Nissan North America, Inc.

Brian Salazar

Richard Miller

Jeffrey Pencak

Sumedh Mokashi

Gregory Byrne

Seth Grant

A vehicle body structure has a vehicle frame structure, a cabin structure, a cargo area structure and an elastic bumper element. The cabin structure is installed to a forward portion of the vehicle frame structure and defines a passenger compartment. The cabin structure also has a rearward wall. The cargo area structure is installed to a rearward portion of the vehicle frame structure. The cargo area structure has a forward wall spaced apart from the rearward wall of the cabin structure. The elastic bumper element is installed to one of the rearward wall or the forward wall such that in response to flexing of the vehicle frame structure, the elastic bumper element can contact the other of the rearward wall or the forward wall thereby restricting direct contact between the rearward wall and the forward wall.

Vehicle body structure

Disclosed herein is a trailer light checking system for a vehicle for checking an electrical connection between the vehicle and a trailer comprising a plurality of exterior vehicle lights, the exterior vehicle lights including a left turn indicator light, a right turn indicator light and a brake indicator light, and further comprises a terminal connection configured to electrically connect each of the plurality of exterior vehicle lights to a respective trailer light. The trailer light checking system also comprises a vehicle controller having a trailer connection checking mode configured to check the terminal connection by simulating manual operation of each of the plurality of exterior vehicle lights according to a timed sequence, such that a respective trailer light will actuate in combination with the simulated manual operation of each of the plurality of exterior vehicle lights if the terminal connection and the respective trailer light are functioning correctly.

Trailer connection checking device and method

Disclosed herein are embodiments of systems for checking an electrical connection between a vehicle and a trailer. In one embodiment, a trailer light checking system for a vehicle comprises a plurality of exterior vehicle lights and a terminal connection configured to electrically connect each of the plurality of exterior vehicle lights to a respective trailer light. The trailer light checking system also comprises a lighting control system having a trailer connection checking mode configured to check the terminal connection by simulating manual operation of each of the plurality of exterior vehicle lights, such that a respective trailer light will actuate in combination with the simulated manual operation of each of the plurality of exterior vehicle lights if the terminal connection and the respective trailer light are functioning correctly.

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Chandler, AZ, United States of America

Brian Salazar