Abstract: Molding of relatively large articles such as automobile body parts by gas-assisted injection molding with sequential gating of injected thermoplastic resin into the mold cavity. Elongated ribs in the parts form gas channels and strengthening ribs for the parts. Structural parts are made by adhesively joining two such parts made by gas-assisted injection molding through a combination of hollow ribs and joining flanges at sides of the parts.

Abstract: A multi-compartment container includes a partition member located in the container a pair of lids pivotally attached to the partition member. Each lid includes a pair of integrally molded hinge arms and one or more integrally molded cantilevered hinge pins extends laterally from each of the hinge arms of each lid along a common pivot axis. Spaced sockets are formed in the partition member for pivotally receiving the cantilevered hinge pins of each lid. Some of the hinge pins of each lid have a beveled end surface, and the partition member has a beveled surface adjacent some of the sockets complementary to the hinge pin beveled end surfaces. With this arrangement, each of the lids can be installed on the container by aligning the beveled surfaces of the pins and partition wall, and forcing the hinge pins in a camming action along the beveled surfaces until the hinge pins snap into their respective sockets.

Abstract: A portable surface cleaning apparatus has a base for movement along a surface to be cleaned and an upright handle pivotally attached to a rearward portion of the base. A fluid dispensing nozzle for applying fluid to the surface and a suction nozzle for picking up fluid and debris from the surface are associated with the base. A clean water holding tank and a detergent holding tank are removably mounted to the handle while a recovery tank is removably mounted to the base. A mixing valve is fluidly connected between the holding tanks and the spray nozzle for changing the mixing ratio of the detergent with respect to the water. The fluid recovery tank includes an integrally molded conduit that extends from the suction nozzle and a mounting for an accessory hose that interrupts the fluid path from the suction nozzle in the conduit and redirects fluid flow through the hose.

Abstract: A spring brake actuator (10), with a large-force compression spring (72) in a spring chamber (101) of the housing, has vent openings (102) in the housing communicating with the spring chamber (101). A gas permeable filter element (104) covers the vent openings (102), and a filter frame assembly (106) is disposed over the filter element. The filter frame assembly (106) defines tortuous air passages from the filter element (104) to atmosphere so that air entering the spring chamber from atmosphere will be substantially free of contaminants.

Abstract: A rearview mirror assembly is provided for a vehicle which incorporates a self-contained magnetic field sensor in the mirror housing. When mounted to a fixed pivot point in a single ball mounting bracket, the mirror housing pivots around the magnetic field sensor. When the magnetic field sensor is mounted within the mirror housing either to the housing or to the mirror, compensation for the rotation position of the mirror about a vertical axis is provided by an empirically predetermined compensation value whereby direct reading of the angle is adjusted by a processor or by mechanically mounting the field sensor at an angle representative of the compensation value. Other ways of rotation compensation are also disclosed. Compensation for tilt about a horizontal axis is provided by an elliptical compensation algorithm in a microprocessor.