Abstract: An improved manually adjustable vehicle seat assembly is disclosed.

Abstract: A seat frame assembly for a motor vehicle comprises a seat frame and a seat back frame. The seat frame and seat back frame are adapted to have cushions mounted thereon. At least one of the vertical support portions is formed from a pair of telescoping tubular blanks including an elongated inner metal blank formed into an integrally formed vertical member extending from a lower portion of the seat back frame to an upper end of the seat back frame and a relatively shorter outer metal blank formed into a sleeve rigidly secured in surrounding relation to the lower portion of the vertical support member.

Abstract: A connector structure for connecting a rigid member disposed towards the lower portion of one side of an automobile seat back to a rearward portion of an automobile seat. The connector structure enables the seat back to be reclined at varying angles by being pivoted about a first pivot point, and further enables the seat back to be positioned so that a back surface thereof provides a horizontal cargo support by being pivoted about a second pivot point. The connector structure comprises a seat member, an arm with a releasable locking assembly, a latch assembly, and a lever mechanism. The lever mechanism is manually movable to disable the latch assembly and thereby permit the arm to be moved about the first pivot point so that the seat back can be reclined at varying angles.

Abstract: Actuating structure is provided for manually moving hook members mounted on a rigid support structure. The rigid support structure supports a portion of a cushioned seat structure of a vehicle seat for use in a vehicle having a floor surface. The hook members are mounted on the rigid support structure for movement between (1) an operative position engaged in hooked relationship with anchor members of the floor surface so as to detachably fixedly retain the rigid support structure and the portion of the seat structure when mounted thereon in a fixed operative position on the floor surface and (2) an inoperative position disposed above the operative position thereof so as to enable the rigid support structure and the portion of the seat structure when mounted thereon to be moved relatively over the floor surface. The actuating structure is constructed and arranged to move the hook members between the operative and inoperative positions thereof.

Abstract: A parking brake mechanism having a spring pressed rotary assembly providing a cable connection movable in opposite directions within an arcuate path and a cylindrical surface movable in opposite directions within the plane of the cylindrical surface in conjunction with the movement of the cable connection.

Abstract: A vehicle door latch assembly comprises a latching mechanism carried by a vehicle door structure, a manually operable releasing assembly mounted on the door frame, a flexible cable, and a cable controlling assembly. The latching mechanism includes a movable releasing component and a latch, and is movable between an unlatched and latched relation with the door opening catch. The manually operable releasing assembly is mounted for resiliently biased movement into an inoperative position, the releasing assembly having a manually engageable component disposed outwardly of the interior panel. The manually engageable component can be manually engaged and moved to move the releasing assembly against the resilient bias thereof from the inoperative position thereof into an operative position so that upon manual release of the manually engageable component the resilient bias will return the releasing assembly into the inoperative position thereof.

Abstract: A striker assembly for a vehicle door opening comprising a base member having a central embossed portion provided with mounting holes and fastener receiving holes above and below the embossed portion and a striker member having mounting elements extending rearwardly therefrom constructed and arranged to pass through the mounting holes with free ends deformed to extend over the embossed portion to fixedly retain the striker member to the base member. The striker member has a mounting portion, a post portion extending from the mounting portion, a connecting portion extending from the end of the post portion in generally parallel relation to the mounting portion defining a latch receiving opening and an inner end portion.

Abstract: An automatic transmission lever position indicating device comprising a housing including a face wall structure presenting within an opaque background a sequence of translucent characters corresponding in sequence with the positions of the lever. A circuit board is mounted within the housing including leads for receiving and transmitting signals including the input signals of the automatic transmission. An illuminating assembly is carried by the circuit board for illuminating all of the sequence of translucent characters and additionally indicating by illumination one of the sequence of translucent characters corresponding to the position the lever is in.

Abstract: A remote control system for a vehicle or the like including a flexible Bowden wire assembly having an outer sheath and a wire movably mounted within the sheath so as to expose proximal and distal ends extending from proximal and distal ends of the sheath respectively, a first actuator mounted for movement in a first location, a second actuator mounted for movement in a remote second location, the sheath being extended between the first and second locations and having the proximal end thereof fixed in spaced relation to the first actuator and the remote end thereof fixed in spaced relation to the second actuator. One of the ends of the Bowden wire is fixed to one of the actuators. The other end of the Bowden wire has an elongated member fixed thereto so as to extend axially therefrom, the elongated member has a series of axially spaced annular grooves formed in the exterior periphery thereof.

Abstract: A vehicle seat comprises a seat back cushion assembly having a lower end and an upper end, and a seat cushion assembly having one end adjacent the lower end of the seat back assembly and an opposite end. A mounting structure is provided and is constructed and arranged with respect to the upper end of the seat back cushion assembly to mount the same so that the upper end does not move appreciably in a horizontal direction but can have limited vertical movement.

Abstract: A seat for a motor vehicle providing at least two modes of operation including an adult seat mode and a child seat mode. The seat has a rigid frame assembly having a seat cushion carried thereon, a rigid seat back frame assembly having a seat back cushion assembly carried thereon, the seat back frame assembly being mounted with respect to the rigid frame assembly for movement between an operative, generally vertical orientation and a second inoperative orientation whereby the seat back frame assembly is disposed in generally horizontal orientation in generally overlying relation with the seat cushion. The seat back cushion assembly includes a movable cushion assembly mounted on the seat back frame assembly and being movable between (1) an adult mode position wherein the movable cushion assembly provides an adult seat back and (2) a child mode position wherein the movable cushion assembly provides a child's seat disposed in overlying relation with the seat cushion.

Abstract: A three-mode seat for a motor vehicle cooperable with an adult seat belt assembly to provide three modes of operation including an adult seat mode, a large child booster seat mode, and a small child mode. The seat includes a child's seat module arranged to be secured to the seat back frame between the space provided between two side cushions. The module includes a rigid back panel which carries a cushion assembly and a child's seat belt assembly.

Abstract: A child seat module integrated with a rear vehicle seat, and including fold-down lower and upper segments, interconnected by a flexible and detachable hinge, and a plastic back panel mounted against the back frame of the bench seat. A plastic seat pad support platform is mounted on the inner surface of the lower segment. A pad having seat and back segments is removably mounted on the platform and against the back panel. A safety belt system is operably included in the module. The interconnected lower and upper segments are adapted to being folded down to form, with the platform and pad, a child seat cushion and leg support. Alternatively, the leg support may be removed for a child whose size is such that use of the leg support would be uncomfortable.

Abstract: A linear drive, particularly useful for locking or unlocking a door lock mechanism or the like permits manual operation by providing an output shaft that can move freely regardless whether the output shaft is in extended or retracted positions without back driving the motor. The output shaft is coaxially slideably situated over a screw which moves a nut that is theadingly engaged therewith and moves inside the output shaft along the axial direction of the screw. The output shaft is not threadingly engaged with the screw. The output shaft thus is freely movable relative to the screw, which results in essentially zero back drive of the screw and the motor. To provide for manual operation, the nut is automatically moved back to its neutral position every tie the output shaft is extended or retracted by a torsion spring or the like which can store energy therein. Whenever the motor is operated to drive the screw, the spring gear is also rotated, which causes the spring to store energy therein.

Abstract: A method of making a cushioned seat component which includes the following steps. First, providing a cover having an exterior surface which is to present the major exterior appearance of the seat component and which includes a panel portion to be cushioned, the panel portion of the cover being perforate between the interior and exterior surfaces thereof. Second, mounting the cover on a vacuum mold so that the exterior surface of the panel portion is facing a mold surface of the vacuum mold having a shape corresponding with the desired exterior surface shape of the panel portion. Third, mounting an imperforate film over the interior surface of the panel portion while the cover is mounted on the vacuum mold. Fourth, applying a vacuum to the vacuum mold so as to draw the exterior surface of the panel portion into conformity with the mold surface of the vacuum mold with the film preventing passage of air through the cover from the interior surface thereof to the exterior surface thereof.

Abstract: A device for molding foam products comprising upper and lower portions cooperable to form a foam mold defining a mold cavity therein. The upper mold portion has at least one vent hole therein. A mechanism for providing the mold cavity with an expandable foam during a filling cycle is also provided. The expandable foam reactively expands when provided within the cavity so as to be molded into the shape of the cavity during a foaming cycle. The foam approaches the vent hole while expanding within the mold cavity during the foaming cycle. At least one vent hole provides a passage through which air and reaction product gases introduced into the cavity as a byproduct of the reactive expanding of the foam can escape to atmosphere from the cavity during the foaming cycle. A sensing and signal generating assembly detects the presence of the foam at a predetermined proximity to the at least one vent hole during the foaming cycle and generates a signal in response to the detection.

Abstract: A motor vehicle seat comprising a child seat module. The seat includes a seat frame assembly, a seat cushion, a seat back frame assembly, and a plurality of cushion assemblies movable between i) an adult mode position wherein they provide support to the back of an adult seat occupant and ii) a child mode position wherein they provide support for a child seat occupant. The plurality of cushion assemblies include movable first and second cushion assemblies. The first cushion assembly moves between (a) the adult mode position wherein it provides a cushioned adult seat back lower portion, and (b) the child mode position wherein it provides a child's seat support.

Abstract: An automatic transmission lever position indicating device comprising a housing including a face wall structure presenting within an opaque background a sequence of translucent characters corresponding in sequence with the positions of the lever. A circuit board is mounted within the housing including leads for receiving and transmitting signals including the input signals of the automatic transmission. An illuminating assembly is carried by the circuit board for illuminating all of the sequence of translucent characters and additionally indicating by illumination one of the sequence of translucent characters corresponding to the position the lever is in.

Abstract: A method of making an interior panel of an automotive vehicle door having an exterior surface which is to face toward the interior of the automotive vehicle when installed therein. An apparatus utilized in the method comprises a mold assembly including a first vacuum mold component having a mold surface shaped to form the exterior surface of an upper section of the door panel, a second non-vacuum mold component cooperable in side-by-side relation with the first vacuum mold component having a mold surface shaped to form the exterior surface of a lower section of the door panel and a third non-vacuum mold component cooperable in opposed relation with the first and second mold components having a mold surface shaped to form the entire opposite surface of the door panel. The method comprises the steps of heating a laminated sheet, and vacuum forming the heated sheet in the first vacuum mold component.