Abstract: A seat assembly having a side air bag with a force concentrator at least partially surrounding the air bag to concentrate and direct the force of the inflating air bag to a designed deployment seam to cause the seam to rupture and allow the air bag to deploy therethrough. The force concentrator avoids the application of the air bag deployment force on the trim cover material and thus reduces the influence of the trim cover on the air bag deployment and prevents stretching of the trim cover. The force concentrator forms a non-stretchable structure at least partially surrounding the air bag which carries the air bag force and directs it to the deployment seam. This produces a consistent deployment of the air bag from one seat assembly to the next and also over time as the trim cover and seat wears.

Abstract: An extending cargo shelf for a vehicle seat to enable cargo to be carried in the vehicle without placing it on either the vehicle seat or the vehicle floor. The cargo shelf has a stowed position beneath the cushion of the seat bottom and is extended from the seat bottom to enable articles to be placed upon the shelf and supported above the vehicle floor.

Abstract: A power seat adjuster for bucket type vehicle seats includes inboard and outboard track assemblies each including a fixed lower section, a movable upper or movable section and a precision sliding interface including roller bearings between the moving upper track and the fixed lower track, the surfaces of the tracks that are engaged by the roller bearings being crowned to provide a bearing surface that is slightly convex when the seat is unoccupied but which becomes nearly flat when the seat is occupied, and the bearing surfaces of the track being coated with a multi-layer dry film lubricant including a base coating of an anti-friction material and a top coating of an anti-stick material.

Abstract: A transmission assembly for use in a power seat adjuster. A mechanical brake in the form of a coned-disk spring is included in the transmission to prevent back driving of the transmission by application of a force to the seat assembly which could otherwise produce unintended movement of a seat within a vehicle body.

Abstract: A pinch-off neck assembly for use in a container blow mold system. The assembly includes a base having a parting face and portions defining a recess in the parting face. An insert is received in the recess and the insert includes an insert parting face which is coincident with the base parting face. The insert also includes surfaces that define a neck finish cavity for forming a neck finish on the molded container. An adjustment mechanism axially adjusts the positioning of the insert in the recess relative to the base.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing automotive seat assemblies using fabrics with pre-bonded adhesives. Adhesives are pre-bonded to the back surface of fabric material using a variety of processes. The fabric with pre-bonded adhesive is then cut into pieces, which may be joined with other pieces, to form a trim cover assembly. Heat is then applied to activate the adhesive and attach the trim cover assembly to a cushion pad to manufacture a complete automotive seat assembly. The invention methodology allows the use of shorter bonding cycle times to achieve a suitable bond and reduces the likelihood of omitting, improperly positioning or wrinkling the adhesive.

Abstract: A seat assembly which is movable from a use position to a stored position having an upwardly extending headrest which is first rotated to a stored position thereby lowering the overall height of the seat back prior to storing the seat back. The headrest is coupled to a lower seat back latch such that upon rotation of the headrest to its stored position, the lower seat back latch is released enabling the seat back to then be rotated to its stored position. The result is a single handed operation of moving the headrest to its stored position and moving the entire seat back to its stored position. An alternative embodiment is shown in which the headrest position is vertically adjustable.

Abstract: An inertia locking device for use in a mechanical seat adjuster such as a fore and aft adjustment mechanism or a recliner mechanism in which a latch member is moved to a release position to enable the seat adjustment. The inertia locking device automatically re-locks the adjustment mechanism in the event of a vehicle collision even while the adjustment mechanism operating handle has been moved to a release position.

Abstract: A seat assembly which is movable from a use position to a stored position having an upwardly extending headrest which is first rotated to a stored position thereby lowering the overall height of the seat back prior to storing the seat back. The headrest is coupled to a lower seat back latch such that upon rotation of the headrest to its stored position, the lower seat back latch is released enabling the seat back to then be rotated to its stored position. The result is a single handed operation of moving the headrest to its stored position and moving the entire seat back to its stored position.

Abstract: A power seat adjuster for bucket type vehicle seats includes inboard and outboard track assemblies each including a fixed lower section, a movable upper or movable section and a precision sliding interface including roller bearings between the moving upper track and the fixed lower track, the surfaces of the tracks that are engaged by the roller bearings being crowned to provide a bearing surface that is slightly convex when the seat is unoccupied but which becomes nearly flat when the seat is occupied, and the bearing surfaces of the track being coated with a multi-layer dry film lubricant including a base coating of an anti-friction material and a top coating of an anti-stick material.

Abstract: A vehicle seat which carries a passenger restraint system, namely a lap belt and a shoulder belt, with a tension load carrying member being provided to resist forward rotation and bending of the backrest frame during a frontal vehicle collision when the shoulder belt is loaded in tension. The tension load carrying member forms a truss structure with the frame back portion and the frame base portion. However, during normal vehicle operation, the tension load carrying member is detached from the frame back portion eliminating the truss structure and the need for a more complex recliner mechanism for adjusting the position of the backrest. A grip mechanism is provided to attach the load carrying member in response to a high shoulder belt load to complete the truss. In an alternative embodiment, the load carrying member is released from the backrest only during adjustment of the backrest.

Abstract: A method for bonding a cover fabric to a cushion body to form a seating component, preferably a seat cushion of a vehicle seat assembly, includes the step of supplying a heated atmosphere, preferably steam under pressure, to a forming tool of a forming apparatus, the forming tool diffusing the heated atmosphere and passing the heated atmosphere out of the tool, through the cover fabric, and into the cushion body to melt an adhesive layer between the cushion body and the cover fabric, while the cushion body and cover fabric are subjected to a pressurized environment, preferably by locating the forming apparatus, the cover fabric, and the cushion body in a pressure chamber maintained at relatively high pressure.

Abstract: A method of applying a two-part liquid composition to a workpiece is provided. In particular, a two-step method is provided wherein a first liquid composition is applied to the workpiece by roll coating, and a second liquid composition is applied by spraying the workpiece. Generally, the first liquid composition is a polyurethane adhesive and the second liquid composition is a polyurethane catalyst. By applying the reactive components of the polyurethane composition in two steps, the open time may be controlled.

Abstract: A ski tote bag is provided for a motor vehicle seat back in which, when the armrest is deployed, a recess is formed in the seat back. The rear wall of the recess can be moved, revealing a pass through into a vehicle trunk. Alternatively, the rear wall can be separated into front and rear panels which are connected together by an extendable ski tote bag which folds in an accordion-style fashion. With the ski tote extended, elongated objects such as skis can be inserted into the tote bag from the trunk and stored within the trunk and rear portion of the vehicle passenger compartment while protecting the interior of the vehicle from dirt, snow and other debris carried by the skis.

Abstract: An extrusion head for extruding a polymer into a parison for blow molding and including a die ring and a mandrel. The die ring and mandrel each include a frustoconical portion. One frustoconical portion is shaped over its full length to define an ovalized annular outlet. The frustoconical portion is also shaped over less than its full length with a recess that is rotationally offset from the first and generally located upstream therefrom. The shapings result in the prison being extruded in a controlled manner through the outlet orifice with a predetermined area of increased thickness.