Abstract: A manual transmission and ignition interlock is provided for a vehicle having a manual transmission operated by a shift lever. A solenoid is movable between positions blocking and unblocking movement of the vehicle ignition to OFF. A latch bar carried by the shift lever is biased to a latched position and can be moved to unlatched position by a pull-up ring on the shift lever. The latch bar is cammed downward against the spring bias out of latched position when it is extended through a slot in a latch retainer when the shift lever is moved to REVERSE, and then snaps up to latch the shift lever. Another solenoid has a plunger which extends to underlie the latch bar and trap it, thus locking the latched shift lever in REVERSE. In one embodiment, bi-stable solenoids are controlled by a controller that is provided with high and low current inputs from branch circuits that include control switches operated by ignition position.

Abstract: A vehicle brake-transmission-ignition interlock system includes a bi-stable solenoid operable to lock and unlock the shift lever in PARK position. Another bi-stable solenoid is operable to block and unblock ignition key movement to OFF position for removal. A controller is responsive to high and low input signals to operate both solenoids. An electric circuit connects to the controller and includes a brake switch closed and opened by applying and releasing the service brake and a parallel shift lever switch opened and closed by movement of the shift lever into and out of PARK position. An ignition switch in series with the brake switch is opened by key movement to OFF position and is closed by key movement to ACCESSORY and RUN positions. Another ignition switch in series with the shift lever switch is opened by key movement to OFF and ACCESSORY positions and is closed by key movement to RUN position.

Abstract: A convertible top bow comprises an elongated U-shaped metal channel defining a trough bounded by a pair of spaced side walls interconnected at their bottom ends by a bottom wall. An elongated plastic tacking strip has a generally-trapezoidal main body received in the channel. The main body has an upper tacking surface for receiving staples to secure a fabric top to the bow. The tacking strip is secured to the channel by deforming the upper ends of the channel side walls inwardly to clinch the tacking strip body beneath the wings. The tacking strip has a pair of upwardly convex curved wings extending from the depressed upper tacking surface up and over the upper edges of the channel sides. This isolates the channel tops from engagement with the fabric cover and provides bearing surfaces for the fabric cover as it moves over the bow during top movement.

Abstract: A wheel mask provided to protect the vehicle wheels during chemical treatment of the tires is a unitary thin plastic molding having a circular concave body that includes a central hub having an exterior handle and terminates in a flared outer periphery. The flared outer periphery includes a plurality of radially-spaced annular raised ridges, each having tapered annular inner and outer walls connected by an annular crown. Each ridge corresponds to a specific size wheel rim. A plurality of annular depressed grooves are formed at the juncture of adjacent inner and outer walls. The handle is inwardly open and formed of walls which project outwardly of the hub and are tapered to permit partial insertion of a handle of another mask, and the ridge walls are angled outwardly to enhance stacking of a plurality of masks.

Abstract: An aviator has a protective helmet and an oxygen mask releasably attached to the helmet by a mask release which automatically releases one of the mask connections to the helmet upon water immersion. An inflatable life preserver worn by the aviator has two spaced projections mounted on its upper outer surface directly beneath the mask. These projections contact the lower portion of the mask during life preserver inflation and gradually forcibly push the released mask away from the aviator's face as the life preserver further inflates.

Abstract: A convertible top comprises a frame having a header and three transverse bows, a fabric cover for the frame, side stay pads, a panel containing a backlite, and an interior headliner. The bows and header are interconnected by articulated side linkages. The header and the #2, #3 and #4 bows have elongated open ended extrusions with transverse channels extending along their surfaces. The #4 bow includes an extra transverse channel. The fabric cover is initially attached to the header. The fabric cover, the headliner, and the stay pads all have transverse resilient attachment strips adjacent the header and/or each bow which are inserted into the bow channels to mount them on the top frame. The upper edge of the backlite also has a mounting strip received in the extra channel of the #4 bow. The attachment strips each has an arrow-shaped cross section including a wide arrowhead that is compressible for insertion through a narrow entry slot into a channel.

Abstract: A manual transmission shifter, which comprises a ball mounting a shift lever, a lateral shift control arm, and a depending shift control member, is mounted in a plastic shifter housing having a plastic closure plate. The housing has a plurality of spaced integral resilient spring fingers contoured to form a socket for receiving the ball. The fingers are interconnected at their upper ends to define an upper opening for the shift lever. The spring fingers define an opening smaller than the ball diameter at their bottom free ends and flex to receive the ball and contract to snugly embrace the ball. The shift control arm projects through a side slot in the housing to enable up-and-down vertical movement of the control arm from a centered neutral position. An integral spring finger biases the control arm to the neutral position. The closure plate has an annular surface which embraces the bottom ends of the spring fingers to define the size of the socket.

Abstract: A substitute top is provided to close the passenger compartment of a convertible vehicle when the folding soft top is lowered. The soft top has a pair of J-hook latches for engaging the windshield header to latch the top in sealing engagement with the windshield header. The substitute top comprises a rigid shell that has a front edge which engages the windshield header when the shell is installed. The substitute top mounts a pair of J-hook latches for engaging the header in the same manner as the soft top when the substitute top is installed to latch the substitute top in sealing engagement with the windshield header. The substitute top includes a bottom portion having a rear edge that mounts a seal strip which engages the vehicle body adjacent the top storage compartment. A C-shaped clip engages the storage well rear edge to secure the bottom portion to the vehicle body and compress the seal strip. Side flanges engage the soft top storage well side edges to locate the substitute top laterally of the vehicle.

Abstract: A collision avoidance system includes an object detection module (50) mounted on a vehicle (54) for detecting the presence of an object (68) within a monitored zone of space (56) adjacent the vehicle (54). The detection unit (50) emits a plurality of beams (66) of infrared energy and detects the reflection of such energy from objects (68) within the zone. The detection module (50) is typically activated by the host vehicle's electrical turn signal, The detection module (50) includes a plurality of associated pairs of light emitting diodes (134) and photosensitive detectors (128) for sensing the reflected light.

Abstract: A mounting bracket assembly is disclosed for soft mounting a transmission shifter and simultaneously hard mounting a parking actuator to a vehicle floorboard. The bracket assembly comprises an elongated base plate having mounting holes for hard mounting the base plate longitudinally of the vehicle to the floorboard. The base plate has a pair of spaced rear upstanding flanges for mounting the parking brake actuator with its operating lever extending longitudinally of the vehicle. An elevated tower structure mounts the transmission shifter and includes depending legs which include four mounting pads. Cooperating mounting pads are formed on the base plate and interfit vertically with the leg mounting pads to locate the transmission shifter on the base plate with its operating lever extending beside the parking brake actuator operating lever.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for attaching the rear edge of the fabric top and a sling to the periphery of a convertible top storage well are disclosed. A convertible vehicle has a top storage well located behind the rear seat for receiving the folded top through a top opening. A sling lines the well and is attached to the well periphery at the top opening. The rear edge of the convertible top cover is attached to a tacking strip which has a plurality of spaced holes that receive threaded studs welded to body structure. A plurality of nuts are screwed onto the studs atop the tacking strip to secure the tacking strip to the well walls. Each nut has an enlarged outwardly rounded head and a retention groove. An elongated strip of elastic material sewn to the sling incorporates a plurality of spaced slotted apertures and a central locating aperture.

Abstract: A vehicle convertible top is moved by hydraulic cylinders between extreme raised and lowered positions. The cylinder ends are connected to ports in a reversible hydraulic pump in one end of an elongated housing, which has a reservoir in the other end, separated by a pump cap. The pump cap houses two fluid circuits connecting the pump to the ends of the cylinders. Each circuit has an end of cycle hydraulic locking device comprising a normally-closed valve and a valve actuator. The circuit valves are alternately opened by pump pressure to pressurize one end of the cylinders to alternately raise and lower the top. The opened valve closes when the pump ceases operation, preventing fluid backflow through the one circuit to the pump. This hydraulically locks the top in extreme raised and lowered positions to facilitate top latching and tonneau installation.

Abstract: An emergency lighting strip provides for illumination of the floor of an emergency egress passageway during clear air conditions and also marks an escape path during conditions of limited visibility. The strip mounts two strings of narrow cone L.E.D.s in a transparent tubular housing which is mounted on the passageway wall. The marker string mounts L.E.D.s at half-inch intervals with their beam axes aimed at the middle of the passageway floor. The illuminator string mounts L.E.D.s at four-inch intervals with their beam axes angled above horizontal. A strip of the half-inch spaced L.E.D.s, with the L.E.D. beam axes perpendicular to the wall is mounted to frame and mark an exit doorway.

Abstract: A convertible vehicle includes a U-shaped top storage well having rear and side edges that are defined by body sheet metal, a front edge defined by the vehicle rear seat, and forwardly-projecting side quarter portions having a front and spaced side walls. A boot for covering the stored top comprises a semi-rigid laminate of vinyl and foam layers having a smooth top surface. The bottom surface has two longitudinal grooves enabling folding for storage. The periphery of the rear surface has spaced indentations between the grooves for locating and mounting peripheral C-shaped clips which grip the well rear and side edges, and quarter side and front walls. A tongue is mounted on the boot front edge and includes a latch bead. The tongue is inserted into the slot of a receiver mounted on the rear seat back. The receiver comprises a base having a recess for receiving the latch bead and an opposing flexible wall which clamps the tongue to latch the bead into the recess.

Abstract: A shifter for an automatic transmission is prevented from shifting out of Park position when the ignition switch is on unless the service brake is applied. An articulated solenoid-operated blocking arm is positioned to selectively block movement of a locking pin to prevent the shift lever from leaving the Park position of the shift gate. A circuit, including switches responsive to ignition, service brake application and shift lever position, controls solenoid activation. A cam responsive to the shift lever release button and to the lever position controls the shift lever position switch. The blocking arm can comprise two segments joined by a hinge. In blocking position, the hinge lies on one side of the path of pin movement. If the pin release is prematurely actuated, the pin engages the blocking arm. Subsequent solenoid activation pushes the hinge overcenter so that pin force will collapse the blocking arm, enabling its movement out of blocking position by the solenoid.

Abstract: An automatic transmission shifter for a vehicle comprises a unitary glass reinforced nylon housing open at the bottom and having interconnected, spaced upper, side and end walls. A slot is formed in the upper wall, a pair of spaced aligned apertured bosses are formed in the side walls, and integral flanges extend from the side and end walls and incorporate a plurality of spaced apertures for mounting the housing to vehicle structure. A pair of spaced, aligned position control plates, each comprising a plurality of notches, are formed interiorly on the side walls, a plurality of detent notches are formed interiorly on the housing on one of the side walls below the position control plates, and a shift cable access opening is formed in one of the end walls. A shift lever assembly including an operating lever extends upwardly through the slot.

Abstract: A parking brake actuator for a cable-operated vehicle parking brake, comprises a mounting bracket on the vehicle, a sector gear mounted on the mounting bracket for rotation about an axis to variably tension the cable. A pedal lever is coaxially pivoted on the mounting bracket for independent rotation between a brake release position and a plurality of brake apply positions. A spiral-wound spring extends between the operating lever and the drive plate for rotating the drive plate relative to the lever to apply an initial tension on the cable. A drive clutch couples the drive plate to the lever upon initial rotation of the lever out of brake release position to enable rotation of the lever to increasingly tension the cable and apply the parking brake. The drive clutch includes a pinion gear mounted on the lever in engagement with the sector gear.

Abstract: A docking target (10) includes three concentric circles (C1, C2, C3) each comprising a plurality of different color light emitting diodes (D1, D2, D3) spaced about the circumference of each circle (C1, C2, C3). During vehicle approach, each circle appears initially as a light spot, then a continuous ring of light and finally a plurality of independent light points at defined distances of the vehicle (14) from the station (12) so that the operator can determine distance of the vehicle (14) to the target (10). The light emitting diodes (D1, D2, D3) on each circle, when visible, provide attitude information of the vehicle (14) with respect to the station (12) by the intensities of the light emitting diodes (D1, D2, D3) and the geometric shape produced thereby so that the operator can adjust the attitude of the vehicle (14) with respect to the station (12).

Abstract: A manual transmission shifter for operating a pair of transmission control cables includes a shift lever, a base, and a cross having first and second axles defining the first and second intersecting orthogonal axes. The first axle ends are pivotally mounted on the base for pivotal movement. A shift lever bracket mounts the shift lever and has a pair of spaced legs which are pivotally mounted on the second axle ends to enable relative pivotal movement of the shift lever about the second axis. A cable control member is attached at its lower end to one of the control cables and has a pair of spaced flanges at its upper end which are pivotally attached to the second axle outwardly of the shift lever bracket legs to enable pivotal movement of the cable control member about the second axis independent of pivotal movement of the shift lever. A bellcrank is pivotally mounted on the base on a third axis that is coplanar with the orthogonal axes.

Abstract: A latch mechanism for latching a convertible top header to a vehicle windshield header comprises a latch hook receiver mounted adjacent to each end of the windshield header and a pair of movable latch members each having a free end mounting a hook. A mounting bracket located adjacent to each end of the top header has an elongated base slot and an intersecting curvilinear branch slot adjacent to its outer end. A guide pin and a spaced drive pin are carried by each latch member. The guide pin is received within the base slot and the drive pin is received within the branch slot in the unlatched position. A drive link is connected to each latch member drive pin. Operation of the drive link pivots the latch members about the guide pins until the drive pins enter the base slots and terminally slide both pins toward the inner ends of the base slots to move the latch members from unlatched to latched positions.