Abstract: A window receiving assembly is carried by a frame of a vehicle door. A metallic channel has a mounting surface for mounting to the frame and a pair of side walls projecting from the mounting surface and defines a window receiving channel with an opening. The inboard side wall of the metallic channel has an edge rolled into the window receiving channel defining a lip and the outboard side wall consists of an upper portion in proximity to the mounting surface and a lower portion where the lower portion is rolled into the window receiving channel. A molding is extruded to the lower portion of the channel forming a sealing surface for engaging an exterior surface of the window. The sealing surface of the molding and the upper portion of the outboard side of the channel define a void where the window receiving channel widens compared to the opening.

Abstract: An assembly secures a pair of rods to a door inner panel and allows linear and lateral movement of the rods relative to the door inner panel. The door inner panel has a keyhole shaped slot including an access portion and a retaining portion. The assembly includes a one-piece flexible rubber rod clip having a rod insulation portion and a tab portion. The rod insulation portion has a pair of oblong bores for receiving the rods for spacing and insulating the rods from the door inner panel. The rod insulation portion has a pair of channels, each channel connecting one of the bores to an outer surface for installing the rods into the bores. The rod insulation portion has a base for engaging the door inner panel. The tab portion has a locking tab spaced from the base of the rod insualtion portion by a trunk.

Abstract: A first plastic body panel has an appearance panel with an appearance surface and an adjoining edge. The body panel has a tongue projecting from the adjoining edge generally parallel and recessed from the appearance surface. The tongue has an appearance side and a hidden side with the hidden side having a plurality of ribs. A second plastic body panel has an appearance panel with an appearance surface and an adjoining edge. The second plastic body panel has an inboard "L" shaped flange spaced and generally parallel to the appearance panel at the adjoining edge. The appearance panel and the flange of the second body panel define a slot at the adjoining edge for receiving the tongue of the first plastic body panel for slideably connecting the panels with the ribs of the tongue engaging the inboard "L" shaped flange. The appearance surfaces are coplanar at the adjoining edges whereby the panels can move relative to each other while maintaining the appearance surfaces coplanar at the adjoining edges.

Abstract: A fastener joins a pair of ends of a weather-strip, where the weather-strip has a channel shaped weather-strip carrier of elastomeric material with an encapsulated U-shaped reinforcement. The spaced apart walls of the carrier are connected by a base and one of the walls of the carrier carries a bulbous weather-strip portion of the weather-strip. The fastener has a base for engaging the base of the carrier. A first wall of the fastener is formed integrally with the base and projects normally from the base for engaging one of the walls of the carrier. A second wall of the fastener is formed integrally with the base and projects normally from the base for engaging the other wall of the carrier. A pair of prongs is formed integrally with the base and projects normally from the base with each prong piercing the base of the carrier near one of the ends and each prong being bent after piercing the base for mechanically retaining the base of the carrier near the end of the carrier.

Abstract: A hinge assembly rotatably mounts a vehicle door to a vehicle body structure. The hinge assembly has a movable hinge strap mounted to the vehicle door. A stationary hinge strap is mounted to the vehicle body structure and has a roller assembly. A hinge pin pivotally connects the hinge straps for rotatable movement of the door between an open position and a closed position. A curved detent link is carried by the movable hinge strap and has a pair of ends with each end having a hole. The detent link has a scalloped engagement edge with indentations. The indentations are engageable with the roller assembly for positioning the door in the open position and the closed position. Elastomeric fillers located in each hole connect each of the ends of the detent link to the movable hinge strap for allowing lateral movement of the detent link.

Abstract: A seat belt anchor for detachably mounting a seat belt on a bolt has a shank extending axially from a vehicle body panel and a bolt head projecting in a radial direction from the shank. The seat belt anchor has an anchor plate with a keyhole shaped slot including an access portion for receiving the bolt head and a retaining portion which is narrower than the bolt head and further from the seat belt than the access portion for receiving the shank of the belt. The anchor plate is mounted on the bolt when the retaining portion of the keyhole shaped slot is registered with the bolt head. An axially yieldable spring carried by the anchor plate axially engages the bolt head to urge the anchor plate into engagement with the bolt head. A spring and a pair of detent bosses carried by the anchor plate engage with the bolt head to retain the anchor plate radially holding the bolt in the retaining portion of the key hole slot.

Abstract: A vehicle door has a window raised and lowered by a window regulator mechanism in which a window regulator arm is coupled to a channel by a slider mounted on the arm by a swivel and slideably engaging the channel. The slider has a first pair of spaced apart opposed side surfaces, a second pair of spaced apart opposed side surfaces, and a square surface bounded by the side surfaces and having an eccentrically located mounting means for receiving the swivel. Selecting and locating one of the pairs of side surfaces for slideable engagement with the channel, slideably vertically locates the swivel in the channel and determines a specific vertical position of the swivel in the channel. The slider rotates to another orientation relative to the channel prior to installation in the channel and then locating the slider in the channel results in a different specific vertical position of the swivel in the channel. The vertical position of the swivel adjust the closed position of the window.

Abstract: A headrest with a closed frame consisting of a U-shaped support piece with the two arms of the support piece connected by a crossbar. Two stay bars designed for insertion in a backrest extend from the frame. The frame is covered by a foam-filled, hose-like, protective covering which leaves a central opening in the headrest. The invention also pertains to a method for producing a headrest of this type. The U-shaped support piece is threaded through an opening in the protective covering. The crossbar is inserted into the opening in the protective covering and locked between the arms of the U-shaped support piece. The space between the U-shaped support piece and the crossbar and the protective covering is filled with the foam.

Abstract: A hinge assembly for mounting to a body structure of a vehicle a movable closure panel granting access to a compartment. A compact area in the compartment is defined by a partition dividing from the passenger compartment, a leading edge of the closure panel and a raised floor in the compartment. The hinge assembly has a bracket mounted to the body structure in the compact area of the compartment and projecting under the leading edge of the closure panel. The bracket has a pair of plates each having a guide slot. A hinge strap is interposed between the two plates of the bracket and has an end secured to the closure panel near the leading edge. A first guide roller is carried by the other end of the hinge strap and is slideably received by one of the guide slots for slideable movement of the other end of the hinge strap relative to the body structure.

Abstract: A steering column bracket assembly for a steering column of a vehicle body includes a filled polymeric plastic modular unit carried by the vehicle body having a U-shaped beam with an inner surface and an outer surface and a panel. The panel and the U-shaped beam define an air duct. The U-shaped beam has an upper wall, a side wall and a lower wall with the walls having a plurality of holes and at least one of the walls having a groove. A support bracket has a plurality of flanges for engaging the outer surface of the U-shaped beam and a protrusion for aligning with and being received by the groove of the U-shaped beam. A plurality of embossments on the support bracket align with and are received by the holes in the beam. A steering column bracket mounts to the support bracket securing the steering column to the support bracket. An insert bracket engages the inner surface of the U-shaped beam and has a recess for aligning with and receiving the groove of the U-shaped beam.

Abstract: A testing apparatus connects to an inflatable restraint and simulates the inflation curve of a pyrotechnic device used in a vehicle. A manifold connects the inflatable restraint to a pair of parallel accumulators for communicating a gas to the inflatable restraint. The accumulators store gas at a high pressure. A valve is connected and interposed between each of the accumulators and the manifold for releasing the flow of the gas out of the accumulators. An adjustable orifice is connected and interposed between each of the valves and the manifold for regulating the flow of the gas out of the accumulators. A flow shut off device is connected to the manifold and is interposed between the accumulators and the inflatable restraint and is adapted for stopping the flow of gas from the first and second accumulator to the inflatable restraint.

Abstract: A window receiving assembly is carried by a frame of a vehicle door. A metallic channel has a mounting surface for mounting to the frame and a pair of side walls projecting from the mounting surface and defines a window receiving channel with an opening. The inboard side wall of the metallic channel has an edge rolled into the window receiving channel defining a lip and the outboard side wall consists of an upper portion in proximity to the mounting surface and a lower portion where the lower portion is rolled into the window receiving channel. A molding is extruded to the lower portion of the channel forming a sealing surface for engaging an exterior surface of the window. The sealing surface of the molding and the upper portion of the outboard side of the channel define a void where the window receiving channel widens compared to the opening.

Abstract: A wheel cover retention system has a wheel cover with a cover face for covering a central portion of a wheel and a plurality of integral tubular extensions for attaching the wheel cover to the lug nuts of the wheel. Each extension has an outer end which opens onto the cover face and also including a plurality of slots extending axially from an inner end with the slots providing a plurality of fingers which axially forcibly engage with an annular rib of a respective lug nut. The fingers each have an abutment with a tapered wall for engaging the lug nut for flexing the finger radially outward as the wheel cover moves axially towards the wheel and a retaining wall for engaging the lug nut restricting disengaging of the fingers with the abutment. A one-piece wire band retainer has a plurality of circumferentially expanding rings.

Abstract: An assembly for mounting a molding to a vehicle body has a windshield supported by a pillar. The pillar has an outer pillar component and an inner pillar component with the components mounted together. A one piece energy absorbing bracket is interposed between the pillar and the molding. The energy absorbing bracket has a base mounted to the inner pillar component. A mounting portion of the bracket conforms to the shape of the molding and carries the molding. A support portion connects the mounting portion to the base and spaces the molding from the pillar. A foot of the bracket engages the pillar to provide stability of the bracket relative to the pillar. A buckling portion connects the mounting portion to the foot and is adapted to undergo deformation when subject to a force of impact transmitted through the molding. The components of the pillar each have a channel shape and open towards each other.

Abstract: A latch assembly for latching and unlatching a pivotally movable closure panel of an automotive vehicle. A locking lever is pivotally supported by the vehicle for movement between a latched position in which an engaging portion thereof is latched to the striker on the closure panel to hold the latter in its closed position and an unlatched position in which the engaging portion releases the striker to allow the closure panel to be moved toward an open position. A detent lever is pivotally supported by the vehicle for movement between an engaged position in which a stepped portion thereof engages the locking lever to retain the latter in its latched position and a released position in which the first portion thereof releases the locking lever to allow the latter to be moved to its unlatched position.

Abstract: A power window assembly for a rear window opening of a truck cab has a pair of stationary window panes spaced apart and securely mounted in the rear window opening and defining therebetween a center window opening. First and second movable window panes are slidably located in the rear window opening and adapted for sliding movement toward each other to a closed position where the panes abut each other closing the center window opening and away from each other to an opened position overlying at least a portion of the stationary window panes thereby opening the center window opening. A reversible electric motor has a primary drive gear for generating rotary motion of the primary drive gear. A tape having a plurality of slots engaging and driven by the primary drive gear is connected to the first movable window so that the first movable window pane moves between the closed position and the opened position.

Abstract: An assembly for mounting a wheel opening skirt in a wheel access opening of a body panel of a motor vehicle. The skirt has a forward tab, a rear tab and a pair of center tabs. A bracket for the forward tab and each of the center tabs is permanently secured to the body panel. Each bracket has a slot for receiving the aligned tab retaining and positioning the skirt in an inboard-outboard position relative to the body panel. A ramp latch has a ramp surface with a slot for receiving the rear tab of the skirt to retain the skirt to the body panel. The ramp latch is pivotally mounted to the body panel for movement between an engaged position with the rear tab engagable by the slot and a released position with the rear tab disengaged from the slot. A spring engages the latch for biasing the latch to the engaged position.

Abstract: A strut has a cylinder body having one end closed and a piston rod which reciprocates into and out of the cylinder body through the other end thereof defining retracted and extended positions of the strut. A magnet mounted on the piston rod operates with the other end of the cylinder body in the extended position of the strut to create a magnetic force biasing the strut to the extended position. The magnet allows the strut to move from the extended position if a force sufficient to overcome the magnetic force is applied to the strut. A second embodiment has a spring mounted to the interior of the closed end of the cylinder. A first magnet is mounted on the piston rod creating a magnetic repulsive force between the two magnets urging the magnets away from each other. The spring force urging the first magnet towards the second magnet so that the strut is urged toward the extended position.

Abstract: A molding installation has a molding concealing a space between an edge of a window panel and a compartment lid. The molding is mounted on a body panel of the motor vehicle by a curable adhesive. The molding has a C-shaped channel member of plastic material fitted on the edge of the window panel and having spaced apart outer and inner legs which forcibly grip the opposed outer and inner faces of the window panel. A means of spacing the channel is coextruded with the channel member and adapted for engaging the body panel of the motor vehicle to space the window panel from the motor vehicle. A locking nub is coextruded with the channel member and has a head spaced from the channel member by a neck. The head is adapted to seat within the curable adhesive to mechanically retain the molding onto the body panel. A decorative portion is extruded integral with the means of spacing and has a brim projects towards the compartment lid for overlying the space between window panel and the compartment lid.

Abstract: An assembly for mounting a door trim panel having a mounting surface to a vehicle body door. The door trim panel has a plurality of appendages which project downward from the door trim panel and a plurality of fingers depending downward in proximity to an upper edge of the door trim panel. The door has a plurality of openings for receiving the appendages of the door trim panel adapted for securing the door trim panel to the door. The clips secured to the vehicle body door have a ramp surface for engagement by the finger of the door trim panel and adapt to slide the trim panel vertically relative to the door trim panel as the door trim panel is moved towards the body door. An engagement surface of the clip depends downward from an upper edge of the ramp surface for engaging the finger securing the trim panel to the body door.