Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Thomas Michael Herline

Venkatesh Krishnan

Bhupendra A Patel

David Manuel Rogers

Charles Gregory Bambenek

Chester Stanislaus Walawender

Rajesh K Patel

Francis Raymond Gillis

Kosta Papanikolaou

Livianu Dorin Puscas

Daniel Carl Bejune

Constantin Manolescu

Michael Bryan Vanbelle

Marcus Edward Merideth

Brandon Buckhalt

Ravikumar Ranganathan

Mark Brown

A vehicle door includes a belt structure and a rigid handle having a rigid base and a rigid outer grip portion. The rigid outer grip portion includes a portion that is spaced apart from the base to form a gap. The base of the handle is rigidly connected to the belt structure whereby the outer grip portion of the handle does not move relative to the belt structure. The vehicle door may include a powered door opening mechanism that moves a portion of the door away from a vehicle body when actuated.

Open loop fixed outside pull handle integrated with door belt seal

A latch release system for a vehicle includes a primary and a secondary latch securing a front hood. An emergency handle within a compartment is covered by the front hood, linked to the primary latch and movable to actuate a switch. An actuator is arranged to release the secondary latch. A controller is configured to trigger the actuator to release the secondary latch responsive to actuation of the switch. An emergency latch release system for front compartment of a motor vehicle and a method are also disclosed.

Front trunk latch entrapment release system

A front hood latch release system includes a primary latch and a secondary latch securing the front hood. A first handle is disposed within a vehicle cabin and linked to actuate the primary latch. An emergency handle is disposed within a compartment covered by the front hood and linked to actuate the primary latch. A secondary handle is accessible from outside the vehicle cabin and linked to actuate the secondary latch.

Front trunk latch exterior release system

A door for vehicles includes a mechanism that prevents unlatching of the door if the door handle is moved at a high rate of speed, but permits unlatching during normal (e.g. manual) handle operation. The mechanism includes a wheel having a wheel tooth. The door mechanism also includes an inertia lever having a first pair of teeth. An input lever has a second pair of teeth that engage the wheel tooth and the first pair of teeth. This engagement prevents rotation of the input lever only when the input lever rotates at a rate above a predefined maximum rate thereby rotating the inertia lever relative to the wheel. Rotation of the input lever unlatches a door latch.

Latch internal mechanism

A tailgate assembly includes a tailgate and a step subassembly having a rail, a step carried on the rail and a pivot subassembly connecting the rail to the tailgate. That pivot subassembly includes two pivot pins. A molding is also carried on the rail.

Tailgate assembly with deployable cantilevered step

An integrated stepgate and handle assembly includes a tailgate, a displaceable ladder carried on the tailgate, a displaceable handle carried on the tailgate and a latch. The latch connects the ladder and the handle whereby the handle is partially deployed with the ladder. This partial deployment of the handle prompts the operator to fully deploy and use the handle.

Integrated stepgate and handle assembly

A deployable step and handle system for a tailgate. The handle is used to secure the deployable step in the stowed position that eliminates the need for a separate release system. The handle is placed adjacent a top edge of the tailgate to prevent debris from being trapped under the handle when the handle is closed. The ladder has a step surface disposed opposite and at an angle relative to a top surface of a spoiler that provides a step surface. The ladder rails are guided by rail guides as the ladder is moved between a stowed position and a deployed position. A unitary support bracket is used to connect both the handle and a ladder rail to the tailgate.

Integrated step and grab-handle system for tailgates

A pickup truck includes a tailgate that is movable between open and closed positions. A powered latch provides for remote release of the latches of the tailgate. The tailgate is biased from the closed position towards the open position such that release of the latch causes the tailgate to shift automatically from the closed position to the open position.

System to remotely unlatch a pickup box tailgate

A door latch system for an automotive vehicle includes a latch having a housing mounted to a door inner panel and a release lever operated by a release rod connected to a handle. An impact-responsive release lever immobilizer mounted within the door is responsive to deformation of the door in the event of an impact such that the release lever will be blocked and prevented from moving to its unlatched position.

Growing community of inventors

Canton, MI, United States of America

Thomas Michael Herline