Abstract: A handle assembly, having a release handle mounted flush with a housing, is adapted for installation in a panel aperature from the outboard side of the panel. The housing is formed with a terminal flange provided with an upper omitted segment extending between a pair of handle pivot brackets. A retaining rib extends between the brackets and is offset inboard from the plane of the terminal flange backside. The handle is thus adapted to be mounted in the aperture in a rock-in manner with the terminal flange overlying the panel outer surface while the rib has an offset face abutting the panel inner surface. The housing has an inboard projecting stem supporting a one-piece retainer clip member enabling a single nut, upon being torqued down on the stem, to lock the handle assembly in the panel opening.

Abstract: A one-piece resilient flush-look reveal molding adapted for pre-attachment to a glass plate for concealing the gap between an automotive body panel window opening and the edge of the glass plate. The molding has a generally asymmetric I-beam shape providing a web portion with a first pair of substantially equal length long legs defining an inner open channel for receiving the glass plate edge. A second pair of short length legs define an opposite outer channel. The upper long and short legs combine to provide a major trim strip. The lower short leg has an extension leg portion which diverges upwardly and outwardly and terminates in a T-shaped minor trim strip normally disposed in a horizontal plane.

Abstract: A handle assembly, comprising a release handle mounted within a recess of the handle housing, is adapted for installation in a vehicle door panel aperture from the exterior thereof. The housing is formed with a terminal flange provided with an upper omitted segment extending longitudinally between a pair of upright handle support brackets. An elongated retaining rib is formed between the brackets having an outboard face offset a predetermined dimension inboard from the plane of the terminal flange backside. The housing is mounted in the panel aperture in a rocked-in manner with its terminal flange overlying the aperture recessed flanged border while the retaining rib face locates to the inboard surface of the flanged border. The housing central body has an inboard projecting stem adapted to support a clip whereby the clip, when fixed to the stem by a fastener, locks the handle assembly in the panel aperture.

Abstract: An arrangement for attaching a plastic molding strip to a vehicle metal panel exterior surface provided with two parallel rows of weld-on studs fixedly securing a series of T-shaped molding mounting plastic clips to the panel. Each clip, fixedly secured to the panel by an associated upper and lower pair of the studs, has an upper cross-head formed with an upwardly facing notched guide shoulder and a lower foot formed with a snap action fastener. The molding strip is generally C-shaped having interned flanges extending along the upper and lower edges thereof. The upper interned flange is formed with a downwardly directed upper guided rib while an inwardly directed lower guided flange, having a plurality of longitudinally spaced buttons molded thereon, is formed adjacent the lower interned flange. Attachment of the molding strip to the clips is achieved by initially slidably positioning the upper guided rib in the notched guide shoulder of each clip cross-head.

Abstract: Metallic sheet stock is formed to define a one-piece blank with three transverse fold lines providing four panels folded into a light weight generally C-shaped shell-like bracket for supporting a wheel, a pair of control links, a trailing arm and a resiliently telescoping strut of a vehicle rear wheel suspension system.

Abstract: A manual two-speed automotive transmission adapted to being driven by an electric motor. The transmission includes an input shaft assembly driven by the motor via its armature, a flywheel and a clutch, an input gear assembly axially aligned with and separated from the input shaft assembly, and a transfer shaft assembly parallel to the input assemblies. A two-gear speed reducer rotatably mounted on the transfer shaft assembly connects a fixed gear of the input shaft assembly to a fixed gear of the input gear assembly. Additional gears are rotatably mounted on the transfer shaft assembly and secured to the input gear assembly, such that a synchronizer assembly on the transfer shaft cooperates with the various gears to drive the transfer shaft and a final output gear mounted thereon at a low or high speed. Reverse is accomplished by reversing the electric motor.

Abstract: In a vehicle body including a floor having a seat riser attached thereto, a pivotal seat structure including a seat back connected to a seat cushion. The seat cushion is secured to a frame member which is pivotally mounted on the seat riser. A latch assembly is operably connected between the seat riser and the seat cushion frame member. A latch release rod is operably connected to the latch assembly. A gas spring is operably connected between the seat riser and the seat cushion frame member, the frame member, seat cushion and the seat back adapted to being pivoted forwardly off of the riser by the gas spring upon manual actuation of the latch release rod.

Abstract: A frame and underbody floor pan mounting arrangement for a motor vehicle, including a frame having oppositely disposed side rails and a plurality of longitudinally spaced bushing assemblies mounted through openings in each of the side rails. An underbody floor cross pan has oppositely disposed inverted U-shaped ribs formed thereon adapted to being mounted over the side rails and secured to opposite ends of the plurality of bushing assemblies, providing a low pan height and an isolated mounting of the vehicle body to the frame.

Abstract: An add-on structural support arrangement for a convertible-type vehicle rear passenger shoulder belt system comprising a pair of mirror image composite pillars fixedly disposed at each rear corner of the rear seat compartment. Each pillar includes three vertically elongated sheet metal members, i.e. a forward seat attaching panel member, an intermediate anchor panel member, and an aft channel member, substantially coextensive in length and welded in flatwise abutment. A horizontal tie bar interconnects the upper ends of the forward panel members, while lower oblique wing of each anchor panel member is bolted to an associated portion of the body floor pan. A shoulder belt retractor is mounted on a lower rear face of each pillar while each aft channel member provides a vertically extending guideway for passage for its associated shoulder belt. The anchor panel is formed with a U-section in cross-sectional view defining a pair of side flanges each provided with a midpoint attachment ear.

Abstract: A floor mounted shift control mechanism for a vehicle wherein adjustment of each of the cables from the transmission and the key cylinder can be made inside the vehicle within the shift control mechanism. The shift control mechanism also includes provisions for locking the shift lever in its Park position when the key cylinder is in its Lock or Accessory positions; and for preventing the ignition key from being removed from the key cylinder unless the shift lever is in its Park position. There are also included provisions for requiring a high force to override the Locked-in Park condition, while operationally subjecting the cable from the key cylinder to reduced loads; and for an assured detent feeling for the driver while shifting through the various shift positions.

Abstract: A manual transmission modular clutch unit is provided comprising a clutch cover assembly, a clutch friction disc assembly, and a flywheel disc assembly which modular clutch unit may be pre-assembled and balanced off line prior to shipment to a vehicle assembly plant. The manual transmission modular clutch unit contains each clutch component with the exception of an engine starter ring which is customarily attached to the clutch flywheel disc. A unique attaching arrangement is provided for the pre-installation of an automatic transmission drive plate on each engine crankshaft of a vehicle assembly line. As the drive plate is interchangeable with either a manual transmission modular clutch unit or an automatic transmission torque converter both manual and automatic transmission vehicles may be built on a common assembly line while minimizing both labor and parts.

Abstract: A tailgate handle assembly in a housing including a flush-mounted handle and an adjacent key cylinder. The housing is spaced apart from a latch mechanism. A laterally extending lever is slidably actuated on the housing from a locked mode to an unlocked mode manually by rotation of the key cylinder, or electrically via a power actuator, and then pivoted by manual lift-pulling on the handle, to thereby lift a latch rod extending between the lever and the latch mechanism to actuate the latter.

Abstract: A light weight knuckle bracket for supporting a wheel hub and longitudinal and lateral control arms on a shock absorber strut of a vehicle rear suspension system. The bracket is formed from a pair of forward and aft mirror image body units stamped from sheet metal integrated with each other by mutually facing outboard and inboard planar portions welded together. Each body unit is formed with a semi-cylindrical socket portion intermediate the outboard and inboard planar portions. The mutually facing socket portions define a cylindrical pathway snugly enveloping and connecting a tubular member of the strut to the bracket providing a combined rigid structure.

Abstract: In a shift control arrangement for a manual transmission wherein dual cables lead from a floor-mounted shift control lever to dual select and shift shafts operatively connected to the transmission, a shift mechanism bearing a shift finger is rotatably and slidably mounted on a shaft in the housing, such that, through suitable linkage, the shift finger is selectively rotated by the select shaft into 1/2, 3/4, or 5/R shift positions, and then slid by the shift shaft into the 1, 3 or 5 shift ratios in one direction, or the 2, 4 or R shift ratios in the other direction. A reverse inhibitor mechanism operates in conjunction with a pin extending from the rotatable and slidable shift mechanism to prevent an inadvertent manual shift from 5 to R ratio positon, and to result in a shift from 5 to 4 instead.

Abstract: A twin shoulder belt adjustment mechanism for a child restraint system, including a plurality of vertically spaced apart and slightly vertically offset restraint slots for holding the belts in use. Respective adjustment slits extend laterally from the restraint slots, with a downwardly extending connector slit interconnecting and extending beyond the outer ends of the lateral adjustment slits, such that the twin belts may be moved therethrough to a higher or lower pair of restraint slots to accommodate a different size child.

Abstract: A one-piece plastic retainer device is provided for snap-in blind attachment in a keyhole-shaped apertured panel. The retainer device comprises a flat rectangular base having a push-in fastener shank adjacent one transverse edge. The shank extends from the base inner face while a fastener head and subjacent spacer collar extend from the base outer face in coaxial alignment with the shank. An integral wedge-shaped locking cam projects from the base outer face and is aligned on the base major axis of symmetry adjacent the base other transverse edge. The locking cam has a raised outboard facet and an inboard ramp sloped toward the fastener head with the facet spaced a predetermined longitudinal distance from a transverse outboard collar stop shoulder. The panel keyhole-shaped aperture is configured and dimensioned enabling the head to be initially inserted in the circular opening thereof.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein a child seat module integrally mounted in an automotive bench seat, and including a latch arrangement for rapidly and easily raising and lowering a fold-up head support, along with adjusting the height thereof. The latch arrangement includes features for assuring that the head support is rigidly retained in its respective child and adult use positions.

Abstract: An occupant restraint belt system for a motor vehicle of the type having front driver and passenger side doors and a single rear side door on the passenger side of the vehicle. A two-passenger bench seat structures and a three-passenger seat structure are adapted to be removably coupled to the vehicle floor pan. The invention enables a single occupant restraint belt system to be selectively used by an outboard occupant of either one of the seat structures. The occupant restraint seat belt system has its one free end provided with a snap-action hook adapted for selective engagement with either a floor pan anchorage or a vehicle wall anchorage depending upon which seat structure is being used in the vehicle.

Abstract: A die casting vacuum valve has a cover die block and ejector die block. A cushion member is positioned in the cover die block and a reciprocating member is positioned in the ejector die block such that upon reciprocation of the reciprocating member, it contacts the cushion member and cover die block to seal the reciprocating member with the cover die block and the surrounding surface. A controller mechanism controls the reciprocation of the reciprocating member such that the reciprocating member contacts the cushion when the molten material enters the mold cavity and slot to prevent further flow of the molten material in the slot past the reciprocating member.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an arrangement for attaching a plastic panel to an automotive body metal substructure enabling controlled distortion free thermal expansion and contraction of the plastic panel relative to a metal substructure. The attaching arrangement comprises a plastic adjustable mounting block sized for initial insertion in an associated wide slot portion of a keyhole-shaped expansion and contraction slot. The block has a central abutment portion depending from an upper plate portion including lateral extending wings providing with the plate opposed grooves adapted to slidably engage a narrow trailing slot portion of the keyhole-shaped slot upon the blocks subsequent longitudinal rearward movement.