Abstract: A latch assembly for a windowpane of a motor vehicle window is disclosed. The latch assembly has a latch anchor attachable to the motor vehicle, a latch base and a lever or linking mechanism connecting the latch anchor to the latch base. The latch base has an upper base attached to the linking mechanism and a lower base attached to the windowpane. The lower base may be secured to the windowpane either by an adhesive or by partial encapsulation with a polyurethane material which bonds to the windowpane. The upper base is adjustable with respect to the lower base along a first axis to accommodate sheet metal variations, tolerance errors and other misalignments. At least one elongate riser extending from the lower base is received by a corresponding elongate opening of the upper base to form an interlock between the upper base and the lower base resisting separation along second and third axes, which are perpendicular to the first axis and to each other.

Abstract: A pull-pull power sliding window assembly is disclosed, comprising a frame, a sliding pane slidable within the frame, and a pull-pull cable assembly for moving the sliding pane between a open and a closed position. The pull-pull cable assembly comprises a drive motor, a drive drum, and drive cable comprising a cable and a semi-rigid conduit wrapped around the cable, connecting the drive drum to the sliding pane for pulling the sliding pane back and forth. A retainer is mounted on the drive motor, a plunger is slidably received into an opening of the retainer, and the drive cable is routed through the plunger and into the retainer opening. A spring is positioned between the retainer and the plunger and is movable from an expanded condition where the plunger is biased away from the retainer and the drive cable is biased away from the sliding pane, and a compressed condition where the plunger is closer to the retainer and the drive cable extends further out of the conduit.

Abstract: A heated sliding window assembly comprising a fixed portion comprising a circumferential frame and a fixed pane attached to the circumferential frame, with the fixed pane having an electrically conductive heating grid. A sliding pane is slidable within the circumferential frame between an open position and a closed position, and the sliding pane has an electrically conductive heating grid. A first conductive element is mounted on the fixed portion and a second conductive element is mounted on the sliding pane. The first and second conductive elements are routed through a latch assembly, and are electrically connected together when the sliding pane is in the closed position. To connect the heating grid of the sliding pane to the heating grid of a second fixed pane, third and fourth conductive elements are employed, either routed through the same latch assembly as the above mentioned first and second conductive elements or mounted at an end of the sliding pane remote from the latch assembly.

Abstract: A seat track assembly comprises a lower track assembly having a lower track and an upper track assembly slidable over the lower track assembly and having an upper track. An elongate upper bracket and an elongate lower bracket enhance resistance to vertical dislocation. The upper bracket is attached to the upper track and has first and second projections which are positioned on opposite sides of the upper track. The lower bracket is attached to the lower track. The upper bracket can slide free of the lower bracket in a normal operating condition, and the first and second projections of the upper bracket are received by the lower bracket to resist vertical dislocation of the upper track when the upper track assembly is subjected to a vertical dislocation force. The first and second projections are preferably unitary extensions of the upper bracket, and are connected to each other by a connecting segment attached to the upper track.

Abstract: An easy entry seat track assembly with full memory comprises a lower track assembly and an upper track assembly, releasably slidable on the lower track assembly. A master latch assembly in a latching position releasably secures the upper track assembly to the lower track assembly at an initial position. A rod is affixed to the lower track assembly, preferably on a lower track, and a memory register comprising a wrap spring is positioned around the rod. A memory actuation mechanism moves the memory register from a normal condition to a memory position and disengages the master latch, allowing the upper track assembly to slide over the lower track assembly to a free position. Return of the upper track assembly to the initial position returns the master latch to reengage the lower track assembly, and then returns the memory register to the normal condition.

Abstract: A hinge assembly for the door of a motor vehicle is disclosed, the hinge assembly having a body half strap having a top flange and a bottom flange, with the top flange having at least one slot, a door half strap pivotable with respect to the body half strap and having a top flange and a bottom flange, the top flange having an external profile having at least a pair of detents. A linearly slidable profile follower assembly is biased by a compression spring and can travel along the slot toward and away from the door half strap in response to pivoting of the door half strap. The linearly slidable profile follower assembly comprises a spring retainer clip, a roller retainer clip and a roller. The roller is mounted on the roller retainer clip, and is in continuous direct engagement with the external profile of the door half strap as the door half strap pivots with respect to the body half strap.

Abstract: A cable tensioning system for removing s lack from a parking brake cable or the like including a parking brake cable operator having an improved resettable lockout arrangement for retaining an adjuster take-up reel in a spring-biased caged condition until the adjuster reel is connected to a first brake cable component. The first brake cable component is in turn connected to a second cable component which is in turn connected to the vehicle wheel parking brakes. The cable tensioning system provides enhanced efficiency during automotive assembly as well as when making repairs.

Abstract: An end fitting for use in a remote control cable assembly of the type having a control cable that includes a conduit and a wire-like strand or core element. The end of the strand is typically attached to a slider rod that extends within a swivel tube. The swivel tube is supported within a swivel socket provided in the end fitting. The end fitting allows for easy rotation of the end fitting relative to the axis of the conduit and provides for isolation against noise and vibration transmission, while not adding additional lash into the cable system from the rotating end fitting joint. The end fitting has four pieces, a molded sleeve, conduit isolator, outer fitting (side entry fitting) and end cap. The conduit isolator, end cap, molded outer fitting and molded sleeve, are toleranced such that when they are assembled, they have a slight interference and thus reduce the lash generated by the rotational joint.

Abstract: A parking brake actuator for applying and releasing a cable-operated vehicle parking brake includes an operating lever pivotally mounted on a mounting bracket for movement between brake-released and a plurality of brake-applied positions. The operating lever is a unitary molding made of a glass-filled thermoplastic and has an integral footpad. A metal insert which mounts the cable end, includes a sector gear, that is secured to the operating lever by rivets and engages a pinion which is pivoted to the mounting bracket. The operating lever has a raised drive lug that is received in a mating drive aperture in the insert and transfers brake-apply forces from the operating lever to the sector. A one-way clutch normally permits the pinion to rotate freely when the operating lever is operated to apply the parking brake, but prevents reverse rotation of the pinion to maintain the parking brake applied.

Abstract: A parking brake operating mechanism having a brake apply pedal arm module and a housing module pivotally mounted on a vehicle. The housing contains a linearly movable toothed rack operatively connected to one end of the pedal arm for movements by that arm and operatively connected at its other end to a front brake cable which is operatively connected to one or more vehicle parking brakes to be tensioned for parking brake application, a pawl member having a pawl tooth selectively engaged with a tooth of the rack to lock the rack in a brake applied position, and a pawl release mechanism which when activated moves the pawl tooth out of engagement with the rack tooth, permitting the rack and the pedal arm to be returned to the parking brake released position by the brake apply tension in the brake cable.

Abstract: A vehicle parking brake operating mechanism having an arcuately movable brake handle arcuately rotatably mounted on a pin secured to a fixed mounting bracket, a cable reel assembly having a reel section attached to the brake handle and a hub section arcuately rotated on a sleeve bushing which is received on the pin in slidable but non-rotatable relation therewith, and a cable take-up spring in the cable reel assembly reel section having one end attached to that reel section and the other end attached to the a portion of the sleeve bushing which extends through the cable reel section as well as through the cable reel assembly hub section. The bushing is of lesser specific gravity than the pin and primarily withstands only bearing loads from the hub section to the pin and torsional loads exerted by the take-up spring. The pin is subjected to cantilever loads as well as bearing loads. The pin is preferably made of steel while the bushing is made of a suitable plastic or light metal alloy or powdered metal.

Abstract: An end fitting for use in a remote control cable assembly of the type having a control cable that includes a conduit and a wire-like strand or core element. The end of the strand is typically attached to a slider rod that extends within a swivel tube. The swivel tube is supported within a swivel socket provided in the end fitting. The end fitting allows for easy rotation of the end fitting relative to the axis of the conduit without adding additional lash into the cable system from the rotating end fitting joint. The end fitting has two pieces, a molded sleeve and a rotating fitting. The molded sleeve is fastened directly onto and along the longitudinal axis of the conduit such that the molded sleeve is fixed against longitudinal movement relative said conduit end. The molded sleeve includes a partial spherical ball portion and a cylindrical portion. The rotating fitting is rotatably disposed about the molded sleeve and is used to attach the conduit end to a support structure.

Abstract: A parking brake control for operating a parking brake cable between a release position and a brake engagement position comprises a mounting plate assembly, an input lever assembly which translates and rotates with respect to the mounting plate assembly, and a sector which is slidably attached to the mounting plate assembly and rotatable in response to movement of the input lever assembly, wherein rotation of the sector towards the brake engagement position produces a tension force on a cable. The parking brake control can further comprise a first rivet extending into a slot in the input lever assembly; preferably the sector rotates around the first rivet. In addition, a second rivet may be attached to the input lever assembly and received by both a cam slot in the mounting plate assembly and a slot in the sector. The parking brake control produces an output tension force on the cable, pulling the cable away from the parking brake to actuate the parking brake.

Abstract: A parking brake actuator comprises a pedal lever mounted on a support bracket for pivotal movement between brake-release and brake-apply positions to release and apply a parking brake. A sector carried by the pedal lever engages a pinion rotatably mounted on the mounting bracket. A torsion clutch spring has one end fixed to the support bracket and a free end, and normally grips and locks the pinion against reverse rotation when the vehicle transmission is in PARK to enable the parking brake to be locked in applied position. A release lever is operable by a bistable solenoid when the transmission selector is moved out of PARK to expand the torsion clutch spring out of engagement with the pinion to prevent locking of the parking brake. A torsion latch spring has legs which embrace the lever in pinion release position and grips a stud with a greater force to block lever movement out of pinion release position after the solenoid is deenergized.

Abstract: A parking brake actuator housing is easily installed to a vehicle panel in four steps. The legs of spaced housing mounting brackets are first inserted into panel apertures until abutments on the brackets engage the aperture edges. The housing is swung toward the panel on bracket bearing surfaces to compress bracket spring fingers and engage first bracket shoulders with the panel underside. The housing is then slid on the panel until other bracket abutments engage the opposite aperture peripheries, and spaced second bracket shoulders engage the panel underside. This action aligns a housing flange hole with a mating hole in a panel boss, enabling insertion of a fastener. The panel is clamped between the spaced bracket shoulders and the spring fingers and/or bracket bearing surfaces.

Abstract: A foot-operated parking brake actuator applies a parking brake by moving an input pedal lever between a brake-released position and a plurality of brake-applied positions to operate a cable to apply and release a vehicle parking brake. A mounting bracket pivotally mounts the pedal for pivotal movement about a first pivot. A sector gear is secured to the bracket with its center on the first pivot, and mounts a cable take-up reel. The cable is attached to the reel which is pivotally mounted on the pedal lever about a second pivot. A pinion is secured to the reel for engagement with the sector gear upon pedal lever movement to brake-apply positions to wind the cable on the reel. Cable winding occurs at a sequence of variable input/output force ratios of input pedal lever force to output cable force or load to apply the parking brake, the ratio varying with pedal movement because of the complex movement of the reel.

Abstract: Vehicle parking brake comprising a hand lever (1), a support (2) provided with a pin (6) on which the lever is pivotally mounted, a cam (7) mounted on the pin and connected to rotate with the lever, the cam being connected to braking means. An electric contactor (15) cooperates with the lever and is part of an electric circuit for lighting up an indicator light (17). The contactor comprises a conductive metal blade (19) and an insulating covering (21) surrounding the blade. End portions (19a, 19b) of the blade extend out of the covering. The contactor is so positioned relative to the cam that, in the lower position of the lever, the electric contact between a free end portion (19a) of the blade and the cam is broken and, on the contrary, established beyond a given angular position of the lever up to an upper position of the lever by a rubbing of the cam on the free end portion of the blade.

Abstract: The invention provides a termination assembly adapted to retain an elongated, generally rigid member, such as a wire, to a mounting surface. A mounting surface is configured to define a receiving channel, which may include an aperture. A deformable sleeve member is configured to engage the generally rigid member to be retained and the channel in the mounting member. Cooperative deformation of the deformable sleeve and the mounting member will cause the two members to deform to engage one another, thereby securing the generally rigid member to the mounting surface.

Abstract: A ignition-controlled parking brake interlock is provided for a vehicle. The parking brake operating lever is latched in brake-applied positions by engagement of a lever-mounted pawl with fixed sector. A solenoid is movable between positions blocking and unblocking movement of the vehicle ignition to OFF. A lock bar carried by the lever is movable by a second solenoid between positions blocking and unblocking movement of the pawl to release the lever. In one embodiment, a brake lever position switch and a switch operated by the second solenoid control solenoid operation to prevent ignition key removal unless the parking brake is applied and to prevent parking brake release unless the key is inserted and the ignition moved to RUN. In another embodiment, bi-stable solenoids are controlled by a controller that is provided with high and low current inputs from branch circuits that include control switches operated by ignition position and parking brake lever position.

Abstract: The improved motion-amplifying lever arrangement includes a pair of cooperating lobe members for effecting a mechanical advantage between the operating lever and an output cable during pivotal movement of the lever from an inoperative first position toward an operative second position, use being made of a spring clutch associated with the drive cam member for locking the lever in he brake-applied position, and a self-adjust device associated with the driven lobe cam member for removing cable slack when the operating lever is in the inoperative first position. In the preferred embodiment, the lobe members comprise lobe cams that are connected by a flexible strap of belt that extends between the cooperating cam surfaces and is secured at opposite ends to the cams, respectively.