Abstract: An inner seal boot, outer support boot cover, and bezel frame arrangement for enclosing the gap between the movable shift lever and an opening through which the lever of a vehicle transmission passes. The one-piece rubber boot cover has an upper conical-shaped sheath portion, an intermediate frusto-conical shaped flexible bellows portion, and a lower composite laminated base portion sealing enclosing a substrate core of thin sheet metal. The bellows portion has its lowermost convolute terminating in a groove defined in part by the substrate core with the groove dimensioned for releasable locking engagement of the bezel frame rectangular opening.

Abstract: An independent rear suspension system which is affixed to a forward and laterally extending sub-frame prior to being mounted on a vehicle. The suspension includes four links per side, each side including two different length laterally extending upper control arms and rubber ball joint assemblies, one laterally extending lower control arm, and a longitudinally extending trailing arm. Selected locations, lengths and orientations of the respective arms provide inherent predetermined camber and toe patterns. The entire suspension assembly mounts onto the vehicle at four locations via rubber isolators, providing substantially decreased road noise within the vehicle interior.

Abstract: The drawings and accompanying description disclose an attachment mechanism for a vehicular shoulder belt, which is readily attachable and quickly removable as a complete assembly from a mounting bolt threadedly secured to the roof rail adjacent the rear seat of a vehicle, such as a station wagon. The attachment mechanism includes a base member having a keyhole opening therein for mounting on the bolt, a leaf spring adapted to lie in part against the base member and retain the bolt head in the smaller portion of the keyhole opening after being deflected to permit the bolt head to pass through the larger portion of the keyhole opening, and a partially exposed pivotable actuating member operatively connected intermediate the base member and leaf spring for manually urging the leaf spring past the bolt head to permit removal of the attachment mechanism from the bolt via the larger keyhole opening portion.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in measuring the roof panel stiffness of an automatic vehicle having a unitized steel body construction. The apparatus comprises a support structure for positioning an upper cross beam assembly in a spaced exterior manner above the roof panel. The cross beam assembly comprising an upper arch beam and a lower lever arm having one end pivotally connected to one side of the cross beam for supporting a load cell on the roof panel upper surface. A low voltage displacement transducer is supported between the arch beam and the lever arm in vertical alignment with the load cell. Loads applied to the free end of the lever arm are measured by the load cell while resultant deflections are measured by the transducer. The transducer and load cell are adapted to be electrically connected to an X-Y plotter, so as to provide a load/deflection curve for the roof panel.

Abstract: An improved latch arrangement for attaching an aluminum support post of a headrest to a vehicle seat back. A mounting bracket supported on seat back frame having a passage slidably receiving the support post. The mounting bracket passage is arranged with a composite locking member comprising a sheet metal leaf spring having upper and lower plastic catches fixedly secured thereon. The plastic catches extend through associated windows in the bracket for biased sliding contact with an engagement of the support post to limit the adjusting movement of the headrest.

Abstract: An independent suspension toe and camber adjustment system. The suspension includes four links per side, each side including two different length laterally extending upper control arms, one laterally extending lower control arm, and a longitudinally extending trailing arm. Selected locations, lengths and orientations of the respective arms provide inherent predetermined camber and toe patterns. The adjustment system includes an inverted U-shaped bracket having off-center, aligned openings formed through the legs of the bracket, and mounted on respective fore and aft upper mounting lugs of the knuckle for adjustable cooperation with the outermost ends of the two different length, laterally extending, upper control arms.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved arrangement for attaching a plastic panel and metal mounting strip sub-assembly to an automotive body metal substructure enabling controlled distortion free thermal expansion and contraction of the plastic panel relative to the mounting strip. The attaching arrangement comprises a metal spacing washer having a tubular sleeve portion formed with an integral frusto-conical spring flange. The washer sleeve portion free end extends through an elongated slot in the mounting strip and an aligned circular opening in the panel. A blind breakstem rivet is inserted through the washer bore and upon being set applies a predetermined axial clamping force biasing the washer flange into contact with the mounting strip. The rivet head undersurface may be provided with an annular locking ring adapted to engage the plastic panel out surface.

Abstract: A convertible body structure includes a spaced juncture defined by the forward edge of the upstanding body flange molding surrounding the flexible top storage tonneau and the forward edge of the quarter belt molding. A readily installed molding transitioln block is provided which insures vertical height alignment of the adjustable tonneau cover peripheral trim member with the belt molding. The transition block also insures "cross car" alignment between the moldings together with an external arcuate sealing surface for mating contact with an internal seal on the tonneau cover trim member.

Abstract: An improved attachment arrangement for a backrest assembly in combination with an auxiliary folding seat cushion having a pair of hinge assemblies mounting the seat cushion on a vertical wall of a vehicle. The backrest assembly comprises a base panel supporting a coextensive foam pad enclosed by an outer upholstery cover. The base panel for single passenger setting requires a pair of pre-attached hangers spaced along its upper edge and a pair of pre-attached spring clips spaced along its lower portion. The lower spring clips are adapted for ready connection to wall mounted hinges of the folding seat cushion while the upper hangers provide ready initial pre-positioning of the backrest assembly to the vehicle wall. A single screw hole in each hanger is self-aligned with a vehicle wall installation hole allowing subsequent ready piloting and driving of the hanger screws.

Abstract: A dual latching arrangement for a pair of laterally spaced slide track assemblies supporting a vehicle seat support structure for horizontal fore and aft movement to a plurality of adjusted positions. The dual latching arrangement consists of a central U-shaped lift bar having each of its longitudinal legs rotationally supported about a transverse pivot axis adjacent the aft end of an associated track. Primary and secondary latching mechanisms are supported on respective upper sliding track members adjacent an associated leg for rotation about the pivot axis. Primary and secondary biasing springs are operative to urge each primary and secondary locking detent toward engagement with a series of openings on an associated lower track member fixed to the vehicle. Upon the lift bar being rotated to its unlatched mode the primary and secondary detents are removed from their lock openings allowing the seat support structure to be longitudinally adjusted.

Abstract: A composite pivot bushing and cover device for a vehicle seat center hinge bracket disposed between side-by-side fold down seat backs. The composite cover is a molded one-piece plastic housing having a top wall, forward and aft end wall extensions, and a side wall oppositely disposed from a matching side closure, defining a chamber with an open-ended bottom adapted to enclose the hinge bracket. The side closure is integrally joined to the aft end wall along its axis of rotation defined by a living hinge. A pivot bushing perpendicularly projects from the inner surface of the side closure and, upon the closure being rotated to its closed position and locked in a snap-action manner, the bushing is captured in a hinge bracket bore aligning it on the seat back pivot axis.

Abstract: A differential gear assembly has a multi-pinion system with a unitary spider to enable assembly of the differential gear by an automated process.

Abstract: A vehicle seat structure is mounted on right and left track assemblies whereby the seat is longitudinally adjustable. A release wire interconnects right and left latch mechanisms such that upon a handle bar unlocking the right mechanism the left mechanism is similarly unlocked in a master-slave manner. An improved release wire attaching arrangement is provided imparting a predetermined twisting torque to the wire that its integral hair-pin end connectors are each resiliently biased into rattle-free positive contact with its associated latch mechanism mounting.

Abstract: A torque converter has a front cover having grooves or depressions integrally formed therein which operate to increase oil flow in the torque converter and hence lubrication and cooling thereof.

Abstract: A seat belt latchplate is disclosed for use in association with a three-point seat belt harness wherein the latchplate is mounted at an intermediate point on the belt formed with a tongue portion adapted to be releasably anchored to an associated releasable buckle positioned inboard of the vehicle passenger seat. The latchplate has a trough-shaped depression providing a cross bar defined by a pair of symmetrically disposed belt slots located in each sloped side of the depression. A J-shaped lock bar is supported on the cross bar enabling the belt to be weaved through one slot and over the lock bar for passage through the other slot. With the latchplate in its free running stowed mode the belt is straight allowing the lock bar to float for free sliding travel of the belt through the latchplate slots. In its latched mode the belt is pulled around a hook-shaped portion of the lock bar causing the bar to rock and pinch the belt in its cinching mode releasably locking the passenger in the vehicle seat.

Abstract: A shifter for a vehicle transmission comprises a cable aligned along an axis generally parallel to the steering column of the vehicle by a support bracket, an actuator lever pivotally secured to the support bracket for pivotal movement about a first pivot axis, a control lever whose first end is secured for pivotal movement coaxial with and corresponding to pivotal movement of the actuator so that a second end of the control lever traverses an arcuate path about the first axis, and a coupling for securing an end of the cable to the second end of the control along the longitudinal axis of the cable. The first pivot axis is aligned at an obtuse angle with respect to the second axis so that displacement of the control lever along the arcuate path is in a plane substantially coincident to the longitudinal axis of the cable.

Abstract: The present invention is a cup holder adapted for use in a vehicle. The cup holder includes a retainer having a cavity adapted to receive an ashtray and means forming front and rear laterally spaced tracks. The cup holder also includes a plate member having front and rear edges and a cup receiving means. The front and rear edges further include means for operatively engaging the front and rear tracks of the retainer for movement between a first position adjacent the ashtray and a second position over the cavity when the ashtray is removed.

Abstract: An electric shift mechanism for an automotive transmission mechanism is disclosed in which a manual selector lever is universally mounted on a support adapted for sequentially pivoting north-south and east-west swingable rockers about associated intersecting axes. A gate limiting plate formed with a predetermined shift pattern is mounted on the support intermediate the rockers. The lower end of the lever has a ball follower for pre-loaded travel on a single cam track supported longitudinally on the east-west rocker. The cam track is contoured to simulate shift effort stability and feel of conventional manual gear shifting operations. The rockers allow crossover movement from a neutral lever position to preselect a desired gate for reciprocal fore and aft travel of the ball follower to selected transmission shift positions.

Abstract: A novel one-piece hoisting and towing bracket adapted for mounting on a vehicle frame cross member. A unitary generally U-shaped bracket is formed from sheet metal providing a bridge portion interconnecting first and second upright mirror image leg portions each having a double-L-shaped cross section. The bridge portion has a forwardly extending, horizontally positioned plate portion bent therefrom provided with holes receiving self-tapping bolts which extend through associated aligned apertures in the bottom wall of the cross member. Each leg portion upper end has a forwardly offset locking blade adapted to initially project through an associated horizontal slot in the side wall of the cross member whereby threading the bolts into their aligned apertures fixedly secures the bracket on the vehicle.

Abstract: A front transaxle for an all-wheel drive motor vehicle wherein the housing of an interaxle differential is operatively connected to a shiftable transmission and, via a tubular shaft, drives one bevel gear of an angle drive. The other angle drive bevel gear is operatively connected to a longitudinal propeller shaft for driving the rear axle. One front wheel drive shaft extends from the interaxle differential through the tubular shaft. The housing of the angle drive is connected by a flanged joint to the transmission outer housing. The arrangement permits the differential and angle drive subassemblies to be manufactured and tested at different locations while preventing the mixing of lubricants between the two subassemblies upon their assembly into the transaxle.