Abstract: An extrusion die head for producing multiple layer tubular plastic bodies is disclosed in which the size of the tubular resin flow passage for at least one of the resin layers is infinitely adjustable at the point where two or more resin layers merge together to form a multiple layer stream. The adjustable passages are formed by two spaced inclined surfaces at the downstream end of the passages. The thickness of the passages is varied by axially moving one surface relative to the other. The moveable inclined surface is carried on an annular ring member mounted in the die head. In one embodiment, the ring is replaceable with another ring member to axially move the surface, thereby adjusting the layer thickness. In another embodiment, the ring member is threadably mounted in the die head so that rotation of the ring causes axial movement of the surface to adjust layer thickness.

Abstract: A floating drive mechanism for a power seat adjuster in which carriages are carried by two parallel inserts, each of the inserts including a toothed rack in mesh with a pinion drive gear. The gear and rack are held in a consistent mesh with one another by a spring retainer so that during adjustment of the seat, as the carriage is moving, dimensional variations of the carriages and inserts do not effect the mesh between the gears and racks. The gears include drive shafts which terminate in spherically radiused square drive ends to which are crimped the ends of a torque tube coupling the pinion gears to one another. A transmission/motor assembly pivotally mounted to one of the carriages is used to drive the two gears. The drive shaft couplings with the torque tube enable the two gears to float relative to one another and also relative to the motor/transmission assembly to maintain the consistent mesh between the gears and the racks.

Abstract: A polyester container particularly adapted for hot fill applications having an improved base configuration. The container base has an outer circular ring defining a support plane for the container with a central outwardly concave dome portion therein. The dome portion includes a number of reinforcing rings formed along concentric tangent lines. In accordance with several embodiments, the circular rings are uninterrupted, whereas in other embodiments, the rings are interrupted at regular angular intervals with relatively smooth zones or hemispherical pockets therebetween. The containers provide excellent mechanical stability in response to positive and negative pressure within the container, and also in response to unrelaxed retractive stresses within the container material which tend to cause deformation of the container, particularly when exposed to elevated temperatures during demolding of the container and during the hot fill cycle.

Abstract: A coupling for attaching a seat back to a seat cushion particularly for an automotive seat assembly in which the coupling includes a tapered plate member extending upwardly from the rear of the seat cushion and a housing attached to the frame of the seat back into which the plate member is inserted by moving the seat back down onto the seat cushion. A spring biased wedge is disposed within the housing and biases the plate member toward one side of the housing. When the plate member is fully inserted into the housing, one sidewall of the housing is seated into a recess in the edge of the plate member and held in place by the wedge. Once the sidewall housing is seated in the plate member recess, movement of the housing relative to the plate member is prevented. The seat back is removable for servicing by moving the wedge out of its position holding the plate member in place so as to enable the housing sidewall to be withdrawn from the plate member recess to enable separation of the housing and plate member.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the environmental stress crack resistance of plastic articles, such as polyethylene terephthalate containers, are provided. In accordance with the method of the invention, the internal chamber of a hollow plastic article is pressurized, the exterior of the base is then exposed to an environmental stress cracking agent, and it is then determined if crazing and/or changes in the base clearance of the plastic article have occurred. Subsequent increases in pressure and subsequent exposures and determinations yield information on the environmental stress cracking characteristics of the container.

Abstract: A method for making a portion of a vehicle seat or back having a surface contour of predetermined shape by placing a sheet of an impermeable film against one side of a portion of a sheet of a permeable cloth fabric to make an impermeable composite portion of a fabric trim material. The composite portion is then positioned on a forming tool having a shaped upper surface complementary to the predetermined shape desired for the final product. A vacuum is then drawn between the forming tool and the impermeable composite portion so as to draw the portion into conformity with the shaped upper surface of the forming tool. A foam bun having an adhesive coated surface is then positioned against the portion on the forming tool. Heat is then applied to deteriorate the impermeable film thus enabling the adhesive to bond the cloth fabric material to the foam bun and maintain the desired shape.

Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly having a molded foam cushion body and a pair of molded foam bolster bodies covered by a cover member which is bonded to the cushion body and the bolsters during molding. The cushion body foam is poured in place onto a portion of the cover member and the foam for the bolster bodies is poured in place adjacent the cushion body preferably at the same time. The bolster bodies can thus have a density differing from the foam cushion body to provide differing deflection characteristics in the bolsters than in the cushion body.

Abstract: An improved base configuration for a plastic container used in hot-fill applications. The base is concentric with the side walls of the container and an outer ring of the base is connected to a central dome portion which extends upwardly into the body cavity of the container and terminates in a central disk region, which is also generally concentric with the side walls of the container. Radiating in a substantially spiral fashion, from the central disk downward along the dome to the outer ring, are a number of reinforcement ribs and slides which increases the amount of material in the base which is sufficiently oriented and able to resist the deformation induced by unrelaxed retractive stresses during filling of the container with a liquid of elevated temperature.

Abstract: An improved base configuration for a blow molded plastic container used in hot-fill applications. The base consists of a peripheral support ring that is generally concentric with the container side walls and connected to a central dome portion. The dome extends upwardly into the body cavity of the container and terminates in a central disk region that is also concentric with the container side walls. A number of raised involute embossments radiate about the central disk in a substantially spiral fashion downward along the dome. The embossments are limited to that area of the dome where unrelaxed retractive stresses may be formed during blow molding of the container. The embossments increase the amount of material in the base which becomes sufficiently oriented so as to resist the deformation induced by the unrelaxed retractive stresses during hot filling of the container.

Abstract: A tear away seam stabilizer for a vehicle seat component is provided for use with the pour-in-place molding process. The stabilizer, or welt, has an annular body attached to a notched tab portion by a tapered portion and neck portion which is sewn between covering members to form the desired shape of a component. A mold is provided within which the sewn cover, with the seam stabilizers in place, is inserted. The stabilizers maintain alignment of the seams in the cover member during the pour-in-place process and also prevent wrinkles in the cover. The end result is a vehicle seat component with the cover member tightly adhered to the foam body and conforming to a surface of predetermined shape. Once the foam pad is adhered to the cover member, the annular body of the stabilizer is readily torn off.

Abstract: An inertia sensitive latch mechanism for preventing a motor vehicle seat back from folding from a normal upright position to a folded forward position when the seat is exposed to deceleration loads above a predetermined level including a pendulum pivotally mounted to the movable seat back having a notch and tooth for engaging a striker bar. The center of gravity of the pendulum is located such that when the seat back is urged from the upright position to the folded position when the vehicle is exposed to a predetermined deceleration load, the pendulum engages the striker bar to prevent movement of the seat back. The striker bar is movably mounted to the seat support and the latch mechanism includes a guide member adjacent the pendulum for moving the striker bar to a predetermined location relative to the pivot point of the pendulum as the seat back is moved into its normal upright position.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a vehicle seat cover and bonding the vehicle seat cover to a foam bun utilizing a style insert. The style insert is formed by taking a breathable cloth fabric and laminating it to a sheet of foam material. The composite so formed is then cut to a desired styled insert shape and sewn to the vehicle seat cover skirt to form a seat cover assembly.The composite, which may include an air impermeable barrier sheet or the barrier sheet may be included in the composite between the foam and fabric sheets, is positioned on a forming tool having removable style inserts, with the cloth side of the composite against the insert. An impermeable film is then positioned over the foam side of the insert composite and a vacuum drawn the forming tool and the impermeable film to draw the composite down into conformity with the style lines of the tool insert. An adhesively coated foam bun is then positioned and pressed against the composite on the forming tool.

Abstract: A vehicle seat latch with a take-up mechanism for use in securing a removable bench seat to a vehicle. The bench seat being supported on laterally spaced pedestals which are engageable with support shafts in the floor structure of a vehicle. The rearward end of the pedestals include an elongated U-shaped slot for engagement with the support shaft, the slots are elongated to accommodate variations in the vertical height of the support shafts in the vehicle floor. The latch take-up mechanism includes a take-up hook which is rotatable underneath the support shaft to engage the lower surface of the support shaft to prevent the bench seat from rocking forward during rapid deceleration of the vehicle.

Abstract: A seat adjuster particularly adapted for motor vehicle seats. The seat adjuster enables fore-and-aft movement of the seat and also provides an anchorage point for a seat belt restraint system which moves with the seat during adjustment. The seat adjuster includes a fixed base adapted for attachment to the vehicle's floor pan which forms an elongated toothed rack. A sliding rail which moves along the base includes a latching mechanism. The latching mechanism has a latching plate which is movable vertically and includes engagement features which mesh with the toothed rack on the base. In the normal condition, the latching plate is in an upward vertically moved position in engagement with the toothed rack thereby setting the adjusted position of the seat and providing firm support for the seat belt anchorage attached to the latching mechanism. When adjustment is desired, a release bar is actuated which moves the latching plate downward thereby disengaging the engagement features.