A structural reinforcement for an article including a carrier that includes: (i) a mass of polymeric material having an outer surface; and (ii) at least one consolidated fibrous insert (14) having an outer surface and including at least one elongated fiber arrangement having a plurality of ordered fibers arranged in a predetermined manner. The fibrous insert is envisioned to adjoin the mass of the polymeric material in a predetermined location for carrying a predetermined load that is subjected upon the predetermined location (thereby effectively providing localized reinforcement to that predetermined location). The fibrous insert and the mass of polymeric material are of compatible materials, structures or both, for allowing the fibrous insert to be at least partially joined to the mass of the polymeric material. Disposed upon at least a portion of the carrier may be a mass of activatable material.

An active spoiler for a vehicle including a fixed portion configured for attachment to the vehicle, an extendable portion configured for movement relative to the fixed portion, and a flexible portion secured between the fixed portion and the extendable portion. The spoiler has a retracted configuration and an extended configuration, whereby the flexible portion is stowed within the spoiler in the retracted configuration and the flexible portion is deployed in the extended configuration.

A sheet-like textile is used for a controlled expansion of an expansion element on a structural element in a vehicle body. The sheet-like textile is covered with an expandable material on both sides. The expansion of the expansion element in a direction perpendicular to the sheet-like textile is at least 15% greater than what it would be for an expansion element without a sheet-like textile.

An electric vehicle, including, a user compartment and a front section including a portion of a vehicle chassis, a crash absorbing member located in the front section and connected to the portion of the vehicle chassis, the crash absorbing member including a first extruded profile, preferably an aluminum profile, having a main extension direction in a transverse direction (y) of the vehicle, whereby the extrusion direction of the first extruded profile extends substantially in the transverse direction (y) of the vehicle, and wherein further the first extruded profile includes at least two cells (C1, C2) being defined by outer walls and at least one intermediate wall separating the at least two cells (C1, C2), wherein the at least one intermediate wall has a main extension direction in the transverse direction (y) and a second extension direction which extends substantially in a vertical direction (z).

Provided is a body side panel including: a hat-like panel member made of a metal; another panel member made of a metal; and a reinforcing member made of a resin. The hat-like panel member includes a cross-sectionally hat-like portion formed of a top portion, edge portions, and intermediate portions coupling the top portion and the edge portions to each other. The cross-sectionally hat-like portion is joined to the other panel member at the edge portions, and forms a closed space cooperatively with the other panel member. The reinforcing member is arranged to be joined to an at least one of the top portion and the intermediate portions in the closed space. The hat-like panel member includes corner parts between the edge portions and the intermediate portions. The other panel member includes corresponding parts which correspond to the corner parts, and a rigidity of the corresponding parts is higher than a rigidity of the corner parts.

A structural component for a motor vehicle is configured to extend transversely to a direction of travel for the motor vehicle and is configured to separate a passenger compartment and a front compartment of the motor vehicle. The structural component includes: a dashboard; two A-pillars arranged in each case laterally with respect to the dashboard; and a transverse reinforcement running along an upper side of the dashboard. The structural component is one-part or a one-piece light-metal die casting.

A vehicle running board assembly includes, among other things, a reinforcing insert, and a beam that is extruded over the reinforcing insert. A step pad is extruded over the beam. A vehicle running board manufacturing method according to another exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, extruding a beam over a reinforcing insert, extruding a step pad over the beam, and cutting the beam, the reinforcing insert, and the step pad to provide the running board.

A utility wall for a pickup truck includes: a first portion disposed along a first plane and including alternating first and second vertical columns of apertures, where: the first vertical columns include a vertically repeating pattern including: first rectangular apertures with longer sides oriented in a first direction; ovular apertures; and circular apertures; and the second vertical columns include second rectangular apertures with longer sides oriented in a second direction that is different than the first direction; second and third portions disposed along a second plane that is parallel to the first plane, the second and third portions including bolt apertures through which bolts can extend to bolt the utility wall to the pickup truck; a first c-shaped portion that connects a first end of the first portion to the second portion; and a second c-shaped portion that connects a second end of the first portion to the third portion.

A vehicle body includes a structural member having an inner surface defining an elongated cavity. The structural member includes an outer panel member joined to an inner panel member. A tension web secured in the cavity separates the outer and inner panel members. A reinforcement member is positioned in the cavity of the structural member. The reinforcement member contacts the transverse web and a gap is provided between the reinforcement member and the inner surface of the structural member. The reinforcement member including a base member having a plurality of bumpers extended in a width direction of the reinforcement member. The plurality of bumpers face one of the inner surface and the tension web. An adhesive secured to the reinforcement member is activatable to expand toward the inner surface to define a joint between the reinforcement member and the structural member and to at least partially fill the gap.

A trailer having a plurality of elongate floor members, each of the floor members connected to an adjacent floor member to define a floor of the trailer, side wall members attached to opposed sides of the floor, an axle assembly attached to the side wall members, and a tongue assembly attached to the side wall members.