Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.

Keith O'Brien

Blaine C Benson

Paxton Steven Williams

Scott Louis Frederick

Matthew A Jansma

Justin E Dominic

Jay Leonard Sackett

James J Chung

Wasim Ukra

Arthur H Whitney

Erik Andersen

Alyssa J Flowers-Bouman

Michitomo Matsuoka

Myron D Bowers

Paul Sherman

A system for reducing strain on a vehicle door comprises the vehicle door. The vehicle door comprises an inner panel and a division bar comprising a first portion and a second portion. The system further comprises a relief bracket configured to reduce strain on the inner panel when the vehicle door is closed. The relief bracket comprises a first portion coupled to the second portion of the division bar, a second portion coupled to the inner panel, and a relief portion extending between the first portion and the second portion.

Systems and methods for reducing strain on a vehicle door using a relief bracket

Systems and apparatus for a vehicle for improving occupant safety and covering a service hole of a door of the vehicle. The system includes a substantially flat body portion configured to cover the service hole. The system also includes a plurality of energy absorbers disposed across the body portion, each energy absorber having a top portion and one or more side walls surrounding the top portion and defining a cavity, each energy absorber having a closed end at the top portion and an open end opposite the closed end, each energy absorber configured to absorb energy and collapse when force is exerted by an object on the top portion, the object moving from the closed end toward the open end.

Door service hole cover

A door assembly, of a vehicle that includes a first pillar structure and a second pillar structure, includes a door outer panel, a door inner panel coupled to and positioned inwardly of the door outer panel, and an impact beam positioned between the door outer panel and the door inner panel. The door impact beam includes a first end and an opposite second end, the first end overlaps the first pillar structure and the second end overlaps the second pillar structure. The door assembly further includes an inner bulkhead coupled to the door inner panel and positioned between the door inner panel and the first end of the impact beam, and an outer bulkhead coupled to the door inner panel and positioned between the inner bulkhead and the first end of the impact beam, the outer bulkhead overlaps a portion of the inner bulkhead.

Door assemblies and vehicles including outer and inner bulkheads to transfer a side impact load to a pillar structure and methods incorporating the same

A vehicle includes a body that defines a front door opening, and includes an A-pillar framing the front door opening, and a door over the front door opening. The front door includes an inner door panel and an outer door panel defining an interior door cavity therebetween. The vehicle also includes an impact beam and a transfer member housed in the interior door cavity. The impact beam has a forward end that laterally overlaps the A-pillar. The transfer member laterally overlaps the A-pillar in common with the forward end of the impact beam, and faces the inner door panel from laterally between the forward end of the impact beam and the inner door panel. When the vehicle experiences a side impact event, the A-pillar assumes side impact energy via transfer from the forward end of the impact beam through the transfer member.

Structurally reinforced vehicle body

Water management for vehicles with an open top cargo bed are described. A plurality of vehicle components can form a portion of the open-top cargo bed. The plurality of vehicle components can define a gap. A seal plug can be received in the gap. The seal plug can sealingly engage the first and/or second lateral side of the gap. The seal plug can be configured to direct water away from the vehicle. For instance, the seal plug can include a deflection surface. The deflection surface can be angled downwardly and away from the gap. The seal plug can include a water drainage channel. The water drainage channel can include a first end opening to an upper surface of the seal plug and the second end opening to the deflection surface and/or other surface that slopes downwardly and away from the gap.

Water management for vehicles with tonneau covers

A folding tonneau cover or lid is configured for selectively enclosing at least a portion of an open topped bed of a pick up or SUV type motor vehicle. The tonneau cover includes one or a plurality of flexibly linked panels extending between cooperating side walls of the open topped bed, and is manually operable for displacement between a deployed position wherein the open topped bed is fully covered and a retracted position wherein the open topped bed is partially or fully exposed. At least one panel forms a generally planer first surface facing downwardly when in the deployed position and upwardly when in the retracted position, and a second surface facing upwardly when in the deployed position and downwardly when in the retracted position. A cup holder is integrated with one of the panel surfaces and forms a beverage container receiving cavity opening away from the panel surfaces.

Cup holder for tonneau cover

A motor vehicle hood having a non-functional air scoop that appears to be a functional air scoop is provided. The motor vehicle hood can have a module with an opening and a top wall, a bottom wall and a pair of spaced apart sidewalls extending in a first direction away from the opening and providing an enclosure thereof. A grid can be attached to the module across the opening and the grid, top wall and bottom wall can be operatively arranged such that an appearance of an open passageway through the motor vehicle hood is provided when an individual stands a distance away from the hood and looks at the module.

Growing community of inventors

Highland, MI, United States of America

Keith O'Brien