Abstract: An interior armrest for an automotive vehicle includes upper and lower horizontal walls and a channel-shaped lateral impact contactor joined to the upper horizontal walls by the means of shear planes. The lateral impact contactor has a number of wedge-shaped vertical interruptions which cooperate with the shear planes to produce a controlled collapse in the event of a lateral impact of an occupant of the vehicle against the armrest.

Abstract: An automotive vehicle body includes a generally tubular, hydroformed cowl with integral mounting flanges which are welded to an engine compartment structural member and a cowlside member. The cowl may be hydroformed from several different preforms having both symmetrical and asymmetrical geometric characteristics.

Abstract: A tire pressure monitoring system (12) for a vehicle (10) includes a vehicle speed sensor (38, 98) that is used to generate a vehicle speed signal. A receiver (28) operates using a first protocol when the vehicle speed signal is below a first speed threshold and operates using a second protocol when the vehicle speed is above the speed threshold. A remote keyless entry system (23) is coupled to the receiver and operates when the vehicle speed is below a speed threshold. The remote keyless entry system (23) receives signals from a keyless entry transmitter (60) using the first protocol. A tire pressure monitoring system (12) has a pressure transmitter (16A-16E) that generates a signal using a first protocol and a second protocol when the speed signal is below the speed threshold and generating the signal using only the second protocol when the speed signal is above the speed threshold.

Abstract: A wall-mounted picture display device generally including a flat substrate and a transparent pocket. The substrate, which is preferably comprised of wall paper or a wall paper border, includes a permanent or non-permanent adhesive layer on a rear surface such that the display device may be attached to a wall, ceiling or other surface without the use of nails, tacks, etc. Likewise, the transparent pocket includes a permanent or non-permanent adhesive layer on a rear surface for attachment to the substrate. In use, the display device provides for easy insertion or removal of a display object, such as a photograph, picture, postcard, memento, etc., without having to detach the display device from the wall.

Abstract: A powered lift gate for an automotive vehicle includes a lift gate door hinged to a vehicle body. A motor system which opens and closes the door is operated by a controller coupled to a primary obstacle detection system which senses operation of the motor itself, and by a secondary detection system which directly senses an object interposed between a margin of the door and the door opening panel. A pinch protection member interposed between a marginal zone of the door and the door opening panel includes a resilient element having sufficient strength to support an object positioned between the door and the door opening panel such that the primary obstacle detection system will be triggered when the door and motor develop a predetermined compressive force upon the object. The predetermined compressive force is selected to allow normal operation of the lift gate, without subjecting an obstructing object to excessive crushing force.

Abstract: A continuously variable belt drive system including a driving pulley assembly, a driven pulley assembly, and a V-shaped belt engaged to transfer rotary power therebetween is disclosed herein. The driving pulley assembly includes an idler pulley portion. As the belt speed decreases, the belt migrates downward within the driving pulley assembly until it falls within the idler pulley portions, thereby isolating the belt from the rotation of the driving pulley assembly. The driving pulley assembly also includes a belt tensioning mechanism that maintains proper belt tension at all speeds and drive ratios. The tensioning mechanism relies upon a pivotably mounted centrifugal weight arm to provide tensioning as a function of speed. A compression spring provides axial pressure to maintain belt tension over all drive ratios. The spring, acts against a curved cam edge on a pivoting lever arm, which arm transfers an axial force to the rear sheave of the driven pulley assembly.

Abstract: A lacrosse head having a netting with a shallow pocket is provided for improving the handling and the retention of a lacrosse ball. The lacrosse head includes a frame element comprised of a pair of opposing sidewalls that each have a top end and a bottom end, a scoop portion connecting the top ends of the sidewalls, and a base portion connecting the bottom ends of the sidewalls. Furthermore, the lacrosse head includes a netting that is coupled to the opposing sidewalls. This netting has one or more partitions coupled thereto for substantially defining a ball retention region and one or more peripheral regions of the netting. These partitions protrude outwardly from the netting and are adapted for contacting a lacrosse ball and retaining the lacrosse ball within the ball retention region.

Abstract: A method of controlling a trailer brake system using a trailer brake controller positioned within a passenger vehicle is provided. The method includes obtaining intended braking inputs and developing an effective baseline trailer brake controller output profile based thereon. The method scales the effective baseline trailer brake controller output profile in response to an adjustable gain setting set by an operator. The wheel speed is determined at a plurality of wheel locations and vehicle acceleration is calculated. The vehicle acceleration is utilized to selectively choose one of the wheel speed. The vehicle velocity is based on the selectively chosen wheel speed. The vehicle velocity is used to calculate a correction factor to the effective baseline trailer brake controller output profile. The effective baseline trailer brake controller output profile is then adjusted using the correction factor to generate a corrected trailer brake controller output signal.

Abstract: A system (10) and method (100) for digitizing a complete band of RF channels to allow simultaneous processing of more than one channel. Multiple tunable bandpass filters (14) are used for the particular channels to be processed. The filter outputs are combined (16) to form one signal for digitization (18). In another embodiment, an undesired signal is rejected (112) to provide more available power for a reception of a desired signal.

Abstract: An apparatus for trimming scrap from an aluminum sheet metal blank is provided. The apparatus includes a clamping base comprising a clamping base engagement surface positioned between a clamping base upper surface and a clamping base bottom surface. The clamping base engagement has a clamping base vertically orientated portion and a clamping base angled portion. A steady blade is mounted to the clamping base. The steady blade and the clamping base form a contiguous angled engagement surface. The steady blade engagement surface forms a steady blade trimming edge. An elastic scrap support and an upper clamping element are included. A moving blade includes a moving blade trimming edge formed by the intersection of the moving blade blade-side surface and the moving blade engagement surface. The moving blade engagement surface distributing strain on the aluminum blank as the moving blade trimming edge separates the scrap element from the aluminum blank.

Abstract: A mechanical shut-off valve member for use with gas-assisted injection molding systems. A piston member is slidingly positioned in a body member or housing and spring-biased to a closed position. The valve member is opened by the injection of plastic material through the valve member and into a mold cavity. The spring biasing force closes the valve member and shuts off the flow of plastic once the mold cavity is filled with the requisite amount of plastic material. The shut-off valve member prevents any backflow of plastic material into the nozzle or injection molding machine during further steps in the injection molding process, including injection of gas or fluid into the plastic in the mold cavity.

Abstract: A steering shaft coupling for an automotive vehicle includes first and second shaft sections which are both serrated and which may be telescopically engaged. The shaft sections are locked together with an elastically deformable locking ring which is positioned within internal and external grooves formed on the shaft sections. The shaft sections are resiliently biased so as to resist unwanted vibration while in use in a vehicle by means of an elastomeric load and seal ring positioned between the assembled shaft sections.

Abstract: A bodyside for an automotive vehicle includes a folded structure having a generally horizontal floor portion and a generally vertical side portion which is unitary with the floor portion. A wheelhouse structure, which is indexed with a wheelhouse cutout of an outer panel applied to the bodyside, is formed integrally with the floor portion and the side portion by a folding process. End portions of the wheelhouse structure are closed either by closure panels or storage compartments.

Abstract: A self-return teeter tauter lid assembly (10) includes a cap (12), a release lever (14) and a spring (16) operatively coupled thereto. The cap (12) has a self-gripping handle (18), a top face (20), a sip and vent ports (22), (24) integrally formed in the top face (20). The release lever (14) is detachably and pivotally coupled to the cap (12) about pivot points (28), (29) and is moveable between a sealed configuration and an unsealed configuration. The release lever (14) has a thumb pad (26) on first side of the pivot point (28), (29) and a sip and vent plugs (30), (32) on a second side of the pivot points (28), (29). The sip and vent plugs (30), (32) seal the sip and vent ports (22), (24) in the sealed configuration. The spring (16) urges the release lever (14) to the sealed configuration, whereby a user applying force between the thumb pad (26) and the self-gripping handle (18) achieves the unsealed configuration.

Abstract: An occupant restraint system (11) for an automotive vehicle (10) includes a rollover sensor (30) that generates a rollover signal. A seat (12) having a seat base (16) rotatably coupled to a seat back (18) may be included in the occupant restraint system (11). A controller (26) is coupled to the rollover sensor (30) and seat base (16). The controller (26) controls the seat back (18) to move relative to the seat base in response to the rollover signal. The rollover control module (26) may also control the operation of an inflatable seat belt (36) to maintain the occupant's position relative to the seat back (18).

Abstract: A pocket for a lacrosse head (10) includes a mesh portion (20) attached to the lacrosse head (10). The mesh portion (20) has a plurality of holes (22) therein. Furthermore, the mesh portion (20) has less than nine holes (22) disposed within a horizontal row between a pair of opposing sidewall portions (12) of the lacrosse head (10).

Abstract: In integral utility assembly for an automotive vehicle includes a coolant reservoir and an air cleaner. A mounting bracket for attaching the assembly to an engine compartment structure is co-molded with an air cleaner base and a lower portion of a coolant reservoir, so as to form an assembly having strength required for mounting with a single mounting plate.

Abstract: A strategy controls alternate anti-vibration modes in a switchable powertrain mount using vehicle operational status sensors and pre-selected thresholds. The switchable mount modes can include engine off-idle and an idle mode. Vehicle sensors and pre-selected thresholds can determine whether the engine is off-idle, or running in idle mode, whether the engine will likely remain in idle mode. From these determinations, the controller can command the switchable mount to engine idle mode when the controller determines the engine is in idle mode and will likely remain in idle mode. The switching means for the switchable mount can use a three-way vacuum solenoid valve (VSV), or a mechanical or electrical switch. In the case of the VSV configuration, the VSV is communicatively attached to the controller, a vacuum line connects the VSV to the switchable mount, and a second vacuum line connects the VSV to an engine intake manifold.