Abstract: A vehicle modular three-across seat, or, so-called, split bench seat assembly, including two wide outboard seat structures and a narrower middle seat structure. Each outboard seat structure is supported on the floor of the vehicle by four corner anchors for independent forward and aft movement. The middle seat is supported in a fixed manner by four corner support brackets extending outwardly and downwardly to mount on the adjacent two pairs of front and rear corner anchors. The modular three-seat assembly is adapted to be installed as a unit in the vehicle by securing the four corner anchors of each of the two outboard seat structures to the vehicle floor pan.

Abstract: A clip and bracket fastening arrangement for attaching a free end portion of a plastic facia fender panel member support wall to a subjacent rail of an automotive vehicle frame enabling controlled distortion free thermal expansion and contraction of the support wall relative to the metal frame. An attaching arrangement elongated retaining clip is fixed to the outboard surface of the support wall and the bracket adjustably mounted on the frame. The retaining clip, stamped from sheet metal, comprises an elongated web defining a clearance slot with the support wall. The bracket is double-L shaped defining a vertical head plate provided with a lower inboard extending base plate and an upper outboard extending step flange. The bracket is captured in a clearance slot defined by the clip web portion offset a predetermined dimension from the support wall outboard facing surface.

Abstract: A partially sprung differential gear system for a driving axle independent or deDion suspension system which embodies the mounting of the differential gear system to the suspension system such that the differential gear unit thereof travels in a ratio proportional to the wheel travel. The arrangement provides increased ground clearance and wheel travel for the driving axle independent suspension system.

Abstract: A vehicle door assembly including front and rear doors which are latched together, and wherein the usual center pillar is integral with the front door. The rear door can be unlatched from the front door and the rear pillar and opened independent of the front door. Rollers on the rear door slide in a bottom track to roll the door along side the rear of the vehicle.

Abstract: A solid, non-adjustable checking fixture adaptable for use in checking distances at selected angles off vertical to each of the tires and fenders or other type guards over the tires of all vehicle models. The fixture serves to permit fast and efficient manual checking of such distances in order to comply with E.E.C. "European Tire Coverage Standard." The fixture includes plates mounted on a base at the specified angles, and markings on the base having scales proportioned horizontally to heights of respective points along the angled plates corresponding to the vertical heights of the centers of the wheel axles.

Abstract: A cowl adapted to conceal a windshield wiper assembly to eliminate the drag associated with exposed wiper assemblies. The assembly includes an enclosure having a top access door adapted to being flush with the hood in its lowered position, and a bottom panel adapted to effecting an extension of the windshield in its elevated position. A windshield wiper assembly includes a pivotally mounted wiper arm, with a wiper blade that is seated on the bottom panel for vertical movement therewith. Suitable power and lift apparatus serve to vertically raise and lower the enclosure in association with a plurality of fixed brackets that serve to guide the lift apparatus during its vertical movements.

Abstract: A mounting structure for mounting to a vehicle body having oppositely disposed strut towers. The mounting structure includes right and left suspension assemblies, a cradle operatively connected therebetween, a vehicle engine and transmission mounted on the cradle and guide pins provided on each of the suspension assemblies. The mounting structure is adapted to being mounted as a unit into the vehicle body with the guide pins guiding the suspension assemblies into engagement with the respective oppositely disposed strut towers, and suitable fasteners for securing the suspension assemblies to the strut towers. Each strut tower includes outer and inner interconnected, spaced apart wall members separated by support spacers, with a plurality of aligned openings formed through the outer and inner spaced apart wall members, a pair of guide openings formed in the inner wall member, and an opening formed through the outer and inner wall members' central portion.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein a vehicle rear suspension system for use with the vehicle's side rails and wheel support members secured to the ends of a tubular axle. The system includes oppositely disposed trailing arms pivotally connected at their forward ends to the respective side rails and connected by a pair of vertically oriented resilient bushings at their trailing ends to the respective wheel support members. Each bushing includes an inner metal sleeve secured to the adjacent wheel support member, an outer metal sleeve secured to the trailing arm, and a rubber ring bonded between the sleeves.

Abstract: A flush cargo tie-down arrangement for a pick-up truck cargo floor supported on laterally extending U-shaped frame cross members secured to a sub frame by bolts. The tie-down arrangement, mounted below the upper surface of the cargo floor includes U-shaped tapping plates mounted in opposite end portions of one forward cross member and secured therein by said bolts, and a tie-down line attachment pin mounted across each tapping plate intermediate the sides thereof.

Abstract: A mounting structure for mounting to a vehicle body having oppositely disposed strut towers includes right and left suspension assemblies, a cradle operatively connected therebetween, a vehicle engine and transmission mounted on the cradle and guide means provided on each of the suspension assemblies. The mounting structure is adapted to being mounted as a unit into the vehicle body with the guide means guiding the suspension assemblies into engagement with the respective oppositely disposed strut towers, and suitable fasteners for securing the suspension assemblies to the strut towers. Each strut tower includes outer and inner interconnected, spaced apart wall members separated by support spacers, with a plurality of aligned openings formed through the outer and inner spaced apart wall members, a pair of guide openings formed in the inner wall member, and an opening formed through the outer and inner wall members' central portion.

Abstract: An assist hand tool adapted for use in installing a vehicle door hinge pin comprising an L-shaped blockpiece having a forwardly extending bifurcated head portion terminating at its aft end in a downwardly extending bifurcated body portion. The bifurcated head portion has a pair of forwardly extending side walls defining a pin-receiving slot and the bifurcated base portion terminating at its lower end in a pair of downwardly extending body side walls defines a lever-receiving slot. An operating lever comprises an elongated handle section extending rearwardly through the body slot aft opening and a jaw section extending through the body slot forward opening. The handle section and the jaw section have their proximate ends interconnected by an inclined pivot section pivotally connected by a transverse pivot pin to the body walls. The head portion is cooperatively sized for snug fit between an upper and lower pair of door-half hinge flanges.

Abstract: A connector is provided assembly for a north-south transaxle having a case and a solenoid assembly. The connector assembly includes a connector connected to a source of power and extending through an aperture in the case. The connector assembly also includes a structure for retaining the connector to the case to allow the solenoid assembly to be removed and installed without disturbing the connector.

Abstract: An automotive suspension strut upper mounting arrangement providing a one-piece elastomeric block isolator adapted for enclosure in a two-piece housing comprising upper and lower closure members. The isolator, which has a central generally tubular shape, is molded with an upper jounce collar and a lower rebound collar. A continuous internal radially extending tuning groove is formed in the jounce and rebound collars. By varying the axial dimension of the grooves the mount axial spring rate may be fine tuned to smoothly receive axially imposed suspension loads. Additionally, the isolator body outer surface may formed with a plurality of recesses defining predetermined voids providing selective tuning of laterally imposed suspension loads.

Abstract: A clip and bracket retainer arrangement for attaching a plastic panel to the subjacent frame of an automotive vehicle enabling controlled distortion free thermal expansion and contraction of the plastic panel relative to the frame. The attaching arrangement includes a retaining clip fixed on an outboard surface of a panel support wall and an L-sectioned bracket comprising a vertical head plate and a horizontal base plate mounted to the frame. The retaining clip, having a U-shape in horizontal cross section, comprises an elongated web formed with foot portion at each end of the clip web. The pair of foot portions extend out of the plane of the web for engagement with the support wall outboard surface defining an elongated slotted clearance therewith.

Abstract: A test fixture for simulating the inflation profile of a vehicle air bag. The test fixture includes a cavity block containing compressed nitrogen at a first predetermined pressure, and accumulator containing compressed nitrogen a second higher predetermined pressure, a diffuser containing an air bag at ambient pressure, a first rupture disk intermediate the accumulator and the cavity block adapted to rupture at a third predetermined pressure intermediate the first and second predetermined pressures, and a second rupture disk intermediate the diffuser and the cavity block adapted to rupture at a fourth predetermined pressure intermediate the first and second predetermined pressures.

Abstract: A seat belt restraint anchorage member adapted for mounting to the underside of a vehicle floor pan enabling the belt load to be transferred by the member to the vehicle main frame. The anchorage member is fabricated from a one piece elongated sheet metal strip having, in cross sectional view, a leading end portion bent into a closed polygonal-shaped loop terminating in an elongated rearwardly extending blade portion. The loop is formed by a plurality of planar segments one of which is in flush attachment with an opposed upwardly contoured hump portion of the vehicle floor pan. The anchorage member is welded to the underside of the floor pan as a sub-assembly enabling the anchorage member and floor pan to be readily attached to the vehicle main frame at the assembly plant. Applicants' invention allows the seat belt loads to be conducted through the reinforcing anchorage member into an aft portion of the main frame thereby minimizing strain of the body shell.

Abstract: An improved one-piece plastic bracket for supporting a sealer block of heat expandable reinforcement material on the substructure of a vehicle. The sealer block is adapted, upon being heated during an assembly line operation, to form a closed cell foam stiffener bridging a tolerance varying space between the substructure and an exterior panel. The one-piece bracket provides an initial function of readily supporting the sealer block in a snap-action manner on the vehicle substructure. Additionally, the bracket is operative to precisely guide the heat activated sealer into a predetermined foamed-in-place configuration wherein it sealingly bonds to both the substructure and the opposed inner surface of the panel.

Abstract: An automotive suspension strut upper mounting arrangement providing increased stroke length and enhanced tunability by virtue of the major working area of the mount being located above the tower attachment surface. The mounting assembly comprises an outer housing defined by an upper closure formed with a flanged brim and a lower closure formed with a terminal flange. The housing encloses a composite mount comprising an elastomeric isolator ring surrounding an inner metal cup with the cup upstanding side wall embedded in the ring. The ring has an upper end face which abuts an upper closure internal shoulder and a lower tubular extension sized for press-fit capture in a lower closure annular U-shaped channel. Upon the upper closure flanged brim and the lower closure terminal flange being secured in flatwise contact an axial pre-load is applied to the elastomeric ring.

Abstract: A handle assembly is adapted for installation in a vehicle panel aperture having a flanged border from the outboard side of the panel. The handle housing has a pre-installed attaching clip retained on the housing by a screw tightened to an initial setting enabling predetermined upward and inward travel of the clip between a lower gravity induced position to an installation rocked-in induced upper position. The clip has tapered flanges configured to bear on the aperture border during rocked-in movement of the housing along a determined swingline. Upon clip tabs being positioned inboard of the border the tapered flanges disengaging the border thereby returning the clip by gravity to its installed position such that tightening the screw clamps the tabs against the aperture border.

Abstract: A U-shaped stud mounting clip adapted for securing an projecting stud to a panel by means of an edge thereof formed with an upstanding flange. The resilient clip is stamped from sheet metal and has an elongate, generally U-shaped bifurcated configuration defining an upper contoured leg and a lower planar leg having their proximate ends joined by a bight wall. The upper leg has a first proximate sloped portion, a second angled portion, a third platform means, and a fourth lead-in distal portion. The platform means fixedly supports a projection stud thereon. The clip is flexed over the panel upstanding flange enabling a retaining tongue, struck from the clip upper leg sloped portion, to capture the clip on the panel flange while allowing the clip stud to be moved along the panel upstanding flange in a predetermined adjustable manner.