Abstract: An electrical plug connector has a plug portion that extends to an integral medial annular flange that serves as a pilot and stop for a shroud of a mating electrical socket connector. The flange has a forward stop shoulder of reduced height that forms a ledge, and a pair of vertically spaced retainer lips that are integrally attached to the ledge and that extend forwardly of the ledge in an axial direction. The electrical plug connector includes an elastomeric interface seal for forming a seal between the plug portion and the shroud of the mating electrical socket connector that comprises an annular body and a plurality of flexible sealing lips that biasingly engage an inner surface of the shroud when the electrical plug connector is plugged in.

Abstract: A door hinge assembly pivotably mounts a vehicle door member to a body structure member. The assembly includes a first hinge strap mounted to one of the members and having a vertical opening. A second hinge strap is mounted to the other member and has a spherical concave surface. A hinge pin is interposed between the hinge straps. The hinge pin has a portion received by the vertical opening of the first hinge strap. The hinge pin has a spherical convex surface for engaging the concave surface of the second hinge strap allowing variance in relative orientation of the hinge pin to the second hinge strap. The hinge pin is rotatably retained to one of the hinge straps allowing pivotable movement between the members. A removable retention bolt is carried between the hinge pin and the other hinge strap for retaining the hinge pin to the other hinge strap. The retention bolt allows removable retention of the door member to the body structure member.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly has a multiple cavity thermoplastic connector body for receiving cylindrical terminals. The connector body has cantilevered deflectable arms provided with underlocks which overlie open channels provided with aligned lock ramps. The terminals, when being connected to the connector body, engage the ramps and cause the arms to be deflected from their normal position until lands on the terminal move past the lock ramps and underlocks on the arms whereupon the arms snap back to their normal position and provide an audible click to apprise an assembler that the terminal has been properly connected.

Abstract: A leveling arrangement for a vehicle headlamp that includes a support portion formed in the upper portion of the reflector member that has a spirit level member mounted thereon which is characterized in that it includes a living hinge serving as a pivotal connection for a depending member fastened to a substantially vertically oriented surface of the support portion so that rotation of screw means carried by the spirit level results in pivotal movement and calibration of the spirit level relative to the optical axis of the reflector member.

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: An apparatus for connecting a polymeric composite pickup truck cargo box to a metallic vehicle frame without damaging the polymeric composite material of the pickup truck cargo box. The connecting apparatus is a tapping plate which allows for the distribution of forces applied by a self-tapping fastener over a broad area of the pickup truck cargo box so as not to tear or puncture the polymeric composite material. The connecting apparatus also separates the polymeric composite pickup truck cargo box from the metallic vehicle frame so that the polymeric composite material does not degrade over time.

Abstract: An electrical assembly comprises an electrical connector and an electrical device such as a sensor that are connected directly to each other. The electrical connector has a one-piece connector body of moldable, thermoplastic electrically insulative material that has a socket at one end for receiving a mating electrical connector, and a platform at the other end supporting the electrical device. One-piece terminals are insert molded in the connector body so that the insert molded terminals have exposed contacts at one end that project into the socket and exposed contacts at the other end that project outwardly of the platform. The electrical device is fastened to the platform mechanically and has prongs that engage the exposed contacts at the other end of the insert molded terminals. The electrical assembly may also include a second electrical device such as a diode that is fastened to the front of the platform and electrically connected to the exposed contacts of the insert molded terminals.

Abstract: A seat assembly has a seat cushion provided with hook strip fasteners located at the bottom of recesses in the cushion. A trim cover has selvage end projections at adjacently sewn together panels provided with a serge seam formed by overcast stitching a fiber thread therealong. The serge seam provides a loop fastener strip for attaching to the hook strip fasteners when the trim cover is placed over the cushion and the trim cover pressed into place.

Abstract: Mechanical massaging device incorporated in the back rest of a seat or other supporting equipment that has a pair of cross shafts operatively mounting paired rolling massaging wheels that can be selectively positioned and rotated to produce massaging through suspension fabric on the body of a person supported thereon. The massaging device has three centralized input shafts extending longitudinally within the confines of a cavity in the back rest or other support which are selectively driven by user controlled motors remote from the massaging wheels. The lateral spacing of the massaging wheels as well as their rotation can be adjusted. The massaging wheels can be selectively positioned at an infinitely number of vertical positions within the cavity to provide massaging action for enhancing the supply of blood to supported body areas under pressure of body weight.

Abstract: An annular elastomeric seal for use with mating plug and socket connectors and having axially spaced sealing ribs which are tapered and skewed with respect to the axes of mating plug and socket connectors whereby the force required to connect the connectors together is reduced.

Abstract: A connecting apparatus for connecting a composite outer body panel of a vehicle to a composite underbody of a vehicle whereby the composite outer body panel is allowed to move relative to the composite underbody due to thermal expansion and contraction caused by the aforementioned members having different coefficients of linear thermal expansion. The connecting apparatus is subtle in appearance, hidden from outside the vehicle and simple to assemble and disassemble.

Abstract: A fan shroud, radiator and condenser assembly for an air conditioned vehicle whereby a limited number of fasteners are utilized so as to provide a more efficient and maintenance free assembly. The components of the assembly are connected through a slidable connecting means, and a pre-stressed mounting panel is utilized to secure and maintain the components in their assembled positions.

Abstract: An electrical distribution center electrically interconnects electrical and electronic devices and electrical connectors of wiring harnesses. The electrical distribution center comprises a main bus plate that includes a plurality of stamped metal circuit components that are insert molded in an insulation board. The stamped metal circuit components have a plurality of male blade terminals that project outwardly of the insulation board and that include wire receiving slots. The main bus plate is sandwiched between upper and lower bus plates that each include a plurality of wire circuit components in an insulated routing board that has slots extending through it. The male blade terminals of the main bus plate project through the slots of the upper and lower bus plates for connection with the electrical and electronic components and the electrical connectors of the wiring harnesses.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a plastic reveal molding and retainer assembly for attachment to an apertured side body or door panel of an automotive vehicle. The retainer has a planar bottom portion which can be readily attached to the panel, a pair of deflectable end portions which are integrally connected to the bottom portion via living hinges and a deflectable barbed fastener integral with the bottom portion and projecting transversely therefrom. The molding is elongated, has an arcuate shape, as viewed in cross section, and has pairs of spaced chordally extending flanges adjacent its opposite ends and a pair of spaced apertured flanges at its center. The molding is attached to the retainer by moving the same thereover so that the end portion of the retainers are captured between the pairs of chordally extending flanges and so that the central flanges are snap fitted over the barbed fastener with a force fit to hold the molding in place.

Abstract: An adjustable side view mirror that utilizes a flexible seal between a mirror and a headshell of the adjustable side view mirror so as to eliminate wind noise created by the clearance between the mirror and the headshell of a conventional adjustable side view mirror. The flexible seal allows the mirror to be mounted outside the headshell which allows for a reduction in the size of the headshell, therefore creating less wind resistance when traveling, which in turn leads to a greater efficiency of the vehicle. The flexible seal prevents moisture and contamination from entering the headshell and possibly damaging a power pack for adjusting the mirror.

Abstract: A terminal block has terminal cavities housing female terminals having a side wall and vertically spaced, deflectable lock tangs that project rearwardly and outwardly. The terminal cavities have internal projection locks on their respective top and bottom walls that cooperate with the deflectable lock tangs to lock the female terminal in place. An axial rail depends from each of the top and bottom walls of the terminal cavities to divide wide axial slots leading to the internal projection locks into two narrow parallel slots that accommodate the cooperating lock tangs of the female terminal. The axial rails locate the female terminals vertically in the terminal cavities and also prevent improper insertion of male blade terminals between the female terminals and the top or bottom walls of the terminal cavities.

Abstract: A nut and retainer assembly for mounting an engine cradle to a vehicle frame. The assembly has a nut with a planar base and a hub provided with a threaded opening and a one-piece, spring steel, sheet metal retainer. The retainer has an apertured planar body, a pair of U-shaped channels along its sides and a pair of spaced deflectable tabs for loosely slidably receiving and retaining the planar base of the nut so as to have limited floating movement relative to the retainer. The retainer also has a deflectable third tab and a deflectable hand to enable it to be readily detachably connected to the vehicle frame.

Abstract: An electrical terminal for making butt contact with a dome shaped contact of an electrical device comprises an elongated base plate that has a contact support at a forward end that is integrally attached to a longitudinal side of the elongated base. A resilient contact tongue is integrally attached to the contact support and extends rearwardly over the elongated base plate in cantilever fashion. The contact tongue is bow shaped in the longitudinal direction and has a curved mid span or apex portion that is arcuate in cross section for butt engaging a dome shaped contact of an electrical device.

Abstract: A molding assembly in which an elongated plastic molding is anchored to a vehicle door via a central clip and slidably supported by end clips so that thermal expansion and contraction takes place evenly from the midpoint of the molding so that the ends of the molding are always evenly spaced from the front and rear edges of the door. The end clips having flexible straps extending transversely of the sides of the clips and the straps are engageable with abutments on the molding so that the clips can be pre-assembled on the molding.

Abstract: A vehicle closure latch mechanism that prohibits relative movement between a latch bolt and a latch assembly so as to prohibit the creation of noise during random vibration caused by the operation of the vehicle. The closure latch mechanism restrains the latch bolt from moving in any lateral direction relative to its longitudinal axis and also restrains axial movement outwardly toward the open position, as well as resisting axial movement inwardly toward the closed position.