Abstract: A retaining ring assembly for use in chemical mechanical polishing that includes an annular plastic retaining ring portion defining an annular projection thereon, an annular metal backing defining an annular channel therein for receiving the projection and a pair of elongated spring members concentrically disposed about the annular projection on the retaining ring. The channel in the backing is sized so as to receive the annular projection on the retaining ring and spring members therein upon the retaining ring being urged against the backing whereupon the spring members bear against the projection on the retaining ring and portions of the annular backing so as to releasably secure the retaining ring to the backing such that the retaining ring can be replaced upon becoming worn during use and the metal backing can be reused.

Abstract: A door handle assembly for a motor vehicle which acts to preclude inadvertent unlatching of the door in response to a side impact. Several embodiments of the inventions are disclosed. Each embodiment includes a damper in the form of a vane/piston assembly positioned within a cylinder with fluid trapped between the vane assembly and the cylinder. In response to a side impact scenario generating inertial forces tending to inadvertently move the door handle in an unlatching direction, the vanes or piston coact with the cylinder and with the trapped fluid to resist such opening movement of the handle. In each of the several disclosed embodiments the axis of relative movement of the damper elements is incongruent with respect to the axis of movement of the handle whereby to address packaging problems that are peculiar to certain vehicle door environments.

Abstract: An outside rearview mirror assembly for a motor vehicle of the type in which the mirror glass is selectively movably relative to the mirror housing to achieve the desired rearview image. A viscous damper device is positioned within the mirror housing, interconnects the mirror housing and the mirror glass, and is operative to damp vibrational movement of the mirror glass relative to the mirror housing so as to present a steady mirror image to the operator.

Abstract: A door handle assembly for a motor vehicle which acts to preclude inadvertent unlatching of the door in response to a side impact. The door handle assembly includes a housing and a handle member mounted for pivotal movement on the housing between latched and unlatched positions. An electromagnetic device is mounted on the housing and acts upon energization in response to receipt of an impact signal to preclude movement of the handle to its unlatched position. In one embodiment, the electromagnetic device comprises a solenoid having a plunger which lockingly coacts with detent structure on an arm of the handle in response to a sensed impact. In a second embodiment, the electromagnetic device comprises an electromagnet having a core which coacts upon energization with an armature carried by an arm of the handle to create a magnetic flux force field to preclude handle movement.

Abstract: A method of attaching a vehicle door handle to the outer skin of a vehicle door, and a door handle assembly to facilitate such attachment. The door skin is provided with a pair of apertures and a plurality of lugs are provided on an inner planar face of the door handle assembly together with a spring clip proximate one end of the planar surface. The door handle is mounted on the door by passing the lugs through the apertures while deflecting the spring clip inwardly and thereafter sliding the door handle assembly over the door skin to move web portions on the lugs into wedging engagement with respective edge portions of the apertures while moving the spring clip into latching engagement with a transverse edge portion of one of the apertures. Flange portions on the lugs are simultaneously positioned beneath respective inner surfaces on the skin to complete the attachment of the door handle to the skin.

Abstract: A fluid filter has a housing fabricated from two portions made from a toxic resistant plastic, such as TEFLON, and includes a filter element sealingly supported therein in such a manner that contaminants or foreign material filtered thereby is captured in an area closed off by novel seals formed between the two housing portions. The seals may take the form of an accordion-type seal, or, male-female type engaging ends may be used. The seals allow the filter element to be removed and examined, if needed, and allows the housing portions to be easily and quickly assembled and disassembled for repair or examination.

Abstract: A method of attaching a vehicle door handle to the outer skin of a vehicle door, and a door handle assembly to facilitate such attachment. The door skin is provided with a pair of apertures and a plurality of lugs are provided on an inner planar face of the door handle assembly together with a spring clip proximate one end of the planar surface. The door handle is mounted on the door by passing the lugs through the apertures while deflecting the spring clip inwardly and thereafter sliding the door handle assembly over the door skin to move web portions on the lugs into wedging engagement with respective edge portions of the apertures while moving the spring clip into latching engagement with a transverse edge portion of one of the apertures. Flange portions on the lugs are simultaneously positioned beneath respective inner surfaces on the skin to complete the attachment of the door handle to the skin.

Abstract: A circuit for use in providing high voltage power to a neon bulb positioned on the vehicle utilizing the vehicle DC battery as the power source. The circuit includes an invertor, a transformer, and a rectifier. The invertor receives low voltage DC from the vehicle battery, converts the low voltage DC to a low voltage AC drive voltage, and delivers the AC drive voltage to the transformer primary for conversion to a high voltage AC at the transformer secondary. The rectifier receives the high voltage AC from the transformer secondary, converts the high voltage AC to high voltage DC, and delivers the high voltage DC to the neon bulb. Since the power delivered to the neon tube is DC there is less need to shield the tube with respect to electro magnetic emissions and parasitic losses in the wire runs between the battery and the neon tube are significantly reduced.