Abstract: A vehicle seat spring assembly having an engagement post connected to one of a seat and a seat back. A coil spring includes an internal end and an external end. The external end is operably connected with the engagement post. An arcuate engagement bracket is connected to the other of the seat and the seat back. The engagement bracket includes an elongate slot adapted to operably engage the internal end of the coil spring. The internal end moves between a compression position in contact with a first end of the elongate slot corresponding to a first predetermined position of the seat back relative to the seat. A tension position is in contact with a second end of the elongate slot corresponding to a second predetermined position of the seat back relative to the seat.

Abstract: A pickup truck tailgate assembly is provided that includes a primary tailgate adapted to pivotally latch to a pickup cargo box and has an opening formed in the central portion thereof. The assembly also includes a secondary tailgate pivotally attached to the primary tailgate in the central opening. The assembly further includes a pivoting connection connecting the secondary tailgate to the primary tailgate so that a secondary tailgate may pivot downward relative to the primary tailgate. The secondary tailgate may further be deployed to form a step for access to the cargo box and may provide a gate for retaining items within the cargo box.

Abstract: A vehicle door latch mechanism having a housing. A catch is rotatably connected with the housing and includes a striker retaining slot. A pawl is operably connected with the housing. A pawl isolation disk is disposed between the pawl and a frame plate. A striker is adapted for engagement with the catch. A striker bumper is adjacent the housing and includes an abutment surface and a striker damper surface.

Abstract: A locking paddle handle assembly for closures has a housing with a paddle handle pivotally mounted therein, a latch which latches and unlatches the closure upon rotation of the paddle handle, and a exterior key lock with a movable member that shifts between locked and unlocked positions. A latch lock selectively engages the latch, such that when the movable key lock member is in the locked position, the latch is retained in the latched position, wherein the closure cannot be opened. A deadbolt lock selectively engages the closure frame in the locked position to positively retain the closure closed. Both the latch lock and the deadbolt lock are operably connected with the movable key lock member, such that movement of the latter between the latched and unlatched positions contemporaneously shifts both the latch lock and the deadbolt lock between the locked and unlocked positions.

Abstract: A motor vehicle having an assembly for loading sheet material includes a cargo area having a loading opening and a bulkhead located at an opposite end of the cargo area from the loading opening. Also included is a passenger compartment located at a forward region of the vehicle. Further included is at least one fixed end stop located proximate a rear area of the cargo area. Yet further included is at least one load assist strip, where a first end of the strip is mounted to the bulkhead, wherein the strip extends rearward to a second end of the strip that is mounted to the end stop.

Abstract: A fifth wheel slider assembly includes a hitch plate with a throat for receiving a king pin of a trailer, and a slider assembly that includes at least one rack member having a first side and a second side and supportable above a vehicle frame. The slider assembly further includes a first portion including a guide plate slidably abutting the second side of the at least one rack member, and an engagement assembly releasably engaging the at least one rack member at incremental points along a length of the at least one rack member, thereby selectively positioning the hitch plate with respect to the at least one rack member, and a second portion including at least one support bracket pivotably supporting the hitch plate, slidably abutting the first side of the at least one rack member, and readily releasably coupled to the first portion of the slider assembly.

Abstract: A method, computer-readable medium and system are described for deriving a schematic diagram representative of an integrated circuit (1C) comprising a plurality of circuit elements. In general, the method, computer-readable medium and system are configured to receive as input a working schematic diagram identifying at least some of the circuit elements, and at least one existing schematic diagram from one or more libraries thereof. Based on this input, at least a portion of the working schematic diagram that matches at least a portion of the at least one existing schematic diagram is identified and replaced, thereby forming a revised schematic diagram.

Abstract: A hitch coupler includes a frame that includes a back plate, a first plate connected to the back plate, a second plate connected to the back plate at a position spaced from the first plate extending between the first plate and the second plate and cooperating therewith to define an interior space, and a third plate connected to the back plate spaced from the second plate, wherein the first, second and third plates each include an aperture extending therethrough. The frame also includes a pin extending through the first, second and third apertures, such that the pin extends through the interior space and is adapted to slide within the apertures between an extended position and a retracted position, and a spring member biasing the pin towards the extended position.

Abstract: An inventive rearview assembly for a vehicle may comprise a mirror element and a display including a light management subassembly. The subassembly may comprise an LCD placed behind a transflective layer of the mirror element. Despite a low transmittance through the transflective layer, the inventive display is capable of generating a viewable display image having an intensity of at least 250 cd/m2 and up to 3500 cd/m2. The display includes a novel backlighting subassembly and novel optical components including a magnifying system, a depolarizer, a reflector, and a reflective polarizer. The display may be configured to display an image having edges contoured to correspond to the edges of the mirror element.

Abstract: The invention relates to an exercise device for use by a user on a selected surface material comprising a grasping member having a first end and a second end, a first tool head mounted to the first end of the grasping member and a second tool head mounted to the second end of the grasping member. Each of the first tool head and the second tool head has sufficient structural rigidity to be interacted with the surface material without significant deformation whereby a user can perform exercises upon the selected surface material by physically interacting the first tool head and second tool head with the surface material.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a cabinet defining an open storage space. A door is disposed on the cabinet operable between an open position and a closed position. The door includes a forward wall and a rearward wall. An insulation layer is disposed between the forward wall and the rearward wall. An exterior skin is disposed adjacent to the forward wall and substantially covers the forward wall. A plenum is defined by the space between the exterior skin and the forward wall and is adapted to receive utility lines.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a fastener system is provided having an anchor (20) and a washer (40). The anchor includes an upset stud shaft (28) to which the washer is attached. The fastener system is preferably used in the inventive method of restoring/applying cladding such as plaster or plaster-like materials such as stucco. According to the inventive method, the anchors of the fastening system are driven into the building structure before application of a moisture barrier membrane. After application of the membrane, a support mesh (90) is secured to the anchors using the washers (40). This allows the membrane to provide a watertight seal around the fasteners. The inventive method may be used in new construction or restoration.

Abstract: A false division bar assembly for minimizing wind noise generated during movement of a vehicle including a retractable rear window. The assembly includes a division bar mountable in a vehicle rear door window opening to create at least two air passages on opposite sides of the division bar within the vehicle rear door window opening, to thereby minimize wind noise generated during movement of the vehicle when the vehicle front windows are closed with the vehicle rear windows being opened.

Abstract: A method includes, in combination, a roll former with rolls configured to form a structural beam from sheet material, and a sweep unit for longitudinally sweeping a beam in any of vertical, horizontal, or combination directions. The sweep unit has a first pair of forming rolls positioned to engage first opposing sides of the structural beam and has a second pair of forming rolls positioned to engage second opposing sides of the structural beam. The sweep unit movably supports the first and second pairs of forming rolls so that any selected one of the forming rolls continuously engages an associated side of the structural beam while an associated one of the forming rolls opposing the selected one forming roll moves downstream and around the selected one forming roll. This provides a very stable beam-bending condition promoting dimensional stability during the sweeping process, and hence dimensional accuracy and repeatability.

Abstract: The present invention includes a polyol produced according to the process comprising reacting a multifunctional alcohol with a first multifunctional component to form a reaction product and reacting the reaction product with a vegetable oil to form a polyol. The present invention also relates to the material comprising the reaction product of an A-side and a B-side, wherein the A-side comprises an isocyanate and the B-side comprises the product formed by the process comprising the steps of reacting a multifunctional alcohol with a first multifunctional component to form a precursor polyol and then reacting the precursor polyol with a vegetable oil to form a vegetable based polyol with selectable functionality.

Abstract: An apparatus includes, in combination, a roll former with rolls configured to form a structural beam from sheet material, and a sweep unit for longitudinally sweeping a beam in any of vertical, horizontal, or combination directions. The sweep unit has a first pair of forming rolls positioned to engage first opposing sides of the structural beam and has a second pair of forming rolls positioned to engage second opposing sides of the structural beam. The sweep unit movably supports the first and second pairs of forming rolls so that any selected one of the forming rolls continuously engages an associated side of the structural beam while an associated one of the forming rolls opposing the selected one forming roll moves downstream and around the selected one forming roll. This provides a very stable beam-bending condition promoting dimensional stability during the sweeping process, and hence dimensional accuracy and repeatability.

Abstract: A bridge superstructure comprises a first aspect of the present invention, a bridge structure comprises a contact surface supported by a decking mounted on a superstructure. The superstructure includes a mounting for the decking. The decking comprises a panel composed of a fiber reinforced polymer composite, the panel comprising a plate having an upperside and an underside, a plurality of first and second beams, each beam having an upper face and a base face and side faces, the upper face of each beam being integral with the underside of the plate, a first beam having an aperture extending between the side faces, wherein a second beam extends through the aperture. The panel further comprises means for attachment to the superstructure and a layer of wear-resistant material on the upper side of the plate.

Abstract: A vehicle is provided which includes a closure member such as a powered window or a moon roof or sunroof that may be controlled in an auto close mode. The closure member may be controlled with anti-pinch control to provide a plurality of thresholds that are selected based on the presence of an occupant in close proximity to the vehicle, such as in the vehicle, so that an unsupervised control of the closure member provides a lower anti-pinch threshold than a supervised control of the closure member.

Abstract: The invention relates to a relief valve comprising a first valve body for opening and closing a fluid passageway between a first valve connection and a second valve connection, a second valve body which is disposed on the first valve body and is used for opening and closing a valve passageway located between the first valve connection and a valve interior, a one throttle duct between the valve interior and a face of the first valve body, a spring for opening the second valve body, and an actuator for closing the second valve body. This relief valve further comprising a movable member that can be moved further in the same direction once the second valve body has been closed, thus allowing the first valve body to be opened by having the second valve body engage a valve seat located on the first valve body, and a stop element connected to the second valve body and/or the movable member engages the first valve body via the spring to close the first valve body.