Abstract: An occupant restraint module includes a subassembly of a support member and a folded cushion secured to the support member. The cushion is compressible. A cover assembly receives the subassembly. Cooperating fingers on the support member are engaged with cooperating slots on the cover assembly when the subassembly inserted into the cover assembly.

Abstract: An occupant restraint cushion includes an internal horizontal wall interconnecting the front and rear walls thereof and subdividing the cushion into upper and lower compartments for respective engagement by the head and torso of the occupant. The horizontal subdividing wall and one or more additional horizontal walls angularly divergent thereto control the curvature of the front wall of the cushion to limit membrane forces applied by such wall to the head of the occupant. The cushion further includes one or more pairs of vertical walls or vertical subdividers which interconnect the horizontal subdividing wall and the front wall of the cushion, through the additional horizontal walls, to subdivide the upper compartment of the cushion into subcompartments which operate independently of each other when engaged by the head of the occupant.

Abstract: A restraint system mounting includes a plurality of hollow support members mounted within the hub portion of the steering wheel in a predetermined pattern. The support members interfit with mounting members which depend from a restraint system module and are arranged in the same pattern. Aligned recesses in the interfitting annular members receive a leg of a spring clip to releasably secure the members to each other. A key inserted through an opening in the hub portion into each pair of interfitting members cams the spring leg out of engagement with the mounting members to release the restraint system module for removal.

Abstract: A rod guide member includes a base portion having integral attachment means for securement to a sheet metal panel and a pair of integral legs which receive a rod member therebetween. One leg member is thicker than the other to withstand lateral loads imposed thereon by the rod member. The other leg has flexible extensions which engage the rod member and bias the rod member into engagement with ribs on the one leg member.

Abstract: A wheel cover retention includes a wheel cover having a cover body and a plurality of annular extensions having an internal spiral thread extending for a predetermined axial distance and subdivided into a plurality of radially flexible fingers by transverse slots. The extensions cooperate with externally spiral threaded lug nuts to retain the cover to the wheel. The fingers of the extensions ratchet past the threads of the lug nuts as the cover is assembled to and disassembled from the wheel. The extensions include stops limiting the penetration of the lug nuts within the extensions so that the threads of other lug nuts do not split or jam within the unthreaded portions of the extensions.

Abstract: The operating member of an uncoupling type vehicle door latch has a blocking portion which blocks movement of the coupling means to uncoupled position when the door latch is in unlatched position unless the operating member is first moved to an operated position. This requires the performance of multiple conscious actions by the driver in order to obtain keyless locking. The coupling means can be returned to coupled position by the locking means without operation of the operating member.

Abstract: A door latch coupling arrangement includes a detent release member connected to an inside operator by a freewheeling connection. An intermittent member is movable between coupled and uncoupled positions with respect to the detent release member and pivotally connected to the inside operator to establish an operative connection between the detent release member and inside operator when in coupled position. A manual control member shifts the intermittent member between its coupled and uncoupled positions.

Abstract: A wheel assembly apparatus for force fitting a wheel disc within a wheel rim by fixedly locating the wheel rim, fixing the relationship of the center portion and flange portions of the wheel disc to each other, and applying a uniform force to such portions of the wheel disc to force fit the flange portions within the drop center flange of the wheel rim while maintaining the center portion of the wheel disc in a plane parallel to a plane of the terminal flange of the wheel rim to provide a vehicle wheel with minimum lateral runout.

Abstract: A bead structure for die binders which is easily convertible into either a drawbead structure or a lockbead structure includes a bead on one die binder having a generally planar roughened outer wall, a groove in the other binder, and a bead insert which is removably secured in the groove and includes a base of semi-rigid material and a series of segments secured to the base and having roughened outer walls juxtaposed to the roughened outer wall of the bead and providing a lockbead structure therewith when the binders close against a sheet metal blank. When the bead insert is removed, the bead and groove provide a drawbead structure. The sheet metal blank slides through the groove and over the roughened outer wall of the bead since the shoulders of the bead have a radius less than the radius of bending of the blank as it passes over the bead.

Abstract: A container for the folded cushion of an occupant restraint system is of generally rectangular shape and includes an elongated I-shaped tear line configuration which permits the longer side walls of the container to open outwardly about their secured lower edges for depolyment of the cushion along an alternate path laterally of the container should the cushion be unable to deploy along a normal path toward the driver through oppositely opening flaps of the base wall of the container.

Abstract: An occupant restraint system includes a folded cushion having upper and lower wall portions, fan folded side wall portions and pleat folded end wall portions. A reaction plate fits between the upper wall portion and the immediately adjacent distal folds of the side wall portions. The distal folds are clamped to the reaction plate so that initial deployment of the cushion is laterally of the upper wall portion which remains stationary. As the pressure and volume increase, the distal folds are pulled away from the clamping member and form continuations of the upper wall which deploys toward the occupant.

Abstract: An occupant restraint system for a vehicle occupant includes a folded occupant restraint cushion mounted to a support and a band wrapped around the cushion and having its ends secured to the support. The band includes a weakened portion located above the outer wall of the cushion. The weakened portion is ruptured by the force of the inflating cushion when the internal pressure of the cushion exceeds a predetermined limit to permit the cushion to deploy normal to or toward the occupant. The band delays the initial deployment of the cushion toward the occupant.

Abstract: A wheel cover retention system includes a series of plastic caps carried by the wheel cover. The caps have integral flanges engageable with flanges of the cover to hold the cover against the vehicle wheel when the caps are threaded on exteriorly threaded lug nuts of the wheel. The caps have integral legs which extend therefore through the cover with these legs having barbed ends to prevent separation of the caps from the cover. Interlocking ribs on the cap flanges and cover flanges resist relative rotation between such flanges when they are engaged to resist unthreading of the plastic caps from the lug nuts when the wheel cover is mounted to the wheel.

Abstract: A cover assembly for an occupant restraint system is formed of relatively irrupturable material and includes longitudinal and lateral portions which overlie like portions of a container housing an inflatable occupant restraint cushion. The juxtaposed edges of these portions are arranged which are juxtaposed to each other across a tear line of the container. One edge of each pair terminates in a U shaped return bent flange and the other edge of each pair terminates in an S shaped return bent flange having a flap which extends across the tear line and abuts the U shaped flange.

Abstract: An occupant restraint system includes a module having a support provided with openings therethrough which are normally closed by rupturable diaphragms when the pressure within the cushion exceeds a predetermined limit, the reaction force on the module moves the diaphragms into engagement with rupture pins to rupture the diaphragms and vent the cushion to ambient through the support.

Abstract: A rod guide member includes a strap portion of flexible material having an integral attachment at one end thereof to attach the strap portion to a support and an integral rod attachment at the other end thereof to attach the strap portion to a rod spaced from the support. The strap portion is return bent upon itself between its end portions to accommodate both linear and shifting movement of the rod relative to the support as well as provide a cushion between the rod and the support obviating rattle.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to a child safety vehicle door lock with a blocking arrangement for selectively blocking operation of an operating handle to prevent release of the door latch by an unauthorized person such as a child passenger. The blocking arrangement includes a blocking lever of plastic material pivotally mounted of the latch frame for manual movement between blocking and non-blocking positions. The blocking lever and frame have detent elements for releasably locating the blocking lever in each of its positions. The blocking lever includes a portion, which when in the blocking position, is engaged on one side by the frame and engaged on the other side by the a portion of the operating lever.