Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.

Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha

Tarakorn Soonthornwinate

Frank A Richards

Yoshiki Ishikawa

James Dennis Cunningham

Takahiro Iwama

Norman Charles Kerr, Iii

Josh David Fraley

Kevin J James

Corey B Sargent

Justin B Norris

John Gray

Hideto Suzuki

A tailgate support cable assembly includes a cable and a retainer portion attached to an end of the cable. The retainer portion rotatably attaches the end of the cable assembly to a vehicle tailgate. The retainer portion includes a tailgate retention portion, an object contact portion extending from the tailgate retention portion, and a sensor engagement portion extending from the object contact portion. The retainer portion is structured to rotate with respect to the tailgate responsive to contact between the object contact portion and a foreign object positioned in a seam between the tailgate and another portion of the vehicle, during a closing movement of the tailgate. Rotation of the retainer portion brings the sensor engagement portion into contact with (and activates) a touch sensor mounted on the tailgate. Activation of the touch sensor causes a stoppage and/or reversal of tailgate movement, thereby preventing 'pinching' of the foreign object.

Tailgate support cable assembly with touch sensor activation feature

A vehicle tailgate assembly includes a tailgate and a switch assembly operably connected to the tailgate. The switch assembly includes a switch structured to be actuatable by application of a load exceeding a predetermined threshold to the tailgate. The switch assembly is operably connected to a tailgate automatic opening/closing mechanism such that actuation of the switch controls operation of the mechanism to prevent execution of a command to automatically open the tailgate when the tailgate is in a fully closed condition.

Controlling automatic operation of a tailgate responsive to an applied load

A flush mounted handle assembly is provided for a power slide door of a vehicle. The handle assembly includes a case fixed to the door, the case defining a rear wall and opposing side portions. A bell crank is provided configured to coordinate selective power and manual operational modes of the assembly. The assembly includes a handle base having a first end and a second opposing end. The first and seconds ends are configured for selective pivotal movement in opposite directions about a fixed pivot axis to engage the bell crank. A pair of weighted paddles is provided, each rotatable about an axis independent from the handle base axis. One or more paddle biasing members is provided to bias the weighted paddles against the handle base, minimizing movement of the handle base in the manual operational mode upon an impact, or during an unintended rotational movement of the handle base.

Methods for preventing unintended operation of pivoting door handle

A pickup truck can include a bed that is configured to be rotatable. The bed can be defined in part by a first side wall, a second side wall, a front wall, a back wall, and a floor. The bed can include a standard position in which the first and second side walls of the bed can be substantially parallel to a longitudinal direction of the pickup truck. The bed can be selectively rotatable about an axis of rotation into one or more rotated positions. In a rotated position, the first and second side walls can be angled relative to the longitudinal direction. The bed can also be raised in an elevational direction such that a lowermost point of the bed is located above a chassis frame of the pickup truck. A rotatable bed can expand its uses and allow for convenient access to the bed from a desired position.

Rotatable bed for a pickup truck

An actuation assembly for actuating a door of a sliding door assembly of a vehicle includes a motor inside a motor housing, a mid-pulley assembly comprising a mid-pulley wheel, a guide pulley assembly comprising a guide-pulley wheel, and a cable anchored to the vehicle and operatively coupling the mid-pulley assembly, the guide pulley assembly, and the motor. The motor turns to move the door along the cable and at least some portion of the cable is encased in a unitary casing.

Housing assemblies for vehicle door actuation assemblies and methods of installing the same

A flush mounted handle assembly for a vehicle is provided, operable with both power and manual modes of opening and closing a slide door. The flush mounted handle assembly may include a case configured to be fixed in a recess of a power slide door of a vehicle. A dual-directional handle base may be provided, pivotally coupled to the case. The handle base may have a first end and a second opposing end. The first and seconds ends may be configured for a selective pivotal movement in opposite directions about a pivot axis. A bell crank may be provided, coupled to the case, and configured to rotate upon engagement with the handle base in order to actuate a switch assembly and to coordinate different operations of the power slide door.

Flush power slide door handle

A self-centering handle assembly is provided for a vehicle door. The handle assembly includes a pivoting handle base coupled to the vehicle door at a pivot axis, and includes a front face having a first and second opposing ends. The first and seconds ends are configured for a selective pivotal movement in opposite directions about the pivot axis. First and second drive arms are provided extending a distance from a rear portion of the handle base and configured for coordinated movement with the respective first and second ends of the handle base. A bell crank is provided, coupled to the handle assembly, and configured to rotate about a second pivot axis. Rotation of the bell crank is driven by movement of the first and second drive arms. A biasing member is in contact with the bell crank and urges the bell crank to a return to a self-centering, rest position.

Flush powered slide door handle with self-centering bell crank

Systems and methods are provided for preventing the unintentional operation of a flush mounted handle assembly for a power slide door of a vehicle. A dual-directional handle base may be provided, pivotally coupled to a case fixed in a recess of a power slide door of a vehicle. The handle base may have a first end and a second opposing end. The first and seconds ends may be configured for a selective pivotal movement in opposite directions about a pivot axis. A bell crank may be provided, coupled to the case, and configured to rotate upon engagement with the handle base in order to actuate a switch assembly sending a signal to an ECU. Methods may include determining, at the ECU, that the signal was not transmitted as a result of a vehicle impact. After such determination, the method includes activating operation of the power slide door.

Methods for preventing unintended activation of power slide door

A vehicle includes a door with an interior door cavity, as well as a lock rod and another item of a locking system, an impact beam, an attack member and a push member, all housed in the interior door cavity. The impact beam crosses the other item from laterally between the other item and the door. The attack member faces the lock rod from laterally between the door and the lock rod. The push member, along the impact beam, faces the other item from laterally between the other item and the door and laterally beyond the impact beam. When the door collapses when compromised by a side impact event, the door carries the attack member for attacking action on the lock rod. The door additionally carries the push member for counterpart pushing action on the other item. A connection between the lock rod and the other item thus breaks.

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Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America

Tarakorn Soonthornwinate