Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Robert M Hunt

Robert Gordon Storc

Leon F Van Eden

Rajiv K Gupta

A pickup truck includes a sidewall having a forward portion and a rearward portion with an elongated opening formed between the forward and rearward portion, and at least one fastening element mounted with respect to the sidewall at which any one of a plurality of differently-configured sidewall modules is mountable. The pickup truck forms a modular base to which any one of a plurality of sidewall modules is attachable to provide or modify the functionality or aesthetics of the pickup truck. Methods are also provided to advantageously employ the pickup truck and sidewall modules to provide flexibility in the assembly and use of pickup trucks.

Modular base for pickup truck and method of assembly

A vehicle end gate assembly is adapted to be attached to a vehicle body and includes an end gate body having an interior surface extending between an upper edge and a lower edge. The lower edge of the end gate body is adapted to be hingedly attached to the vehicle body and the interior surface includes at least one recess formed therein at the upper edge. An attachment member is positioned in the at least one recess and is attached to the end gate body for releasably securing items to the end gate body.

Vehicle end gate assembly

A pick up truck configuration is adaptable for carrying a cargo load longer than the cargo box and preferably at or above the wheel covers protruding into the cargo box. An adaptable pick up truck configuration includes a cab portion and a cargo box. A box panel portion is pivotally connected to a front wall of the cargo box and is movable to a generally horizontal position in which the box panel portion partially overlies and is supported by the wheel covers. The cargo box includes a cargo box opening when the box panel portion is in the generally horizontal position. A cab panel portion is pivotally mounted to the cab portion and is movable between a generally vertical closed condition and a generally horizontal open position. The cab portion has a cab opening when the cab panel portion is in the generally horizontal position and the cab opening is at least partially aligned with the cargo box opening. Thus, the pick up truck configuration is adaptable to carry the cargo load longer than the cargo box through both the cab portion and the cargo box and also advantageously can carry a wider load above the wheel covers.

Adaptable pick up truck configuration

A vehicle body has a first compartment for carrying passengers or cargo and a second cargo compartment rearwardly adjacent the first compartment. The body includes a rear wall optionally separating the first and second compartments with a lower opening between the compartments that allows access therebetween. A closure panel is mounted in the rear wall and is movable between a panel closed position closing the opening and a panel open position allowing access through the lower opening between the compartments. An upper opening in the rear wall above the lower opening is closable by a window mounted in the body and movable to a window open position wherein the window is lowered at least partially into the closure panel, thereby permitting external access to the first compartment through the upper opening. A crossbar extends laterally in the body between the upper and lower openings and contains a window drive mechanism at least partially within the crossbar. The mechanism is operable to slide the window into and out of the upper opening to reach the window closed and open positions and to control external access through the upper opening. Preferably, the window may also be lowered fully into the closure panel and moved with the panel to its open position, thereby allowing access through both upper and lower openings. Optionally, the crossbar may pivot down with the closure panel to open the rear wall fully to access the rear cargo compartment.

Vehicle body panel and window system

A cargo cover for a bed of a vehicle. The cargo cover includes a plurality of individual panels to cover the cargo area of the bed of a vehicle and a pair of side frames connected to sides of the bed of the vehicle. The cargo cover also includes a pair of side rails operatively cooperating with the panels and the side frames to allow the panels to slide relative to each other to open and close the cargo area of the bed of the vehicle.

Growing community of inventors

Bingham Farms, MI, United States of America

Robert M Hunt