Nissan North America, Inc.

Jeffrey Pencak

Robert R Blanchard

Dan Hustyi

Matthew Mollick

Paul Dyde

Naga Ananthachandra Narayana

Jordan Renn

Thomas Domlovil

Brian Salazar

Ari Schiftan

Gregory Byrne

Seth Grant

A vehicle is disclosed that includes: a vehicle body having an outer body panel; a tailgate that is movable in relation to the vehicle body via a tailgate actuation system between a closed position and an open position; and a bracket that is configured to receive the tailgate actuation system. The bracket includes a main body portion and an appendage that extends transversely from the main body portion such that the appendage engages the vehicle body to inhibit rotational deflection of the tailgate actuation system and, thus, lateral flexure of the outer body panel during movement of the tailgate.

Bracket for tailgate actuation system in vehicles

A vehicle body structure has a vehicle frame structure, a cabin structure, a cargo area structure and an elastic bumper element. The cabin structure is installed to a forward portion of the vehicle frame structure and defines a passenger compartment. The cabin structure also has a rearward wall. The cargo area structure is installed to a rearward portion of the vehicle frame structure. The cargo area structure has a forward wall spaced apart from the rearward wall of the cabin structure. The elastic bumper element is installed to one of the rearward wall or the forward wall such that in response to flexing of the vehicle frame structure, the elastic bumper element can contact the other of the rearward wall or the forward wall thereby restricting direct contact between the rearward wall and the forward wall.

Vehicle body structure

A vehicle cargo structure includes a reinforcement panel, an upright strut member having an upper end, a front wall structure having an attachment bracket fixed to an outboard upper end of the front wall structure and a bracket. The bracket is fixedly attached to a forward portion of the reinforcement panel and the upper end of the upright strut member. The bracket is further secured to the attachment bracket of the front wall structure via mechanical fasteners.

Vehicle cargo structure

A fuel filler lid assembly includes a fuel filler lid. The fuel filler lid is configured to be supported to a vehicle body that has a fuel filler opening. The fuel filler lid has a first part that is movable with respect to the vehicle body between an open state and a closed state. The open state enables access to the fuel filler opening. The closed state encloses the fuel filler opening. The fuel filler lid has a second part that is movable with respect to the first part as the first part moves between the open state and the closed state.

Fuel filler lid assembly

A fuel filler lid assembly includes a fuel filler lid. The fuel filler lid configured to be supported to a vehicle body that has a fuel filler opening. The fuel filler lid has a first part that is movable with respect to the vehicle body between an open state and a closed state. The open state enables access to the fuel filler opening. The closed state encloses the fuel filler opening. The fuel filler lid has a second part that is indented with respect to the first part by a user operation surface. The user operation surface is accessed by a user to move the fuel filler lid between the open state and the closed state.

A vehicle taillight assembly includes a first bracket and a second bracket. The first bracket is configured to be supported to a vehicle strut structure. The second bracket is fixed to the first bracket at an inboard facing side of the first bracket. The second bracket protrudes in an inboard facing direction towards the vehicle strut structure.

Vehicle taillight assembly

A sunroof structure includes a frame, a transparent material and a decorative panel. The frame is configured to install to a vehicle roof structure above a passenger compartment. The transparent material is installed to the frame such that light can pass therethrough to the passenger compartment. The decorative panel is installed to the frame such that at least a portion of the decorative panel covers an interior portion of the transparent material.

Sunroof structure

A vehicle body structure includes a first panel, a second panel, a pulse detection sensor and a gap reduction member. The first panel has a first main section and a sensor installation location that is spaced apart from the first main section. The second panel has a second main section that is spaced apart from the first main section of the first panel and defines a gap therebetween. The pulse detection sensor is attached to the first panel at the sensor installation location. The gap reduction member is installed to the first main section of the first panel. The gap reduction member extends from the first main section toward the second main section within the gap.

A reinforced vehicle structure includes a vehicle floor, a reinforcement member, an accessory attachment member and a plurality of mounting structures. The vehicle floor has an underbody floor surface facing an underbody of the vehicle and an interior floor surface facing an interior of the vehicle. The reinforcement member is mounted to the underbody floor surface. The accessory attachment member is mounted to the interior floor surface. The plurality of mounting structures is spaced along the reinforcement member and extends through the vehicle floor to couple the accessory attachment member to the reinforcement member.

Reinforced vehicle structure

A reinforced vehicle structure includes a vehicle wall, a reinforcement member, an accessory attachment member and a plurality of mounting structures. The vehicle wall includes an outer wall surface facing an outboard direction of the vehicle and an inner wall surface facing an inboard direction of the vehicle. The reinforcement member is mounted to the outer wall surface. The accessory attachment member is mounted to the inner wall surface. In addition, the plurality of mounting structures is spaced along the reinforcement member and extends through the vehicle wall to couple the accessory attachment member to the reinforcement member.

A reinforced vehicle structure includes a first vehicle wall, a second vehicle wall, an accessory attachment member and a reinforcement member. The first vehicle wall has a first outer wall surface facing an outboard direction and a first inner wall surface facing an inboard direction. The second vehicle wall extends transverse to the first vehicle wall, and has a second outer wall surface facing a first direction and a second inner wall surface facing an opposite direction. The accessory attachment member is mounted to the first inner wall surface. The reinforcement member has a first end mounted to the accessory attachment member and a second end mounted to the second inner wall surface with the reinforcement member spanning the first and second vehicle walls such that the reinforcement member does not extend parallel to either of the first and second vehicle walls.

A vehicle body structure has a first structural member that at least partially defines an upper side of a door opening and a second structural member that extends downward from the first structural member and at least partially defines one side of the door opening. An elongated track member is attached on the first structural member. A sliding door is movably supported on the track member for movement along the track member between a closed position and an open position. A stopper bracket is rigidly attached on the second structural member. The stopper bracket is dimensioned and configured to absorb impacting forces of the sliding door as the sliding door moves from the closed position to the open position. The stopper bracket is rigidly attached to the track member such that the impacting forces are at least partially transmitted to the track member.

Growing community of inventors

Howell, MI, United States of America

Jeffrey Pencak