Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Mark A Wisneski

Stuart C Salter

Paul Kenneth Dellock

David Brian Glickman

Cornel Lewis Gardner

Robert W Miller

Dave Brian Glickman

Lance Coley

Christopher M Caron

This disclosure relates to a moveable reinforcement assembly for a motor vehicle, such as a motor vehicle with a front trunk (i.e., a 'frunk'). An example vehicle includes a front end assembly, a panel moveable relative to the front end assembly between a closed position and an open position, and a reinforcement assembly mounted to the panel and configured to interface with the front end assembly when the panel is in the closed position. The reinforcement assembly effectively absorbs and transfers loads applied thereto while also being moveable so as to not obstruct access to a front trunk.

Moveable reinforcement assembly for motor vehicle

A vehicle lighting system includes, among other things, a grille that extends across an opening in a vehicle. The system also includes a light bar assembly having lights that are disposed aft the grille relative to a general orientation of the vehicle. The lights are configured to be activated to emit light through grille openings.

Vehicle lighting system and lighting method

A storage and charging system for a motor vehicle includes a drawer assembly front portion comprising a portion of the front grille. The drawer assembly is movable between open and closed positions by an actuator and provides a storage space that may be used for a charging cable. An electrical connection is disposed within the drawer assembly and provides an electrical coupling between a charging cable and a battery of the motor vehicle.

Front grille storage

A vehicle includes a body structure defining a front trunk having a front opening. A grille coves the front opening in a closed position and is pivotable about a vertical hinge, or a horizontal hinge along a top edge, secured to the body structure to provide access to the front opening. The grille may include a bin mounted on an inner surface of the grille and pivotable with the grille, a heating/cooling duct or a video display.

Vehicle with articulating grille

A vehicle hood is disclosed and is movable to access an engine compartment. A compartment defining a storage space is accessible through a lid within the closure panel. The compartment includes a temperature control system maintaining a temperature within the storage space.

Vehicle hood storage compartment

A vehicle having a front trunk and a method of controlling a vehicle to access the trunk may include raising a hood from a closed position adjacent body structure to a fully open position with the hood oriented horizontally to provide access to a front trunk, raising a grille with the hood; and pivoting the grille about a hinge affixed to the hood. Front trunk lighting and bins maybe included in the vehicle.

Vehicle with vertical lift hood

A vehicle and method of operating that includes a body structure having hood and front bumper, a grille, mounted between the hood and front bumper, including an opening, and a drawer mounted in the opening, slidable forward to an open position in front of the vehicle and rearward to a closed position within the vehicle. A controller may receive various inputs for controlling the operation of the drawer.

Vehicle grille drawer

A vehicle includes a front trunk between fenders, a grille movable to provide an opening to the front trunk, and front and rear bins, slidable out of the front trunk to allow the front bin to pivot on the rear bin. A light is mounted on the front bin such that light projects into the front and rear bins when adjacent and only into the front bin when the front bin is pivoted away.

Vehicle with front trunk

A vehicle having a hood-grille assembly and a method of operating the hood-grille assembly may include actuating geared motors to release the hood-grille assembly, releasing a bolster from vehicle structure, if a transmission is in Park when an open-close request is received and the hood-grille assembly is closed. This may also include, after the geared motors release the hood-grille assembly, actuating power struts to pivot the hood-grille assembly to an open position. The automatic closing of the hood-grille assembly employs the geared motors and power struts to secure the bolster to the vehicle body.

Growing community of inventors

Dearborn, MI, United States of America

Mark A Wisneski