Abstract: In an aspect, a latch for a closure panel for a vehicle is provided, and includes a ratchet, pawl, release lever, and extension member. The ratchet is movable between a primary closed position, secondary closed position and open position. The pawl is movable between a primary locking position, secondary locking position and unlocking position. The release lever is movable between home and actuated positions. When the pawl is in the primary locking position the release lever has a selected amount of reach for driving the pawl to the secondary locking position during movement of the release lever to the actuated position. When the pawl is in the secondary locking position the extension member is movable to extend the reach of the release lever to drive the pawl from the secondary locking position to the unlocked position during movement of the release lever from the home position to the actuated position.

Abstract: An active aerodynamic system for a vehicle includes a movable exterior component disposed over a force sensor that is responsive to an aerodynamic force applied to the exterior surface, and a plurality of two or more linear actuators configured to move the movable exterior component responsive to the force applied to the exterior surface. A controller is configured to detect the aerodynamic force applied to the movable exterior component and to command the linear actuators to move the movable exterior component responsive to the aerodynamic force applied thereto. The controller may take into account other factors, such as vehicle speed, in determining a setting for the position of the movable exterior component and/or for determining a desired amount of aerodynamic force that the movable exterior component should have.

Abstract: A closure panel latch assembly can include an overslam bumper mechanism comprising a biasing element as a spring formed from a metallic material positioned relative to a slot of the latch assembly. The biasing element resists entry of a striker into the slot beyond a selected position in order to inhibit contact of the striker with a bottom end of the slot. Also provided is a closure panel latch assembly configured with the biasing element as a resilient element positioned relative to the slot of the latch assembly; The biasing element is coupled to the striker engagement member, such that the striker engagement member is positioned to engage the striker and resist travel of the striker towards the bottom end, wherein the biasing element controls the resistance to movement of the striker engagement member by the striker.

Abstract: A closure panel latch assembly can include an overslam bumper mechanism comprising a biasing element as a spring formed from a metallic material positioned relative to a slot of the latch assembly. The biasing element resists entry of a striker into the slot beyond a selected position in order to inhibit contact of the striker with a bottom end of the slot. Also provided is a closure panel latch assembly configured with the biasing element as a resilient element positioned relative to the slot of the latch assembly; The biasing element is coupled to the striker engagement member, such that the striker engagement member is positioned to engage the striker and resist travel of the striker towards the bottom end, wherein the biasing element controls the resistance to movement of the striker engagement member by the striker.

Abstract: A door latch assembly for an automotive vehicle door includes a gearless cinch actuator. The cinch actuator includes an extensible housing member connected to a threaded rod by a nut. The extensible housing member is also connected to a cable for cinching the door. A motor rotates the threaded rod, which moves the extensible housing member between rest and cinched positions. The motor is connected to the threaded rod without the use of gears. An anti-friction agent, such as a combination of a PTFE-containing coating and PTFE-containing grease, is applied between the nut and the threaded rod. The materials and anti-friction agent used at the interface of the threaded rod and nut together provide a friction coefficient (?) of about 0.045 or less.

Abstract: In an aspect, a latch for a closure panel for a vehicle is provided, and includes a ratchet, pawl, release lever, and extension member. The ratchet is movable between a primary closed position, secondary closed position and open position. The pawl is movable between a primary locking position, secondary locking position and unlocking position. The release lever is movable between home and actuated positions. When the pawl is in the primary locking position the release lever has a selected amount of reach for driving the pawl to the secondary locking position during movement of the release lever to the actuated position. When the pawl is in the secondary locking position the extension member is movable to extend the reach of the release lever to drive the pawl from the secondary locking position to the unlocked position during movement of the release lever from the home position to the actuated position.

Abstract: In an aspect, a latch for a closure panel for a vehicle is provided, and includes a ratchet, pawl, release lever, and extension member. The ratchet is movable between a primary closed position, secondary closed position and open position. The pawl is movable between a primary locking position, secondary locking position and unlocking position. The release lever is movable between home and actuated positions. When the pawl is in the primary locking position the release lever has a selected amount of reach for driving the pawl to the secondary locking position during movement of the release lever to the actuated position. When the pawl is in the secondary locking position the extension member is movable to extend the reach of the release lever to drive the pawl from the secondary locking position to the unlocked position during movement of the release lever from the home position to the actuated position.

Abstract: A latch assembly for driving a closure panel from a closed panel position to an open panel position.

Abstract: A door latch assembly for an automotive vehicle door includes a gearless cinch actuator. The cinch actuator includes an extensible housing member connected to a threaded rod by a nut. The extensible housing member is also connected to a cable for cinching the door. A motor rotates the threaded rod, which moves the extensible housing member between rest and cinched positions. The motor is connected to the threaded rod without the use of gears. An anti-friction agent, such as a combination of a PTFE-containing coating and PTFE-containing grease, is applied between the nut and the threaded rod. The materials and anti-friction agent used at the interface of the threaded rod and nut together provide a friction coefficient (?) of about 0.045 or less.

Abstract: A latch assembly for driving a closure panel from a closed panel position to an open panel position.

Abstract: A latch assembly for driving a closure panel from a closed panel position to an open panel position.

Abstract: A closure panel latch assembly can include an overslam bumper mechanism comprising a biasing element as a spring formed from a metallic material positioned relative to a slot of the latch assembly. The biasing element resists entry of a striker into the slot beyond a selected position in order to inhibit contact of the striker with a bottom end of the slot. Also provided is a closure panel latch assembly configured with the biasing element as a resilient element positioned relative to the slot of the latch assembly; The biasing element is coupled to the striker engagement member, such that the striker engagement member is positioned to engage the striker and resist travel of the striker towards the bottom end, wherein the biasing element controls the resistance to movement of the striker engagement member by the striker.

Abstract: In an aspect, a latch for a closure panel for a vehicle is provided, and includes a ratchet, a pawl, a release lever, and an extension member. The ratchet is movable between a primary closed position, a secondary closed position and an open position. The pawl is movable between a primary locking position, a secondary locking position and an unlocking position. The release lever is movable between a home position and an actuated position. When the pawl is in the primary locking position the release lever has a selected amount of reach for driving the pawl to the secondary locking position during movement of the release lever to the actuated position. When the pawl is in the secondary locking position the extension member is movable to a position to extend the reach of the release lever to drive the pawl from the secondary locking position to the unlocked position during movement of the release lever from the home position to the actuated position.

Abstract: A latch assembly for driving a closure panel from a closed panel position to an open panel position.

Abstract: An actuated hinge assembly for facilitating pivoting movement of a door, the hinge assembly including: a first hinge member; a second hinge member pivotally coupled to the first hinge member; a powered actuator operatively coupled to the first hinge member, the actuator configured to drive relative rotation of the first hinge member and the second hinge member with respect to each other; wherein one hinge of the first hinge member and the second hinge member is configured for mounting to the door and the other of the first hinge member and the second hinge member is configured for mounting to a door frame of the door. Also included is a controller unit configured to control actuation of a powered latch assembly and/or the actuated hinge assembly using control signals received from a transponder.

Abstract: A bed, comprising: a user support structure including a body support member having a head region and a foot region, and a foot support member positioned proximate the foot region of the body support member and projecting laterally from the body support member; a frame for supporting the user support structure on a support surface; a coupling mechanism coupling the user support structure to the frame and providing for relative movement there-between; and an actuator that is configured to move the user support structure relative to the frame between a user rest position and a user reception/departure position, such that when in the user rest position the body support member is oriented to support the body of a user lying at least indirectly thereon, and when in the user reception/departure position, the body support member is oriented laterally to the foot support member such that the foot support member is oriented to support the user standing thereon.