Abstract: A pedal assembly having an assistance device. In some implementations the assistance device comprises a profile fixed to the arm of a pedal, the arm of the pedal being pivotally coupled to a support. The profile includes an elongate curved surface that is acted upon by a spring-actuated lever attached to the support. In operation as the pedal arm is moved between a rest position and one or more active positions, the lever applies a force to the arm through the profile by acting upon on one or more portions of the elongate curved surface, the direction of the force applied to the arm being dependent upon the portion of the elongate curved surface being acted upon by the lever.

Abstract: Unit for picking up spare wheels in vehicles that includes a winding assembly with a rotating shaft, the rotating shaft having a gear with a plurality of spaced-apart teeth circumferentially disposed about the rotating shaft. The unit further includes a safety device that includes a spring loaded cam that is pivotable between first and second angular positions. The cam includes an engaging portion that is configured to engage with the spaced-apart teeth on the rotating shaft. In the first angular position the engaging portion of the cam is urged towards the gear of the rotating shaft by action of a spring element so that the engaging portion resides in a space between the spaced-apart teeth to prevent rotation of the rotating shaft. In the second angular position the engaging portion of the cam is positioned away from the gear of the rotating shaft against the action of the spring element so that the engaging portion does not engage with the spaced-apart teeth to permit rotation of the rotation shaft.

Abstract: A pedal apparatus for a motor vehicle that includes a support piece adapted to be fixed to a part of the motor vehicle. According to one implementation the pedal apparatus includes a shaft having a plastic body having a first end portion, a second end portion and a central portion disposed between the first and second end portions, each of the first and second end portions being supported on the support piece. The shaft also includes a metal body disposed on an exterior surface of the central portion of the plastic body. A pedal with a hollow bushing at one end is arranged on the shaft with an interior surface of the hollow bushing being supported on an external surface of the metal tube, the dimensional characteristics of the hollow bushing and metal tube permitting the hollow bushing to rotate about the shaft.

Abstract: Pedal assemblies for motor vehicles. In one implementation a pedal is pivotable around a shaft that is releasably fixed in a housing of a support piece by a retention member. The retention member is moveable between a first position corresponding to a normal operating condition and a second position corresponding to a head-on collision condition. In the first position a first part of the retention member rests against and holds the rotating shaft in the fixed position within the housing of the support piece and a first surface of the retention member rests against a guide surface of the support piece.

Abstract: According to an implementation a method for manufacturing a pedal for a motor vehicle is provided. The method comprising inserting into a hollow profile a flexible yet substantially incompressible retainer member and subsequently applying one or more forces to an external surface of the hollow profile to induce a change in shape of the hollow profile from a first shape to a second shape. The substantial incompressibility of the retainer member inhibiting deformations in the internal wall surface of the hollow profile as the one or more forces are applied to the external wall surface of the hollow profile so that the internal wall surface is substantially free of deformations upon the hollow profile assuming the second shape, the flexibility of the retainer member allowing it to bend in the direction of the applied one or more forces to accommodate a change in shape of the hollow profile from the first shape to the second shape.

Abstract: According to an implementation a method for manufacturing a pedal for a motor vehicle is provided. The method comprising inserting into a hollow profile a flexible yet substantially incompressible retainer member and subsequently applying one or more forces to an external surface of the hollow profile to induce a change in shape of the hollow profile from a first shape to a second shape. The substantial incompressibility of the retainer member inhibiting deformations in the internal wall surface of the hollow profile as the one or more forces are applied to the external wall surface of the hollow profile so that the internal wall surface is substantially free of deformations upon the hollow profile assuming the second shape, the flexibility of the retainer member allowing it to bend in the direction of the applied one or more forces to accommodate a change in shape of the hollow profile from the first shape to the second shape.

Abstract: A unit for picking up and lowering a spare wheel on a vehicle. In one implementation the unit comprises a main shaft, a mechanism with a shaft of rotation for winding or releasing the cable, which is connected at one end to the main shaft, and at the other to the mechanism, a safety actuator that acts on the main shaft and is connected to the mechanism by a connection means. A drive means connects the mechanism and the connection means, and cooperates with the safety actuator, releasing it, in a combined rotation and displacement movement.

Abstract: A headrest. In one implementation the headrest includes a moving part that is rotationally coupled to a fixed part between a rest position and an active position. A connection assembly connects the moving part to the fixed part. An articulation assembly is operably coupled to and between the fixed part and the moving and has a first configuration when the moving part is in the rest position and a second configuration when the moving part is in the active position. The headrest includes a drive device that is moveable between first and second positions. In the first position the drive device is decoupled from the articulation assembly so that the articulation assembly assumes the first configuration, when in the second position the drive device acts upon articulation assembly to cause the articulation assembly to assume the second configuration.

Abstract: Safety devices for vehicle tire carriers including safety features that protect against the tire being dropped upon a failure in a cable system that supports the tire in a stowed condition. In one implementation the tire carrier has a support shaft at least partially housed within a longitudinal sleeve having a window. A pivotable arm has a first feature that engages with a portion of the support shaft to limit downward movement of the support shaft within the longitudinal sleeve when the pivotable arm is in a first rotational position and upon a failure in the cable system to properly support the tire in the stowed condition. The pivotable arm may also have a second feature that engages with the longitudinal sleeve to inhibit the arm from pivoting away from the first rotational position upon a failure in the cable system to properly support the tire in the stowed condition.

Abstract: In one implementation a parking brake drive unit for a vehicle is provided that includes a main lever assembled in a pivoting manner on a support; a pivoting catch member on the main lever that includes engagement means adapted to engage a fixed geared sector, a button assembled on the main lever and connected to a rod that is adapted to move the catch member to disengage the engagement means from the geared sector when the button is operated; and an electrically activated locking device that operates to immobilize the rod when the locking device is electrically de-activated.

Abstract: A pedal covering having an elastic covering cap, adapted to a foot-pedal. In one embodiment, the pedal covering includes a plurality of protuberances, a plate including a base that is disposed on the elastic covering cap and which includes a plurality of holes in which the protuberances are inserted. The plate has at least one main projection including a first segment that extends continuously from the base and a second segment continuous to the first segment, the maximum width of the second segment being greater than the maximum width of the first segment. In addition, the elastic covering cap includes, for each main projection, a housing with a groove, the width of the groove being smaller than the maximum width of the second segment, and the groove being passed through by the main projection, with the result that the second segment comes up against the elastic covering cap once it has passed through the groove.

Abstract: A vehicle jack with a reinforced nut and a device to eliminate noise when the jack is in the folded position. The nut is composed of two bodies (5, 5′), outer and inner, respectively, which have mutual additional surface contact point (6, 20) and (11, 17) and the reinforcing part has some lugs (34) that engage the more forward or front end of the screw spindle.

Abstract: A tension device for cables, in particular for the handbrake cable of automobile vehicles. It includes a simple mechanism with a cable finishing part (10) with a spherical end (5) that can become wedged between a disc (4) and a bowl (3) mounted on a bushing (7) on which the brake lever (9) also turns. This lever includes a ratchet (1) that travels along a toothed portion (12) of the disc (4).

Abstract: A vehicle jack of the type known as "Y-jacks". It has a base plate (1) with perforated fins that receive and fix, in a particular way, the protruding necks on the wings of the jack body. A nut (13) is secured to the end of the body, with easy entrance into the end and fixed by some lugs (14) which are bent over the central portion of the nut. The arm (3) of jack also has two protruding necks towards the interior, on which a cross member is received, formed by a part with a U-shaped section whose wings or sides clasp on to the necks, are made with U-shaped openings. The base of the cross member is controlled by a special easy entrance holder plate on the housing on the arm. An arm (30) of a specially designed shape acts in combination with a holder plate-cross member, whose seating for the vehicle has a metal insert. This holder plate-cross member is provided with an external retainer on which the end of the screw spindle is supported.

Abstract: This is an articulated jack with two pairs of arms, connecting at one end with a nut (11) and at the other with a bar (12). Both these are in turn connected by a spindle worked by a crank winding handle. The other ends of the arms rotate around a base (1) and a gripping device (2.about.. The outer arms (3, 4) and inner arms (5, 6) are in turn connected by auxiliary parts (18). The actual size of the jack has been considerably reduced.

Abstract: An automatic tensioning device for hand brake levers, with an enclosed casing (9) and rectangularly hollow in its interior, which is situated on the lever or on its support base. The interior of the casing is hollow, with one of its ends being tapered at the sides (24), and receives a square-shaped slide (1) with toothed sides (2) inside this hollow. This slide combines with two other attached parts (13, 14) that are toothed on the corresponding sides and that have wedge-shaped ends (23). These attached parts (13, 14) are forced by a spring against the narrowing taper of the casing, and the front end (4) of the slide is secured to the brake cables.

Abstract: A lightweight vehicle jack of the "Y" type includes aluminum, particularly in the arm (2) and the central body of the device (1). A gripping device (7) provides a larger surface area to take the edge of the body of the vehicle. On the side to which the nut (4) is fitted, the body of the device (2) has lateral reinforcing vertical ribs at 90 degrees, and there is an L-shaped internal reinforcement device (20) between the gripper (7) pivot and the pivot of the shaft of the bar (5), to reduce the thickness of the arm (1). The support base controls the body's passage to the interior of the jack.

Abstract: A vehicle jack that provides a rotation shaft (4) for the support plate (3) on the vehicle support arm (2) and a nut to be received in the end of the jack support leg (1), through which the screw-threaded spindle shaft passes. The rotation shaft (4) rests on and passes through sets of holes in the vehicle support arm (2) and the support plate has downwardly projecting side fins (6), through which the said shaft also passes. The nut (12) determines a set of diametrically opposed projections (22) with an irregular outer surface, through which it is fixed to the holes (16, 18) cut in the side end wings of the vehicle support arm.

Abstract: A vehicle jack that provides a rotation shaft (4) for the support plate (3) on the vehicle support arm (2) and a nut to be received in the end of the jack support leg (1), through which the screw-threaded spindle shaft passes. The rotation shaft (4) rests on and passes through sets of holes in the vehicle support arm (2) and the support plate has downwardly projecting side fins (6), through which the said shaft also passes. The nut (12) determines a set of diametrically opposed projections (22) with an irregular outer surface, through which it is fixed to the holes (16, 18) cut in the side end wings of the vehicle support arm.