Abstract: An apparatus and method for blow molding hot-fill containers by a double blow process while utilizing a single blow molding wheel. The apparatus has multiple stations including preheat station for conditioning the preforms, a blow molding station having a single blow molding wheel, a heat treating station where intermediate containers are heat treated. The blow molding wheel is provided with two sets of molds, one set for forming the intermediate containers and another set for forming the final containers. Two transfer mechanism are used to achieve four different transfers of the various stages of the final container. Preforms and heat treated intermediate containers are being respectively transferred into the first and second molds by one transfer mechanism while untreated intermediate containers and final containers are respectively removed form the first and second molds by the second transfer station.

Abstract: An arrangement for mounting a transmitter unit for a garage door opening system within a vehicle seat armrest having at least one soft side, the armrest including a horizontally extending cavity, with access to the cavity being had by opening a cover flap formed in the trim material of the armrest, the transmitter unit being mounted in an cassette which facilitates inserting the transmitter unit into the cavity and positions the transmitter unit within the cavity with the operating switch of the transmitter unit located at the soft side of the armrest to permit operation of the transmitter unit by squeezing the armrest in the proximity of the transmitter unit operating switch.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the rapid estimation of the gas concentration within the headspace of a production beverage container which contains a carbonated beverage, includes preparing a prediction model based on correlations between an infrared absorption spectrum obtained from an analysis container and corresponding measured values of gas concentrations and physical properties of the analysis container, the method, whereby the physical property or gas concentration within the headspace of production container do not need to be measured directly, but rather are estimated based on the prediction model with a measured infrared absorption spectrum as an input to the prediction model, thereby providing non-invasive monitoring of production containers, filled and pressurized.

Abstract: A replaceable side bolster module for a vehicle seat in which the bolster module includes an inflatable air cushion and a gas generator for inflating the air cushion. By providing an inflatable air cushion within a replaceable side bolster, following deployment of the air cushion, only the bolster needs to be replaced as opposed to replacing the entire vehicle seat. The foam pad of the replaceable side bolster module has a slit cut therein immediately adjacent to the inflatable air cushion providing a localized weakening of the foam pad. The air cushion deploys through this slit, thus the location of the slit serves to provide directional guidance to the deploying air cushion.

Abstract: An integral child seat having a detachable booster seat in which one panel of a child seat is removable from the child seat and can be placed at another seating position on the seat assembly and attached thereto to provide a raised seating surface for a child who is too large to use the integrated child seat. This eliminates the need to purchase an after market booster seat for use after the integrated child seat has been outgrown. The integrated child seat remains usable by a child with the booster seat is in use at another seating position.

Abstract: An adjustable armrest for a vehicle seat in which a ratchet mechanism is provided to resist downward movement of the armrest and allow upward movement to adjust the armrest position relative to the seat back. The ratchet mechanism is released upon raising the armrest passed the upper end of its adjustment range enabling the armrest to be lowered to the lower end of its adjustment range wherein the ratchet mechanism again engages to hold the armrest in place. Attachment of the armrest to the seat back is provided by sliding the armrest over a mounting stud extending laterally from the seat back. A wire spring clip attached to the armrest seats in a groove in the stud to hold the armrest axially on the mounting stud. When assembled, the spring clip will be positioned at the interface between the armrest and the seat back enabling a flat tool such as a screw driver to be inserted between the armrest and the seat back to manipulate the clip to remove the armrest.

Abstract: A method of removing a flash portion from a container molded from an elastomer in which the flash portion is held stationary and the container is either inflated or deflated to increase or decrease the size of the container by moving the container walls whereby the stationary flash portions are torn or at least partially torn from the container walls.

Abstract: Attachment of a suspension mat to a tubular seat frame is accomplished by partially or fully forming the tubular frame at the location of the attachment with a concave surface. The suspension mat has a J-clip fastener which conforms to the shape of the formed tube and is fitted around the tube and seated partially into the formed concave area. By forming the tube, and producing a concave surface portion on the tube, the J-clip fastener can be seated on the bent edge of the concave surface portion and prevented from rotating about the tube axis.

Abstract: A vehicle seat having an integrated booster seat in which a child booster seat cushion is disposed within a cavity in the seat back and is rotatable to a forward extending use position spaced above the seat cushion providing a raised booster seat cushion for a child to elevate the child to a position in which an adult restraint system can be used with the child. The seat back has a movable panel which covers the cavity in the seat back in which the booster seat cushion is stored. Once the booster seat cushion has been moved to its use position, the panel is returned to its closed position whereby the panel forms the seat back surface for both an adult and a child. The booster seat can be provided in a form of a removable module which can be removed from the seat back and replaced with another module containing unique features such as an integral child seat or an armrest module.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for stacking preforms for blow molded containers wherein the preforms are generally tubular in shape having a closed end and a threaded end. The preforms are arranged so that they are in an array of predetermined size and shape. The preforms in the array are arranged in a plurality of side-by-side horizontally extending rows in which the preforms are upright and in a "threads up" orientation. Alternate rows of the preforms are picked up and inverted so that they are in a "threads down" orientation. The remaining rows are then picked up and positioned in an alternating relationship with the "threads down" rows of preforms, so that multiple layers of preforms can be stacked in a container so as to fully use all of the space in the container for storage and transfer of the preforms.

Abstract: Tooling for a quick change of molds and associated accessories for a blow molding machining for blow molding hollow plastic articles or articles, including a mold (2) that can be opened, with a feed opening (20) for introducing compressed air, an air injection nozzle (4) for the passage of compressed air, a nest (5) to hold the articles (31) after being produced and released by the mold, trim tooling (6) for the removal of the flash (32), characterized by the mold, the nest and the trim tooling being supported by two parallel opposing, spaced apart supporting plates (10), which constitute a modular assembly (1) that is movable lengthwise by a corresponding carriage (50), and by the fact that the air injection nozzle for the introduction of compressed air into the mold is assembled on a movable, self-retaining support (40).

Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly which is movable between at least one use position in the vehicle end at least one storage location, and in which a seat component, such as a seat cushion, is movable between non-operative and operative positions. The seat assembly has a single latch for both holding the seat in a given location within the vehicle as well as holding the movable seat component in its non-operative position. The latch includes a single operating handle which is movable in opposite directions to either release the seat for movement within the vehicle or to release the movable seat component from its non-operative position. The latch further includes lockout means to prevent the seat from being moved within the vehicle unless the movable seat component is in its non-operative position, and to prevent the movable seat component from being released from its non-operative position unless the seat is in a designated use location in the vehicle.

Abstract: A one piece plastic container for carbonated beverages has a footed base structure. The upper portion of the base structure includes hollow projections between which are formed relatively stiff strap formations. A deformable open region at the upper end of the strap formations is easily deformed and expands in a controlled fashion when the container is pressurized. Outward movement of the open region causes outward movement of the upper ends of the strap formations which then pivot about the feet causing the lower ends of the strap formations and the central region of the base structure to move upwardly.

Abstract: A rotary recliner for a vehicle seat having a pair of meshing gears rotating about a common pivot. Axially movable wedge segments are provided to bias an eccentric mounting one of the gears to force the gears into tight engagement with one another to eliminate free play and avoid rattling and vibration of the recliner. The two wedge segments are axially movable upon rotary motion of an operating cap to relieve the free play reduction and enable adjustment of the recliner. The wedge segments do not function as bearing surfaces of the recliner during recliner adjustment to avoid high friction forces which must be overcome to adjust the recliner.

Abstract: A multi-station injection blow molding apparatus for producing hollow plastic articles, including vertically stacked preform injection molds at a first station, vertically stacked blow molds at a second station and an indexing head assembly having upper and lower core bearing indexing heads which are rotatable in a horizontal plane when the molds are open and also are movable vertically relative to and in correspondence with movement of the molds during opening and closing of the molds. In one embodiment, the movable supports which support the mating mold portions of the upper and lower injection and blow molds are coupled to the mold clamping mechanism of the apparatus through mechanical linkage which causes the upper and lower molds to be opened and closed simultaneously. In another embodiment, the movable supports are coupled together, causing the upper and lower molds to be opened and closed sequentially.

Abstract: A vehicle seat with an inflatable air cushion in which an air cushion module comprising the inflatable air cushion and a gas generator for inflating the air cushion is mounted to a hollow member of the seat frame. The gas generator is substantially contained within the seat frame to minimize the packaging space required for the air cushion module. In addition, back pressure release gas from the gas generator is directed into the hollow interior of the frame to avoid the discharge of hot gas directly into the seat foam where the foam may be damaged by the heat.

Abstract: A tube joint and seat frame formed with tubes joined with the tube joint of the present invention in which the joint is formed by flaring the end of an outer tube, inserting an inner tube into the outer tube beyond the flare forming a telescoping tube portion in which the outer tube overlaps the inner tube. The clearance formed between the inner and outer tubes by the flare is filled with an epoxy resin adhesive. A metal forming process is performed forming apertures through the inner and outer tubes in the telescoping tube portion in which the aperture in the outer tube is concentric with the aperture in the inner tube and is surrounded by a flange extending radially relative to the axis of the tube into the aperture in the inner tube forming a mechanical interlock between the inner and outer tubes.

Abstract: A tumble forward seat having mounting brackets that are rigidly attachable to a motor vehicle body and which establish a pivot axis for the seat frame. The brackets are releasably attached to a pair of front mounting pins in the vehicle body floor to hold the brackets stationary in the vehicle. The seat assembly frame then pivots about the mounting brackets from a generally horizontal use position to a tumble forward stowed position to increase the cargo capacity of the vehicle. When rotated forwarded to the up-tilted position, the rear legs of the seat rotate into the envelope formed by the seat frame to avoid leaving the rear legs projecting into the cargo space.

Abstract: A back panel organizer for van-type motor vehicles having a storage space rearward of the rearmost seat of the vehicle includes a panel adapted to be mounted on the back of the rear seat in place of the seat back panel, a tubular frame pivotally mounted on the back panel for movement between a stored position in which it is received in a recessed portion of the panel and a use position in which the frame extends horizontally into the storage space with the front end of the cantilever mounted frame being supported by a support structure, the frame and panel including handle hooks adapted to have the handles of a plastic shopping bag wrapped therearound, for supporting the shopping bag in an upright position and limiting horizontal movement of the shopping bag within the storage space as the vehicle is driven.