Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Ford Motor Company Limited

Brad Alan Richards

Gordon M Platto

Dong H Park

Jonathan Fontaine

Darrell Paul Behmer

Christopher G Walter

Edward R Golden

Addam Ebel

Philip Simmons

Tobias France

Anthony Lee Meyer

Doyle Letson

Robert T Laster

David Michael Lechkun

Bruce P Williams

Rob Laster

A vehicle is provided with a hub and a collar. The hub extends longitudinally inward from a wheel. The collar is disposed over the hub and is mounted for translation relative to the hub. The vehicle also includes a panel assembly having a support and first and second panels. The support extends radially outward from the collar, and the first and second panels are each pivotally connected to opposing lateral edges of the support. The panels pivot between an expanded position and a collapsed position and translate radially for selectively closing a wheel opening.

Wheel opening closure system

A vehicle grille assembly is provided with a grille and a close-out assembly. The close-out assembly is adapted to at least partially block an airflow opening in the vehicle grille is moveable to translate and rotate with respect to the airflow opening.

Vehicle grille close-out assembly

Vehicle headlamp fascia

Vehicle tailgate

Vehicle exterior

A retractable air dam assembly for a vehicle is provided. The air dam assembly has an air deflector panel adapted to be mounted adjacent a front bumper of a vehicle. A linear actuator is adapted to be mounted to the vehicle. At least one rocker arm is adapted to be mounted to the vehicle, and coupled to the linear actuator at a first end, and coupled to the panel at a second end. The linear actuator translates the panel linearly between a stowed position, in which the panel is at least partially concealed by the front bumper, and a deployed position, such that the panel at least partially extends a distance below a bottom surface of the front bumper to reduce airflow beneath the vehicle. A counter-balance is connected to a third end of the rocker arm to offset a weight of the panel.

Growing community of inventors

Bloomfield Hills, MI, United States of America

Brad Alan Richards