Abstract: A fiber optic inline connector includes mating connector bodies each of which has a concentric protrusion at a connector end and a concentric cable passage that extends through the connector body from the connector end to a cable end. The concentric protrusions include a pair of diametrically opposed prongs and a pair of diametrically opposed slots that are orthogonally related to the diametrically opposed prongs so that the slots of each protrusion receive the prongs of the other protrusion to align the cable passages when the connector bodies are mated. The mated connector bodies are locked together by a pair of diametrically opposed stiff lock tongues and a pair of diametrically opposed flexible lock fingers at the connector end of each connector body that are spaced radially outwardly of the respective protrusions.

Abstract: A stabilizer guide for guiding a stabilizer, having a material characteristic of fraying, through an extrusion die without fraying and melting the stabilizer during the extrusion of a thermoplastic body molding of a motor vehicle. The stabilizer guide is made up of two halves that join to form a parting line and a slot by which to guide the stabilizer through the extrusion die. The slot extends along the entire length of the stabilizer guide and is located in a different plane than the parting line of the stabilizer guide. By having the slot in a different plane than the parting line, the stabilizer is prohibited from wandering into the parting line. This prevents the stabilizer from fraying and shredding and causing the slot to be obstructed by pieces of the stabilizer. Obstruction of the slot hampers the stabilizer from being guided through the stabilizer guide.

Abstract: A fiber optic bundle connector includes a hollow cone having a neck ring and a larger inlet ring at opposite ends of a conical body, a divider disposed in the cone that divides the interior of the cone into several compartments and a terminal block having an end fitted into the inlet ring of the cone. The terminal block has a plurality of terminal cavities that extend through the terminal block to communicate with respective ones of the several compartments. A plurality of jacketed fiber optic cables each having a ferrule attached to its jacket, are inserted through the respective terminal cavities so that their jacket stripped core ends extend into the neck ring of the cone. The neck ring of the cone is deformed by a permanently deformed cinch ring to produce a tightly packed bundle of jacket stripped core ends at a connector end of the fiber optic bundle connector.

Abstract: A fiber optic connector attaches a fiber optic harness having a plurality of jacketed optic fibers to an optical device that has a flat rectangular contact surface. The connector comprises an outer member that has a plural number of non-linearly arrayed, grooves that receive individual jacketed optic fibers of the harness. An inner member wedge in the rear end of the outer member guides and holds individual jacketed optic fibers in the respective grooves. Each groove converges toward and communicates with a slot at the front end of the connector. The slot receives stripped end portions of the optic fibers and holds them in an abutting linear array for engagement with the flat rectangular contact surface of the optical device. The connector may also include latches for retaining the optic fibers individually and springs for biasing each individual optic fiber into engagement with the flat contact surface of the optic device.

Abstract: An electrically insulated connector housing has a cable receiving end and a mating end and a plurality of spaced cavities extending longitudinally therethrough for receiving terminals crimped onto electrical cables which are positioned within the cavities. The connector assembly also includes an alignment overlay overlying the mating end of the connector housing and which is adhesively secured thereto. The overlay has openings therethrough which are arranged in a plurality of predetermined patterns and which are aligned with certain ones of the terminal cavities in the housing. The housing block has projections extending from the mating end at certain locations and the alignment overlay has notches at certain locations for receiving the projections to ensure that the overlay can only be adhesively secured to the housing if properly oriented relative to the housing block.

Abstract: Electric cables are passed through a hole in a transmission housing that is filled with transmission fluid by means of a sealed electrical connector system that comprises a sealed "pass through" electrical connector that is mounted in the hole of the transmission housing and an external mating connector. The pass through connector includes an insert that cooperates with solid metal pins of specially designed two-piece male terminals to seal the mating end of the pass through connector. The insert also serves as a secondary lock to insure that the male terminals are retained in the terminal cavities. The external mating connector also has an insert that has the same secondary lock feature to retain female terminals in its terminal cavities.

Abstract: A heat shielded spark plug boot assembly for an ignition cable connector comprises an L-shaped tubular, elastomeric boot having a cable end portion for receiving an ignition cable, a seal end portion for receiving a spark plug and sealing around its outer insulated part and an intermediate cavity portion for housing a terminal for connection with the spark plug. An L-shaped heat shield is stamped from flat metal heat stock and then bent and formed to provide a pair of spaced apart, generally parallel L-shaped sides, a back side having an inwardly indented semi-circular upper end and with the sides at their upper ends being rolled on the semi-circular upper end of the back and toward and into engagement with each other to form a semi-circle and longitudinal seam at their free edges. The upper portion of one side has a tab whose free end is received within a complementary shaped recess of the other upper end of the other side so as to interlock the two sides together.

Abstract: A battery cable assembly comprising a battery cable having a conductive core and an insulated sheet and a metal cable terminal having a generally forward planar eyelet portion and a rearward crimping portion for securing the terminal to the battery cable and with the eyelet portion having a central through opening and a pair of opposed notches at its sides. The battery cable assembly also includes a plastic, flexible battery terminal cover having a forward portion for slidably receiving the eyelet portion and a rearward portion for receiving the crimping portion of the terminal. The forward portion of the battery terminal cover has a top, bottom, side and end wall portions which define a rectangular slot through which the eyelet terminal can be inserted.

Abstract: A one piece, low profile plastic connector assurance member for use with plug and socket connectors having a lock arm and ramp to provide a primary lock when connected together. The assurance member has a generally rectangular frame and a pair of deflectable bridge portions extending between its sides. The deflectable bridge portions engage the ramp and snap over keeper projections on the lock arm with an audible click when the connectors are properly connected to provide assurance of proper connection.

Abstract: A plastic strap to which an underhood electrical cable for an underhood lamp is taped has one end connected to the hood adjacent its rear end and its other end connected to vehicle body structure adjacent a seal at the rear end of an engine compartment. The strap is at all times self-biased toward a circular loop position away from the seal so that the electrical cable cannot fold back on itself and be pinched between the hood and the seal when the hood is in its closed position.

Abstract: A U-nut in which a pair of axially aligned collars are formed on the opposed plate members of the nut with one of the collars having internal threads for accommodating a bolt and the other of the collars is provided with a reversely bent radially inwardly extending circular projection which serves as a locator for properly locating the nut relative to hole formed in a support panel.

Abstract: A high retention seat assembly has a seat cushion unit and a back rest unit which moves rearwardly relative to the seat cushion unit when subjected to severe loading by the occupant during a rear collision. A collapsible retention connected with the seat cushion unit and back rest unit is tensioned or pulled taut in response to rearward movement of the back rest unit relative to the seat cushion unit to limit rearward deflection of the back rest unit during such a rear collision.

Abstract: A stowaway armrest for a seat assembly for a vehicle which is pivotable about a single pivot on a seat back between a normal horizontal use position adjacent the side of the seat assembly and a horizontal stowed position behind the seat back. The single pivot has a pivot axis which is skewed with respect to a horizontal plane and vertical planes extending laterally and longitudinally through the vehicle so that the armrest is caused to rotate through a predetermined arcuate path when pivoted between its use and stowage positions and vice versa.

Abstract: A rear seat for an all purpose vehicle has front and rear legs that are releasably latched to pins located in escutcheons in the vehicle floor. The rear seat is manually folded and stored in the vehicle by releasing the rear legs and pivoting the seat forward on the front pins to a vertical position. The seat is removed from the vehicle by releasing the front legs when the seat is in the stored position and lifting the seat off the front pins. The latch mechanisms for the front and rear legs have locks so that the legs are not unlatched unintentionally. A lift assist mechanism is also provided for pivoting the seat forward on the front pins to the stored position.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrical female, box shaped terminal with a resilient contact arm which can receive different thicknesses of mating male terminals. The female terminal provides a controlled normally directed contact force against the male terminal.

Abstract: A motor vehicle has a rear seat that comprises a bench seat and a seat back that is split. Each seat back part is pivotally mounted so that it folds down onto the bench seat to extend the load floor. Each seat back part is pivotally supported by a fixed pivot at the vehicle body or outboard side and a spring biased pivot at the inboard or center side that retracts to facilitate installation.

Abstract: A motor vehicle window molding installation has a molding for concealing a space between an inwardly extending wall of a flanged vehicle body panel and an edge of a window panel. The edge of the window panel overlies a parallel extended wall which intersects the inwardly extending wall of the flanged vehicle body panel and mounts on the parallel extended wall of the flanged vehicle body panel by a curable adhesive. The molding has a rigid high durometer plastic material portion having a C-shaped channel section including spaced apart legs which forcibly grip the opposed faces of the window panel and a base wall connecting the legs. A pliable low durometer plastic material portion is co-extruded with the rigid portion. The pliable portion has a web including a pair of ends which bond to the rigid portion. The web and the rigid portion form a bulbous tubular portion for engaging the inwardly extending wall of the vehicle body panel.

Abstract: Several variations of ignition cable assemblies that have a cable seal and a tower seal enclosing a terminal and a heat shrunk sleeve and their method of manufacture are disclosed. The cable seal insulates a substantial portion of the terminal to increase the dielectric strength of the assembly. The tower seal includes an elastomeric boot that is radially spaced from the contact of the terminal to sealingly engage an outer surface of a male or female tower. The heat shrunk sleeve forms at least part of the cable seal and it may be used to provide an angled dress for the ignition cable or to accommodate an angled terminal.

Abstract: A one piece thermoplastic sealing grommet for passing a plurality of electrical conductors through a hole in a panel and for sealing off the hole through the panel. The grommet comprises a substantially rigid support plate having an integral pilot wall which passes through the hole in the panel, a seal housing within the pilot wall for sealingly engaging individual conductors passing therethrough and a deflectable, integral, non-perpendicularly extending sealing flange surrounding the pilot to provide a face seal against said panel.

Abstract: An inertia responsive seat back lock mechanism for a pivotal back rest of a vehicle seat assembly is carried solely by a side arm on the back rest and includes a stop, a gravity biased inertia member pivotally connected to the side arm via an oversized opening and a lock bar pivotally and slidably connected to the side arm and having one end in engagement with the stationary cam on a seat cushion. The inertia member is normally biased in a locking position by the lock bar when the seat back is in its normal upright position. The lock mechanism provides a rapid lock up to prevent pivotal movement of the seat back upon rapid deceleration of the vehicle and in which the lock bar engages the inertia member and moves it against the lock stop to prevent further tilting movement.