Abstract: The present invention is directed to a "fold-out" or integral child seat having a mechanism interconnecting a seatback member, a headrest member and a seat member for causing coordinated movement therebetween. When it is desired to deploy the integral child seat, the seatback member is moved to a tilted position and the headrest member is elevated while the seat member is moved to a lowered position for establishing an upright sitting position. Additionally, the integral child seat may be deployed to a reclined position wherein the seatback member is automatically moved to a second tilted position and the headrest member is moved to a second elevated position in coordination with the movement of the seat member to a second lowered position. As a result, movement of the integral child seat between its stowed and first and second deployed positions can be accomplished with relative ease and convenience to the person attempting such movement.

Abstract: A seat interlock system for use with a vehicular seat having a fold-down seatback equipped with a deployable integral child seat. An interlock mechanism is interdisposed between a seatback latching mechanism and a child seat latching mechanism. When the seatback is in its normal upright and latched condition, the interlock mechanism permits the child seat to be deployed. If the seatback is not latched, a movable member of the interlock mechanism prevents deployment of the child seat. Upon deployment of the integral child seat, the movable member interacts with the seatback latching mechanism in such a way as to prevent the seatback from being unlatched, thereby preventing folding of the seatback. The seat interlock system also includes an inertia responsive latching mechanism for preventing deployment of the integral child seat when the seatback is subject to a deceleration force exceeding a predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: A manually-adjustable seat assembly for use in motor vehicles is disclosed as having a manual seat adjuster equipped with a seat latch mechanism and an easy entry latch release mechanism. The seat latch mechanism can be manually shifted from a latched mode into an unlatched mode via actuation of a release handle to permit selective adjustment of the fore/aft position of the seat assembly. The east entry latch mechanism is operably connected to the seat latch mechanism and is normally maintained in a non-actuated mode. Pivotal movement of the seatback to a forwardly dumped position causes the easy entry latch release mechanism to be shifted into an actuated mode for causing the seat latch mechanism to be automatically shifted into its unlatched mode. Upon return of the seatback from its formally dumped position, the east entry latch release mechanism is maintained in this non-actuated mode until the seat assembly is slid rearwardly to a predetermined memory position.

Abstract: A "fold-out" or integral child restraint seat having a mechanism interconnecting a seatback member and a seat member for causing coordinated movement therebetween. When it is desired to deploy the integral child seat, the seatback member is automatically moved to its reclined operative position in coordination with movement of the seat member to its lowered operative position. Conversely, when it is desired to stow the integral child seat, the seatback member is automatically moved to its upright storage position in coordination with movement of the seat member to its raised storage position. As a result, movement of the integral child seat between its stowed and deployed positions can be accomplished in one operation for substantially enhancing the convenience afforded to the person attempting such movement.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a "fold-out" or integral child seat having a mechanism interconnecting a seatback member, a headrest member and a seat member for causing coordinated movement therebetween. When it is desired to deploy the integral child seat, the seatback member is moved to a tilted position and the headrest member is elevated while the seat member is moved to a lowered position for establishing an upright sitting position. Additionally, the integral child seat may be deployed to a reclined position wherein the seatback member is automatically moved to a second tilted position and the headrest member is moved to a second elevated position in coordination with the movement of the seat member to a second lowered position. As a result, movement of the integral child seat between its stowed and first and second deployed positions can be accomplished with relative ease and convenience to the person attempting such movement.

Abstract: A "fold-out" or integral child restraint seat having a mechanism interconnecting a headrest member and a seat member for causing coordinated movement therebetween. When deployed the headrest member is automatically rotated to a raised position in coordination with movement of the seat member to its lowered position. Conversely, when stowed the headrest member is automatically rotated to a lowered position in coordination with movement of the seat member to its raised position. The integral child seat also provides an improved latching mechanism that is operable for positively retaining the integral child seat in both its stowed and deployed positions.

Abstract: A vehicular seat is disclosed having a built-in child restraint seat integrated into its underlying frame structure. Segments of the frame structure are adapted to yield in a controlled manner under certain high load conditions to absorb a portion of the loading that would ultimately be transmitted to a child strapped in the built-in child seat. The frame structure associated with the integrated vehicular seat of the present invention includes a seat cushion frame assembly and a seatback frame assembly. A modular child seat assembly is secured to the seatback frame assembly. The frame structure includes first yieldable means for permitting the seatback frame assembly to deform in a controlled manner relative to the seat frame assembly. The frame structure further includes second yieldable means for permitting the interconnection between the modular child seat assembly and the seatback frame assembly to also deform in a controlled manner.

Abstract: An assist fixture is provided to clamp about a seat assembly, whereupon each are immersed into pressed relation against a heated fluidized bed. The seat assembly includes a preformed flexible pad having an appearance surface and a cover adapted to be adhesively bonded to the pad during the immersion. The assist fixture includes tubular members which press the cover into preformed indentations in the appearance face of the pad to assist in enhancing surface definition, the tubular members being adapted to pass hot or cold air depending on the stage of the process.

Abstract: An adjustable belt guide and headrest apparatus for a vehicle seat. The apparatus includes a pair of first track members and a pair of second track members slidable longitudinally relative to the first track members. An upper end of the second track members includes a cantilevered headrest frame member and a shoulder belt guide, both of which move towards and away from a seat back portion of the vehicle seat when the second frame rails are moved slidably. A threaded drive rod is fixedly secured to the second frame rails. The threaded drive rod is driven by an operator controllable, reversible DC motor. Operation of the DC motor causes the threaded drive rod to be driven so as to cause the second track members to move up and down slidably relative to the seat back, thereby allowing the headrest and seat belt guide to be concurrently adjusted to suit the height of the driver with a single adjustment.

Abstract: A vehicular seat having an adjustment apparatus for horizontally and vertically positioning the seat is provided. The adjustment apparatus includes a four bar mechanism that extends from a base and supports cushioned seat members. As the four bar mechanism is articulated with respect to the base, the seat members supported thereon are moved vertically and horizontally between elevated forward positions and lowered rearward positions. The adjustment mechanism also includes a spring for storing a portion of the energy exerted while seat members are moved from an elevated forward position to a lowered rearward position. Energy stored within the spring is used to assist lifting the seat members and the occupant therein as the seat is elevated.

Abstract: A manually-operable automotive seat adjustment mechanism equipped with a traveling seat belt buckle anchor arrangement is disclosed. The traveling seat belt buckle anchorage arrangement is adapted to transfer vertically directed separation loads imparted on the seat belt buckle through a sliding hook-type load bracket and into the vehicle floor pan via a specially configured stationary riser. The riser is configured to maintain an interlocked relationship with respect to the sliding load bracket throughout the entire range of longitudinal fore and aft seat adjustment. In addition, the seat belt buckle anchorage arrangement includes an elongated reinforcement bracket secured to the sliding load bracket for sliding longitudinal movement therewith and which is adapted to inhibit excessive pivotable excursions of the seat belt anchor.

Abstract: An interlocking track arrangement for a seat slide device of the type used in manually-operable vehicle seat slide mechanisms is disclosed. The seat slide device also includes a latching arrangement having a lock plate fixed to a lower track and a latch plate supported from an upper track for rectilinear movement along a vertical plane. The latch plate has a plurality of locking teeth each having a segmented toothform defined by a first locking portion for facilitating initial receipt within a locking aperture formed in the lock plate, a second locking portion for facilitating complete interdigitated engagement therebetween, and a camming portion providing a ramped transition between the first and second locking portions. The rectilinear movement of the latch plate along the vertical plane provides improved operation and reliability.

Abstract: A folding vehicle bedseat assembly having upper and lower seat cushion portions with corresponding upper and lower frames is disclosed. A preferred folding and support mechanism of the assembly provides for the seat assembly to be moved between an unfolded use configuration and a folded stowage configuration, as well as to be releasably retained in either of such configurations, by way of operation of a single actuation handle. The preferred folding mechanism also allows the seat assembly to be moved to the stowage position without substantially changing the forwardmost projection of the seat assembly.

Abstract: A manually-operable six-way seat adjustment mechanism having a pair of laterally spaced tracks which are fixed securely to the vehicle's floor pan. A pair of carriages are slidably coupled to the tracks and are operable for synchronous longitudinal movement thereon. A seat assembly is fixedly secured to seat frame members supported from the elongated carriages for longitudinal movement therewith. A horizontal adjustment mechanism is operatively interconnected between each of the tracks and carriages to enable a seat occupant to selectively adjust the longitudinal position of the assembly. The manually-operable six-way seat adjustment mechanism also includes a front vertical adjustment mechanism and a rear vertical adjustment mechanism which are each operably interconnected between the laterally spaced seat frame members and the carriages to enable selective and independent vertical adjustment of their respective front and rear portions of the seat assembly.

Abstract: A transportation pallet system for mounting, transporting, and handling a workpiece, such as a prefabricated automobile seat, which facilitates the installation of the workpiece into a final product where the final installation process is accomplished by a computer-controlled robotic device. A base pallet formed by injection molding plastic has a honeycombed configuration of supporting ribs and supporting brackets. An intermediary footplate also formed by injection molding plastic secures the workpiece to the base pallet. Mounting holes located at the intersections of the honeycombed ribs secure the intermediate footplate to the base pallet at a precise location relative to a pair of precisely sized and precisely located datum holes, also within the base pallet. The datum holes allow the computer-controlled robotic device to locate the base pallet and the mounted workpiece with precision.

Abstract: A manually operable four-way automotive seat adjustment assembly is disclosed. The assembly includes a fore and aft adjustment mechanism together with a vertical adjustment mechanism that enables the seat frame member to pivot up and down relative to the carriage/base subassembly. A combination quadrant/lift link is pivotably mounted to the seat frame member and has a support pin fixedly attached thereto at a point radially spaced from the pivot point of the quadrant. The support pin is journalled to a mounting bracket that is slidably mounted to the carriage member so that the bracket can take up the fore and aft movement of the support pin as the quadrant rotates with the raising and lowering of the seat frame. The mounting bracket is preferably made of a hard plastic material to reduce noise and provide ease of operation.

Abstract: A wear resistant track for the rollers of an overhead door to roll against includes a pair of uniform longitudinally extruded members such as an insert and a channel and locking means for releasably interlocking the members together whereby a planar surface of the insert is flush with portions of the channel and positioned for the rollers to bear against. In one arrangement the insert was of a polymer such as nylon and the channel was of aluminum.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for bonding two articles and in particular a metal trim strip to a thermoplastic article such as is used for automotive decorative window trim. The thermoplastic article includes a raised ridge portion which serves to provide means for accurately aligning the metal trim strip on the thermoplastic article. A plurality of holes are formed through the ridge portion at spaced locations along its length. The metal trim strip is preferably "C-shaped" in cross-section so as to define a channel having a restricted opening for receiving the raised ridge portion of the thermoplastic article. A controlled flow of hot air is directed into the holes of the thermoplastic article to plasticize a controlled portion of the thermoplastic material surrounding the holes. A stake is then projected into the plasticized material to displace the plasticized material into the channel portions of the metal strip.

Abstract: The invention relates to an improved valve bag placing machine and method. The valve bag placing machine according to this invention is adapted to remove a valve type bag from a stack on an indexing conveyor, open the valve opening thereof, and insert this opening over a material dispensing nozzle of a bag filling machine. Vacuum cups, movable in response to actuation of pneumatic cylinders, contacts the valve bag at the end flap and side portions thereof. As these cylinders are retracted, a valve opening rod contacts the side of the bag to positively strip away the valve end flap from the side of the valve bag. Once in this position, one of the vacuum cups is removed from the bag and the valve bag clamping assembly is rotated by an actuator assembly. Prior to, after, or simultaneous with this rotation step, another pair of vacuum cups contacts the side of the valve bag and pulls it down with respect to the valve bag end flap, thus opening the valve bag valve opening.

Abstract: A weigh scale machine for automatically filling bags/containers including an infeed chute, a weigh bucket, a scale mechanism, and a discharge hopper. Initially, the flow gate located between the infeed chute and the weigh bucket is open and product is permitted to flow through the infeed chute into the weigh bucket. When the prescribed weight is attained, as determined by the setting of the scale mechanism, a weigh complete sensor is triggered and the flow gate is closed. The dump doors located at the bottom of the weigh bucket are then opened and the product is discharged through the hopper into the bag/container. Operation of the machine is controlled by a solid-state controller which includes a plurality of sensors for monitoring the actual positions of the flow gate, scale beam, and dump doors.