Abstract: A park lock mechanism for a transmission of a vehicle having a pawl pivotally mounted adjacent a park gear. The pawl selectively engages the park gear to prevent rotation of an output shaft. The mechanism also includes pawl actuator member having a generally flat portion on one end and an engaging surface on another end. The pawl actuator member selectively engages the engaging surface with or disengages the engaging surface from the park pawl. The mechanism further includes a manual lever, which rotates about an axis. The manual lever includes a first contact surface and a second contact surface; wherein the first contact surface is spaced closer to the axis than the second contact surface. Upon rotation of the manual lever in a first direction, the second contact surface drives the generally flat portion of the pawl actuator member to engage the pawl actuator member with the pawl.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a transmission for an automotive vehicle having a clutch retainer assembly or thrust bulkhead fixedly secured to the transmission housing and interdisposed between the reverse clutch assembly and the fourth clutch assembly. A pair of thrust bearing assemblies are interdisposed between the clutch assemblies and the thrust bulkhead to transfer the axial thrust loads generated by the multiple planetary gear assemblies through the thrust bulkhead to the transmission housing.

Abstract: A utility hook for a pick-up truck is provided. Every Pick-up truck has some sort of bed or cargo carrying area. Typically, the bed is bound by sidewalls that include a vertical exterior wall, a horizontal top portion and a short overhang section. The preferred embodiment of the present invention provides for a base disposed below and attached to the horizontal top portion and between the vertical exterior wall and the short vertical overhang. An attachment structure is pivotally attached to the base via a pivot pin. Attachment structure includes an orientation section and a cargo engagement section disposed on opposite side of the pivot pin. The attachment structure is capable of pivoting such that it is disposed vertically above a plane formed perpendicular to the bottom edge of the short vertical overhang. A stop is also provided to contact the orientation section in order to hold the attachment structure in a defined orientation with respect to said base.

Abstract: A heat sink assembly to remove heat from electrical components mounted on a circuit board is disclosed. The assembly contains a housing that is formed from a suitable heat sinking material and is appropriate for receiving a circuit board with surface mounted electrical components. The invention provides an improved apparatus for establishing thermal contact from a heat generating, surface mounted electrical component to the housing. A resilient biasing element is fixed in relation to the circuit board and the housing in order to urge the circuit board with a plurality of surface mounted electrical components in thermal contact with the housing. Once the heat sink is assembled the invention provides various means for which heat can be readily transferred from the electrical components to the housing.

Abstract: A cover for a spare tire storage system including a tub located beneath a floor of a vehicle. The cover includes a pivoting element utilized to pivot the cover to gain access to the tub. The pivoting element is also capable of being removed so that the entire cover can be removed from the vehicle and used as a working mat.

Abstract: An automatic transmission control system is provided with extreme cold logic wherein when the transmission oil temperature is below a predetermined temperature so as to cause the transmission oil to have extremely viscus characteristics, the transmission prevents faulty shifting by limiting shifts between first and third gears. The first gear is obtained by application of a single hydraulically controlled clutch element in combination with a freewheel clutch element while the third gear operation can be obtained by engagement of a second clutch element in combination with the first clutch element. Since the shift between first and third gears only requires the application of the second clutch element in combination with the already engaged first clutch element, there is no risk of torque overlap between elements.

Abstract: An arrangement for mounting a spare tire and a license plate to a motor vehicle. The license plate mount includes a base member connected to an external panel of the vehicle, a display cover adapted to be normally parallel and spaced from the external panel to allow a spare tire to be positioned therebetween, and a linkage connecting the display cover to the base member to allow the display cover to articulate about a hinge point for providing access to a spare tire.