Abstract: A grommet apparatus for a vehicle having a first floor and a second floor, and including a pin fixedly attached to a vehicle floor, a post attached to the pin; and a volcano grommet removably coupled to the post and including a volcano-grommet base member and a coupling member attached to each other such that the first floor is positioned therebetween. The pin and the post extend at least partially through the volcano-grommet base member and the coupling member, wherein the volcano-grommet base member and the post are equal in length.

Abstract: A grommet apparatus for a vehicle having a first floor and a second floor, and including a pin, a post, a slot grommet and a snap grommet. The pin is fixedly attached to a vehicle floor. The post is attached to the pin. The slot grommet includes a slot-grommet base member and an attachment member attached to each other such that the first floor is positioned therebetween. The pin and the post extend through the slot-grommet base member and the attachment member. The snap grommet is removably coupled to the post and includes a snap-grommet base member and a connecting member that are attached to each other such that the second floor is positioned therebetween. The pin and the post extend at least partially through the snap-grommet base member and the connecting member.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a cargo area having a surface and a floor assembly. The floor assembly includes a pair of elongated trim panels, a floor panel and a pair of locking mechanisms. The pair of elongated trim panels are mounted to the surface of the cargo area at opposite sides thereof. The floor panel is slidably disposed onto the surface of the cargo area and between the pair of trim panels. The pair of locking mechanisms connect the floor panel and the pair of trim panels to prevent vertical and horizontal movement of the floor panel when the floor panel is fully disposed onto the surface of the cargo area.

Abstract: A grommet apparatus for a vehicle having a first floor and a second floor, and including a pin, a post, a slot grommet and a snap grommet. The pin is fixedly attached to a vehicle floor. The post is attached to the pin. The slot grommet includes a slot-grommet base member and an attachment member attached to each other such that the first floor is positioned therebetween. The pin and the post extend through the slot-grommet base member and the attachment member. The snap grommet is removably coupled to the post and includes a snap-grommet base member and a connecting member that are attached to each other such that the second floor is positioned therebetween. The pin and the post extend at least partially through the snap-grommet base member and the connecting member.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a cargo area having a surface and a floor assembly. The floor assembly includes a pair of elongated trim panels, a floor panel and a pair of locking mechanisms. The pair of elongated trim panels are mounted to the surface of the cargo area at opposite sides thereof. The floor panel is slidably disposed onto the surface of the cargo area and between the pair of trim panels. The pair of locking mechanisms connect the floor panel and the pair of trim panels to prevent vertical and horizontal movement of the floor panel when the floor panel is fully disposed onto the surface of the cargo area.

Abstract: A vehicle floor assembly includes a frame, distal and proximal floor panels, distal and proximal hinges, closeout panel, and electromagnet. The frame defines a stowage cavity. The distal panel has an attached end, a free end, and defines a pair of slots open to the free end to receive one of a set of seat risers through the distal panel. The distal hinge couples the attached end to the proximal panel. The proximal hinge couples the proximal panel to the floor frame. The closeout panel includes a pair of closeout members and is pivotable relative to the distal and proximal panels between a first position wherein each closeout member is received in one of the slots, and a second position wherein the closeout members are spaced apart from the slots. Activating the electromagnet magnetically couples the closeout panel to one of the distal or proximal panels for common movement therewith.

Abstract: A vehicle floor assembly includes a frame, distal and proximal floor panels, distal and proximal hinges, closeout panel, and electromagnet. The frame defines a stowage cavity. The distal panel has an attached end, a free end, and defines a pair of slots open to the free end to receive one of a set of seat risers through the distal panel. The distal hinge couples the attached end to the proximal panel. The proximal hinge couples the proximal panel to the floor frame. The closeout panel includes a pair of closeout members and is pivotable relative to the distal and proximal panels between a first position wherein each closeout member is received in one of the slots, and a second position wherein the closeout members are spaced apart from the slots. Activating the electromagnet magnetically couples the closeout panel to one of the distal or proximal panels for common movement therewith.

Abstract: A detachable interior trim panel assembly for a vehicle is provided. The assembly includes an interior trim panel that has an inside surface, an outside surface, and a trim panel perimeter. The interior trim panel includes at least one finger and at least one spring snap that are positioned along the trim panel perimeter. The at least one finger and the at least one spring snap are configured to detachably retain the interior trim panel on a trim panel mounting location of the vehicle. The at least one finger extends outwardly from the trim panel perimeter and is sized to be received in at least one finger receptacle positioned along the trim panel mounting location and the at least one spring snap includes a moveable leg that is configured to engage at least one spring snap receptacle that is also positioned along the trim panel mounting location.

Abstract: A detachable interior trim panel assembly for a vehicle is provided. The assembly includes an interior trim panel that has an inside surface, an outside surface, and a trim panel perimeter. The interior trim panel includes at least one finger and at least one spring snap that are positioned along the trim panel perimeter. The at least one finger and the at least one spring snap are configured to detachably retain the interior trim panel on a trim panel mounting location of the vehicle. The at least one finger extends outwardly from the trim panel perimeter and is sized to be received in at least one finger receptacle positioned along the trim panel mounting location and the at least one spring snap includes a moveable leg that is configured to engage at least one spring snap receptacle that is also positioned along the trim panel mounting location.

Abstract: A vehicle is provided having a sensor for detecting a vehicle occupant's presence, and another sensor for detecting an owner's response with respect to automatically opening a vehicle closure panel. An actuator opens the closure panel when the occupant's presence and response are detected. A signal from an emitter outside the vehicle signals occupant presence. A photoelectric and/or optical device, audio receiver, and/or touch-sensitive sensor detects the response. The optical device projects a light beam, and breaking the beam with a gesture signals the response. An automatic closure panel opening apparatus has an RF receiver adapted to receive an RF signal to detect occupant presence, a sensor for detecting the occupant response, and an actuator for opening the closure panel when both the presence and occupant response are detected.

Abstract: A vehicle is provided having an automatic swinging side door with an actuator for opening and closing the door. A controller has an algorithm for moving the actuator, a sensor for detecting an obstacle via contact with the door; and a sensor for detecting the obstacle without contact with the door. The controller interrupts movement of the door when the obstacle is detected. The door has a measurable and selectable opening angle. A hydraulic pump actuates the actuator using fluid pressure, and a hydraulic fuse monitors flow through a bypass valve to detect the contact. A method of opening a side-swinging vehicle door includes recording a door opening angle; detecting a door operating mode, opening the door when one mode is detected; closing the door when a second mode is detected; and opening the door to the recorded angle when a third mode is detected.

Abstract: A keyfob is provided for use in a vehicle having a processor. The keyfob comprises a housing, a battery disposed within the housing, and control circuitry disposed within the housing and coupled to the battery. A memory coupled to the control circuitry is disposed within the housing and is configured to store data files therein accessible by the processor.

Abstract: A vehicle is provided having a sensor for detecting a vehicle occupant's presence, and another sensor for detecting an owner's response with respect to automatically opening a vehicle closure panel. An actuator opens the closure panel when the occupant's presence and response are detected. A signal from an emitter outside the vehicle signals occupant presence. A photoelectric and/or optical device, audio receiver, and/or touch-sensitive sensor detects the response. The optical device projects a light beam, and breaking the beam with a gesture signals the response. An automatic closure panel opening apparatus has an RF receiver adapted to receive an RF signal to detect occupant presence, a sensor for detecting the occupant response, and an actuator for opening the closure panel when both the presence and occupant response are detected.

Abstract: A vehicle is provided having an automatic swinging side door with an actuator for opening and closing the door. A controller has an algorithm for moving the actuator, a sensor for detecting an obstacle via contact with the door; and a sensor for detecting the obstacle without contact with the door. The controller interrupts movement of the door when the obstacle is detected. The door has a measurable and selectable opening angle. A hydraulic pump actuates the actuator using fluid pressure, and a hydraulic fuse monitors flow through a bypass valve to detect the contact. A method of opening a side-swinging vehicle door includes recording a door opening angle; detecting a door operating mode, opening the door when one mode is detected; closing the door when a second mode is detected; and opening the door to the recorded angle when a third mode is detected.

Abstract: A keyfob is provided for use in a vehicle having a processor. The keyfob comprises a housing, a battery disposed within the housing, and control circuitry disposed within the housing and coupled to the battery. A memory coupled to the control circuitry is disposed within the housing and is configured to store data files therein accessible by the processor.