Abstract: According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus for forming base cups for plastic bottles is disclosed wherein a hollow body is blow molded and then cut in half to form two base cups. The side wall of the body is molded with a pair of outwardly extending projections such that when stacking a plurality of base cups, the projection of one cup engages the top lip of the adjacent lower cup thereby making denesting of the top cup easier. After molding the hollow body, the body is transferred to a carrier having clamps for engaging the end walls of the body to move and rotate the bodies past a knife for cutting the body in half to form the two base cups.

Abstract: A plastic container comprising a blow-molded plastic bottle with a reinforcing ring encircling the bottle base to reinforce the base against undesirable deformation. The ring encircles the lower end of the bottle base. Pressure within the container expands the base structure outwardly against the ring and creates tension in the ring to maintain the ring in assembly relation with the bottle base in which the ring reinforces the base and acts to maintain the structural integrity of the base. The container is manufactured by inserting the ring into the base portion of the blow-mold such that the ring defines a portion of the blow-mold cavity. A plastic preform is blow-molded outward, into engagement with the ring to secure the ring to the base.

Abstract: A plastic container having a reinforcing ring in its base to strengthen the base. The ring reinforces the base to prevent deformation of the base which would result in an unstable container and also reduces the potential for stress cracking found in one-piece containers having reinforcing ribs in the base structure. The reinforcing ring has a weight that is less than the weight of a typical base cup used to provide a supporting surface for a two-piece composite bottle. The ring is attached to the base portion of the container by one of three methods: molding the reinforcing ring into the base; providing a ring and a base which snap fit together, or adhesively bonding the ring to the base of the container. When the contianer is filled with a carbonated beverage, the pressure within the container acts to maintain the ring in an assembly relation with the container base in which the ring reinforces the base and acts to maintain the structural integrity of the base by resisting eversion of the base.

Abstract: A door pull for a vehicle door assembly in the form of a rigid strap attached to the door frame and spanning a recess in the door frame. A interior trim panel covers the door pull and an opening in the trim panel adjacent to the door pull provides access for an occupant to reach into the recess behind the door pull to pull the door closed. A door latch release handle can be placed in the recess behind the door pull strap at one end of the recess which is operated by the occupant reaching into the recess and pulling the latch release handle to open the door. No additional trim pieces and attaching hardware are needed to surround the door pull.

Abstract: A seat riser integrated with the floor or bed of an automotive vehicle having a removable seat. The integration reduces the height and weight of the seat assembly and allows for the easier use of the vehicle in its full capacity. The seat riser is capable of rotating from a generally vertical operative position to a generally horizontal inoperative position. When in the inoperative position, the seat riser is concealed within a recessed well and has a top portion lying flush with the floor or bed of the vehicle. After rotation, the seat riser is locked into the operative position by a pin and hole locking mechanism. A removable seat, equipped with complimentary retaining elements, is then positioned on the seat risers. Two arms of a spring biased retaining mechanism are then able to engage the retaining elements of the removable seat. The seat riser thus secures and supports the seat in the interior of the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly with an attitude adjustable armrest is provided to enable the armrest to be adjusted to maintain a horizontal position when the seat back is reclined rearwardly. The attitude adjustment mechanism includes a cam lock which prevents downward rotation of the armrest while permitting upward rotation of the armrest. The cam lock mechanism includes a cam fixed to the seat back having an arcuate cam edge surface and a pawl having an edge surface engaging the cam surface. The pawl plate is attached to the armrest and spring biased into engagement with the cam plate to prevent downward rotation of the armrest. A release mechanism is provided to disengage the pawl from the cam to enable the armrest to be adjusted downwardly.

Abstract: Dual parison extrusion head for multi-layer extrusion blow molding in which a die body surrounds two parallel spaced mandrels to form two cylindrical passages from which parisons are extruded. A series of resin supply conduits are provided for directing each resin to both passages. The series of conduits are axially spaced in the extrusion head to direct a plurality of plastic resins to each of the passages to form a multi-layer parison. The resin supply conduits are symmetrical about a vertical plane transversely bisecting the extrusion head between the two passages to produce flow and thermal symmetry in the resin to balance the resin flow to both passages. The resin supply conduits are configured so as to produce the dual parisons with the resin weld line of the multiple resin layers being located on the blow mold parting line. The resin conduits are positioned to minimize the center distance between parisons to reduce the size of the extrusion head.

Abstract: A seat assembly with an inflatable bladder for adjustable seat support having an air delivery system for both inflating and deflating the bladder. The air delivery system includes a single, one-directional pump and valve means selectively operable to communicate the pump outlet with the bladder and the pump inlet with atmosphere for inflating the bladder and selectively operable to communicate the pump inlet with the bladder and the pump outlet with atmosphere to deflate the bladder.

Abstract: A functional door cartridge for use in a motor vehicle door assembly is disclosed. The cartridge consists of a skeleton frame forming the general outline of a door. A portion of the frame also serves as glass guides for the window glass. Another portion of the frame serves as a guide for the window regulator lift plate. All moving components of the door assembly such as the window, door latch, window regulator, interior and exterior door handles and latch rods are mounted to the functional door cartridge which can be assembled in a horizontal position rather than the typical upright position used to assemble doors. After assembly, all functions of the door are fully tested before the door cartridge is inserted into an exterior door panel to complete the door assembly. In one embodiment the cartridge is pivoted about mounting studs to facilitate proper alignment with the door panel.

Abstract: A method for making contoured covers for vehicle seats is disclosed. A cover member is attached to a foam sheet which has an adhesive layer covering the face opposite from the cover member. The adhesive layer is in turn covered with a backing material. Portions of the cover member are pressed into the foam sheet, contacting the adhesive. The adhesive bonds the cover member to the backing material forming the contours in the cover. Alternatively the adhesive layer may be omitted if a thermally sensitive backing material is used. In this case the portion of backing material pressed into contact with the cover is partially melted to bond the backing material to the cover.

Abstract: A seat belt anchorage mechanism, particularly adapted for motor vehicles, which allows a seat belt anchorage to move with the seat during fore-and-aft adjustment of the seat for improved occupant comfort and convenience. The mechanism has a toothed track fixed to the vehicle structure with a rail attached to the seat cushion slidable along the track. The belt anchorage assembly has a pair of separated plates having an engaging shaft positioned in close proximity to the toothed track. The anchorage assembly is fastened to a slide rail by frangible fasteners. When a load above a predetermined level is applied to the anchorage, the fasteners fail and enable the engaging shaft to mesh with a toothed track, thus locking the track and rail together and restraining forward excursion of the anchorage.

Abstract: A dual drive window regulator mechanism is disclosed for use in an automobile door assembly for raising and lowering the window glass. The system provides two attachment points to the glass for raising and lowering the glass. This can be accomplished by using various lift mechanisms including a translating rack or a dual cable and drum mechanism. By driving the window at two points as opposed to one point in typical regulator mechanisms, more accurate control of the movement and location of the window glass in the door assembly is achievable.

Abstract: A plastic container is provided which includes a stabilizing ring attached to the base structure of a blow molded bottle for improving the vertical stability to the container when supported upon a horizontal surface. The container includes a plastic bottle having a tubular sidewall and a base structure closing the bottle at an end of the sidewall. The base structure includes an outer wall having a radially inner lower edge portion, an inner wall within the outer wall which has an axial recessed portion extending upward into the container. The lower edge portions of the inner and outer walls are merged together. The stabilizing ring is attached to the base structure and extends radially outwardly and downwardly forming an annular supporting surface at the lower edge of the ring upon which the container is supported.

Abstract: An inertia sensitive latch assembly particularly adapted for preventing forward dumping of a motor vehicle seat back. The embodiments are particularly suited for applications in station wagon vehicles having forward dumping capability of the second passenger seats. The device is enclosed within the seat back and includes a pendulum engageable with a latch hook affixed to a support structure. The pendulum engages the hook when the vehicle is subjected to deceleration loads above a predetermined level. In one embodiment of the invention, a retention clip device is provided which maintains the pendulum engaged with the latch hook after a deceleration load is relieved to maintain the seat in engagement throughout multiple impact vehicle conditions. Both embodiments are substantially enclosed within the seat back cushion structure, thus protecting them and providing an unobstructed load floor when the seat back is dumped forward.

Abstract: The present invention is a simple digital vehicle seat position sensor which comprises a magnetic field sensor such as a Hall integrated circuit and a strip of magnetic poles of alternating polarity which are moved relative to one another as the vehicle seat position is changed to produce a square wave pulse which is counted as a control module.

Abstract: An improved preform is disclosed for molding plastic containers having a self-supporting base structure. The preform has a reinforcing section of concentric annular ribs near its closed end. The wall thickness of the preform is increased in the reinforcing section by a plurality having an increasing thickness in a direction toward the closed end of the preform. When blow molded into a final container, these concentric ribs form annular reinforcing ribs on the inner surface of the container base. These ribs are substantially concentric about the longitudinal axis of the container and are of decreasing thickness radially outward from the center. The ribs coact with other reinforcing ribs in the base structure to further increase the strength of the container base. During stretching of the preform prior to blow molding, the concentric ribs act to reduce the stretching of the preform in the reinforcing section thus increasing the wall thickness of the base and thereby increasing the base strength.

Abstract: A bushing assembly for use in a hinge for an automotive vehicle seat assembly comprises a pair of identical interlocking sleeves, each having a pair of opposing tangs extending in an axial direction from an annular portion. Each of the tang portions has a shoulder which is radially outwardly directed and is deflectable. The shoulders on the tang portions engage corresponding recessed ledges on the interior wall of the annular portion of the opposite sleeve so as to snap fit together to form an integral bushing assembly through which a hinge pin is passed. The bushing assembly is positioned around the hinge pin and between the hinge pin and the frame members of the vehicle seat assembly to allow rotation of the upright back of the seat. The sleeves may also be stacked together such that each of the tang portions snap into engagement with the annular portions of the adjacent sleeve to form a flexible bushing assembly of variable length.

Abstract: According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a method and apparatus for forming base cups for plastic bottles is disclosed wherein a hollow body is blow molded and then cut in half to form two base cups. The side wall of the body is molded with a pair of outwardly extending projections such that when stacking a plurality of base cups, the projection of one cup engages the top lip of the adjacent lower cup thereby making denesting of the top easier.