Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.

William A Hardy

Brian T Thurgate

Kevin O'Beirne

Wasim Ukra

Herb Meingast

Johnny Rose

Rajesh Chennagowni

Tyler E Schnug

Kuo Sun

Edgar C Herrera

A vehicle door includes an inner panel including an upper portion defining a window aperture, and a lower portion positioned opposite the upper portion in a vertical direction, and a support assembly coupled to the inner panel, the support assembly including a first torsion member extending along the upper portion of the inner panel in a lateral direction that is transverse to the vertical direction, the first torsion member defining holes extending through the first torsion member, a second torsion member extending along the upper portion of the inner panel toward the first torsion member, the second torsion member defining holes that are aligned with the holes of the first torsion member, and at least one fastener positioned in corresponding aligned holes of the first torsion member and the second torsion member, the at least one fastener coupling the first torsion member to the second torsion member.

Vehicle doors including torsion bar support assemblies and methods for assembling the same

A method of installing a vehicle component to a vehicle panel is provided. The method includes aligning a rib receiving channel of the vehicle component with an alignment rib that is formed integrally with the vehicle panel while also aligning a fastening opening of the vehicle component with a fastening opening through the vehicle panel. The alignment rib is inserted into the rib receiving channel. A fastener is inserted through the fastening openings of the vehicle component and the vehicle panel. The fastener is tightened while the alignment rib and rib receiving channel inhibit rotation of the vehicle component.

Vehicle components including rib receiving channels for receiving alignment ribs of vehicle panels

A method of installing a vehicle component to a vehicle panel is provided. The method includes aligning a fastening opening of the vehicle component with a fastening opening through the vehicle panel. The vehicle component abuts against an alignment rib that is formed integrally with the vehicle panel. A fastener is inserted through the fastening openings of the vehicle component and the vehicle panel. The fastener is tightened while the alignment rib inhibits rotation of the vehicle component.

Vehicle panels including integrally formed alignment ribs for inhibiting rotation of vehicle components

A vehicle door includes an inner panel formed from a resin and including an upper portion, and a lower portion positioned opposite the upper portion in a vertical direction, and a torsion bar assembly coupled to the inner panel, the torsion bar assembly including a lateral bar that extends across the upper portion of the inner panel in a lateral direction that is transverse to the vertical direction, a pair of vertical bars extending downward from the lateral bar, where the pair of vertical bars and the lateral bar define an inner cavity extending along the torsion bar assembly, and the lateral bar defines an access hole that provides access to the inner cavity.

Vehicle doors including torsion bar support assemblies

Bumpers and vehicles that include bumpers are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a bumper includes a bumper beam assembly, where the bumper beam assembly extends in a vehicle lateral direction, the bumper beam assembly including a front side that is oriented to face forward in a vehicle longitudinal direction that is transverse to the vehicle lateral direction, and a reinforcement bracket coupled to the front side of the bumper beam assembly, the reinforcement bracket including an inboard edge coupled to the front side of the bumper beam assembly, an outboard edge coupled to the front side of the bumper beam assembly and positioned outboard of the inboard edge, and a central portion that extends between the inboard edge and the outboard edge in the vehicle longitudinal direction, where at least a portion of the central portion extends in a direction that is transverse to the vehicle longitudinal direction.

Bumpers including a reinforcement bracket and vehicles incorporating the same

A retention clip assembly for connecting first and second components together. The retention clip assembly includes a male member configured to engage a female member. The male member includes a body portion with a tab extending therefrom. A terminal end of the tab includes a flange projecting laterally from a side surface. The female member includes body portion having sides defining an opening into which the tab of the male member is received. A rib of the female member is located adjacent to one of the sides defining the opening so as to form a slot being between the rib and adjacent side of the opening. The flange is constantly biased into contact with the rib when the male and female members are engaged.

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Tecumseh, MI, United States of America

William A Hardy