A component assembly consists of a first, largely dimensionally stable component having at least two latching protrusions, which are largely diametrically opposed to each other and by which a second, flexible component can be positioned. The second component has cutouts corresponding to the latching protrusions. In an assembled end position, the latching protrusions are positionally fixed in the cutouts. At least one latching protrusion transitions, at the front and at the rear with respect to a positioning direction, into the first component at a largely right angle. Because of the design, very accurate positional fixing between the first component and the second component is possible.

A system for removing, storing and precisely re-installing removable automobile doors. This system includes a mobile base for positioning near the vehicle and moving stored doors to their storage location. The base of this system provides mounting positions for 2 or more lifting/storing/re-installation devices, accommodating full service (removal, storage and re-installation) of up to 4 doors at once. The lifting/storage/re-installation devices contain full 3 axis precise adjustment and rigid coupling to each of the vehicle's doors. Without this precision, the weight and non-balance of removing/re-installing the doors can cause the door to tilt into or away from the vehicle, possibly crushing a human body part (finger, hand) and/or damaging the vehicle or door. By rigidly coupling the door to the precisely adjusted device, precise vertical lifting and lowering may be used to remove and re-install the doors, including accommodating surface variations encountered from removal to re-installation time.

A frame for a vehicle includes a bumper support frame member, and a longitudinal frame member coupled to the bumper support frame member. The longitudinal frame member includes a rail member having an asymmetric crash response.

A system for assembling a vehicle platform includes a robotic assembly system having at least two robotic arms, a vision system capturing images of an assembly frame, and a control system configured to control the robotic assembly system to assemble the vehicle platform based on images from the vision system, force feedback from the at least two robotic arms, and a component location model. The control system is further configured to identify assembly features of a first component and a second component of the vehicle platform from the images, operate the robotic arms to orient the first component and the second component to respective nominal positions based on the images and the component location model, and operate the robotic arms to assemble the first component to the second component based on the force feedback.

A method for mounting vehicle elements of a motor vehicle rear end of a motor vehicle. The motor vehicle has a body on which a rear-end covering, rear lights and a trim are mounted. The mounting sequence is chosen in such a way that first of all the rear-end covering is arranged and fastened on the body, then the rear lights are arranged with orientation on the rear-end covering and then the trim is arranged with orientation on the rear-end covering and on the rear lights.

An apparatus and method, according to an exemplary aspect includes, among other things, a bracket system having a first portion fixed to a vehicle panel and a second portion that is moveable relative to the first portion for adjustment purposes. At least one first fastener holds the first and second portions together prior to assembly of the vehicle panel to a pillar. The at least one first fastener is loosened to adjust a position of the second portion relative to the pillar. At least one second fastener secures the second portion to the pillar subsequent to adjustment, and the at least one first fastener is tightened subsequent to adjustment to hold the vehicle panel in a desired position relative to the pillar.

A retractable trailer cover adapted for mounting to an existing boat trailer and a method for retrofitting the trailer cover to the boat trailer. The trailer cover includes multiple ribs extending from one side to the other, a flexible cover material, two elongated tracks, and multiple wheels received within the tracks. The ribs are affixed to the wheels so as to be slidably mounted to the tracks. Mounting brackets can be spaced along each of the trailer cover sides, and the tracks can be affixed to the mounting brackets. To mount the trailer cover to the boat trailer, the mounting brackets can be attached to a frame of the boat trailer. The trailer cover can selectively be expanded and retracted to cover and uncover an associated boat and boat trailer and may be used with new or used trailers.

A prefabricated vehicle may include a body module providing a vehicle body; a platform module having a battery and a driving wheel, and selectively fastened to the body module; a connecting portion that includes a magnetic module provided in any one of the body module and the platform module and an armature provided in a remaining one of the body module and the platform module, the connecting portion being configured such that the magnetic module and the armature face each other when the body module and the platform module are fastened to each other; and a controller connecting the body module and the platform module to each other to be easily replaceable by applying power to the magnetic module to allow the magnetic module and the armature to be connected to each other by a magnetic force.

A device attachment structure includes a vehicle member having first and second threads, a device member including first and second through holes, first and second bushings respectively including first and second outer sleeves and first and second inner sleeves, and first and second fasteners. The device member includes a first surface and a second surface that is opposite to the first surface. The first through hole has a large-diameter space that opens in the first surface and to which the first outer sleeve is fitted and a small-diameter space that opens in the second surface and through which the first inner sleeve passes. The second through hole has a large-diameter space that opens in the second surface and to which the second outer sleeve is fitted and a small-diameter space that opens in the first surface and through which the second inner sleeve passes.

In one exemplary embodiment, a method of repairing a chassis rail for a vehicle includes that a marking is identified on the chassis rail. The marking indicating where to cut the chassis rail. The method also includes that the chassis rail is cut proximate the marking to form a cut chassis rail portion. The method further includes a replacement rail assembly is slid onto the cut chassis rail portion. The replacement rail assembly including a replacement rail, an inner brace portion secured within the replacement rail, and a bracket wrapped at least partially around the replacement rail and secured to the replacement rail. The bracket including one or more fastener through-passages. The method further includes the replacement rail assembly is secured to the cut chassis rail portion.