Abstract: A vehicle includes a body and a tailgate coupled to the body by a hinge. The tailgate is moveable between a closed position and an open position. The vehicle also includes two cylinders for exerting a force on the tailgate with respect to the body. One of the cylinders is actuated by a drive device, and the lever arm of the cylinder actuated by the drive device with respect to the hinge is greater than the lever arm of the other cylinder with respect to the hinge in the closed position of the tailgate. The cylinder actuated by the drive device can develop a greater torque for opening the tailgate, facilitating the opening of the tailgate by a user since the cylinder actuated by the drive device allows for the movement of the tailgate.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a body and a tailgate coupled to the body by a hinge. The tailgate is moveable between a closed position and an open position. The vehicle also includes two cylinders for exerting a force on the tailgate with respect to the body. One of the cylinders is actuated by a drive device, and the lever arm of the cylinder actuated by the drive device with respect to the hinge is greater than the lever arm of the other cylinder with respect to the hinge in the closed position of the tailgate. The cylinder actuated by the drive device can develop a greater torque for opening the tailgate, facilitating the opening of the tailgate by a user since the cylinder actuated by the drive device allows for the movement of the tailgate.

Abstract: A drive mechanism for actuating an opening frame includes a toothed crown and a toothed wheel engaging at least one section of the toothed crown. The drive mechanism also includes an arm driving the toothed wheel on the toothed crown, a pinion designed to be driven in rotation around an axis and that is engaged with one end of the arm, and a cable for actuating the opening frame that is attached to the toothed wheel. A low-power motor can be used to open and close the opening frame electrically.

Abstract: The body panels of the present invention are designed to crumple in a predisposed manner upon impact. The body panels are preferably made from a polymeric material. Further, the body panels can include a sheet of colored material attached to the polymeric material so that no painting of the panel is necessary. Preferably, the colored material is on an exterior surface of the panel. The colored material could be made from a thermoplastic with molded in color. The preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a polymeric material reinforced with spaced reinforcing fibers. An alternative embodiment of the body panel includes a sheet of polymeric material that is reinforced with spaced mechanical ribs that are preferably molded into the sheet of material. Another alternative embodiment of the body panel includes alternating sections of high density polymeric foam and low density polymeric foam.

Abstract: A device for a window lifter of a vehicle door includes a cable winding drum disposed inside a housing of a casing and a seal attached to the casing. The seal includes a stop portion that prevents translational movement of the drum along its rotational axis while still allowing the drum to rotate freely about the axis. The inventive device allows the drum to be held in the housing before the casing is mounted on a dividing panel without requiring auxiliary parts to hold the drum in place and without compromising the seal when the casing is fastened to or removed from the dividing panel.

Abstract: A device for a window lifter of a vehicle door includes a cable winding drum disposed inside a housing of a casing and a seal attached to the casing. The seal includes a stop portion that prevents translational movement of the drum along its rotational axis while still allowing the drum to rotate freely about the axis. The inventive device allows the drum to be held in the housing before the casing is mounted on a dividing panel without requiring auxiliary parts to hold the drum in place and without compromising the seal when the casing is fastened to or removed from the dividing panel.

Abstract: A window lifter comprises a cable, a window linkage driven by the cable, a fixed device and a cable redirecting device. The cable redirecting device is rotatably mounted on the fixed device and adapted to automatically lock onto the fixed device upon reaching a predetermined angular position. In addition, the cable redirecting device has a cable guiding portion which is not a figure of revolution about the axis of rotation relative to the fixed device. This window lifting mechanism provides a simple structure with few elements. Its assembly is also simple: the cable-redirecting device is rotatably mounted on the fixed device; it is thereafter rotated for tensioning the cable and then locked in a position where the cable is tensioned.

Abstract: A motor vehicle door lock plate is provided, the plate (10) comprising a first part (14) with a slot (12), the slot (12) opening at one end of the first part (14), and a second part (16) for fixing the plate, the second part (16) being angled with respect to the first part and being at an opposite end of the first part to the end at which the slot opens. The plate has the advantage of allowing the lock to be fixed to a vehicle door the structure of which is such that the skin of the door is not able to take up the forces generated by operation of the door lock.

Abstract: A vehicle pick-up bed is disclosed that can be folded into shape by hand. The pick-up bed includes a generally flat sheet of colored material molded together with a generally flat sheet of reinforced polymeric material. Preferably, the sheet of colored material is placed in the mold and the reinforced polymeric material is injected into the mold, onto the back of the colored sheet. During the molding process, the reinforced polymeric material and the colored material are formed or molded into a single, generally flat, solid component. The sheet of colored material adheres to the reinforced polymeric material. Once molded, the sides of the pick-up bed are folded into shape along hinge edges and connected to stay in place. Hinge edges could be formed by locating few or no reinforcing fibers in the reinforced polymeric material in the desired location of the hinge edges. The colored material is preferably.a paintless polymer film. Alternatively, the colored material is pre-painted aluminum.

Abstract: A system for measuring payload is integrated into the cargo carrying bed of a vehicle. The vehicle bed is formed from a plastic material and includes a body member that is supported on a vehicle frame. At least one sensor assembly is molded within the body member. The sensor is positioned over the vehicle frame and generates a weight signal representative of weight of the payload supported on the body member. A central processor receives the weight signal and transmits the weight signal to a vehicle driver. The weight signal can be used to activate a warning device if the payload exceeds a predetermined limit.

Abstract: The window lifter comprises a window slider, a cable driving said window slider, a spring having a mobile cable tensioning portion and having a fixed cable return portion, both portions engaging the cable. This window lifter provides a simplified fabrication and a reduced number of parts.

Abstract: Vehicle comprising a box structure (1) in an inner panel (2) of which there is provided an opening (3) for the passage of components, such as a window raiser mechanism (4), mounted on a support plate (5) shaped for being applied in a sealed manner against the periphery of the opening. The support plate of the components has a dishing region (9) situated at the level of the articulation joints R1, R2 of the hips of passengers so as to constitute a pelvis thrust member in the event of a lateral impact on the door. The dishing region (9) is press formed and comprises a group of bosses (11) orientated in the direction toward the window glass (10) and interconnected on the side adjacent to the passengers by planar areas (12) of the support plate.

Abstract: A vehicle pick-up bed is disclosed that can be folded into shape by hand. The pick-up bed includes a generally flat sheet of colored material molded together with a generally flat sheet of reinforced polymeric material. Preferably, the sheet of colored material is placed in the mold and the reinforced polymeric material is injected into the mold, onto the back of the colored sheet. During the molding process, the reinforced polymeric material and the colored material are formed or molded into a single, generally flat, solid component. The sheet of colored material adheres to the reinforced polymeric material. Once molded, the sides of the pick-up bed are folded into shape along hinge edges and connected to stay in place. Hinge edges could be formed by locating few or no reinforcing fibers in the reinforced polymeric material in the desired location of the hinge edges. The colored material is preferably a paintless polymer film. Alternatively, the colored material is pre-painted aluminum.

Abstract: A vehicle door module adapted to support mechanisms such as a window raiser (12) and to be applied in a sealed manner on the surround of two inner openings (7,9) of a box structure of the door includes two distinct panels (3,4) interconnected by a rigid structure (5,6). Each panel is adapted to support components (13,19) of the mechanisms and to be applied in a sealed manner on a respective one of the openings (7,8) of the box structure (9), which has a contour complementary to the contour of the each panel. The window raiser (12) may be of the “double lift” type having two guide rails (13,14) each mounted on a respective panel (3,4). This division into two parts (3,4) reduces the amount of plastics material required and reduces the manufacturing cost of the module (1) while a rigid structure (11) between the two openings (7,8) of the door increases the rigidity of the latter.

Abstract: A vehicle door module includes a lock attached to a constituent support panel of the module, which is shaped to press against the periphery of an opening formed in an interior panel of a door frame. The support panel being identical for a vehicle with two doors and for a vehicle with four doors. The lock assembly includes lugs for fastening the lock to the panel with lugs that differ for the type of vehicle. A first lug of a length suited to a two-door vehicle, and a second lug that is suited to a four-door vehicle. This arrangement makes it possible to use the same standard module for vehicles of different types and therefore to cut down on the corresponding investment needed for producing the module.

Abstract: A vehicle fender includes an integrally formed storage compartment for storing items such as tools and equipment. The fender has fender body mounted to a vehicle frame, chassis, or unibody member. In one embodiment, a recess is formed within the fender body for storing items. A panel is pivotally attached to the fender body and pivots between an open position to allow access to the tools and a closed position to store the tools. A length, a width, and a height define the recess. In the preferred embodiment, the length is greater than the width and the height such that long items can be easily stored. In another embodiment, the panel is formed as a fender panel and a support is formed between the fender body and the fender panel. The fender panel is pivoted to the open position to allow access to the support.

Abstract: A vehicle door module, comprising a panel fitted with various items of equipment including a window lifter of the type having two rails for guiding runners supporting the window and having cables for driving the runners, the window lifter likewise possessing a drum which is disposed in a cover and on which the cables are wound. An element for fixing the cover to the panel, and for controlling the rotation of the drum are disposed on a side of the panel opposite the side on which the rails, the cables, the cover and the drum are positioned; the cover of the of the drum is molded integrally with the panel and controlling the drum are fixed in a leaktight manner to the panel and to the cover. The integration of the cover into the supporting panel reduces the number of pieces in the module and makes it possible to obtain greater integration, while ensuring the necessary seal between the two faces of the panel at the location of the fixing elements for driving the drum in rotation.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device comprising a rail guiding a window support slider and fixing said slider on said window. A pin is pre-mounted in an opening of a branch of the slider, opposite a corresponding passage hole in the window, and a screw pre-assembled to the second branch of the slider on the side opposite the pin and opposite the window hole. When the screw is screwed into the slider and through the window hole, then in an axial channel of the pin, it exerts thereon a traction which causes it to slide inside the slider hole and the window hole until is urged to stop against the slider branch. This assembly is extremely simple and ensures more dependable mounting than known devices. The user operating it senses when the assembling is completed by the increased in the screw torque. Moreover, if the pin if forgotten, the screw slips thereby warning the operable about the absence of the pin.

Abstract: A window lifter comprises a cable, a window linkage driven by the cable, a fixed device and a cable redirecting device. The cable redirecting device is rotatably mounted on the fixed device and adapted to automatically lock onto the fixed device upon reaching a predetermined angular position. In addition, the cable redirecting device has a cable guiding portion which is not a figure of revolution about the axis of rotation relative to the fixed device. This window lifting mechanism provides a simple structure with few elements. Its assembly is also simple: the cable-redirecting device is rotatably mounted on the fixed device; it is thereafter rotated for tensioning the cable and then locked in a position where the cable is tensioned.

Abstract: A vehicle pick-up bed is disclosed that can be folded into shape by hand. The pick-up bed includes a generally flat sheet of colored material molded together with a generally flat sheet of reinforced polymeric material. Preferably, the sheet of colored material is placed in the mold and the reinforced polymeric material is injected into the mold, onto the back of the colored sheet. During the molding process, the reinforced polymeric material and the colored material are formed or molded into a single, generally flat, solid component. The sheet of colored material adheres to the reinforced polymeric material. Once molded, the sides of the pick-up bed are folded into shape along hinge edges and connected to stay in place. Hinge edges could be formed by locating few or no reinforcing fibers in the reinforced polymeric material in the desired location of the hinge edges. The colored material is preferably a paintless polymer film. Alternatively, the colored material is pre-painted aluminum.