Abstract: A vehicle seat and headrest arrangement is provided including a seat bun frame having fore and aft ends, a seatback frame joined to the bun frame adjacent the aft end of the bun frame, and a headrest pivotally attached with the seatback frame along a pivotal axis generally perpendicular to the fore and aft direction whereby, upon a rear vehicle impact, the headrest moves in a forward direction toward the head of a vehicle seat occupant.

Abstract: An arrangement for a vehicle seat for connection with the floor of a vehicle is provided which, in a preferred embodiment, includes two generally parallel rails extending within the vehicle being connected with the vehicle floor, the rails having associated therewith a locking plate having first and second unique openings, a seat bun frame mounted with relative means of travel with respect to the two rails, a seatback pivotally mounted with respect to the seat bun frame, the seatback having upright and folded down positions, a first locking pin operatively associated with the first lock plate openings for selectively setting the position of the seat bun frame with respect to the rails, a second locking pin operatively associated with the second openings for selectively setting the position of the seat bun frame with respect to the rails, a first release handle for releasing the first and second locking pins from engagement with the lock plate, a first lock-out for preventing the actuation of the first release

Abstract: A fastening arrangement is provided which, in a preferred embodiment, includes a first member having first and second surfaces and an elongated aperture intersecting the first and second surfaces, a second member having a first surface for contacting the first member, and an aperture for registration with the first member aperture. The second member also has a second surface with a ramp generally opposite the first surface, and the second member second surface has two arms. A pin having a midportion with a first surface with a ramp for engagement with the ramp of the second member second surface is also provided. The pin also has projecting from the midportion a lock wing and on a side of the midportion opposite the lock wing a thumb tab. To secure the first and second members together, the pin lock wing is projected through the apertures of the first and second members, and an angular relocation of the pin causes the lock wing to secure itself against the first surface of the first member.

Abstract: A vehicle recliner seat is provided which, in a preferred embodiment, includes a seat bun frame, a seat back frame pivotally mounted with respect to the seat bun frame, an adjuster to selectively adjust the inclination of the seat back frame with respect to the seat bun frame, a strut pivotally mounted to the seat back along a first fixed pivotal axis and having a lost motion pivotal attachment with the seat bun frame, the strut having on an end adjacent to the seat bun frame a pin which is provided for translational movement with respect to the seat bun frame, and the seat bun frame having a pivotal latch and a pendulum to actuate the latch wherein, when the vehicle accelerates rearwardly over a predetermined level of rearward acceleration, the pendulum causes the latch to pivot upwardly to engage the pin, causing the strut to have a fixed pivotal axis with the seat bun frame and thereby tend to limit rearward motion of the seat back frame.

Abstract: An arrangement for a door is provided including, in a preferred embodiment, a door body with a top opening; a window pane within the door extendable through the top opening, the window having a bore along its lower end; a channel member extending within the door body for guiding the window; a guide block slidably mounted on the channel having a bore in alignment with the bore in the window, the guide block having a contact surface and a projecting ledge with an alignment aperture; an insulator having an inner member joined to an outer member by a bottom wall, the inner member, bottom wall and outer member generally forming a U-shaped opening for receipt of the window, the inner and outer insulator members having a bore generally aligned with the window bore, the inner member having a cylindrical portion for extending through the window bore and the cylindrical portion having a snap fit connection with the outer member, thereby retaining the insulator to the window, the insulator further along its bottom wall

Abstract: An arrangement of a vehicle seat for placement on a vehicle floor having a seat in a storage position is provided in a preferred embodiment including two elongated rails connected to the vehicle floor, the rails having a first hook and a plurality of notches to provide a locking plate; a slider for each side of the vehicle seat having a second hook interlocked with the rail's first hook; a locking pin for selective engagement with the rail notches, the locking pin being connected with the slider to selectively set the position of the slider with respect to the rail: a riser pivotally connected with each slider; and a seat bun connected with the risers, the seat bun assuming a storage position by forward pivotal movement of the risers.

Abstract: A vehicle seat with an adjustable thigh support is provided including a vehicle seat frame, the seat frame providing support for a portion of a leg section of a vehicle occupant; a thigh support pan pivotally mounted with respect to the seat frame providing support for the portion of the leg section at a forward end of the seat frame; a main gear track projecting from the thigh support pan on a side of the thigh support pan generally opposite the leg section of a vehicle occupant, the main gear track having a toothed surface; a gear housing fixed with respect to the seat frame, the gear housing having rotatably mounted thereto a gear for meshing engagement with the main gear track toothed surface, the gear housing also having space from the gear and alignment pin for capturing the main gear track between the gear and the alignment pin; a receiving gear track pivotally mounted with respect to the thigh support pan having a toothed surface for engagement with the gear, the receiving gear track also having a han

Abstract: A vehicle recliner seat is provided which, in a preferred embodiment, includes a seat pan frame, a seat back pivotally mounted with respect to the seat pan frame, a rod having at least one end locationally fixed with respect to the seat pan frame, a first link with a first end pivotally connected with the seat back with a second end pivotally connected with the rod, and a second link with a first end pivotally connected with the seat back with a second end pivotally connected with the rod. The position of the second ends of the first and second links on the rod can be moved to selectively set the inclination of the seat back with respect to the seat pan frame.

Abstract: A ball and socket joint arrangement for mounting a vehicle headlamp assembly to a vehicle is provided which in a preferred embodiment includes a body connected with the headlamp assembly and having an interior spheroid aperture intersected by first and second apertures with a plug in the second aperture, a portion of the plug forming the spheroid aperture; a ball for pivotally mounting within the body spheroid aperture having pivotal motion on at least two axes, the ball having a bore generally aligned with the first aperture and a circumferential groove, the circumferential groove forming a slot with the bore in two geometrically spaced locations; a rod connected with the vehicle for insertion into the bore of the ball and having a circumferential groove aligned with the circumferential groove of the ball; and an omega spring mounted within the circumferential groove of the ball retaining the rod to the ball after insertion of the rod into the bore of the ball by projecting into the slot of the ball and loca

Abstract: A concealed vehicle headlamp is provided including a pivot bracket mounted to the vehicle, a headlamp housing pivotally mounted to the pivot bracket for movement between closed and open positions, a headlamp mounted to the housing for movement between the closed and open positions, the headlamp being adjustable relative to the headlamp housing for aiming, a motor to move the headlamp housing in the open and closed positions, a spider adjustable in fore and aft and cross car directions with respect to the headlamp housing, an intermediate panel having fore and aft ends vertically adjustable with respect to the spider, and a cover panel having means of concealed attachment with the intermediate panel for fitting flush with respect to the vehicle body when the headlamp housing is in the closed position.

Abstract: A vehicle headlamp assembly provided with an adjustment device for adjusting the position of a lamp unit and wherein the adjustment device is combined with a rotatable recalibration arrangement that includes a position indicator in the form of a disk member provided with teeth at its periphery and in which the teeth of the disk member are shielded by a wall so as to prevent accidental movement of the disk member when the latter is positioned to indicate the aimed position of the lamp unit in the horizontal plane.

Abstract: A vehicle door is designed to collapse in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle in such a way that in the case of a maximum longitudinal force slightly below that of the most serious accident, longitudinal deformation occurs and the axial supporting force of the vehicle door simultaneously remains as high as possible. To produce this longitudinal deformability, crimps running parallel in the vertical direction are provided in the structural members of the door and in a door well reinforcement.

Abstract: A seat fore and aft adjuster for a vehicle is provided which in a preferred embodiment includes a pair of parallel elongate channels secured to the floor of the vehicle, both channels having an inner space defined by vertical, concave upper and concave lower inner surfaces, the channels having a locking plate with a series of associated notches, and fore and aft rollers, the fore rollers including a tubular axle housing rotatively mounting elastomeric rollers and the housing being threadably affixed with a seat frame while at the same time affixing a bracket to the seat frame, and an independent guide secured to the bracket and extending into the channels' inner spaces and sliding against the upper surfaces thereof. A pin is slidably mounted in the fore axles for locking engagement with the locking plate. A leaf spring fixed with respect to the seat frame biases the locking pin toward engagement with the lock plate.

Abstract: A seat skinning mechanism for skinning a flexible membrane cover on a polymeric foam vehicle seat body is provided which, in a preferred embodiment, includes a first support surface for positioning the seat body located generally underneath the seat body, a second support surface contacting the seat body on a first vertical side of a seat body, first and second powered wings pivotally mounted with respect to the second support surface, the wings causing the lateral edges of the seat body to fold upon themselves to an extent to allow the flexible membrane cover to be placed over the foam body, the second support surface and the wings, and a lift to force the foam body upward, removing the seat body from between the second support surface and the wings with the membrane cover or the seat body.

Abstract: A hook and pin fastener assembly for connecting and reliably locating a molded door trim panel to an apertured inner door panel of a motor vehicle without the need for conventional fasteners. A pair of conventional hooks are molded into the upper and lower portions of a molded door trim panel, and a locator pin is molded into a center portion of the molded door trim panel. The pair of hooks extend through corresponding apertures in the inner door panel and slidably engage the inner door panel so that movement of the upper and lower portions of the molded door trim panel is restricted in the lateral direction. The locator pin has a main body and a free end, wherein the free end is integral with and extending from the main body. The free end is slightly smaller than a locating aperture in the inner door panel, and the main body is larger than the locating aperture.

Abstract: A vehicle auxiliary seat is provided for spanning the space between first and second adjacent structures. In a preferred embodiment, the seat includes a sheet providing a seating surface, the sheet having a first free end; a roll for storing the sheet, the roll being rotatively mounted with the first structure; a connector to removably attach the sheet with the second structure; and a ratchet to tension the sheet to a desired tension by rotating the roll, the ratchet having a telescopically extended ratchet arm and wherein the ratchet can only be adjusted to a position tensioning the roll or adjusted to release the tension in the roll when the ratchet handle is extended.

Abstract: An end-of-arm tooling device for a robot or like manipulator is provided which, in a preferred embodiment, includes a differential separating a first torsional input into first and second torsional outputs, and two jaws for interacting with a workpiece powered by a separate one of the first and second torsional outputs, and wherein, upon interaction with the workpiece at a predetermined torque level by one of the jaws, the jaw's motion will be stopped and torque will be continually transferred to the remaining jaw.

Abstract: An occupant restraining inflatable cushion apparatus includes a gas generator used to inflate an inflatable fabric cushion which is packaged about the gas generator in a deflated condition. The cushion and gas generator are connected with a closed end of a housing having diverging side walls. The side walls of the housing have venting apertures. The side wall of the cushion also has apertures which, upon inflation of the air bag, register with the apertures in the housing, allowing aspiration of the air bag through the side walls of the housing. Therefore, direct venting through the air bag into the vehicle occupant compartment is avoided.

Abstract: A ring seal for sealing a piston of a master cylinder is provided. The ring seal is fitted within a generally rectangular groove of the piston, the groove having front and rear walls joined by a floor. The ring seal prevents fluid communication from a first chamber to a second chamber during high pressure differentials and allows fluid communication from the second chamber to the first chamber under very low pressure differentials.

Abstract: A drum brake is provided which in a preferred embodiment includes a backing plate having an anchor at a first end, first and second brake shoes pivotally mounted with respect to the anchor, a nonrotative nut mounted for linear motion with respect to the backing plate, a first apply lever pivotally mounted with respect to the nut and with respect to the first brake shoe, a second apply lever pivotally mounted with respect to the backing plate and with respect to the secondary brake shoe, a first strut pivotally mounted with the first and second brake shoes, a power screw threadably engaged with the nut for translating the nut, and an electric motor torsionally associated with the power screw for turning the same.