Abstract: An air comfort control device is disclosed, which has a furnace with a furnace fan, an air conditioner with an air conditioner fan positioned remote from the furnace fan, and a temperature controller responsive to temperature changes in air in a partially enclosed environment, wherein the temperature controller sends a fan output signal to both the furnace fan and the air conditioner fan to run together to circulate air through the partially enclosed environment. The thermostat controller may also provide for multiple operation settings, including both automatic and manual options. The air comfort control device may also have a motor controller capable of sending more than one voltage to a blower motor to set a furnace fan at more than one speed. The motor controller can be produced separate from an ignition controller where the ignition controller sets the gas valve to a high position or a low position.

Abstract: A latch assembly adapted for use with a tire carrier including a wheel plate, and a lock bracket including an aperture and a cable disposed in the aperture and connected to the wheel plate. The latch assembly includes a lock housing, a cable guide adjacent the lock housing and a lock arm adjacent the cable guide member. The lock arm has one end, another end and a cam surface. The one end is pivotally connected to the cable guide member wherein, when another end is moved toward the lock bracket, the cam surface engages the lock bracket to pivot the lock arm to a locked position so that when the cable breaks, the lock arm engages the lock bracket.

Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a seat movable along a path a motor for driving the seat on the path, a sensor generating a signal indicating movement of the seat on the path, and a controller operating the motor to move said seat along the path. The sensor is preferably a Hall-effect device or a potentiometer. The controller is in communication with the sensor to receive the signal and form a feed-back control loop. The controller accelerates the seat at a controlled rate of acceleration to a controlled constant speed and decelerates the seat from the constant speed at a controlled rate of deceleration. The controller controls the rate of acceleration of the seat at a stored predetermined rate of acceleration by adjusting operation of the motor to maintain the predetermined rate of acceleration.

Abstract: A flexible drive cable assembly for a powered adjustable seat, powered adjustable pedals or the like of a motor vehicle. The flexible drive cable assembly includes an elongate flexible core for transmitting movement from a first end of the core to a second end of the core and an elongate flexible casing encircling a longitudinal length of the core and having a unitary connector. A driving or driven element is operably connected to the core for transmission of movement therebetween. An end fitting is stationary relative to the driving or driven element and has an aperture for passage of the core therethrough. The unitary connector of the casing cooperates with the end fitting to secure the casing to the end fitting and hold the casing stationary relative to the end fitting. In one embodiment, the casing connector and the end fitting form a snap-fit connection to form an interlock between the casing and the end fitting and an interference fit between the casing and the end fitting to reduce vibration.

Abstract: A trailer brake system includes a control sensor adapted to provide a signal when the braking system of the tow vehicle is actuated, at least one trailer brake actuated by pressurized brake fluid, a brake fluid reservoir, a brake fluid pump receiving fluid from the brake fluid reservoir, and a first solenoid valve connected to the brake fluid pump and directly connected to the trailer brake. A brake fluid accumulator receives pressurized brake fluid from the brake fluid pump and is connected to the first solenoid valve to quickly provide pressurized brake fluid to the trailer brake to increase the braking force. A second solenoid valve connects the trailer brake and the brake fluid reservoir so that brake fluid can be returned to the reservoir to reduce to reduce the fluid pressure and resulting braking force. A feedback pressure sensor is capable of generating a signal that represents braking force applied to the trailer brake.

Abstract: A self adjusting parking brake system which automatically removes slack from a parking brake cable includes a fixed support and a hand-operated lever pivotably connected to the support for movement between brake-releasing and brake-engaging positions. A locking mechanism releasably maintains the lever in the brake-engaging position. The locking mechanism includes a main ratchet having a plurality of ratchet teeth and a main pawl having a pawl tooth engaging the plurality of ratchet teeth. A self-adjust mechanism connects the cable with the lever. The self-adjust mechanism includes an adjuster ratchet having a plurality of ratchet teeth and an adjuster pawl having a plurality pawl teeth. Only one of the plurality of pawl teeth fully engages the ratchet teeth at any one time. The adjuster pawl pivots about a pivot axis and has an approach angle of greater than forty-five degrees.

Abstract: A fitting for a terminal connection in a core-adjuster assembly has a generally annular isolator with a generally central bore defining a connector pin socket and a reverse clip cap socket, and a reverse clip cap configured to be received substantially concentrically by the reverse clip cap socket of the isolator and defining a connector pin end socket.

Abstract: An actuator for a vehicle transmission having both a shift-by-wire mode and a manual override mode includes a motor and a gear assembly driven by the motor when the vehicle transmission is in a shift-by-wire mode. An output member of the gear assembly is configured to mate with the vehicle transmission. A release member is operable to drive the gear assembly when the vehicle transmission is in a manual override mode.

Abstract: A seat track assembly includes a lock having a lock pin movable between locking and unlocking positions. A guide forms a cylinder supporting movement of the lock pin and first and second shear plates are located on opposite sides of the guide. A spring member resiliently biases the lock pin toward the locking position. The lock pin extends through openings in the first and second shear plates. The lock pin, the guide, and the spring member are located entirely within an interior space of a movable track. A release assembly includes a bracket secured to the movable track, a pivotable fork, and a handle pivotally attached to the bracket and operably engaging the fork so that pivotable movement of the handle pivots the fork to move the lock pin. A secondary spring member biases the release assembly toward the locking position.

Abstract: A shifter system includes an automatic transmission shifter lever movable along a first shift path in forward and rearward directions and a transfer case shifter lever movable along a second shift path in the forward and rearward directions. The automatic transmission shifter lever is also movable in lateral directions to provide an auto stick option. The second shift path is laterally adjacent the first shift path a short distance to reduce space. An interlock mechanism is provided to prevent contact between the shifter levers. The interlock mechanism includes a blocker pivotable between a locking position wherein the blocker limits movement of the transfer case shifter lever along the second shift path and an unlocking position wherein the blocker does not limit movement of the transfer case shifter lever along the second shift path.

Abstract: A mechanical release for an electric parking brake has a first cable engaging a housing. A second cable is connected to a lever that is pivotally supported on the housing by a pivot pin. A locking member engages the lever and prevents rotation of the lever when tension is applied to the cables. When the locking member is released, the lever is free to rotate, reducing tension in the cables and freeing the parking brake system.

Abstract: An adjustable control pedal for a motor vehicle includes an upper arm having first and second substantially parallel and spaced-apart members. The first and second members are rigidly connected together to prevent relative movement therebetween and each have first and second slots formed therein. A lower arm has a lower end carrying a pedal and an upper end extending between the first and second members. A first guide pin is secured to the lower arm and extends into the first slot of the first member and the first slot of the second member. A second guide pin is secured to the lower arm and extends into the second slot of the first member and the second slot of the second member he slots and the guide pins form a sliding two-pin four-slot connection between the upper and lower pedal arms. The guide pins preferably have flat or planar upper and lower engagement surfaces located within the slots.

Abstract: A parking brake assembly includes an electric motor having an output shaft, a control module coupled to the motor for controlling the motor and a transmission coupling a threaded lead screw to the output shaft of the motor. A drive nut has a lead screw bore threadably receiving the lead screw therein and a guide shaft bore slidingly receiving the elongate guide shaft therein. The drive nut also has a cable attachment for attaching a brake cable to the drive nut. A retainer member is coupled to the attachment point and a biasing member urges the retainer member away from a seat. A tension feedback device measures the displacement of the retainer toward the seat. The displacement is proportional to the cable tension when a predetermined displacement is achieved. The operation of the electric motor is stopped when the tension feedback device measures the predetermined distance and the brake is set.

Abstract: An adjustable control pedal includes a molded-plastic upper support forming a hollow interior space. The upper support has a pair opposed side walls partially forming the interior space and opposed flanges inwardly extending into the interior space from the side walls. The opposed flanges are molded-in flanges unitary with the upper support. A pedal arm has a lower end carrying a pedal and an upper end provided with at least one guide pin slidingly supported by the opposed flanges for selected movement of the pedal arm relative to said upper support. The interior space is entirely enclosed by the upper support except for an opening at a bottom side of the upper support and the upper end of the pedal arm extends into the interior space through the opening. A drive assembly is operatively connected to the pedal arm to selectively move the lower arm relative to the upper support.

Abstract: A latching mechanism for selectively retaining a closure having a striker is provided that includes a housing forming a vertically extending groove for receiving the striker, first and second axles located on opposite sides of the groove, a striker spring located at the groove, a pawl pivotable about the first axle and defining a notch, and a ratchet pivotable about the second axle and defining a protrusion adapted to cooperate with the notch of the pawl to selectively retain the ratchet in a locked position. The ratchet defines a pocket for receiving the striker and retaining the striker in the groove when the ratchet is in the locked position. The housing is adapted to accept an over slam force from the striker at a bottom end of the groove. Preferably, the striker spring is substantially in-line with a path of the striker into the groove.

Abstract: A window assembly includes a pane having an interior surface, an exterior surface, a top edge, a bottom edge, and two side edges. A frame has a header, a bottom with a latching portion, and two sides. A window frame is attached to the pane solely by adhesive bonding to the interior surface of the pane, and a hinge member is attached to the pane solely by adhesive bonding to the interior surface of the pane proximate the top edge of the pane. A latch is attached to the pane solely by adhesive bonding to the interior surface of the pane remote from the top edge of the pane and is operable to engage the latching portion of the footer.

Abstract: A jack includes a motor, a gear assembly operably connected to the motor, a ram, and a plurality of screws driven by the gear assembly to move the ram.

Abstract: A window assembly includes a pane defining a plane, and a latch bolt housing mounted to the pane. A latch bolt is slidingly mounted to the latch bolt housing for movement in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the pane between a first position and a second position. A biasing member is operative to urge the latch bolt toward the first position, and a release handle remote from the latch bolt is operative to move the latch bolt from the first position toward the second position against a biasing force of the biasing member.

Abstract: A seat track assembly for a motor vehicle includes a first or lower track assembly comprising a lower track, a second or upper track assembly operably connected to the lower track assembly and comprising an upper track movable relative to the first track, and a latch selectively movable from a latching position wherein the upper track is secured with respect to the lower track and an unlatching position wherein the upper track is movable with respect to the lower track. The upper track has a generally vertical side wall and the latch extends laterally adjacent the side wall. The latch includes an attachment portion secured to the upper track, a latch portion adapted to cooperate with the lower track to form an interlock therebetween and substantially prevent movement of the upper track relative to the lower track, and an intermediate portion connecting the attachment portion and the latch portion. The latch is preferably a unitary member formed of spring steel.

Abstract: A seat track assembly includes a first track having a mounting wall and first and second spaced apart side walls extending from the mounting wall, and a second track having a base flange and first and second spaced apart side flanges extending from the base flange. The side walls and the side flanges each have a pair of flat surfaces which cooperate to define a pair of load transmission channels. The load transmission channels are preferably square-shaped and oriented at 45 degrees. Load transmission elements are positioned in the load transmission channels. At least one of the first and second tracks produce an interference with the load transmission elements so that at least one of the first and second tracks is resiliently deflected by the load transmission elements to bias the load transmission elements into engagement with each of the four flat surfaces.