Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a seat base, a seatback and a vertical guide frame connecting a rear portion of the seat base to a bottom portion of the seatback. The bottom portion of the seatback slidably engages the vertical guide frame. At least one actuator is adapted to move the seatback between a plurality of vertical positions relative to the seat base.

Abstract: A vehicle armrest assembly for a door and console includes a linear actuator extending vertically through at least a portion of an armrest substrate and having a pin at an upper end, a support plate positioned above the armrest substrate and having a slot, wherein the pin slidably engages the slot to allow the support plate to operate laterally along the slot and rotationally about the pin between a plurality of lateral and rotational positions, respectively. The linear actuator vertically operates the support plate between a plurality of vertical positions and a cover member is disposed over the support plate.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for managing career data using a computing environment. The method and system includes receiving user career-related data from an input source and generating a rating of the user career-related data, wherein the rating is dynamically updated over time as contributing factors change. The method and system further includes generating a gap analysis of the user career data from the general career data, wherein the gap analysis includes at least one determination of delta factors between the user career data and the general career data.

Abstract: A side impact system for a vehicle includes a trim panel and an armrest core supported by the trim panel. The armrest core is moveable translationally relative to the trim panel from a supporting position to a deployed position below the supporting position. An actuator is connected to the armrest core for moving the armrest core from the supporting position to the deployed position. In the supporting position, the armrest core may be adjacent a ribs of an occupant and, in the deployed position, the armrest core may be adjacent the hips of the occupant. The actuator may move the armrest core to the deployed position during a side impact of the vehicle to reduce the likelihood that the armrest core is pushed into the ribs of the occupant.

Abstract: A cage assembly is provided to protect a battery pack in a vehicle. The cage assembly includes a top sub-assembly and a bottom sub-assembly that are secured together to protect the battery pack. U-shaped frames and base frames are connected together by tubular members.

Abstract: An automobile seat includes a cushion, a back coupled with the cushion, and a mounting unit. The mounting unit includes a mounting track and an actuator slidably coupled with the mounting track and coupled with the cushion. The actuator is extendable along an axis to move the cushion toward and away from the mounting track and is rotatable about the axis to rotate the cushion relative to the mounting track.

Abstract: A roof bow for a vehicle is provided that has a “bow-tie” shape including a central portion flanked by two triangular portions. The triangular portions are joined to right and left roof brackets that are, in turn, joined to right and left roof rails. The bow-tie roof bow may be assembled from extruded tubular parts. The bow-tie roof bow may be assembled in a clamshell structure including an upper shell and a lower shell that are joined together by welding. The roof bow may be formed in one piece as a sheet metal stamping having side portions that are wider than the central portion.

Abstract: A vehicle curtain system comprises a curtain having at least a front wall and two side walls, at least one pretensioner having a corresponding pretensioner cable, and a plurality of tethers, each having a first end attached to the curtain.

Abstract: An airbag has a main panel and at least one side panels that is arranged to extend substantially perpendicularly from the main panel when the airbag is inflated. At least one inflator is arranged to inflate all of the panels. The airbag, e.g., via the main panel, may be secured to a back of a vehicle seat.

Abstract: An energy absorbing member for a bumper assembly of a vehicle includes an open-celled foam. A magnetorheological fluid is disposed in the open-celled foam. A magnetic field source selectively controls a magnetic field in the open-celled foam. The open-celled foam includes cell walls and the magnetorheological fluid coats the cell walls and defines open cells unfilled by magnetorheological fluid.

Abstract: An aluminum alloy vehicle structural component defining an out-of-plane aperture with its main portion. A recessed portion is inset from the main portion having a bed sub-portion out-of-plane with the main portion that defines the aperture. The recessed portion also provides a strain hardened sub-portion, or stiffened ring of material, around the aperture. When the main portion is subjected to in-plane tension due to bending, the strain primarily concentrates along the strain hardened sub-portion (the stiffened ring) and by-passes the aperture. As a result the perimeter of the aperture undergoes less straining than if the aperture was in-plane with the main portion. The out-of-plane aperture, the bed sub-portion surrounding the aperture, and the strain hardened sub-portion surrounding the bed sub-portion may improve the overall structural robustness of the aluminum alloy structural component when subjected to in-plane tension.

Abstract: A pedestrian safety system for use with a motor vehicle includes a vehicle hood movable between a closed position and a raised position wherein a leading edge of the hood is raised relative to a front surface of the vehicle to form a gap, and a leg stiffener movable between a retracted position wherein it is beneath the hood when the hood is closed and a deployed position wherein the stiffener projects through the gap and is forward of the leading edge of the hood when the hood is raised. At least one actuator mounted beneath the hood moves the stiffener between the retracted and deployed positions. A remote sensing system detects an impending collision with a pedestrian and triggers the raising of the hood and extension of the actuators.

Abstract: A vehicle bumper energy absorber system includes a foam energy absorber (EA) for transverse mounting forward of a bumper and having a plurality of cavities formed therein. Variable-stiffness elements are located within the cavities and embedded within the EA. The variable-stiffness elements are formed from open-cell foam treated with magneto-rheological fluid. Electromagnetic devices are co-located with the respective elements and are energized to create magnetic fields acting on the magneto-rheological the elements and thereby increase the stiffness of the elements. When energized, the elements increase the overall stiffness of the EA/element system. When the electromagnetic devices are not energized, the stiffness of the EA by itself is relatively low to meet pedestrian protection goals. At speeds where pedestrian protection is not required but low-speed damageability goals are important, the electromagnetic devices are energized to stiffen the EA/element system.

Abstract: A passenger protection device includes a panel trim that is fittable to a vehicle instrument panel and a flexible sheet attached to each of at least a portion of the panel trim and at least a portion of an edge of the instrument panel.

Abstract: A motor vehicle hood latch mechanism comprises a latch assembly including a primary latch and a secondary latch. The secondary latch restrains the hood in a released position subsequent movement of the primary latch to an unlocked position. The secondary latch secures a striker to restrain the hood in a released position and allows the hood to move to an open position upon manipulation. A secondary latch release handle comprises a secondary latch release handle arm having a refracted position and a deployed position, the secondary latch release handle arm extending longitudinally forward relative the motor vehicle in each of the retracted and deployed positions, wherein the secondary latch release handle arm is extended forward to the deployed position by translational motion upon movement of the primary latch to the unlocked position.

Abstract: A vehicle panoramic sunroof assembly includes a vehicle frame including a medial pillar that extends vertically from a lower frame portion to a longitudinal member of a roof frame portion. A top portion of the medial pillar includes a supplemental support flange. A panoramic sunroof frame is set within and connected to the longitudinal member of the roof frame portion and connected to the supplemental support flange. The supplemental support flange is mechanically connected to the panoramic sunroof frame.

Abstract: A door assembly for a vehicle includes a trim panel and an armrest core supported on the trim panel. An inflatable device is disposed on the armrest core for cushioning impact between an occupant of the vehicle and the armrest core during an impact of the vehicle. The inflatable device includes an inflation chamber defined by a backing, a cover, a pleated side extending from the backing to the cover, and a fabric side extending from the backing to the cover along the pleated side.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a steering wheel having a steering wheel cover and an airbag module. The airbag module includes an airbag arrangement and an inflator disposed behind the steering wheel cover. The inflator is configured to inflate the airbag arrangement. The airbag arrangement has a primary bag configured to cushion an occupant and a secondary bag disposed on a side of the primary bag adjacent to a driver's side of the vehicle. The secondary bag is configured to catch an occupant during impact of the vehicle. The airbag arrangement further includes a patch having a seam. The patch partitions the primary and secondary bags. The seam is configured to split when a pressure in the primary bag exceeds a threshold allowing gas to inflate the secondary bag.

Abstract: An airbag module for a vehicle includes an inflator disposed behind an instrument panel and an airbag arrangement. The airbag arrangement includes a cushion section configured to receive an occupant during impact and a balloon section disposed proximate a base of the cushion section and adjacent the instrument panel such that, upon inflation, the balloon section contacts and pushes against the instrument panel. This forms a swell on the cushion section adjacent to the balloon section configured to hinder movement of the occupant toward the balloon section.

Abstract: An airbag system includes an airbag. The airbag includes a face portion configured such that when the airbag is inflated; the face portion forms a corrugated section. The corrugated section has a plurality of corrugations. The plurality of corrugations is configured to impede movement of an occupant's head from a center of the airbag toward a side of the airbag during impact. The plurality of corrugations is formed using a plurality of tethers attached to the face portion.