Hyundai Motor Company

Kia Motors Corporation

Kia Corporation

Lear Corporation

David W Curtis

Robert E Allen

Thomas A Miller

Traven Thai

Jeffrey Braybrook

Anthony A Prasatek

Samuel M Reddypogu

John L Dugan

Ronnie Go

Methods and systems are described for a folding tailgate. The system includes a first panel and a second panel forming a tailgate of the vehicle. The vehicle has a first vehicle sidewall and a second vehicle sidewall. The system may include a first hinge coupled between the first panel and the second panel. The first hinge is configured to rotate the second panel toward the first panel, moving the second panel towards the first vehicle sidewall for opening the tailgate sideways.

Folding tailgate for a vehicle

A vehicle side mirror includes: a mirror assembly including a mirror facing a rearward direction; a housing having a rearward-facing opening defining an interior space which receives at least a portion of the mirror assembly, exposing the mirror assembly from the rearward direction; a cap covering a front portion of the housing, the cap having an inlet formed therethrough; and a shroud disposed between the cap and the housing that is configured to direct air passing through the inlet around the mirror assembly to an outlet defined by an opening between a rear end of the cap and a rear end of the shroud.

Aerodynamically optimized vehicle side mirror

A handle assembly and method of assembling a grip handle to a vehicle. The handle assembly includes two base unit and each include a primary and auxiliary projection that are press fit into an opening formed in a structural part of a vehicle. Detents are provided on the projection and configured to be assembled to a vehicle with a minimum force and require a removal force that is substantially greater then the force of insertion. A method of assembling the assist grip handle to a vehicle can be accomplished by inserting molded projections into holes formed in a structural vehicle body panel. The projections include detents that are compressed as the projections are inserted into the holes and are expanded after the projections are fully inserted into the holes.

Snap-in assist grip and assembly method

Growing community of inventors

South Lyon, MI, United States of America

David W Curtis