Abstract: A vehicle having an on-board vacuum includes an interior trim quarter side panel assembly disposed adjacent a third row of seats, and an on-board central vacuum system integrated into the interior trim quarter panel assembly. The interior trim quarter side panel assembly includes an outermost surface, an armrest portion positioned between an inboard sidewall and an outboard sidewall of the interior trim quarter panel assembly, and generally sloping toward an interior floor of the vehicle, and a handle pocket defining an opening in the armrest portion and a cavity below the outermost surface. The on-board central vacuum system includes a vacuum hose coupled to a vacuum motor assembly, and a vacuum nozzle handle coupled to the vacuum hose and nestingly received within the handle pocket such that in a stowed position within the handle pocket cavity, the vacuum nozzle handle is located at or below the outermost surface.

Abstract: A vehicle having an on-board vacuum includes an interior trim quarter side panel assembly disposed adjacent a third row of seats, and an on-board central vacuum system integrated into the interior trim quarter panel assembly. The interior trim quarter side panel assembly includes an outermost surface, an armrest portion positioned between an inboard sidewall and an outboard sidewall of the interior trim quarter panel assembly, and generally sloping toward an interior floor of the vehicle, and a handle pocket defining an opening in the armrest portion and a cavity below the outermost surface. The on-board central vacuum system includes a vacuum hose coupled to a vacuum motor assembly, and a vacuum nozzle handle coupled to the vacuum hose and nestingly received within the handle pocket such that in a stowed position within the handle pocket cavity, the vacuum nozzle handle is located at or below the outermost surface.

Abstract: An on-board central vacuum system for a vehicle is provided. The on-board central vacuum system includes a vacuum motor assembly, a vacuum hose fluidly connected to a vacuum nozzle handle and interior trim. The interior trim has an armrest portion and includes a handle pocket that defines an opening. The handle pocket defines a cavity that projects below an outermost surface of the interior trim and nestingly accepts the vacuum nozzle handle in a recessed and stowed position relative to the outermost surface.

Abstract: An on-board central vacuum system for a vehicle is provided. The on-board central vacuum system includes a vacuum motor assembly, a vacuum hose fluidly connected to a vacuum nozzle handle and interior trim. The interior trim has an armrest portion and includes a handle pocket that defines an opening. The handle pocket defines a cavity that projects below an outermost surface of the interior trim and nestingly accepts the vacuum nozzle handle in a recessed and stowed position relative to the outermost surface.

Abstract: A display system for a vehicle includes a display device, a pivot coupling and an electronically controlled locking arrangement. The display device includes a screen and a housing. The pivot coupling is configured to, in an exemplary implementation, pivotably fix the display device to an instrument panel of the vehicle such that the display device is non-removably spaced apart from the instrument panel and articulatable relative thereto. The electronically controlled locking arrangement is, in an exemplary implementation, associated with the pivot coupling and display device and is configured to i) be selectively activated to lock the pivot coupling to lock a position of the display device relative to the instrument panel, and ii) be selectively deactivated to unlock the pivot coupling to allow for articulation of the display device relative to the instrument panel.

Abstract: A removable storage unit for a motor vehicle including a first portion having an open side and defining a storage area, and a second portion having an open side and defining a second storage area. The first and second portions are rotateably coupled together to allow the storage areas to be adjacently located. The removable storage unit preferably has two modes. In the first mode, the storage unit is removed from the motor vehicle, and the open sides of the first and second portions are positioned adjacent one another, which allows for easy transportation of the unit. In the second mode, the storage unit is positioned within the motor vehicle so that the open sides of the first and second portions are oriented substantially coplanar.

Abstract: A vehicle puddle light assembly is provided in an opening formed in a body panel of a vehicle. A socket including a housing and at least one contact coupled to the housing is disposed within the opening and coupled to the body panel adjacent the opening. A lamp is coupled to the contact within the housing. A lens is coupled to the socket outboard of the lamp. The lens has an opaque upper portion and a transmissive lower portion having a plurality of facets formed therein for projecting light from the assembly and a predominantly downward and outboard direction. The housing includes a reflective upper portion for directing radiation from the lamp toward the transmissive portion of the lens and a reflective lower portion for directing radiation from the lamp toward a reflective surface of the lens formed inboard of the opaque upper portion. The radiation is then redirected toward the reflective upper portion of the housing and then toward the transmissive portion of the lens.

Abstract: A handle assembly for a motor vehicle door operative for selectively releasing a latch mechanism. The handle assembly includes a mounting portion attached to the motor vehicle door and a handle proper adapted to be manually grasped. The handle proper is linearly translatable between a first position and a second position for releasing the latch mechanism. In a preferred form, the handle proper is biased to the first position by a coil spring.