Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Edscha Roof Systems Inc.

Webasto Se

Webasto-edscha Cabrio Gmbh

Webasto Roof Systems Inc.

Adrian Nania

Spencer Monroe Dinkins, Iii

Rafic Jergess

Amol Borkar

Stuart C Salter

Paul Kenneth Dellock

Satyanarayana Raju Vemulapati

Howard Paul Tsvi Linden

Jacob Mathews

Daniel Lewis Boston

Michael Joseph Lee

Brian Kenneth Sullivan

Craig Angelo Moccio

Manuel Santana

Michael McBryar

A vehicle utility bed system comprises a floor, first and second side walls extending up from opposing sides of the floor, and a rear wall mounted for pivoting movement relative to the floor. The rear wall is moveable between an upright position where the rear wall cooperates with the first and second side walls to enclose an end of a cargo bed area and an open position to allow access to the cargo bed area. The vehicle utility bed system further comprises an extender structure mounted for pivoting movement relative to the floor. The extender structure is movable between a stowed position where the extender structure is located within the floor and a deployed position where the extender structure increases a size of the cargo bed area when the rear wall is in the open position.

Truck utility bed system

This relates to a vehicle including a rear closure assembly having a liftgate and a tailgate. The liftgate and the tailgate are moveable by a common actuator. In one embodiment, a vehicle includes a liftgate moveable between a liftgate closed position and a liftgate open position to selectively cover and uncover a first portion of a rear opening in a body of the vehicle, a tailgate moveable between a tailgate closed position and a tailgate open position to selectively cover and uncover a second portion of the rear opening, and an actuator mechanically coupled to both the liftgate and the tailgate. The actuator is configured to move the liftgate between the liftgate closed position and the liftgate open position, and the actuator is configured to move the tailgate between the tailgate closed position and the tailgate open position.

Rear closure assembly for vehicle including liftgate and tailgate moveable by common actuator

An assembly for a vehicle according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a step assembly that is movable back-and-forth between a first configuration and a second configuration. In the first configuration, the step assembly is adjustable between a tailgate deployed position and a tailgate stowed position while the step assembly is removably coupled to a tailgate of a vehicle. In the second configuration, the step assembly is adjustable between a vehicle deployed position and a vehicle stowed position while the step assembly is removably coupled to an area of the vehicle other than the tailgate.

Tailgate assembly having a movable step

A tailgate assembly includes, among other things, a frame sub-assembly that includes a driver side section, a passenger side section, and a sill coupling the driver side section to the passenger side section. A door sub-assembly is disposed between the driver side section and the passenger side section. The door sub-assembly and the frame sub-assembly are pivotable together about a first axis between a tailgate closed position and a tailgate open position. The door sub-assembly is pivotable relative to the frame sub-assembly about a first door axis between a door closed position and a door open position. The door sub-assembly is pivotable relative to the frame sub-assembly about a second door axis that is different than the first door axis.

Tailgate assembly having a removeable door

A tailgate assembly for a vehicle includes, among other things, a frame sub-assembly that includes a driver side section, a passenger side section, and a connection member coupling the driver side section to the passenger side section. The assembly further includes a door sub-assembly disposed between the driver side section and the passenger side section. The door sub-assembly and the frame sub-assembly are pivotable together about a first axis between a tailgate closed position and a tailgate open position. The door sub-assembly is pivotable relative to the frame sub-assembly about a second axis between a door closed position and a door open position. The door sub-assembly in the door open position provides a cargo bed access opening that extends vertically downward at least as far as a floor of the cargo bed.

Tailgate assembly having a door and method of providing access to a cargo bed

A tailgate assembly according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a primary tailgate having a cargo bed access opening. The primary tailgate moveable between a closed position and a fully open position relative to a cargo bed of a vehicle. The tailgate assembly further including a secondary tailgate that can move between a blocking position where the secondary tailgate extends into the cargo bed access opening and an accessing position where the secondary tailgate is retracted away from the cargo bed access opening. The secondary tailgate in the accessing position at least partially retracted into a portion of the primary tailgate that is vertically beneath the cargo bed access opening when the primary tailgate is in the closed position.

Tailgate assembly with cargo bed access opening and method of providing access to a cargo bed of a vehicle

A vehicle tailgate with a power up-down system may employ a method of operating a vehicle tailgate that may include detecting a step is deployed from the tailgate, detecting the tailgate is less than fully open, and automatically actuating a power up-down system to drive the tailgate to fully open.

Tailgate step stowage assistance

A lighting system for a vehicle passenger includes, among other things, a light emitting conduit disposed about at least a portion of an opening through a vehicle roof. The light emitting conduit includes a push-through retainer that is insertable through an aperture in a vehicle structure to hold the light emitting conduit relative to the vehicle structure.

Vehicle interior lighting system and method

A convertible door assembly includes (a) an upper door section, defining a window opening, (b) a lower door section, (c) a releasable locking feature, retaining the upper door section to the lower door section, and (d) a window. The window is displaceable between a raised position, closing the window opening and a lowered position, concealed within an internal door cavity formed in the upper door section and the lower door section.

Convertible door assembly for a motor vehicle

An exemplary motor vehicle includes, among other things, a roof including a first fabric and a second fabric. The first fabric and the second fabric are selectively deployed to cover at least a portion of a passenger cabin of the motor vehicle. Further, the first fabric is configured to filter a different level of light than the second fabric.

Dual fabric soft-top roof and method of using the same

A smart hinge assembly includes a fixed hinge pin, a rotary drive cup including a hinge pin socket to engage the fixed hinge pin and a drive cup position sensor. That drive cup position sensor is configured to monitor current rotary position of the rotary drive cup.

Smart hinge assembly for a tailgate of a motor vehicle

An approach activated closure entry system is provided for a motor vehicle. That system includes a proximity sensor, a projector, a power operated closure and a controller. The controller is configured to project an image onto the ground when the motor vehicle is approached by an authorized user, vary that image when the approach activated closure entry system operation is initiated and open the power operated closure in response to the authorized user stepping into the image for a predetermined period of time.

Approach activated closure entry system for a motor vehicle

A moon roof assembly includes a moon roof housing, a sliding moon roof panel and a hybrid solar trim panel. The hybrid solar trim panel is carried on the moon roof housing and extends at least partially around the sliding moon roof panel.

Moon roof assembly with integral hybrid solar trim panel

A vehicle includes a windshield, a backlite spaced from the windshield, and a moonroof. The moonroof is moveable relative to the windshield and the backlite between a closed position and an open position. When in the closed position, the moonroof is adjacent to both the windshield and the backlite.

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Rochester, MI, United States of America

Adrian Nania