Abstract: A method of molding a skin-covered foamed article includes the steps of (a) putting an outer skin member having an opening to a mold; (b) putting a frame in the outer skin member; (c) setting a pair of wires at the end portion of the outer skin member so that the opening is tightly closed; (d) pouring a liquid foamable material in the outer skin member upon opening the opening; (e) closing the opening and the mold and curing the liquid foamable material; and (f) removing the wires from the outer skin member.

Abstract: A hinge mechanism for joining a lid of a box with a fixed member and allowing the lid to pivot relative to the fixed member includes a rod and a guiding member which guides the movement of the rod. The rod is secured to the lid. The guiding member is secured to the fixed member which is fixed relative to the box. The lid is placed on a substantially horizontal top hem portion of the box and has a lower peripheral edge portion thereof which is in contact with the top hem portion and located near the fixed member and serves as a fulcrum of the pivotal movement of the lid. The guiding member has an envelope portion thereof for defining an enclosed space for receiving the rod therein. The enclosed space is so sized as to allow the rod to slide smoothly therein.

Abstract: An airbag restraint system for an automotive vehicle is comprised of an airbag including a bag-shaped section. The bag-shaped section is formed by sewing a sheet material into a bag-shape, forming a sewed section. The sewed section has a low strength part which is openable under action of an internal pressure of the gas inside the airbag during inflation of the airbag, so that a passenger's head is protected from an impact or reaction from the inflated airbag during a serious vehicle collision. A generally frame-shaped reinforcement patch is fixedly attached on the inside surface of the airbag in such a manner as to expose a major part of the low strength sewed part, thereby defining the low strength sewed part having a predetermined size.

Abstract: An airbag restraint system for protecting a vehicle passenger in the event of a vehicle serious collision. The airbag is comprised of suspension belts and a pair of belt catch members for preventing the airbag from inflating to project generally in one direction or toward the vehicle passenger during inflation of the airbag. The belt catch members are disposed near the portion of the gas inlet and sewed to the end portions of the suspension belts. The belt catch member has tongue-like members which are overlapped with the end portion of the suspension belt in order to easily distinguish whether the suspension belt are properly put between the belt catch members or not.

Abstract: A seat reclining mechanism for adjusting the angular position of a seatback relative to a seat cushion by a planetary gear arrangement includes a rotatable shaft, a base plate, a pivotable arm, a control gear, a plurality of planetary gears, and two supporting plates. The pivotable arm is rotatably connected to the base plate through the rotatable shaft. Each planetary gear has two opposed cylindrical projections. Each supporting plate is coaxially mounted on the rotatable shaft for supporting the planetary gears in such a manner that the cylindrical projections of each planetary gear is rotatably supported by the supporting plates and that the planetary gears are held in a predetermined revolution orbit around the control gear.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a skin cover capable of making desired curved portions on the skin cover without deforming or damaging the skin cover and without creating wrinkles on the skin cover. The method includes the steps of placing one of the surface skin and the wadding along a manufacturing surface having a shape corresponding to the curved sections such that the one of the surface skin and the wadding is kept in a desired curved shape; and attaching another one of the surface skin and the wadding to the one placed along the manufacturing surface to obtain the skin cover in the desired curved shape.

Abstract: An airbag restraint system for protecting a vehicle passenger in the event of a vehicle serious collision. The airbag restraint system includes an airbag which is adapted to inflate upon being supplied with gas from a gas generator. The airbag includes a bag-shaped section which is constituted of generally circular rear and front side sheet members which are joined together at their peripheral portions. A plurality of suspension belts are disposed inside the bag-shaped section. Each suspension belt is secured through rear and front belt catch members to the rear and front side sheet members. Each belt catch member is sewed to each sheet member, forming a sewed section which extends linearly and has a straightly extending portion generally perpendicular to a lengthwise direction of each suspension belt. The straightly extending portion of the sewed section is in a so-called bias state relative to the directions of the woven cloth grains of the sheet member.

Abstract: A method of molding a skin-covered foamed article is disclose.

Abstract: A seat assembly for a motor vehicle is shown which comprises a lower rail secured to a floor of the vehicle; an upper rail slidably engaged with the lower rail; a base structure secured to the upper rail to move therewith; a seat cushion held by the base structure in a manner to pivot between a horizontal operative condition and an upright inoperative condition; a seat slide latching mechanism for latching the upper rail to the lower rail, the seat slide latching mechanism having a first cancelling device which cancels the latched condition of the upper rail when actuated; a seat cushion latching mechanism for latching the seat cushion at both the horizontal operative and upright inoperative positions relative to the base structure, the seat cushion latching mechanism having a second cancelling device which cancels the latched condition of the seat cushion when actuated; and a latch cancel inhibiting mechanism which inhibits the actuation of one of the first and second cancelling devices when the other of the

Abstract: A seat assembly for a motor vehicle is shown. The assembly comprises a lower rail secured to a floor of the vehicle; an upper rail slidably engaged with the lower rail; a base structure secured to the upper rail to move therewith; a seat cushion held by the base structure in a manner to pivot between a horizontal operative position and an upright inoperative position; a seat slide latching mechanism for latching the upper rail to the lower rail; a seat cushion latching mechanism for latching the seat cushion at both the horizontal operative and upright inoperative postions relative to the base structure; a latch cancelling mechanism incorporated with the seat cushion latching mechanism for cancelling the latched condition of the seat cushion when actuated; and a restraining mechanism incorporated with the latch cancelling mechanism. The restraining mechanism latches the upper rail to the lower rail when the latch cancelling mechanism is being actuated.

Abstract: A seat assembly for a motor vehicle is shown, which comprises a lower rail secured to a floor of the vehicle; an upper rail slidably engaged with the lower rail; a base structure secured to the upper rail to move therewith; a seat cushion held by the base structure in a manner to pivot between a horizontal operative position and an upright inoperative position; a seat slide latching mechanism for selectively latching and unlatching the upper rail relative to the lower rail; a seat cushion latching mechanism for selectively latching and unlatching the seat cushion at the horizontal operative and upright inoperative positions relative to the base structure; and a control handle incorporated with both the seat slide latching mechanism and the seat cushion latching mechanism.

Abstract: A power seat slide device includes a pair of parallel stationary rails and a pair of parallel movable rails axially slidably engaged with the stationary rails. The movable rail and the stationary rail are assembled to define therebetween an elongate tunnel which extends along a common axis of the stationary and movable rails. A threaded shaft is housed in the elongate tunnel and has both ends rotatably supported by the movable rail. A nut is received in the elongate tunnel and fixed to the stationary rail. The threaded shaft is operatively engaged with the nut so that rotation of the threaded shaft about its axis induces a longitudinal movement of the movable rail relative to the stationary rail. An electric motor is mounted on the movable rail and has a drive shaft. A gear mechanism is arranged between the drive shaft and the threaded shaft for transmitting a power of the drive shaft to the threaded shaft. A gear housing houses therein the gear mechanism.

Abstract: A skin covered foamed plastic seat capable of preventing the leakage of the liquid foam resin from the holes to be made on it. The skin covered foamed plastic seat includes a trim cover attached to the skin cover at locations of holes, to cover side faces of the bossings of the molding surface when the skin cover is placed over the molding surface.

Abstract: An automotive seat having a seat belt buckle holder is disclosed, which includes a seatback part having a pad covered with an outer skin member, and a seat belt assembly having a belt equipped with a buckle. The pad is partially cut away to form a rectangular recess which is so sized as to accommodate the buckle. The outer skin member is cut in L-shape for providing the outer skin member with an openable part. The openable part is detachably fastened, by means of a fastener, to the pad.

Abstract: A mold for molding a skin covered foamed plastic article capable of dealing with those foamed plastic articles having large curving portions without complicating the manufacturing process relating to the attachment of the skin member on the mold, without a leakage of liquid formed plastic to be poured over the mold. The mold includes a lower mold, over which a skin cover is to be placed, and on which liquid foamed plastic is to be poured onto the skin cover, the lower mold having; a fixed part on top of which the upper mold is to be placed; a movable part which makes contact with the fixed part at a lowered position at which there is a closed space between the fixed part and the movable part; and means for controlling air pressure inside the closed space between the fixed part and the movable part. A method of manufacturing a skin covered foamed plastic article using this mold is also disclosed.

Abstract: A vehicular seat whose seat back is divided into upper and lower seat backs. The lower seat back is hingedly connected at its lower end section with a seat cushion and at its upper end section with the lower end section of the upper seat back. The upper end section of the lower seat back is slidably supported onto a back panel of a vehicle body through a bracket fixed to the back panel, so that the lower seat back upper end section is slidable along a guide opening formed in the bracket. The upper seat back is also slidably movable along the back panel, following the lower seat back.

Abstract: A seat assembly which is revolvable about a vertical axis comprises a seat cushion, a seatback and an armrest. A pair of armrest holders are secured to both sides of the seat cushion respectively. Each armrest holder is constructed to detachably hold the armrest. The armrest has a rechargeable vibrator disposed inside the armrest. And, the armrest is supported by two metal rods and recharged through the rods.

Abstract: A seat slide device for a motor vehicle is shown, which includes a seat slide latching mechanism by which an upper movable rail can be latched at a desired fore-and-aft position relative to a lower stationary rail and a rail-disconnection inhibiting mechanism by which undesired separation of the upper rail from the lower rail is prevented even when a great load is applied to the rails due to a vehicle collision of the like. Lock openings formed in the lower rail can be used for not only the seat slide latching mechanism but also the rail-disconnection inhibiting mechanism. Thus, the lower rail has a satisfied mechanical strength.

Abstract: A method of producing a skin-covered pad for a seat, which includes (a) preparing a lower mold which has a cavity formed therein; (b) putting a bag-shaped outer skin member into the cavity, the outer skin member including an innermost foamed layer which includes first and second parts which are exposed to the interior of the bag-shaped outer skin member, the first and second parts being wettable and non-wettable with respect to a given liquid material for foamed plastic; (c) pouring the liquid material into the bag-shaped outer skin member held in the lower mold, so that the innermost layer of the outer skin member is in contact with the liquid material for foamed plastic; and (d) putting an upper mold on the lower mold to close the cavity.

Abstract: A mold for skin covered foamed plastic molding which utilizes a middle mold to be placed between an upper mold and a lower mold, capable of reducing the weight of the middle mold so that assembling of the middle mold becomes less troublesome, the assemblage becomes more stable and the appearance of undesirable spacing in the assemblage an be prevented. The mold includes an upper mold to be closed over the lower mold, having a bent portion with a bottom surface which is to be a part of molding surface; and a middle mold to be placed between the upper mold and the lower mold, having a hollow region into which the bent portion of the upper mold is to be engaged when assembled.