Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Carl B Corman

Gary Walter Krajenke

Anil A Masih

James M Townson

Mark A Voss

Jay H Ovenshire

Edward L Schulte

Graham S Foulkes

Altaf S Imam

Thomas W Jozwiak

Leonard J Brohl, Jr

Anthony J Radman

Eduardo S Atar

William C Bliss

John D Blanchard, Ii

Alexander J Stanton

An impact absorbing reinforcement member for a liftgate of a vehicle includes a body having a first end and second end opposite the first end, the body including a center reinforcement member, a first outboard reinforcement member extending from the center reinforcement member to the first end and including a first plurality of curved segments, and a second outboard reinforcement member extending from the center reinforcement member to the second end and including a second plurality of curved segments. The first and second pluralities of curved segments laterally extend when the liftgate is subjected to an impact force.

Impact absorbing reinforcement member

A vehicle structure comprising a body including a wheel house, a fender and an energy absorption member. The fender has an exposed A-side surface and an opposed B-side surface, with the fender including a laterally inner edge extending fore-and-aft that defines a portion of a hood opening, and the B-side surface adjacent to the laterally inner edge spaced from the wheel house in a vertical direction to define a crush gap. The energy absorption member is located in the crush gap between the wheel house and the fender, with the energy absorption member having a fender attachment flange secured to the B-side surface of the fender adjacent to the laterally inner edge, a body attachment flange secured to the wheel house, and an energy absorbing portion extending between the fender attachment flange and the body attachment flange, with the energy absorbing portion being curved in the vertical direction.

Vehicle impact reduction structure

Apparatus are provided for notifying a driver of an open vehicle access. The apparatus includes an electronic control module for informing a vehicle driver that a vehicle access is not secured, the electronic control module configured to determine if a transmission of the vehicle is in either a park status or a neutral status, determine if all keys for the vehicle are located outside a predetermined distance from the vehicle and determine if a displacement sensor indicates that a vehicle access is not closed. When the vehicle is in the park or neutral status, the key is located at a distance greater than the predetermined distance from the vehicle, and at least one vehicle access is indicated as being not closed, then an access open message is generated and sent to the driver.

Methods and systems for closure notification

An energy absorbing headlamp assembly and a resettable headlamp assembly are disclosed. The assemblies include a first component and a headlamp assembly supported by the first component. The assemblies also include an energy absorbing device operatively coupled to the headlamp assembly and the first component to absorb energy when a first force is applied to the headlamp assembly. For the energy absorbing headlamp assembly, the device includes a link and a biasing mechanism coupled to each other such that the biasing mechanism continuously applies a second force to the link to bias the link to a first position when the headlamp assembly is in an initial position and a second position when the headlamp assembly is in a displaced position. For the resettable headlamp assembly, the device allows movement of the headlamp assembly from the displaced position back to the initial position when the first force is removed.

Energy absorbing headlamp assembly and a resettable headlamp assembly

A vehicle endgate hinge assembly is disclosed. The hinge assembly has a bodyside hinge strap including a hinge support boss extending through the endgate opening shut-face and having a central hole that is coaxial with the endgate pivot axis, a mounting plate located outboard of the shut-face, and a threaded portion extending from the mounting plate through the shut-face. The hinge assembly may have a crank including a hinge key pivotally coupled to a member mounted on the endgate, a pivot shaft extending from the hinge key through the central hole, a lever arm extending from the pivot shaft normal to the endgate pivot axis, and a ball extending from the lever arm spaced from the endgate pivot axis. A nut is located inboard of the endgate opening shut-face and threadably received on the threaded portion, and an energy storage mechanism is coupled to the ball.

Vehicle endgate hinge assembly

Growing community of inventors

Farmington Hills, MI, United States of America

Carl B Corman