Abstract: A removable seat for a vehicle that includes a roll over protection system. The seat includes a seat bottom and a seat back assembly. The seat bottom adapted to be removably coupled to the vehicle. The seat back assembly is spaced apart from the seat bottom and adapted to be fixed by a bracket or removably coupled to first and second posts of the roll over protection system. The seat back assembly includes a seat back, a beam and saddles. The seat back is longitudinally oriented and parallel to a forward direction of vehicle travel. The beam includes a tube, a first bracket and a second bracket. The first bracket being fixed to a first end of the tube and the second bracket being fixed to a second end of the tube. The saddles fixing the tube to the seat back and includes a curved portion fixed to the tube.

Abstract: A vehicle seat hinge assembly including a base plate, a seat support assembly, and an off-center hinge. The base plate is configured to mount to a vehicle and the seat support assembly is configured to mount to the seat. The off-center hinge of the vehicle seat hinge assembly is positioned at one corner of the base plate and pivotally couples at least part of the seat support assembly to the base plate. The base plate has a base plate centerline and the off-center hinge has a hinge axis that is arranged at an oblique angle relative to the base plate centerline.

Abstract: A removable seat for a vehicle that includes a roll over protection system. The seat includes a seat bottom and a seat back assembly. The seat bottom adapted to be removably coupled to the vehicle. The seat back assembly is spaced apart from the seat bottom and adapted to be fixed by a bracket or removably coupled to first and second posts of the roll over protection system. The seat back assembly includes a seat back, a beam and saddles. The seat back is longitudinally oriented and parallel to a forward direction of vehicle travel. The beam includes a tube, a first bracket and a second bracket. The first bracket being fixed to a first end of the tube and the second bracket being fixed to a second end of the tube. The saddles fixing the tube to the seat back and includes a curved portion fixed to the tube.

Abstract: A vehicle seat hinge assembly including a base plate, a seat support assembly, and an off-center hinge. The base plate is configured to mount to a vehicle and the seat support assembly is configured to mount to the seat. The off-center hinge of the vehicle seat hinge assembly is positioned at one corner of the base plate and pivotally couples at least part of the seat support assembly to the base plate. The base plate has a base plate centerline and the off-center hinge has a hinge axis that is arranged at an oblique angle relative to the base plate centerline.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide for controlling a hood latch using an electrically actuated primary hood latch and an electrically actuated secondary hood latch. To open the hood of the vehicle, a person presses a hood release button. Before attempting to release either the primary hood latch or secondary hood latch, a determination is made whether a vehicle speed of the vehicle is below a minimum vehicle speed threshold. If the vehicle speed is below this threshold, both the primary electrical actuator for the primary hood latch and the secondary electrical actuator for the secondary hood latch are triggered, thereby releasing hood from a closed position into an open position. When the vehicle speed is above this vehicle speed threshold, only the primary electrical actuator for primary hood latch is triggered; leaving the hood in a partially open position held in place by the secondary hood latch.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide for controlling a hood latch using an electrically actuated primary hood latch and an electrically actuated secondary hood latch. To open the hood of the vehicle, a person presses a hood release button. Before attempting to release either the primary hood latch or secondary hood latch, a determination is made whether a vehicle speed of the vehicle is below a minimum vehicle speed threshold. If the vehicle speed is below this threshold, both the primary electrical actuator for the primary hood latch and the secondary electrical actuator for the secondary hood latch are triggered, thereby releasing hood from a closed position into an open position. When the vehicle speed is above this vehicle speed threshold, only the primary electrical actuator for primary hood latch is triggered; leaving the hood in a partially open position held in place by the secondary hood latch.

Abstract: A door handle assembly extends a door handle in parallel from an outer surface of a vehicle door and retracts the door handle until it is flush with the outer surface. The door handle assembly includes a door handle formed from a planar handle member and a handle base member. The planar handle member is coupled to the handle base member and a swing arm coupled to the backside of the handle base member extends and retracts the door handle. A first upper fork is ratably coupled to a backside of the handle base member near the distal portion of a first post portion and a second upper fork is ratably coupled to the backside of the handle base member near the distal portion of a second post portion. The lower dual fork portion of the swing arm pivots about a shaft mounted to an inner door surface.

Abstract: A retractable roof assembly (53) is provided for a motor vehicle (10) having a rear seat (24) and spaced apart roof side frame members (30) defining a roof opening (31). The retractable roof assembly (53) includes a split rail assembly (33) having a fixed rail (34) adapted to be fixedly secured to each of the roof side frame members (30) and extending along a portion thereof, and a movable rail (40) extending rearward of the fixed rail (34) along a remaining portion of each of the roof side frame members (30). A plurality of roof panels (58, 60, 62) extends between the roof side frame members (30) and slidably engages the split rail assembly (33) for selective movement into a stacked configuration above the movable rail (40).

Abstract: A power drive mechanism (10) for a motor vehicle liftgate includes a linking arm (18) pivotally connected with the liftgate, a crank arm (12) drivable for pivotal movement and connected with the linking arm (18), and a gear train (20) operatively engaging the crank arm (12). A drive motor (34) is operatively connected with the crank arm (12) through the gear train (20) to provide power assisted opening and closing of the liftgate. The gear train (20) is disengagable from the drive motor (34) to permit manual opening and closing of the liftgate without backdriving the drive motor (34). An actuator (74) is operatively connected with the gear train (20) to move the gear train into and out of engagement with the drive motor. A holding linkage (60, 62) is operatively associated with the gear train (20) to maintain the gear train (20) in engagement during power assisted opening and closing of the liftgate.

Abstract: A power drive mechanism (10) for a motor vehicle liftgate includes a linking arm (18) pivotally connected with the liftgate, a crank arm (12) drivable for pivotal movement and connected with the linking arm (18), and a gear train (20) operatively engaging the crank arm (12). A drive motor (34) is operatively connected with the crank arm (12) through the gear train (20) to provide power assisted opening and closing of the liftgate. The gear train (20) is disengagable from the drive motor (34) to permit manual opening and closing of the liftgate without backdriving the drive motor (34). An actuator (74) is operatively connected with the gear train (20) to move the gear train into and out of engagement with the drive motor. A holding linkage (60, 62) is operatively associated with the gear train (20) to maintain the gear train (20) in engagement during power assisted opening and closing of the liftgate.

Abstract: A latch assembly (100) releases a closure structure (12) of a motor vehicle (10). The latch assembly includes a latch housing (37). A latch (28) for releasing the closure structure (12), allowing the closure structure to move toward an open position, is housed within the latch housing. A voltage regulator (46) is electrically connected to the latch (28) and provides power to the latch (28). Also, the latch assembly includes a microprocessor (44) that is electrically connected to the voltage regulator (46) to receive the power supplied by the voltage regulator, wherein the microprocessor (44) and the voltage regulator (46) are housed within the latch housing (37).

Abstract: A power drive mechanism (10) for a motor vehicle liftgate includes a linking arm (18) pivotally connected with the liftgate, a crank arm (12) drivable for pivotal movement and connected with the linking arm (18), and a gear train (20) operatively engaging the crank arm (12). A drive motor (34) is operatively connected with the crank arm (12) through the gear train (20) to provide power assisted opening and closing of the liftgate. The gear train (20) is disengageable from the drive motor (34) to permit manual opening and closing of the liftgate without backdriving the drive motor (34). An actuator (74) is operatively connected with the gear train (20) to move the gear train into and out of engagement with the drive motor. A holding linkage (60, 62) is operatively associated with the gear train (20) to maintain the gear train (20) in engagement during power assisted opening and closing of the liftgate.

Abstract: A door cartridge assembly is provided to be installed into a vehicle door. The assembly includes a door hardware mounting panel having door components mounted thereon and being constructed and arranged to be fixedly mounted to a vehicle door; coupling structure carried by the mounting panel; and a door latch assembly constructed and arranged to be secured to a vehicle door to provide a latch for the vehicle door. The door latch assembly includes a latching member constructed and arranged to be movable between a latching position and a releasing position. The coupling structure is constructed and arranged to receive the latching member in latching relation therewith when the latching member is in the latching position thereof, thereby permitting the mounting panel to be transported with the door latch assembly connected thereto.

Abstract: A door cartridge assembly is provided to be installed into a vehicle door. The assembly includes a door hardware mounting panel having door components mounted thereon and being constructed and arranged to be fixedly mounted to a vehicle door; coupling structure carried by the mounting panel; and a door latch assembly constructed and arranged to be secured to a vehicle door to provide a latch for the vehicle door. The door latch assembly includes a latching member constructed and arranged to be movable between a latching position and a releasing position. The coupling structure is constructed and arranged to receive the latching member in latching relation therewith when the latching member is in the latching position thereof, thereby permitting the mounting panel to be transported with the door latch assembly connected thereto.