Abstract: A hood latch assembly for latching and unlatching a hood for an automotive vehicle comprises a housing for receiving a striker on the hood, a locking lever spring biased toward an unlatched position in which it releases the striker, but movable to a latched position in reponse to the hood being closed, a detent lever for holding the locking lever in its latched position, a cable release and a release lever disposed between the detent lever and locking lever. The release lever is connected to the cable release and engages the detent lever to provide a high mechanical advantage to the detent lever, when actuated to release the hood, to reduce hood opening effort and the locking lever automatically returns the release lever and cable release to their original positions when moved to its unlatched position whereby no spring return for the cable release is required.

Abstract: A device for motorized opening and closing of pivotable body panels of motor vehicles, especially the rear trunk lid or rear hatch and/or the hood of automobiles, has a motor-actuated lever system engaging in an articulated manner, on the one hand, with the body panel, and on the other hand, with the body. The body end of the lever system is articulated at a slide block guided slidingly in a guide track. The slide block is operatively connected to a driver that is secured to a control cable. The ends of the control cable can be wound onto or off a common cable pulley actuated by an electric motor.

Abstract: A decorative trim molding assembly for a stationary quarter window of an automotive vehicle. The modling assembly comprises a plastic panel or bezel surrounding the quarter window and a generally C-shaped reveal molding attached thereto. The panel or bezel is molded so as to have a longitudinally extending recess on one side and first and second longitudinally offset barbed fasteners facing opposite each other and formed integral with side walls defining the openings through the panel and extending upwardly from the bottom of the recess. The C-shaped molding is attached to the panel by force fitting the curled ends of the molding over the barbs of the fasteners.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an adjustable hinge assembly and, more particularly, 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 quarter panels of the vehicle when in its closed position.

Abstract: An electrical connector arrangement for a steering column occupant cushion restraint system is provided to provide continuous electrical continuity between a sensor and an occupant restraint cushion when the steering wheel shaft is rotated relative to the steering column. The electrical connector arrangement includes a continuous coil which is wound and unwound depending on the direction of which the steering wheel is rotated and includes an automatic locking and unlocking means which automatically prevents any significant relative rotation between the inner and outer housings of the connector arrangement when the electrical connection arrangement is removed for service and which automatically allows relative rotation therebetween in response being connected or reconnected onto the steering column so that the continuous coil cannot be wound tighter while being removed for service.

Abstract: A slider, for use in slidably connecting a balance arm of a window regulator mechanism to a guide member having a pair of spaced planar edge portions defining a linear slot therebetween is disclosed. The slider is molded from a one piece plastic material and has a main body portion disposed within the slot of the guide member and first and second offset pairs of legs for engaging and straddling the opposite sides of the guide member in a manner to prevent twisting of the slider in a horizontal plane when it is reciprocably moved within the guide slot. One of the pairs of legs is provided with deflectable ears so that both pairs of legs are biased into engagement with the guide member on opposite sides thereof to prevent rattling therebetween.

Abstract: A hood release assembly which can be snap fittingly attached to an instrument panel having a rectangular opening. The assembly includes a plastic housing having one end slidably connected to the panel via a tongue and groove connection and its opposite end snap fittingly attached to the panel via an integral fastener on the housing, a cable release lever having integral pivot pins which are snap fittingly received within complementary shaped openings in the housing and a rear cover which is integrally connected to the housing via a living hinge at one end and releasably detentable with the housing at its other end to permit access to the housing from the rear thereof.

Abstract: A thin vehicle seat assembly having a tubular seat and back rest frame, seat and back rest cushion in the form of woven mats and means for attaching the mats to the seat and back rest frames. The woven mats comprise Hytrel elastomeric filaments extending perpendicular to each other and with the mats being prestretched in both directions to at least a 5-10% elongation prior to attachment to their respective frames.

Abstract: A one-piece plastic attachment for connecting a window glass to its associated sash channel. The attachment is generally U-shaped to define a bottom, a first side wall and a second side wall integrally hinged to the bottom. The side walls carry snap fastener elements to enable the attachment to be readily snap fittingly connected to the glass and are provided with deflectable wings to enable the attachment to be readily snap fittingly connected to the sash channel.

Abstract: A radio mounting assembly is disclosed having a pair of brackets for mounting a radio to an instrument panel of an automotive vehicle, a decorative trim bezel for concealing the space between the instrument panel and radio, fastener means for detachably connecting the bezel to the instrument panel without the fasteners being visible and wherein the bezel and the mounting brackets for the radio have cooperable means on there to automatically center and position the bezel relative to the radio face when being secured to the instrument panel.

Abstract: A venting arrangement for an automotive vehicle is provided in which its rear closure is automatically raised to a slightly open position in response to opening a door of the vehicle so that upon closing the door, entrapped air in the vehicle can escape through the rear to reduce door closing effort. The arrangement includes a latch and pull down mechanism for the rear closure of the vehicle to move the same between a partially open and a closed position and a control means including door jamb switches for energizing the pull down unit to raise the rear closure to its partially open position in response to opening movement of the door and to return the same to its fully closed position in response to closing of the door.

Abstract: A method for installing a fixed window on an automotive vehicle in which the window is adhesively secured by an adhesive, preferably uncured butyl rubber, within a trough defined by the body structure of the vehicle and in a manner such that the window is flush with the adjacent exterior surfaces of the body structure.

Abstract: A window assembly for a vehicle has a frame for connection with vehicle body structure, a fixed window in the frame which is substantially flush with the frame at its exterior, a sliding window moveable between open and closed positions and releasable locks for locking the sliding window in its closed position. The sliding window when moved to its open position is parallel to and behind the fixed window and when moved forward its closed position is also automatically cammed and moved outwardly so as to lie in the same plane and be flush with the fixed window.

Abstract: A vehicle hood mounted air extractor assembly for extracting air from an engine compartment. The air extractor assembly includes a louver mounted to the hood and a one piece molded plastic drain pan and screen which are integrally connected together via living hinges at one side thereof, foldable at the hinges to position the drain pan beneath the screen, then snap fittingly connected together at their other sides and then readily connected to the underside of the hood louver.

Abstract: An easy entry seat adjuster mechanism for a seat assembly having a seat cushion unit and a pivotal back rest and which functions to allow the seat cushion unit to be adjustably positioned along a track and which functions to allow the seat to be shifted forwardly in response to tilting movement of the seat back to permit easy entry into the rear seat and then to automatically return the seat to its previously adjusted position upon return of the back rest to its upright position and shifting the seat rearwardly. The seat adjuster mechanism has a memory means, including a stationary rack and toothed gear operatively associated with a lock lever on the seat adjuster for effecting the automatic repositioning of the seat to its previously adjusted position.

Abstract: A vehicle door assembly having an unframed window which can be readily adjusted to properly position the same in its up position during vehicle assembly. This positioning is accomplished by employing glass stabilizers and upstops which can be loosely slidably mounted on the door assembly and which are automatically moved and/or can be readily adjusted against a seal on the vehicle body when the window is raised and then tightened.

Abstract: A coupling device which can be readily attached to a vehicle lifting jack and connected with a wheel nut to loosen the latter in response to operation of the jack. The coupling device comprises an adapter housing which is adapted to be slidably received over a vehicle engaging end portion of the lifting jack, a bushing means having an opening therethrough, a pivot means for pivotally connecting said bushing to said adaptor housing, and wrench having a socket engaging end portion adapted to be fitted over a wheel nut and a handle portion which is slidably received in said opening in said bushing. Operation of the jack causes the vehicle engaging end portion thereof to be moved to cause the handle to be rotated to loosen the wheel nut.

Abstract: A two piece tubular front end support structure which is adapted to be readily attached to the upper and lower tie bars of a vehicle frame means. The two piece support structures comprises a generally U-shaped support member having a pair of horizontally spaced legs to which a pair of headlamp assemblies are respectively secured and a cross brace member welded to the legs of the main member and to which a hood latch assembly is adapted to be secured.

Abstract: A molded, one piece plastic glass stabilizer for capturing a side edge portion of a movable window in a frameless vehicle door when the window is lowered is disclosed. The stabilizer is supported in cantilever fashion and has a U-shaped portion defining a pair of spaced legs and a vertical through recess through which the glass passes. The legs include pairs of deflectable fingers having elliptically shaped free ends which are deflected by and engage the opposite sides of the glass with a minimum of friction while preventing rattling and vibration of the glass.

Abstract: A thin inflatable elastomeric vehicle seat comprised of a pair of elastomeric sheets which are heat sealed together to define a peripheral manifold and discrete horizontal sections, pressurized with a gas to stretch the elastomeric material into its hysteresis range and then attached to a frame to provide a cushioned seat.