Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

David Manuel Rogers

Kosta Papanikolaou

Livianu Dorin Puscas

Bhupendra A Patel

Thomas Michael Herline

Charles Gregory Bambenek

Rajesh K Patel

Constantin Manolescu

Erin Rose Briggs

Venkatesh Krishnan

Michael Bryan Vanbelle

Marcus Edward Merideth

An exemplary latching system includes, among other things, a striker, a latch assembly that engages the striker to transition the latch assembly to a latched position, and a bumper containing rheological material. The bumper contacts the striker when the latch assembly is in the latched position. An exemplary latching method includes, among other things, contacting a striker with a bumper when a latch assembly engages the striker in a latched position, and increasing a hardness of the bumper by aligning particles within rheological material of the bumper.

Latching system and latching method utilizing rheological material

A door latch for a motor vehicle according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a pawl, a release lever, and a clutch selectively engaged by a magnetic field. Further, when the clutch is engaged, motion of the release lever is transmitted to the pawl via the clutch. A method is also disclosed.

Door latch with clutch selectively engaged by magnetic field

A vehicle includes a door-operating mechanism for selectively releasing a vehicle door from a closed position. A door handle is in communication with the door operating mechanism. The door handle is operable between a flush position, wherein an outer face of the door handle is flush with a portion of an exterior surface of the vehicle door such that only the outer face of the door handle is accessible, and an extended position, wherein the outer face of the door handle is moved away from the exterior surface of the vehicle door such that a rear surface of the door handle is accessible. A heating mechanism is in thermal communication with the outer face of the door handle and the exterior surface of the vehicle door. A remote transmitter is in communication with the heating mechanism, wherein the remote transmitter selectively activates the heating mechanism.

Heated mechanism for deployable exterior door handle for a vehicle

A vehicle door includes a door structure and a movable door handle that is connected to a latch mechanism by a cable. A rotatably biased stop member is connected to the cable. The vehicle door further includes a housing having a channel that receives portion of the stop member. The channel includes first and second linear portions and a transverse stop portion that is engaged by the follower to prevent further lengthwise movement of the lock member and cable if a speed of the cable exceeds an allowable value.

Vehicle door closure system including speed-based latch release

A method for increasing the robustness of a mechanism for a vehicle including the steps of determining a primary function of the mechanism, identifying components of the mechanism used during the primary function, analyzing each component under in-specification conditions, analyzing each component under decreasing out-of-specification conditions during performance of the primary function to determine a lower failure value for each component, analyzing each component during performance of the primary function under increasing out-of-specification conditions to determine an upper failure value for each component, determining a modified robustness value for each component, wherein the modified robustness value is between the lower and upper failure values and modifying each component in the vehicular mechanism to have a robustness that is approximately the modified robustness value of the respective component.

Method for analyzing the robustness of components within a vehicular mechanical system to calculate out-of-specification robustness

Striker cover for use with a vehicle closure. The striker cover having two cover pieces with coaxial pivot edges, that when contacted by a latch, pivot into a cam and separate to provide access of the latch to the striker. When the vehicle closure is open, springs bias the cover pieces toward each other and into the cam, rotating the cover pieces back into a first position. In the first position the cover pieces cover the striker and obstruct the striker from view.

Striker cover for a vehicle

A pawl actuation device includes a movable input member that shifts from a first position to an actuated position. The pawl actuation device also includes linkage that selectively interconnects the movable input member and the pawl such that movement of the movable input member at a first velocity causes the pawl to shift to an unlatched position, and movement of the movable input member at a second velocity that is substantially greater than the first velocity does not cause the pawl to shift to its unlatched position, such that pawl remains in its latched position.

Mechanically initiated speed-based latch device

A deployable step and handle system for a tailgate. The handle is used to secure the deployable step in the stowed position that eliminates the need for a separate release system. The handle is placed adjacent a top edge of the tailgate to prevent debris from being trapped under the handle when the handle is closed. The ladder has a step surface disposed opposite and at an angle relative to a top surface of a spoiler that provides a step surface. The ladder rails are guided by rail guides as the ladder is moved between a stowed position and a deployed position. A unitary support bracket is used to connect both the handle and a ladder rail to the tailgate.

Integrated step and grab-handle system for tailgates

A pickup truck includes a tailgate that is movable between open and closed positions. A powered latch provides for remote release of the latches of the tailgate. The tailgate is biased from the closed position towards the open position such that release of the latch causes the tailgate to shift automatically from the closed position to the open position.

Growing community of inventors

Southfield, MI, United States of America

David Manuel Rogers