Abstract: An electrical component package includes a housing having a pair of open ended terminal receiving passages and a cavity intermediate the inner ends of the passages for receiving the body of the component. The bent leads of the component are received in grooves located outwardly of the passages. A cover is integrally hinged to the housing and includes a pair of flanges which cover the grooves and component leads when the cover is in closed position. The cover further includes a pair of cavities which open to the inner ends of the terminal receiving passages when the cover is in closed position and an opening through the cover intermediate the cavities to permit viewing of the body of the component. Cooperating shoulders on the cover and housing maintain the cover in closed position. After assembly of the electrical component within the housing, female terminals can be inserted through the passages and electrically connected to the component leads.

Abstract: An overcenter type latch for relatively movable members includes a retainer of molded plastic secured to one member and having spaced recesses adjacent one end thereof and a striker adjacent the other end thereof. An operating handle has spaced abutments adjacent one end thereof received within the retainer recesses for pivotal movement of the handle between an overcenter latched position and an unlatched position. An elastomeric link is pivoted to the operating handle and to other member. The link is tensed when the handle is in latched position and extends between the spaced recesses and abutments. A manually operated latch integral with the handle cooperates with the striker to block movement of the handle to unlatched position unless the latch is manually released.

Abstract: An inertia seat back lock includes first and second pivotally interconnected members respectively secured to a seat back and seat cushion to pivot the back to the cushion for forward tilting movement. The first member includes a pair of detent shoulders spaced circumferentially of each other relative to the seat back pivot to define respective first and second locked positions of the seat back. The first member has a first limit shoulder engageable with a stop on the second member to define the forward limit position of normal tilting movement of the seat back. An inertia member pivoted to the second member engages a stop on the second member under gravity bias to positively locate a latch shoulder thereof in a normal inoperative position out of the path of movement of the detent shoulders during normal tilting movement of the seat back. The center of gravity of the inertia member is below the pivot thereof.

Abstract: A vehicle subject to high level and low level impact conditions includes an occupant restraint cushion which is inflated at a relatively high rate under high impact conditions and at a relatively low rate under low level impact conditions. The inflator for the cushion includes a pressure vessel containing pressurized stored gas and a combustion chamber containing a propellant. Under low level impact conditions, the propellant is ignited and the resultant gases flow through a fluted orifice into the pressure vessel and then flow with the stored gas to the cushion. The area of the orifice controls the flow rate of the resultant gases out of the combustion chamber to control the pressure within the chamber and the burn rate. Under high level impact conditions, a ball within the combustion chamber is explosively fired into the orifice to restrict the flow area of the orifice. This increases the pressure within the combustion chamber to increase the burn rate and the flow rate to the cushion.

Abstract: An occupant restraint cushion housing is mounted within an instrument panel structure and provided with flanges on the side and upper edges of an elongated opening thereof. An inflatable occupant restraint cushion is housed within the housing. A cover assembly for the housing is secured to the instrument panel structure and includes an integrally hinged closure normally closing an opening in the cover assembly generally co-extensive with that of the housing. Flanges of the cover assembly define the side and upper edges of the opening. The closure is provided with flanges which respectively underlie the flanges of the cover assembly to releasably hold the closure against movement outwardly of the cover assembly until the cushion is inflated. Ribs on the side edge flanges of the closure engage flanges of the housing to block inward movement of the side edges of the closure.

Abstract: An infinite position door hold open includes a pair of pivotally interconnected hinge members which are respectively mounted on the door and body. The door mounted hinge member pivotally supports an arcuate link having oppositely facing braking and frictional surfaces, both generated about the pivotal axis of the hinge members. The braking surface is frictionally engageable with a brake pad adjustably mounted on the body mounted hinge member. The engagement of the braking surface with the brake pad is controlled by pivotal movement of a wedging cam relative to the door mounted hinge member between non-wedging limit positions through an intermediate wedging position. The cam has a friction member in constant engagement with the frictional surface of the brake member.

Abstract: A vehicle includes an inflatable occupant restraint cushion inflated from an inflater. The inflater is of the air-augmented type and includes a pressure vessel containing gas under pressure and a gas generator. The outlet of the vessel to the cushion is sealed by a diaphragm rupturable by electrically fired detonators. The gas generator is actuated by either an electrically fired pyrotechnic delay squib or by a nondelay pyrotechnic squib. A pair of low level acceleration responsive sensors connect the detonators and the delay squib across a source of power. When the vehicle is subjected to an impact generating a pulse above a predetermined minimum amplitude and time and below a predetermined maximum, the sensors fire the delay squib and the detonators. The gas is immediately released to initiate partial inflation of the cushion. After a predetermined time interval, the delay squib actuates the gas generator to complete inflation of the cushion.

Abstract: An energy absorber adapted to be interposed between relatively movable rigid support and impact receiving elements and including a sheet metal plate of rectangular shape. The plate is provided with two asymmetric spaced U-shaped slots and a pair of spaced parallel slots to divide the plate into a continuous integral outer portion; an asymmetric pair of generally U-shape inner portions, the legs of which are integrally connected to the continuous outer portion by bridging portions; and a center portion of rectangular shape integrally connecting the bights of the inner portions. The outer portion is secured to one of the elements and the center portion is secured to the other by a rigid post.

Abstract: A vehicle body includes an energy absorbing steering column having a forward portion rigidly secured to the forward wall of the body and a rearward portion slidably connected by energy absorbing structure to the forward portion for movement forwardly thereof under impact. A rigid bracket structure extends rearwardly from the forward body wall. Impact releasable structure secures the column bracket structure to the rearward portion of the column. The rigid bracket structure guides movement of the column bracket structure during forward movement of the rearward column portion. A knee panel is mounted on the body opposite the driver and includes a center portion which partially surrounds the lower part of the rearward column portion and driver knee deformable side portions to each side of the center portion.

Abstract: A vehicle body includes a manifold extending transversely of the instrument panel adjacent the windshield. An oval-shaped, slotted diffuser is secured to the manifold and communicates with a source of pressure fluid. An occupant restraint cushion includes an unbilical portion communicating with the diffuser and also includes a pillow portion. The cushion is stored within the manifold. A cover is provided for the manifold. When the source of pressure fluid is communicated with the diffuser, the diffuser expands from an oval shape toward a round shape and relocates the slots during such change in shape. This moves the cover to an open position. The umbilical portion is then projected rearwardly of the body and is located between the windshield and instrument panel when inflated. The pillow portion is erected generally vertically of the body rearwardly of the frontal portion of the instrument panel.