Abstract: A method of manufacturing a seat back includes placing a steel support structure within a mold and blow-molding a hollow plastic body onto the steel support structure to form a seat back with the steel support structure integrally supported within the body. The steel support structure may be a hollow, U-shaped steel tube having first and second attachment features at distal ends thereof for attachment to a lower seat structure.

Abstract: A foldable and tumblable seat assembly includes a base having a front end and a rear end. The front end of the base is pivotally connected to a vehicle floor. A seat bottom frame having a front end and a rear end is also provided. The front end of the seat bottom frame is pivotally connected proximate the front end of the base. The seat assembly includes a lower arm having an upper end and a lower end. The lower end of the lower arm is pivotally connected proximate the rear end of the base. The invention also provides an upper arm having an upper end and lower end. The lower end of the upper arm is pivotally connected to the upper end of the lower arm. A seat back is attached to at least the upper arm.

Abstract: A sun visor mounting arrangement, for supporting a sun visor assembly in a vehicle that has a support structure, includes a deformable sun visor mount adapted to be supported by the support structure. The mounting arrangement further includes a sun visor mounting bracket for supporting the sun visor assembly and configured to be attached to the mount such that the mounting bracket is supported by the mount. When the mounting bracket is subjected to sufficient loading, the mount is configured to plastically deform to thereby manage energy associated with the loading.

Abstract: A seat assembly for a vehicle includes a seat bottom and seat back which are movable to provide access to a third row seat. The seat bottom is movable between a seating position, wherein the seat bottom is in a generally horizontal position for supporting an occupant seated on the seat assembly, and a forward position. In the forward position, the seat bottom is in a generally vertical position such that a rear edge of the seat bottom is positioned above a front edge of the seat bottom. The seat assembly also includes a seat back movable between a seating position, wherein the seat back is in a generally vertical position for supporting an occupant seated on the seat assembly, and a second position. In the second position, the seat back is positioned upwardly and forwardly relative to the seating position of the seat back.

Abstract: A vehicle sun arm connection assembly and arrangement has a wire harness to which the assembly attaches. The assembly comprises a visor male connector and a visor female connector. The visor male connector has male conductive terminals separately attached to a first insulating body. The male conductive terminals and the first insulating body extend through a base. The visor female connector has a plurality of spaced female conductive terminals, each female terminal having an open port configured to engage a male conductive terminal. The female connector has a second insulating body disposed about the female terminals. The second insulating body has an open receiving end cooperable with the male connector.

Abstract: An automatic gain control for a cabin communication system for improving clarity of a voice spoken within a movable interior cabin having ambient noise includes a microphone for receiving the spoken voice and the ambient noise and for converting the spoken voice and the ambient noise into a first audio signal having a first component corresponding to the spoken voice and a second component corresponding to the ambient noise, a filter for removing the second component from the first audio signal to provide a filtered audio signal, an acoustic echo canceller for receiving the filtered audio signal in accordance with a supplied dither signal and providing an echo-canceled audio signal, a control signal generating circuit for generating a first automatic gain control signal in response to a noise signal that corresponds to a current speed of the cabin, the first automatic gain control signal controlling a first gain of the dither signal supplied to the filter, the control signal generating circuit also for genera

Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly including a forward facing first seat back having an upper portion and a lower portion. The seat assembly further includes a rearward facing second seat assembly having a second seat back. The second seat back has a lower portion and an upper portion pivotally connected to the upper portion of the first seat back. The second seat back is movable between a retracted position and a seating position. In the retracted position, the lower portion of the second seat back is adjacent to the lower portion of the first seat back. In the seating position, the lower portion of the second seat back is spaced apart from the lower portion of the first seat back to provide a rearwardly facing inclined second seat back.

Abstract: There is provided an inverted sun visor mirror assembly which can be mounted in an automotive sun visor such that it may be opened and used without the necessity of lowering the sun visor to a down position. Provision for a courtesy light is also provided.

Abstract: A handle assembly and method of assembling a grip handle to a vehicle. The handle assembly includes two base unit and each include a primary and auxiliary projection that are press fit into an opening formed in a structural part of a vehicle. Detents are provided on the projection and configured to be assembled to a vehicle with a minimum force and require a removal force that is substantially greater then the force of insertion. A method of assembling the assist grip handle to a vehicle can be accomplished by inserting molded projections into holes formed in a structural vehicle body panel. The projections include detents that are compressed as the projections are inserted into the holes and are expanded after the projections are fully inserted into the holes.

Abstract: Tire over- or under-inflation can create problems in vehicle operation. To limit the effects of out-of-range tire pressure, vehicle speed is automatically controlled if the vehicle speed is not appropriate for either or both of measured tire air pressure and measured tire temperature.

Abstract: In a system for remote monitoring of vehicle tire pressure, a system and method for identifying tire location. A tire pressure monitor for each tire includes a sensor for sensing tire pressure, a transmitter for transmitting a signal representative of the sensed tire pressure, and a sensor for sensing an impact to the tire and for actuating the transmitter to transmit a tire pressure signal in response. A receiver for mounting on the vehicle receives the tire pressure signals. A controller for mounting on the vehicle communicates with the receiver and is for use in conveying tire pressure and location information to a user. When the vehicle is stationary, each tire is struck in a preselected sequence so that each received tire pressure signal is automatically associated with one of the plurality of tire locations.

Abstract: A vehicle seat drive for driving a vehicle seat includes a mechanical inchworm linear motion actuator. A linearly movable shaft is coupled to the vehicle seat such that the vehicle seat moves as the shaft moves. The actuator includes a jamming module and an actuation module. The jamming module has left and right jamming plates operable for engaging and disengaging the shaft while moving linearly with respect to the shaft. The actuation module is operable for applying linear forces on the jamming plates to have the jamming plates engage and disengage the shaft and move linearly with respect to the shaft. The actuation module applies a first linear force in a first linear direction on a jamming plate to have the jamming plate engage and move the shaft in the first linear direction thereby moving the vehicle seat in the first linear direction while causing the other jamming plate to disengage from the shaft.

Abstract: A vehicle instrument panel assembly includes an instrument panel portion and a console pivotably connected to the instrument panel portion about a horizontal axis of rotation. The console is movable between open and closed positions relative to the instrument panel portion. The console comprises a first surface portion having a primary electronic item and a second surface portion having a secondary electronic item. The primary electronic item is accessible to a vehicle occupant when the console is in the open and closed positions. The secondary electronic item is accessible to the vehicle occupant only when the console is in the open position.

Abstract: A vehicle seat formed by a contoured tubular frame defining the edges of a seat base and a seat back and having tensioned belts and an elastomeric mesh seat fabric. The contoured tubular frame is wrapped in foam padding for comfort and impact protection. Two belts are provided in each of the seat base and seat back. The elastomeric seat mesh fabric forms an elastomeric seating surface that wraps around the seat occupant. The elastomeric mesh seat fabric is secured to the belts that provide seating surface contour and minimize excursion of the elastomeric mesh seat fabric. A cushion is provided under the elastomeric seating surface near the front of the seat to prevent submarining in an impact. An eccentric lumbar cushion is provided on a flexible shaft to permit adjustment of the degree of lower back support.

Abstract: A mount assembly and method are provided for securing a visor to a vehicle mounting surface. Initially, a vehicle mounting surface having an aperture formed therein is provided. A bracket assembly including a bracket having a first aperture, a latch slidably mounted to the bracket, and an arm disposed within the first aperture of the bracket are also provided. The arm is then rotated to a first position wherein the latch is caused to move to an inwardly retracted position. The bracket assembly is then placed adjacent the mounting surface such that a portion of the bracket and the latch are inserted into the aperture in the mounting surface. The arm is then rotated to a second position wherein the latch is caused to move to an outwardly extended position, the bracket thereby being locked relative to the mounting surface.

Abstract: A spring clip assembly and method are provided for supporting a visor body relative to a visor arm. Initially, a visor arm having a substantially cylindrical outer surface and a recessed detent portion is provided. A visor body is also provided and has a spring clip assembly attached thereto. The spring clip assembly includes a housing, a spring disposed within the housing, and a bushing attached to the spring for sliding engagement with the visor arm. The visor body is then rotated about the visor arm between a first position wherein the roller contacts the detent portion of the visor arm, and a second position wherein the bushing contacts the cylindrical surface of the visor arm. The spring maintains the bushing in sliding engagement with the visor arm and biases the bushing toward the visor arm so as to provide a clamping force when in the first and second positions.

Abstract: The present invention involves a vehicle seat and headrest arrangement for use with a seat having a seatback in a vehicle. The vehicle seat and headrest arrangement comprises a headrest arrangement having a headrest. The headrest arrangement has one of a guide member and a follower. The seatback has the other one of a guide member and follower. The guide member has a guideway and the follower engages the guideway of the guide member such that upon impact to the vehicle forward inertia of the headrest will cause the follower to engage the guideway in such a manner as to cause the headrest to move in a manner so as to support the head of an occupant irrespective of whether occupant is in contact with the seatback.

Abstract: A seat belt system for a vehicle seat having seat belt segments that are retained on first and second retractors. The retractors each have a spool on which seat belt segments are wound. The spools of the first and second retractors are linked together by a spring that biases the spools to retract the belt segments. Right and left seat belt presenters are provided to move the latches of seat belt segments between a retracted position and a presentation position where the latches are held at a convenient location to be grasped by a person seated in the vehicle seat.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of manufacturing a vehicle cup holder arm, and a vehicle cup holder assembly produced thereby. The method includes injection molding a first material to form a base including an attachment feature adapted for engagement within an aperture adjacent a cup holder opening in a vehicle. A second material is injection molded to form an arm cup around the base and includes an arm. The second material does not chemically bond to the first material so that the arm cup and arm are rotatable with respect to the base for adjustably securing a cup in the cup holder opening. A third material is injection molded onto the arm to form a soft rubber grip for engaging a cup. The cup holder arm may be movable vertically for adjustment with respect to differently-sized cups.

Abstract: A vehicle headliner assembly includes a first structural member cooperating with a second structural member to form air ducts between them. A portion of the first structural member is covered by a decorative cover that presents an appearance surface to the vehicle passenger compartment. Integrally formed in the second structural member are an energy absorbing structure and an attachment structure. Thus, the headliner assembly eliminates the need for separate air ducts, separate energy absorbing material, and separate wiring harness and hose clamps. The headliner assembly is also configured to facilitate attachment of passenger compartment devices such as grab handles, without the use of separate fasteners or retainers.