Abstract: A sensor deflector is disclosed for preventing false alerts from vehicle parking sensors obstructed by after-market accessories such as grill guards or push bars. The deflector includes a main body shaped and sized to cover only the portion of an obstruction within the detection range of the sensor. Positioned at an angle between approximately 5 and 85 degrees, the main body redirects acoustic or light pulses away from the sensor so the pulses do not reflect back and trigger false alerts, while allowing the sensor to remain functional outside the deflected range. The sensor deflector may include an attachment tab or other mounting features for securing it to the obstructing accessory and may be formed from various materials suitable for automotive environments. Methods of deflecting sensor pulses, selectively controlling sensor coverage, and installing a sensor-compatible vehicle accessory using the sensor deflector are also disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for attaching a reconfigurable roof rack to a vehicle include a rear portion of the reconfigurable roof rack with a multifunctional front surface. The multifunctional front surface has a first function as an airflow guide (e.g., based on non-perpendicular angle the multifunctional front surface forms with the roof) when the reconfigurable roof rack is in a first configuration and a second function as a mounting surface when the reconfigurable roof rack is in a second configuration. The second configuration includes a front portion of the reconfigurable roof rack with a first side and a second side coupled to the multifunctional front surface. The front portion has a slanted front surface which functions as the airflow guide when the reconfigurable roof rack is in the second configuration. The roof of the vehicle can have a removable portion disposed below the front portion of the reconfigurable roof rack.