Abstract: A passive seat belt system comprising a two-point belt that in passenger restraining position extends diagonally over the upper torso of the seat occupant from a floor attachment to a retractor mechanism anchored in the vehicle roof. A carriage or trolley movable along a track that in part parallels the vehicle body roof rail and in part the windshield pillar has a belt engageable "D" ring that engages the belt intermediate the ends of the latter. This carriage is movable along the track by a nonelectrical energizer that is energized by door opening movement. Upon movement of the carriage from the retractor end of the track along the roof rail and then downwardly along the windshield pillar, the carriage automatically draws the belt forwardly from its passenger restraining position to provide unobstructed ingress or egress to the compartment through the door opening.

Abstract: A counterweight assembly for a vehicle comprising an open-end support frame anchored to the vehicle chassis and extending longitudinally from the latter beneath the overhang of an engine supported on one end of the chassis. A plurality of weights 21 are suspended from the support frame. Co-acting means 25-26 on the support frame and the weights 21 provide for self-alignment of the weights upon insertion of the latter through the open end into the support frame. The co-acting means are constructed and arranged to provide line contact between portions of the support frame and each weight to minimize sliding resistance as the weights are moved in the direction of the chassis toward locating stop means 31. Securing means 28 lock the weights in place on the support frame.

Abstract: A locking system for mechanically locking a backhoe boom in a transport position on an earth moving machine. The boom is supported for swinging movement about a horizontal pivot carried on a swing post coupled by a vertical pivot to a frame structure of the earth moving machine. The locking system comprises a lever fulcrummed intermediate its ends on the swing post. The lever has at one of its ends a latching element engageable with the boom in a raised position of the latter to prevent downward swinging movement, and at the other of its ends a latching element simultaneously engageable with the frame structure to hold the swing post and thereby the boom in a centered position. A manipulable actuator accessible at the operator's station is provided for actuating or releasing the boom locking actuator.

Abstract: A self-contained rearview mirror assembly 10 adapted to be mounted at the lower front corner of a vehicle door window opening. The rearview mirror assembly 10 comprises a mirror 21 on a backing plate 22 that has an angularly related hinged flange 23 at one of its ends. A support frame 25 encompasses the backing plate and has an angularly related flange 34 contiguous to the frame flange and having door window frame engageable means for positioning and retaining the mirror assembly on a vehicle door.Coacting ball and socket means 29-32 provide a pivot means about which the mirror is universally adjustable. An adjusting lever 36 directly coupled to the backing plate flange 21 is operable to tilt the mirror about substantially horizontal and vertical axes. Coacting guide means 45 on contiguous flanges prohibit rotation of the mirror in its own plane about the pivot means.

Abstract: A pick-up truck cargo box capable of transporting standard 4.times.8 foot construction panels in a flat mode even though the spacing between the wheel housings protruding into the cargo area is less than the width of the panels. The inner body panels 17 of the cargo box 10 are provided with recesses 19 having platform surfaces 21 adapted to support the ends of load bearing support members 25 extending laterally across the cargo area from side wall 12 to side wall 13. The recesses 19 are formed such that when a support member 25 is positioned with its ends on aligned surfaces 21 of the recesses, the top surface 26 of the support member will be at the same elevation as the flat upper surfaces 16 of the wheel housings 14 and 15.

Abstract: A lubricant seal for an oil lubricated ball bearing journalling a shaft within the cavity of a stationary housing. The lubricant seal comprises an annular rigid oil sling affixed to the shaft within the cavity. The oil slinger is formed of an oil absorbing material adapted at low or nonrotational speed of the shaft to absorb excess oil within the housing cavity and at high speed to centrifuge oil into the bearing.

Abstract: As the backhoe boom 19 swings into a swing stop, hydraulic fluid is trapped in the head end 28 of the swing side cylinder 24. This trapped fluid is discharged through a cylinder relief valve, thus absorbing the boom kinetic energy and providing a smooth deceleration of the boom. Fluid discharged from the relief valve 47 is routed to the rod end of the swing cylinder and the head end of the opposite cylinder. Because of the swing linkage geometry, the cylinder rod 30 of the other cylinder had passed over the pivot axis about which the backhoe boom was swinging and thus the piston 29 of the other cylinder was caused to move in the same direction as the swing side piston 29. The movement of this piston can be utilized to provide additional deceleration torque as long as no voiding is permitted to occur in the head end of this other cylinder. Voiding only occurs when the backhoe swing control lever 38 is released prior to the backhoe boom reaching the swing stop.

Abstract: A headlamp mounting in motor vehicle bodies comprising a headlamp that is supported for swivelling movement about a fixed pivot point 6 and for adjustment in the forward and rearward directions with the aid of two adjusting devices 7 and 8. The headlamp is adjustable about a substantially horizontal axis and about a substantially vertical axis.

Abstract: A vehicle window assembly having a window panel (11) movable in spaced relationship to and along a fixed guide (24) during raising and lowering movements. Interposed between the window panel and guide rod are guide means (13 and 15) that allow quick adjustment during the assembly of the vehicle body of the position of the window panel relative to body seals around the perimeter of the window opening. This quick adjustment is achieved through resilient retainer devices (32) having ratchet action engagement with the guide means 15 that controls the lateral spacing of the window panel relative to the guide rod. After the desired spacing is achieved through the quick adjustment devices, permanent fastening devices may be tightened to complete the installation procedure.

Abstract: A lamp assembly in which the lamp housing has a plurality of light bulb sockets and a slot for receiving an electric ribbon cable. The ribbon cable consists of a laminate of dielectric material having a plurality of electrical conductors embedded therein, the conductors having contact surfaces exposed through strategically placed windows in the dielectric material of the ribbon cable. Contact means retained within the housing extend from the exposed contact surface on a specific conductor to a specific light bulb socket.

Abstract: A steering column assembly comprising an elongate upper column member for connection with a steering wheel and an elongate lower column member for connection with a steering box. One member is telescopically received within the other for sliding movement between operative and inoperative positions. The outer member has a first length of its internal surface adjacent the received end of the inner member when in said operative position that is dimensioned to fit closely on the inner member. The outer member has a second length extending from its first length toward its receiving end which is of greater internal dimension than said first length to provide a clearance.

Abstract: A steering wheel assembly comprising a wheel rim and a tubular member for use as at least a part of a steering column. The tubular member has its longitudinal axis aligned with the center of the wheel rim. A plurality of spokes each has a first portion extending from the rim transversely of the tubular member axis to a location adjacent the axis and a second portion extending parallel to the axis. The second portions are secured within the tubular members. The effect is that the upper steering shaft or tubular member is permanently fixed to the steering wheel resulting in reduced manufacturing cost and reduced assembly time.

Abstract: A tractor draft load monitoring system responsive to tractor and associated implement load changes. The system is particularly adapted for a tractor having an engine/transmission power unit coupled to its drive shaft. The power unit is mounted on the frame by resilient mounts that permit measurable angular displacement of the power unit relative to the frame about the drive shaft axis in reaction to changes in the drive shaft torque. The working depth of the implement, which may be tractor mounted, semi-mounted or a pull type implement, is raised or lowered by a hydraulic lift system that is controlled by a control valve assembly connected to a source of fluid under pressure.

Abstract: A self-deployable front air spoiler assembly mounted beneath a vehicle underbody, the air spoiler assembly comprising a laterally extending airfoil which in non-deployed condition is situated in a semi-concealed position. The airfoil is supported at each side of the longitudinal center of the vehicle on swingable links, each link being pivotally coupled at one end to the airfoil and at the other end to the vehicle underbody. The pivot axes of the links are substantially parallel to the airfoil. Biasing means interposed between the air spoiler assembly and the vehicle underbody normally biases the airfoil toward its deployed condition. As the air pressure against the front face of the airfoil increases as the speed of the vehicle is increased, the airfoil swings downwardly increasing the frontal area impacted by the airstream and restricting the flow of air beneath the vehicle underbody.

Abstract: A heating system for a vehicle passenger compartment, the vehicle being propelled by an internal combustion engine having an exhaust system that includes a catalytic converter for exhaust gas emission control. The vehicle passenger compartment has a conventional heater case containing air distribution channeling ducts, air outlets, control valves and a blower for forcing air through the ducts. A heat pipe coupled to a heat exchanger located in the engine exhaust system downstream of the catalytic converter is utilized to transfer exhaust gas heat to the heater case thereby eliminating the conventional heater core, and its related plumbing, that utilizes engine coolant as a heat source.

Abstract: The combination of a laterally extending bumper mounted on the front end of a vehicle and a chin spoiler mounted beneath the bumper, the vehicle bumper having an ornamental face bar and a reinforcement member concealed therebehind. The chin spoiler comprises a support means fastened by conventional fastening means to the bumper reinforcement and an airfoil. The airfoil is contoured along its leading edge to complement the frontal contour of the bumper face bar. A hinge means secures the airfoil along its rear edge to the support means rearwardly of the bumper reinforcement. Biasing means interposed between the support means and the airfoil normally biases the latter towards the underside of the bumper face bar in a concealed position beneath the vehicle. The hinge means provides a hinge axis extending laterally of the vehicle about which the airfoil is deployable.

Abstract: A fastening clip comprising a rectangular shaft portion connected to a support disk by a preset frangible point and pivotally connected to a pair of spread arms which are pivotally connected to a pair of jamming arms formed on the support disk. The clip shaft portion is provided with recesses cooperating with the broken edges of the preset frangible point to keep the clip in its fastened condition.

Abstract: A linkage for controlling the motion of a member reciprocated in substantially a circular arc. The linkage comprises a shaft rotatable in alternate directions between first and second positions, an arm secured to the shaft for rotation therewith and a member pivotally connected to the arm at a first location spaced from the shaft. A radius arm is mounted on the shaft for rotations relative thereto, the radius arm having a sliding connection with the member at a second location spaced from the shaft and from the first location. A stop means limits movement of the radius arm to an arc less than the arc between the first and second positions of the shaft.The linkage is particularly adapted to control the motion of a wiper blade in a wiper assembly for the rear window of a vehicle.

Abstract: A cyclic motion generator comprising a mechanism capable of providing from a constant speed input a cyclic motion output, either linear or rotary depending on the application, which can be sinusoidal. The new mechanism has the further capability of being conveniently manually infinitely adjustable in amplitude from zero to maximum without requiring stoppage or disconnection of the input or the output.

Abstract: A combined reaction nozzle and fin control servo system to provide separate reaction and fin control of a missile for both high and low velocity flight phases. The servo system automatically provides a high gas flow rate for reaction nozzle control and a lower gas flow rate for fin control.The servo system comprises a gas generator in communication with the reaction nozzles and fins, the flow of gas being regulated by a plurality of dual area piston actuators, control valves and a relief valve.