Abstract: A first group of heating filaments is printed on a main section of a wrap-around type rear windowscreen and second and third groups of heating filaments each having a reduced width are printed on side sections of the rear windowscreen between which the main section is interposed. The second and third groups of heating filaments are integrally connected, in one to one relation, to the first group of heating filaments at ridges of the windowscreen by which ridges the main section and the side sections are bound respectively. First highly conductive strips to which the second and third groups of heating filaments are terminated are respectively printed on the side sections. Second highly conductive strips are printed on the ridges to extend along the same while crossing the connecting parts of the first and second, and the first and third groups of heating filaments to connect the same.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a bent plate glass using a forming bed, in which a plate glass mounted on the forming bed is locally heated along a heating line whereby the plate glass is locally softened, after first heating the entire flat plate glass. The heating line is positioned offset from a desired bending line and curved outwardly therefrom whereby the heating line becomes coincident with the desired bending line due to transformation of the initial heating line as the plate glass deforms under its own weight as it is heated to softening temperature.

Abstract: The front pillar consists of three sheet-formed members, each of which is bent lengthwise to form a central crease, assembled back to back and in close contact with each other so that the three ridges of the respective creases form one line and the cross-section of the pillar is Y-shaped. The front pillar is arranged such that the front windshield and a window glass panel are mounted on the pillar partitioned by one leg of the letter Y, while the remaining side of the pillar is exposed to the interior of the body.

Abstract: Protuberances formed along mutually confronting end faces of an automobile door and a pillar of a body engage with each other or with the confronting end face when the door collides with the pillar during a vehicle collision. The profile of the protuberance has an apex of an acute angle. The effect of the protuberance may be enhanced by installation of reinforcing members inside the pillar and/or the door.

Abstract: Inner and outer reinforcing and shock absorbing members are mounted on the inner panel of a vehicle door. The inner member is designed to provide only low resistance to a lateral impact force caused by a lateral collision and the outer member is designed to provide high compression resistance in a fore-and-aft collision of a vehicle.

Abstract: A system constituted of a retractable bumper coupled with a hydraulic shock absorber the shock absorption characteristic of which is governed by a pressurized gas, a weight sensor for sensing the vehicle gross weight, a pressure regulator for the pressurized gas, a carriage mechanism which supports the shock absorber and can move it in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and an electrical control unit for controlling both the pressure regulator and the carriage mechanism in response to the signal from the weight sensor, so that the energy absorption capacity of the system in a collision of the vehicle represented by the product of the resistance offered against a retracting movement of the bumper by the shock absorber and the distance travelled by the bumper until coming into contact with the vehicle body can be varied depending on the weight of the vehicle payload.