Abstract: The present invention provides a load support system for unibody vehicle frames, incorporating an upper load support bracket with a U-shaped configuration, including inner, center, and outer panels. The load support bracket enhances load distribution and structural integrity by improving conformance to the frame's contours. Mounting features align with pre-existing frame points and are longitudinally spaced from the air spring mounting location to enhance load distribution across the bracket. The upper bracket can feature asymmetrical vertical extension regions that accommodate various vehicle features and reinforce against transverse deflection. Air spring mounting features securely couple the bracket to the air spring. Overall, the load support system significantly reduces localized stress concentrations, improving vehicle stability and handling.

Abstract: An adjustable vehicle camera mount apparatus for selectively orienting a camera. The vehicle camera mount apparatus includes a dockable camera enclosure and a camera dock. The dockable camera enclosure can include a body and two spring-loaded plungers, with each spring-loaded plunger including two arcuate arms having meshing teeth. The camera dock can include a base and two opposing docking wings defining two parallel channels and a retaining ring having meshing teeth. The dockable camera enclosure is configured to rotate in relation to the camera dock through a plurality of distinct indexing positions defined by friction between the meshing teeth of the arcuate arms and the meshing teeth of the retaining rings. A related system is provided including a interchangeable dockable camera enclosure, a temporary camera dock, and a permanent dock.

Abstract: A gesture access system for a motor vehicle, includes a radiation transmitter to emit radiation signals and a radiation receiver, an illumination device and/or an audio device, and a processor programmed to activate the illumination and/or audio device according to a first activation scheme in response to determining an object is within a sensing region of the radiation receiver, and in response to the object within the sensing region exhibiting a predefined gesture, to activate the illumination and/or audio according to a second activation scheme and control an actuator to unlock, lock, open or close an access closure of the motor vehicle.

Abstract: A handle assembly for a vehicle door includes: a body defining an opening dimensioned to at least partially receive therein a hand of a user, the opening communicating with a chamber defined in the body anterior of the opening; at least one pivot arm mounted on the body for pivotal movement relative thereto; a closure for the opening, the closure connected to the at least one pivot arm for pivotal movement relative thereto, and the closure selectively moveable relative to the body between a first position, in which the closure occupies the opening, and a second position, in which the closure is moved into the chamber so that the hand of the user may be at least partially received through the opening; and a motor for effecting selective movement of the closure between the first and second positions thereof.

Abstract: A handle for a motor vehicle door may include a body defining an opening to a chamber, a closure positioned in the opening and selectively moveable between a first position in which the closure closes the opening, and a second position in which the closure is moved into the chamber to at least partially expose the opening, at least one light-transmissive portion proximate the opening of the body, and one or more light sources operative to selectively illuminate the at least one light-transmissive portion in a first color of light in response to one or more signals from a remote control and the closure being in the first position thereof, and to selectively illuminate the at least one light-transmissive portion in a second, different color of light in response to the one or more signals from the remote control and the closure being in the second position thereof.

Abstract: A gesture access system for a motor vehicle, includes a radiation transmitter to emit radiation signals and a radiation receiver, an illumination device and/or an audio device, and a processor programmed to activate the illumination and/or audio device according to a first activation scheme in response to determining an object is within a sensing region of the radiation receiver, and in response to the object within the sensing region exhibiting a predefined gesture, to activate the illumination and/or audio according to a second activation scheme and control an actuator to unlock, lock, open or close an access closure of the motor vehicle.

Abstract: A gesture access and object impact avoidance system for a motor vehicle, includes a radar signal assembly configured to be mounted to the motor vehicle and to transmit radar signals and detect reflected radar signals, and a processor to operate in (i) a gesture access mode, when the motor vehicle is not moving or is disabled from moving, by controlling an access closure actuator to lock, unlock, open or close an access closure of the motor vehicle if an object is within a sensing region of the radar signal assembly and exhibits a predefined gesture, and (ii) an object impact avoidance mode, when the motor vehicle is moving or enabled to move, by activating a warning device or controlling an impact avoidance device actuator if an object is within a predefined distance of the radar signal assembly.

Abstract: A spacer for a keyless-entry vehicle door handle of the type including mateable body and cover portions, and at least one electronic component disposed in an internal space of the handle defined by the body and cover portions, the at least one electronic component having first and second portions each arranged in proximity to one or the other of opposing interior surfaces of the body and cover portions of the handle. The spacer includes a compressible member disposed in the internal space of the handle, the compressible member having a body with opposite surfaces each facing one of the opposing interior surfaces of the body and cover portions of the handle, and recesses formed in each of the opposite surfaces, each recess dimensioned to receive therein one or the other of the first and second portions of the at least one electronic component.

Abstract: A user-actuatable vehicle door control, comprising: at least one force sensing member disposed beneath at least one force transfer member, the at least one force sensing member operative to detect the intensity of forces applied thereto, and the at least one force transfer member moveable upon user application thereto of one or more forces so as to transfer the one or more user-applied forces to one or more locations on the at least one force sensing member; and a controller operatively connected to the at least one force sensing member.

Abstract: A vehicle access system includes: an infrared detector assembly for detecting an object within a sensing region of the infrared detector assembly; at least one controller operatively connected to the infrared detector assembly, the at least one controller operative (i) to determine from inputs from the infrared detector assembly if a detected object exhibits a predefined gesture and, if the detected object exhibits a predefined gesture, (ii) to direct the execution of one or more pre-defined vehicle commands; and a plurality of lights operatively connected to the at least one controller, the plurality of lights selectively illuminable to produce visible light in one or more colors, wherein one or more of the plurality lights (i) are selectively illuminated by the at least one controller to visibly indicate the detected presence of an object within the sensing region by the infrared detector assembly, and (ii) are selectively illuminated by the at least one controller to visibly indicate that the detected obje

Abstract: A touchless vehicle control apparatus includes an array of infrared light-emitting LEDs; an array of infrared light sensors for receiving reflected light from an object in accordance with a time sequence in which one or more of the infrared light-emitting LEDs is activated and outputting a plurality of reflected signals; and a processing unit for receiving the reflected signals, identifying a signal function of time by comparing a predetermined threshold with signal levels of the reflected signals, determining motion of the object by referring to the signal function of time, and directing the execution of one or more pre-defined vehicle commands when the determined motion of the object corresponds to a pre-defined motion associated with a vehicle command.

Abstract: A center high-mount brake-light system for a motor vehicle, comprising a plurality of selectively-illuminatable lights arranged to define each of a center section comprising at least one of the plurality of lights, and at least two outer sections disposed on either side of the center section.

Abstract: A user-actuatable vehicle closure control, comprising at least one force sensing member disposed beneath at least one force transfer member, the at least one force sensing member operative to detect the application of force thereto, and the force transfer member moveable upon user application of force thereto so as to transfer the user-applied force to the at least one force sensing member; and a controller operatively connected to the at least one force sensing member, the controller operative to direct the execution of one or more pre-defined vehicle commands in response to one or more signals from the at least one force sensing member indicating the application of force thereto by a user via the force transfer member.

Abstract: A handle assembly for a vehicle door includes: a body defining an opening dimensioned to at least partially receive therein a hand of a user, the opening communicating with a chamber defined in the body anterior of the opening; at least one pivot arm mounted on the body for pivotal movement relative thereto; a closure for the opening, the closure connected to the at least one pivot arm for pivotal movement relative thereto, and the closure selectively moveable relative to the body between a first position, in which the closure occupies the opening, and a second position, in which the closure is moved into the chamber so that the hand of the user may be at least partially received through the opening; and a motor for effecting selective movement of the closure between the first and second positions thereof.

Abstract: A handle assembly for a vehicle door, comprising a body supporting a handle that is pivotally moveable between a stowed position and a deployed position, and an actuator assembly comprising a motor and an actuator member interposed between the motor and the handle. The actuator member is operably coupled to the handle and moveable by the motor to effect movement of the handle between the stowed and deployed positions thereof. The actuator member has an accumulator compressible under the force of the motor when an external obstruction acts on the handle in the stowed position thereof to prevent the handle from being moved to the deployed position thereof.

Abstract: A center high-mount brake-light system for a motor vehicle, comprising a plurality of selectively-illuminatable lights arranged to define each of a center section comprising at least one of the plurality of lights, and at least two outer sections disposed on either side of the center section.

Abstract: A vehicular trim component with interior and exterior surfaces, the vehicular trim component comprising: an at least partially light-transmissive substrate having opposite first and second surfaces; an illumination source adjacent the second surface of the substrate, the illumination source actuatable between an illuminated state and a non-illuminated state; and a variably light-transmissive layer on the first surface of the substrate. The variably light-transmissive layer includes a non-light-transmissive opaque portion and a light-transmissive portion. The light-transmissive portion comprises one or more lines defined through the opaque portion and arranged to define visually perceptible indicia when backlit by the illumination source in its illuminated state. Each line is visually imperceptible to the naked eye from a distance of at least as close as approximately 3 feet from the trim component when the illumination source is in its non-illuminated state.

Abstract: A vehicular exterior trim component for a vehicle of the type including at least one battery, the exterior trim component comprising an at least partially light-transmissive substrate having opposite first and second surfaces, and an illumination source adjacent the second surface of the substrate, the illumination source actuatable between an illuminated state and a non-illuminated state. A variably light-transmissive layer on one of the first or second surfaces of the substrate includes a non-light-transmissive opaque portion and a light-transmissive portion, the light-transmissive portion defining visually perceptible indicia when backlit by the illumination source in its illuminated state. When the illumination source is in its non-illuminated state, the indicia are visually imperceptible to the naked eye. The exterior trim component is operative to receive information respecting at least a charge status of the at least one battery.

Abstract: A vehicular trim component with interior and exterior surfaces, the vehicular trim component comprising: an at least partially light-transmissive substrate having opposite first and second surfaces; an illumination source adjacent the second surface of the substrate, the illumination source actuatable between an illuminated state and a non-illuminated state; and a variably light-transmissive layer on the first surface of the substrate. The variably light-transmissive layer includes a non-light-transmissive opaque portion and a light-transmissive portion. The light-transmissive portion comprises one or more lines defined through the opaque portion and arranged to define visually perceptible indicia when backlit by the illumination source in its illuminated state. Each line is visually imperceptible to the naked eye from a distance of at least as close as approximately 3 feet from the trim component when the illumination source is in its non-illuminated state.

Abstract: A handle assembly for a vehicle door, comprising a body supporting a handle that is pivotally moveable between a stowed position and a deployed position, and an actuator assembly comprising a motor and an actuator member interposed between the motor and the handle. The actuator member is operably coupled to the handle and moveable by the motor to effect movement of the handle between the stowed and deployed positions thereof. The actuator member has an accumulator compressible under the force of the motor when an external obstruction acts on the handle in the stowed position thereof to prevent the handle from being moved to the deployed position thereof.