Abstract: An automotive vehicle door striker plate (10) includes first and second plate parts (22,24) coupled together by an edge flange (26). A continuous slot (28) separates the plate parts except for two bendable portions (30,32). In use, second plate part (24) is welded to a door closing surface in predetermined arrangement then the door has certain manufacturing operations. Next, the door is removed from the body for accessory mounting (e.g., windows). Finally, on reattachment of the door to the body, any reattachment positional adjustment is accomplished by bending the portions (39, 32) by force application.

Abstract: A limited slip differential having a carrier with a plurality of recesses disposed symmetrically relative to a gear opening. The gear opening having a gear diameter, and each of the plurality of recesses having a recess diameter. The gear diameter intersecting the recess diameter of each of the plurality of recesses at corresponding first and second intersections, an acute angle between a line tangent to the recess diameter at the first intersection and a tangent line of the recess diameter along which first and second chamfers extend is between approximately 30 degrees and approximately 32 degrees.

Abstract: A rotary switch suitable for use as a transmission gear selection switch. The switch includes a housing and a rotor rotationally connected to the housing, the rotor being rotational about a first axis. A cam follower connected to the rotor has a cam surface substantially centered about a radial axis, the radial axis being normal to the first axis. An electrical contact carried by the rotor has a contact surface spaced from the cam surface along the radial axis.

Abstract: A selectively heat treated canister for use in a vehicle airbag deployment system is configured to contain combustion materials and to contain gases produced from the combustion thereof. The canister includes a tubular body having a length and a longitudinal axis. The body is formed as at least three drawn sections. Each prior section is drawn one more time than a successive adjacent section. The canister defines a closed end and an open end. The closed end is at a least drawn section and the open end is at a most drawn section. The canister defines a heat treated region and is selectively heat treated at least one transition zone between adjacent drawn sections to reduce crack propagation observed during testing. A method for making the canister is also disclosed.

Abstract: A fastener system having a fastener and a fastener retention member is provided. The fastener includes a threaded portion, a head, and a shank portion extending therebetween. The threaded portion includes threads having a major diameter greater than a diameter of the shank portion. The fastener retention member includes a body member having an axial opening therethrough, and at least one shank engagement member protruding into the axial opening of the body member. The shank engagement members define a diameter smaller than the major diameter of the threads of the threaded portion of the fastener. The shank portion of the fastener is received in the axial opening of the fastener retention member and is axially movable therein and trapped between a position where the head of the fastener abuts the fastener retention member and a position where the threaded portion of the fastener engages the shank engagement members.

Abstract: A quarter turn fastener, for securing a plurality of members together, includes a blade member which has upturned corner portions defining sharp points for bitingly engaging the undersurface of the lowermost one of the plurality of members so as to prevent retrograde movement of the quarter turn fastener from the locked state back to the unlocked state. A quarter turn fastener assembly also comprises a stop member for engaging wall portions of another one of the members to be secured together such that rotation of the quarter turn fastener is limited to 90° arcuate extents either from the unlocked state to the locked state or from the locked state to the unlocked state.

Abstract: The grommet includes a base and a slider. The base includes a rectangular slot which receives an extended screw boss of the slider. The extended screw boss can slide linearly within the rectangular slot with a single degree of freedom. The base includes guide tracks and inwardly extending protrusions between which lateral guide tracks of the slider are slidably engaged.

Abstract: A wire bond pad in an electrical circuit device package and method therefor including forming an opening in a conductor of a first electrically conductive material, forming a conducting member of a second electrically conductive material, transferring the conducting member into the opening of the conductor, electrically contacting the conducting member with the conductor, and embedding conductor with the conducting member in the opening thereof in an insulating electrical circuit device package.

Abstract: A rocker switch assembly comprises a rocker switch housing having a ground contact and first and second electrical circuit contact pins mounted therein. Snap-dome contacts are operatively associated with, but normally electrically disengaged from, each one of the first and second electrical circuit contact pins, and are normally disposed in electrical contact with the ground plate. A rocker actuator has first and second actuator posts integral therewith and depending therefrom so as to normally be disposed in contact with the snap-dome contacts. Depression of one side of the rocker actuator therefore forces one of the actuator posts to in turn force its associated snap-dome contact into engagement with its respective electrical circuit contact pin so as to CLOSE the electrical circuit controlled by such electrical circuit contact pin.

Abstract: A side airbag retention system for installation in a keyhole opening including a bolt with a generally conical head portion and a shaft disposed through an aperture of the air bag retainer, and a bolt retainer disposed about the bolt shaft between the bolt head and the air bag retainer. The bolt retainer preferably includes a spring washer having a pronged engagement member extending generally radially therefrom between anti-rotation tabs extending from a side thereof opposite the bolt head, and a compression limiting member disposed about and protruding from the washer opening toward the bolt head.

Abstract: A blind hole panel nut has an elongated geometrical configuration. The nut is adapted to be inserted and mounted within a similarly shaped aperture defined within a support panel upon which a component is to be mounted. The nut has slots formed within opposite longitudinal end portions thereof and at mid-depth portions such that upper and lower nut disk portions are formed. The nut is rotated a predetermined angle from its initial insertion position with respect to the support panel aperture to its locked position upon the support panel. The slots physically accommodate side wall portions of the support panel which define the aperture. The upper and lower nut disk portions self-support the nut member upon the support panel. The nut member is also provided with a centrally located threaded aperture for receiving a threaded bolt fastener to form a blind hole panel nut member and bolt fastener assembly.

Abstract: A closure mechanism is provided for the end of a fuel system filler tube. The closure mechanism has an arm that opens and closes as a refueling nozzle is inserted or removed. The mechanism has channels that direct away any liquids that accumulate near the filler tube end.

Abstract: A tension indicator for use with a fastener that is formed from a stack of conical washers confined in the stack by a cage having a longitudinally extending slot formed therein provides readily discernible visual indication of tension or loss of tension in the fastener joint. The indicator includes a body configured for receipt over the stack of conical washers. The body can include at least one stanchion extending inwardly of the body from the interior surface to define a stanchion end longitudinally spaced from the body end. At least one detent extends inwardly of the body and is longitudinally spaced from the body end. When the stack of conical washers is placed under tension with the uppermost washer in a planar condition, the stanchion lies adjacent the uppermost washer at the interior region.

Abstract: An insulation displacement connector is adapted to receive an associated cable having a conductor and a covering over the conductor and secure the cable within the connector. The connector includes at least one contact. Each contact has at least one wall having a slot formed therein and defining bifurcated wall sections. The slot defines an entrance between the bifurcated wall sections. Each wall section has an outwardly inclined surface defining a reversed bevel that is contiguous with an inwardly inclined surface extending into the slot. The outwardly inclined surfaces each having a cutting edge formed thereon. A juncture of the inwardly inclined surface and its contiguous outwardly inclined surface defines an apex.

Abstract: An electrical connector for connecting and mounting a motor upon a printed circuit board comprises a flexible connection between contact fingers of the connector and a base portion of the connector which serves to isolate the motor from the printed circuit board such that vibrations generated by the motor are not transmitted to the printed circuit board. Movable support members mounted upon the base portion also effectively rigidly support the flexibly mounted contact fingers so as to facilitate insertion of motor tab contacts into engagement with the contact fingers of the connector. The printed circuit board is also a printed thick film type printed circuit board, and the connector comprises three dependent leg members which are adapted to be inserted through apertures defined within the printed circuit board and folded beneath the board so as to secure the connector upon the board.

Abstract: The clip includes a base hingeably attached to a lid. The lid includes two detent prongs with detent apertures including ledges formed at the distal ends thereof. These ledges engage complementary inverted ledges on detent protrusions on the base. The lid can be released from the base by squeezing the detent prongs toward each other in a direction parallel to the rotational axis between the lid and base thereby releasing the ledges from the inverted ledges. Typically, the base is secured to a first strap which can be further secured to a pouch. A second strap which is typically formed as loops on a backpack or similar structure is then secured between the lid and base in the locked position, thereby allowing a pouch to be securely attached to a backpack.

Abstract: An off-set adjusting nut for use with a bolt permits adjusting at least one characteristic of mechanically connected members. The bolt has a head and a shank extending therefrom, at least a portion of the shank being threaded for engagement with the adjusting nut. The adjusting nut includes a body defining a nut axis therethrough. The body further defines an upper surface and a lower portion. A round flange is formed integral with the body at the lower portion. The flange is formed on the body collinear with the nut axis. An eccentric bore is formed in the body extending from the upper surface to the lower portion and through the flange. The bore has a thread formed therein for engaging the bolt shank thread. The bore is formed off-set in the nut body and defines a bore axis that is parallel to and spaced from the nut axis.