Abstract: A vehicle illumination device for a license plate that includes a frame enclosing a clear plastic wedge which serves as a light pipe for a light source placed along one edge of the clear plastic wedge. Upon energizing the light source, the light pipe provides an evenly distributed lighting of the vehicle plate while requiring less mounting depth than required by conventional lens lighting devices.

Abstract: An assembly for providing socket plate torque restraint for a variable displacement wobble plate refrigerant compressor includes a non-rotary cross groove joint. The joint has a cylindrical outer race, a cylindrical inner race, slightly angled helical grooves in the races, a plurality of torque receiving balls and a cage for properly maintaining and positioning the balls in the cooperating grooves for operation. The joint is connected to a fixed anti-rotational shaft. The shaft is in the form of a sleeve and forms the inner race to effect torque restraint, but at the same time allow for translational axial motion of the socket plate. Radial and thrust bearings mount said socket plate relative to the rotary hub/journal. Lubricating fluid carried by the gaseous refrigerant lubricates the grooves and is then transferred by a passage extending from the grooves in the outer race to the radial/thrust bearings.

Abstract: A vehicle door assembly has a pair of spaced guide channels carried below its belt line which slidably receives pin guides secured to the sides of the lower end portion of the window for guiding the movement of a window between its open and closed positions. The window is bent along a horizontal line so that its exterior surface will be substantially flush with an exterior surface of the door assembly when in its closed position. The door assembly also includes a door frame means which permits lateral movement of the window as it is moved between its open and closed positions and a seal means carried by the door frame which engages the window along its interior sides to bias the same outwardly toward an outer flange on the door frame.

Abstract: A vehicle door assembly has a framed door and a window which is movable between open and closed positions. The window is biased outwardly toward an outer flange on the framed door by a first seal and is guided via pin guides secured to its side lower end by guide channels which include outwardly curved upper guide track sections which are supported for limited movement relative to the stationary lower guide tracks. The upper curved guide track sections are movable by the pin guides as the window approaches its closed position so the window will be substantiallly flush on all four sides with the door frame and outer door panel and thus this flushness is achieved irrespective of the tolerance variatons in the height of the frame and window.

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.

Abstract: A twist lock pivot pin is provided for rotatably connecting a lift arm of a cross arm window regulator mechanism for a vehicle window to a support panel. The lift arm has a non-circular through opening and the pivot pin, which is rotatably supported by the support panel, is provided with a complementary shaped non-circular head which is insertable through the non-circular opening in the lift arm. The head of the pivot pin is undercut to define a neck which engages a side surface of the non-circular opening in the lift arm when the pivot pin is rotated 75.degree. to cause sections of the head to overlie the lift arm to lock the lift arm to the support panel against movement axially of the pivot pin. A counterbalance spring then biases the neck of the pivot pin into engagement with the lift arm.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to an adjustable hinge assembly for a vehicle closure or deck lid which can be readily, vertically adjusted to enable the deck lid to be positioned so as to be flush with adjacent quarter panels of the vehicle when in a closed position. This is achieved by providing a stationary hinge box with slotted sides and a horizontal slide with skewed slotted sides to effect vertical movement of a hinge pivot of a hinge strap to raise and lower a deck lid connected to the hinge strap.

Abstract: The present invention provides a hinge assembly which comprises a three link, six pivot linkage arrangements constructed and arranged such that when a deck lid is being initially moved from its closed position toward an open position the deck lid will be caused to be rapidly moved vertically upward from its associated seal means with only very minor pivotal movement until the closure panel clears the seal means located adjacent the hinge assemblies whereby the exertion of transverse forces against the seal means due to any wiping action of the closure panel on the seal means as it is initially moved to its open position is minimized.

Abstract: The disclosure involves a lock and control assembly which can be either manually operated after insertion of a key in a lock cylinder or electrically energized by a switch from a remote location so that it can be thereafter manually manipulated without insertion of the key in the lock cylinder. The lock and control assembly also includes a mechanical override means to enable it to be actuated to its locked position, but not its unlocked position, in the event of an electrical power failure or a failure in the energizable means.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an adjustable hinge assembly for a vehicle closure or deck lid which can be readily, vertically adjusted to enable the closure or deck lid to be positioned so as to be flush with adjacent exterior body structure of the vehicle when in a closed position. The assembly includes a hinge box, a vertical slide which carries a hinge pivot, adjustment means for vertically raising and lowering the slide and cooperable guides on the slide and hinge box for guiding the movement of the slide in a vertical path.

Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly has a seat frame, and an integrated elastomeric filament suspension and fabric cover in which the elastomeric filaments and yarn for the fabric are knitted together and stretched over the frame to provide a low profile finished seat or back rest which functions both as a suspension and as an aesthetic trim cover.

Abstract: A vehicle door assembly which is hingedly connected to a side pillar of an automotive vehicle and which includes an operating mechanism for automatically pivoting a side window of the door assembly from an inner severely inwardly sloped position toward an outer generally vertical position in response to movement of the door assembly from a closed position toward an open position so as to permit easy entrance into exit from the vehicle.

Abstract: A fastening element for connecting a component to an apertured panel. The fastening element has a shank with a rounded end for latching engagement with a female latch member. This female latch member is rigidly connected with the component to be fastened or formed integrally therewith. The shank is adapted for limited pivotal movement in the female latch member. During removal of the component, the spherical member is caused to disengage from the female latch member prior to the shank disengaging.

Abstract: A seat assembly for an automotive vehicle comprises a seat cushion unit, a back rest unit and an arcuate guide and pivotable roller hinge arm arrangement which is rollably received in the arcuate guide and which is operable to initially guide the back rest unit upwardly and forwardly from its normal upright position to an intermediate position above the seat cushion unit when the back rest unit is moved forwardly and then allow the back rest unit to be pivoted forwardly to a folded position in which it overlies the seat cushion unit while remaining operatively connected with the arcuate guide whereby the back rest unit will have its back side substantially horizontally disposed when folded.

Abstract: A compact vehicle hood latch and pop-up device can be pressembled as a unit and mounted to a vehicle and cooperate with a single striker on the hood to effect latching, pop-up and unlatching of the hood. It includes a pivotal primary latch, a detent lever cooperable with the primary latch, a pop-up lever extending across the path of the striker to effect movement of the latter to a pop-up position when the primary latch is released and a secondary latch to release the striker from its pop-up position.

Abstract: A striker assembly includes a striker member fixed to mounting bracket. Studs secured to the bracket extend outwardly through enlarged openings in the body member. Nuts and washers secure the brackets to the member and permit exterior adjustment of the bracket and striker with the closure closed and latched to the striker member. Anti-theft means in the form of a round convex headed stud which extends through aligned openings in the body panel and the support bracket. A nut secures the round headed stud to the second bracket and with the stud clampingly engaging the exterior side of the body panel so that it cannot be removed by any tool.

Abstract: A completely mechanical hold open device for a swingably mounted vehicle closure includes a pair of telescoping members pivotally connected to the closure and vehicle body and a releasable latching means for automatically holding the telescoping members in an extended position and hence the closure in its open position. The latching means is constructed such that it can be automatically released by merely exerting a downward force in excess of a predetermined magnitude on the closure to move the latter to its closed position.

Abstract: A completely mechanical hold open device for a swingably mounted vehicle closure includes a pair of telescoping members pivotally connected to the closure and vehicle body and a releasable latching means for automatically holding the telescoping members in an extended position and hence the closure in its open position. The latching means is constructed such that it can be automatically released by merely exerting a downward force in excess of a predetermined magnitude on the closure to move the latter to its closed position.

Abstract: A down stop for a cross arm window regulator for moving a vehicle window between open and closed position is provided. The down stop comprises an elongated slider means which can either be fixed or made adjustable in length which is slidably received within a sash channel secured to the lower end of the window and between the guides carried by the cross arms of the cross arm window regulator. The slider means has its opposite ends engageable with the guides on the cross arm window regulator when the window has been moved to a fully open position to prevent further movement of the window.

Abstract: A compact, relatively simple hood latch assembly for latching and unlatching a hood of an automotive vehicle is provided in which all the components can be housed in a single housing and which includes only a single pivotal latching lever for providing both a primary latch and a secondary latch.