Abstract: A strut-tower brace includes a pair of strut-tower attachments, and front and rear cross members extending between the attachments. The rear cross member has a flange configured to connected with a vehicle cowl. A lattice structure interconnects the cross members and has ribs that are each joined to another of the ribs at a node that is spaced between the front and rear cross members.

Abstract: Provided are systems and methods for treating or processing tissue, and tissue products made using such systems and methods. Also provided are ball mill processing devices and systems useful for processing materials such as tissue. The methods involve combining tissue with or without a processing solution in a processing vessel and applying resonant acoustic energy thereto. The resonant acoustic energy rapidly agitates the tissue with the processing solution by vibration, thereby improving the rate and/or efficiency of processing. The general method provided is broadly applicable to a variety of tissue processing methods, the processing solution and features of the resonant acoustic energy being selected based on the type of tissue to be processed and the nature of the processing to be performed.

Abstract: A hood air extractor includes a support defining a first passageway. A first flap is carried on the support. The first flap is displaceable between a first position closing the first passageway to water passage in a first direction and a second position opening the first passageway to air passage in a second direction. A hood assembly incorporating one or more hood air extractors is also disclosed.

Abstract: A vehicle tailgate movement assist mechanism including a tailgate configured to rotate between opened and closed positions and a tailgate lever arm fixedly connected to a bottom area of the tailgate. A drive lever may be pivotally connected at one end thereof to the tailgate lever arm and pivotally connected at an opposite end thereof to a bell crank. The bell crank may be pivotally anchored at one end thereof to a vehicle body, and a plunger damper may be anchored to the vehicle body adjacent the bell crank. With the mechanism configured as discussed above, rotation of the tailgate from a closed to an opened position simultaneously rotates the tailgate lever arm to impart movement to the drive lever and the bell crank to thereby contact and actuate a plunger of the plunger damper to reduce an opening speed of the tailgate.

Abstract: A vehicle tailgate movement assist mechanism including a tailgate configured to rotate between opened and closed positions and a tailgate lever arm fixedly connected to a bottom area of the tailgate. A drive lever may be pivotally connected at one end thereof to the tailgate lever arm and pivotally connected at an opposite end thereof to a bell crank. The bell crank may be pivotally anchored at one end thereof to a vehicle body, and a plunger damper may be anchored to the vehicle body adjacent the bell crank. With the mechanism configured as discussed above, rotation of the tailgate from a closed to an opened position simultaneously rotates the tailgate lever arm to impart movement to the drive lever and the bell crank to thereby contact and actuate a plunger of the plunger damper to reduce an opening speed of the tailgate.

Abstract: A D-pillar structure for a rear vehicle body structure. The D-pillar structure is a one-piece hydroformed tube configured for supporting and positioning a rear vehicle body structure within a predetermined tolerance. The rear vehicle body structure is a cargo box inner, a tailgate, and/or a pair of fenders.

Abstract: A cargo box inner (12) for a vehicle (10) is provided. The cargo box inner (12) is comprised of a series of interconnected composite panels (22, 24a, 24b, 26) that form a cargo bed (14). One or more pairs of these panels (22, 24a, 24b, 26) are each joined together for forming a storage bin (40a, 40b, 42) adjacent to the cargo bed (14). Each storage bin (40a, 40b, 42) is selectively covered by a lid (50, 64), which is movable between an open position and a closed position.