Abstract: A wiper system incorporates a wiper motor provided with a wireless interface to provide electric power and control signals to the wiper motor. Thus, a direct electric/signal wire connection to the wiper motor is eliminated. A wireless transmitter may be provided within a first body portion of a vehicle and a wireless receiver and a wiper motor are provided in a second body portion of the vehicle. The second body portion may be moveable relative to the first body portion, such as, for example, a lift gate moving relative to a body opening.

Abstract: A drying system includes an assembly with a housing defining an interior space. The housing has an inner wall with a first opening through which the inner chamber communicates with the outer chamber. The housing has an outer wall with a second opening. A rechargeable desiccant and a door are disposed in the outer chamber, and the door is movable between a first position and a second position. The door at least partially seals the second opening and unseals the first opening when in the first position, and at least partially seals the first opening and unseals the second opening when in the second position. A shape memory alloy actuator moves the door between the first position and the second position in response to a change in temperature of the shape memory alloy.

Abstract: A lamp assembly includes a housing forming an interior space, and having a first portion and a second portion. A light source is disposed within the interior space and positioned to direct light through the first portion. An electrically resistive coating is disposed on the first portion of the housing, and is operable to heat the first portion to create a positive temperature gradient in which the first portion exhibits a higher temperature than the second portion so that moisture within the interior space condenses on the second portion and not the first portion. A self-contained power supply, including an energy storage device and a solar cell, may be incorporated into the housing. An interior surface of the first portion may be coated with a hydrophobic coating, and an interior surface of the second portion may be coated with a hydrophilic coating.

Abstract: A clip assembly includes a bracket defining a hole. A vehicle includes a component and the clip assembly attached to the component. The bracket includes an inner surface, a first side and a second side opposing the first side. The hole is defined through the first and second sides. The clip assembly includes a post disposed through the hole and an attachment feature formed to the post. The clip assembly includes a first stop and a second stop each formed to the post. The first stop is disposed between the first side of the bracket and the attachment feature. The second stop is spaced from the first stop, and the bracket is disposed between the first and second stops. The second side of the bracket is open such that the second stop is unsurrounded by the bracket relative to the second side.

Abstract: A vehicle body assembly includes a first body wholly or partly made of a first polymeric material. The first polymeric material includes a polycarbonate and has a 60-degree gloss that is equal to or greater than 80 gloss units. The first body defines an outermost surface of the vehicle body assembly. The first body may be an exterior trim component, such as a grille portion, and may have a black color. The vehicle body assembly further includes a second body coupled (e.g., chemically bonded) to the first body. The second body may be a support body configured to support the exterior trim component and is wholly or partly made of a second polymeric material. The second polymeric material is different from the first polymeric material, and the outermost surface of the first body faces away from the second body.

Abstract: A spray nozzle system includes a housing having an upper cap, a neck portion for helping to support the housing adjacent a component, and at least one fluid flow line for supplying a fluid to an interior area of the housing. A plurality of spray nozzles may be included which are housed in the housing and in communication with the at least one fluid line for distributing the fluid over a circumferential surface of the component.

Abstract: A clip assembly includes a bracket defining a hole. A vehicle includes a component and the clip assembly attached to the component. The bracket includes an inner surface, a first side and a second side opposing the first side. The hole is defined through the first and second sides. The clip assembly includes a post disposed through the hole and an attachment feature formed to the post. The clip assembly includes a first stop and a second stop each formed to the post. The first stop is disposed between the first side of the bracket and the attachment feature. The second stop is spaced from the first stop, and the bracket is disposed between the first and second stops. The second side of the bracket is open such that the second stop is unsurrounded by the bracket relative to the second side.

Abstract: A lockable latching device includes a body defining a cavity and having a central longitudinal axis, and a plunger disposed within the cavity. The plunger has a first end and a second end and is translatable along the axis between an open position and a closed position. The device includes an annular rotator disposed along the axis and configured for rotating the plunger about the axis. The device also includes an annular latch abutting the rotator that is transitionable between an unlocked state and a locked state. The device includes a first element operably connected to the latch and formed from a first shape memory alloy and a second element operably connected to the latch and formed from a second shape memory alloy.

Abstract: A vehicle body assembly includes a first body wholly or partly made of a first polymeric material. The first polymeric material includes a polycarbonate and has a 60-degree gloss that is equal to or greater than 80 gloss units. The first body defines an outermost surface of the vehicle body assembly. The first body may be an exterior trim component, such as a grille portion, and may have a black color. The vehicle body assembly further includes a second body coupled (e.g., chemically bonded) to the first body. The second body may be a support body configured to support the exterior trim component and is wholly or partly made of a second polymeric material. The second polymeric material is different from the first polymeric material, and the outermost surface of the first body faces away from the second body.

Abstract: A lockable latching device includes a body defining a cavity therein and having a central longitudinal axis, and a plunger disposed within the cavity. The plunger has a first end and a second end and is translatable with respect to the body along the axis between an open position and a closed position. The device also includes an annular rotator spaced apart from the body along the axis and configured for rotating the plunger about the axis. The device includes an annular latch abutting the rotator that is transitionable between an unlocked state and a locked state. The device also includes an element attached to the latch and formed from a shape memory alloy that is transitionable between an austenite crystallographic phase and a martensite crystallographic phase in response to an activation signal to thereby transition the latch from the locked state to the unlocked state.

Abstract: A method includes assembling a first latching device and a second latching device. The first latching device includes a first support housing and a first sliding assembly. The first sliding assembly is selectively movable, relative to the first support housing, between a latched position and an unlatched position. The second latching device includes a second support housing, a second sliding assembly, and an actuating mechanism. The second support housing is substantially identical to the first support housing. The second sliding assembly is selectively movable, relative to the second support housing, between a latched position and an unlatched position. The actuating mechanism is operatively disposed in the second support housing and is configured to selectively maintain the sliding assembly in the latched position until the actuating mechanism is selectively actuated. The first latching device does not include the actuating mechanism.

Abstract: A spray nozzle system includes a housing having an upper cap, a neck portion for helping to support the housing adjacent a component, and at least one fluid flow line for supplying a fluid to an interior area of the housing. A plurality of spray nozzles may be included which are housed in the housing and in communication with the at least one fluid line for distributing the fluid over a circumferential surface of the component.

Abstract: A vehicle fuel door assembly includes a cover comprising a plurality of alignment features fixedly disposed relative to the cover, the plurality of alignment features formed of an elastically deformable material. The assembly also includes a hinge comprising a plurality of alignment elements fixedly disposed relative to the hinge, each of the alignment features interferingly, deformably and matingly engageable with a respective alignment element, the alignment features elastically deforming to an elastically averaged final configuration that aligns the cover relative to the hinge in six planar orthogonal directions by averaging the elastic deformation of the respective alignment features.

Abstract: A wiper system incorporates a wiper motor provided with a wireless interface to provide electric power and control signals to the wiper motor. Thus, a direct electric/signal wire connection to the wiper motor is eliminated. A wireless transmitter may be provided within a first body portion of a vehicle and a wireless receiver and a wiper motor are provided in a second body portion of the vehicle. The second body portion may be moveable relative to the first body portion, such as, for example, a lift gate moving relative to a body opening.

Abstract: A washer for a vehicle includes a reservoir, a pump disposed within the reservoir and a motor operatively coupled to the pump to drive the pump responsive to an energizing electric power signal. A first transceiver is arranged to wirelessly provide the energizing electric power signal, a second transceiver is wirelessly coupled to the first transceiver to receive the energizing electric power signal. The second transceiver is further coupled to the motor to provide the energizing electric power to the motor. The washer system may further include a sensor disposed within the reservoir with the sensor being operatively coupled to the second transceiver.

Abstract: A push-push latch includes a slider slidably disposed on a frame. A resilient element is to urge the slider toward an extended state. The slider or the frame defines a cam-track. A pin member is connected to the frame or the slider. The pin member selectably engages a closed course in the cam-track to cause the slider to alternate between a retracted state and the extended state in response to alternating application and removal of an actuating force on the slider. An interference member is on the frame to selectively prevent the pin member from engaging the closed course thereby locking the slider in the retracted state. A pivotable catch is rotatably on the slider to open in the extended state and to close in the retracted state. A shape memory alloy actuator selectively causes the interference member to selectively prevent the pin member from engaging the closed course.

Abstract: A vehicle fuel door assembly includes a cover comprising a plurality of alignment features fixedly disposed relative to the cover, the plurality of alignment features formed of an elastically deformable material. The assembly also includes a hinge comprising a plurality of alignment elements fixedly disposed relative to the hinge, each of the alignment features interferingly, deformably and matingly engageable with a respective alignment element, the alignment features elastically deforming to an elastically averaged final configuration that aligns the cover relative to the hinge in six planar orthogonal directions by averaging the elastic deformation of the respective alignment features.

Abstract: An access system for a vehicle energy storage device includes a housing and an access port in the housing configured for operative communication with the energy storage device. An access door is operatively connected to the housing and is movable between a closed position in which the access door closes the housing, and an open position in which the access door opens the housing. The access door prevents access to the access port in the closed position and permits access to the access port in the open position. A magnet is operatively connected to one of the housing and the access door. A magnetic sensor is operatively connected to the other one of the housing and the access door and detects the proximity of the magnet relative to the sensor. The sensor is operable to provide a signal indicative of whether the access door is in the closed position.

Abstract: A lockable latching device includes a body defining a cavity therein and having a central longitudinal axis, and a plunger disposed within the cavity. The plunger has a first end and a second end and is translatable with respect to the body along the axis between an open position and a closed position. The device also includes an annular rotator spaced apart from the body along the axis and configured for rotating the plunger about the axis. The device includes an annular latch abutting the rotator that is transitionable between an unlocked state and a locked state. The device also includes an element attached to the latch and formed from a shape memory alloy that is transitionable between an austenite crystallographic phase and a martensite crystallographic phase in response to an activation signal to thereby transition the latch from the locked state to the unlocked state.

Abstract: A lockable latching device includes a body defining a cavity and having a central longitudinal axis, and a plunger disposed within the cavity. The plunger has a first end and a second end and is translatable along the axis between an open position and a closed position. The device includes an annular rotator disposed along the axis and configured for rotating the plunger about the axis. The device also includes an annular latch abutting the rotator that is transitionable between an unlocked state and a locked state. The device includes a first element operably connected to the latch and formed from a first shape memory alloy and a second element operably connected to the latch and formed from a second shape memory alloy.