Abstract: A tonneau cover for a vehicle has a topside and an underside. The tonneau cover also includes a rail system attached to the underside. The tonneau cover also includes a ramp system. The ramp system is slidably engaged with the rail system and is configured to slide out from the underside along the rail system such that a rear end of the ramp system engages a ground surface to create a rampway between the topside and the ground surface. The ramp system can be used to load large cargo onto the topside of the tonneau cover. The ramp system is also removable from the rail system and attachable to an end of a truck bed of the vehicle such that the ramp system can be used to load cargo into the truck bed.

Abstract: A tonneau cover for a vehicle can include a panel and a table. The panel can define a cavity. The table can be modifiable between a stowable configuration and a standing configuration. In the stowable configuration, the table is configured to stow inside the cavity. In the standing configuration, the table is configured to stand on a ground surface when removed from the cavity. In the stowable configuration, the table may be configured to further rigidify the panel such that a user of the vehicle can store cargo on top of the tonneau cover.

Abstract: A tonneau cover for a vehicle can include a panel and a table. The panel can define a cavity. The table can be modifiable between a stowable configuration and a standing configuration. In the stowable configuration, the table is configured to stow inside the cavity. In the standing configuration, the table is configured to stand on a ground surface when removed from the cavity. In the stowable configuration, the table may be configured to further rigidify the panel such that a user of the vehicle can store cargo on top of the tonneau cover.

Abstract: A tonneau cover for a vehicle has a topside and an underside. The tonneau cover also includes a rail system attached to the underside. The tonneau cover also includes a ramp system. The ramp system is slidably engaged with the rail system and is configured to slide out from the underside along the rail system such that a rear end of the ramp system engages a ground surface to create a rampway between the topside and the ground surface. The ramp system can be used to load large cargo onto the topside of the tonneau cover. The ramp system is also removable from the rail system and attachable to an end of a truck bed of the vehicle such that the ramp system can be used to load cargo into the truck bed.

Abstract: A vehicle door assembly comprising includes a vehicle door panel, a vehicle door handle operably connected to the door panel so as to enable operation of a door latch by the door handle, and at least one sanitizer dispensing mechanism having at least a first nozzle coupled to the vehicle door panel and structured to discharge a sanitizing material onto an exterior surface of the door handle.

Abstract: A detachable tonneau cover panel assembly for a vehicle tonneau cover includes a panel portion structured to be detachably connectible to a panel of a tonneau cover, and at least one mounting bracket attached to an interior side of the panel portion and structured to enable mounting of an object thereon. An optional shield may be attached to the panel portion to enclose and protect object(s) mounted on the mounting bracket(s). The tonneau cover panel assembly is structured to be easily detachable from other panels of the tonneau cover and man-portable so that a user may use the tonneau cover panel assembly as a carrying case for any objects mounted on the mounting brackets attached to the panel portion.

Abstract: An expandable cargo bed system for a vehicle includes a front shell having a front shell first sidewall. The front shell first sidewall includes at least one cargo bed access passage extending between a first side of the front shell first sidewall and a second side of the front shell first sidewall opposite the first side. A rear shell is operably coupled to the front shell so as to be movable with respect to the front shell between a retracted position and an extended position so as to vary a length of the cargo bed. The rear shell has a rear shell first sidewall. The rear shell first sidewall is structured to cover the at least one cargo bed access passage when the rear shell is in the retracted position. The rear shell first sidewall is also structured so that the at least one cargo bed access passage is exposed when the rear shell is in the extended position.

Abstract: A detachable tonneau cover panel assembly for a vehicle tonneau cover includes a panel portion structured to be detachably connectible to a panel of a tonneau cover, and at least one mounting bracket attached to an interior side of the panel portion and structured to enable mounting of an object thereon. An optional shield may be attached to the panel portion to enclose and protect object(s) mounted on the mounting bracket(s). The tonneau cover panel assembly is structured to be easily detachable from other panels of the tonneau cover and man-portable so that a user may use the tonneau cover panel assembly as a carrying case for any objects mounted on the mounting brackets attached to the panel portion.

Abstract: System, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to assisting in closing a trunk door of a vehicle by leveraging a Heating, Ventilation and Air-conditioning (HVAC) system in the vehicle. In one embodiment, a method includes detecting a position of the trunk door, and when the position of the trunk door is an open position, determining whether to activate the HVAC system to reduce air pressure in a trunk of the vehicle, where the trunk and the HVAC system are fluidly connected by an air duct. The method includes, in response to determining to activate the HVAC system to reduce air pressure in the trunk, pumping air out of the trunk through the air duct such that at least some of any increased air pressure caused by a trunk door closure is removed from the trunk. The method includes, when the position of the trunk door has changed from the open position to a closed position, deactivating the HVAC system to stop pumping air out from the trunk.

Abstract: A vehicle hood locking mechanism includes a housing and a hood lock having a locking portion positioned exterior of the housing. The hood lock is coupled to the housing such that the locking portion is rotatable with respect to the housing between a first rotational position and a second rotational position different from the first rotational position. Rotation of the locking portion to the first rotational position enables insertion of the locking portion through a shaped opening formed in the hood. Rotation of the locking portion to the second rotational position after insertion of the locking portion through the opening prevents withdrawal of the locking portion through the opening until the locking portion is rotated back to the first rotational position. This prevents the hood lock from being inadvertently detached from the raised hood, thereby maintaining the hood in the raised condition.

Abstract: A vehicle hood locking mechanism includes a locking member including a helical portion structured to be insertable into a cavity formed in a vehicle hood. The helical portion is structured to be rotatable with respect to the hood so that contact between the hood and the helical portion during insertion of the helical portion into the cavity causes a rotation of the helical portion from a first rotational position to a second rotational position different from the first rotational position. The locking mechanism is also structured so that the helical portion is rotatable from the second rotational position back to the first rotational position when the helical portion becomes positioned inside the cavity.

Abstract: A pickup truck includes a cab having a rear wall and a rear window positioned in the rear wall. An airflow duct extends along a portion of the cab. The airflow duct has an inlet and an outlet and defines an airflow passage extending between the inlet and the outlet. The outlet is positioned rearwardly of the cab and within a space defined by a first horizontal plane extending through an edge of the rear window and a second horizontal plane spaced apart a predetermined distance from the first horizontal plane in a direction away from the rear window.

Abstract: System, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to assisting in closing a door of a vehicle by leveraging a Heating, Ventilation and Air-conditioning (HVAC) system in the vehicle. In one embodiment, a method includes detecting a position of at least one vehicle door, and when the position of the at least one vehicle door is an open position, determining whether to activate the HVAC system to reduce air pressure in a cabin of the vehicle. The method includes, in response to determining to activate the HVAC system, pumping air out of the cabin such that at least some of any increased air pressure caused by a vehicle door closure is removed from the cabin. The method includes, when the position of the at least one vehicle door has changed from the open position to a closed position, deactivating the HVAC system to stop pumping air out from the cabin.

Abstract: A drying system for a vehicle includes an airflow intake duct structured to be mountable to the vehicle so as to reside exterior of the vehicle. The airflow intake duct includes an intake duct airflow passage structured to receive an airflow therein from outside the vehicle when the vehicle is moving. An airflow duct is structured to be coupled to the intake duct so as to reside in an interior of the vehicle and so as to receive therein the airflow from the intake duct when the intake duct is mounted exterior of the vehicle. The airflow duct includes a plurality of holes structured to enable discharge of a portion of the airflow from the airflow duct into the interior of the vehicle.

Abstract: A cargo bed system for a vehicle includes an inner shell and an outer shell operably coupled to the inner shell so as to be movable with respect to the inner shell between a lowered position and a raised position so as to vary a height of a cargo bed defined by the cargo bed system.

Abstract: A vehicle door assembly comprising includes a vehicle door panel, a vehicle door handle operably connected to the door panel so as to enable operation of a door latch by the door handle, and at least one sanitizer dispensing mechanism having at least a first nozzle coupled to the vehicle door panel and structured to discharge a sanitizing material onto an exterior surface of the door handle.

Abstract: A vehicle hood locking mechanism includes a locking member including a helical portion structured to be insertable into a cavity formed in a vehicle hood. The helical portion is structured to be rotatable with respect to the hood so that contact between the hood and the helical portion during insertion of the helical portion into the cavity causes a rotation of the helical portion from a first rotational position to a second rotational position different from the first rotational position. The locking mechanism is also structured so that the helical portion is rotatable from the second rotational position back to the first rotational position when the helical portion becomes positioned inside the cavity.

Abstract: A tonneau cover for a vehicle cargo bed includes at least one first airflow passage extending between a first side of the tonneau cover and a second side of the tonneau cover opposite the first side, and at least one second airflow passage separate from the first airflow passage and extending between the second side of the tonneau cover and at least one side of the tonneau cover other than the second side.

Abstract: An expandable cargo bed system for a vehicle includes a front shell having a front shell first sidewall. The front shell first sidewall includes at least one cargo bed access passage extending between a first side of the front shell first sidewall and a second side of the front shell first sidewall opposite the first side. A rear shell is operably coupled to the front shell so as to be movable with respect to the front shell between a retracted position and an extended position so as to vary a length of the cargo bed. The rear shell has a rear shell first sidewall. The rear shell first sidewall is structured to cover the at least one cargo bed access passage when the rear shell is in the retracted position. The rear shell first sidewall is also structured so that the at least one cargo bed access passage is exposed when the rear shell is in the extended position.

Abstract: A cargo bed system for a vehicle includes an inner shell and an outer shell operably coupled to the inner shell so as to be movable with respect to the inner shell between a lowered position and a raised position so as to vary a height of a cargo bed defined by the cargo bed system.