Abstract: To form a prebonded composite structure, a laminate composite is prepared by positioning a first layer of heat-activated adhesive between a first fabric layer and a second side of a pad and a second fabric layer is positioned adjacent a second side of the pad. The laminate composite is heated to produce a heated laminate composite and the heated laminate composite is positioned between an upper mold and a lower mold. The laminate composite is compressed between the upper and lower molds, thereby compressing the first layer of heat-activated adhesive between the pad and the first fabric layer. In one application, dielectric heat is applied to the laminate composite during the step of compressing the laminate composite.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for identifying electric lamps likely to fail due to a violated internal atmosphere monitor voltage through a resistor in order to ascertain a increasing internal resistance of the lamp. The apparatus of the present invention preferably includes a power supply and a resistor in series with the electric lamp. The apparatus further includes a data acquisition system for comparing a voltage drop across the resistor at a predetermined time with a predetermined minimum value. The method of the present invention utilizes the circuit of the apparatus and includes the steps of establishing a predetermined minimum value of voltage drop across the resistor for acceptable lamps, placing a test lamp in series with the battery and resistor, and supplying voltage to the test lamp for a test interval of time.

Abstract: A beverage container holder has a housing which encases a slidable frame. The frame has an ashtray disposed within a central open area and a pair of arms pivotably attached to the frame to either side of the ashtray. The frame is movable between a retracted and an extended position and the pair of arms are pivotable from an open position to a closed position. When the frame is in its extended position, access to the ashtray is provided and one or both of the arms can be moved from their closed position to their open position. In their open position, each arm in conjunction with the frame, define a partially circular aperture to accommodate a beverage container. In one embodiment, a drawer is provided in the housing for keeping coins, pens, pencils, paper or the like. In another embodiment, a drawer is provided in the frame.

Abstract: To form a seam of attractive appearance, a heated platen having a shaped lip acts to engage and press the central surface of an adhesively-backed sheet of a polymeric fabric against the top appearance surface of a panel and the peripheral edge of the sheet into a groove formed in the surface, the platen activating the adhesive and the lip forcing a portion of the adhesive inwardly adjacent to the sheet edge against one wall of the groove. An insertion blade presses a portion of the sheet edge towards the bottom of the groove, the blade acting as a heat shield to space and protect the other wall of the groove from the heated platen.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a vehicle pocket assembly for attachment to the inner panel of a vehicle door and generally comprises a rigid backing member and an integral frontal member. The rigid backing member is adhered against the inner panel of the vehicle door and is provided with a decorative covering. The front member includes a substantially U-shaped frame having first and second side portions, a linearly expandable member including first and second partially adjustable overlapping slats which extend between the first and second side portions and a covering material which houses both the frame and the linearly expandable member. The vehicle pocket assembly is expandable by drawing the first and second slats toward the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

Abstract: An improved visor mount (16) removably fastens a visor to a panel (10) without the use of tools. The body has an outer portion (24), an inner portion (20), and an intermediate portion (23). The body includes a bore (26) to receive the visor handle (27). The inner portion includes a pair of wings (18, 19). The inner and intermediate portions are sized to pass through an oblong shaped first panel opening (14) in the panel; rotating the body to a fastened rotary orientation causes the wings to become misaligned with the panel opening to secure the body to the panel. A resiliently biased detent pin (17) is carried by one of the wings and automatically engages a second panel opening (15) when the body is at the fastened rotary orientation to automatically lock the visor mount in place.

Abstract: This invention provides concealable cupholders (3, 5) with several beneficial aspects. Conveniently, the cupholders may be activated by actuating a push-to-release catch (24, 25) so that the cupholders move outwardly in a controlled manner from a housing with the appearance that it is being driven by an electric motor. The cupholders overlap one another in a compact manner within the housing. When moved out of the housing the cupholders may be maintained in the overlapping position such that they jointly support a single beverage or, alternatively a release mechanism (30) may be activated, by the use of, for example, a kick-out spring (10) to permit the secondary cupholder (5) to pivot to a position substantially disposed away from the primary cupholder (3) such that both cupholders may support different containers.

Abstract: A container holder having a shelf slidingly disposed in a housing, the shelf having a container holder. The shelf preferably is mounted so that it can both slide in and out of the housing and rotate about an axis other than the central axis of the housing. In one embodiment, two shelves are mounted one over the other in a single housing such that the shelves rotate away from each other when moved out of the housing. In another embodiment, two shelves are mounted side by side in a single housing.

Abstract: A bilateral beverage container (2) mounts within a hinged vehicle armrest (4). The container has an upper container housing (22), a lower container housing (26) and a hinged game surface (24) therebetween suitable for playing board games upon. The upper container housing includes a flap (34) that defines a compartment suitable for storing writing paper, magazines and the like. The lower container housing includes fixed and user-definable compartments (48, 50) for storing beverage containers (76), game pieces and other objects, and hinged lids (60) to cover the fixed compartments. The lower container housing includes a hinged bilateral tray (62) with openings (68) sized to receive beverage containers. The bilateral tray holds beverage containers in both a stowed position, overlying the hinged lids covering the fixed compartments, and in a deployed position, spaced apart from the lower container housing.

Abstract: A container holder (2) for use with a support (4) including a frame (8) slidable within a housing (6) movable between a vertical, storage position, and a horizontal, operational position. The housing (6) is a box-like configuration having a slot (18) formed at one end. The frame (8) includes an integral member (26) having an opening (28) to accommodate beverage containers such as cans and cups. When in the storage position, the frame (8) is retained within the housing (6) in a vertical position. As the frame (8) moves to its operational position, it is guided through the slot (18) and pivots to a horizontal, operational position, generally perpendicular to its vertical, storage position. This operation enables the container holder (2) to be conveniently stored in a narrow space.

Abstract: A generic beverage container holder for use within a vehicle includes a housing mountable beneath the dashboard and a frame slidably mounted to the housing for movement between retracted and operational positions. An opening is defined within the frame to accommodate beverage containers such as cans and cups. A U-shaped support is pivotally mounted to and beneath the frame and is spring biased towards a vertical attitude beneath the container opening when the frame is extended. When the frame is retracted the support automatically folds against the frame for storage. The frame consists of two telescoping elements moving between extended and collapsed conditions as the frame moves between the operational and retracted positions. The frame is about as long as the housing is deep when retracted, but is substantially longer when operational. This results in a reduced-depth housing usable where space is limited.

Abstract: An overhead console (2) attaches to the interior roof (4) of a motor vehicle and provides various features including a retractable compartment (18) for sunglasses or the like that with a damper mechanism (118) for protecting the sunglasses (61) when the compartment (18) is opened. Another compartment (22) is used to hold a remote control unit (60) for a garage door opener. The control unit compartment (18) permits the remote unit (60) to be used by pressing a pushbutton (24) on the compartment lid (23) which activates a pushbutton (62) on the unit (60). A reading/map lamp assembly (28) is houseable in the console (2) and includes a plastic bellows (30) for retracting and aiming a lamp head (32) over a 360.degree. range. The lamp beam width is optionally controllable by a secondary bellows (74) mounted on the lamp head (38). A dual-sided access compartment permits the vehicle driver or a passenger to gain access to a common compartment.

Abstract: A container holder for use within a vehicle armrest includes a housing, mountable to an armrest support within the armrest, and a frame slidably mounted to the housing for movement between retracted and operational positions. A partially enclosed, C-shaped open area is defined within the frame to accommodate beverage containers such as cans and cups. The partially enclosed open area intersects a longitudinal edge of the frame. This enables the container holder to accommodate a container having a cross-sectional dimension greater than the width of the frame. A U-shaped support is pivotably mounted to and beneath the frame for vertically supporting the container. When the frame is retracted, the support automatically folds against the frame for storage.

Abstract: A termination structure for an assist strap includes a rectangular, ring-like mounting bracket used to secure an end of the assist strap and a generally U-shaped assist strap termination piece to a vehicle. The termination piece, which has first and second legs, and assist strap extend from opposite open ends of the bracket. The first leg, the end of the assist strap and the base of the bracket are fastened to each other and to the vehicle by a screw. The distal end of the second leg is positioned within the bracket so that the assist strap appears to have a loop at its end. The second leg has an L-shaped first fastener element secured to its interior surface which engages the upstanding head of the screw, which serves as a second fastener element. The fastener elements are positioned and sized so that the distal end of second leg, which is resilient, is compressed within the bracket to keep the fastener elements engaged to prevent removal of the distal end of the second leg.

Abstract: A generic beverage container holder for use within a vehicle includes a housing mountable beneath the dashboard and a frame slidably mounted to the housing for movement between retracted and extended positions. An opening is defined within the frame to accommodate beverage containers such as mugs, cans and cups. A U-shaped support is pivotally mounted to and beneath the frame and is spring biased towards a vertical attitude beneath the container opening when the frame is extended. When the frame is retracted the support automatically folds against the frame for storage. The container is centered by three pivotal spring biased centering tabs mounted about the container opening. Containers over a range of sizes are properly positioned within the container opening to keep this container supported by the U-shaped support and prevent the container from moving around within the opening.

Abstract: A trim piece for mounting to an interior panel of an automobile having a relatively rigid support member, foam padding, and an outer cover of vinyl or cloth. The cover and the foam padding are dielectrically bonded to the relatively rigid support member contiguous the edges of the trim member without enveloping the edges of the support member to provide a trim piece which mates with the surface of the interior panel. The method for making the trim piece involves using a dielectric die which defines an acute angle between an upper and lower die half, the acute angle being contiguous with the edge of the trim piece and being oblique with respect to the movement of the die halves. The lower die half mates with the support member and the upper die half mates with the vinyl cover at the points of dielectric bonding.

Abstract: An automotive casket handle includes a generally U-shaped frame, pivotally mounted to a support surface, and inside and outside cushion members secured to recesses in the frame. Each cushion member includes a structural strip, typically of steel, a cover, typically of preformed vinyl, and a foam strip positioned between the structural strip and the cover. The edges of the cover are captured between the structural strip and the frame. Thus, the exposed surface of the cover is smooth and seamless with rounded edges. One cushion member is secured to the frame by bendable tabs extending from the structural strip, passing through tab openings in the frame and then bent against the frame. The other cushion member is connected to the frame by the engagement of studs, extending from the structural strip, into push lock fasteners mounted to the frame.

Abstract: A trim piece for mounting to an interior panel of an automobile having a relatively rigid support member, foam padding, and an outer cover of vinyl or cloth. The cover and the foam padding are dielectrically bonded to the relatively rigid support member contiguous the edges of the trim member without enveloping the edges of the support member to provide a trim piece which mates with the surface of the interior panel. The method for making the trim piece involves using a dielectric die which defines an acute angle between an upper and lower die half, the acute angle being contiguous with the edge of the trim piece and being oblique with respect to the movement of the die halves. The lower die half mates with the support member and the upper die half mates with the vinyl cover at the points of dielectric bonding.

Abstract: An improved fastening system for automobile assist straps and the like using a threaded fastener having deep recesses on the surface which bears upon the strap component to be secured. The strap component has correlative ridges which mate with the recesses on the threaded fastener to resist rotation of the fastener.

Abstract: A vehicle assist strap having a central metal core with exposed ends which are secured to a vehicle body via an anti-rotation member. The anti-rotation member is completely concealed by covers which also conceal the fasteners and the ends of the strap. Since the anti-rotation member is completely concealed by the covers, it can be fabricated from relatively inexpensive materials and by relatively inexpensive manufacturing processes. Furthermore, the anti-rotation member is configured to be secured to the strap ends without an additional manufacturing step.