Daimlerchrysler Corporation

Chrysler Corporation

Chrysler Group LLC

Douglas J Quigley

Carl Mather

Robert Smyczynski

Louis A Rhodes

Joseph L Salani

John V Keane

David J Ewers

Stephen T Lim

Irina Zavatski

Glen M Kondratek

Clifford Wilkins

Stephen J Sowinski

Todd McKinzie

Tim W Anness

Michael A Kornilov

The present disclosure provides a moveable touch pad that opens out of a center console armrest and is operable to control a navigation unit or other vehicle functions. Advantageously, locating a control touch pad unit in the center console armrest provides an ergonomically desirable solution for the vehicle's driver. The touch pad can be stored in the vehicle's center console armrest, and the touch pad is configured to move fore and aft for comfortable driver access. Additionally, the control touch pad unit can be utilized to control other vehicle functions, such as audio, climate settings, odometer settings, lighting, mobile phones, and the like.

Touch pad control panel located in the center console of a vehicle

An interior armrest for a sliding door assembly of a motor vehicle having a hollow housing that is pivotally movable about a pivot axis between a horizontal position for use as an armrest and a vertical position for storage is disclosed. The housing includes an actuator for automatically moving the armrest to the vertical position from the horizontal position as the sliding door moves between the closed and the open position. The armrest is disposed within a recess of the sliding door assembly when in the vertical position.

Interior folding armrest for automotive vehicle door

A center console for a instrument panel includes a housing having a display region and an actuation mechanism associated with the housing. The actuation mechanism permits movement of the housing relative to the instrument panel.

Center console

A powertrain arrangement for selectively operating a vehicle in a skid-steer configuration is provided. The arrangement includes an engine coupled to a differential. A first torque transfer mechanism is coupled to a coupling mechanism and arranged to drive a first set of wheels on a side of the vehicle orientated parallel to a wheelbase of the vehicle. A second torque transfer mechanism is coupled to the differential and arranged to drive a second set of wheels on an opposite side of the vehicle. The coupling mechanism is coupled to the differential and includes a rotation selector arranged to selectively engage an output of the differential to provide a torque input to the first torque transfer mechanism of a direction so as to drive the first set of wheels in one of a same and an opposite direction as the second set of wheels.

Powertrain arrangement for a skid-steer vehicle

A vehicle is provided having a steering system for selectively operating the vehicle in a zero-steer configuration. The system includes a forward steering assembly coupled to a steering wheel and a forward set of wheels. The forward steering assembly is arranged to receive an input from the steering wheel and includes a selectively actuateable forward motorized mechanism. A rear steering assembly is coupled to a rear set of wheels and includes a rearward motorized mechanism. Upon selective activation, the forward motorized mechanism is arranged to engage the forward steering assembly and rotate the forward set of wheels toward a centerline of the vehicle and the rearward motorized mechanism is arranged to engage the rearward steering assembly and rotate the rearward set of wheels toward the vehicle centerline such that the wheels are positioned to allow the vehicle to turn about a central point of the vehicle in a zero-steer configuration.

Steering system for a zero-steer vehicle

An arrangement for expanding a cargo box of a pick-up truck vehicle is provided. The arrangement includes a wall that defines a cabin space on an internal side and a cargo box end on an external side, and the wall is arranged to be translateable from a first position to a second position. A latch mechanism is provided and attached to the wall. The latch mechanism is arranged to maintain the wall in the first position. A release mechanism is coupled to the latch mechanism and arranged to selectively release the wall from the first position such that the wall can translate into the cabin and towards a front of the vehicle to a second position and extend a length of the cargo box.

Expandable cargo box arrangement for a vehicle

A seat arrangement for a cabin of a pick-up truck vehicle is provided. The seat arrangement includes a seat bottom member having a latch mechanism attached thereto. The latch mechanism is arranged to maintain the seat bottom member in a deployed seating position. A release mechanism is coupled to the latch mechanism and arranged to selectively release the seat bottom member from the deployed seating position. A track mechanism is attached to the seat bottom member and extends beyond a rear wall of the cabin into an adjoined cavity such that when the seat bottom member is selectively released, the seat bottom member can move along the track mechanism to a stowed position in the cavity adjoined to the cabin.

Seat arrangement for a vehicle

A seat assembly for a motor vehicle having a tub disposed at least partially in a floor of the vehicle. The seat assembly comprises at least one rear leg non-releasably secured to the floor of the vehicle. The at least one rear leg is pivotable to stow the seat assembly in the tub.

Stadium style motor vehicle seat

A fold-in-floor vehicle seat is supported in a use position on a generally flat load floor. To move the seat into a storage position, the seat is lowered onto a portion of the load floor that acts as an articulated base for the seat. The base approximates the footprint of the seat, and covers a storage cavity directly below the seat and configured to closely receive the seat. The base is free floating with respect to the remainder of the load floor, but is pivotally connected to the vehicle by an articulating arm that allows the base to rotate about a pivot point through an arcuate section of guide track in the storage cavity, and the arm then articulates to allow the base to travel through a straight portion of track. The arm then returns to its starting position as the base traverses a second arcuate section of track, having now inverted so that the seat is lodged within the storage cavity.

Articulated base with guide track for fold-in-floor vehicle seat

A seat assembly for a motor vehicle includes a seat cushion translatable on at least one track to a position generally above a tub disposed at least partially in a floor of the vehicle. The seat cushion is stowable in the tub.

Fold flat motor vehicle seat

A folding seating apparatus, for on-board stowage of an optionally deployable passenger seat, in a vehicle having a floor defining a floor surface that may be entirely flat when the seating apparatus is stowed. The seating apparatus includes a stowable seat having a seat cushion supported on one or more legs above the floor, a seat back that is foldable upon the seat cushion for stowage of the seat, and a seat receiving recess in the floor for on-board stowage of the seat. The seat is movable transversely in the vehicle in addition to being stowable.

Underfloor stowage of a folding seat in a vehicle

A folding seating apparatus, for on-board stowage of an optionally deployable passenger seat, in a vehicle having a floor defining a floor surface that may be entirely flat when the seating apparatus is stowed. The seating apparatus includes a stowable seat having a seat cushion supported on one or more legs above the floor, a seat back that is foldable upon the seat cushion for stowage of the seat, and a seat receiving recess in the floor for on-board stowage of the seat.

A switching unit for selectively disabling a passenger airbag of a motor vehicle includes a housing having an opening and a cylinder having a key slot accessible within the opening. The switching unit further includes a plug which can be inserted into the opening for preventing moisture and other debris from contaminating the key slot of the key cylinder. The plug is further operative for visually indicating the operational status of the passenger airbag. In the preferred embodiment, the plug and housing include cooperating indicia for automatically indicating the operational status of the airbag.

Switching unit for disabling a passenger airbag

A folding top for a convertible motor vehicle has a frame provided with frame elements for supporting a flexible cover. The frame is movable from a retracted position to a deployed position supporting the top in a position of use. The retracted top is stowed in a storage compartment behind the rear seat. The storage compartment is open at the top to receive the retracted top. The compartment is normally closed by a pivoted tonneau.

Growing community of inventors

Rochester, MI, United States of America

Douglas J Quigley