Decoma International Corporation

Magna International Inc.

Decoma Exterior Trim, Inc.

Lassi Mauno Ojanen

Fritz Reichenberger

Gerhard F Hirmer

Robert D Worley

Brad Armstrong

Robert J Passera

Thomas Dean

Kurt Katterloher

Paul Pirone

John Kleino

Gari Schalte

Robert R MCaughey

A step tailgate and mounting hardware system is presented where a tailgate can swing down to a position in order to create an intermediate stepping area. The tailgate has a primary hinge that allows the tailgate to swing down from a first position, to a second position. The tailgate has a bracket system that allows the tailgate to swing down to a third position in order to create an intermediate stepping area. The tailgate can move away from the vehicle by an inner arm. When the end of the inner arm reaches the end of the inside swing the inner arm can swing down by the inner and outer swing arms to a point where the swing arms are perpendicular to the main and inner arms. When the tailgate is in the third position the tailgate is below the truck bed, creating a stepping surface.

Step tailgate and mounting hardware

A tailgate () for a vehicle cargo box has top () and bottom () aluminum structural members held in spaced relationship from one another by rigid end members. The aluminum structural members are preferably made from an extrusion process making the tailgate light and strong as well as cost effective.

Aluminum extruded tailgate construction

A running board mounting bracket has a structural body having a distal end and a support end. A mounting flange extends from the structural body at the support end and is canted relative to the longitudinal extent of the structural body. The mounting flange has bores for mounting the bracket to an inboard surface of a vehicle frame. A web extends between the mounting flange and the distal end redirecting bending forces from the interface between the mounting flange and the structural body and transferring the bending forces from the structural body to the mounting flange in a compressive manner. The web has a rib extending along the web forming an I-beam relation with the structural body.

Running board mounting bracket

A retractable running board assembly has a step, at least two support arms, at least two mounting brackets, at least two pairs of parallel links and a drive. The step has an elongated stepping surface extending generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of a vehicle on which the running board assembly is mounted. The support arms are mounted to the step. The mounting brackets are connected to an underside of the vehicle. The parallel links are pivotally connected between each of the support arms and the mounting brackets. The drive effects movement of the step between an extended outboard position and a retracted inboard position.

Retractable running board

A backlight assembly for a convertible roof of a vehicle has a fabric roof cover having a backlight opening formed therein and a plurality of apertures formed therein about a periphery of the backlight opening. A glazing is disposed in the backlight opening. The glazing has a flange extending about a periphery thereof which overlaps a portion of the fabric roof cover. The flange has a plurality of fastener-receiving structures, each of which are received within a corresponding one of the plurality of apertures in the roof cover. A first frame member extends about a periphery of the glazing and overlaps the flange and sealingly engages the roof cover. A second frame member extends about periphery of the glazing and overlaps the flange. The second frame member is disposed opposite the first frame member with the flange and the roof cover disposed therebetween. The second frame member has a plurality of fasteners, each interlocking with a corresponding one of the fastener-receiving structures to fasten the second frame member to the flange to thereby secure the glazing to the roof cover.

Insert molded frame and glazing assembly and method for making the same

Thin walled B-pillar covers for an automotive vehicle comprise a thin sheet of thermoplastic material of generally uniform thickness vacuum molded about a continuous body molding surface of a molding horn to provide a main body portion having a U-shaped marginal edge along one elongated peripheral extent thereof of a shape to snugly receive therein the sheet metal marginal edge of a vehicle part and an inturned flange along an opposed elongated peripheral extent thereof of a shape to be presented to the inturned surface of the vehicle part. By vacuum molding the thin theremoplastic material about a body molding surface of a molding horn, a cover having a substantially dimple-free, smooth class A exterir surface.

B-pillar covers for automotive vehicle

A method of making thin walled covers employing a vacuum mold assembly comprises the steps of effecting a relative movement between a thin sheet of thermoplastic material and the vacuum mold assembly sufficient to form a peripheral seal with a surface area of the sheet and thereafter applying a vacuum to the vacuum mold to draw portions of the sheet about main body forming molding surfaces of molding horns, thin marginal edge molding surfaces of the molding horns, and inturned flange molding surfaces of the molding horns so as to form a plurality of thin walled covers, each with an exterior surface presenting a substantially dimple-free class A surface. The sheet is then separated from the vacuum mold assembly. During separation, the molding horns move so that the surface configuration providing portions of the horns move relatively away from the molded surfaces in an angular direction having a component in a direction to withdraw the thin marginal edge molding surfaces of the molding horns relatively out of the U-shaped marginal edges of the formed thin walled covers. The covers are subsequently cut from the sheet. Each thin wall cover comprises a main body portion having a U-shaped marginal edge along one elongated peripheral extent thereof and an inturned flange along an opposed elongated peripheral extent thereof.

Process of making B-pillar covers for automotive vehicle

A window unit configured to be removably mounted in an operative position in a motor vehicle having a half door and a soft roof structure disposed above the half door. The window unit comprises a rigid, transparent window panel and a surrounding frame of flexible material. A lower portion of the surrounding frame is configured to be releasably attached to an upper portion of the half door of the motor vehicle. An upper portion of the surrounding frame is configured to be releasably attached to a side edge of the soft roof structure of the motor vehicle. A window frame is mounted within a window-receiving opening formed through the surrounding frame. The window frame has a window track provided therein. The window panel is mounted within the window frame and has an outer peripheral edge thereof received in the window track. The surrounding frame has an inner portion extending around the window-receiving opening. The inner portion is devoid of openings. The window frame engages the inner portion of the surrounding frame in a clamped relationship such that clamping forces are applied to opposing surfaces of the inner portion to thereby securely mount the window frame and the window-panel within the window-receiving opening of the surrounding frame solely by virtue of the aforesaid clamped relationship without forming openings through the inner portion.

Window module for mounting in a soft topped vehicle

A rigid sliding window is provided for the soft tops of soft topped vehicles such as soft topped cars and boats or even tent trailers. It may be attached directly into the soft top side curtain or into a rigid side frame or inner structural frame. The window module comprises a fixed window panel, a sliding window panel and a slim line frame for the panels. The fixed window panel and an outer flange of the frame are fixed directly to the soft fabric of the soft top, the outer flange of the frame being sandwiched between an outer margin of the fixed panel and the fabric of the soft top. The frame also provides a channel in which the sliding panel runs. In the region of the sliding panel in its closed position the outer flange of the frame is fastened directly to the fabric of the soft top.

Growing community of inventors

Richmond Hill, Canada

Lassi Mauno Ojanen