Nissan Technical Center North America, Inc.

Nandkumar Rangnekar

William G Bowes

Richard Eschebach

Rahul Joshi

Robert Gaines

Gary Nylander

William Spencer Evans

Takehito Ichino

Yogesh Thakar

Adam Cheang

Chau Chaay

An attachment joint can provide in combination a plastic over-fender member connectable to a fender of a motor vehicle, a plastic fascia member connectable to a fender, and a complementary attachment coupling located between the over-fender member and the fascia member for interlocking engagement with one another and for holding the over-fender member with respect to the fascia member in at least two directions. The coupling can have a first mating portion molded with the over-fender member and a second mating portion molded with the fascia member. The first and second mating portions can define a hook and slot joint combination.

Attachment joint for plastic over-fender to plastic fascia

A vehicle security system includes a bumper assembly, an antenna and a controller. The bumper assembly includes an energy absorbing portion and a cover portion overlying the energy absorbing portion. The antenna is supported by the energy absorbing portion and covered by the cover portion of the bumper assembly. The controller is electrically connected to the antenna to process a signal within a prescribed proximity of the antenna.

Vehicle security system

A vehicle tailgate lift assist support structure is provided with a rear end structure, a tailgate pivotally coupled to the rear end structure, and a lift assist device connected between the rear end structure and the tailgate. The rear end structure includes a first wall, a hinge plate having a plate portion disposed on an inboard side of the first wall portion and a pivot bearing sleeve extending from the plate portion through an opening of the first wall, and a nut plate disposed on an outboard side of the first wall and coupled to the hinge plate. A bellcrank arm is provided that has a first end attached to the tailgate and a second end offset from a tailgate pivot axis. The first end extends through the pivot bearing sleeve. The lift assist device dampens the tailgate during opening and applies a closing torque to the tailgate during closing.

Vehicle tailgate lift assist support structure

A vehicle tailgate lift assist support structure is disclosed that includes a vehicle rear end structure, a vehicle tailgate and a lift assist device. The vehicle rear end structure includes first and second walls that extend generally perpendicular to one another. A hinge reinforcement bracket has first and second reinforcing parts. The first reinforcing part is fastened on the first wall and the second reinforcing part is fastened on the second wall. A vehicle tailgate is pivotally coupled to the hinge reinforcement bracket and the rear end structure to open and close by rotation about a tailgate pivot axis. A lift assist device is operably connected to the tailgate hinge and the vehicle rear end structure to dampen opening movement and to apply a closing torque to tailgate hinge during closing movement of the vehicle tailgate.

A door hinge assembly is mounted between a door mounting pillar of the vehicle body and a door to swingably mount the door to the door mounting pillar. The door hinge assembly includes an upper dual pivot hinge, a lower dual pivot hinge, and a torsion bar extending substantially vertically between the upper and lower hinges. The door mounting pillar is configured and arranged to accommodate the dual pivot hinges so that that are not exposed when the door is closed.

Vehicle door hinge assembly

A door hinge assembly is mounted between a door mounting pillar of the vehicle body and a door to swingably mount the door to the door mounting pillar. The door hinge assembly includes an upper hinge and a lower hinge with a double pivot pin arrangement, and a torsion bar extending substantially vertically between the upper and lower hinges. The upper and lower hinges are fastened at interior fastening points on an inner side wall of the door mounting pillar and at exterior fastening points on an exterior wall portion of the door mounting pillar with longitudinal fastening axes that extend in a substantially orthogonal direction to the inner side wall and the exterior wall portion of the door mounting pillar. The interior fastening points are disposed rearwardly of the torsion bar and the exterior fastening points are disposed forwardly of the torsion bar.

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Sterling Heights, MI, United States of America

Nandkumar Rangnekar