Abstract: A vehicle includes a door with an interior door cavity, as well as a lock rod and another item of a locking system, an impact beam, an attack member and a push member, all housed in the interior door cavity. The impact beam crosses the other item from laterally between the other item and the door. The attack member faces the lock rod from laterally between the door and the lock rod. The push member, along the impact beam, faces the other item from laterally between the other item and the door and laterally beyond the impact beam. When the door collapses when compromised by a side impact event, the door carries the attack member for attacking action on the lock rod. The door additionally carries the push member for counterpart pushing action on the other item. A connection between the lock rod and the other item thus breaks.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a door with an interior door cavity, as well as a lock rod and another item of a locking system, an impact beam, an attack member and a push member, all housed in the interior door cavity. The impact beam crosses the other item from laterally between the other item and the door. The attack member faces the lock rod from laterally between the door and the lock rod. The push member, along the impact beam, faces the other item from laterally between the other item and the door and laterally beyond the impact beam. When the door collapses when compromised by a side impact event, the door carries the attack member for attacking action on the lock rod. The door additionally carries the push member for counterpart pushing action on the other item. A connection between the lock rod and the other item thus breaks.

Abstract: A seal for use with a reciprocating rod in which a small diameter portion and a large diameter portion formed on the rod defining opposed walls. The seal has an inner diameter greater than the small diameter portion of the rod such that the seal is disengaged from the rod during reciprocating movement of the rod; but sealingly engages one of the opposed walls on the rod at first and second end positions of travel of the rod. In a specific implementation, the seal and the reciprocating rod are mounted on a vehicle fuel door housing for sealingly locking the fuel door in a closed position.

Abstract: A bracket protecting a location on a vehicle. The bracket can have upper and bottom members that are spaced apart from each other and connected by a side member. The upper, bottom and side members of the bracket can also form an opening where a blind spot monitor can be located. The upper member can have a liquid diversion flange that prevents water from flowing onto an outer radar surface of the blind spot monitor and the bottom member can have a debris-blocking flange that protects or shields the outer radar surface from debris such as rocks, sand, etc., that are thrown up from a road surface towards the blind spot monitor.

Abstract: A bracket protecting a location on a vehicle. The bracket can have upper and bottom members that are spaced apart from each other and connected by a side member. The upper, bottom and side members of the bracket can also form an opening where a blind spot monitor can be located. The upper member can have a liquid diversion flange that prevents water from flowing onto an outer radar surface of the blind spot monitor and the bottom member can have a debris-blocking flange that protects or shields the outer radar surface from debris such as rocks, sand, etc., that are thrown up from a road surface towards the blind spot monitor.

Abstract: A retractable panel assembly includes a cover panel slidingly engaged with a rail assembly and having an open position and a closed position, where the cover panel translates along the rail assembly as the cover panel translates between open and closed positions. The retractable panel assembly further includes a shade located between the rail assembly and the cover panel, the shade having an engagement member, and a retention assembly having a retention member engaged with the engagement member of the shade, where, when the cover panel translates between open and closed positions, the retention member works in conjunction with the engagement member of the shade to prevent the shade from translating and the retention assembly retrains at least a second portion of the shade in a vertical direction.

Abstract: A retractable panel assembly includes a cover panel slidingly engaged with a rail assembly and having an open position and a closed position, where the cover panel translates along the rail assembly as the cover panel translates between open and closed positions. The retractable panel assembly further includes a shade located between the rail assembly and the cover panel, the shade having an engagement member, and a retention assembly having a retention member engaged with the engagement member of the shade, where, when the cover panel translates between open and closed positions, the retention member works in conjunction with the engagement member of the shade to prevent the shade from translating and the retention assembly retrains at least a second portion of the shade in a vertical direction.

Abstract: A slidable window assembly mounted within the roof of an automotive vehicle is provided. The roof includes an opening and the slidable window assembly includes a window panel having a catch. The window panel is slidably mounted within the roof and slidable between an open position and a closed position. The slidable window assembly further includes a sunshade disposed beneath the window panel. The sunshade is also slidable between an open and closed position. The sunshade has a first surface facing the window panel and a stop mounted on the first surface. The catch is operable to engage the stop so as to move the sunshade from the closed position to the open position.

Abstract: A slidable window assembly mounted within the roof of an automotive vehicle is provided. The roof includes an opening and the slidable window assembly includes a window panel having a catch. The window panel is slidably mounted within the roof and slidable between an open position and a closed position. The slidable window assembly further includes a sunshade disposed beneath the window panel. The sunshade is also slidable between an open and closed position. The sunshade has a first surface facing the window panel and a stop mounted on the first surface. The catch is operable to engage the stop so as to move the sunshade from the closed position to the open position.

Abstract: A guide member for a generally flexible and elongated drive element having a free end that passes through the guide member is disclosed. The guide member can have a plurality of alternating half-tube sections that extend along a desired drive element path. At least one of the plurality of alternating half-tube sections can have a funnel-shaped end that expands an entrance of the half-tube section and is operable to guide the free end of the drive element back along the desired drive element path in the event that the free end of the drive element deviates from the desired drive element path before entering the half-tube section having the funnel-shaped end.