Abstract: A closure for an opening in a trim cover of an upholstered article. The closure includes a pair of elongated clips with one clip attached to one edge of the trim cover opening and forming a receiving pocket with an open end and the other attaching clip joined to an opposite edge of the trim cover opening and has a barb shape projection for insertion into the receiving pocket of the first clip. The barb shaped projection and the receiving pocket have mating shoulders that engage one another once the barb shaped projection is inserted into the receiving pocket to prevent release of the barb shaped projection and to hold the edges of the trim cover together whereby the opening in the trim cover is closed.

Abstract: A seat assembly with an integrated seat belt system is provided with a power recliner mechanism and a seat back dump feature. The dump feature includes a toggle latch mechanism for latching the seat back in place and for unlatching the seat back to enable forward rotation to a dump position without affecting the adjusted angular position of the seat back when it is returned from the dump position. An overcenter spring operates to hold the toggle latch mechanism in either its latched or released positions.

Abstract: A method for shaping a trim cover fabric for the entire front surface of a vehicle seat back portion or the entire top surface of a vehicle seat cushion portion, includes providing a forming tool having a forming surface with a portion complementary to a basic shape to be provided for the seat surface and a portion defining a cavity; providing a plurality of style line inserts, different ones of the style line inserts having different styling surfaces that are complementary to different desired stylized shapes to be provided for the seat surface; selecting one of the style line inserts and inserting the selected style line insert into the cavity; positioning the trim cover fabric on the forming tool assembly; providing a pressing tool having a surface formed to be complementary to the forming surface of the forming tool and the styling surfaces of the plurality of style line inserts to enable the pressing tool to be used with a forming tool assembly that includes any of the style line inserts; and pressing th

Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly is provided with a single set position memory dump mechanism. The memory feature acts to lock the seat back in a predetermined set position upon return of the seat back from a forward dump position. The set position is rearward of the front use position of the seat back so as to provide a comfortable seat back position for all occupants rather than locking in the front most use position which is typically an uncomfortable position for most seat occupants.

Abstract: A roll coating machine for applying liquid materials onto sheet material workpieces. The machine has particular application in the area of coating flexible foam sheets with stiffening or adhesive agents. The roll coater incorporates mechanisms for controlling the spacing between coating rollers which apply the liquid materials onto one or both sides of the workpiece and enables automatic adjustment for various thickness of material. Automatic adjustment is provided through accurate force balancing of one of the rollers and applying a highly controlled net force acting on the rollers such that the rollers self-adjust based on compression of the workpiece. Another mechanism provided in the machine of this invention incorporates pre-gauging and a cam adjustment mechanism for setting separation distance which can be used independently or in conjunction with a force balancing approach mentioned previously.

Abstract: An interlock for a fold down seat back with an integral child seat prevents the use of the child seat unless the fold down seat back is latched in place and likewise prevents unlatching of the seat back when the child seat is deployed. The interlock is provided as a simple subassembly that can be added to the seat back quickly and easily. The interlock avoids the need for a striker bar attached to the child seat cushion panel and minimizes the extent of modifications required to an existing seat back latch.

Abstract: The present assembly provides a seat assembly for motor vehicle having a light weight frame made of magnesium for easy removal and reinstallation of the seat assembly in the motor vehicle. The rear cross member of the seat cushion frame is an elongated body having a pair of cavities for high strength while at the same time providing means for attaching structural components to the seat cushion frame. The seat cushion frame components are formed with interiorly extending flanges for mounting the seat trim thereto. The mounting flanges include a notched portion forming a ledge against which a tail portion of a J-clip is seated to facilitate installation of the trim on the seat assembly.

Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly having an integral child seat and a seat back which is rotatably mounted. An interlock is provided between the child seat and a latch for the rotating seat back to prevent release of the seat back latch when the child seat has been deployed and conversely, when the seat back latch has been released, the interlock prevents deployment of the child seat.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for the rapid estimation the macroscopic physical properties of a coating applied to an article such as, for example, a container for food, beverages, or the like. The invention is usable with macroscopic physical properties including permeation rate, thickness of the coating, and others. According to the invention, a prediction model is prepared based on correlations between an infrared absorption spectrum and corresponding measured values of the macroscopic physical property. Thenceforth, the macroscopic physical property does not need to be measured directly, but rather is estimated based on the prediction model with a measured infrared absorption spectrum as an input thereto. A significant savings of time may thereby be realized, since the infrared absorption spectrum is more easily and quickly obtained than direct, actual measurement of many macroscopic physical properties of interest.

Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly having a front panel that is deployable to a forwardly extending position to support a vehicle occupant who has moved forward off the seat cushion during a frontal impact collision. Improvements to the panel deployment mechanism are shown including an electronically activated latch release to deploy the panel upon a predetermined deceleration measured by an accelerometer mounted to the seat assembly or elsewhere on a motor vehicle.

Abstract: A machine for the production of seating components having a plurality of movable press centers which are moved about by a track to a plurality of workstations where different manufacturing operations are performed. The track is equipped with transfer capability to selectively bypass one or more of the workstations to enable different components to be made simultaneously using different methods. The track can further move a press center off line for repair without interrupting the operation of the machine.

Abstract: A guide for a seat belt webbing is disclosed for use where the webbing is routed through an opening in a vehicle or body structure that is not a part of the seat belt system. The opening will typically be of a size large enough to permit passage of the seat belt anchors and other hardware during assembly of the vehicle or seat, The guide is installed in the opening after the larger hardware has been passed therethrough. The guide provides a small slot only large enough for the webbing itself to pass therethrough to prevent the webbing from being twisted or folded over into a double thickness and passed through the slot in the guide.

Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly with a structural seat back to accommodate the seat belt loads applied to the seat back by the belt system which is carried by the seat assembly. The seat back includes a reinforced beam along one side of the seat back frame to accommodate these loads with a recliner mechanism along the same side of the seat assembly and engaging the reinforced member to resist forward rotation of the seat back caused by seat belt loads applied thereto. The seat assembly while being reinforced to accommodate the seat belt loads is configured to be as similar to conventional seat assemblies as possible to minimize the need to redesign the non-structural components of the seat assembly. In addition, the seat assembly includes many features found in current production seat assemblies such as a fore and aft adjuster, an adjustable lumbar support, a seat cushion lift and a seat back recliner.

Abstract: An electromechanical release mechanism for a seat assembly is disclosed providing a release mechanism for a mechanical seat adjustment device in which the release mechanism is operated by an electrical switch that can be conveniently located within the motor vehicle in an easy to reach position for a seat occupant. The electromechanical release mechanism includes an electromechanical drive such as a solenoid or electric motor for moving a latch member to release a seat adjuster or seat recliner to enable adjustment of the seat assembly.

Abstract: A hot-fill plastic container includes a plurality of elongated vertically oriented vacuum absorption panels in its sidewall, each of the panels having an outwardly projecting center portion which is divided into upper and lower panel portions by a transversely extending rib, the panel portions being connected to the top and bottom of the vacuum panel by outwardly curved connecting portions which reverse the curvature of the vacuum panel adjacent to its upper and lower edges to reinforce the vacuum panels to prevent the sidewall from taking a permanent set which deflected inwardly, the corners of the vacuum panel having a relatively large radius of curvature to provide stiffening of the panels at their corners. Annular reinforcement ribs located in the sidewall above and below the vacuum panels provide additional support for the upper and lower edges of the vacuum panels.

Abstract: A container of a heat set plastic material adapted for hot fill applications includes a plurality of elongated vertically oriented vacuum panels in its sidewall and first and second circumferentially extending inwardly directed reinforcement ribs which are located in the label mounting areas above and below the vacuum panels and which cooperate with upper and lower label bumpers of the container to support the upper and lower edges of the vacuum panels permitting the center portions of the panels to flex inward during filling and sealing the container with a hot liquid, but resisting deformation of the container sidewall in compensating for the hot-fill vacuum.

Abstract: A seat assembly for a passenger car including an integral child seat assembly. The frame of the seat back carries seat belt loading from the child seat restraint system receiving the load directly from the seat belts and transferring a load efficiently to the floor pan and rear shelf of the motor vehicle to provide a short load path requiring a minimal number of components.

Abstract: A recliner for a vehicle seat assembly is disclosed in which the locking pawl of the recliner is formed with teeth configured to resist damage when the seat back is rotated to a forward dump position. The pawl teeth at the end of the pawl closest to the slide face of the recliner latch gear are of a shorter length than the remainder of the pawl teeth to enable the teeth to resist bending deformation caused by impact with the latch gear end face. The pawl teeth are of a progressively longer length from the end of the pawl inward, over a limited number of teeth.