Abstract: A structure of a universal joint is disclosed in which an end surface of a spider is coated with a solid lubricant and a projection having an arc cross section formed on a center of a bearing cup into which the spider is fitted is brought into point contact with the solid lubricant coated end surface of the spider. When the spider is axially rotated, the friction generated on the bearing cup can be remarkably reduced.

Abstract: An intermediate shaft comprising a shaft body including an axle portion and a portion having an approximately elliptic shape of cross section, both major and minor axes of the elliptical cross-section portion being longer than a diameter of the axle portion, and a ring-shaped member with a cross-sectional shape analogous to the elliptic cross-section portion. A method for assembling this shaft provides for a vibration damping member intervened between the housing member and elliptic cross-section portion for damping vibrations transmitted from the steering gear box. This method also ensures that the housing and the vibration damping members and the elliptic cross-section portion are fitted into an outer tubular envelope, and the ring-shaped member normally has a gap against the outer tubular envelope and transmits rotational torque from the outer tubular envelope to the elliptic cross-section portion when the ring-shaped member is contacted with the outer tubular envelope.

Abstract: A shift-lock device has a locking member associated with a projection member to engage with the locking member for establishing locking engagement. One of the locking member and the projection member is rigidly connected to a selector of an automatic power transmission and the other is rigidly secured to a stationary member in the vehicular body. The locking member is normally and resiliently biased toward locking direction for establishing locking engagement with the projection member. The locking member is associated with a lock release actuator which is electrically operable and active for a predetermined period only when a predetermined safety condition is established.

Abstract: A steering column assembly for a vehicle includes a steering column, a stationary bracket and a guide member which allows the steering column to displace horizontally in a direction along a longitudinal axis of the vehicle. A pair of universal joints with a shaft connecting them are provided forward of the steering column for allowing variation in angle between the steering column and the shaft, the angular variation being caused by the horizontal displacement of the steering column. The shaft includes an outer sleeve and an inner shaft telescopically received in the outer sleeve. The outer sleeve and the inner shaft are connected in such a fashion as to allow the inner shaft to displace along an axis of the outer sleeve in response to the horizontal displacement of the steering column.

Abstract: A structure of a pedal such as an acceleration pedal, a clutch pedal, or a brake pedal for a vehicle in provided. This structure includes generally a pedal pad detachably supported by a pedal arm, a housing integrally formed on the pedal pad, and a mass having a preselected weight for absorbing vibration transmitted through the pedal arm. The mass includes first and second sections, the first section is inserted into the housing to be retained in the pedal pad and the second section extends outside the housing. Thus, various types of masses having different widths in the exposed second section can be attached to the pedal pad to adjust the resonance frequency of the pedal arm.

Abstract: A reductive seat belt retractor for an automotive seat belt arrangement has a belt spool rotatably supported on a housing by a spool shaft which is rotatable with the belt spool in belt extracting and retracting directions. The spool shaft rigidly mounts a first gear for co-rotation therewith. A plurality of second gears are associated with the first gear for transmitting rotational torque therebetween. An internal gear is associated with the first and/or second gears for transmitting rotational torque therebetween, the internal gear being provided greater gear ratio versus the first gear. A ratchet wheel defining a spring receptacle chamber and a locking member associated with the ratchet wheel are provided for establishing and releasing locking of the ratchet wheel for preventing the ratchet wheel from rotating at least in the belt retracting direction.

Abstract: A seat belt arrangement employs a seat belt buckle pre-tensioner which includes buckle anchor supported on a structural component of a vehicular seat. The buckle anchor is formed with a ratchet or saw teeth extending along a guide slot. A seat belt buckle is connected to the buckle anchor via a connecting leg rigidly secured on the buckle and movable along the guide slot of the buckle anchor. The connecting member is cooperated with a pivotal actuation lever, which is, in turn connected to a sensor assembly which mechanically actuates the pivotal actuation lever for causing pivotal movement of the latter carrying with the connecting member for retracting the seat belt buckle in a direction for increasing tension at a seat belt web.

Abstract: A power seat lifter device for an automotive seat assembly has electrically powered servo systems for adjusting height position at a front end portion and a rear end portion of the vehicular seat. The servo systems are concentrically arranged along one side of the vehicular seat so as to form enough space for permitting lowering of the seat cushion height.

Abstract: A power seat lifter arrangement has a drive mechanism for driving a seat cushion for adjustment of the height level, which drive mechanism is mounted on an upper rail of a seat slide. The drive mechanism is separated into two parts, one is for adjusting the height level at the front portion of the seat cushion, and the other is for adjusting the height level at the rear portion of the seat cushion.

Abstract: A tilting steering column employing a bolt secured to provide a force required for a clamp member fixed to the vehicle to provide frictional clamping engagement with a bracket member to which the steering column is fixed. A tilt lever is mounted on the bolt to operate a cam mechanism having first and second cam members to retain and release the frictional clamping engagement. A resilient member is provided between the first and second cam members to provide a good feel during steering column tilting operation.

Abstract: A first of two members which are joined in a manner to undergo synchronous rotation is formed with a aperture which has a flower-like shape and which has a periphery which is essentially free of sharply angled portions. A hollow projection formed on one end of a shaft is forced into the aperture and then punched to assume the shape of the aperture and to caulk the two members together.

Abstract: A power seat arrangement has concentrically arranged drives for a seat slide mechanism, a seat lifter mechanism and a reclining mechanism in a space defined in the vicinity of one rear end corner of a seat cushion.

Abstract: A structure for a shock energy absorbing type steering apparatus is disclosed in which a column jacket in which a bracket member, rotatably fixed to a clamp, is attached to a vehicle body linked to a column jacket by means of welding and an enclosing body is extended in a space between the bracket member and clamp so as to enclose an upper surface area of the bracket member, thus preventing a foreign matter from invading into the inside of the bracket member. In addition, the bracket member includes a front wall to which the column jacket is perpendicularly fixed, curling portions formed on both side ends of the front wall, rollers inserted into the corresponding curling portions, and side walls extended from the curling portions in parallel to the column jacket, and cut-out portions formed on a portion of the bracket member below the curling portions.

Abstract: An adjustable pedal for a vehicle includes a bracket for mounting the pedal on a vehicle body, a holder pivotably supported by the bracket, and a pedal member, an end of which is adjustably attached to the holder to set a position thereof of interest to a driver. The pedal member is pivotable with respect to the bracket in cooperation with the holder and is connected to an operating rod for a vehicle control component to be operated by motion of the pedal member through a linkage. This linkage is adapted for transmit a operating force created by the motion of the pedal member to the operating rod uniformly independent of the position of the pedal member relative to the holder.

Abstract: A column-shift type, shift lever arrangement for operating an automatic power transmission includes a shift locking mechanism which prevents a vehicle's driver from changing the position of a transmission shift lever. The shift locking mechanism engages an annular groove formed in a compression rod at a location neighboring one end thereof so as to mechanically lock the movement of the shift lever arrangement, until the vehicular driver depresses a brake pedal once, after engine starting is performed when the shift lever arrangement is positioned in a parking-range position.

Abstract: A structure of a tiltable steering column applicable to a steering column of a vehicular steering system having a jump-up mechanism is disclosed in which a substantially flat rod member serving as a lock plate is formed with a plurality of parallel lock grooves aligned on at least one surface of the lock plate, i.e., a pair of lock pins are extended in a space between walls of a link member for engaging and disengaging with and from the lock grooves to adjustably lock and unlock a tilt angle of a related steering shaft according to a pivotal movement of a release lever, and a shoe portion formed on the other end of the lock plate is grasped by means of a pair of rollers provided on the link member(s).

Abstract: In a position adjustable pedal assembly for a vehicle, a pedal pad position is adjustable in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle. A lever is connected to a stationary bracket for a pivotal movement about a pivot axis and is formed with a linear track extending in the vehicular longitudinal direction. A pedal arm is provided with a pedal pad at its lower end and with a guide member at its upper end and is connected to the lever for the pivotal movement with the lever in response to a depression force applied to the pedal pad. An adjust lever is provided on the lever for a relative movement to the lever and is formed with an arc-shaped track. The relative movement of the adjust lever is caused when the guide member moves within the linear track and simultaneously within the arc-shaped track while the pedal pad position is adjusted. The adjust lever is provided with a connecting member which is movable within another arc-shaped track in response to the relative movement of the adjust lever.

Abstract: A steering column assembly includes a steering column having an upper steering column tube and a lower steering column tube which are telescopically connected at their lower and upper portions respectively, a stationary bracket fixed to a vehicle body and an energy absorption bracket fixed to the stationary bracket. The energy absorption bracket fixedly receives the upper steering column tube which extends therethrough. The energy absorption bracket gets plastically deformed in response to an impact load exceeding a predetermined value to allow the upper steering column tube to displace downward with respect to the lower steering column tube. The impact load is applied to the energy absorption bracket through the upper steering column tube in the direction along the axis of the steering column. The applied impact load is absorbed through the plastic deformation of the energy absorption bracket.

Abstract: A structure of a telescopic steering apparatus for a vehicle, in which a pair of clamping numbers and a guide member for guiding the pair of clamping members to an inner tube are provided for fixing and unfixing the inner tube constituting a telescopically movable portion of a column jacket to an upper jacket constituting a fixed portion so that a rigidity of a steering shaft is improved when the telescopically movable portion of the column jacket is extended to a maximum position. In addition, a guide member and alleviator are fitted around inner and outer peripheral surfaces of the upper jacket and inner tube so that when the inner tube is drawn into the upper jacket, a shock upon collision of the inner tube and upper jacket is damped.