Abstract: A vehicle with a rear seat storage arrangement includes a floor, a seat including a seat bottom rotatably coupled to a seat back, and an underseat storage system removably coupled to the floor below the seat bottom. The underseat storage system includes a storage bin and a lockable lid defining a storage compartment. The lockable lid includes a latch configured to selectively lock to prevent access to the storage compartment and facilitate preventing access for removably uncoupling the underseat storage system from the floor.

Abstract: A vehicle with a rear seat storage arrangement includes a floor, a seat including a seat bottom rotatably coupled to a seat back, and an underseat storage system removably coupled to the floor below the seat bottom. The underseat storage system includes a storage bin and a lockable lid defining a storage compartment. The lockable lid includes a latch configured to selectively lock to prevent access to the storage compartment and facilitate preventing access for removably uncoupling the underseat storage system from the floor.

Abstract: A vehicle storage compartment includes a base bin defining a storage cavity and configured to couple to a vehicle floor, a door coupled to the base bin and configured to move between a closed position and an open position, the door having a latch mechanism configured to selectively engage the base bin to facilitate maintaining the door in the closed position, and a locking assembly coupled to the door and configured to move between a locked position and an unlocked position. The locking assembly is configured to selectively engage the base bin in the locked position to facilitate preventing movement of the door from the closed position to the open position. The locking assembly is separate and independent of the latch mechanism such that the latch mechanism remains movable when the locking assembly is in the locked position.

Abstract: A vehicle storage compartment includes a base bin defining a storage cavity and configured to couple to a vehicle floor, a door coupled to the base bin and configured to move between a closed position and an open position, the door having a latch mechanism configured to selectively engage the base bin to facilitate maintaining the door in the closed position, and a locking assembly coupled to the door and configured to move between a locked position and an unlocked position. The locking assembly is configured to selectively engage the base bin in the locked position to facilitate preventing movement of the door from the closed position to the open position. The locking assembly is separate and independent of the latch mechanism such that the latch mechanism remains movable when the locking assembly is in the locked position.

Abstract: A steering assembly and a method of operating the same. The assembly includes a steering column and a steering component operably attached to the steering column. The steering component includes at least one range of motion. The steering component is operably attached to a shaft. At least one gas spring is operably attached to the steering assembly. The at least one gas spring mediates the at least one range of motion. The method includes providing a steering column. A steering component operably attached to the steering column is provided. A steering component operably attached to a shaft is provided. At least one range of motion of the steering component is provided. A gas pressure is modulated while providing at least one range of motion.

Abstract: A steering column mounting system that includes a mounting bracket fixedly attached to a steering column and at least one pull strap made of a resiliently bendable material, the pull strap having a first leg with a slot through which extends a fastener fixedly attached to a motor vehicle structure and having a free second leg substantially parallel to the first leg. The pull strap has at least two portions having different widths. The widths of the portions of the pull strap may be selected so as to provide a predetermined amount of resiliency to the unwinding of the pull straps. The widths of the portions of the pull strap may also be selected so as to provide differing amounts of resiliency at different stages of the unwinding of the pull straps. A support frame is attached to the mounting bracket and maintains the first leg and the second leg of the pull strap substantially parallel relative to each other.

Abstract: A steering column mounting system that includes a mounting bracket fixedly attached to a steering column and at least one pull strap made of a resiliently bendable material, the pull strap having a first leg with a slot through which extends a fastener fixedly attached to a motor vehicle structure and having a free second leg substantially parallel to the first leg. The pull strap has at least two portions having different widths. The widths of the portions of the pull strap may be selected so as to provide a predetermined amount of resiliency to the unwinding of the pull straps. The widths of the portions of the pull strap may also be selected so as to provide differing amounts of resiliency at different stages of the unwinding of the pull straps. A support frame is attached to the mounting bracket and maintains the first leg and the second leg of the pull strap substantially parallel relative to each other.

Abstract: A liftplate for use in a window mounting assembly includes a first plate member, a second plate member and a third plate member. The first plate member has two spaced apart apertures and is secured to a window regulator. The apertures in the first plate member each have a sleeve molded therein. Each sleeve is attached to the first plate member through a frangible connection which is broken upon insertion of a fastener in an associated one of the apertures of the first plate member. The second plate member has an aperture which receives one of the fasteners. The third plate member has an aperture which receives the other of the fasteners. The second and third plate members are disposed opposite the first plate member and are joined to the first plate member to define a channel for receiving a sheet of window glass.

Abstract: A height-adjustable sink assembly capable of continuously variable adjustment through a predetermined range of motion. The present invention includes a sink coupled to a linear motion mechanism for reciprocal movement relative thereto. The sink is supported by at least one force generating device which is actuated in response to a remotely located switch assembly. The force generating device selectively permits and restricts reciprocal adjustable motion of the sink.