A leaf screen for an air intake of an HVAC system of a vehicle having a hood covering an engine compartment. The leaf screen includes a leaf screen body defining an air inlet opening covered by an integrally molded screen. A seal is integrally molded on a top surface of the leaf screen body in front of the air inlet opening. Bump-stops are integrally molded on the top surface that are engaged by an inner panel of the hood when closed. A method of making the leaf screen includes injecting a polymeric material into a mold to form a body portion. At least one elastomeric material is injected into the mold on one side of the body portion to form a seal and a plurality of bump-stops.

The present disclosure relates to a bumper protection device and a motor vehicle including the same. A method of use is also disclosed. An example bumper protection device includes, among other things, a protective strip moveable between a retracted position and an extended position, a spring biasing the protective strip to the extended position, and a closure arranged such that movement of the closure to a closed position urges the protective strip to the retracted position, and such that movement of the closure to an open position permits movement of the protective strip to the extended position.

A device and method for automatically closing a tailgate of a motor vehicle having a body and a tailgate closing device, is described. The tailgate closing device comprises first and second closing elements. A suspension strut is situated on a first side of the tailgate and a power strut is situated on a second side of the tailgate opposite the first side. The suspension strut and the power strut are both connected to the tailgate and to the body. The first closing element is situated on the tailgate and the second closing element is situated on the body. The first and second closing elements are designed to engage into each other during the closing of the tailgate to effectuate the closure of the tailgate. The torque acting via the power strut onto the tailgate is reduced during the closing of the tailgate when the distance between the first and second closing elements is less than a threshold value.

A vehicle storage compartment includes a first vehicle component including a pin, a second vehicle component pivotally hinged to the first vehicle component. The first vehicle component and the second vehicle component define a storage cavity in which a vehicle occupant in a passenger compartment may store objects. The compartment includes a dampener arm that is pivotally rotatable about one of the first pin and the second pin and defining a slot enclosing the other one of the first pin and second pin. The dampener arm slot defines an interference fit with the other one of the first pin and the second pin such that pivoting of the second vehicle component is dampened.

A dual platform bumper system for a vehicle includes a bumper configured to couple to one of the door or another vehicle component, the bumper having first and second points of contact, and a platform configured to couple to the other of the door and the other vehicle component. The platform includes an upper contact platform and a lower contact platform. The upper contact platform is configured to contact the first point of contact when the door is moved to a closed position, and the lower contact platform is configured to contact the second point of contact when the door is moved to the closed position to facilitate preventing over-travel relative movement of the at least one door.

Trunk lid stopper mechanism and method for controlling rotational speed of a trunk lid to slow down and halt its movement, and to hold the trunk lid at the halted position. The stopper mechanism comprises hinge arms for supporting the lid, torsion bars for applying biasing force to the lid, and link arms for transmitting biasing force from torsion bars to the hinge arms. Either each hinge arm or link arm is equipped with a stopper member that brakes the rotation movement of the trunk lid and halts the trunk lid fully-open. The stopper member has tapered surfaces for reducing relative rotational speed between the hinge and link arms by being forced therebetween during their relative rotational movement, and a stopper surface(s) for abutting against the other arm and halting the arms' relative rotational movement at the fully open position of the trunk lid.

Systems, methods, and apparatus for permanent magnet damping and generated light are disclosed. In one or more embodiments, a method for damping and generating light comprises damping, by a permanent magnet (PM) damper connected to a panel (e.g., a door of an aircraft luggage bin), the speed of opening of the panel, while the panel is opened. The method further comprises generating, by the PM damper, electrical power, during the opening of the panel. Also, the method comprises storing the electrical power in an electrical power storage unit, such as a capacitor or a battery. In addition, the method comprises powering, by using the stored electrical power, lighting, such as a lighting emitting diode (LED). Further, the method comprises dissipating any remaining electrical power of the electrical power, which is stored in the electrical power storage unit, when the panel is closed.

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.

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.

An adjustable stopper device (1) for a vehicle door or hood, includes a base part (100), and adjustment part (200), a stopper part (300) and a fastening structure (400). The adjustment part is connected to the base part via threads (120, 220) and thereby rotatable around a device axis (210) with respect to the base part (100). The stopper part is configured to contact the vehicle door and to provide an abutment surface (310) for the vehicle door when the vehicle door is closed, wherein the stopper part is connected to the adjustment part and wherein the axial position of the abutment surface is adjustable by turning the adjustment part with respect to the base part around the device axis. The fastening structure fastens the base part to the car body (2). A vehicle with, use of and method for manufacturing such a device are also described.