Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Ford Gloabl Technologies, LLC

Bruce Southey

James Neugebauer

Torsten Gerhardt

Richard Craven

Jonathan Mundy

Simon Potticary

James Lloyd

Andrew John Murray

Robert Spahl

James Nicholas Murray

Christoph Ruberg

Igor Fischbein

Alicia Agius

Ed Stubbs

Andy Murray

Ben Moffatt

Filip Krnja

Niall Hamilton

James Loyd

Christoph Rueberg

Emma Lundgren

Ian Brazier

A motor vehicle has a tailgate arranged pivotably on a body. The tailgate in a closed position closes a cargo space opening of the body at the rear and in an open position at least partially exposes the cargo space opening. A tailgate latch locks the closed position of the tailgate and has a closing element and a locking mechanism interacting with the closing element in the closed position. In order to make available a variable cargo space size, in which an open position of the tailgate can be secured, a support arm is pivotably articulated with one end between a rest position, in which the support arm is immovably secured, and a functional position, in which the support arm pivots in the direction of the locking mechanism, and is capable of being fixed with another end to the locking mechanism by an actuation of the locking mechanism.

Motor vehicle

A cart includes a hub, a frame, and at least one handlebar. The frame includes a first segment and a second segment, and the first segment, the second segment, and the handlebar are each supported by the hub. The hub defines a rotational axis and at least two of the first segment, the second segment, and the handlebar are rotatable about the rotational axis relative to each other and the hub. At least one wheel is on the first segment and at least one wheel is on the second segment.

Reconfigurable cart

A method of tilting a vehicle is provided, and a vehicle is provided. The vehicle has a tilt control system to control the tilt of the vehicle. The method includes tilting the tilting vehicle and/or another tilting vehicle in response to at least one external trigger.

Tilting vehicle and method of control thereof

A device for transporting a payload (to include a human user) over varied terrain. A platform accommodates the payload. A pair of wheel clusters are mounted to opposite ends of the platform and are powered in rotation relative thereto. Each includes at least two co-planar wheels powered by electric motors. A latch is hand-operable (without tools) to secure the cluster to the platform and, alternatively, allow the cluster to be detached from the platform and rotated 90&#xb0; to lie parallel thereto. An electrical connector conducts electric power from the platform to the cluster when the latch is operated/actuated to secure the cluster to the platform, and is configured such that it does not impede or obstruct detaching the wheel cluster from the platform, with no requirement that the user take any additional step (other than actuating the latch) to detach the wheel cluster.

Wheeled personal transportation device

A motorized device for transporting a human or inanimate payload. A platform is configured to accommodate the payload and a pair of wheel clusters are mounted to the platform at opposite ends thereof and are powered in rotation relative to the platform, for example by one or more electric motors housed in or on the platform or wheel clusters. Each of the two wheel clusters comprises three drive wheels arranged in a generally triangular and co-planar configuration, and each is independently powered about its respective axis of rotation by a hub-mounted electric motor. An electronic controller commands the motors powering the two wheel clusters and of each of the six drive wheels. The independent controllability of each wheel and of the wheel clusters relative to the platform allows the device to steer and to ascend and descend steps.

A motor vehicle is provided with a luggage compartment opening arranged at the rear of a body of the motor vehicle, and a tailgate arranged pivotably on the body and in a closed position closes the luggage compartment opening and in an open position at least partially opens the luggage compartment opening. In order to provide a motor vehicle with a luggage compartment of variable size, the motor vehicle comprises a cover attached to a vehicle portion of the motor vehicle adjacent to the luggage compartment opening and/or defining the luggage compartment opening, and which is made of a flexible material and is configured and arranged such that, in the open position of the tailgate or by pivoting of the tailgate into the open position, it can be transferred from a compact rest state into an extended function state.

A vehicle loadspace cover is provided that is securable to a portion of a vehicle. The loadspace cover comprises a cargo fixing point configured to secure an item of cargo to the loadspace cover.

Vehicle loadspace cover with cargo fixing point

An electric bicycle includes a motor and a controller. A heart rate monitor is programmed to communicate a heart rate signal representing a heart rate of an occupant to the controller. The controller is programmed to receive a destination distance of the electric bicycle relative to a predetermined destination. The controller is programmed to provide instruction to adjust power to the motor based at least on the heart rate signal and the destination distance.

Electric bicycle

A motor vehicle is disclosed having a flexible cover that is multi-functional in nature and can be configured as a cover for a rear luggage compartment of the motor vehicle as a small item carrier, as an extendible weather protector and as a roof protector for the motor vehicle.

Motor vehicle and a multi-functional cover for same

A vehicle loadspace floor comprising a first deployable portion and a second deployable portion, the first and second deployable portions cooperating to form a rearward-facing seat extending through the opening of a loadspace of the vehicle when deployed from the loadspace floor.

Vehicle loadspace floor

A motorized device for transporting a human or inanimate payload. A platform is configured to accommodate the payload and a pair of wheel clusters are mounted to the platform at opposite ends thereof and are powered in both rotation and in translation relative to the platform, for example by one or more electric motors housed in or on the platform or wheel clusters. Each of the wheel clusters comprises an arm, and a first and a second wheel rotatably mounted to respective opposite ends of the arm. Each of the wheels is independently powered about its respective axis of rotation. An electronic controller commands the motors to enable stable rolling movement of the device over a surface with only one wheel of each cluster in contact with the surface, and to allow the device to steer and to ascend and descend steps.

A bicycle includes a frame including first and second segments pivotable relative to each other between a folded position and an unfolded position. A magnet is fixed relative to the first segment. An electromagnet is fixed relative to the second segment and disposed in a magnetic field of the magnet when the frame is in the folded position. A controller is configured to power the electromagnet to repel the magnet to unfold the frame.

A lift assembly for a vehicle includes a bracket configured to be fixed to the vehicle. A lift arm is pivotally coupled to the bracket. A mating structure is supported by the lift arm. The mating structure is configured to lift a personal mobility device and includes an electrical connector for electrically mating to an electrical connector of the personal mobility device.

Internal vehicle docking arm and storage

A motor vehicle drawer assembly is disclosed having a slideable drawer and a moveable plate housed in a casing. The drawer and the plate both have overlying compressible members used to restrain from movement an item placed in the drawer when the drawer is in a closed position. Movement of the drawer to the closed position causes the plate to move towards the drawer to clamp any item resting on the drawer thereby restraining movement of the item but not until the drawer approaches the closed position. The use of a clamping mechanism that only allows for movement of the plate towards the drawer when the drawer approaches the closed position prevents the plate from interfering with stowing of the item.

Motor vehicle drawer assembly

A two part closure for a combo chargeport for use on an electric vehicle is provided. The closure comprises: an inner part including a dust cover for a DC chargeport; and an outer part configured to cover the AC chargeport. The inner and outer parts are hingeably attached to the vehicle such that the closure can be closed with a single action.

Growing community of inventors

Farnham, United Kingdom

Bruce Southey