as a step rail. The ramp assembly has at least one latching mechanism that can be secured to a striker post on one of the hangers, and a release element. The release element allows the ramp assembly to be detached from the striker post and used as a loading ramp.

Abstract: A vehicle article carrier is disclosed for use on a vehicle having a roof, where the roof has a pair of parallel extending ditch rails forming elongated recesses in the roof. The vehicle article carrier may incorporate a pair of tracks configured to rest within the ditch rails and to be fixedly secured within the ditch rails. A pair of cross bars may be removably securable to the tracks. Each cross bar may further be configured with a cross sectional shape to rest at least partially within an associated one of the ditch rails when placed in a stowed configuration. Each cross bar may further be securable to the tracks so as to extend perpendicularly between the tracks and above the roof when placed in an operative position.

Abstract: A cargo management system for use with a motor vehicle cargo area having a floor. The system uses front, center are rear divider panels each configured to lay flat adjacent the floor when in a stowed position, and each is pivotally moveably into an upright, operative position. A first latching mechanism is used to releasably latch the front divider in the upright, operative position. The center divider panel is pivotally moveable from a stowed position to an operative position. The rear divider panel is pivotally moveable from a stowed position resting generally flat on the floor of the cargo area to an upright, operative position. A second latching mechanism is used to releasably hold the rear divider panel in the upright, operative position.

Abstract: A cargo supporting and restraining system is disclosed for use within a cargo area of a vehicle. The system may have a pair of support rails fixedly secured to opposing interior wall surfaces of a pair of sidewalls of a vehicle cargo area. A load bar assembly may be used which has a generally U-shaped frame, and which is supported for sliding movement and adjustable positioning along the support rails. A locking system may be associated with the load bar assembly for locking the load bar assembly at a desired longitudinal position along the support rails. A cargo box assembly may also be provided which is removably secured to the load bar assembly. A locking assembly is operably associated with the cargo box assembly for locking the cargo box to the load bar assembly to prevent removal of the cargo box assembly.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an article carrier system particularly adapted for use with a pickup truck. The system employs a first pair of support tracks secured to a roof surface of a pickup truck, and a rear spoiler portion coupled to each of the first support tracks and extending therebetween adjacent a rear area of the roof surface. A second pair of support tracks is secured to a pair of truck bed sidewalls. A combination spoiler/support subsystem is supported from the second pair of support tracks and is adjustably positionable to provide a variable spacing between the rear spoiler portion and the spoiler/support subsystem, to thus tailor the system to support articles of various lengths thereon. The rear spoiler portion and the spoiler/support subsystem provide an appearance of a single, integrated spoiler when positioned closely adjacent one another.

Abstract: A vehicle article carrier system is disclosed for use on an outer body roof surface of a vehicle to removably support articles above the outer body roof surface. The system makes use of a cross bar assembly having a central tubular portion and telescopically coupled outer cross bar portions. A locking lever may be used to lock at least one of the outer cross bar portions to prevent telescopic movement. A pair of end supports is used to latch to door jam areas of the vehicle. The end supports each have a construction such that both can be configured in a generally planar configuration to enable easy stowage of the cross bar assemblies, and each pivoted into an angled configuration which places the tubular cross bar portion above the vehicle outer body surface when the cross bar assembly is secured to the door jam areas.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a cargo management system for use in a cargo area of a motor vehicle. The system may have a floor pan configured to be fixedly secured to a surface of the cargo area and a back wall. The back wall may be pivotally secured to the floor pan adjacent an edge of the floor pan. At least first and second divider wall panels may be provided which are each pivotally secured to the back wall and spaced apart from one another. Each may be moveable between a collapsed orientation, wherein the plurality of divider wall panels rest parallel and closely adjacent a surface of the floor pan, and an upright orientation wherein each of the divider wall panels, along with the back wall, form at least one compartment for containing cargo items therein.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system readily configurable for use as either a step rail along a side of a motor vehicle, or also as a loading ramp for use in loading and unloading cargo to and from a cargo bed of the motor vehicle. The system makes use of a ramp assembly and a plurality of hangers. The hangers each have a first end which is affixed to a portion of the vehicle, and a second end on which the ramp assembly may releasably be supported from and secured to, and thus used as a step rail. The ramp assembly has at least one latching mechanism that can be secured to a striker post on one of the hangers, and a release element. The release element allows the ramp assembly to be detached from the striker post and used as a loading ramp.

Abstract: A tailgate stowage system is disclosed for use with a motor vehicle having a door-like element. The stowage system involves the use of a bin having a bin lid and a bin body hingedly connected to the bin lid. The bin lid may be opened to permit access to an interior area of the bin body, and may be closed to contain at least one component within the stowage bin. The bin lid and bin body form a compartment when the bin lid is in a closed orientation to enable the component to be stowed therein. At least one mounting latch may be used for securing the bin within the recess of the tailgate, and which permits removal of the bin from the recess without the use of external tools.

Abstract: An electromechanical connector is disclosed that may include a body portion and a threaded bolt. The body portion is made of an electrically conductive material and includes a flange and a deformable portion configured to bulge outwardly when the body portion is positioned in an opening in a wall-like structure and non-removably coupled, in a rivet-like manner, to the structure. The flange and the deformable portion secure the body portion to the wall-like structure. The body portion has a threaded bore, a first tab extending from a first end of the body portion, and a second tab extending from a second end of the body portion. The first tab, the body portion and the second tab form an electrically conductive path through the connector. The threaded bolt is threadably inserted into the threaded bore of the body portion and secures an independent component to the wall-like structure using the electromechanical connector.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a cargo management system for use in a cargo area of a motor vehicle. The system may have a floor pan configured to be fixedly secured to a surface of the cargo area and a back wall. The back wall may be pivotally secured to the floor pan adjacent an edge of the floor pan. At least first and second divider wall panels may be provided which are each pivotally secured to the back wall and spaced apart from one another. Each may be moveable between a collapsed orientation, wherein the plurality of divider wall panels rest parallel and closely adjacent a surface of the floor pan, and an upright orientation wherein each of the divider wall panels, along with the back wall, form at least one compartment for containing cargo items therein.

Abstract: A vehicle article carrier is disclosed for use on a vehicle having a roof, where the roof has a pair of parallel extending ditch rails forming elongated recesses in the roof. The vehicle article carrier may incorporate a pair of tracks configured to rest within the ditch rails and to be fixedly secured within the ditch rails. A pair of cross bars may be removably securable to the tracks. Each cross bar may further be configured with a cross sectional shape to rest at least partially within an associated one of the ditch rails when placed in a stowed configuration. Each cross bar may further be securable to the tracks so as to extend perpendicularly between the tracks and above the roof when placed in an operative position.