Abstract: A mounting system in combination with a sun visor which is movable between a detented retracted position and an extended position. A pivot shaft with a generally circular cross-section cooperates with the sun visor. The pivot shaft has a flat surface along one side of the shaft which provides a detent position for the sun visor when in the retracted position. An annular groove is provided which is oriented in a plane generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shaft. A first clip is provided which cooperates with the shaft and sun visor. The first clip has a first leg and a second leg, such that either the first leg or the second leg has a protrusion which cooperates with the annular groove to prevent either the first leg or the second leg from locating the flat surface while allowing the other leg to locate the flat surface to obtain the detent position when the sun visor is in the retracted position.

Abstract: A mechanism and method for attaching a sunvisor to a pivot shaft by providing a generally U-shaped clip having first and second arms within a cooperating clip housing integrally formed within the rear panel of the sunvisor. A conduit is formed by the spring clip enabling the sliding of the pivot shaft into both the clip housing and the spring clip. The clip housing is designed to cooperate with the pivot shaft to pre-stress one arm of the spring clip, thereby eliminating excess play between the spring clip and the sunvisor when the visor is pivoted. The attachment mechanism is designed such that a snap-shut hook is properly received within a receiving hook, thereby effectively securing the sunvisor to the pivot shaft.

Abstract: Mechanism and method for controlling the retraction and extension of blades of an expandable visor wherein a lever mechanism interconnects at least a pair of blades enabling simultaneous movement between the retracted and the extended positions. The lever mechanism has a lever cooperating with a series of guide pins and guide slots inside the shell to control the direction and amount of travel of at least one pair of the blades. If desired, the mechanism enables independent movement of at least one of the blades or simultaneous movement of all the blades between the extended and retracted positions. The mechanism is designed to provide easy control and use of an expandable visor to ensure adequate glare protection from the sun's rays or other sources of light.

Abstract: Mechanism and method for attaching an outer covering to a plastic shell are provided wherein an attachment mechanism is attached or integral with an inner surface of a shell half. The attachment mechanism secures the covering to prevent the covering from working loose prior to and during closure of the upper and lower shell halves. The mechanism is designed to maintain adequate tension on the cover fabric, yet allow fabric to be pulled out as required by a peripheral fabric retention system. The mechanism further includes one or more members which flex to allow an elongated implement and fabric to enter, but which grabs and retains the fabric when the elongated implement is withdrawn prior to and upon closing of the upper and lower shell halves.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting and sealing the cut edges of semipermeable and at least partially thermoplastic fabric material is disclosed as having a support to position the material for cutting and sealing, a vacuum system to secure the material to the support to immobilize the material while the latter is being cut and sealed, an ultrasonic cutter to cut the material and to seal cut edges to prevent raveling thereof, and a guide to direct the cutter to cut the material in a desired configuration. The apparatus may be particularly adapted to cut and seal cut edges of automotive safety air bag material.

Abstract: A sunvisor for an automotive vehicle has a shell or frame with two separate halves foldable along a common edge. The shell halves have juxtaposed notches along the common edge and clamping flanges or ribs on one surface thereof adjacent the notches. A visor body is formed by folding the shell halves along the common edge. After folding, the visor body has an inner cavity. A retainer or support pin is integrally formed with a fabric tucking flange. Before closing the shell halves, the support pin is placed and held so as to force the cover fabric into its final position. Upon closure of the shell halves, the clamping flanges cooperate to retain the support pin and cover fabric. The support pin cooperates with a sunvisor support latch to support the sunvisor with the vehicle.

Abstract: A visor bracket for use in a visor assembly includes at least one upwardly extending projection and the outer curved peripheral surface of a central boss which cooperate to prevent misalignment of the boss with a D-shaped opening formed in an inner sheet of the roof of a vehicle during installation of the visor assembly to the vehicle. Preferably, the outer curved peripheral surface is defined by the outer curved surface of a plurality of guide ribs which radially project from and extend around the periphery of the boss. The mounting bracket includes a mounting flange integrally formed with the boss and extending radially therefrom. The mounting flange includes a plurality of spaced mounting holes formed therethrough for alignment with attachment holes formed in the inner sheet of the roof of the vehicle. Preferably, two such projections are adapted to fit within the D-shaped opening at opposite ends of a straight line portion thereof.

Abstract: A mechanism for attaching an outer fabric covering to a plastic shell is provided wherein inner and outer walls integrally formed on the inner periphery of a lower shell half define a channel and a locking wall integrally formed on the inner periphery of an upper shell half locks the covering in the channel when the shell is closed. The attachment mechanism secures the covering to prevent the covering from working loose during normal operation of the sunvisor. The mechanism further includes a peripheral lip integrally formed with the locking wall. The covering is secured between the peripheral lip and a free end portion of the outer wall. The lip has a curved outer surface for receiving one free edge portion of the covering thereon. The outer wall also has a curved outer surface for receiving another free edge portion of the covering thereon. The curved outer surfaces of the outer wall and the lip at least partially define a curved outer surface of the shell when closed.

Abstract: A method of reducing the number of free carboxyl end groups present in a fiber-forming polymer is given whereby to the polymer minor amounts of a low-boiling oxirane compound such as ethylene oxide are added.

Abstract: The invention provides an improved partially oriented polyester yarn finish which consists essentially of from about 50 to about 90 weight percent of one or more high molecular weight ethylene oxide/propylene oxide copolymers having an ethylene oxide content such that the ethylene oxide in the copolymer constitutes less than about 25 weight percent of the finish; from about 10 to about 35 weight percent of one or more alkyl chain based lubricants, a major amount of which has a smoke point within the range of from about 155.degree. C. to about 200.degree. C.; and an emulsifying amount of base neutralized fatty acid such as potassium oleate.

Abstract: The invention provides a polyester fibrous material for incorporation into rubber bearing an adhesive activator finish comprising as the active ingredient, an epichlorohydrin ether or ester derived from a polyhydric alcohol or polycarboxylic acid containing up to about 20 carbon atoms. Adhesive activated fibers of the invention can obtain a degree of adherence to rubber equal to or closely approaching adherence provided by epoxy adhesive activated polyester fibers.

Abstract: Filamentary material is wound upon tubes mounted upon a winder. A traversing guide traverses the filamentary material along the package axis to produce a helical winding thereof. A control mechanism engages the filamentary material prior to completion of a winding sequence to cause the trailing end of the filamentary material to be wound for a plurality of turns in non-helical, close-order relationship on the package to resist subsequent unraveling of the filamentary material. The control mechanism comprises a movable arm which includes a contact edge oriented generally parallel to a plane defined by the traversing movement of the filamentary material. The arm is mounted for movement toward and away from such plane to contact the filamentary material upstream of the traversing guide and displace same out of the latter. The contact edge includes a stop for constraining the filamentary material for winding in a non-helical, close-order relationship onto the package.

Abstract: The invention provides an improved multi-filament polyester fibrous material for incorporation into rubber which bears a topcoat comprising the combination of a dissolved, active isocyanate compound together with an endcapped silicone glycol copolymer. The multi-filament polyester material of the invention exhibits improved initial and long term adhesion to rubber and rubber articles prepared from the material of the invention exhibited improved endurance properties.

Abstract: A doffing/donning apparatus is used in combination with a row of winders each of which winds filamentary material upon a tube carried by a rotary spindle of the winder to form a package. The apparatus comprises a carrier mounted for movement generally parallel to and above the row of winders. A column is mounted on said carrier for horizontal movement. A package exchange arm is mounted on said column for up-and-down movement and is alignable with the winder spindle so that the package can be transferred to the package exchange arm. A tube exchange arm is mounted on the column for up-and-down movement and is alignable with the spindle so that a tube on the tube exchange arm can be transferred to the spindle. A shuttle is spaced horizontally from and vertically above the row of winders, and includes a package transfer arm and a tube transfer arm. The package exchange and tube exchange arms are moved along the column to the level of the shuttle.

Abstract: A guide encloses a group of traveling filaments arranged in a pattern forming a main longitudinal axis. The guide comprises a carrier movable toward and away from the filament group. A plurality of relatively movable members are mounted on the carrier for movement between open and closed positions. Those members form a through-passage for the filament group in the closed position. An actuating mechanism is operatively connected to the carrier and members for extending the carrier toward the filament group, and closing the members around the filaments to converge the filaments. Thereafter, the carrier is retracted to a position where a longitudinal axis of the through-passage is substantially aligned with the main longitudinal axis formed by the filament group.

Abstract: Two molten streams of polyester polymer are extruded at different speeds to intersect below the spinneret. The spinning speed is relatively high, and the resulting filament has shrinkage peaks and valleys along its length. When a number of such filaments are relaxed in a yarn bundle, the yarn spontaneously develops crimp.

Abstract: A yarn having variable denier filaments with thick and thin regions is drawn at a draw ratio selected to break filaments in the thin regions. This may be done while false-twist texturing. The resulting broken ends protrude from the yarn, giving a spun-like yarn.

Abstract: An improved process is provided for the formation of a high performance polyester multifilament yarn possessing a high strength and an unusually stable internal structure rendering it particularly suited for use in industrial applications at elevated temperatures. The filaments are melt spun and uniformly quenched under relatively high stress conditions to yield an as-spun filamentary material of relatively high birefringence which is passed in-line from the quench zone to a first draw zone provided at a temperature below the glass transition temperature of the as-spun filamentary material, for example at ambient temperature, where it is drawn. Subsequent drawing follows to achieve at least 85 percent of the maximum draw ratio of the as-spun filamentary material.

Abstract: Molten polymer streams are separately metered to the individual capillaries of a combined orifice, rendering the yarn produced less dependent on the capillary dimensions.

Abstract: Sintered bauxite particles having defined physical and chemical properties are disclosed as being surprisingly eminently suitable as filtration media for molten polymer, such as polyester polymer. Broadly, the particles have a roundness of at least 0.8, and an API standard mesh size of at least 12; in addition, such particles inherently contain significant amounts of ferric oxide. It is preferred that the sintered bauxite particles (i) be microcrystalline, and therefore sintered under critical conditions; (ii) exhibit high crush strength; (iii) be compaction and fracture resistant up to pressures of 6000 psi by defined permeability tests; and (iv) have an API standard mesh size not greater than 70. Also, the sintered particles may have a microporous internal structure and surface.Also disclosed is an improved annular melt-spinning pack, including a bed of sintered bauxite particles, and means for preventing the bed of free-flowing particles from being deformed during use of the pack.