Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Lear Corporation

Ronald M Lovasz

Dragan B Stojkovic

Joshua Robert Hemphill

David Brian Glickman

Jack Marchlewski

Colleen Hoffman

Sara E James

Mathias A Huber

Stuart C Salter

Paul Kenneth Dellock

James J Surman

Harry Lobo

Sathyanarayana Chary Palakonda

Gregory James Grudzinski

James C Masters

John R Sims

Spencer Monroe Dinkins, Iii

Todd A Mysliwiec

Daniel W Husted

Matthew Ryan Preston

Kirsen J Quan

Dave Williams

Spencer M Hicks

Ted M Grohs

George Michalopoulos

Dave Zimmerman

Eric Spier

Marcus Gorski

Brian Fechner

Hongliang Chen

Lee Mitchell Tome

Adam Merz

A vehicle including a rear closure, a detection unit and a notification unit is disclosed. The rear closure may move between a closed state and an open state. The detection unit may detect vehicle access device position in proximity to the vehicle. The notification unit may output visual and/or audible notifications. The vehicle may further include a processor that may determine that the vehicle access device has entered a predefined zone in proximity to a vehicle rear portion based on inputs from the detection unit. The processor may activate the notification unit to output notifications for a predefined time duration responsive to determining that the vehicle access device has entered the predefined zone. The processor may further determine a time duration the vehicle access device stays in the predefined zone. The processor may cause the rear closure to open when the time duration is greater than the predefined time duration.

Systems and methods for controlling vehicle rear closure

An apparatus and method according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, providing a vehicle with a hard top option where a hard top can be attached to the vehicle, a soft top option where a soft top can be attached to the vehicle, and a dual top option where either the hard top or the soft top can be attached to the vehicle. A hard top applique is provided for the hard top and a soft top applique is provided for the soft top, and a common set of fasteners is used to attach the hard top applique and the soft top applique to a pillar as needed to attach the hard top or soft top to the vehicle.

Method and apparatus for fastening hard and soft top appliques

A vehicle including a passenger compartment having a roof support framework including a pair of roof rails, a header and at least one roof bow. A roof including several rigid removable roof panels is removably assembled to the roof support framework. Pins are removably assembled to the roof rails or to brackets attached to the roof rails that extend through the roof panels. A roof rack or cargo carrier is removably attached to upper ends of the pins and is spaced above the roof panels. A method of assembling a roof rack to a vehicle is also disclosed.

Method of mounting a roof rack on a vehicle having a removable roof

An apparatus and method according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, providing a vehicle with a hard top option where a hard top can be attached to the vehicle, a soft top option where a soft top can be attached to the vehicle, and a dual top option where either the hard top or the soft top can be attached to the vehicle. A hard top applique is provided for the hard top and a soft top applique is provide for the soft top, and a common set of fasteners is used to attach the hard top applique and the soft top applique to a pillar as needed to attach the hard top or soft top to the vehicle.

An apparatus includes a panel, a removable window and a latch assembly for securing the removable window to the panel. In one embodiment, a removable roof assembly for a motor vehicle includes a removable roof panel, a releasable locking feature that secures the removable roof panel to the motor vehicle, a removable window and a latch assembly. The latch assembly secures the removable window to the removable roof panel. The latch assembly includes a push button actuator to release the latch assembly and remove the removable window from the removable roof panel.

Apparatus and removable roof assembly for a motor vehicle

A vehicle includes a header extending laterally between A-pillars, and a soft top, including a movable frame defining a roof of the vehicle and having a header bow that is selectively securable to the header, the frame movable between a forward closed position and a rearward retracted position. A wind deflector is mounted to the frame adjacent to the header bow and movable with the frame between the closed position and the retracted position, with the wind deflector positioned in front of the header bow when not in the closed position.

Soft top convertible wind deflector

Roof rack mount for a vehicle having a removable roof

This disclosure details vehicles that are equipped with one or more removable roof cap assemblies. Exemplary roof cap assemblies include a roof cap and a mounting system with one or more self-aligning brackets configured to self-articulate into alignment with one or more receiving brackets that are mounted to the vehicle.

Removable vehicle roof cap assemblies with self-aligning mounting systems

A device for preventing intrusion of collected water into a vehicle is provided, defined by a water diverter configured and dimensioned to divert water from at least a vehicle-rearward edge of a roof panel aperture provided for a vehicle sun roof/moon roof assembly. The water diverter further includes end portions configured and dimensioned to divert water from at least a portion of opposed vehicle-outboard edges of the roof panel aperture.

Moon roof/sunroof water intrusion diverter

A roof assembly includes a vehicle body defining an opening and having a track extending along the opening. The track is elongated along a track axis. The roof assembly includes a panel removably disposed in the opening, a latch attached to the panel and releasably engageable with the vehicle body, and a block attached to the panel and removably engageable with the track. The block is rotatable relative to the panel about a block axis perpendicular to the track axis.

Vehicle roof assembly

A third seat for an automotive vehicle having a front seat assembly and a rear seat assembly, the latter being located intermediate the front seat assembly and the third seat assembly, the third seat assembly comprising a seat portion and an upright back support portion, the seat portion being supported by a linkage mechanism on a seat frame, the linkage mechanism providing articulation that permits the seat portion to be moved forwardly toward a second seat assembly without the necessity of tiling and inverting the seat portion about a pivotal axis whereby the seat portion forms a cargo-carrying platform, the upright back support portion being foldable in a forward direction to form a continuation of the platform, the third seat assembly including a lock on the seat portion that prevents folding movement of the upright back support portion when the third seat portion functions as a passenger seat, the lock being released automatically as the seat portion articulates toward its cargo-carrying position.

Third automotive seat assembly for an automotive vehicle

A tubular bushing (26) assembly made of plastic material and disposed in an opening (24) defined by a pair of spaced sheets in a seat back (14) of an automotive vehicle to adjustably support each of the posts (22) of a headrest (20). The bushing (26) comprises an outer sleeve (28) presenting ribs (32, 34) for engaging the edges of the opening (24) in each of the sheets of the bracket of the seat back frame (18) and an inner sleeve (30) for insertion within said outer sleeve (28) for slidably supporting the post (22) and having hoop rings (46, 48) for forcing the outer sleeve (28) radially outwardly to deform the ribs (32, 34) about and into gripping engagement with the edges of the openings (24).

Headrest guide sleeve

Growing community of inventors

Allen Park, MI, United States of America

Ronald M Lovasz